“Ninth Prince, please…” Bai Qingyan turned her horse around and made a gesture of invitation to Murong Yan.

Murong Yan also maintained a serious demeanor, making a gesture of invitation to Bai Qingyan: “Emperor Zhou, please!”

After watching Bai Qingyan, Murong Yan, Bai Jinzhi, Shen Qingzhu, and Xie Xun depart, Wang Dagou stood up and said to An Qingshan: “As Emperor Zhou and our Ninth Prince said, if our Yan weren’t truly lacking in iron and grain, we wouldn’t have been so calculating. But since Great Zhou helped our Yan this time, when we fight again in the future… we’re also willing to help Great Zhou!”

“Well said, well said!” An Qingshan quickly replied.

On the return journey, Murong Yan rode alongside Bai Qingyan. Mindful that Bai Qingyan was pregnant, Murong Yan kept a very slow pace: “Was Western Liang’s Empress Li Tianjiao captured?”

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “The people sent out haven’t returned to report yet. I don’t know if this Li Tianjiao left any backup plans, but this time… there was an unexpected pleasant surprise.”

Now that Yun Poxing was dead, Li Tianjiao couldn’t suppress Western Liang’s eight great families. Even if Li Tianjiao escaped, it wouldn’t matter much. What they originally needed to deal with was the Tianfeng that Li Tianjiao had invited.

“What?” Xiao Rongyan asked.

“Li Tianfu was captured, along with someone… who is the great disciple of Tianfeng’s Grand Shaman.” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.

Originally, Tianfeng was able to penetrate directly into Western Liang because of Li Tianjiao’s invitation. Later, because Li Tianjiao wouldn’t obey, they pulled Li Tianjiao down and gave Li Tianfu the identity of Western Liang’s emperor, taking this Western Liang emperor… using the Western Liang emperor as a front to seek benefits entirely for Tianfeng.

Now, Li Tianfu was in Great Zhou’s hands.

If Li Tianjiao no longer emerged, that would be fine. But if she did emerge, why couldn’t Great Zhou follow the same pattern? Use Li Tianfu as a legitimate excuse to capture Li Tianjiao. Later, when the war ended, they could treat Li Tianfu like the Rongdi King – grant him the title of Western Liang King and confine him for life in the capital city.

Naturally, if Li Tianfu sought death, Bai Qingyan wouldn’t mind sending Li Tianfu on his way.

This grand disciple of the Grand Shaman also didn’t have such a tight mouth. With a little torture, he revealed the secret of the jade cicada.

Since Bai Qingyan had already learned this secret from Li Zhijie, she knew the Grand Shaman’s disciple wasn’t lying…

Later, unable to withstand the torture, Tianfeng’s Grand Shaman’s disciple revealed other matters about Sa’er Khan, saying that Sa’er Khan didn’t dare directly seize Great Zhou and Yan territory because the Grand Shaman prophesied that the gods had chosen a master for this land.

Hearing Bai Qingyan mention the matter of gods, Murong Yan wasn’t shocked but found it amusing: “Just because their Grand Shaman said the gods had already chosen a master for this land, so… they didn’t dare to attack? It probably isn’t that simple, right?”

“I was just about to go ask when you arrived with Xie Xun!” She turned to look at Xiao Rongyan. “If you’re interested, why don’t you join me in interrogating him later?”

But Bai Qingyan didn’t doubt Tianfeng people’s faith in the gods, nor did she doubt that Tianfeng people would be loyal to the gods to such a degree. However, to determine whether these words were true or false, Bai Qingyan needed to personally meet this disciple of the Grand Shaman.

Murong Yan thought briefly and nodded: “Good, I’ll have Xie Xun lead the men ahead. Tonight… I’ll accompany you for New Year’s Eve!”

“What about A’Li?” Bai Qingyan looked at Murong Yan. “You’re his uncle. On New Year’s Eve, you should accompany him! A’Yu and Xiao Si, Qingzhu, and several generals from the Bai family army are all here. I won’t be lonely on New Year’s Eve.”

