“Prince Xiping’s heir, rest assured. Just leave a dozen or so men to follow… as long as we maintain a distance of ten li, this prince will naturally release the hostages!” Xiao Rongyan said slowly. “You have no room to bargain.”

The black-robed strategist pulled on his reins and moved forward, saying in a low voice to Prince Xiping’s heir, “Young Master… we should retreat toward the mountain pass exit. As long as we don’t let them through to reach Shequ and join with Great Zhou’s main army, we can unite with other feudal princes and eventually capture the city where the Great Zhou Emperor resides!”

Xiao Rongyan’s silver mask was illuminated intermittently by the flames of the torches held high by soldiers on both sides, flickering between light and shadow, waiting only for Prince Xiping’s heir to agree.

“Fine…” Prince Xiping’s heir responded and gave the order: “Withdraw five li!”

“Retreat in the direction of Xiping Prefecture…” Xiao Rongyan added unhurriedly.

Prince Xiping’s heir gripped his reins tightly and looked toward the black-robed strategist.

The black-robed strategist’s heart sank heavily. The Regent making such a demand… meant he intended to cross the mountain pass and head to Shequ.

“Young Master, you cannot!” the black-robed strategist said urgently.

Xiao Rongyan remained calm and unhurried: “Yue Shi…”

Yue Shi responded and pulled out Prince Xiping’s heir’s ten-year-old son. The young master was so frightened he cried: “Father, save me!”

“No! No…” Prince Xiping’s Princess Consort saw that her daughter-in-law was already dead and her eldest grandson was being pulled out by the guard who had killed her two sons and one daughter-in-law. Finding strength from somewhere, she threw off the soldiers holding her down, crawled over on hands and knees to embrace her grandson, and screamed hysterically at her son: “You unfilial wretch! Your two brothers are dead! And you still won’t withdraw! Do you want our entire family to die?”

Prince Xiping’s heir’s eyes reddened as he shouted: “Withdraw toward Xiping Prefecture!”

This Regent had never shown mercy to clan members, having killed so many… and later beaten so many to death. Prince Xiping’s heir was not unaware of this. He couldn’t risk his son’s life.

“Young Master!” The black-robed strategist was greatly alarmed. “Young Master, so many Xiping soldiers have died just for today’s mission to kill the Great Zhou Emperor. Their reinforcements are just a handful. If we fight desperately today, we could still…”

“Shut your mouth!” Prince Xiping’s heir grabbed the black-robed strategist by the collar. “Those who died were this heir’s wife, this heir’s brothers and son, not yours, so naturally you speak lightly of it!”

After speaking, Prince Xiping’s heir shoved the black-robed strategist away and said coldly: “Say one more word and I’ll kill your entire family! Withdraw!”

The black-robed strategist looked at Prince Xiping’s heir with bloodshot eyes and pressed his lips together. If not for the fact that this Prince Xiping’s heir was Prince Xiping’s son, he would be unwilling to assist him.

Seeing Prince Xiping’s heir staring at him blankly, Xiao Rongyan spoke again: “In half an hour, this prince will send back all the family members of Xiping Prince’s mansion.”

Soon, the Xiping army retreated. The black-robed strategist could only take a deep look at Xiao Rongyan before turning to leave.

Seeing the Xiping army withdraw, Bai Jinzhi impatiently led her men up the mountain to find Bai Qingyan.

On the mountain.

The scout Bai Qingyan had sent down returned and told Bai Qingyan and the others: “Your Majesty, Prince Gaoyi and Yan country’s Regent came together. They captured the family members of Xiping Prince’s mansion, which forced the Xiping army to withdraw!”

Xiao Rongyan…

Bai Qingyan’s hand at her side tightened slightly. She had thought Xiao Rongyan would be trapped by other feudal princes and unable to escape, but unexpectedly, he had come too.

“Elder sister! Elder sister…”

Bai Jinzhi ran toward the direction of the wooden house where flames soared into the sky.

