“With Great Zhou’s current situation, it’s not appropriate to establish an Imperial Consort. The court is now united from top to bottom, and the political situation is stable. If an Imperial Consort were to be established, it would inevitably stir up unnecessary waves.” Bai Qingyan smiled at Wang Shi and said, “Therefore, all matters must wait until the Yan Kingdom and Great Zhou merge before they can be done.”

“Fourth Aunt doesn’t understand matters of the previous dynasty, it’s just that Great Yan’s Ninth Prince…” Wang Shi leaned close to Bai Qingyan and lowered her voice to remind her, “A’Bao must be on guard against him!”

“Fourth Aunt, rest assured!” Bai Qingyan smiled in response, then turned to look toward Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan’s eyes held a smile. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that the Bai family’s Fourth Madam was also looking at him, so he adjusted his sleeves and turned to watch the graceful dancing courtesans.

After the flower banquet ended, Xiao Rongyan used the matter of Zhong Xingxiao ordering his subordinates to assassinate Great Zhou’s court minister Liu Rushi as a pretext, saying he had some matters to discuss with Bai Qingyan, and stayed behind.

Prince Han Cheng also attended the flower banquet and said he had matters to discuss with Bai Qingyan, following along.

As for Minister Shen and Minister Dong, they also followed Bai Qingyan to the study. Only Grand Commandant Lu was still presiding over the peace negotiations between the two nations at Honglu Si and was currently on his way to the palace.

“Wei Zhong, please first escort the Ninth Prince of Yan to the side hall to rest!” Bai Qingyan glanced at Xiao Rongyan, then her gaze fell on Minister Shen and Minister Dong. “Have Chun Zhi take you to rest first. When Grand Commandant Lu arrives, we’ll all come in together. I have something to say.”

Minister Shen and Minister Dong both bowed respectfully: “Your subjects obey the command.”

Prince Han Cheng respectfully followed Bai Qingyan into the study, then knelt and kowtowed solemnly.

Bai Qingyan accepted the hot towel Chun Tao handed her and wiped her hands, saying: “Prince Han Cheng need not be so formal. Please rise and sit. What does Prince Han Cheng wish to tell me?”

Prince Han Cheng knelt on the soft cushion. Hearing Bai Qingyan speak, he immediately moved to his knees to face Bai Qingyan’s direction, kowtowed, and said: “Your Majesty, I wonder if Your Majesty still remembers… the Dongyi Kingdom?”

How could Bai Qingyan not remember the Dongyi Kingdom? They had once dared to seek her sister’s hand with the position of Crown Prince’s consort.

“I remember.” Bai Qingyan nodded.

Prince Han Cheng uneasily lifted his head to glance at Bai Qingyan, then quickly lowered his head again and spoke: “Previously, when your subject’s fat… father was alive, he once arranged for spies in the Dongyi Kingdom. Later, when father suddenly passed away, he did not explain this matter, so when your subject surrendered to Your Majesty, not knowing about the spies in Dongyi Kingdom, I did not report it.”

Bai Qingyan, who was holding her tea cup, suddenly raised her stern gaze to look at Prince Han Cheng, listening carefully as he continued.

“Last night, a spy that father had arranged in the Dongyi Kingdom suddenly disguised himself as a vegetable delivery person and infiltrated the prince’s mansion, bringing news that… the Emperor of Yan secretly sent envoys to the Dongyi Kingdom, seemingly wanting to support Dongyi Kingdom in seizing several coastal cities of our Great Zhou. Your subject dared not delay and hurried to inform Your Majesty.”

Prince Han Cheng had not finished speaking. Originally, that former subordinate of Great Liang who had gone to Dongyi Kingdom as a spy came to say that the Emperor of Yan had sent envoys to the Dongyi Kingdom to secretly support Dongyi Kingdom in seizing those cities that Dongyi Kingdom had always coveted. The former subordinates of Great Liang wanted to take this opportunity to restore their country, and if Prince Han Cheng was willing… they could arrange for Prince Han Cheng to escape.

But Prince Han Cheng knew clearly in his heart that their Great Liang no longer existed, and Great Zhou’s new policies had won the hearts of Great Liang’s people. Now, even if he wanted to take advantage of the chaos to restore the country and raise his arms in call… even if he could gather an army, he would not gain the support of the people. What would be the point?