“Great Yan’s Empress Dowager came to Meng City. Tonight, let the mother and son spend it together. They haven’t seen each other for so long, surely they have things to say. I also want to spend more time with you and the child.” Murong Yan restrained his impulse to grab Bai Qingyan’s hand, speaking to her in low tones.

“Your sister-in-law came to Meng City, probably wanting to spend New Year’s Eve with you all. Is it appropriate for you to stay here?” Bai Qingyan said.

Looking at Bai Qingyan’s clear eyes, Murong Yan thought of what his sister-in-law had said to him. His gaze darkened slightly as he smiled at Bai Qingyan: “On New Year’s Eve night, I still want to be by your and the child’s side.”

Noticing the subtle change in Murong Yan’s emotions, she didn’t pursue the matter. That he could be here on New Year’s Eve today naturally made Bai Qingyan happy.

When several people returned, Bai Qingyu and Shen Kunyang were standing before a map, discussing how this battle should proceed next.

Shen Kunyang’s opinion was to pursue while victorious, cross the Danshui River to attack Quanya City, and capture Sa’er Khan alive before the main elephant force arrived. This way, if Akxie wanted to save Sa’er Khan, he would have no choice but to surrender.

But Bai Qingyu said, “Sa’er Khan isn’t stupid. Last night, entering Quanya City, he gained a chance to catch his breath. He’s probably already left Quanya City, after all, the Tianfeng elephant army he led suffered almost total losses, and Li Tianfu was captured alive by us. Even though they claim Tianfeng is Western Liang’s ally, their control over Western Liang at this time is certainly much weaker than before, unless…”

“Unless?” Xie Xun looked at Bai Qingyu.

“Unless Generals Shen Liangyu and Cheng Yuanzhi failed to capture Li Tianjiao and let Li Tianjiao meet with Sa’er Khan! Li Tianjiao has already torn off all pretenses with the Great Zhou. If, like a fence-sitter, she again turns toward Tianfeng, then Tianfeng would have forces to contend with our Zhou-Yan alliance!” Bai Qingyu looked toward Quanya City. “But I think the possibility is small.”

Bai Qingyu was clear about Shen Liangyu and Cheng Yuanzhi’s combat abilities. With Huying Battalion veterans going to capture Li Tianjiao, if they still couldn’t capture her, then Li Tianjiao would be far too lucky.

Shen Qingzhu lifted the curtain and entered from outside, whispering in Bai Qingyan’s ear: “Third Miss sent a letter. The hidden guard who delivered it said it was quite urgent. Should the young lady avoid Yan people and go to a side room to look?”

“Give it to me!” Bai Qingyan took a few steps under the lamp, received the letter from Shen Qingzhu, and stood under the lamp to unfold and carefully read through the letter.

Bai Qingyu, Shen Kunyang, and Xie Xun were still discussing how this battle should proceed next.

In the letter, Bai Jinxiu said… Great Yan’s Empress Dowager had quietly left the city, heading for Meng City. Currently, all of Yan believed the Empress Dowager was recuperating in the palace. Her people only discovered the Empress Dowager’s secret departure because they had been monitoring the Empress Dowager’s maternal family. She had deliberately approached Yan Emperor Murong Li’s cousin who liked eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, and after great effort finally learned that Great Yan’s Empress Dowager was uneasy about Great Yan’s Ninth Prince Murong Yan taking the Yan Emperor to the front lines, fearing that Ninth Prince Murong Yan intended to harm the Yan Emperor, so she came to Meng City to take Emperor Murong Li back to the capital.

Others didn’t know the complex and intricate relationships within Yan’s imperial family, but Bai Qingyan was clear about them…

The uncle and nephew, Murong Li and Murong Yan, had deep affection for each other. Their discord was merely a performance for outsiders.