Lu Ping clasped his hands and said to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, this subordinate will follow along. If they can be persuaded, that’s best. If Sun Wenyao cannot persuade them, we’ll capture them directly to prevent future troubles.”

Lu Ping’s meaning was to give them time to meet, but not allow them to escape. This matter could not be handled with soft hearts, or there would be endless troubles.

After all, those royal secret guards never cultivated bonds between comrades. Perhaps if Sun Wenyao went to persuade them to surrender, he would instead be killed.

However, Lu Ping still admired that Sun Wenyao would seek a way out for these comrades with whom he had barely exchanged words.

Seeing Sun Wenyao thinking, Wei Zhong smiled and said to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, this old slave dares to have something to ask this person. May I?”

“Go ahead…”

After Wei Zhong thanked and bowed to Bai Qingyan, he turned to look at Sun Wenyao and asked: “I wonder, in the secret guard training center, what three weapons did you choose?”

“Sword… Dark Jade Blade, and… Heaven Silk,” Sun Wenyao lowered his head even further.

Wei Zhong looked toward Lu Ping, who understood and stepped forward to search Sun Wenyao’s waist, indeed finding the Heaven Silk. He quickly stepped forward to hand it to Bai Qingyan.

Just as Bai Qingyan was about to reach out to take it, Wei Zhong quickly stopped her.

Wei Zhong used a handkerchief to cushion his palm, carefully receiving it and holding it in his hands for Bai Qingyan to see: “Your Majesty, this thing is formidable – thin as thread but extremely sharp, and usually poisoned.”

Since Bai Qingyan was now carrying twins, Wei Zhong was extremely cautious about anything Bai Qingyan wanted to touch.

Though the Dark Jade Blade was a hidden weapon, it could still be found during searches, unlike Heaven Silk, which was so easily concealed on one’s body.

She glanced at the Heaven Silk in Wei Zhong’s hand, which indeed glowed with a dark green light.

“So you approached Xiao Si to kill me?” Bai Qingyan asked with a smile, seeming unafraid.

Sun Wenyao pressed his lips tightly together, neither confirming nor denying.

Lu Ping clenched his fists: “Whether it is or isn’t doesn’t matter. With this subordinate and Eunuch Wei here, he won’t be able to touch a single hair on First Miss’s head!”

Lu Ping immediately disliked this Sun Wenyao. Originally, because of Liu Pinggao’s words, Lu Ping had some admiration for him, but exploiting a woman’s feelings… and exploiting their Fourth Miss at that – this was absolutely intolerable!

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Then I’ll trouble Ping Shu to make this trip with Sun Wenyao.”

After Lu Ping left with Sun Wenyao, Wei Zhong put away the Heaven Silk and asked Bai Qingyan, “Your Majesty, should that Second Miss Qin be dealt with?”

“Leave her for now. She is, after all, a member of the Qin family. If, after Sun Wenyao and his people are dealt with cleanly, she can behave herself, then this matter can pass. But if… she still wants to cause trouble, it can be considered giving Qin Lang enough face.” As Bai Qingyan spoke, she unrolled the bamboo slip beside her, not wanting to discuss this matter further.

After Wei Zhong bowed to Bai Qingyan, he also withdrew from the great hall. Just as he was about to have someone dispose of the Heaven Silk in his hand, he saw the little eunuch assigned to serve Quan Yu running breathlessly toward the great hall.

Wei Zhong quickly wrapped the Heaven Silk in the handkerchief and tucked it into his sleeve, walking a few steps toward the little eunuch. Wei Zhong knew that Bai Qingyan greatly valued this little eunuch called Quan Yu.

“Eunuch Wei!” The little eunuch ran over and bowed to Wei Zhong.

“No need for formalities. Has something happened to Quan Yu again…” Wei Zhong asked.

The little eunuch’s eyes showed joy as he looked up at Wei Zhong, wiping sweat with his sleeve: “Eunuch Quan Yu is fine. He’s been eating more these days and seems to have come to terms with things. He sent this slave to tell Eunuch Wei that he wishes to request an audience with the Empress to personally kowtow and thank Her Majesty for saving his life.”

