After hearing these words, Liu Rushi detected something unusual in Bai Qingyan’s tone. Seeing Bai Qingyan’s ordinary manner as she ate her meal, he didn’t ask but pondered for a moment before straightening his back, as if energized. “Your Majesty’s words… seem to have deeper meaning?”

The corners of Bai Qingyan’s lips curved up as she said to Liu Rushi, “During this period, don’t let your emotions show. Just continue negotiating with the Yan nation as usual to settle on those cities. Don’t let them decide all of our Great Zhou’s cities. We must also designate their Yan nation cities. When designating Yan nation cities, if they argue strongly and refuse to agree, then pretend to step back and casually point to some nearby prosperous cities!”

“What does Your Majesty mean by this?” Liu Rushi knew that Bai Qingyan had a plan in mind, his eyes bright with excitement.

“Wait until everything is negotiated, the detailed situations of these cities are clearly handed over, and when we’re about to affix the imperial seal, then tell Yan nation… since this is a contest of national policies with the nation at stake, then we should implement Yan nation’s policies in our Great Zhou cities, and our Great Zhou should implement Great Zhou policies in those Yan nation cities. Only then would it be a true contest!” Bai Qingyan scooped up a spoonful of porridge and took a sip. “Let’s see how steady Yan Nation’s heart is. If Yan nation’s heart is steady and they’ve chosen poor cities for our Great Zhou, then let them worry about it! But remember one thing… do not reveal any traces in front of the Yan nation envoys! That Wang Hanbing from Yan nation is no pushover! Lord Liu… after you return, you must study the situations of those Yan nation cities thoroughly!”

“Your Majesty, this is removing the firewood from under the cauldron!” Liu Rushi stood and walked to the center of the great hall, bowing deeply to Bai Qingyan. “This minister will take leave of the palace immediately to arrange this matter!”

“No rush, Lord Liu… finish eating before you go!” Bai Qingyan smiled at Liu Rushi. “Don’t waste food.”

“Yes!” Liu Rushi sat down with a radiant face, drinking porridge with Bai Qingyan. “Now our Great Zhou is the knife and chopping board, while the Yan nation is the fish and meat. When we propose this method, they’ll have to agree even if they don’t want to! If they don’t agree, it means they have ulterior motives!”

Bai Qingyan took a milk steamed bun, tore off a small piece, and put it to her lips. After chewing and swallowing, she continued, “I also intend… to let the Yan nation people experience Great Zhou’s new policies. When the people know the benefits of Great Zhou’s new policies, they’ll naturally be willing to become Great Zhou citizens. Then, when the two nations merge, it will save much trouble. Word of mouth among Yan nation people… will win hearts much more than our Great Zhou laboriously explaining benefits to the people.”

What Bai Qingyan worried most about was that future Yan nation people would be unwilling to become Great Zhou citizens, gathering to cause trouble every few days. While sending troops to suppress them would be easy, it would also make the people fearful, while developing resistance toward the Great Zhou.

Liu Rushi nodded after hearing Bai Qingyan’s words. “Your Majesty’s considerations are thorough!”

“Just keep this matter in your heart. Don’t tell others yet, especially Fan Yugan, who can’t keep his composure – he might let the Yan nation envoys notice.” Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and took a sip of porridge, then looked at Liu Rushi again. “Pay careful attention to this Wang Hanbing. When Yan nation initially hadn’t decided to send the Regent Prince to Great Zhou, the Yan Emperor and Regent Prince had Wang Hanbing come to Great Zhou as the chief envoy. When the two nations sit down for peace talks, if we dig pits for the Yan nation, the Yan nation will naturally also dig pits for us. This is all as it should be.”

When Bai Qingyan mentioned digging pits, she smiled to herself, which also relaxed Liu Rushi’s mood. Liu Rushi looked at Bai Qingyan dining behind the desk piled with memorials, discussing matters of the two nations’ contest in such a homely manner. He felt that the Emperor didn’t seem so high and mighty after all, not completely removed from worldly concerns.

It was precisely because of Bai Qingyan’s calm and ordinary demeanor that Liu Rushi understood Bai Qingyan’s success wasn’t due to luck or accident. Though their Great Zhou Emperor had ascended the throne midway, she worked harder and more diligently than anyone. A person with broad vision, ambition, ability, and diligence was destined to be extraordinary.

Ever since Liu Rushi learned from Grand Commandant Lu that Bai Qingyan had already agreed with Yan nation to contest for the nation before attacking Xi Liang… right up until just now, he had felt that Emperor Bai Qingyan was too idealistic. Even he, a scholar, understood that cities and territories could only truly belong to oneself if taken back through real combat. Yet Bai Qingyan placed hope in the Yan royal family keeping their promises. He felt that, besides truly caring for the people and soldiers’ lives, Bai Qingyan also had confidence in Great Zhou’s new policies and excessive trust in the Yan royal family. Liu Rushi greatly admired this and put forth his utmost effort.

But now, having such a homely dinner with Bai Qingyan and discussing matters at the negotiation table, Bai Qingyan was so relaxed… it also made Liu Rushi relax.

What harm was there in taking this gamble? If they won the bet… and Yan nation refused to fulfill their promise, fighting again would just be fighting a few years later.

If they lost the bet, it would mean that Great Zhou’s national policies were inferior to Yan’s national policies. Bai Qingyan had always been someone unafraid to admit mistakes and very good at making corrections – she would certainly change the national policies. At that time, changing national policies would inevitably be more difficult than changing an emperor.

And it was precisely because of this that Bai Qingyan wanted to establish this nation-contesting strategy. Only in this way… could she implement truly beneficial policies for the people.

If someone didn’t believe that there were people in this world who didn’t care about the imperial throne for the sake of the people, then surely that person’s ideological realm and pursuits hadn’t reached this height.

Liu Rushi also understood that Bai Qingyan didn’t carry ancestral foundations on her shoulders, so she didn’t have such great burdens and pressure. She could wholeheartedly do what she wanted to do. What she carried on her shoulders was the Bai family’s generations-old responsibility to protect and secure the people. She had never forgotten the Bai family’s ancestral teachings from beginning to end.

Hearing Bai Qingyan ask him to try the steamed bun, Liu Rushi quickly set down his porridge bowl, picked up the steamed bun, and tasted it, nodding. “This steamed bun is novel, with a milky flavor.”

“This was made by Nanny Zhai, who serves my Fifth Aunt, for Xiao Ba. Because the taste was good and it’s very soft, she sent some here for Lord Liu to try something new…” Bai Qingyan smiled. “Last time at the Liu residence, I saw that Madam Liu was pregnant but quite thin. Nanny Zhai said it’s quite good for pregnant women and children. I’ve already had Chun Tao copy the recipe. Lord Liu can take it back so the nannies in your household can make some for Madam Liu.”

Liu Rushi’s wife had been uncomfortable since becoming pregnant. Now that she was far along, her appetite still hadn’t improved… Liu Rushi was very anxious. After all, childbirth was like walking through the gates of hell for women, and he feared that his wife’s current physical condition might lead to accidents during delivery.

Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, how could Liu Rushi not be grateful? He quickly set down the milk-steamed bun and stood to bow to Bai Qingyan. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s thoughtful remembrance. This minister thanks Your Majesty on behalf of my wife!”