“Your subject… your subject wishes to ask Your Majesty to spare these spies’ lives and keep them alive to serve our Great Zhou!” Prince Han Cheng kowtowed heavily to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to look at the clear tea in her cup, actually finding herself admiring the young Murong Li.

Just as Bai Qingyan was the Emperor of Great Zhou, and although willing to promote the gambling agreement between the two nations to merge into one country, her heart would certainly favor Great Zhou, so some matters could not be told to Xiao Rongyan and had to be done privately. Murong Li, as the Emperor of Great Yan, naturally had to consider the Yan Kingdom as well.

All three of them knew that this gambling agreement between the two nations would definitely be reached. Murong Li’s advance alliance with the Dongyi Kingdom to cause trouble at Great Zhou’s borders and disperse Great Zhou’s energy was all perfectly reasonable.

Befriending the distant and attacking the near…

The Dongyi Kingdom did not border on the Yan Kingdom, so it was naturally suitable for the Yan Kingdom to ally with.

If that was the case, what about the Tianfeng Kingdom? Had Murong Li sent people to the Tianfeng Kingdom?

She blew on her hot tea, used the cup lid to press down the floating tea leaves, took a sip of hot tea, then said: “Those spies, did they not tell Prince Han Cheng that you could take advantage of the chaos to restore the country?”

Bai Qingyan was not foolish. Since that spy could go to great lengths to avoid the ears of those guarding Prince Han Cheng and enter the mansion to tell Prince Han Cheng so much, he must have considerable skills.

If he truly wanted to serve Great Zhou loyally, he could have gone to the Magistrate of Jingzhao randomly, or found a way to infiltrate the mansion of some court minister, such as Bai Qingyan’s maternal uncle Minister Dong’s mansion, to deliver the message to Bai Qingyan’s hands, which could also secure a future for himself.

But this spy did not do so, instead going to find Prince Han Cheng, indicating he harbored thoughts of restoring the country.

And Prince Han Cheng, coming today to say so much, was also to protect the lives of his former subordinates. Bai Qingyan understood it all.

Prince Han Cheng’s body trembled, and he kowtowed again: “Your Majesty’s keen insight! Now that the Liang Kingdom no longer exists, Your Majesty has implemented new policies in the Great Zhou that benefit the people and have won their hearts. Your subject dares not… and does not wish to rebel. Your subject believes Your Majesty will be the monarch who can ultimately unify the realm. Your subject is willing to follow Your Majesty. Even if unable to contribute much to national governance, I will be loyal and steadfast!”

Bai Qingyan set down her teacup: “Rise! Do you have the list of spies arranged in the Dongyi Kingdom?”

Prince Han Cheng immediately took out a small bamboo tube from his chest and raised it above his head with both hands: “In response to Your Majesty, it’s all here!”

Wei Zhong walked down with small steps, accepted the bamboo tube, brought it up to open it for Bai Qingyan, and unfolded the sheepskin paper inside for Bai Qingyan to see.

Bai Qingyan looked at the positions and numbers of the spies in Dongyi listed inside and chuckled softly: “I didn’t expect that the former Prince of Liang had arranged so many people in the Dongyi court… and now one of them holds a high position.”

Prince Han Cheng kept his head pressed tightly against the mirror-bright floor, not daring to lift it.

“Prince Han Cheng…” Bai Qingyan set the list aside. “I know you want to preserve your subordinates’ lives.”

Prince Han Cheng honestly kowtowed to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty is wise!”

“If I were wise, I wouldn’t have let spies infiltrate your mansion and meet with you while still knowing nothing about it.”

“Your Majesty! Your subject… your subject…” Prince Han Cheng was flustered and at a loss, not knowing how to explain as Bai Qingyan suddenly turned stern.

“Prince Han Cheng, do you know that by telling me this matter, I might very well take your life when I’m about to sign the gambling agreement with the Yan Kingdom, to prevent chaos in the Great Liang region?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was calm as still water. “With your death, those from Great Liang who want to cause trouble would lose their banner.”