Fan Yugan’s despicable manner made people want to hit him, yet they couldn’t, nearly causing the upright and dignified Yan nation Minister of Revenue to faint from anger.

They say when a scholar meets a soldier, reason cannot be clearly explained. This time coming to Great Zhou… this Yan nation Minister of Revenue truly experienced what it meant for a scholar to meet a shameless yet learned soldier—that was when reason truly couldn’t be explained.

Bai Qingyan had also read the records of the two nations’ discussions sent by the eunuchs from Honglu Si, and only then understood why Liu Rushi wanted Fan Yugan. Besides sympathizing with Fan Yugan as a person, it was probably because, compared to the literati who prided themselves as gentlemen, Fan Yugan had a thicker skin. This wasn’t meant as disparagement toward Fan Yugan, but during disputes between the two nations, Fan Yugan, being someone willing to sacrifice face and set aside lofty airs, could indeed infuriate opponents to the point of smoking from their seven orifices and complete loss of composure.

At today’s flower banquet, Grand Marshal Lu hadn’t come either… the old gentleman was still at Honglu Si with Lu Fenglang, Fan Yugan, and other court ministers negotiating with Yan nation about the national wager, discussing the betting arrangements with several important Yan nation envoys.

So, from the Yan nation diplomatic mission, aside from Xiao Rongyan, only two or three insignificant people had come.

Lu Fenglang was someone Liu Rushi had specifically requested, but yesterday, from beginning to end, he never spoke, only took many notes. Bai Qingyan was still hoping Lu Fenglang could bring her some surprise today.

The singing and dancing had ended. Fourth Madam Wang Shi, with prayer beads wound around her hands, was about to drink tea when Wang Liu Shi, sitting diagonally behind Fourth Madam Wang Shi, gently tugged at Wang Shi’s sleeve, indicating that Wang Shi should take this opportunity to approach Bai Qingyan about the marriage between Loyal Nation Prince Bai Qingjue and her daughter, striving to obtain an imperial marriage decree so she could feel at ease.

Fourth Madam Wang Shi glanced at the high platform where Wei Zhong was covering his lips and whispering something in Bai Qingyan’s ear, her heart filled with panic. She didn’t want her maternal family’s niece to marry her A’Jue, but… if she didn’t agree to Wang Liu Shi’s demands, she feared her mother would have a difficult life under this black-hearted couple.

Bai Qingyan opened the letter sent by Bai Qingqi.

In the letter, Bai Qingqi said that the Tianfeng nation wanted to send envoys to establish friendly relations with the Great Zhou.

For a moment, she couldn’t figure out what Tianfeng Nation’s intentions were.

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Bai Qingqi had sent Cheng Yuanzhi to seal off the passage between Tianfeng Nation and Xiliang, but had no intention of attacking Tianfeng Nation. Why did the Tianfeng nation want to send envoys to establish friendly relations at this time? What were their plans?

Bai Qingyan put down the letter and quietly instructed Wei Zhong that after the flower banquet ended, she wanted to invite Grand Marshal Lu, Minister Shen, and Minister Dong to her study to discuss important matters.

Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she heard the sound of porcelain shattering in the great hall. Following the sound, she saw Nanny Guan kneeling beside Fourth Aunt, using a handkerchief to wipe Fourth Aunt’s clothes.

Wang Liu Shi had originally been looking at Fourth Madam Wang Shi with poisonous eyes, but seeming to notice Bai Qingyan looking in this direction, she quickly withdrew her gaze and pretended concern: “How careless.”

Nanny Guan’s eyes wanted nothing more than to devour that black-hearted madam alive, but thinking of her old dowager lady and fearing that angering them now would lead to the couple secretly tormenting their old dowager lady later, she forcibly restrained herself.

Fortunately, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments rose again as dancers entered the hall, so not many people paid attention to this small incident.

Nanny Guan personally went behind Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan to report that Wang Shi’s clothes were wet and she needed to change.

