His brow remained unmoved, yet his heart was filled with indescribable warmth. He raised his eyes to look at Bai Qingyan and nodded: “The Zhou Emperor speaks truly!”
After seeing Murong Yan and all the Yan Kingdom generals off from the residence, Bai Qingyu stuffed a hand warmer into Bai Qingyan’s hands. Shen Qingzhu then brought over a delicate white mink fur hand muff: “Though this Pingdu City is not far from Pingyang City, it’s much colder here. Miss, you’d better take the hand muff.”
She smiled and obediently hid both the hand warmer and her hands inside the muff, then walked back.
The luxurious residence was naturally magnificent, its vermilion tiles and flying eaves covered by accumulated snow. Cotton-padded bamboo curtains hung on both sides of the corridors, and the unlit hexagonal sheepskin lanterns swayed in the wind.
Bai Qingyu, dressed in a frost-colored robe with cloud-pattern trim and colorful borders, followed beside Bai Qingyan, accompanying her as they slowly walked along the winding corridor.
He asked Bai Qingyan, “Elder sister, why did you give most of the giant elephants to Yan Kingdom? Based on this battle’s outcome, even if the elder sister was being considerate of Yan Kingdom, an equal split would have been quite generous. Giving most to Yan Kingdom has left most of our Great Zhou soldiers feeling dissatisfied; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been trouble outside the city!”
“I know this…” Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile.
“Fifth Brother! Although we let Yan Kingdom have most of the giant elephants, our elder sister said this would allow our two countries to cooperate better!” Bai Jinzhi vividly recounted to Bai Qingyu the aftermath of An Qingshan and Wang Dagou causing trouble outside the city today.
After pondering for a moment, Bai Qingyu’s mind suddenly became clear. He looked at Bai Qingyan: “Elder sister, you’re… winning over the hearts of the Yan army?”
“Exactly, winning over the hearts of the Yan army!” Bai Qingyan nodded. “Human hearts are never satisfied. Even with fair distribution, people will feel they’ve suffered a loss, thinking that if it’s fair for them, the other party must be suffering! Since we’re aiming for long-term cooperation, we can’t be petty about every detail. If we’re more generous, our two countries can collaborate better in the future and fight the upcoming battles well, driving Tianfeng Kingdom back beyond the Tianshan Mountains! But more importantly… when our two countries merge into one in the future, what will truly be most difficult to unite isn’t the court officials and noble families – court officials and noble families will all follow the wind…”
Seeing steps ahead, Bai Qingyu lifted the hem of his robe with one hand and extended his other hand to support his elder sister’s arm.
Under the gloomy sky, snowflakes began falling in flurries again, landing on the dwarf pine bonsai placed on the stone platform beside the covered walkway.
Outside the corridor, the falling snow descended in small flakes like pear blossoms. From a distance, the three figures of Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyu, and Bai Jinzhi walked in front, while Shen Qingzhu and Wei Zhong led a group of eunuchs following leisurely ten steps behind, creating a rather relaxed scene.
After climbing the steps, Bai Qingyan continued speaking to Bai Qingyu: “But you are also a military man, so you surely understand what military iron blood means… they would rather break than bend. When two countries merge, what truly causes headaches is often the armies. If soldiers and officers harbor dissatisfaction, and then… people with status and family affairs take the opportunity to stir up trouble and raise their arms in revolt, it will create many unnecessary troubles! But if the Yan Kingdom’s soldiers remember Great Zhou’s former righteousness, perhaps we can avoid another war that would make the people suffer.”
Bai Qingyu nodded, finally understanding Bai Qingyan’s intention: “I understand elder sister’s meaning now.”
Bai Jinzhi also had a sudden realization: “So elder sister had this deeper meaning behind it all!”
“Xiao Si, this matter hasn’t been decided yet, so it absolutely cannot be spread around.” Bai Qingyu cautioned Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Jinzhi nodded in assurance: “Don’t worry, Fifth Brother, I know what’s important.”
