It wasn’t until a young eunuch came to report that Yan’s Ninth Prince had arrived that Liu Shi lowered her voice and said: “This Yan Ninth Prince is probably here to apologize for Fan Yugan being beaten today, right? I heard this incident caused quite a commotion – almost the entire capital knows about it.”

Bai Qingyan smiled as she took the towel Chun Tao handed her and wiped her hands, saying: “I sent someone to summon Yan’s Ninth Prince into the palace. Regarding Fan Yugan being beaten, Yan must give us the Great Zhou an explanation.”

Dong Shi glanced at her daughter, understanding everything in her heart, and said to Bai Qingyan: “In that case, your second aunt and I will leave first. You rarely get time in a day to see the two children. Have Nanny Tong, Chun Tao, and Chun Zhi stay here with the two children while you quickly deal with that Yan Ninth Prince, then spend quality time with the two children and get some proper rest.”

“Sister-in-law’s method is good – leaving Kangle and Xile here ensures A’Bao won’t forget to take time to rest!” Liu Shi smiled as she handed Kangle in her arms to Nanny Tong, thinking Dong Shi was deliberately leaving the children behind because she feared Bai Qingyan would forget to rest once she got busy with official matters.

“A’Bao, you mustn’t only focus on reviewing memorials – you must rest!” Liu Shi stood up and reminded her.

Previously, Liu Shi had only thought being emperor meant wielding great power, where one person’s word controlled wind and rain. Now, watching her niece ascend to the imperial throne, she realized how difficult it was to be an emperor, and even more difficult to be a good emperor!

If anyone said being emperor was comfortable, they must be a tyrant!

“Xiao Ba, Wang Ge’er, we’re leaving…” Liu Shi smiled and waved to the two children.

Xiao Ba stood up and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, Xiao Ba takes his leave!”

Wang Ge’er imitated him, using hands and feet to stand up with his little bottom sticking out, bowing to Bai Qingyan: “Great Aunt, Wang Ge’er takes his leave!”

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded: “Good, Xiao Ba and Wang Ge’er walk slowly, be careful going downstairs.”

Not long after Dong Shi and Liu Shi left hand in hand with Xiao Ba and Wang Ge’er, Xiao Rongyan arrived…

Seeing this thousand-year-old wisteria tree, his steps paused.

It was said that when Mother had the blueprints drawn up for constructing the capital’s imperial palace, upon learning there was a thousand-year-old wisteria tree here, the minister responsible for palace construction originally wanted to cut down this wisteria tree. But Mother couldn’t bear to let this thousand-year-old wisteria be cut down, so she moved the palace that was to be built here elsewhere, preserving this wisteria tree and having people build circular pavilions around it.

Xiao Rongyan had heard his elder brother say that in those days in the capital… when his brother was young, every summer, Mother’s favorite thing was to dismiss the eunuchs and palace maids and play barefoot here with the children.

The three-story surrounding pavilions gave the children room to run freely, and without eunuchs, palace maids, and nannies following behind to protect them, the children could play to their hearts’ content.

Thinking of Bai Qingyan with the two children here at this moment, Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help imagining scenes of him and Bai Qingyan playing here with the children when they grew up.

But thinking further, perhaps by then he and Bai Qingyan would take the children to the residence in Baiwocheng.

The residence in Baiwocheng was currently being rebuilt. Xiao Rongyan hoped to give Bai Qingyan a surprise then, hoping she and the children would like it.

However, if the two courtyards were connected, Xiao Rongyan thought they could have someone transplant a wisteria tree there and build pavilions around it, too. Then in summer, they could play and pass the time there with A’Bao and the children.

While thinking this, Xiao Rongyan had already reached the third floor with Wei Zhong.

Wei Zhong helped Xiao Rongyan remove his shoes, then led his people outside and closed the carved partition doors.

Xiao Rongyan saw Chun Tao place two cups of hot tea on the table, bow to him, and withdraw. He walked to Bai Qingyan’s side and knelt across from her, hearing Bai Qingyan, who was writing comments on a memorial, ask: “Regarding Yan’s Minister of Revenue beating our Great Zhou courtier, what kind of explanation does Yan’s Regent Prince plan to give us Great Zhou?”

“Regarding this matter, this foreign minister has inquired about it and feels that… this incident was Fan Yugan wanting to kick our Yan Minister of Revenue out of the negotiating team to make things difficult for Wang Hanbing. Your Majesty… is this foreign minister correct?” Xiao Rongyan asked Bai Qingyan frankly.

“Who is Wang Hanbing?” Bai Qingyan set her brush aside, closed the memorial and placed it to one side, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, then picked up her teacup. “What official position does he hold in Yan?”

Looking at Bai Qingyan lowering her eyes to drink tea, Xiao Rongyan smiled: “Could it be Your Majesty doesn’t have… detailed backgrounds and experiences of all our Yan embassy members here?”

“Now that Great Zhou holds complete advantage, why would we bother expending manpower and resources on such efforts?” Bai Qingyan set her teacup aside and looked into Xiao Rongyan’s profound, deep eyes. “We Great Zhou, have laid out our demands. If negotiations work out, we’ll negotiate. If not… The Great Zhou’s army will advance west, and the Great Yan’s capital will be in danger. Though it would cost some military strength, as long as we capture the Yan Emperor and detain you, Yan’s Regent Prince, what room would Yan have left?”

Bai Qingyan’s words weren’t threats but merely stating facts, as Xiao Rongyan well knew.

He raised his hand to remove the mask from his face and set it aside: “Just as A’Bao said, currently Yan is begging Great Zhou. Yan has no room to refuse any conditions Great Zhou sets.”

Bai Qingyan picked up her teacup again and gestured toward Xiao Rongyan: “Good that the Regent Prince understands.”

“Not seeing the two children today, A’Bao…”

Before Xiao Rongyan could finish speaking, he heard Bai Qingyan laugh: “The wet nurses took them away. They’ll be brought over shortly. Since you rarely enter the palace, you’ll naturally get to see the two children. Rest assured, I won’t prevent you from seeing the children…”

“Compared to spending time with the two children, I want to spend more time with A’Bao.” Xiao Rongyan grasped Bai Qingyan’s slender jade-like hand. “I asked about the children only because seeing this Qiuhua Pavilion today reminded me of what my brother once told me – how Mother would bring them here to play joyfully when he was young.”

“As long as we’re both by the children’s side, no matter where we play, the children will surely enjoy themselves!” Bai Qingyan didn’t know if they’d still be in the capital’s imperial palace when the children grew up – perhaps they’d settle in Baiwocheng instead.

“A’Bao is right!” Xiao Rongyan’s eyes were full of smiles. Nothing could make children happier than having both parents by their side with loving, trusting parents.

Today, spending time with the two children, we won’t discuss state affairs. State affairs can be discussed at Honglu Si. Today… we are a family reunion.” Bai Qingyan took Xiao Rongyan’s hand and stood, walking toward the inner chamber. “A few days ago, Mother was organizing the palace storerooms and found a painting. I think it should be given to you.”