Shen Jingzhong raised his head, his eyes red as he looked at Bai Qingyan. He saw her place the hot cloth aside. The warm, flickering firelight in the hall illuminated the faint smile between her brows in alternating light and shadow, revealing a hint of loneliness. She said softly, “It is because my virtue and abilities are not outstanding enough that I cannot gain Minister Shen’s wholehearted assistance. This is Bai Qingyan’s lifelong regret…”

“Your Majesty!” Shen Jingzhong moved forward on his knees. “It’s not like that, Your Majesty…”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to indicate Shen Jingzhong need not continue, only saying: “Since Minister Shen wishes to resign and return home, this is presumably… the last time we shall dine together as sovereign and subject. Please sit and eat! I grant your request.”

Watching Bai Qingyan pick up her spoon again to drink soup, for an instant, overwhelming regret surged through Shen Jingzhong’s heart. Words came to his lips but he swallowed them back.

He was helped up by Wei Zhong and knelt back at his seat, his trembling hand picking up the soup spoon. The soup that smelled delicious now tasted bitter in his mouth.

Whether in virtue, ability, or magnanimity, Bai Qingyan commanded Shen Jingzhong’s complete admiration. If she lacked the ability… what was she implementing new policies? If she lacked virtue, how could she earn the people’s support? Her magnanimity was what Shen Jingzhong admired most – daring to establish the wager strategy early on, wholeheartedly working for the people’s welfare rather than her eternal power. Shen Jingzhong asked himself… throughout history, probably only this one emperor, Bai Qingyan, could achieve this.

But once upon a time… when Shen Jingzhong entered office, it was during the court’s turbulent times. Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting was far away at the borders defending against enemies. He had established himself in court through his merit in supporting the dragon. Whether the Jin Emperor was acting or truly virtuous, he had believed it all, embracing the conviction to live and die with the Jin Emperor, swearing… to be forever His Majesty’s subject.

Later, the emperor changed, becoming greedy for life and obsessed with alchemy… becoming unreasonable.

He knew Bai Qingyan was a wise ruler, yet could never forget his former oath. Torn between loyalties, he had never given his all to the Zhou court, always thinking about resigning. Perhaps in others’ eyes… this was failing to recognize the times, foolish loyalty, but Shen Jingzhong felt it was simply stupidity.

Now that the words were spoken, there was no room for reconsideration. So be it…

·

On the twenty-eighth day of the sixth month in the second year of Yuanhe, Great Zhou and Yan established their wager strategy. Each would implement the other’s national policies in designated city regions within their territories. After three years, whichever nation’s policies made the local people prosperous would win, and the two would unite as one nation.

“Thus, Prince Regent…” Liu Rushi looked toward Xiao Rongyan with a smile, taking the sealed agreement from Wang Hanbing’s hands. “We only await the arrival of Yan’s First Prince, Second Prince, and General Xie Sao in the capital. Great Zhou will immediately withdraw troops, and the Yan main forces detained by our Bai family army in Xiliang will naturally be returned.”

Wang Hanbing’s expression wasn’t very good. He truly hadn’t expected that entering the palace today would involve sealing the agreement. The Great Zhou had outmaneuvered them, actually having Yan implement Yan’s new policies on Great Zhou territory while Great Zhou would go to Yan to implement new policies.

But he couldn’t deny that Liu Rushi was quite right. Only by having both nations implement new policies on each other’s territory could they compare which nation’s new policies were better.

Only thus, when the two nations merged – whether Yan absorbed Great Zhou or Great Zhou absorbed Yan – the people of both nations would more easily accept it.

Xiao Rongyan glanced at Bai Qingyan, who sat on the high platform with a smile at the corners of her lips, understanding her painstaking care. So when Liu Rushi finally proposed this condition… while the Yan envoys argued with red faces and thick necks, he had agreed.

However, previously they had secretly rejoiced that the cities Great Zhou chose for Yan were all prosperous, while Yan had deliberately selected several poor cities from Great Zhou… euphemistically claiming this would allow both nations to compete on equal footing. They hadn’t expected Liu Rushi’s final move to backfire on Yan.

Regardless, with Great Zhou going to Yan to implement new policies, Bai Qingyan as Great Zhou’s emperor would still send her most trusted people, which essentially meant Yan would have Great Zhou hostages, allowing Yan’s court to feel more at ease.

Wei Zhong stood beside them. Seeing that both nations had sealed the agreement, he took it from Liu Rushi’s hands and respectfully presented it before Bai Qingyan’s table. After seeing Bai Qingyan nod after reading it, Wei Zhong said: “His Majesty is hosting a banquet in the palace to celebrate the two nations establishing their wager agreement, congratulating the peaceful merger of both nations…”

Bai Qingyan’s smiling eyes glanced toward Xiao Rongyan below the platform. Behind his mask, Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved upward, his eyes also holding laughter.

With this matter settled, though neither said anything, both had lifted the great stones from their hearts. They only awaited three years later when everything was settled and they could shed their heavy burdens, then take their child to live ordinary days at their residence in Bai Wo City.

Since Sa’er Khan’s group from Tianfeng arrived in the capital and was arranged by Wei Zhong in the guesthouse with guards posted, they had been ignored ever since.

The Tianfeng people had long been impatient, but unfortunately, they had secretly infiltrated the capital rather than coming as proper envoys after submitting diplomatic documents. Even being detained by the Great Zhou until now, they couldn’t claim the Great Zhou was being discourteous.

Moreover, the Great Zhou had stationed guards and shadow guards around the guesthouse, making it impenetrable. They couldn’t send messages out either.

To put it bluntly, even if the Great Zhou Emperor killed them all, Tianfeng couldn’t hold anything against the Great Zhou, who told them to come secretly?

Today, after Great Zhou and Yan established their wager agreement and hosted a banquet in the palace, this Great Zhou Emperor finally remembered the Tianfeng ruler who had been confined in the guesthouse, sending someone to invite him.

“This Great Zhou Emperor truly isn’t afraid of making enemies with our Tianfeng. Our Tianfeng ruler condescended to come, yet was confined for all these days. Only now does she think to invite our majesty.” Sa’er Khan’s attendant spoke indignantly.

Behind the screen while changing clothes, Sa’er Khan’s expression didn’t change. He only said: “We came uninvited, and it happened to coincide with Great Zhou and Yan discussing their wager. Keeping us until after both nations signed their wager agreement is quite reasonable. You needn’t feel indignant.”

“What grievances this slave suffers doesn’t matter, but you are our Tianfeng’s king, yet Great Zhou shows you such disrespect!” Sa’er Khan’s attendant grew more aggrieved as he spoke.

Looking at his attendant, Sa’er Khan chuckled softly: “Enough, let’s go…”

Originally, when Sa’er Khan gave his jade cicada to Bai Qingyan, he thought she would soon send someone to find him, asking about the method for reversing time. He hadn’t expected that after being confined to the guesthouse, he would be left there the entire time. He didn’t know whether Bai Qingyan had studied the jade cicada or… simply wasn’t interested at all.

In the great hall where the palace banquet was held, Yan’s envoys and ministers were seated according to rank.

One could see that the Great Zhou’s subjects were very pleased, while the Yan envoys, though they had achieved their goal, weren’t as happy.