“I only wore this when entering the palace. Usually, I keep it hidden close to my chest where no one would know.” Xiao Rongyan grasped Bai Qingyan’s hand and pulled her into his embrace. “The unification of the realm that you await is coming soon! Three years… after three years, our family will be together forever and never be separated again.”

Surrounded by Xiao Rongyan’s familiar, crisp scent, she raised her hand to encircle his narrow waist, her entire body leaning against him like she had no bones.

“Mm, three years isn’t short, but fortunately it’s not long either.” She looked up at Xiao Rongyan. “We still have a lifetime of enduring togetherness ahead of us—we can afford to wait!”

Xiao Rongyan raised his hand to tuck Bai Qingyan’s black hair behind her ear, then lowered his head to kiss her.

Perhaps out of excessive longing, Xiao Rongyan’s kiss was extremely aggressive, the heat on his lips almost igniting her entire being, leaving her only able to passively tilt her head back and endure his kiss.

The trembling between her lips and teeth made her heart feel like it would leap from her chest. Whether it was from being unable to breathe for too long that made her head grow muddled, her mind went completely blank, and her spine trembled uncontrollably.

The flame in the glazed lamp on the tall table made crackling sounds as sparks flew, shadows dancing.

Outside the great hall, moonlight was like snow, clouds thin and stars sparse.

The clear radiance illuminated the glazed palace tiles and the paths paved with blue stone, making the imperial palace appear even more majestic and cold. Only the hexagonal palace lanterns hanging under the palace corridors and in the long galleries cast flickering warm clusters of light, as if they could bring a trace of warmth to this imperial palace.

As the wind passed, the mottled tree shadows in the imperial palace swayed, rustling softly.

Summer insects hummed low beneath palace walls and among the roots of flowers, plants, and trees, rising and falling, continuous and lingering.

Only when the sky began to brighten slightly did the insect chirping gradually cease.

Inside the great hall, a gold-inlaid incense burner embedded with red and green gems sent up curling white smoke, filling the room with the rich and fragrant scent of magnolia.

Gauze curtains and drapes hung layer upon layer. At the end of these layered curtains stood a fragrant wood sleeping bed covered by frost-colored brocade canopies with auspicious cloud gold and silver patterns. On the black sandalwood dragon and phoenix carved footstool lay a woman’s embroidered shoes and a man’s boots, with disheveled clothing scattered on the floor mat…

Inside the curtains, the clouds and rain had ceased. Xiao Rongyan held his beloved, who was sleeping peacefully with closed eyes, in his embrace, gently placing a kiss between her brows.

Dawn was approaching quickly. Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan didn’t have much time left. If he didn’t return to the guesthouse soon, he might be discovered by the Yan envoys traveling with him, but he couldn’t bear to wake Bai Qingyan.

His fingers caressed Bai Qingyan’s lips that were crimson from his kisses, placing another kiss at the corner of her mouth. He gently withdrew his arm, covered Bai Qingyan with the thin blanket, and gazed reluctantly at her delicate facial features—her forehead, her straight and elegant nose bridge, her lips, and jaw.

To him, no amount of looking at Bai Qingyan would ever be enough. He wished he could hide Bai Qingyan on his person and never be separated from her.

Three years—if they couldn’t see each other for three years, he wondered if A’Bao would miss him, if the children would miss him.

Xiao Rongyan kissed Bai Qingyan’s forehead once more before getting down from the bed, picking up his clothes, arranging the bed curtains properly for Bai Qingyan, dressing himself, putting on his mask, and quietly departing.

This time, Bai Qingyan slept particularly deeply, perhaps because she had drunk wine today and later became intimately entangled with Xiao Rongyan endlessly, becoming quite exhausted.

When Bai Qingyan awoke, the space beside her where Xiao Rongyan had lain was already empty. If not for the traces left on her body, Bai Qingyan would have thought last night was merely an unspeakable dream.

