She thought of the child in elder sister’s womb, then saw the gentle, soft smile at the corners of elder sister’s eyes and brows when she looked at Murong Yan. The anger in her heart immediately dissipated by half.

Previously, when she learned that Xiao Rongyan was gone, Bai Jinzhi had been sad for a long time… worrying for her elder sister and also for the child in elder sister’s womb. Now that Xiao Rongyan was still alive, this was joyous news. She should be happy for her elder sister.

Bai Jinzhi pressed her lips together and sat down, still looking indignant as she said: “For my elder sister’s sake, I’ll let it pass that you deceived me, but… you’re Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, and my elder sister is the Empress. When my little nephew or niece is born, how do you plan to handle this matter? Are you going to hide from the child that their father is still alive? If my great-aunt finds out you’re Great Yan’s Ninth Prince… not only will my elder sister be punished, but my great-aunt could skin you alive!”

Seeing Bai Jinzhi glaring at him, Murong Yan sat down and said: “Don’t worry, Xiao Si. Mother already knows.”

Bai Jinzhi: “…”

Great! Even great-aunt knew! After all this fuss, she was the only one who didn’t know!

She had grieved for so long over Xiao Rongyan’s death for nothing!

“However, since the two kingdoms haven’t merged yet, A’Yan’s identity shouldn’t be made public…”

“The kingdoms are merging?” Bai Qingyu looked up at Murong Yan, his fists clenching, his expression showing wariness and coldness. “A’jie… how will the two kingdoms merge?”

Bai Qingyan explained what she had previously discussed with Murong Yan – to determine the winner based on whose national policies could enrich the people and strengthen the Kingdom, with the losing kingdom joining the winning one.

Bai Qingyu wasn’t surprised that his A’jie had proposed this method of determining the winner. This was the heart of protecting and caring for the people that had been passed down through generations in the Bai family. What surprised him was that Murong Yan had agreed. He looked at Murong Yan with searching eyes.

Murong Yan knew that when they were in Xiangliang, there had been misunderstandings between him and Bai Qingyu. Later… it was also because he hadn’t restrained himself, and thinking A’Bao wouldn’t become pregnant, he had been overly indulgent, consummating their marriage before the wedding ceremony. As A’Bao’s blood brother, it was natural for him to harbor suspicions.

Therefore, Murong Yan lowered his posture: “Unifying the realm is a goal both our kingdoms share. Since our two kingdoms are already one family and our general directions for governing are similar, with only some differing national policies, there’s no need to make the people suffer the devastation of war again, nor is there any need for soldiers to shed blood and sacrifice themselves in vain.”

Although neither Xiao Rongyan nor Bai Qingyan had explicitly stated which kingdom would hold the throne after the merger, Bai Qingyu had already thought of the child in Bai Qingyan’s womb.

After the two kingdoms merged, the bloodline shared by both royal families would inherit the throne. This way, neither royal family would have complaints. Using whichever kingdom’s policies could make the people prosperous and the Kingdom strong was also very fair.

The anger in Bai Qingyu’s heart calmed considerably, and he also understood… Murong Yan making this decision was probably also due to having children with A’jie.

Speaking of which, this child’s arrival… might be heaven’s guidance and heaven’s help, enabling the unification of the realm to be completed sooner.

After pondering for a moment, Bai Qingyu looked up and saw his A’jie watching him. He nodded slightly to Bai Qingyan, expressing his agreement.

The corners of Bai Qingyan’s lips curved into a smile as she gently caressed her abdomen. The merger of the two kingdoms… having a child with bloodlines from both countries, bearing the responsibility of kingship, would be much more acceptable than one kingdom submitting to another after the merger.

Upon hearing about the kingdoms merging, Bai Jinzhi already showed an excited expression: “Then… the child in elder sister’s womb will become the new ruler! Elder sister, rest assured… when my little nephew or niece is born, I’ll pass on all my skills without reservation!”

Bai Qingyu was amused by Bai Jinzhi’s words. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if the new kingdom’s ruler had Xiao Si’s fiery, impetuous personality.

Bai Qingyan picked up her silver chopsticks: “Come, try this. This roasted pig was specially prepared by the Prefect’s wife. We shouldn’t disappoint her thoughtfulness.”

Having attended the four-nation alliance meeting today without even eating, Bai Jinzhi was already hungry. She used her silver chopsticks to pick up a slice of pork and put it in her mouth, covering her lips with one hand and showing an amazed expression.

Each slice of meat came with pig skin that had been roasted crispy, melting as soon as it touched her lips. There was a plum fragrance in her mouth, yet it didn’t mask the proper taste of the pork.

“Elder sister! It’s delicious!”

Bai Qingyan used her silver chopsticks to pick up the pork. This Prefect’s wife… was truly thoughtful in every way. She just didn’t know what she was scheming.

Before coming, Chun Zhi had told Bai Qingyan about the Prefect’s wife’s nanny wanting to convey words through her. She had also heard from Wei Zhong that this time the Prefect’s wife had specifically requested an imperial chef to personally make this roasted pig dish for Bai Qingyan.

This wasn’t just wanting to curry favor, but was already clearly expressing… a desire for a meeting opportunity.

However, as Xiao Si said, this roasted pork… was indeed delicious, especially with that faint plum flavor in the middle, extremely tasty.

“Elder sister, this shouldn’t have been made by an imperial chef brought from the palace, right?”

“Mm, that’s right…” Bai Qingyan picked up the jade cup filled with honey syrup and took a sip. “If you like it, I’ll have someone record the recipe for you later. When you want to eat it, have Nanny Hu make it for you, but don’t spread the recipe around – don’t steal someone’s livelihood.”

“Elder sister, rest assured! I still have that much sense!”

Bai Jinzhi held her small silver dish, personally slicing several pieces of roasted pork, thinking of letting mother and great-aunt and the other aunts taste it when she returned to the capital.

“A’Bao, before departure today, that Tianfeng Kingdom ruler Sa’er Khan seemed to be asking you about jade cicada matters?”

Bai Qingyan nodded and put down her silver chopsticks: “About this matter, I was just wanting to ask you. The Tianfeng Kingdom ruler also has a jade cicada in his hand, identical to the one you gave me. Though I didn’t examine it closely… I’m not entirely certain, but… I’ve carried this jade cicada with me for quite some time now. At first glance… I thought it was the very jade cicada you gave me.”

She took the jade cicada from her pouch: “These two jade cicadas, I feel like they came from the same piece of jade. Do you know anything more about it?”

Murong Yan rose and walked to kneel beside Bai Qingyan, taking the jade cicada from her hand: “This jade cicada has been worn by my mother since I can remember. Later, in a moment of crisis, my mother gave the jade cicada to me, saying it could protect me and keep me safe. Beyond that… I don’t know more.”

Protect and keep safe?

Bai Qingyan stared at the jade cicada in Murong Yan’s hand, countless speculations arising in her heart.

In her previous life, the jade cicada was a symbol of Murong Yan’s identity, which was why Xiao Rongyan had given her the jade cicada, telling her to flee for her life.

So was it possible that Xiao Rongyan at that time also didn’t know this jade cicada was connected to Tianfeng Kingdom?

Or perhaps, the two jade cicadas needed to be together to discover what purpose this jade cicada truly served?