“Ten years would be enough to make those originally leased cities truly become territories of the Tianfeng Kingdom! Only then would you truly take root in this land!” Bai Qingyan’s words were merciless, directly piercing through the schemes of Sa’er Khan, the ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom. “Could Tianfeng Kingdom use these cities as strongholds, employing elephant armies to conquer territory and expand their domain?”

“The Zhou Emperor worries too much!” Sa’er Khan laughed in denial. “If that were truly the case, we could seize Xiliang now and use Xiliang as our stronghold, employing elephant armies to conquer territory all the same, couldn’t we?”

Bai Qingyan stopped her steps before the carriage, turned her head to look at Sa’er Khan, and the corners of her lips curved upward. The ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom didn’t want to pierce through this layer of pretense, still wanting to leave some room for both nations…

The elephant army was indeed a threat to the Great Zhou, but… having met this ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom today, she was very clear in her heart that given this Tianfeng ruler’s ambitions and Tianfeng Kingdom’s current situation, this battle was absolutely unavoidable.

For Tianfeng Kingdom, winter had already arrived, and the elephants feared cold… it wasn’t a good time for war. But for the Great Zhou, the best opportunity for battle was right now!

Therefore, Bai Qingyan smiled and said, “Whether I worry too much, the ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom naturally knows in his heart. But for me… what the ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom says is like the human heart being separated by the belly – unknowable. As Great Zhou’s emperor, I naturally must consider Great Zhou’s interests. I cannot use the Great Zhou’s entire nation to gamble on whether my worries are excessive. Therefore, the alliance proposed by the ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom, the Great Zhou, cannot be agreed to! Moreover, the Great Zhou and Xiliang are irreconcilable enemies and will certainly go to war. Whether Tianfeng Kingdom intervenes or not makes no difference to Great Zhou!”

Snowflakes fell on Bai Qingyan’s dense, long eyelashes that resembled feather fans. Bai Qingyan’s distinct black and white tranquil eyes were difficult to read for joy or anger, with a shallow smile, composed and gentle, as if she were merely discussing the most ordinary matters with Sa’er Khan, without any hostile emotions.

Across the vast falling snow, seeing such a gaze gradually calmed Sa’er Khan’s anxious heart.

Bai Qingyan had spoken so clearly, but… it was currently winter with heavy snow, and the climate was unfavorable for the elephant army. Sa’er Khan pressed his lips together: “What if Yun Poxing is already dead?”

“Then there are still Yun Poxing’s clan relatives with the Yun surname. We’ll simply engage in battle…”

As Bai Qingyan finished speaking and was about to take Bai Jinzhi’s hand to board the carriage, Sa’er Khan suddenly extended his hand: “Be careful…”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell upon the jade cicada in Sa’er Khan’s hand, and her steps paused.

Before Sa’er Khan could touch Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyu stepped forward first and grasped Sa’er Khan’s wrist. Yang Wu’s thumb alertly pressed against his sword hilt with cold light flashing, while Shen Qingzhu and Bai Jinzhi stepped forward even earlier to shield Bai Qingyan.

The guards behind Sa’er Khan immediately drew their blades, and Great Zhou’s soldiers also unsheathed their weapons.

The atmosphere instantly became tense with drawn swords.

“Ninth Uncle!” Murong Li’s expression was taut.

Murong Yan’s eyes darkened: “Go take a look. Great Zhou just signed an alliance with us – we can’t let anyone attack the Great Zhou Empress here.”

“Yes!” Yue Shi received the order and headed over with several guards.

Although Bai Qingyu was beside Bai Qingyan and would certainly protect her, he still wasn’t at ease.

“It’s nothing…” Sa’er Khan first raised his hand to signal his guards to sheathe their weapons.

Only then did Bai Qingyu release Sa’er Khan.

He bowed deeply to apologize to Bai Qingyan: “I’ve startled Your Majesty.”

Bai Jinzhi looked oddly at Sa’er Khan, who had wanted to help her elder sister, unceremoniously pushing him aside as she supported her elder sister.

