“I thought this jade cicada might be hiding some writing or diagrams inside. On the way back, I tried it against a glass lamp, but there was no reaction.” Bai Qingyan looked at Murong Yan. “But when Xiao Si mistook this for your jade cicada, the expression on that Tianfeng Kingdom ruler’s face… I feel this jade cicada seems to hold extraordinary significance for the Tianfeng Kingdom ruler. Perhaps… the two jade cicadas need to be brought together to discover what this jade cicada can do?”
“This jade cicada is identical to the one in that Tianfeng Kingdom ruler’s hand!” Bai Jinzhi also moved to Bai Qingyan’s table, staring at the jade cicada with great interest. “Why don’t we… try roasting it with fire?”
“Don’t mess around!” Bai Qingyu said.
“I was just joking!” Bai Jinzhi chuckled and asked Murong Yan, “Brother-in-law, did your Great Yan know about Tianfeng Kingdom’s existence long ago?”
Murong Yan shook his head: “If not for that merchant called Cui Fengnian discovering Tianfeng Kingdom and bringing Tianfeng Kingdom’s papermaking… and leather tanning techniques to Xiliang, Great Yan wouldn’t have known there was a Tianfeng Kingdom beyond the snowy mountains.”
“Separated by a mountain range, yet Great Yan’s Consort Ji… and the Tianfeng Kingdom ruler had identical jade cicadas, and this jade cicada is even Tianfeng Kingdom’s national treasure…” Bai Qingyu frowned deeply. “Are any of the people who used to serve beside Consort Ji still alive?”
Murong Yan thought of Feng Yao and nodded: “There’s an elder who always cared for my mother… my brother’s senior, who is still alive. He’s currently with A’Li, and he came this time too.”
Murong Yan placed the jade cicada in Bai Qingyan’s palm: “You keep the jade cicada for now. I’ll go back and ask Uncle Feng to see if he knows anything.”
Bai Qingyan nodded.
After the evening meal, Murong Yan was preoccupied with the jade cicada matter and didn’t stay long, taking his leave first…
Bai Jinzhi volunteered to escort Xiao Rongyan out of the city. When Bai Qingyu accompanied Bai Qingyan in the study to review memorials delivered by fast horses, Bai Qingyan handed him the bamboo scrolls left by Consort Ji for him to read.
Bai Qingyu almost couldn’t put them down once he held them.
This was Bai Qingyu’s first time encountering books left by Consort Ji. Beyond being shocked, there was much he didn’t quite understand, so he discussed it with Bai Qingyan.
“A’Yan said that Consort Ji sealed these books away because she felt… these governing methods weren’t suitable for this era, being too advanced.” Bai Qingyan supported herself against the armrest and leaned forward slightly, pointing to a line of small characters beside the bamboo scroll for Bai Qingyu. “Look here… although the handwriting is the same, Consort Ji wrote here… reform and change must proceed step by step. If the steps are too large and touch upon aristocratic interests, even imperial power can be overthrown.”
“Yan Kingdom’s situation of aristocratic division has existed for a long time, so reform and change naturally require extreme caution. But our Great Zhou is a newly established dynasty, and to unify the realm, this is precisely when all hearts are united. So A’jie… if you want to implement reforms, now is the most suitable time for our Great Zhou!” Bai Qingyu rolled up the bamboo scroll and gripped it in his palm. “Not to mention our Bai family originally comes from the aristocracy, and A’jie seized the Great Zhou through military power and popular support. Now, military morale is consolidated – it can be said that whatever the elder sister commands, the soldiers obey without question. So, elder sister needn’t be too influenced by Consort Ji’s records. The situations of the two kingdoms are different…”
Since ancient times, those who control military power have the right to speak. And now… military power rests entirely in Bai Qingyan’s hands alone. Whether it’s the troops led by Great Liang’s surrendered generals, or former dynasty veterans like Lin Kangle, Wang Xiping… Xie Yuchang and other commanding generals now pledge their loyalty to Bai Qingyan unto death.
