His voice paused momentarily as he raised his eyes to look at Bai Qingyan with utmost solemnity, then continued: “Your Majesty has given Tuoba Yao this opportunity for revenge. Yao… is deeply grateful from the bottom of his heart, and therefore… is willing to exert every effort to help Great Zhou conquer the realm! I am willing to help such an emperor as Your Majesty gain the world!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Good. You need not worry about your safety. I will send people to secretly protect you, and since the Seventh Prince of Dongyi is in our Great Zhou’s hands, the Empress of Dongyi will also spare no effort to keep you safe. I have already arranged for General Jiang Huaisheng to bring the naval forces ashore. From now on, General Jiang Huaisheng will be at your disposal. However, the naval forces led by Jiang Huaisheng are, on the surface, Great Zhou’s troops; they cannot directly confront Yan. Do you understand?”

Tuoba Yao nodded: “Yao understands! Yao is young, and if there are matters difficult to decide, Yao will have someone send word to Your Majesty for Your Majesty to decide.”

“There’s one more thing—quite a few people have seen the Seventh Prince of Dongyi, so you probably cannot show your true face anymore.” Bai Qingyan turned to look at Lu Ping.

Lu Ping hurriedly took out a mask that had been prepared long ago and handed it to Tuoba Yao.

“To the outside world, we’ll say… that the Second Prince of Dongyi sent people to pursue and kill the Seventh Prince, set the ship on fire, and you were disfigured and your voice damaged…”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Shen Qingzhu placed a small bottle of pills into Bai Qingyan’s hands.

“This is medicine that Physician Hong accidentally concocted while treating my brother’s throat. It will make one’s voice hoarse, but not to the point of being unable to make sounds.” Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to caress the medicine bottle, then pushed it in front of Tuoba Yao. “Use this medicine for now. Later on… as the Seventh Prince of Dongyi gradually grows up and his voice slowly heals, others will also forget what the Seventh Prince of Dongyi’s original voice sounded like.”

Tuoba Yao didn’t hesitate. He took the medicine, opened it, poured out a pill, and swallowed it straightforwardly.

Bai Qingjue looked somewhat astonished: “Prince Wei isn’t afraid… that this is poison Great Zhou is using to control you?”

Bai Jinse looked nervously at Tuoba Yao, then at her eldest sister: “Elder Sister!”

“This is only natural!” Tuoba Yao remained very composed. “Now that I have nothing to my name, Your Majesty places me in the position of Dongyi’s emperor. You must use something to control this chess piece that is me.”

“Yusheng…” Bai Qingyan gently called the name Bai Jinse had given to Tuoba Yao. “Xiao Qi gave you a new name, called Yusheng… Bai Yusheng. If you take the surname Bai, then you are a member of our Bai family, not a chess piece. The Bai family… would never use underhanded methods against our people!”

Although Tuoba Yao remained very composed, he was still a child after all. No matter how calm he appeared, his slightly trembling pupils still betrayed his inner feelings as he tightly gripped the medicine bottle in his hand.

He looked at Bai Qingyan’s gentle smile, then his gaze fell on Bai Jinse.

“Three years of ruling the country… After three years, I will personally come to take you home!” Bai Qingyan glanced at Bai Jinse. “Just as Xiao Qi said, to let you live the rest of your life in peace and joy!”

“Elder Sister… let me stay to accompany Yusheng!” Bai Jinse said.

“No!” Tuoba Yao was the first to object. His expression was tense as he looked at Bai Qingyan and bowed deeply, saying: “Seventh Miss is Your Majesty’s sister. If the Empress of Dongyi were to learn of the Seventh Miss’s identity, then the advantage of the Great Zhou holding the Prince of Dongyi would completely vanish. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”

“I know you’re worried about Yusheng!” Bai Qingyan grasped Bai Jinse’s hand. “I will have Xingchen lead people to protect Yusheng!”

Bai Jinse’s eyes widened: “But… Xingchen is the most capable among Elder Sister’s shadow guards!”

