Elder Min Qianqiu smiled as he stood up, bowing first to Elder Guan Yongchong, then to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan quickly straightened up to return the courtesy.

“Your Majesty’s heart for the people moves this old man deeply. Now… I believe that Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting, despite holding great power, did not cling to his position but fought wholeheartedly for the unification of the world! I can also understand… why Duke Zhenguo did not leave the Bai family a way out, bringing all the family’s men to the battlefield for training!” Elder Min Qianqiu felt moved in his heart, “The character and aspirations of all the Bai family members – this old man deeply admires! Thank you, Your Majesty, for resolving my doubts…”

After speaking, Elder Min Qianqiu worried that this visit might have damaged the teacher-student relationship between Guan Yongchong and Bai Qingyan, so he spoke again to Bai Qingyan: “From beginning to end, Brother Yongchong has had complete faith in Your Majesty. Bringing this old man to ask Your Majesty so many questions today was entirely to resolve my doubts, to better write the Bai family biography. Please forgive us, Your Majesty.”

After speaking, Elder Min Qianqiu bowed again with solemn ceremony.

Bai Qingyan quickly returned the courtesy: “Elder, there is no need to be so formal. Whether it be my teacher or you, Elder, if you have any doubts about the governmental policies I implement or my decisions, feel free to come and inquire. Bai Qingyan will certainly speak without reservation.”

Bai Qingyan personally saw off her teacher, Elder Guan Yongchong, and Elder Min Qianqiu. Only after they left did Wei Zhong, who had been following at her side, speak in a low voice: “Your Majesty… there was a reason why Elder Guan Yongchong and Elder Min Qianqiu came today. Some scholars and celebrities in the Great Zhou, unable to see Your Majesty, went to seek audience with Elder Guan Yongchong, hoping he would stop Your Majesty from this national wager with the Yan Kingdom.”

Wei Zhong had already beautified his words considerably, yet Bai Qingyan still paused in her steps upon hearing this.

She looked at Wei Zhong and asked: “Who went to find my teacher? Do you know?”

Wei Zhong quickly took out a name list he had just recorded from his sleeve: “This is what we learned from Elder Guan Yongchong’s servants. I heard there are more – this old servant will send people to investigate further.”

Bai Qingyan briefly scanned the list. Wei Zhong’s records were very detailed, probably because the servants remembered the first person to visit Elder Guan Yongchong particularly clearly, so Wei Zhong’s records were also very detailed.

The celebrity scholar… Lu Zhongxin.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes slightly. This Lu Zhongxin was well-informed – he had gone to visit her teacher on the very day the Yan envoys arrived in the capital.

She returned the list to Wei Zhong, pondered carefully for a moment, then spoke: “Have the Investigation Bureau look into this Master Lu Zhongxin – see who he associates with regularly, and find out where he got his information to visit my teacher so early and tell him about the national wager. Also investigate… whether there are loose-tongued people in the court or around me. Be careful not to alert them or cause panic among people.”

“This old servant understands. Your Majesty can rest assured – as soon as there’s news, this old servant will immediately inform Your Majesty!” Wei Zhong nodded.

During this period, Wei Zhong had truly saved Bai Qingyan much effort by staying at her side. Wei Zhong was meticulous and capable – no wonder Grandmother had relied on him so heavily.

Standing under the hexagonal palace lantern, Bai Qingyan looked at Wei Zhong’s respectfully hunched figure and said softly: “You’ve worked hard during this time, Eunuch Wei…”

“Your Majesty, what words are these – this is all within this old servant’s duty!” Wei Zhong said hurriedly.

“I keep your loyalty in my heart. Let’s go back!” Bai Qingyan lifted her feet and walked back along the winding corridor. Wei Zhong quickly followed, his face showing neither favor nor displeasure.

Just as Bai Qingyan reached the entrance to the great hall, she saw a young eunuch craning his neck to look around. Upon seeing Bai Qingyan and Wei Zhong returning, he quickly stood properly at the hall entrance, his lowered head covered in sweat, afraid of being scolded by Eunuch Wei.

Zeng Shanru had already arrived, but since Bai Qingyan had been speaking with the two scholars in the hall earlier, then personally escorted them to the palace gates, and Eunuch Wei had sent someone to invite Zeng Shanru to the side hall for tea. Zeng Shanru had drunk his fill of tea and had already made three or four trips to the latrine. The young eunuch, thinking to do a favor for the well-spoken and kind-faced Zeng Shanru, had been watching to report when His Majesty returned, hoping Nanny Tong would remember his good deed.

He hadn’t expected His Majesty and Eunuch Wei to return via the corridor without taking a sedan chair.

“Has Zeng Shanru arrived?” Bai Qingyan asked as she stepped into the great hall.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, he has arrived!” Wei Zhong gestured for the young eunuch to summon Zeng Shanru. “Just now, when Your Majesty was speaking with the two scholars in the palace, this old servant had Master Zeng invited to the side hall for tea. Also, Master Zeng has brought newly forged weapons – when Your Majesty was seeing off the two scholars, this old servant had them placed on Your Majesty’s desk.”

“Good…” Bai Qingyan nodded. “When Zeng Shanru comes in shortly, send someone to invite Nanny Tong. After we finish, let Nanny Tong and Zeng Shanru have a good reunion – don’t rush Zeng Shanru to leave the palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Wei Zhong responded.

Soon, Zeng Shanru entered the great hall. Seeing Bai Qingyan holding the weapon he had reforged, he quickly knelt to pay his respects.

“Sharp enough to cut through hair… truly a fine weapon!” Bai Qingyan looked at the blade in her hand with admiration. “It seems much lighter, too – not grooved on both sides, but hollow in the middle. This way… it can directly increase the wounds on enemy soldiers in close combat.”

“Miss is right!” Zeng Shanru knew that Bai Qingyan had always understood weapons deeply. Reducing the weight also saves the soldiers’ strength, allowing them to kill more enemies. Moreover, it’s forged from the giant elephants’ armor, making it very sharp. Even when meeting heavier weapons, cutting through them would be no problem!”

“So impressive…” Bai Qingyan’s brows lit up with a smile as she casually tossed the blade to Zeng Shanru.

Zeng Shanru quickly raised his hands to catch it. Seeing Bai Qingyan draw the precious sword hanging on the wall, Zeng Shanru immediately reversed the blade and gripped it tightly…

A “clang” rang through the great hall – the sound of metal striking metal. Under Bai Qingyan’s single-handed sword stroke, the precious sword in her hand immediately broke into two pieces.

Bai Qingyan looked at the unharmed precious blade in Zeng Shanru’s hands, her heart filled with amazement.

“But there’s one strange thing – the armor Tianfeng Kingdom used for their giant elephants is much sturdier than these weapons. The weapons forged from the armor dismantled from the giant elephants are also exceptionally sharp and sturdy!” Seeing Bai Qingyan walking toward him, Zeng Shanru quickly knelt, reversing the blade and holding the precious sword high with its back toward Bai Qingyan.

“This is normal. In Tianfeng Kingdom’s view, their giant elephants are far more important than their soldiers’ lives.” Bai Qingyan took the precious blade from Zeng Shanru’s hands. “Sit down. You injured your leg before – don’t kneel whenever you see me in the future. I don’t follow such customs here.”