This was also the Dongyi Empress’s first time seeing the Great Zhou’s emperor. Because the sunlight was too intense and they were far apart, she could only vaguely make out the silhouette of the woman riding a white horse through golden light. But even just this silhouette made the Dongyi Empress’s heart rise to her throat. She turned to give instructions: “Have the Great Zhou Minister Liu and the other Great Zhou envoys been brought over?”
“Your Majesty can rest assured. We have already attended to the ministers’ washing and dining. Due to their physical weakness, this servant took the liberty of arranging for the ministers to rest under the pavilion’s shade.” The Dongyi Empress’s maid said.
“You did very well!” The Dongyi Empress nodded, glanced at the carriage following behind Bai Qingyan, and hurriedly said: “Quickly go and invite them over!”
“Yes!” The personal maid responded and immediately had someone go invite Liu Rushi and the others.
Soon, Bai Qingyan raised her hand, signaling the army to halt.
The tens of thousands of troops obeyed orders absolutely, moving in perfect unison. If not for the black sails with white python flags still fluttering in the wind and the light gauze at the soldiers’ feet drifting in the breeze, the moment this orderly formation stopped made people feel… what lay before them was merely a still painting, truly shocking.
Liu Rushi and the Great Zhou envoys were very weak, supported by others as they emerged from behind the crowd. When they saw their emperor personally leading troops, saw their own Bai family army soldiers, saw their emperor in silver armor and military dress on horseback, they couldn’t help but tear up with emotion.
“Zhou envoys, you have suffered! Now the treasonous Second Prince is dead, and Great Zhou’s emperor has also returned our Seventh Prince to us… Our entire Dongyi nation is endlessly grateful to the Great Zhou’s emperor. This palace’s Great Zhou refined speech is poor—please, Zhou envoy, convey our gratitude!” The Empress smiled as she spoke to Liu Rushi.
Liu Rushi looked coldly at the Dongyi Empress. This Empress had first used their Zhou envoys’ safety to have the Seventh Prince sent to Great Zhou for refuge, resulting in Prince Hancheng’s death in battle. Now that the Great Zhou was destroying Dongyi, this Empress had opportunistically killed the usurping Second Prince, wanting Great Zhou to put her son on the throne. Her calculations were ringing loud and clear.
Seeing Liu Rushi remain silent, the Dongyi Empress wasn’t afraid either. Now that the situation was set, Yan’s Regent was also about to reach Dongyi’s capital. As long as the Great Zhou’s emperor didn’t want the Yan nation, which had previously caused trouble for Great Zhou, to gain advantage, she couldn’t destroy Dongyi and split it equally with Yan. Otherwise, if the Great Zhou fought the war but Yan reaped the benefits, that would be unreasonable.
Thus, they could only support her son’s ascension to the throne.
The Dongyi Empress didn’t argue with Liu Rushi. Seeing Bai Qingyan dismounting with those generals in armor, the Dongyi Empress led the Dongyi officials and went forward with Liu Rushi and the others to greet them.
Seeing Bai Qingyan standing with hands behind her back, waiting for them to approach, the Dongyi Empress stepped forward and lowered her posture extremely: “Greetings to Great Zhou’s emperor…”
A Dongyi court official who knew refined speech stood beside the Dongyi Empress. After bowing, he spoke: “Greetings to Great Zhou’s emperor. Our Empress’s refined speech is poor…”
“No matter. I understand a bit of Dongyi language…” Bai Qingyan didn’t wait for the official to finish. Her eyebrows and eyes opened with a smile as she spoke—surprisingly, in Dongyi language.
The Dongyi Empress looked up in astonishment at the woman before her with stunning features and elegant bearing. How could Great Zhou’s emperor speak Dongyi so well?
That Dongyi court official also appeared very astonished, hurriedly bowing respectfully and retreating to stand behind the Dongyi Empress.