“Your Majesty must not!” Tuoba Yao kowtowed. “Tuoba Yao’s life is worthless, but Your Majesty’s body is worth ten thousand gold. How can you place your most capable shadow guard by Yao’s side!”

“I said, you are a member of the Bai family. If you’re willing to become Bai Yusheng, then follow the arrangements. If you only wish to remain Tuoba Yao, then I won’t force you further.” Bai Qingyan looked steadily at Tuoba Yao as she spoke.

Tuoba Yao remained kowtowing, his hands tightly gripping the prayer mat beneath him, hesitating indecisively…

“Xingchen!” Bai Qingyan called out.

Soon, Xingchen appeared outside the pavilion and knelt on one knee: “This subordinate is here!”

“Meet your new master. From today onwards… You will lead the shadow guard unit to follow Bai Yusheng, and you must ensure Bai Yusheng’s safety,” Bai Qingyan said.

Xingchen showed almost no hesitation as he turned to bow to Tuoba Yao: “Xingchen greets Master!”

Tuoba Yao raised his head to look at Bai Qingyan.

“What are you standing there for! Why don’t you thank Elder Sister…” Bai Jinse urged.

Tuoba Yao’s eyes reddened: “Thank you… Elder Sister!”

The smile in Bai Qingyan’s eyes deepened: “Thus, Dongyi is placed in your hands. These three years… you may freely do everything Tuoba Yao wants to do. After three years… you must forget Tuoba Yao and become Bai Yusheng. Can you do this?”

Bai Qingyan hoped that three years later, Tuoba Yao would be able to let go of his hatred and gain a new life.

“I can!” Tuoba Yao nodded emphatically.

“Good, then it’s settled. We… enter the capital of Dongyi!” Bai Qingyan stood up with Shen Qingzhu’s assistance. “Xiao Qi… let’s go!”

Bai Qingyan called to Bai Jinse.

Bai Jinse nodded, then turned to look at Tuoba Yao: “You… be careful in all things. If anything happens, have someone send word to Elder Sister.”

“Mm!” Tuoba Yao nodded. “Don’t worry!”

Tuoba Yao also picked up his mask and stood up, watching Bai Qingyan walk out of the farewell pavilion. He bowed deeply to bid farewell to Bai Qingyan, and after straightening up, he looked at the mask in his hands and put it on.

“Seventh Prince, we… should also get in the carriage!” Lu Ping said to Tuoba Yao.

Tuoba Yao nodded, feeling his throat already beginning to ache. He endured the discomfort and followed Lu Ping toward the carriage.

“Elder Sister…” Bai Jinse walked beside Bai Qingyan. “On behalf of Yusheng, I thank Elder Sister…”

Bai Jinse was precocious. When she learned that Elder Sister wanted Tuoba Yao to become the Seventh Prince of Dongyi and ascend the throne as Emperor of Dongyi, she understood… that Elder Sister had taken to heart her previous words about hoping Tuoba Yao could live the rest of his life in peace and joy.

Bai Jinse was not entirely unaware of the hatred in Tuoba Yao’s heart, but… the Regent of Yan was her brother-in-law. Even though she had already guessed that Tuoba Yao might want revenge, she was still willing to believe Tuoba Yao’s words about forgetting past grievances.

Better to redirect than to block…

Elder Sister was giving Tuoba Yao three years to use Dongyi to seek revenge. After three years… having Tuoba Yao let go and return to being Bai Yusheng—this was the method to completely free Tuoba Yao from hatred.

“He’s still young, and his life’s journey is still very long. Rather than having him hide hatred in his heart for the rest of his life, it’s better… to let him take his revenge thoroughly and completely. When Yan loses the wager with our country… and Yan ceases to exist, he will have contributed to that as well.” Bai Qingyan held her youngest sister’s hand, speaking to her unhurriedly. “Only then… will he be able to truly overcome this obstacle and genuinely become Bai Yusheng!”