Li Zhijie turned his head and instructed the two guards who had accompanied him to wait outside the door. He lifted the hem of his robe and stepped across the threshold into the main gate of Pingyang City’s Prefectural Governor’s mansion.
Main Hall
The tea beside Li Zhijie had already been replaced twice. The azure latticed windows rattled softly in the wind, and unable to contain his restlessness, he rose to pace back and forth by the brazier.
Before long, he heard overlapping voices from outside calling “Your Majesty.” He stopped in place and watched as the cotton felt curtain was lifted. Bai Qingyan, wearing a cotton-lined cloak, entered, supported by a maidservant, followed by a man with an upright bearing who wore only half a silver mask over his face.
Without giving it much thought, Li Zhijie stepped forward first to bow to Bai Qingyan: “This foreign minister greets Your Majesty!”
“Prince Yan ventures through snow in the deep of night—what urgent matter brings you here?” Bai Qingyan untied her cloak and handed it to Chun Zhi, taking her seat in the main position. She instructed Chun Zhi to withdraw first without serving tea, then gestured for Li Zhijie to sit.
Li Zhijie understood the meaning behind Bai Qingyan’s decision not to have the maidservant serve tea—she wouldn’t give him much time.
“Your Majesty, Li Zhijie has come to request Great Zhou’s assistance,” Li Zhijie wasted no time getting straight to the point.
Bai Qingyan leaned against the armrest of her chair, smiling as she said, “I don’t understand Prince Yan’s words. Xiliang has now formed an alliance with Tianfeng Nation and is protected by Tianfeng’s elephant army—why would you still need Great Zhou to come to your rescue?”
“At today’s four-nation conference, Your Majesty must have seen that Xiliang traitor Li Tianfu!” At the mention of Li Tianfu, Li Zhijie’s face, already showing signs of travel weariness and fatigue, grew even more unsightly. “Li Tianfu was put in power by Tianfeng Nation—she’s Tianfeng’s puppet! To avenge Lu Tianzhuo, she’s willing to sacrifice all of Xiliang just to destroy Great Zhou! Tianfeng Nation and Li Tianfu have imprisoned our Xiliang Empress in the traveling palace. We fought desperately to rescue Her Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, lend us your aid to help Xiliang reclaim our territory.”
“This concerns Xiliang’s internal politics—how can Great Zhou interfere?” Bai Qingyan nodded, then smiled as she asked, “Moreover, what benefit would there be for Great Zhou in helping Xiliang’s Empress reclaim her throne?”
“Tianfeng Nation’s purpose, with Your Majesty’s brilliant wisdom, you surely already understand. Tianfeng’s land is increasingly being swallowed by sand, and now they urgently seek new territory. Tianfeng’s ruler is extremely ambitious—what he wants isn’t Xiliang’s tiny plot of land, but Great Zhou’s fertile soil.” Li Zhijie bowed to Bai Qingyan. “It’s currently winter, precisely when Tianfeng’s elephant army cannot exert its full power on the battlefield. If we wait for deep winter to pass and summer to arrive, Tianfeng’s elephant army will be invincible. At that time… trying to drive Tianfeng out will be much more difficult!”
Bai Qingyu raised her eyes to look at Li Zhijie’s grave expression. Li Zhijie’s reasoning wasn’t wrong—elephants naturally fear the cold. If a battle was inevitable, now would indeed be the best time for the Great Zhou to fight.
“So Prince Yan has come to persuade… Great Zhou to go to war with Tianfeng Nation?” Bai Qingyan raised an eyebrow.
“Xiliang can lend the Great Zhou a helping hand!” Li Zhijie said hastily.
“Oh… so Prince Yan hasn’t come seeking help, but to assist Great Zhou.” Bai Qingyan glanced at Bai Qingyu.
