“The people of Anshun City are those who once shared hardships with our Yan nation. When His Majesty personally appealed for people to donate wealth and goods, the people of Anshun City generously contributed, willing to go hungry themselves to help the Yan nation overcome difficulties together. At that time, the imperial relatives also donated all their family wealth, which led to Xie Xun training the new army. How is it that now that times are good… these people who once shared hardships can become sacrificial lambs to be abandoned just to win the national wager?”

The imperial relatives all knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Xiao Rongyan felt extremely disappointed. The Yan nation had schemed to spread the epidemic to cities under Great Zhou’s jurisdiction, yet Great Zhou had sent the prescription developed by Physician Hong to Yan cities.

Looking at the Great Zhou’s unity from top to bottom, and how they won the people’s hearts, even gaining many Yan people’s hearts through sending medical prescriptions!

Then, looking at the Yan nation, the clan relatives all looked down on the people, viewing them as contemptible commoners. How could this win people’s hearts?

How could such a Yan nation defeat the Great Zhou?

Xiao Rongyan straightened the hem of his long robe, stood up, and said: “This Prince will now go meet the Great Zhou Emperor. You properly invite Physician Zhu out and settle him well. As for your crimes… they will be dealt with after this epidemic matter is concluded!”

Hearing this, Yue Shi was the first to go out and prepare a horse for Xiao Rongyan. He knew… his master had long been eager to see the eldest daughter.

Whether it was the imperial clan in this main hall or the county magistrate and city-defending general, all kept their heads down in kowtow, not daring to raise them. Only when they felt someone lifting the curtain and the light and shadow dimmed as Xiao Rongyan stepped out of the hall did the imperial relatives dare to raise their heads…

Yue Quanyong directly stood up, snorted, and left. Now that the matter had been made clear before the Regent Prince, if anything happened to him, it would be on these so-called imperial relatives. At least now they didn’t have the guts! Once the epidemic in Liyi was controlled, Yue Quanyong would lead his troops away from this place and wasn’t afraid of anyone causing him trouble. He was a soldier who climbed up through military merit and truly didn’t need to care about these imperial relatives’ attitudes.

After Xiao Rongyan and Yue Quanyong left one after the other, the county magistrate quickly crawled up and asked those imperial relatives: “What do we do now? From the Regent Prince’s tone, it seems he wants to protect this Zhu Chengru!”

“This Yue Quanyong is too arrogant, relying on being Xie Xun’s subordinate! He doesn’t think about how Xie Xun has already been held hostage in Great Zhou and doesn’t even know if he’ll have a life to return!” One clan relative gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and stood up, saying to his clan brother: “They say the Regent Prince is ruthless. If we could win the national wager decisively, what would it matter if a few contemptible commoners died? Yet he still says we’re guilty and will deal with our crimes later. Ridiculous!”

“Exactly! We did the Yan court a tremendous favor! If we hadn’t had those merchants bring the epidemic over, right now it would be our Yan nation with people dying daily while the Great Zhou watches the show! What’s the point of wagering… might as well just admit defeat directly!”

The imperial relatives were full of complaints, not understanding why Murong Yan, as the Yan nation’s Regent Prince, wouldn’t want Yan to win the national wager decisively. They had done such a great service for the Yan nation, yet instead of rewarding them, he wanted to punish them. Simply inexplicable!

“Stop complaining!” The eldest clan member spoke: “Now that the Regent Prince knows about this matter, Zhu Chengru can’t be killed. Let’s release him! But don’t let him off too easily… daring to disrespect imperial relatives, he broke both his hands! Isn’t he skilled in medicine? Then let him treat himself properly. If he can’t heal himself, it just shows his medical skills aren’t that good!”

The county magistrate was stunned, not knowing if this counted as defying the Regent Prince’s orders: “But… the Regent Prince said to properly invite Zhu Chengru out. If something goes wrong!”

“You’re confused!” That elder clan member looked at the magistrate: “His injury can be from when we were interrogating this person about how he collaborated with the enemy and committed treason… accidentally broken during that time… when the Regent Prince hadn’t arrived in Liyi yet! With broken hands… this tongue also doesn’t need to be kept, lest he say things he shouldn’t say! Keep him alive, invite physicians to treat him well – this also counts as properly settling him as the Regent Prince instructed.”

The county magistrate suddenly understood. He rolled his eyes and thought – this Regent Prince would eventually return to the Yan capital, but these clan relatives lived in Liyi year-round. As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. He was the Liyi county magistrate and had to make a living under these clan relatives. Better to be sharp-eyed and sensible!

The magistrate immediately said: “Yes!”

After watching the magistrate leave, one clan relative whispered to the elder: “Elder brother, I recall when we were driven from the Yan capital in disgrace by the Regent Prince, what that Cui Fengnian said to me when he came to see me off. That Cui Fengnian said… the Emperor and Regent Prince aren’t opposed in competing for power. The real opposition is between the Empress Dowager and the Regent Prince, and the Emperor trusts the Regent Prince more!”

“What are you trying to say?” The elder clan member turned to look at his clan brother and asked.

“What if… we embellish the matter of the Regent Prince releasing this Physician Zhu and send it to His Majesty? Concerning the future of the Yan nation’s national wager, I don’t believe His Majesty will still trust the Regent Prince so much! As long as His Majesty no longer trusts the Regent Prince, naturally, the Yan court won’t be Murong Yan’s sole domain! Then we can have the elders plead with that soft-hearted and indecisive woman, the Empress Dowager, and we can return to the Yan capital!”

Hearing this, the elder clan member’s eyes deepened. After a long while, he whispered: “If we do this, it must be fast! We must also properly… describe to the Emperor the matter of the Regent Prince going to meet the Great Zhou Emperor today!”

“Elder brother, rest assured. I know how to write it!”

·

Xiao Rongyan rode quickly out of the city and saw the Great Zhou military officers waiting for him outside the city gates, wearing white face coverings.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan in his silver mask emerge from the open gates of Liyi City, the soldier holding high the Great Zhou banner spurred his horse forward, respectfully paid respects to Xiao Rongyan, then nodded to Yue Shi, whom he had met several times: “Your Highness, our Emperor requests your presence! He awaits you five li from Liyi!”

Xiao Rongyan nodded: “Lead the way!”

Yue Shi controlled the joyful expression on his face, turned, and called loudly to the guard troops behind him: “Depart!”

Bai Qingyan arrived at the agreed meeting place before Xiao Rongyan. She hadn’t expected the Anping army to be so efficient – they had already set up a tent for Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan to meet.

In Liu Pinggao’s view, Bai Qingyan’s meeting with the Yan nation’s Regent Prince was Great Zhou’s most noble person meeting with Yan nation’s second most noble person… or perhaps even the uncrowned king. So when Bai Qingyan gave instructions, he naturally had to treat it with great solemnity.

Bai Qingyan looked at this temporarily erected tent, then glanced at Liu Pinggao: “So formal…”