Bai Qingyan nodded, not pressing Nanny Guan for details, only glancing lightly at Wang Liu Shi and her daughter, who were now sitting properly, along with several young maidens behind them.

She turned her head to instruct Chun Tao: “Go ask Lingyun and Lingxiu beside Fourth Aunt what exactly happened.”

Chun Tao nodded, gave Chun Zhi some instructions, then left to question the personal maids beside Fourth Madam about the situation.

Wang Liu Shi’s niece seemed to notice Bai Qingyan’s gaze directed toward their area. She quickly reached out to tug her aunt’s sleeve, quietly telling Wang Liu Shi about this. Wang Liu Shi was greatly alarmed and hurriedly looked up. Seeing that Bai Qingyan seemed to be looking at her, she nervously clenched her hands and showed what she thought was an appropriate smile in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

But Bai Qingyan’s expression remained indifferent as she shifted her gaze away, noticing Prince Hancheng sitting nearby with a grave expression.

She smiled and said to Prince Hancheng: “Are today’s food and wine not to Prince Hancheng’s taste?”

Prince Hancheng was startled and quickly stood to bow to Bai Qingyan: “In response to Your Majesty, it’s not that today’s food and wine don’t suit my taste, it’s just… this subject is worried about some matters. After today’s banquet, please find time to grant an audience—this subject has matters to report!”

Prince Hancheng, as the former third prince of Great Liang, had voluntarily surrendered, which was why Bai Qingyan had granted him the title of Prince Hancheng and kept him in the capital. This was also to prevent people in the former Liang territories from harboring different intentions and attempting to rebuild Great Liang. But Prince Hancheng was ultimately not a Great Zhou court minister—he only held an empty noble title without real power and could not attend court.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Very well…”

Seeing Bai Qingyan agree to the audience, Prince Hancheng breathed a sigh of relief, once again respectfully kowtowing in salute before returning to kneel at his seat.

Before long, Bai Qingyan saw her Fourth Aunt return, with Chun Tao following behind.

Chun Tao quietly knelt behind Bai Qingyan and whispered about how Wang Liu Shi was threatening the aunt, using Bai Qingjue’s military achievements to request an imperial marriage decree from Bai Qingyan, and also to elevate the status of her own daughter as Bai Qingjue’s “fiancée,” perhaps conferring the title of county princess or something similar.

“That Wang Liu Shi said that since Your Majesty could confer the title of Xiangxie County Princess, and the Loyal Nation Prince had performed tremendous feats, it would be proper for the future princess consort to be granted the title of county princess.” Chun Tao couldn’t help but be angry while saying these words. “This Wang Liu Shi also used Old Dowager Wang to threaten Fourth Madam. Nanny Guan said that the couple are expert actors—outsiders all say they’re filial, but whenever that couple has demands that Fourth Madam doesn’t agree to, they secretly make things difficult for the old dowager lady.”

“Later when Fourth Madam returned to her maternal home, she had also mentioned wanting to bring the old dowager lady out, but Old Dowager Wang knew that if she left, the Wang family would collapse, so she refused. Old Dowager Wang has felt guilty her entire life for not bearing a son for the Wang family and her husband, feeling she had wronged her deceased husband and the Wang family. The old dowager lady fears that making a big fuss would affect the Wang family’s reputation, and she wouldn’t have face to meet her husband underground in the future, so she endures that couple’s treatment. The old dowager lady even advised Fourth Madam not to worry about her, saying she wouldn’t live many more years anyway.” Chun Tao frowned deeply. “But with Fourth Madam’s personality, how could she truly abandon the old dowager lady? That’s Fourth Madam’s birth mother.”

That couple also feared that if Old Dowager Wang died, they would have nothing to use against Wang Shi, so they constantly fed Old Dowager Wang fine supplements and hired physicians day and night to check her pulse morning and evening. To outsiders, this appeared more filial than even birth sons could be.