The cities in Yan with the most severe epidemic outbreaks were very close to the cities Yan had allocated to the Great Zhou.

Now that the epidemic was raging, there was indeed a need for imperial family members to go and take charge so the people could feel at ease. Great Zhou had its Emperor go personally, but on Yan’s side… if little A’Li went, Xiao Rongyan wouldn’t feel reassured.

Furthermore, he truly hoped that in his absence… Murong Li would understand that he should shoulder the burden of the nation and could no longer depend on him. Just now, the reason he had Yue Shi convey those words to Murong Li was still out of affection for him.

After this incident, no matter what, Xiao Rongyan would never allow the Empress Dowager another opportunity to send even the slightest message to A’Li. If A’Li lost his mother at this time, and he left without saying a word, that child would be devastated beyond measure.

Thinking of how Murong Li’s eyes had been filled with tears when he bowed to him earlier, his heart ached.

Coming out of the imperial palace, Xiao Rongyan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the gradually darkening sky, his eyes growing somber as well.

After getting into the carriage, he closed his eyes and rotated the thumb ring on his finger. After a while, he ordered the carriage to turn into a side alley, commanded all the accompanying guards to withdraw, and called: “Guan Ying…”

“Guan Ying is here!”

Like Ping Yi, Guan Ying had once been a guard beside Xiao Rongyan’s elder brother, Murong Yu, except Guan Ying was a shadow guard while Ping Yi was an open guard. Later… before Murong Yu’s death, he arranged for Guan Ying and Ping Yi to protect Xiao Rongyan thereafter.

Xiao Rongyan lifted his hand to part the smoke-colored silk curtain of the carriage window, his eyes looking down at Ping Yi kneeling beside the carriage with a lowered head: “Regarding the Empress Dowager, whether A’Li orders her confined in the palace or sent to a separate palace, you follow along. Ensure her life isn’t harmed, but… don’t let any of her voices or anything from her appear before the Emperor. If anyone dares to deliver messages or items from the Empress Dowager to the Emperor, they need not live.”

“Guan Ying understands!”

“That drug the Empress Dowager gave the Emperor, use it on the Empress Dowager too. Let her also experience… the feeling of being full of resentment yet unable to get out of bed, unable to control even her own body.” When Xiao Rongyan said this, his voice showed no great fluctuation.

“Yes!”

“Go!” Xiao Rongyan lowered the carriage window curtain and closed his eyes again.

Once, because of his elder brother, because of that respect for the Empress Dowager, he had indulged her…

A’Li, unable to let go of that mother-son bond, had been soft-hearted toward the Empress Dowager…

Because of their indulgence and soft-heartedness, they had nearly caused great disaster, making Yan lose credibility for the first time, causing A’Bao to give birth prematurely in her panic. His daughter… had also become physically weak because of this. If not for Heaven’s protection, he might never have seen A’Bao and his two children again!

This time, she had nearly caused countless innocent people to die because of her desire for victory, which went against their original intention of agreeing to the national gamble to determine the winner.

Once, Xiao Rongyan had been disappointed in the Empress Dowager, but was still willing to respectfully call her sister-in-law.

Now, with the Empress Dowager blinded by power, willing to sacrifice anything just to win, even abandoning the lives of people who had once shared hardships with Yan, Xiao Rongyan had completely grown cold toward her.

Human greed was endless. If the Empress Dowager were allowed to continue unchecked, this time, she dared to drug A’Li with medicine that made him weak and unable to rise. Next time… who knew if she might use poison and take A’Li’s life!

Just like… his father!

Xiao Rongyan’s hands, resting on his legs, slowly tightened, clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white.

He absolutely could not let A’Li become like his elder brother…

Bai Qingyan’s group was about to reach Dongguan City. They had also collected almost enough medicinal herbs. Tomorrow morning, Bai Qingyan would personally lead the army to escort the herbs and physicians into Yan territory.

At this moment, Lu Ping was leading people to help the physicians prepare face masks that had been boiled in medicinal water.

Bai Qingjue and Physician Hong were explaining to the soldiers the precautions after entering Yan territory, how to avoid contracting the epidemic, and their treatment methods if infected, striving to put every soldier at ease.

As early as when attacking Liang, Bai Qingyan had led Great Zhou troops, which included the Anping Army. They already had experience, which was one of the reasons Bai Qingyan hadn’t brought the Bai Family Army but instead brought the Anping Army.

Bai Qingyan was sitting under the lamp reading a letter sent by her younger brother, Bai Qingyu.

In the letter, Bai Qingyu said he would personally enter the cities in Yan allocated to the Great Zhou to maintain order, to prevent the people in the Zhou territories of Yan from becoming unstable. Every word revealed his concern for Bai Qingyan, promising to handle this epidemic properly.

Looking at her younger brother’s handwriting, her expression was full of gentle smiles. She picked up her brush to write a reply to A’Yu, had Wei Su deliver it to Bai Qingyu at full speed. She wiped her hands with the hot towel Wei Zhong brought her and instructed Wei Su: “Deliver the letter to Prince Zhenguo’s hands and tell him… as soon as someone escorts the medicinal herbs into Yan, he should immediately return to the capital. This is a military order!”

“Yes!” Wei Su received the order, took the letter, and withdrew from the tent.

Seeing Wei Zhong setting out her meal, Bai Qingyan said, “Wei Zhong, you’ve worked hard on this journey. Go rest!”

“Serving His Majesty is this slave’s duty. How can there be any hardship?” Wei Zhong didn’t feel he had worked hard, but rather felt Bai Qingyan was working too hard. He knelt at her side, using a cloth to hold chopsticks and offer them to Bai Qingyan. “Your Majesty, please eat quickly. The food has already been reheated twice.”

Just as Wei Zhong finished speaking, Xiao Ruojiang entered, bowed, and said: “Miss, Prince Xihuai… requests an audience.”

Bai Qingyan took the chopsticks Wei Zhong offered her and smiled: “He’s followed us all this way and finally shows himself. Please let him in…”

“Yes!” Xiao Ruojiang withdrew from the tent to fetch him.

Soon, Prince Xihuai entered with Xiao Ruojiang.

Before Prince Xihuai even entered the tent, he saw Bai Qingyan sitting under the lamp, having her meal. The flickering candlelight outlined her elegant, refined features. Perhaps from rarely being in military campaigns, her spine was extremely straight, displaying her proud bearing. Her dining mannerisms were extremely graceful, making her entire person seem tranquil, like a painting.

Not having seen her for a long time, upon this reunion, Prince Xihuai felt that Bai Qingyan’s already exquisitely beautiful features seemed even more extraordinary than before, brilliant and dazzling, stunningly noble.

Prince Xihuai’s eyes fixed on Bai Qingyan, somewhat entranced.

When he first met Bai Qingyan, he had been amazed by her beauty—clearly delicate and beautiful yet with a heroic spirit, as if possessing the power to move mountains and cross seas. He had never seen anyone who could embody both qualities simultaneously. Seeing her again now… he discovered that Bai Qingyan’s beauty now carried an extremely compelling sense of nobility.

“Prince Xihuai presumably hasn’t dined yet.” Bai Qingyan’s dark, deep pupils looked at Prince Xihuai, her lips curving slightly, signaling Wei Zhong to serve food for Prince Xihuai.

“I greet the Emperor of Great Zhou…” Prince Xihuai came to his senses and bowed formally to Bai Qingyan.