Perhaps seeing that Xiao Rongyan had a good temper, Chun Zhi boldly said: “This servant holds the little masters daily, so I must be more skilled than Master Son-in-law.”

Seeing Xiao Rongyan’s reluctant expression, Bai Qingyan said to Chun Tao, “Bring the two children back after they’ve been fed.”

“Yes!”

Since Xiao Rongyan had finally entered the palace, Bai Qingyan also wanted the two children to spend more time with Xiao Rongyan.

Chun Tao and Chun Zhi carried the two children through the small door connecting the main hall to the side hall, where the wet nurse had been waiting inside.

After the two children were taken away, Xiao Rongyan could no longer restrain himself. He grabbed Bai Qingyan’s slender wrist, pulled her into his arms, held her tightly, and lowered his head to kiss the top of her hair.

“A’Bao, I’ve never felt days pass so difficultly. Sometimes I even think… why not abandon Yan, abandon this unification of the realm, and just take you and the children to live some peaceful days!” Xiao Rongyan’s voice carried fatigue. “Never to be separated again!”

Especially when his respected sister-in-law suspected and guarded against him, he felt very weary. Fortunately, there was A’Li who believed in him wholeheartedly, and A’Bao’s support and understanding.

“It won’t be many more years. Originally, five years would have been most stable, but you set it for three years.” She embraced Xiao Rongyan’s narrow waist, looking up at him and saying, “Since that’s the case, then let’s work hard and strive to settle this matter within three years. During these three years, we’ll prepare and promote strategies for merging the two countries. You are in Yan… me in Great Zhou. We’ll exchange information and work together!”

Bai Qingyan didn’t say that this was only an extremely idealized state, proceeding smoothly with the merger of the two countries.

But from Bai Qingyan’s observations of the Yan Empress Dowager’s recent behavior, if Great Zhou lost it would be one thing, but if Yan lost… the Yan Empress Dowager probably wouldn’t be so willing to let the two countries merge smoothly. She would certainly cause trouble, and then… There would be more complications.

Even without Bai Qingyan saying this, Xiao Rongyan understood. So Bai Qingyan was saying she would detain the Yan Regent in Great Zhou as a hostage to “make things difficult” for Yan, but Bai Qingyan would still send Xiao Rongyan back to Yan, because only with Xiao Rongyan in Yan could they ensure that any trouble the Yan Empress Dowager caused would be within their control.

The merger of the two countries that she and Xiao Rongyan wanted to achieve was unprecedented and the most ideal way to unify the realm. But with this ideal method of unification, if anyone developed ulterior motives midway, it couldn’t be accomplished.

Perhaps in the end, they would still have to rely on warfare… to complete unification.

However, despite the difficulty, both Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan were willing to make their greatest efforts, to try their utmost using the gentlest method for the people of the realm. Even if they failed and still had to fight in the end, they would have tried their best and could face the people, the soldiers, and their hearts without regret.

But Bai Qingyan still had to make backup preparations, detaining Yan’s most capable warriors—Second Prince Murong Ping and Xie Xun—in Great Zhou. If one day they truly had to fight, Yan would have no capable generals to use.

Within three years, for Yan to cultivate another Murong Ping and Xie Xun would be no easy task.

Xiao Rongyan understood this point as well.

But the current situation was that the Great Zhou was strong while Yan was declining. If Yan didn’t agree and the Great Zhou refused the gambling strategy, marching westward… Yan’s destruction would be imminent.

Bai Qingyan’s demand that Yan pay a price to exchange for Xiao Rongyan’s return wasn’t a joke either. Now the advantage was with the Great Zhou, and speaking of state matters… as the Great Zhou’s emperor, Bai Qingyan naturally had to consider the Great Zhou’s victory.

Xiao Rongyan’s expression was full of smiles. Bai Qingyan had calculated each step very clearly.

Moreover, the one who had given this advantage to the Great Zhou was his sister-in-law. If his sister-in-law hadn’t schemed against Great Zhou behind the scenes, Great Zhou wouldn’t have had an excuse to deploy troops at Yan’s border, no excuse to demand an explanation from Yan, and no excuse to detain Yan’s main forces in Xiliang.

This was all heaven’s will…

His A’Bao’s heart was concerned with the people. Even when waging war, it was all for the people’s peaceful days, for the unification of the realm. Even when she initially proposed the gambling strategy for the two countries to merge, it was for the people’s tranquility and to reduce bloodshed among soldiers.

If his sister-in-law hadn’t stabbed them in the back initially, where would Great Zhou’s current overwhelming advantage have come from?

This was probably what common people meant when they said heaven has eyes!

Having reached this point today, if Great Zhou obtained this realm in the future, Xiao Rongyan wouldn’t be surprised at all.

But even so, Xiao Rongyan would still strive with all his might, seeking to turn the tide and do his utmost for Yan, while also having a satisfying contest with Bai Qingyan.

A gambling match between countries…

What magnificent spirit this was—a gamble for the ages! Even in a hundred years… even in a thousand years, such a grand undertaking would be rare to see, rarer still to encounter. If he didn’t participate in such a momentous affair, what a pity that would be.

The woman he once deeply loved had led the Bai family from desperate straits to triumph, reaching today’s position above ten thousand people. So why couldn’t he lead Yan to turn around and escape from desperate straits?

Xiao Rongyan raised his hand to tuck the stray hair behind Bai Qingyan’s temples behind her ear. Seeing the wild goose hairpin on her head, his heart filled with sweet affection as he held the person in his arms even tighter: “Let’s not talk about state affairs anymore. Let’s discuss private matters…”

Xiao Rongyan pulled Bai Qingyan to sit on the couch, holding her in his embrace.

In May, neither Bai Qingyan nor Xiao Rongyan wore thick clothing. Through the thin fabric, Bai Qingyan sat on Xiao Rongyan’s solid, burning thighs, and her ears inevitably grew hot.

Being this close, Bai Qingyan noticed that Xiao Rongyan’s ears had been rubbed raw from wearing the mask for so long.

“Is the mask’s tie too rough?” Bai Qingyan looked at the broken skin on Xiao Rongyan’s ears and said, “Sit for a moment. I have medicine that Physician Hong prepared for Xiao Ba for treating scrapes. The ointment is very cooling when applied and can provide some relief!”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t stop Bai Qingyan. He watched his beloved wife take out a medicine box from the cabinet, then carefully use a cotton ball to apply the ointment, blowing on it while treating his ear wound…

The faint fragrance from Bai Qingyan’s body entered his nostrils. He looked up at the beautiful curve of Bai Qingyan’s jaw, raised his hand to grasp the hand she was using to apply medicine, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head… his intention to kiss her was obvious.

“Don’t be naughty…” Bai Qingyan’s ears were so red they could drip blood. “I’m applying medicine!”

After not seeing each other for so long, it would be impossible to say Bai Qingyan didn’t miss Xiao Rongyan. Her lover’s handsome features were right before her eyes, and his familiar masculine scent invaded her heart and lungs dominantly, making her heartbeat almost leap from her chest. She could only restrain her voice and say: “In a moment, after the wet nurse feeds the two children, Chun Tao will bring them in…”

Suddenly, there was weight on her lips. Bai Qingyan struggled and resisted for a moment, then relaxed her body, softly leaning into Xiao Rongyan’s embrace, accepting Xiao Rongyan’s aggressive and domineering kiss.