Lord Liu certainly couldn’t imagine that before long, half of the Dongyi court would also be Great Zhou’s people. Even if ten Dongyi nations joined forces with Tianfeng, it would probably be useless.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Good, I understand this matter! You rest and recover from your injuries…”

“Good!” Only then did Liu Rushi truly feel at ease. “With Your Majesty aware of the situation, this subject can rest assured!”

“Your Majesty…” Shen Liangyu entered from outside and saluted Bai Qingyan. “Yan’s Ninth Prince has arrived. Cheng Yuanzhi has already sent someone back to report, and has also sent people to inform the Dongyi Seventh Prince and Empress.”

Bai Qingyan set down her teacup: “What should come… will always come! Then let’s first meet this Yan Regent. As for the Dongyi Empress and court ministers, has anyone come to say… whether they’ve reached any conclusion about the enthronement date?”

Shen Liangyu replied: “I heard they’re still deliberating. After the Empress finished bandaging her wounds, she calmed down and decided to have the Imperial Astronomers divine an auspicious date.”

“If going to meet Yan’s Ninth Prince, this subject will accompany Your Majesty!” Liu Rushi rose and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan. “The Yan people are cunning and must be guarded against. This time, seeing our Great Zhou deploy troops, they’ve probably come to claim their share!”

“Lord Liu should rest. It doesn’t matter! This isn’t a peace negotiation with our Great Zhou.” Bai Qingyan waved for Liu Rushi to sit down. “Now that our Great Zhou has taken over the city defenses of the Dongyi capital and the imperial palace defenses, with our main army stationed outside the city, what is there to fear?”

Bai Qingyan had Liu Rushi rest well and didn’t have him rise to see her off.

Just as she emerged from Liu Rushi’s quarters, Shen Liangyu immediately told Bai Qingyan, “Little Commander Bai, Xiao Ruojiang has returned!”

“Only Xiao Ruojiang alone?” Bai Qingyan was somewhat surprised.

“Exactly! He’s waiting outside, saying he has urgent matters to report!” Shen Liangyu responded.

“Let’s go see!” When Bai Qingyan arrived outside with Bai Jinzhi, she saw Xiao Ruojiang holding a meat pie in one hand and drinking hot soup with the other, looking as if he were starving.

Hearing the sound of Bai Qingyan’s armor as she walked, he quickly set down the meat pie and hot soup, stood up, and without regard for etiquette wiped his mouth with his sleeve, forcibly swallowing the unchewed meat in his mouth before stepping forward to salute: “Young Miss!”

“Milk brother, no need for excessive ceremony!” Bai Qingyan helped Xiao Ruojiang up and asked: “What urgent matter does milk brother have?”

“My brother and I originally wanted to scout the defensive layouts of the cities around this Dongyi capital in the shortest time possible, drawing detailed maps for the Great Zhou as a precaution. But unexpectedly… we discovered the Yan army’s encampment location!” Xiao Ruojiang straightened and looked at Bai Qingyan. “This Yan Ninth Prince brought approximately less than eight thousand troops. Five thousand are solidly entrenched in the mountain hollow by the Emerald River, while he only brought less than three thousand to the Dongyi capital, camping outside the city. My brother is already watching them by the Emerald River, worried that Yan has other schemes. My brother believes… we should bring troops to control those five thousand men, so the three thousand outside the city wouldn’t be a threat.”

It was reasonable for Xiao Rongyan, with his cautious nature, to leave backup forces. She just hadn’t expected her two milk brothers to stumble upon this by accident.

Bai Qingyan glanced at Xiao Ruojiang: “Milk brother, you first have some soup and cakes. I’ll have someone notify A’Jue to send troops to the Emerald River and cut off the Yan army’s communication routes.”

“I should lead the troops myself!” Xiao Ruojiang’s voice was steady as he saluted Bai Qingyan. “I know the way!”

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together: “You first eat and rest a bit. I’ll have A’Jue mobilize troops, then you can personally lead them. The Yan Regent just arrived at the west gate of the Dongyi capital – there’s no rush…”

“Yes!” Xiao Ruojiang responded.

Xiao Rongyan sat mounted on his fine horse, looking at Cheng Yuanzhi, who stood solemnly blocking his way at the Dongyi capital’s gate. He glanced up at the city tower and said with amusement in his voice: “General Cheng, has Great Zhou taken over the Dongyi capital’s city defenses? This… doesn’t look like coming to assist Dongyi.”

Cheng Yuanzhi respected this Yan Ninth Prince for previously abandoning Yun Jing to rush to aid their Little Commander Bai, so he was fairly respectful toward Xiao Rongyan, though he felt indignant about Yan coming to take advantage.

Cheng Yuanzhi just smiled and saluted Xiao Rongyan: “Our Emperor originally planned for our Great Zhou to destroy Dongyi. Later, this Empress came crying and sent the Dongyi Seventh Prince to our Great Zhou, saying she was willing to submit to our Great Zhou, promising this and that compensation, with tribute amounts ten times what she previously gave to Great Liang. Our Great Zhou has vast territory and many people – we couldn’t be bothered managing this tiny place, so we agreed! But when our Great Zhou Emperor enters the city, security must be managed by ourselves, right?”

Xiao Rongyan gripped his reins, looking at Cheng Yuanzhi with a smile: “Then… can this Prince enter?”

“Yan and our Great Zhou are allied nations, so naturally you can enter! It’s just that this is ultimately Dongyi’s territory. Regent, please wait a moment… I’ve already sent someone to quickly report!” Cheng Yuanzhi said with a smile.

The smile beneath Xiao Rongyan’s mask faded slightly. Great Zhou’s reason for having Cheng Yuanzhi take over the city defenses was not only because Bai Qingyan was in the Dongyi capital, but probably also to guard against Yan!

He didn’t need to think to know that even if Yan people could enter the city later, they would certainly only allow him to bring his guards into this Dongyi capital, completely controlled by the Great Zhou.

In this world, whoever has the harder fist, the bigger fist, gets to make the rules – this is only natural.

But no matter. Since the Great Zhou now wasn’t planning to destroy Dongyi but to install a puppet emperor, their Yan nation would sign a peaceful coexistence treaty with Dongyi and demand benefits.

However…

Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved slightly. Given A’Bao’s nature, since A’Li had caused trouble for the Great Zhou, if she took action, she would retaliate in kind against Yan. Installing a puppet emperor was certainly meant to deal with Yan, so this treaty would likely involve complications.

The Dongyi Empress was a breakthrough point that their Yan could exploit. She had used Great Zhou envoys to help her son escape disaster, but caused Great Zhou to lose Prince Han Cheng and so many naval officers and soldiers – clearly her scheming ran deep.

“Good, then this Prince will wait. When there’s word, please trouble General Cheng to send notification.” Having finished speaking, Xiao Rongyan turned his horse toward his military camp.

Just as Xiao Rongyan returned to camp and dismounted, his people finally managed to emerge from the city and told him in complete detail about how the Dongyi Empress had personally led all the officials to welcome the Great Zhou Emperor outside the Dongyi capital that day.

In the great tent, Xiao Rongyan knelt before a low table, looking at the three-legged auspicious beast incense burner on the rosewood table emanating wisps of light smoke, his lips curving in a slight smile…