“This minister pays respects to Your Majesty!” Liu Rushi stepped forward, supported by others, about to lead the Great Zhou envoys in kneeling.
But Bai Qingyan stepped forward first to support Liu Rushi: “Minister Liu and all the ministers have suffered!”
Liu Rushi worried that Bai Qingyan might be deceived by this Dongyi Empress. Now that their army was at the city gates, they naturally feared nothing, so he spoke: “Your Majesty… this time Dongyi pursued our Great Zhou envoy ships, resulting in Prince Hancheng’s death in battle. The cause…”
“I know everything. Don’t worry!” Bai Qingyan signaled for her soldiers to help Liu Rushi rest.
But Liu Rushi was unwilling to leave, standing behind Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan looked at the Dongyi Empress again, speaking in Dongyi language in measured tones: “The Dongyi Empress executed that treasonous usurping Second Prince, which could be considered revenge for Prince Hancheng and our Great Zhou naval soldiers, and also… for the Seventh Prince!”
The Empress had initially smiled when hearing Bai Qingyan’s earlier words about avenging Prince Hancheng and Great Zhou’s naval soldiers, but upon hearing about avenging her son, her expression changed dramatically. Her gaze fell on the distant carriage as she steadied her mind: “My son… is my son well?”
“As the Empress knows, it was truly difficult for our Great Zhou envoys to escape with the Seventh Prince. To protect the Seventh Prince completely, our Great Zhou’s Prince Hancheng died in battle, and all the Great Zhou naval soldiers led by Prince Hancheng perished. Though they protected the Seventh Prince, Du Yulang received orders from the Second Prince to kill the Seventh Prince at all costs and set fire…” Bai Qingyan’s voice was steady, carrying some grief. “Later, assassins were sent to pursue them to Jinwan City. Nanny Xiong by the Seventh Prince’s side, Guard Jiangkou, and fourteen other guards all died in battle. Though the Seventh Prince’s life was preserved, his injuries… Our Great Zhou’s renowned physicians healed the Seventh Prince’s body, but the burn scars on his face may be difficult to fully heal.”
Bai Jinzhi looked surprised. When was the Second Prince of Dongyi burned? How did she not know?
Upon hearing this, the Dongyi Empress’s eyes widened. Her son had been sent away by her—how could he have been taken away by Great Zhou’s envoys?!
After being stunned for a moment, the Dongyi Empress suddenly widened her eyes as she looked at Bai Qingyan, whose expression was solemn and whose gaze was deep and cold. Remembering her son’s longevity lock that the wife of the Assistant Minister of Revenue had delivered into her hands, she suddenly felt a bone-chilling sensation.
Perhaps it wasn’t that Guard Jiangkou, who had been protecting her son, felt the time was right and had someone contact Great Zhou’s emperor. Rather, Great Zhou’s emperor had captured her son, and this Assistant Minister of Revenue had also betrayed her, or… this Assistant Minister of Revenue had also been used by Great Zhou’s emperor.
The Great Zhou’s emperor said her son’s face had been burned—she probably wanted to arrange for someone to impersonate her son and become Dongyi’s emperor!
The Great Zhou’s emperor would use her son as leverage. If she didn’t agree to this impostor taking the throne in her son’s place, then… she would certainly kill her son.
The Dongyi Empress suddenly gripped her skirt, her face pale as snow, nearly unable to stand steady. The maid beside the Dongyi Empress lowered her eyes, her pupils trembling, understanding that their Empress’s schemes had probably long been seen through by Great Zhou’s emperor. The Great Zhou’s emperor had used their plan against them, wanting to place her person as Dongyi’s emperor to control Dongyi.
The Empress steadied her mind. She told herself not to panic. Yan’s Regent had also come. When two tigers fight… she would still have room to maneuver.
The Empress forced a difficult smile and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Thank you, Great Zhou’s emperor, for taking such care with my son. All of Dongyi is endlessly grateful.”