As soon as the words left her mouth, Bai Qingyan’s heart suddenly began pounding violently. The fierce beating struck her chest, causing an inexplicable tightness that made her heart race frantically as if it would burst from her ribcage. Her hand gripping the desk tightened as she forced herself to maintain a calm appearance.
Xiao Rongyan smiled and said, “Great Yan and Great Zhou have quite different governing philosophies, just as they have different understandings of what the sages taught… Each believes their way of governing is the righteous path. Since this is the case… a war between Great Zhou and Yan seems inevitable.”
The war between the Great Zhou and Great Yan was unavoidable—the sharp contradictions in their governing philosophies could not be reconciled.
Bai Qingyan agreed with what was written in the books left by Empress Ji, the importance of enlightening the people’s wisdom.
But Yan believed in using methods to keep the people ignorant to control them.
Bai Qingyan endured the discomfort throughout her chest, nodded, and said, “Those with different paths cannot work together. In that case, we can only compete to see whose fists are harder.”
“Since that’s the case, I’d like to make a gentleman’s agreement with Great Yan’s Ninth Prince.” Bai Qingyan clenched her fists tightly, doing her best to keep her voice clear. “Attacking cities and seizing territory is acceptable, but absolutely no massacring cities or harming civilians!”
War already caused tremendous harm to the people. Among Yan’s forces, there had been precedents of massacring cities after breaking through them. Bai Qingyan’s words were to prevent such occurrences.
After brief consideration, Xiao Rongyan raised his head to look at Bai Qingyan. Seeing her complexion, he braced himself against the desk and was about to stand up. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the masked prince across from him also making a move to stand with him, so he sat back down and nodded to Bai Qingyan: “Attack cities and seize territory, but absolutely no massacres!”
Among the Western Liang and Great Yan delegations that came to the capital this time, privately speaking… The Great Zhou’s relationship with Yan was closer. But unexpectedly, they couldn’t establish an alliance, and instead were the first to issue a declaration of war.
Since they had already determined they stood on opposing sides, from now on… it would be each relying on their own abilities, with the capable one achieving unification.
“A’Bao?” Xiao Rongyan’s heart lifted with concern seeing Bai Qingyan’s complexion.
Bai Qingyan waved her hand, indicating she was fine. She adjusted her sitting position, striving to keep her expression normal, but the violent pounding in her chest didn’t stop—it felt as if it might explode at any moment. She said, “Great Zhou is the opponent most worthy of Great Yan’s respect. The Great Zhou will exert all its efforts. Please don’t show mercy, Ninth Prince.”
Seeing Bai Qingyan appear unharmed, Xiao Rongyan inquired with his eyes. Seeing Bai Qingyan smile lightly and nod, he stared at her for a moment longer. Seeing her brow and eyes relaxed with no abnormality, he finally relaxed his straight spine slightly and nodded: “Your Majesty can rest assured, it will certainly be so.”
Since the two countries were going to war, the original marriage alliance naturally fell through. This also aligned with Xiao Rongyan’s original plan to have the “Ninth Prince sabotage the Yan-Zhou alliance.”
And today’s conversation had given Bai Qingyan much inspiration…
For instance, Xiao Rongyan said that Great Zhou’s current unity was because Bai Qingyan had established a goal for the people, which enabled Great Zhou to set aside minor details and work toward the same objective.
On this path of exploring governance, Bai Qingyan needed to maintain utmost vigilance and alertness, constantly making corrections.
Bai Qingyan closed her eyes. All she could hear was her heart’s irregular beating and the sound of blood rushing. With each heartbeat, blood surged toward her head in waves, and her consciousness flickered. Her vision gradually darkened.
Having sat down to speak frankly and reach a consensus, the stone in Xiao Rongyan’s heart had lifted. He looked toward Bai Qingyu and said, “Having finished official business as Great Zhou’s Female Emperor and Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, let’s now discuss private matters between you and me…”
Though Xiao Rongyan’s words were directed at Bai Qingyan, his gaze was fixed on Qingyu, clearly hoping that Bai Qingyu would tactfully leave first.
