“We understand, Elder Sister!” Bai Jinzhao looked up at her elder sister and answered first.

“Go on!” Bai Qingyan straightened up, pulled her cloak closer, and smiled.

“Elder Sister, rest well!” Bai Jinhua took Bai Jinse’s hand and said to Bai Qingyan, “I heard there’s a grove of red plum blossoms at Yecheng Pass. Tomorrow, when Elder Sister wakes up, the three of us will pick some and bring them back for you!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Good…”

After seeing the three younger sisters off, Wei Zhong stepped forward with a smile: “Your Majesty, you should also rest.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and replied with a smile: “Eunuch Wei has worked hard, you should rest too!”

Wei Zhong was stunned for a moment, then quickly responded: “Your Majesty need not worry, this old slave… is not tired, and can still serve Your Majesty to bed.”

“Rest! Only with proper rest can you protect me…” Bai Qingyan turned to look at Wei Zhong, gently stroking her abdomen, “The safety of the child and me on our journey back to the capital will depend on Eunuch Wei!”

Wei Zhong was stunned, but saw Bai Qingyan smile and turn to go inside. Wei Zhong quickly stepped forward to hold the curtain for Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, the bedding has been warmed, and this old slave has had hot water sent in. Later, this old slave will call someone to attend Your Majesty.”

“No need, I’ll manage myself.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and stepped inside, unfastening her fox fur cloak and draping it over the screen. She washed her face with hot water, then sat on the soft couch with hand warmers in her sleeves, gently caressing the two small tigers Xiao Rongyan had carved for the child, her features full of tenderness.

For the rest of her life, Bai Qingyan’s greatest wish was simply for her family and beloved to be safe… and for the new policies to be implemented smoothly. That would be enough.

The window opposite Bai Qingyan suddenly flew open, and she looked up to see Xiao Rongyan leap inside.

She widened her eyes, watching Xiao Rongyan enter through the window and close it again, asking him: “Why did you suddenly come? Weren’t you discussing battle strategies with A’yu and the others?”

Xiao Rongyan carried the cold air with him and didn’t approach Bai Qingyan immediately. He removed his mask and unfastened his cloak, casually draping the cloak over the screen. He stretched his hands over the brazier to warm them, smiling: “You’ve already arranged everything, what’s left to discuss? It’s just going through the motions.”

Bai Qingyan watched Xiao Rongyan warming his hands by the fire, picked up an inverted cup, and poured him hot tea. Seeing Xiao Rongyan walking toward her, she pushed the teacup to the spot beside her on the couch.

But Xiao Rongyan didn’t sit. He rubbed his hands together, knelt on one knee before Bai Qingyan, and placed both hands on her abdomen: “I need to let the child get familiar with my voice first, otherwise… they really won’t know I’m their father.”

Feeling the child move, Xiao Rongyan looked up at Bai Qingyan with delight: “It moved!”

“Physician Hong said it’s normal for the child to move frequently at this stage, but the child is very well-behaved… when I’m busy during the day, they sleep quietly!” Bai Qingyan said.

Xiao Rongyan pressed his ear to Bai Qingyan’s abdomen, carefully listening to the sounds within.

He gently wrapped his arms around Bai Qingyan’s waist, feeling infinitely grateful to have met Bai Qingyan, grateful that heaven had given him and Bai Qingyan a child. Only Bai Qingyan and their child could calm the violence and bloodlust in his heart, gradually softening his heart that had been as hard as stone.

“I must leave early tomorrow morning…” Xiao Rongyan looked up at Bai Qingyan, “A’Bao, tonight let me hold you and our child while we sleep, alright?”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Xiao Rongyan lifted Bai Qingyan and placed her on the bed, then went around the screen to pour hot water from the copper kettle into a basin, mixing it to the right temperature and testing it before bringing the copper basin over, setting it on the footstool, and removing Bai Qingyan’s shoes and socks…

“I can do it myself!” Bai Qingyan said quickly.

“You’re pregnant and it’s inconvenient, let me…”

Since Bai Qingyan became pregnant, Xiao Rongyan had been able to spend very little time by her side, so when they were together, he was willing to do anything he could for her, though even this felt insufficient.

Xiao Rongyan held Bai Qingyan’s feet, which seemed carved from white jade, feeling how cold they were. He gently poured warm water over them before placing both feet in the water: “Is it too hot?”

Bai Qingyan shook her head, watching Xiao Rongyan kneeling humbly to wash her feet. She felt this man had gained more earthly warmth, no longer the aloof Ninth Prince of Great Yan who handled everything with confidence and composure, but simply her ordinary beloved, her husband… the person who would walk through life with her.

After taking care of her properly, Xiao Rongyan lay down with her, letting her rest in his arms with her head on his shoulder, gently stroking her abdomen as he spoke softly: “Although Xiliang’s cities have all been taken now, you must still be careful on your journey back and return to the capital quickly so Mother won’t worry.”

Bai Qingyan lay in Xiao Rongyan’s embrace, fatigue washing over her as she became drowsy, closing her eyes and responding: “Mm…”

“Regarding the merger of our two nations, I’ve already sent someone to deliver a message to Yue Shi, who’s waiting outside the city, to have Yue Shi deliver the battle plan we just discussed for taking Yunjing to A’Li. With our two nations working together, I estimate we can take Yunjing by mid-March at the latest.” He gently stroked Bai Qingyan’s abdomen, speaking quietly: “A’Li will propose the idea of merging the two nations when he receives news of Yunjing’s capture, and will send envoys to the capital.”

“Mm.”

This matter had long been discussed, and though not in detail, Bai Qingyan and the Bai Family… along with Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li were all preparing for it.

The Tianfeng Kingdom had been driven back beyond the snowy mountains. The unification of the realm was within reach.

Xiao Rongyan said softly: “When our child grows up, they will surely see a peaceful and prosperous world.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Bai Qingyan’s light breathing become slow and steady. He knew she had indeed been tired these past days, fighting battles while pregnant, even with the most well-behaved child, was exhausting for Bai Qingyan.

He propped himself up on his elbow, tucked the loose hair from Bai Qingyan’s face behind her ear, gently kissed her earlobe, and closed his eyes while holding her tightly.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Bai Qingyan had already awakened. Feeling the space beside her was empty and cold to the touch, she knew Xiao Rongyan had left very early.

She threw back the covers and was just getting up when she heard Wei Zhong’s voice from outside: “Your Majesty, it’s still early, you can sleep a bit longer!”

“No need…” Bai Qingyan rubbed her aching neck.

“Shall I summon someone to attend Your Majesty?” Wei Zhong asked again.

“Mm…” She parted the bed curtains and saw a handkerchief placed on the small table beside the soft couch, which was lit by a dim lamp. She put on her shoes, got up, and took the handkerchief from the small table to examine it under the lamp.

Embroidered on the handkerchief was a red plum blossom, and Xiao Rongyan had personally written on it – “There is a beauty, unforgettable at first sight; not seeing her for one day is like madness.”