When Bai Qingyan saw the jade cicada in Sa’er Khan’s hand, she almost instinctively tightened her grip on the pouch at her waist, where a jade cicada lay inside…

“This is…” Bai Qingyan stared intently at the jade cicada in Sa’er Khan’s hand.

“Eh? Isn’t this… brother-in-law’s jade cicada?” Bai Jinzhi widened her eyes as she looked at Sa’er Khan. “Where did you get this?”

Bai Jinzhi had seen that jade cicada before – Xiao Rongyan used to always hold it in his hand and play with it.

Although Xiao Rongyan couldn’t see clearly, his hearing had always been good. Hearing the words “brother-in-law” and “jade cicada,” he planned to find an opportunity later to ask what was happening…

Sa’er Khan looked down at the jade cicada in his hand. Hearing such a question, his expression became tense: “Has Prince Gaoyi seen this jade cicada before?”

Bai Jinzhi was about to speak when she noticed her elder sister squeeze her hand. She said: “Naturally, I’ve seen it, which is why I ask you… Where did you get this?”

“This jade cicada is Tianfeng Kingdom’s national treasure, the symbol of successive rulers of Tianfeng Kingdom. Originally, there was a pair!” Sa’er Khan bowed deeply to Bai Jinzhi. “Dare I ask Prince Gaoyi, where is this other jade cicada now? If the jade cicada could return to Tianfeng Kingdom, Tianfeng Kingdom would be willing to pay any price!”

“This jade cicada – my deceased Imperial Consort once had one, but later it went missing, so… when Prince Gaoyi saw this jade cicada, she thought it was my Imperial Consort’s jade cicada. Now it seems… It’s not.”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan nodded slightly to Sa’er Khan and boarded the carriage with Bai Jinzhi’s support.

Tianfeng Kingdom’s national treasure?

Bai Qingyan didn’t believe this Tianfeng ruler’s words, but… judging from this Tianfeng ruler’s expression when he entered the tent, this jade cicada must hold extraordinary significance for the Tianfeng Kingdom.

Bai Jinzhi helped Bai Qingyan board the carriage, then came out. She glanced at the Tianfeng ruler, who was clutching the jade cicada and walking toward her, her expression unfriendly.

Who would have thought that this Tianfeng ruler would bow to Bai Jinzhi: “Dare I ask Prince Gaoyi, was the Empress’s Imperial Consort’s jade cicada identical to the one in my hand? Is it lost, or was it buried with him?”

Upon hearing these words, Bai Jinzhi became furious: “What? If it were buried with him, would you still want to dig up my brother-in-law’s grave? My elder sister said it was lost, so it’s lost…”

After speaking, Bai Jinzhi leaped onto her horse, forcing Sa’er Khan, who was eager to know the whereabouts of the other jade cicada, to step back two paces.

Bai Qingyu also noticed Sa’er Khan’s reaction to the jade cicada. He mounted his horse and called out loudly: “Depart!”

The Great Zhou’s cavalry escort protected the Great Zhou Emperor’s carriage, slowly departing from the four-nation alliance camp toward the northern black banner with white python flags of the black-armored army.

Great Yan’s heavy cavalry also escorted the carriage carrying Great Yan’s Ninth Prince and Great Yan’s young emperor, departing from the alliance camp toward the western direction, where the mysterious bird and azure sparrow banners of the endless heavy cavalry warriors advanced.

Li Tianfu emerged from the main tent, glanced at Sa’er Khan’s retreating figure, and the corners of his lips curved upward…

Now, even if Tianfeng Kingdom didn’t want to be drawn into this war, they would have to be drawn into it!

This ruler of Tianfeng Kingdom treated her like a fool all day long – did he think she was stupid enough to know nothing? Now that Tianfeng Kingdom’s territory was continuously being swallowed by sand, only by opening up new territories could their people have a place to stand. Otherwise, if the desert swallowed Tianfeng Kingdom, their people would face certain death.