Wei Zhong was somewhat surprised. Ever since Quan Yu lost his leg, he had been dispirited and dejected even after his wounds healed.

Even though Bai Qingyan was so busy after ascending the throne, she had still found time to visit Quan Yu twice, though both times she had quietly looked through the window without going in.

At first, Wei Zhong thought Quan Yu might resent Bai Qingyan for having his leg severed, but later, when Quan Yu twice left suicide notes, both letters expressed gratitude to Bai Qingyan – he simply didn’t want to become a useless person.

Now that Quan Yu wanted to see Bai Qingyan, he must have finally come to terms with things.

“Good… I’ll go inform His Majesty,” Wei Zhong responded.

When Bai Qingyan heard about Quan Yu wanting to see her, she finally felt relieved. She said to Wei Zhong, “Go personally and bring Quan Yu here.”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong accepted the order.

When Quan Yu appeared before Bai Qingyan again, he had become so thin that his cheekbones protruded, his eye sockets were sunken, and his originally round cheeks had also become hollow.

During this period, Quan Yu had been planning to come see Bai Qingyan. He had been eating properly and practicing walking with crutches, all so that he would be in better condition when he saw Bai Qingyan, not wasting the life she had saved.

In the great hall, candlelight flickered.

Quan Yu insisted on kneeling in the center of the hall, placing the grand eunuch’s robes that Wei Zhong had brought today in front of him. He kowtowed three times to Bai Qingyan, thanking her for saving his life.

“Enough…” Bai Qingyan’s eyes reddened slightly as she signaled Wei Zhong to help Quan Yu up.

Quan Yu quickly waved at Wei Zhong: “I still have something to say to His Majesty!”

“Get up first and then speak…” she said.

“I’d rather speak while kneeling!” Quan Yu’s eyes held a smile. “First Miss… actually, Quan Yu very much wants to serve at First Miss’s side, but now… Quan Yu has lost a leg and really… can’t serve First Miss anymore! So… this position of grand eunuch, Quan Yu, truly doesn’t dare accept.”

He finally addressed Bai Qingyan as “First Miss,” feeling this address was more intimate.

As Quan Yu spoke, his reddened eyes filled with tears, and he choked up: “First Miss is now the honored Empress and should have more capable people like Eunuch Wei serving at your side – that would be better for First Miss!”

Bai Qingyan quietly watched Quan Yu without making a sound. Quan Yu’s tears fell as he kowtowed again: “Quan Yu wishes to request a favor from First Miss. I want to leave the palace and return to my hometown, buy a small courtyard, tend flowers and plants, pray for First Miss… pray for Great Zhou for the rest of my life. Please grant this request, First Miss.”

After a long while, Bai Qingyan nodded: “Since you insist on this, I’ll have someone make arrangements.”

“Thank you, First Miss!” Quan Yu kowtowed again. “I hope First Miss takes care of herself. Quan Yu will never forget First Miss’s kindness in this lifetime.”

Quan Yu didn’t know whether the Crown Prince was still alive – this was also why he couldn’t serve Bai Qingyan.

According to reason, with Bai Qingyan ascending as the new emperor and establishing a new dynasty, the deposed Crown Prince of the old dynasty… certainly couldn’t be left alive.

The Jin dynasty’s deposed Crown Prince had shown Quan Yu kindness, and Bai Qingyan had also shown him kindness, so he dared not ask.

Bai Qingyan didn’t say because she feared that, with Quan Yu’s current physical condition, following the deposed Crown Prince wouldn’t provide good care. Since Quan Yu had once shown kindness to the Bai family, she held gratitude for him in her heart.

“Quan Yu takes his leave…” After bowing, Quan Yu supported himself with his crutch and stood up with great difficulty.

He took a deep look at Bai Qingyan, who now sat on the imperial throne, leaning on his crutch with a smile in his eyes…