Zhong Xingxiao planned to send more of his people to gather intelligence. For any ministers in Great Zhou’s court who supported Murong Li’s strategy of merging the two nations, he planned to visit them with generous gifts. He had to do everything possible to make this matter succeed.

Soon, Xiao Rongyan’s people returned first. According to reports, in the Great Zhou’s court, the Emperor of Great Zhou seemed to favor this national gambling agreement. Lu Jin also appeared to have spoken favorably in court about this gambling agreement between the two nations. The Emperor of Great Zhou’s uncle, Dong Qingping, seemed to be between agreement and disagreement. Grand Commandant Lu and Minister Shen also seemed to lean toward supporting the national gambling strategy, believing Great Zhou would surely win.

After hearing the report, Xiao Rongyan sat in his chair, pondering for a long time before speaking: “In that case, I’ll trouble the National Uncle… to personally visit Minister Lu Jin’s residence with generous gifts. You can ask Minister Lu what suggestions he has—which ministers our Yan should cultivate relationships with next. As for Grand Commandant Lu and Minister Shen, they’ve always been of one heart and mind with the Emperor of Great Zhou, so we can wait… no need to rush to see them.”

Zhong Xingxiao quickly stood up and respectfully responded: “Yes, Regent, rest assured. This minister will certainly do everything possible!”

“Prince Ninth, if the news is accurate and the Emperor of Great Zhou favors our Emperor’s gambling agreement, why don’t we strike while the iron is hot? We could privately request an audience with the Emperor of Great Zhou and speak more about the benefits of gambling on national merger—perhaps it could succeed?” A Yan official accompanying them walked two steps closer to Xiao Rongyan, speaking with conviction. “After all, the one who ultimately makes the final decision must be the Emperor of Great Zhou.”

Xiao Rongyan’s features were hidden behind his mask, making his expression unreadable. Only his deep eyes were visible, seemingly revealing reluctance.

Seeing this, Zhong Xingxiao thought for a moment and stepped forward: “Indeed, Regent! Since the Emperor of Great Zhou also very much agrees with our Emperor’s method, why doesn’t Prince Ninth personally enter the palace to meet the Emperor of Great Zhou? This way, our chances of persuading the Great Zhou would be greater.”

“Your Highness…” Yan’s Minister of Revenue cupped his hands toward Xiao Rongyan. “Your Highness could have someone deliver a message to Great Zhou’s imperial palace. If the Emperor of Great Zhou is willing to meet privately, it shows this matter has a great chance of success. If… if the Emperor of Great Zhou is unwilling to privately meet our Yan envoys, it means we need to work even harder on this matter. What do you think, Your Highness?”

Xiao Rongyan’s hand, resting on the chair’s armrest, tapped rhythmically, as if lost in thought. After a long while, he spoke: “How about this—let the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Honglu Si, and Wang Hanbing enter the palace to meet the Emperor of Great Zhou. This Prince… won’t go.”

“Regent…” Seeing this, Zhong Xingxiao quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Xiao Rongyan. “This trip to Great Zhou is exactly as our Emperor said before we departed—our Yan is begging Great Zhou to agree to this matter. Our Yan’s attitude should be more humble. The Regent is not an ordinary prince of Yan but the Regent of Great Yan. Moreover, since the Regent has already come to Great Zhou as the leader, your weight cannot be compared to ordinary envoys!”

After Zhong Xingxiao finished speaking, he looked back at the Empress Dowager faction court officials who had come with the Yan diplomatic mission. That official immediately stepped forward: “Your Highness, the National Uncle speaks reasonably. If the Regent hadn’t come, that would be one thing, but since you have come… yet only let the Minister of Revenue, Minister of Honglu Si, and Wang Hanbing meet the Emperor of Great Zhou, it might inevitably make the Emperor of Great Zhou feel that our Yan is slighting Great Zhou!”

After speaking, that official bowed to other colleagues: “This minister doesn’t mean that the Minister of Revenue and colleagues have low positions—it’s just that with the Regent present, we others don’t amount to much!”

Behind his mask, Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved slightly. This time… it was the Empress Dowager faction forcing him to enter the palace to see A’Bao, not his desire to go.

Although… he was already unable to contain his eagerness.

Xiao Rongyan remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: “Have someone make arrangements! This Prince… will personally make the trip!”

Zhong Xingxiao could hear that Xiao Rongyan’s tone wasn’t particularly willing, and he became even more convinced that requesting Xiao Rongyan to enter the palace to meet the Emperor of Great Zhou was the right choice. Xiao Rongyan surely also knew that only with his weight in the meeting with the Emperor of Great Zhou could this matter succeed.

But to avoid Xiao Rongyan not putting his heart into it, Zhong Xingxiao added: “Then we’ll trouble the Minister of Revenue, Minister of Honglu Si, and the envoy Wang Hanbing appointed by His Majesty to personally accompany the Regent on this trip.”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t object, merely remaining silent.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan didn’t object, Zhong Xingxiao excused himself to prepare gifts for Lu Jin and left the front conference hall. As soon as he returned to his room, he had the loyal servant at his side close the door, then sat down at the round table, thinking carefully.

The loyal servant stepped forward and asked: “Master, should we set off for Minister Lu’s residence right away? Should this subordinate prepare the carriage…”

“Don’t rush!” Zhong Xingxiao raised his hand to signal his servant, his expression serious as he lowered his eyes in thought. “Wait for our people to return. If what they discover is the same as what the Regent’s people found out, it won’t be too late to go then! You should… prepare gifts first, the more valuable the better.”

“Yes!” Zhong Xingxiao’s servant responded, turning to leave and prepare generous gifts for the Great Zhou officials.

Soon, news came from the Great Zhou’s imperial palace saying that the Emperor of Great Zhou was only willing to meet with Yan’s Regent alone.

After Zhong Xingxiao saw Xiao Rongyan off from the guesthouse, he quickly called people to investigate, asking who the Emperor of Great Zhou had sent to summon Xiao Rongyan and what their attitude was like.

He learned that it was just ordinary imperial guards who came, without even preparing a carriage. Zhong Xingxiao’s heart sank, and he immediately felt uneasy. This Emperor of Great Zhou was treating their Great Yan’s Regent too coldly—this wasn’t a good sign.

Only after the people he sent out returned and confirmed that the news from Great Zhou’s court was no different from what the Regent’s people had discovered, did Zhong Xingxiao quickly board a carriage and head to Lu Jin’s residence.

Inside the imperial palace.

Bai Qingyan had long since had the wet nurse bring both children over to wait in Ming’an Hall. Wei Zhong had dismissed all other palace maids and eunuchs, leaving only himself, Chun Tao, and Chun Zhi to serve.

Wei Zhong knew Xiao Rongyan’s identity well. From afar, he saw the figure wearing a silver mask, unhurriedly climbing the steps toward the magnificent Ming’an Hall. Warmth spread across his features.

Wei Zhong stepped forward to greet him, standing beside the lifelike bronze crane lamp, smiling as he bowed: “Prince Ninth…”

Xiao Rongyan nodded. His silver mask flickered between light and shadow in the swaying lamplight. His heart was beating extremely fast—his beloved wife and children were all in that great hall. From the moment he set out from Yan, he had wished he could fly over with wings, using almost all his strength to restrain his impulse.

Although he had seen them from afar in court today, for Xiao Rongyan, it was far from enough.