“Consider it mutual assistance.” Li Zhijie didn’t beat around the bush, directly revealing his trump card to Bai Qingyan. “The Huoyun Army has already rescued our Majesty. We can tie down the troops under Li Tianfu’s command, ensuring that Li Tianfu absolutely cannot spare any resources to assist Tianfeng Nation! This way… Great Zhou can concentrate entirely on dealing with Tianfeng Nation!”
The Huoyun Army…
Bai Qingyan’s fingers caressed the armrest of her chair. This Huoyun Army was trained by General Guan for Xiliang.
“Tianfeng Nation was Xiliang’s invited reinforcement, yet now Xiliang wants to unite with the Great Zhou against Tianfeng Nation. Elder sister should be careful not to… get stabbed in the back.”
This hoarse, unpleasant voice rang out, and Li Zhijie suddenly turned to look at Bai Qingyu. This voice… he was familiar with it, extremely familiar!
The Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rongdi!
Li Zhijie stared at that face wearing half a mask, his gaze fixed on the silver mask. He had seen those eyes behind the mask before!
He suddenly remembered what Great Yan’s Ninth Prince had told him about this Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince being from the Bai family…
His body stiffened as he stared fixedly at Bai Qingyu. He had just heard… this handsome man wearing half a mask call Bai Qingyan “elder sister”!
He suddenly stood up, eyes wide: “You are… the Ghost-Faced Prince?!”
Bai Qingyu, resting one elbow on the armrest of his chair, showed no ripples in his expression. The corners of his lips curved slightly upward as he brushed at nonexistent dust on his robe and crossed his legs: “Prince Yan, watch your words. The Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince died in battle this time while resisting the Rongdi King’s submission to the Great Zhou. If I were the Ghost-Faced Prince… how could I oppose submission to Great Zhou?”
Li Zhijie knew these words weren’t wrong, but in that instant when he heard this person’s voice and saw those eyes, Li Zhijie could be certain that this person was indeed the Ghost-Faced Prince he had encountered before.
His throat worked as he asked: “You are…”
“This is my blood brother, the fifth son of the Bai family… Bai Qingyu.” After briefly introducing Bai Qingyu, Bai Qingyan stood up and said to Li Zhijie: “Though today’s four-nation conference ended unpleasantly, it doesn’t mean there’s no room for further discussion. Not only does Great Zhou need to rest and recuperate after years of warfare, but I… have never forgotten the promise I made to the soldiers of the Bai family army to lead them in revenge after three years.”
The flickering candlelight outlined Bai Qingyan’s cold, clear features. Her eyes were indifferent yet piercing: “I once let Yun Poxing leave, giving him three years to prepare. After three years, if he doesn’t dare come, I will lead the Bai family army to his gates. I dare not break this oath! If Prince Yan has nothing else, please return for now!”
Li Zhijie’s pupils trembled as he quickly turned around and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty! Xiliang’s Huoyun Army can coordinate with the Great Zhou from within and without. If Your Majesty misses this opportunity, once spring and summer arrive, there will never be another chance to contend with Tianfeng Nation’s elephant army! Tianfeng Nation is wildly ambitious—Your Majesty must not fall for their deception!”
Fearing that if he couldn’t persuade Bai Qingyan this time, he would never have another chance to see her, Li Zhijie threw caution to the wind: “As long as Your Majesty is willing to help Xiliang, once we drive away Tianfeng Nation, Xiliang is willing to submit to Great Zhou!”
Having said this, Li Zhijie lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on one knee before Bai Qingyan: “Please, Your Majesty, grant this request!”
Xiliang’s submission would naturally be good—it would spare soldiers from bloodshed and sacrifice, and prevent innocent deaths among the people. But the prerequisite was… Xiliang must be honest.
For instance, about that nail buried in the Great Zhou… Yun Lan!
Bai Qingyan looked down at Li Zhijie kneeling on one knee, exchanged a glance with Bai Qingyu, and gazed at his unsightly expression… as if his spine had been broken inch by inch.