“This general receives the order!” Liu Pinggao couldn’t help but look triumphantly at the Bai Family Army generals, his eyes full of joy. “His Majesty is wise!”

When the Anping Army learned they would follow His Majesty to the Zhou territories in Yan, they were all extremely excited. Some couldn’t contain themselves and especially ran to the Bai Family Army to show off, saying that His Majesty was bringing them, the Anping Army, to such a dangerous Yan heartland, clearly showing he valued them highly.

The Bai Family Army was furious but dared not speak out in anger. Those who knew Lu Yuanpeng’s identity encouraged him to ask His Majesty directly—after all, the Bai Family Army was the true direct lineage, and only the Bai Family Army would sacrifice everything to protect Xiao Bai Commander without regard for their lives.

This time, Lu Yuanpeng’s mind was clear, and he only said: “I think that’s wrong. Though the Bai Family Army is the direct lineage, the Anping Army is also His Majesty’s soldiers. If they truly encounter danger, they would also sacrifice their lives to protect His Majesty! I just feel the Anping Army isn’t as capable as our Bai Family Army, so I worry about His Majesty’s safety!”

“No one is allowed to mention this matter again!” Cheng Yuanzhi spoke up. “Xiao Bai Commander ordered us to escort Prince Hancheng, so I will properly escort him back to Hancheng. Since we consider ourselves troops under Xiao Bai Commander’s command, we must obey her orders!”

“General Cheng is right! We Bai Family Army should be the ones who question His Majesty’s orders the least—only then can we be considered His Majesty’s direct lineage!” A Bai Family Army general echoed.

Early the next morning, Bai Jinse and Cheng Yuanzhi led the Bai Family Army to escort Prince Hancheng’s coffin and Princess Hancheng to Hancheng. Bai Qingyan had originally wanted Lu Ping to follow Bai Jinse, but Lu Ping was worried about Bai Qingyan going to the epidemic territory and insisted on following no matter what, saying he would protect Physician Hong. Bai Qingyan truly had no way to refuse.

Bai Qingyan personally saw off Prince Hancheng and Princess Hancheng, then set out with the Anping Army and medicinal materials purchased from Jinwan City toward Dongguan, planning to enter Yan through Dongguan.

Along this route, Bai Qingjue, Physician Hong, and Lu Ping sent people to collect medicinal herbs. Along the way, physicians with considerable local reputation heard about His Majesty going to the Zhou cities in Yan territory and sought out Lu Ping, expressing their willingness to accompany His Majesty to the Great Zhou cities within Yan to contribute their modest efforts.

Lu Ping was deeply moved and took the initiative to bring them along, since having more physicians meant more strength in developing treatments for the epidemic.

Later, more and more physicians heard that the Emperor would personally go to the Great Zhou cities in Yan territory, heard that the Emperor said he would never abandon any Great Zhou citizen. All were inspired and chased after the Emperor’s procession, wanting to accompany the Emperor to Yan.

Meanwhile, Xiao Rongyan received the personal letter that Bai Qingyan had Wei Su deliver.

When Xiao Rongyan saw that Bai Qingyan would personally go to the Zhou territories in Yan, his brows furrowed tightly. Now the epidemic was fierce, and all of Yan faced it like a great enemy, yet A’Bao wanted to risk going to Yan. If she contracted the epidemic in the process, or if people around her contracted it…

Xiao Rongyan understood why Bai Qingyan wanted to go to the Zhou territories in Yan at this time. It was said that after the Great Zhou’s Minister Shen, Shen Tianzhi, sealed the city, medicinal herbs still couldn’t keep up, and the citizens in the city, incited by Yan spies, nearly caused civil unrest. For this, his sister-in-law… Yan’s Empress Dowager seemed quite pleased.

If Bai Qingyan could be with the Yan people at this time, not to mention those in the Zhou territories of Yan who were once loyal to Yan, even all the people within Yan’s borders would be moved upon hearing of it.

The vast power that popular support could bring was something Xiao Rongyan had already experienced when recapturing Nanyan.

Having come this far, regarding which country would ultimately win in the national gamble, Xiao Rongyan already had a premonition.

Though worried about Bai Qingyan’s safety, Xiao Rongyan knew he couldn’t stop her. Even if Bai Qingyan had to lead troops to fight her way there, she would go. What he could do was try his best to make Bai Qingyan’s journey to the Great Zhou cities in Yan territory go more smoothly, arranging everything properly to prevent her troops from contracting the epidemic.

Furthermore, he needed to completely seize power from his sister-in-law, otherwise there was no guarantee she wouldn’t develop thoughts of harming A’Bao.

Xiao Rongyan burned the letter in his hand and said to Wei Su: “Go back and tell your master that she must… take good care of herself! The people are important, but please make sure she protects herself too!”

“Prince Jiu can rest assured,” Wei Su replied before leaving.

Watching Wei Su depart, Xiao Rongyan rubbed his fingers, lowered his eyes in quiet thought for a moment, then said to Yue Shi, who stood beside him: “Yue Shi, pack light baggage. We’ll ride fast horses back to Yan capital! Also send someone carrying my token to the Dongguan border and Shequ City, which borders Great Zhou’s Guangling… Order the commanders of both cities that if they see Great Zhou troops transporting medicinal herbs into Yan, let them pass!”

“Yes!” Yue Shi responded.

Xiao Rongyan, who had planned to rest, changed clothes, wrapped himself in a cloak, and took Yue Shi with a team of riders, galloping toward Yan capital under moonlight.

He had to return before news of Bai Qingyan going to Yan reached the capital, to reclaim the power from his sister-in-law’s hands.

Xiao Rongyan traveled day and night, changing horses along the way, finally arriving at Yan capital just as the morning court began on the twenty-first of November.

Xiao Rongyan’s swift return far exceeded the expectations of Yan’s Empress Dowager and Minister Meng.

The Yan Empress Dowager was in the middle of attacking the Regent’s faction during morning court when she saw the dust-covered Xiao Rongyan stride into the great hall.

The Yan Empress Dowager had originally planned to completely control the Yan court before Xiao Rongyan returned. For this, she had found excuses to remove Xiao Rongyan’s trusted ministers from high positions, but before she could finish the replacement, Xiao Rongyan had returned.

The elderly Minister Meng clenched his fists, instinctively glancing at the Empress Dowager, then stepped aside to clear the center of the hall for Xiao Rongyan to pass through.

Xiao Rongyan stood with hands behind his back, glancing at the Yan Empress Dowager standing on the high platform, then at the kneeling court ministers. When those three ministers saw the Regent return, they immediately saw their backbone and crawled forward on their knees to pay respects: “Regent!”

“A’Yan has returned.” The Yan Empress Dowager’s hands slowly tightened beneath her ornate robes, her smile forced. “Counting the days, A’Yan must have heard about Yan’s epidemic and returned without rest, right? Why don’t you rest first?”

Xiao Rongyan’s eyes beneath his mask were deep. After giving the Yan Empress Dowager a formal bow, he straightened and said, “If I hadn’t returned, Yan would face great chaos!”

With that, Xiao Rongyan turned to Minister Meng: “Forbidding medicinal materials from being sent to the cities within Yan that belong to Great Zhou—was this Minister Meng’s counsel to the Empress Dowager?”

Hearing this, Minister Meng knew Xiao Rongyan must already be aware of everything and couldn’t argue further. He quickly bowed formally: “Regent, now that the two countries are engaged in their national gamble, Yan suddenly faces an epidemic, and the epidemic in the cities belonging to the Great Zhou is also intensifying. This is exactly a good opportunity Heaven has granted our Yan to achieve victory!”