Bai Qingyu pretended not to see Xiao Rongyan’s gaze, lowering his eyes to pat nonexistent dust from his crow-blue robe, clearly intending to sit there without leaving.
Seeing Bai Qingyu play dumb, Xiao Rongyan smiled and added, “Additionally, I came to the palace today also wanting to pay respects to the Empress Dowager—first to honestly reveal my identity to her, and second to express my feelings for A’Bao to her.”
“Ninth Prince, you certainly separate public and private matters clearly…” Bai Qingyu’s voice carried several notes of sarcasm. “You want opposing countries to wage war, yet you can’t let go of romantic feelings. Aren’t you afraid the Empress Dowager will find the Ninth Prince too greedy and be displeased?”
“I bear heavy responsibilities and dare not disappoint my imperial brother’s trust. I have A’Bao in my heart and absolutely cannot let go of my feelings for her.” Xiao Rongyan nodded toward Bai Qingyu. “Please forgive me, Fifth Young Master.”
Bai Qingyan blinked hard. Her vision was blurry, breathing became increasingly difficult, and sweat slowly trickled down the back of her neck into her collar. She could no longer maintain a composed appearance.
Bai Qingyu turned to look at Xiao Rongyan, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Xiao Rongyan’s features carried a smile. From the moment this masked prince entered the hall, Xiao Rongyan had been observing Bai Qingyu. From his attitude toward Bai Qingyan, he shouldn’t be an elder of the Bai family—otherwise, given Bai Qingyan’s nature, even after ascending to the throne, she wouldn’t have received such courtesy.
He had also deliberately mentioned the Empress Dowager. If this were an ordinary Bai family descendant, mentioning the Empress Dowager should evoke more respect than intimacy, but this masked prince’s tone wasn’t like that.
Observing this masked prince’s bearing and recalling the feeling he gave him when they first met in Xiangliang, Xiao Rongyan was more inclined to believe this person was Bai Qingyan’s younger brother, the current Great Zhou Empress Dowager’s biological son, the legitimate orthodox heir of the capital’s Bai family… Bai Qingyu.
Murderous intent had already risen in Bai Qingyu’s heart: “Mr. Xiao is so clever… he probably doesn’t want to leave this hall alive.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sweet porcelain teacup on Bai Qingyan’s desk suddenly fell to the ground and shattered, tea water splashing everywhere.
Xiao Rongyan turned his head and saw that Bai Qingyan, who had just appeared composed and collected, had somehow stood up clutching her chest tightly. As if her soul had suddenly been extracted, she was falling straight toward where the porcelain had shattered.
“A’Bao!” Xiao Rongyan’s eyes widened. His body reacted faster than his voice—he took a quick step forward, almost throwing himself to barely catch Bai Qingyan’s head before it could hit the broken porcelain. The sharp porcelain fragments stabbed deeply into Xiao Rongyan’s hand and arm, making him grunt in pain.
Bai Qingyu was so startled he stood up, taking three steps in two strides as he ran toward Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister!”
Xiao Rongyan gritted his teeth and supported himself on one knee, holding the deathly pale and bloodless Bai Qingyan in his arms: “A’Bao! A’Bao!”
Only now did he discover that Bai Qingyan’s back was completely soaked. Gritting his teeth, he lifted Bai Qingyan and shouted: “Quickly call Physician Hong!”
“Elder Sister!” Bai Qingyu wanted to push Xiao Rongyan away, but at this moment, his sister was the priority. Even though he was hostile toward Xiao Rongyan, he didn’t want to waste time.
Outside the door, Chun Tao heard the commotion and, disregarding Nanny Tong’s instructions, rushed to the door and pushed it open. Before she could see what was happening, she saw Xiao Rongyan carrying Bai Qingyan out from inside.