Perhaps because they had both endured for too long, Xiao Rongyan had been too fierce last night. Bai Qingyan had nearly been unable to withstand it and had fallen asleep from exhaustion without even bathing.

“Chun Tao…” When Bai Qingyan spoke, she discovered her voice had become hoarse.

“Miss has awakened.” Chun Tao parted the layers of gauze curtains and drapes as she walked to the bedside.

Bai Qingyan’s body felt sore and weak. She asked Chun Tao about the time, and calculating that there was still some time before the morning court session, she had Chun Tao order servants to bring in hot water so she could bathe.

When Chun Tao was attending to Bai Qingyan’s bath, she carefully asked: “Miss, should I prepare the medicine?”

The medicine Chun Tao referred to was naturally contraceptive.

Since Bai Qingyan currently had no Imperial Consort, if she were to become pregnant, it would not sound good if word got out.

Sitting in the steaming hot water, Bai Qingyan’s ears burned. Even though Xiao Rongyan had been so fierce last night, in the end, he had still been considerate about not wanting her to become pregnant—it must have been difficult for him.

Bai Qingyan said quietly: “No need, nothing will happen…”

Chun Tao wanted to persuade her further, but since Miss always acted with propriety, and since she said it wasn’t necessary, she must have her considerations.

Attending to Bai Qingyan’s bathing and dressing, Chun Tao didn’t let others enter, fearing they might see the marks on Bai Qingyan’s body.

After drinking a cup of milk, she hurried to attend court. In the court hall, Liu Rushi relayed everything the Tianfeng envoys had said when they visited his residence the night before to his colleagues, and also gave Bai Qingyan the gift list of the valuable presents sent by Tianfeng Nation.

Bai Qingyan knew that Liu Rushi was deliberately having these valuable gifts from Tianfeng Nation deposited into the state treasury to set an example for the court ministers, and also to remind those ministers who had received valuable gifts from Tianfeng Nation not to be beholden to those who gave them favors.

“Yan departed early this morning, and now we have Tianfeng Nation! Minister Liu is truly working hard!” Dong Qingping looked at Liu Rushi with a smile. “However, this humble minister feels that using Minister Liu for Tianfeng Nation is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

“Minister Dong is underestimating Tianfeng Nation.” Bai Qingyan didn’t think it was overkill at all. Supporting herself with one hand on the desk, she looked at her court ministers below with a smile: “Tianfeng Nation acts submissively and humbly before our Great Zhou, which is precisely when we should be truly alert. Minister Liu has already worked hard to explain Tianfeng Nation’s national history to everyone. Tianfeng Nation is a country that follows a strategy of using war to sustain war and has forcefully destroyed other neighboring countries around them. After losing one battle, could they be thinking not about how to turn the tables, but about submitting to our Great Zhou?”

She tapped her finger on the desk: “Tianfeng Nation has suffered defeats in its history before. They would seek peace after defeat… then destroy that country! This is a nation that will repay every grievance. When they come seeking peace… we should be careful!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, General Lu nodded: “Your Majesty speaks truly.”

“Minister Dong, I’ll trouble you to carefully examine this mutual trade treaty sent by Tianfeng Nation and see what traps Tianfeng Nation has dug for our Great Zhou.” Bai Qingyan signaled Wei Zhong to give the mutual trade treaty sent by Tianfeng Nation to her uncle Dong Qingping.

Dong Qingping respectfully received the parchment with a smile and nodded: “Your Majesty, please be at ease.”

“The matter of mutual trade is not impossible, but the goods need to be carefully screened.” Bai Qingyan called out: “Wei Bugong…”

“This humble minister is present!” Wei Bugong stepped forward.

“When the time comes, send a few capable people to oversee things.”

“Yes!” Wei Bugong accepted the command.

Seeing that the court ministers had no further suggestions regarding this matter, Bai Qingyan said: “Regarding mutual trade, there’s no need to be too hasty. Seek stability, not speed.”