Bai Qingyu believed that if the Great Zhou led by his elder sister were to compete with the Yan Kingdom in state governance, the Great Zhou would certainly defeat the Yan Kingdom. In Bai Qingyu’s heart, the future would surely see the Yan army merge into the Great Zhou. If that were the case, treating them better was only appropriate.
“Also, I noticed that An Qingshan outside the city today was quite good. He and that Yan Kingdom young general called Wang Dagou became friends through fighting. You should recruit An Qingshan under your command. In the future, matters involving dealings with the Yan army can be handed over to An Qingshan.” Bai Qingyan instructed.
“Good, I’ll handle this matter. Elder sister needn’t worry!” After hearing Bai Qingyan finish, Bai Qingyu continued: “Elder sister, after New Year’s Eve is over, you should still return to the capital! The spring examinations will be at the end of February and the beginning of March, and the palace examinations need an elder sister to preside over them. Moreover, counting the days… elder sister should give birth around April or May! Staying on the battlefield would worry mother and the aunts, and the court officials would probably be uneasy too!”
“Yes, elder sister, Fifth Brother and I are here, and Second Sister is also on her way…” Bai Jinzhi had just finished speaking when she suddenly remembered that Bai Qingyan had previously ordered her to send Ren Shijie back to Yan Kingdom, but she had completely forgotten about this matter. Mentioning Second Sister reminded her of this, and her expression froze, her steps halting as she looked at Bai Qingyan with a face full of guilt: “Elder sister, about sending that Ren Shijie back to Yan Kingdom that you asked me to do… I forgot…”
Bai Qingyan: “…”
Seeing her elder sister’s expression of wanting to speak but hesitating, Bai Jinzhi frowned tightly and said, “You can’t blame me for this! A living person still hasn’t been sent back to Yan Kingdom, and Yan Kingdom itself hasn’t mentioned it either. The Yan Kingdom people don’t even care about their people, and I’ve been so busy every day with such a careless personality…”
Bai Jinzhi’s confident voice grew smaller and smaller under her elder sister’s gaze, finally falling silent as she looked timidly at her elder sister.
“While the Yan Kingdom people haven’t gone far yet, fetch the person and chase after them to deliver him! Let Ren Shijie return to his homeland for a good New Year.” Bai Qingyan said.
Bai Jinzhi quickly accepted the order, cupping her fists and going to fetch the person.
“Hurry up and catch up, then come back quickly. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, let’s eat dumplings together!” Bai Qingyu called out to Bai Jinzhi’s retreating figure.
“I know!”
Shen Qingzhu looked at Bai Jinzhi with concern, stepped forward to bow to Bai Qingyan, and said: “Miss, I’ll accompany Fourth Miss!”
“Good, I’ll feel more at ease with you there!” Bai Qingyan nodded.
Watching the hurried Bai Jinzhi leave, she heard Bai Qingyu mention that the kitchen troops had tried making dumplings with elephant meat, and the taste was quite good. She thought about it – they were all spending New Year’s Eve away from home, and tonight she wanted to do as her grandfather and father had done, eating dumplings together with the soldiers and celebrating the New Year together.
Bai Qingyu smiled and nodded: “We’ll follow elder sister’s wishes!”
·
Lu Yuanpeng and his group had just entered the city when they saw Bai Jinzhi galloping recklessly toward the city gates on horseback, shouting for people to get out of the way. The soldiers entering the city quickly cleared the gate…
Lu Yuanpeng, seeing it was Bai Jinzhi, put down the handkerchief he had been using to apply snow to his swollen eyes and called out: “Bai Jinzhi, what are you rushing off to do in such a hurry?”
The soldiers following beside Lu Yuanpeng all gasped, not understanding how their general could be so bold as to directly call out the name of the High Righteousness Prince, who was His Majesty’s sister!
Hearing the voice, Bai Jinzhi reined in her horse and turned back. Seeing Lu Yuanpeng with eyes swollen like walnuts, she laughed and said: “Going to deliver someone to Yan Kingdom! Are you alright? If you’re fine, come along…”