“When old friends meet, Prince Xihuai need not be so formal. Please sit!” Bai Qingyan dabbed her lips with a handkerchief. “There have been many matters today, and I haven’t had time to dine until now. I apologize for the poor hospitality, Prince Xihuai.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. That Your Majesty is so busy that you only dine at this hour shows your diligence.” After finishing his polite words, Prince Xihuai sat down below Bai Qingyan’s seat. After thinking for a moment, he turned sideways toward Bai Qingyan and bowed again. “Your Majesty, since you consider me an old friend, I won’t stand on ceremony with Your Majesty. I dare to address Your Majesty as sister-in-law. Sister-in-law… I must be frank—I’ve come this time for my young nephew.”

Even without Prince Xihuai saying it, Bai Qingyan had already guessed.

“Earlier, I found him in the capital city, learning that he had entered Prince Zhenguo’s mansion as a guard. It seems… it seems…” Prince Xihuai pressed his lips together before continuing, “It seems he wanted an opportunity to get close to Yan’s emperor and regent prince to carry out an assassination! My nephew was once an emperor himself, but after Wei was destroyed by Yan, a fire burned in his heart. Please… sister-in-law, I hope you can understand. This time I’ve come to inform you of this matter because I want to take this child back before he causes trouble for Great Zhou, to prevent things from becoming unmanageable in the future.”

Bai Qingyan had no intention of telling Prince Xihuai about Tuoba Yao’s presence in Dongyi, so she pretended not to know and asked, “The King of Wei is at the Bai residence?”

Prince Xihuai didn’t hide anything from Bai Qingyan: “He entered Prince Zhenguo’s mansion. I even met him once in the capital city, but later that child disappeared. I know he was following beside Princess Yinghui. Later, I heard that Princess Yinghui went to the coastal areas to find you, sister-in-law, so I pursued the old lands of Great Liang. Then I heard that Princess Yinghui was escorting King Hancheng’s remains back to Hancheng. After much inquiry, I still couldn’t find my little nephew. Thinking that you, sister-in-law, were about to enter Yan… I estimated that little rascal wanted to follow the army you led into Yan, so I rushed here with all speed. Please, sister-in-law, for the sake of Rongyan being like a brother to me, let me take that child back and spare you any trouble he might cause after entering Yan!”

Weizhong led people in to serve food to Prince Xihuai, while he offered hot tea to Bai Qingyan.

“The King of Wei is still young…” Bai Qingyan picked up her teacup, frowning, and asked Weizhong, “Does Xiao Qi have such a young guard by his side?”

Weizhong immediately turned sideways and respectfully replied: “Your Majesty, Princess Yinghui originally had such a guard, but when Your Majesty decided to split forces with Princess Yinghui—having Princess Yinghui escort King Hancheng’s remains back to Hancheng while returning to the capital with General Cheng Yuanzhi and the Bai family army—I heard that this young guard wanted to come to Yan. It seems he even argued with Princess Yinghui about it, and not long after, he left without saying goodbye. Earlier… Princess Yinghui even asked Prince Zhongguo to look for this young guard on the way to Yan, and if found, to take good care of him. This old servant happened to overhear.”

Weizhong smiled and nodded slightly toward Prince Xihuai, who was looking at him: “However, Prince Zhongguo has not found this young guard until now.”

Bai Qingyan nodded seriously and looked toward Prince Xihuai: “Now that Yan has sealed its cities, not allowing Great Zhou’s armies to enter or exit, they certainly wouldn’t allow the King of Wei to enter easily either. Prince Xihuai need not worry about the King of Wei entering Yan. Like this… I will order people to keep watch along the way, and if they see the King of Wei, I will have someone send him back to Prince Xihuai’s side.”

Hearing this, Prince Xihuai sighed and sat improperly, leaning against the armrest with his brow furrowed: “A’Yao is my royal brother’s only flesh and blood. I have failed my royal brother… I managed to survive with my life, yet I cannot even properly watch over A’Yao.”

Weizhong glanced at Bai Qingyan, and seeing that she held her hot tea with a gentle smile without offering comfort, he stood quietly beside her without speaking.

“Since Wei no longer exists, I’ve been living in a daze. Before… I had so many friends around me, but only when trouble truly came did I realize… only Rongyan was a true friend. If he were here… he could still help me work through things.” Speaking of this, Prince Xihuai remembered that Bai Qingyan was Xiao Rongyan’s wife, and now that Xiao Rongyan was gone, Bai Qingyan must be the most sorrowful. Yet here he was, bringing up Bai Qingyan’s painful memories because of his bad mood. Feeling very apologetic, he quickly changed the subject: “I heard that sister-in-law has been blessed with dragon and phoenix twins. If Rongyan knew, he would surely be delighted!”

Prince Xihuai quickly took out two jade pendants from his chest and gestured for Weizhong to take them: “This pair of jade pendants—when I learned of my little nephew and niece’s birth, I had them carved from jade that Rongyan once gave me. I hope my little nephew and niece can… be safe and sound, never suffer from the chaos of war, and always stay with their sister-in-law!”

This was Prince Xihuai’s most sincere blessing. Now that his country was destroyed and his family scattered, he knew how precious it was for a family to always be together.

She understood Prince Xihuai’s good intentions. Taking the jade pendants from Weizhong’s hands and examining them, she saw that not only was the jade of rarely seen quality, but the craftsmanship was also exceptional—the dragon and phoenix were carved as if they had come alive.

“Prince Xihuai is so thoughtful! On behalf of the two children… I thank Prince Xihuai!” Bai Qingyan smiled as she accepted the jade pendants. “Regarding the King of Wei, I will send people to search for him.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!” Prince Xihuai lifted the wine cup from the table and drank it all in one gulp. “If only Rongyan were here… that would be wonderful!”

Seeing Prince Xihuai’s eyes reddening, truly saddened by Xiao Rongyan’s departure, Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze, not knowing how to offer comfort.

“Sister-in-law, you are now the noble Emperor of Great Zhou, yet after Rongyan’s departure, you have not established another imperial consort. I imagine… You cannot forget Rongyan either! If Rongyan knew from the underworld… he would surely understand that his devoted heart was not wrongly placed!” Prince Xihuai chuckled softly. “I also greatly envy the love you two shared!”

Unlike him, usually his concubines claimed to love him desperately, but when real danger came, didn’t they all… fly away on their own.

Life is short, lifespan predetermined by heaven. If one could obtain a love like that between Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, one could die without regrets!

“Prince Xihuai is still young, and life’s path is still long…” Bai Qingyan’s expression remained gentle and warm with that same tranquil smile. “In the future, you will surely meet a woman who knows and accepts you to achieve a good marriage. Prince Xihuai need not be anxious.”

Hearing this, Prince Xihuai waved his hand: “Forget about me—a homeless dog… what good marriage could there be? I would only burden a good family’s daughter! I only ask to not fail my royal brother’s trust, to be able to watch over A’Yao as he grows up, to see him marry and have children…”

Prince Xihuai paused here and looked at Bai Qingyan again: “Sister-in-law, I wonder… could you give A’Yao a chance to participate in the imperial examinations? If he truly has the ability, why not let him serve as an official in the Great Zhou?”