This was also why Bai Qingyan had left Xiao Ruohai… with Bai Jinzhi and General Shen Kunyang. Bai Qingyan had left Xiao Ruohai with Bai Jinzhi out of concern for her. Bai Jinzhi was also worried that her eldest sister had to attack Yecheng Pass, the most difficult fortress in all of Xiliang, so she secretly sent Xiao Ruohai back to her eldest sister’s side.

Seeing Bai Qingyan place the map that Xiao Ruohai had drawn on a nearby table to examine it carefully with her younger siblings, Xiao Ruohai continued: “On my way back from Yecheng Pass, I encountered the prefect’s family who had fled Suining City. Interestingly enough, this prefect’s family had escaped, but halfway through their journey, for some unknown reason, they decided to turn back!”

“I happened to be heading to Suining City at that time, so I mixed in with the prefect’s family’s group. Only when we entered Suining City did the prefect’s family realize I was from Great Zhou. Right now, the prefect’s entire family has been detained. They’re clamoring to see the eldest miss, claiming they have a brilliant strategy to break Yecheng Pass, and they won’t speak unless they see the eldest miss. I wonder if the eldest miss will see them?”

After entering the city, when Prefect Suining learned that Xiao Ruohai was from Great Zhou, he was first shocked, then began cursing furiously.

After looking over the map of Yecheng Pass that Xiao Ruohai had drawn, Bai Qingyan turned to look at her milk brother and smiled: “Alright… then let’s meet them and see what brilliant insights this prefect who abandoned his city and fled has to offer.”

“Then elder sister should go meet this prefect who abandoned his city and fled first, to see what brilliant strategy this prefect has. We siblings will study this detailed map that Xiao Ruohai drew and see if there’s any method to breach the city quickly,” Bai Qingjue said to Bai Qingyan with a smile.

“Good…” Bai Qingyan nodded, ordered someone to bring the prefect to the main hall, then smiled at Xiao Ruohai: “Milk brother has worked hard on this journey. Wash your face and rest a while. Eunuch Wei said Xiliang’s mutton is excellent – tonight we’ll have mutton hot pot.”

“This subordinate will accompany the eldest miss to meet this prefect, then go rest,” Xiao Ruohai insisted.

Hearing that Xiao Ruohai might have something to say, Bai Qingyan nodded: “Then I’ll trouble milk brother.”

As Xiao Ruohai followed Bai Qingyan along the winding corridor toward the front hall, he said in a low voice: “On the journey back, I noticed this prefect was henpecked, and discovered that whether fleeing or returning, all the decisions were made by the prefect’s wife. So I deliberately probed around and learned that this prefect’s wife is none other than… the concubine-born younger sister of Ye Shouguan, the general defending Yecheng Pass. I heard that in earlier years, when Old General Ye was still alive, this prefect’s wife and her concubine mother were very favored. Old General Ye was wise his entire life… but in his old age wanted to elevate a concubine to wife, which angered General Ye Shouguan’s mother to death. General Ye Shouguan nearly severed all ties with Old General Ye. Later, it was the Ye family clan members who intervened to suppress the matter.”

Xiao Ruohai couldn’t say these words in front of the other young masters and misses of the Bai family, since the Ninth Young Master and Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Misses were all concubine-born, so Xiao Ruohai deliberately avoided them when telling Bai Qingyan about this matter.

“This prefect was originally from a military background. Old General Ye married his beloved daughter to a trusted subordinate. Because Suining was on a trade route… with plenty of profit to be made, Old General Ye also used the Ye family’s connections at court to arrange for his son-in-law to become prefect of Suining City. Over the years, this prefect has indeed gained quite a lot of benefits, but all the money is managed by his wife, and he’s very submissive to his wife, having no opinions of his own.” Seeing steps ahead, Xiao Ruohai supported Bai Qingyan down the steps and continued: “So… I estimate that the one coming to see the eldest miss should be both the prefect and his wife.”

“The Ye family is a military family. Besides leading troops in battle, they can be said to have guarded Yecheng Pass for generations. I imagine… this prefect’s wife grew up in Yecheng Pass and should know the situation there like the back of her hand,” Bai Qingyan pondered carefully.

“This subordinate thinks the same…” Xiao Ruohai nodded. “Since this prefect’s wife was once Old General Ye’s precious daughter, she might even know about secret passages within Yecheng Pass.”

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “That’s unlikely. Ordinary cities might leave hidden passages when built… to prevent being surrounded, so someone could escape to seek reinforcements. But you’ve already drawn the topographical map of Yecheng Pass – it can be said to have even better geographical advantages than the original Qingxi Mountain Pass and Autumn Mountain Pass. There’s no worry about being besieged at all. Behind it… is half of Xiliang. Which nation could afford the cost of bypassing Yecheng Pass to surround it from behind? With that effort… they might as well head straight for Yun Jing. Once Yun Jing is taken, Yecheng Pass would be isolated and unable to hold.”

“Does the eldest miss plan to have Fourth Miss and General Shen take a detour? Or have Fifth Young Master and Second Miss detour?” Xiao Ruohai was somewhat puzzled.

“We’re attacking Yecheng Pass to shatter Xiliang’s morale, and we need to do it quickly, just like when we took Qingxi Mountain Pass and Great Liang’s morale collapsed…” She looked at Xiao Ruohai. “So Yecheng Pass must be attacked.”

·

Prefect’s wife Ye Yingwan’s eyes were resolute as she raised her hand to smooth the loose hair by her daughter’s temple. Looking at her daughter’s red-rimmed eyes, she said in a steady voice: “Now Great Zhou comes with overwhelming force, and Xiliang is destined to fall. Your younger brother is only seven years old. Mother will first ask the Great Zhou Emperor to marry his sister to your brother. But there are always contingencies in affairs – if the Great Zhou Emperor refuses to use your brother’s young age as an excuse, your mother can only use this opportunity to have you marry the Great Zhou Emperor’s brother. Only this way… can we preserve our entire family’s glory and wealth! Only this can guarantee your brother’s prospects! Mother doesn’t want to persuade you further about unnecessary matters. You’re a clever child and will surely understand.”

Ye Yingwan’s daughter lowered her eyes, restraining the shrewd gleam in them. When she raised her head again, she had that soft and delicate appearance, clutching her mother’s hand with tears shimmering in her eyes, as if tears might fall at any moment.

She knew her mother would certainly first make every effort to have the Great Zhou Emperor marry his sister to her younger brother. With the Great Zhou Emperor’s sister in hand… would be equivalent to having leverage over the Great Zhou Emperor, preventing Great Zhou from easily moving against their family while also paving the way for her brother’s future to the greatest extent.

But with such a good opportunity to climb upward, how could she willingly give it to her younger brother?

She said, “Daughter understands. Grandmother and uncle have long-standing grievances. Even if we return now, Uncle may not necessarily accept us. Daughter has no complaints. If daughter’s happiness alone can be exchanged for our entire family’s glory and wealth, the daughter is very willing! But mother… what if the Great Zhou Empress refuses to marry off her sister, and instead wants her daughter to marry that concubine-born… brother who has lost his legs?”