She had always thought that having a shallow fate with offspring was merely Physician Hong’s euphemistic way of speaking, but who could have imagined… after just one intimate encounter with Xiao Rongyan, she would have a child.

This… she had never considered.

Bai Qingyan placed her hand over her lower abdomen. This feeling was extraordinarily wondrous—there was a completely new little life in her womb, hers and Xiao Rongyan’s child.

She turned to look at Xiao Rongyan…

Seeing his deep eyes filled with worry, her hand over her abdomen unconsciously tightened. She truly hadn’t thought she could have children in this lifetime, let alone that this child would come at such an inopportune time.

Yan and Great Zhou, due to their different governing philosophies and national policies, could not coexist and would inevitably have to fight, even now preparing for that future war.

Yet as Great Zhou’s Female Emperor, she had conceived a child with Yan’s regent. She imagined Xiao Rongyan must be caught in a terrible dilemma at this moment.

“Though the Bai family is no longer as precarious as before, and you have already ascended to the throne, ascending to the throne is not the time for you to act recklessly. You should be even more self-disciplined and respectful of propriety, setting an example for all the people of Great Zhou.” Dong Shi’s anger surged as she stared intently at her daughter, speaking rapidly and urgently. “At Jingxi’s rocky rapids, people are cautious, and year-round, no one hears of capsizing, yet in calm waters without stones, one constantly hears of drowning! When full, think of want; when level, think of danger; when safe, think of peril! Dwelling high, think of danger; when prosperous and full, guard against overflow! The gentleman thinks of troubles and prepares against them… but what about you?! Have you done this?”

“Now that you’ve ascended to the throne as a woman, how many people are dissatisfied? How many are eagerly watching for your mistakes? Yet you… became pregnant before marriage. If this spreads, who knows how many with ulterior motives will use this to attack you, trying to drag you down from your high position!” Dong Shi’s voice rose extremely high due to anger. “If you were pulled down, could you face the Bai family army who followed you unto death? Could you face the people who support you? In that case… could the Great Zhou you envision still come to pass? Could the aspirations of generations of the Bai family still be realized? Your ambitions… your grand aspirations, how would you achieve them? Have you thought of this?!”

After scolding Bai Qingyan, Dong Shi’s tears fell drop by drop.

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together, feeling ashamed in her heart, knowing this time it was her inability to control her emotions and failure to restrain herself that caused these consequences.

“Moreover, the man you chose is also Great Yan’s Ninth Prince…” Dong Shi’s chest heaved violently. “How will Great Zhou’s people think of this? It will not only shake the military’s support for you, but also shake the court and the people!”

Xiao Rongyan gripped the clothes at his side tightly, understanding that his inability to control his emotions had indeed brought enormous trouble to Bai Qingyan.

“The path you’ve chosen to walk now isn’t just you walking alone—our entire Bai family is following you! Mother’s maternal family, the Dong family… and your four aunts’ maternal families are all following you, each person doing their utmost to support you! Speaking more broadly… all of Great Zhou’s people are following behind you! A’Bao… you’re not just one person now!” Dong Shi’s eyes reddened as she gripped her daughter’s hand forcefully. “You are the emperor of Great Zhou’s ten thousand people! You are their ruler! Anyone who sits in this position and then acts willfully… that’s a tyrant!”

At this point, Dong Shi was already choking with emotion, tears streaming down her face: “Mother hopes to see the peaceful realm that your grandfather, your father, and you once described. Mother doesn’t want you to be careless for a moment and get caught in the whirlpool of fighting with treacherous villains. You shouldn’t be dragged down by such matters! Your wisdom should be used in broader places! That’s why… You must be even more careful in word and deed, strict in self-discipline!”

Since ascending to the throne, Bai Qingyan had indeed lost some of the caution she had when the Bai family was in mortal danger. Perhaps because circumstances were different, Bai Qingyan’s mindset had undergone changes she hadn’t noticed. From having no bargaining chips and walking carefully as if on thin ice, to later… holding military power, and now ascending to the throne, as Bai Qingyan’s backing grew stronger, her actions became increasingly effortless, and with that came a relaxation of vigilance.

“Dwelling in safety, think of danger”—these four words were what Bai Qingyan had neglected.

She tightened her grip, threw off the thin blanket, and solemnly knelt before Dong Shi, kowtowing: “Mother’s teaching is right. A’Bao knows her wrong! From now on, I will certainly be vigilant and self-reflective.”

Xiao Rongyan watched Dong Shi scold Bai Qingyan so swiftly and sternly, quietly kneeling there looking at Dong Shi, somehow feeling an acidic sensation in his heart.

The mother in Xiao Rongyan’s memory was already very, very distant from him—even in his mind, only a blurred outline remained. Watching the scene of Dong Shi scolding Bai Qingyan, he felt quite envious.

His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan’s back, and he had to admit Dong Shi was right. It was his failure to restrain himself that brought enormous trouble to Bai Qingyan.

He admitted he had also harbored a fortunate mentality, thinking… he and Bai Qingyan would never have children in this lifetime, which led to his excessive indulgence.

Dong Shi closed her eyes, looking at her daughter’s still, bloodless little face, heartbroken as she helped her daughter up: “Enough! Enough! Now is not the time for one to scold and one to admit fault. Fortunately, Physician Hong discovered it early. The plan now… is to have you marry Xiao Rongyan, who has shown kindness to our Bai family as the world’s greatest righteous merchant, making Xiao Rongyan your imperial consort. This way, it gives the child proper legitimacy!”

After helping her daughter up and finishing her words, Dong Shi looked at Xiao Rongyan, who was still kneeling on the ground: “If you can abandon Yan for A’Bao and the child in A’Bao’s womb, then let Great Yan’s Ninth Prince die of illness,’ and from then on… You are properly A’Bao’s imperial consort! Don’t interfere in government affairs! If you cannot abandon Yan, then marry A’Bao as Xiao Rongyan, and later find an opportunity to let the ‘imperial consort’ die of illness. From then on, this child will be our Bai family’s child, with no further connection to you.”

Xiao Rongyan’s palms tightened, his heart feeling as if pressed by a thousand-pound stone…

On one side were A’Bao and the child, on the other was Yan, his mother’s and imperial brother’s aspirations and trust.

And for Great Yan’s Ninth Prince Murong Yan to marry Bai Qingyan, Great Zhou’s Female Emperor, was impossible. Even Great Zhou’s court ministers wouldn’t agree.

“Mother, this matter is the daughter’s fault. Please don’t blame A’Yan…” Bai Qingyan grasped Dong Shi’s hand.

Dong Shi gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand forcefully, using her eyes to warn Bai Qingyan not to speak. What Dong Shi wanted to see… was Xiao Rongyan’s attitude.

Xiao Rongyan also shook his head at Bai Qingyan. He solemnly kowtowed to Dong Shi and said, “Madam Bai, now that Great Yan’s young ruler has ascended the throne, before my brother’s passing, he entrusted Great Yan to Yan. Yan dare not be negligent, and has never forgotten my mother’s and brother’s aspiration to unify the world!”