“Sister-in-law…” Xiao Rongyan still maintained that indifferent, calm appearance as he looked at Empress Dowager Yan, asking, “Sister-in-law, given that A’Yan and the Great Zhou emperor have reached this point, aren’t you afraid that if A’Yan goes to Great Zhou, perhaps… he won’t be able to return…”

“It won’t happen!” Empress Dowager Yan desperately tried to convince Xiao Rongyan, her expression and tone both appearing very anxious, lacking any persuasive power. “You are the father of her two children. No matter what… she definitely won’t take your life! Moreover, you’re going as Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, and you once led troops to rescue Jiangzi City and saved her life! Even setting aside personal feelings, Great Zhou’s court officials won’t allow her to kill you and leave herself with the reputation of repaying kindness with enmity before the world! Sister-in-law has thought all this through—it’s not without reason that I’m asking you to go to your death. You are also the sister-in-law’s family, the sister-in-law’s younger brother!”

“Sister-in-law… the two children and I aren’t that important in the Great Zhou emperor’s heart. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have…” Xiao Rongyan hesitated to speak, and after a long while, gazing at his sister-in-law’s expectant look, his heart sinking continuously, he said quietly, “Since sister-in-law has made up her mind, then… I’ll make this trip. But before I go, I must arrange things properly. If in the end I cannot persuade the Great Zhou emperor to accept our Yan’s wager of determining victory through national policies, and A’Yan… dies in Great Zhou, then Yan must be prepared for war with Great Zhou!”

Empress Dowager Yan’s heart immediately jumped to her throat. She was also afraid she had guessed wrong, afraid that Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan had truly reached the point of irreconcilable hostility, afraid that Bai Qingyan might harden her heart and truly kill Xiao Rongyan.

“A’Yan, even if there are no longer feelings between you and the Great Zhou emperor, you are Great Yan’s Ninth Prince… who once led troops to save her. Out of righteousness, she definitely won’t harm you. Trust sister-in-law!” Empress Dowager Yan didn’t know if these words were meant to convince Xiao Rongyan or herself.

Looking at Xiao Rongyan’s expression, Empress Dowager Yan feared that forcing him to go to Great Zhou would chill his heart. Without waiting for Xiao Rongyan to speak, she hurriedly said, “Don’t they say the Bai family are the most righteous people! Even if my sister-in-law wants to protect Yan, I would never ask you to go knowing there’s mortal danger! Trust sister-in-law! Sister-in-law just feels that such a major matter shouldn’t be entrusted to outsiders—that’s all!”

“Sister-in-law, since you say… the Great Zhou emperor is the most righteous, then couldn’t we send a talented and capable person from Yan’s court to catch up with Wang Hanbing and go to Great Zhou together with him, using righteousness to persuade the Great Zhou emperor?”

Xiao Rongyan seemed very disappointed in Empress Dowager Yan, gently removing her hands that tightly gripped his arms: “Sister-in-law says she doesn’t trust outsiders, but really… You want me to go as an envoy to the Great Zhou. Even if you can’t utilize my past relationship with the Great Zhou emperor, at least you can make the Great Zhou emperor agree to A’Li’s… strategy of determining victory through national policies and merging the two countries, for the sake of Great Yan’s Ninth Prince once leading troops to rescue Jiangzi City and save her. Isn’t that right?”

Empress Dowager Yan knew Xiao Rongyan was wise—what she was thinking truly couldn’t be hidden from him.

She didn’t want to argue for herself anymore, only looked up at Xiao Rongyan: “A’Yan, sister-in-law is doing all this for Yan!”

“Fine, then for Yan’s sake, I’ll make this trip! But sister-in-law… this time your mistake is too great. To appease the court officials’ dissatisfaction with A’Li, the sister-in-law probably can’t continue assisting in governance. If sister-in-law has no objections, claim illness at tomorrow’s morning court and from then on rest quietly without interfering in government affairs.” Having said this, Xiao Rongyan walked toward the main hall’s exit. “In three days, after I arrange Yan’s defenses, I’ll depart…”

“A’Yan!” Empress Dowager Yan called out to Xiao Rongyan with tears, but seeing he didn’t turn back, she chased after him two steps, then stopped, both hands tightly gripping her dress hem. “A’Yan, don’t hate your sister-in-law. Sister-in-law is doing all this for Yan!”

Seeing his master leave, Yue Shi hurriedly bowed to Empress Dowager Yan and quickly followed his master.

Empress Dowager Yan’s maid also hurriedly lifted her dress hem to enter and support the tearful Empress Dowager Yan: “Empress Dowager…”

Empress Dowager Yan looked like she had suffered grievances with no one to confide in, turning to look at her maid: “I truly am doing this for Yan!”

“This servant knows! This servant knows!” The maid’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded repeatedly. “This servant knows the Empress Dowager’s painstaking efforts. I believe it won’t be long before the Ninth Prince also understands the Empress Dowager’s good intentions! Understands that the Empress Dowager is doing everything for the Murong family’s Yan territory! Empress Dowager… let’s return to the palace. You’re too tired today! You need to rest well!”

Empress Dowager Yan gazed at the pattering rain outside the door. After a long while, she finally nodded and left the Regent’s mansion with her maid.

Yue Shi maintained a stern expression while following Xiao Rongyan’s side. When subordinates reported that Empress Dowager Yan had left the Regent’s mansion, only then did Yue Shi hurriedly enter, unable to contain his excitement as he spoke to Xiao Rongyan, who was reading memorials under the glass lamp: “Master… the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace!”

“Mm!” Xiao Rongyan responded indifferently.

Yue Shi knelt across from Xiao Rongyan and said in a low voice, “Master, we… can go to Great Zhou now. Aren’t you happy? Miss Bai and the two young masters are both in the capital. Don’t you want to see the two young masters?”

After all, from the time the two young masters were born until now, the master hadn’t seen them yet!

How could Xiao Rongyan not want to go to Great Zhou? He wished he could grow wings and fly there, but having reached this point, he needed to be more cautious. If he appeared too eager, it would instead arouse his sister-in-law’s suspicions.

Actually, after today’s conversation with his sister-in-law, Xiao Rongyan also felt somewhat melancholy. He considered his sister-in-law family, but it was his sister-in-law who had wanted to drive a wedge between him and Bai Qingyan! Now it was still his sister-in-law begging him to go to Great Zhou, disregarding his life…

In the past, before Xiao Rongyan had witnessed the familial affection among the Bai family in the capital, thinking rationally, his sister-in-law’s decision wasn’t wrong. But Xiao Rongyan always thought that if this matter were placed with the Bai family, perhaps the Bai family would rather go to war with the enemy nation than let their brothers and sisters venture into danger.

If his brother were still alive, in the same situation of not knowing the truth as his sister-in-law, he probably wouldn’t allow him to go to Great Zhou and risk danger.

Seeing his master wasn’t as happy as he’d imagined, Yue Shi, thinking they were in the Regent’s mansion, didn’t hide his feelings and asked quietly, “Master, are you… unhappy?”

“Not really.” Xiao Rongyan shifted his gaze from the memorial in his hands to look at Yue Shi. “Before arranging Yan’s affairs, don’t let word slip out, and don’t eagerly pack our luggage for the capital!”

“Yue Shi understands, master, rest assured!” Yue Shi nodded. “If others ask, I’ll sigh, shake my head, and hesitate to speak, appearing as if I have suffering I cannot voice.”