“How about we form our alliance separately at the time of the four-nation alliance, or simply form our alliance first when all four nations gather for the alliance…” Xiao Rongyan said with a smile. “This would openly tell them that Great Yan and Great Zhou advance and retreat together, making them act more sensibly.”

“Good…” She nodded. This was a small matter that had already been predetermined between the two nations. “Let the officials responsible for this alliance work with Liu Rushi to settle this. Additionally, there’s another matter I need to ask you about…”

“Mm, speak!” Xiao Rongyan nodded.

“The former advisor to the deposed Crown Prince of Jin… Ren Shijie. Do you still want this person?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Xiao Rongyan’s lips parted slightly. It had been a very long time since there was any news of Ren Shijie. He had sent out large numbers of men to investigate, but found no trace. He had thought Ren Shijie had died in that palace coup orchestrated by Prince Liang of Jin.

“You’ve been holding him prisoner all this time?” Xiao Rongyan was quite surprised.

“Yes…” Bai Qingyan thought of Ren Shijie, and a faint smile curved her lips. “He originally intended to use Jinxiu to escape, but Jinxiu saw through his methods. After the capital was pacified, Jinxiu had him imprisoned in the dungeon. That dungeon was originally used for interrogating spies! There were no methods that harmed flesh and blood, but there… There was not a single sound, no people, and no light. Completely quiet and silent.”

Xiao Rongyan knew of this place. The capital had once been built by Xiao Rongyan’s mother, Empress Ji. Great Yan had the construction plans of the capital and knew it inside and out.

Those imprisoned in that place, though they never suffered physical torture, endured the deepest mental torment. People there couldn’t feel the flow of time, had no idea how much time had passed, didn’t know if it was day or night, with only pitch darkness before their eyes.

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but worry about Ren Shijie.

Bai Qingyan said, “When I remembered him, it was just before departing for Pingyang City. I thought this Master Ren would be like others who had been imprisoned in this dungeon before—either having committed suicide or gone mad. I didn’t expect him to still be alive, so I brought him for you. Naturally… he’ll also be used during this alliance signing and then handed over to Yan, which can be considered our sincerity.”

To survive under such conditions for so long showed his mental fortitude.

Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, Xiao Rongyan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded…

Xiao Rongyan hoped that all the people he had sent out could return home alive and safely, not ending up like Master Guan.

Moreover, now Yan no longer needed these loyal and righteous men to sacrifice their lives for the nation’s survival.

“Good, I trouble A’Bao… to take good care of him.” Xiao Rongyan said.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Rest assured. Physician Hong has already treated him. Though he’s become thin, fortunately, his spirit remains. Physician Hong said… he had the bearing of one who would commit suicide if Great Zhou tried to use him to threaten Yan, showing great loyalty to Yan. We deeply admire such a person.”

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan set the date for the four-nation alliance as the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, which was the date Liu Rushi had previously told the envoys from Tianfeng and Xiliang.

The Great Zhou and Great Yan unified their stance, both setting the alliance date for the fifteenth day of the twelfth month. No matter how slow Tianfeng and Xiliang were, they would know that Great Yan and Great Zhou had already joined forces.

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month in the first year of Yuanhe, Great Zhou, Great Yan, Xiliang, and Tianfeng would form their four-nation alliance.

The alliance location was set ten li outside Pingyang City.

Bai Jinzhi, Shen Kunyang, and Cheng Yuanzhi had already gone early to muster troops and prepare for departure.

After the morning meal, Chun Zhi served Bai Qingyan as she changed into the Great Zhou Emperor’s attire. Today was the four-nation alliance, so her dress should be more formal.

Chun Zhi was kneeling beside the soft couch, putting on Bai Qingyan’s luxurious boots adorned with southern pearls, when Wei Zhong hurried in. Even through the screen, his excitement was unmistakable as he spoke: “Your Majesty, the Fifth Young Master has come! It’s the Fifth Young Master! He’s waiting at the entrance!”

Bai Qingyan’s head shot up suddenly. A’Yu?!

Hadn’t she already sent word to A’Yu telling him to return to the capital? Why had A’Yu come?

“Please bring him in!” Though she said this, she had already stood up, lifting the hem of her imperial robes as she walked toward the outer room.

A’Yu… could finally return openly using his own identity.

Before even seeing A’Yu, her eyes were already red.

Seeing Bai Qingyan hurrying toward the outer room, eunuchs and palace maids knelt everywhere.

“Eldest Miss, please slow down!” Chun Zhi hurried to follow behind, running in small steps.

The thick cotton curtain was lifted, and as soon as she stepped out of the main room, she was struck by a surge of bitter warmth that flooded her eyes.

The snow in the courtyard had been swept clean, with only the snow on the bare trees falling in rustling sounds as the wind passed.

Wearing a black cloak and frost-colored straight robe with a jade belt, Bai Qingyu stood upright with his hands behind his back outside the courtyard gate, looking up at the snow-laden tree in the courtyard. His ink-black hair was combed meticulously, and he wore a half silver mask covering the burned side of his face, leaving only the undamaged half visible…

Gentle as jade, a noble gentleman without equal.

His features were like the bright moon and azure clouds, his bearing like a solitary pine standing alone, with unparalleled elegant beauty that was unique in the world.

Even showing only half his features was enough to let one glimpse how this young man had once been like jade trees and orchids, bringing to mind verses like “When the youth wore thin spring robes, riding horses by the slanted bridge, with red sleeves beckoning from every tower.”

Seeing his elder sister standing in the corridor from the corner of his eye, Bai Qingyu’s lips curved in a smile, his eyes reddening as he bowed to his sister from afar.

Wang Dong, following beside Bai Qingyu, choked up. When Bai Qingyu still held the identity of the Ghost-Faced Prince, Wang Dong had hidden in the posthouse, not daring to show his face for fear of being recognized by people familiar with the capital and bringing trouble to his master. He could only bow toward the palace direction from afar, kowtowing to the Eldest Miss and the various ladies of the Bai family.

Seeing Bai Qingyu lift the hem of his straight robe and step across the small courtyard threshold, Wang Dong hurried to follow behind.

Bai Qingyan’s lips trembled as she looked at A’Yu’s facial features, which had shed their youthful innocence and become more profound and upright. Her eyes stung with unshed tears.

Previously, when she had seen A’Yu in the palace and heard his hoarse voice, she knew A’Yu had been burned, so she hadn’t forced him to remove his mask, fearing it would hurt his pride and also fearing their mother would be heartbroken seeing it. Now seeing her brother’s half-intact face, her heart, which had been hanging in her throat, settled somewhat, yet she felt even more distressed.

In the gap when her eyes were moistened with mist, Bai Qingyu had already walked before her, standing below the high steps of the corridor. He lifted the hem of his robes and knelt, choking out: “Elder Sister, A’Yu has returned… using his name…”

“Eldest Miss…” Wang Dong’s knees hit the ground heavily as he kowtowed to Bai Qingyan. “Wang Dong is useless, failed to protect the master well. Please punish Wang Dong, Eldest Miss.”