Her imperial throne came from military power, and it coincided with a time when the entire nation shared the same goal. So, implementing reforms now would face the least resistance for Bai Qingyan – everything would fall into place naturally.
“A’jie, if we truly compete based on the two kingdoms’ national policies, our Great Zhou has the advantage of favorable timing compared to the Yan Kingdom. We will win!” Bai Qingyu had more faith in his elder sister.
The thirty-six lotus lamps in the study flickered. Chun Zhi brought over a brighter glass lamp, changed their strong tea, and brought several plates of pastries before going around the screen, lifting the curtain and withdrawing.
The night snow fell heavier and heavier. Chun Zhi closed the partition and withdrew through the cotton felt curtain. The southeast wind carrying snowflakes immediately struck her. Chun Zhi stood in the corridor with the palace maids and eunuchs guarding outside, rubbing her arms. From the corner of her eye, she saw a soft orange light swaying and spreading through the heavy goose-feather snow outside the open courtyard gate, slowly approaching the small courtyard. She quickly called Wei Zhong: “Eunuch Wei…”
Wei Zhong, holding his whisk, responded and looked toward the entrance.
Soon, the Bai family guard carrying a sheepskin lantern walked quickly to the outside of the courtyard, bowed, and said: “Eunuch Wei, someone claiming to be Prince Yan Li Zhijie requests to see Miss. This is the token that person sent!”
Wei Zhong handed his whisk to the little eunuch beside him, lifted the hem of his robe and walked into the snow, taking the exquisitely carved seal from the Bai family guard’s cupped hands. He raised it and squinted to examine it carefully under the lantern light before saying: “Wait a moment, I’ll inform His Majesty.”
Wei Zhong, holding the seal in one hand and lifting his robe hem with the other, turned and walked up the steps. Chun Zhi had already lifted the curtain for Wei Zhong.
Wei Zhong pushed open the partition and entered, standing behind the landscape painted screen, and spoke: “Your Majesty, the Bai family guards say someone claiming to be Prince Yan Li Zhijie is outside the Prefect’s mansion requesting an audience, and brought Li Zhijie’s private seal. This old servant has examined it – it’s genuine.”
Bai Qingyu looked up at Bai Qingyan and voiced the suspicion he’d had at the four-nation alliance meeting: “A’jie, I estimate Xiliang has probably experienced internal strife. Li Tianfu has usurped the throne, and Li Zhijie… is perhaps coming to A’jie for aid. Either he wants A’jie to help him ascend the throne, or to help Li Tianjiao restore his position. Will A’jie see him?”
Bai Qingyan’s fingers caressed the armrest, the corners of her lips curving into a very faint smile: “Since the person has come… let’s meet him and see what Li Zhijie wants to do.”
“Wei Zhong, personally invite Li Zhijie to wait in the front hall. A’Yu and I will be there shortly,” Bai Qingyan said.
“Yes…” Wei Zhong acknowledged and withdrew.
Li Zhijie, wearing a black cloak, stood under the swaying lantern in front of the Prefect’s mansion gate. His face was reddened by wind and snow, and under the flickering lamplight, his complexion appeared even more haggard, his bloodshot eyes fixed intently on those six black lacquered wooden doors with golden studs. Yet he maintained the elegant bearing befitting royalty, his spine straight as a rod.
Hearing the sound of the Prefect’s mansion main gate opening, Li Zhijie’s fists clenched behind his back. Seeing that it was Wei Zhong coming out, Li Zhijie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Prince Yan…” Wei Zhong smiled as he bowed to Li Zhijie.
Li Zhijie nodded, very politely saying: “Eunuch Wei…”
“His Majesty asks you to wait in the front hall. His Majesty will come shortly…” Wei Zhong stepped aside from the main entrance. “Prince Yan, please.”