Hearing Bai Jinzhi’s shouts, Bai Qingyan’s hand gripping the sword hilt relaxed slightly, and she said: “Help up the wounded. We’re going down the mountain!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she saw Bai Jinzhi running urgently toward her. The corners of Bai Qingyan’s lips curved up, her eyes filled with smiles, her face covered in sweat and blood stains, glowing in the firelight.

“Elder sister!” Seeing her elder sister safe and sound, Bai Jinzhi didn’t know why but tears suddenly welled up. She had been so afraid she wouldn’t make it in time, so afraid that when she arrived… she wouldn’t see elder sister anymore, so afraid of seeing elder sister like Lu Yuanpeng, covered in blood and arrows. Her voice choked as she rushed into Bai Qingyan’s embrace and burst into tears.

Bai Qingyan gently stroked Bai Jinzhi’s head with one hand, softly comforting: “Our Xiao Si has grown up, able to lead troops to rescue elder sister.”

It wasn’t that she had rescued elder sister – clearly elder sister had left her a way out from the very beginning.

“Elder sister, when I came, I encountered Yan country’s Regent. The Regent captured alive the Princess Consort and Prince’s wife of Xiping Prince’s mansion, killed several people… which forced Prince Xiping’s heir to withdraw!” Bai Jinzhi wiped her tears with her sleeve, her eyes red. “Yan country’s Regent is waiting below. Elder sister, let’s quickly go down the mountain and head to Shequ!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Down the mountain…”

“Elder sister, let me help you!”

Bai Qingyan’s legs and arms were injured, and after such a desperate battle, her whole body was sore and weak, so she didn’t refuse Bai Jinzhi’s support.

“Wei Zhong… see if Taiping can stand up!” Bai Qingyan turned to Wei Zhong.

“Your Majesty, rest assured. Taiping has already stood up and just kicked over several enemy soldiers!” Wei Zhong responded. “Your Majesty, please go first. This old servant will bring Taiping down the mountain.”

As soon as their group came down from the mountain, she saw Xiao Rongyan standing beside his black horse with clenched fists.

The moment he saw Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan almost couldn’t control himself from stepping forward to embrace Bai Qingyan, whose face was covered in blood stains and soot. Seeing her stained with blood, supported by Bai Jinzhi as she came down, Xiao Rongyan’s heart felt as if ten thousand arrows had pierced through it.

Having known Bai Qingyan for so long, he had never seen her in such a disheveled state.

She looked at Xiao Rongyan with a faint smile of surviving disaster in her eyes. Fortunately, they were both safe and sound.

Bai Qingyan’s expression with gentle smiles in her eyes and brows was like fine, dense needles pricking at Xiao Rongyan’s heart. He loosened his clenched fists, took three steps in two strides to reach Bai Qingyan, pressed his lips together without saying a word, and lifted Bai Qingyan horizontally into his arms.

She was startled and wrapped her arms around Xiao Rongyan’s neck, saying softly: “What are you doing? Put me down quickly. I am the Great Zhou Empress, and you are Yan country’s Regent! This will make others suspect our…”

“Then let’s announce it to the world!” Xiao Rongyan, holding Bai Qingyan in his arms, looked at her earnestly and said: “From now on… There will be no more Murong Yan in this world, no more Yan country’s Regent!”

Bai Qingyan’s two encounters with danger had made Xiao Rongyan clearly understand that in this lifetime, he could abandon everything else, but… he could not abandon Bai Qingyan.

Xiao Rongyan had already learned from the hidden guards who returned from Yan’s capital that his sister-in-law… had already publicly revealed in Yan’s capital that he was Xiao Rongyan. Since that was the case, from now on, he would simply be Xiao Rongyan.

Bai Qingyan’s hands around Xiao Rongyan’s neck tightened as she stared fixedly at the man who lifted her onto horseback and carefully encircled her in his embrace, leaning against his reassuring broad chest.