Xiao Ruojiang swallowed back the words he wanted to say to persuade Bai Qingyan to keep this horse for herself, secretly resolving that when his elder brother returned, he would discuss with him how to quickly find another fine steed for the eldest miss!

Returning to the camp, Bai Qingyan had Xiao Ruojiang call out Bai Jinzhi. Upon hearing that this white steed was for her, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes lit up with pure joy.

“Really?!” Bai Jinzhi reached out to touch Ping’an’s mane, but who would have thought that the spirited Ping’an would blow hot air in Bai Jinzhi’s face and proudly step aside to Bai Qingyan’s other side.

Bai Jinzhi immediately widened her eyes. She had never seen a horse with such a temper, and amid her shock was pure delight: “This horse… is quite spirited! Just like back then…”

The word “Jifeng” stuck in Bai Jinzhi’s throat without being spoken. Everyone knew that Jifeng had died saving its master, and in the end, even its body was never found.

“Elder sister, I feel this horse has no fate with me, but rather has fate with you!” Bai Jinzhi truly liked Ping’an, but these words also came from her heart. This Ping’an… had a temperament very similar to Jifeng from years past. If Ping’an stayed by Bai Qingyan’s side, it would also be a form of comfort.

“I remember your father once promised you that when you went to war, he would give you a fine steed like Jifeng!” Bai Qingyan smiled as she gently stroked Ping’an’s mane. “This is what I’m giving you on your father’s behalf! However, Ping’an has a fierce temperament… but it’s not without methods of taming. Elder sister has already tested it for you. As long as you can mount it without being thrown off, it will surely submit to you. If you can spend time with it and cultivate feelings, it will recognize you as its master!”

The promises she had made to A’Yu in the past were never fulfilled, and the promises A’Yu had made to her were also never completed.

Now, though father was no longer here, she could complete the unfinished promises on his behalf…

Hearing elder sister mention their father, who had treated her like his own daughter, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes reddened, but she finally nodded: “Then Xiao Si thanks father, thanks elder sister! I won’t decline!”

“Your father would surely be comforted to see you make Ping’an recognize you as master!” She smiled as she looked at her younger sister.

Taming and recognition of the master were two different things…

Taming a horse meant it could be driven by you, but it wouldn’t give you its loyalty.

If it recognized a master, that horse would be like Jifeng, protecting you with its life. She hoped that on future battlefields, Xiao Si would also have such a horse fighting alongside her, giving her a few more points of safety.

“Elder sister, rest assured! Within three days… I will make Ping’an recognize me as a master!” Bai Jinzhi declared confidently.

“Elder sister believes in you!”

Bai Jinzhi’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Bai Qingyan. She felt that every time elder sister said she believed in her, her chest surged with heroic spirit, because no one had ever said they believed in her before! Others always thought she was an impulsive and reckless child, even mother thought so!

So when elder sister said she believed in her, she especially wanted to achieve something to show elder sister, because she knew from the bottom of her heart that elder sister truly believed in her every time. She didn’t want to disappoint elder sister, and even more, she didn’t want elder sister to expend extra energy worrying about her.

Xiao Rongyan’s guard spurred his horse at full gallop back to Mengcheng, wanting to relay Miss Bai’s words to Xiao Rongyan.

Upon hearing that the guard who had gone to deliver the horse to Bai Qingyan had returned, Xiao Rongyan had someone put away the territorial map and sat by the brazier, ordering the person to be brought in.

“This subordinate pays respects to master!” The guard entered carrying the cold air, kneeling on one knee in salute.

Xiao Rongyan used copper tongs to poke at the charcoal in the brazier, looking down as he asked: “The horse and letter were both delivered?”

“Yes! Both delivered! After Miss Bai of the Bai family read the letter, she burned it in front of this subordinate.”

Xiao Rongyan gazed at the silver-frost charcoal glowing red through the ash in the brazier, his lips curving slightly upward. Presumably, Bai Qingyan had seen it was his letter, which was why she burned it in front of the guard—to put his mind at ease!

“Did Miss Bai say anything?”

“Miss Bai asked if the master wanted to borrow something else from her, but Miss Bai didn’t seem angry or mocking, just asking quite ordinarily. This subordinate didn’t speak definitively, only answering that the master said nothing! Later… when this subordinate was about to leave, Miss Bai said… taking Nanyan isn’t something that can be accomplished just by winning battles. Nanyan follows Great Yan’s old governance—for over ten years, the people have been cattle and horses for princes and nobles. Going from luxury to frugality is difficult… The people who experienced Empress Ji’s New Policies likely already harbor resentment toward Nanyan’s court.”

The guard relayed Bai Qingyan’s words to Xiao Rongyan without missing a single word.

Xiao Rongyan’s motion of poking the fire paused as he carefully pondered Bai Qingyan’s words. He narrowed his eyes—Bai Qingyan was advising him to utilize popular sentiment and grievances…

Inexplicably, Xiao Rongyan recalled that night of New Year’s Eve in the capital, when the people of the capital spontaneously gathered before Duke Zhenguo’s mansion gates, accompanying the women of the Duke’s mansion as they waited for news from the palace.

And when Duke Zhenguo’s remains returned to the capital, the people almost turned out in full force, carrying lanterns and holding umbrellas, gathering at the South Gate to welcome the Bai family’s loyal souls.

Xiao Rongyan gazed at the flames eagerly leaping in the charcoal brazier. But if word was leaked in advance… once Nanyan prepared for this, with Great Yan’s current military strength, would they still be able to take advantage of the chaos to capture Nanyan?

Xiao Rongyan’s guard knelt there quietly without making a sound. After a long while, he only heard Xiao Rongyan order: “Go call Wang Jiuzhou over!”

Master summoning Lord Wang—this meant he had made his decision.

The guard quickly acknowledged and rose to fetch Wang Jiuzhou.

Wang Jiuzhou hurried in to find Xiao Rongyan’s already deep and composed eyes now even more unruffled, carrying a penetrating coolness as he asked: “How many more days will this Mengcheng market remain open?”

“Replying to master, not counting today, it will remain open for two more days…” Wang Jiuzhou answered respectfully.

“Send people these two days to spread word from the market to Nanyan’s capital, saying that Great Yan’s army is coming…” Xiao Rongyan added several pieces of charcoal to the brazier and put down the copper tongs. “But the Emperor of Great Yan has already ordered that Great Yan’s army must not slaughter civilians. This campaign is to pull down Nanyan’s illegitimate emperor and restore Great Yan’s integrity, to overthrow the old Great Yan governance that was abolished by Empress Ji, rebuild Great Yan’s orthodox rule, and seek welfare for the people.”

The Mengcheng market was Nanyan’s most bustling market that opened for the longest time with the most foot traffic. Master wanted to use these people’s mouths to spread the message.

Wang Jiuzhou immediately understood Xiao Rongyan’s meaning and nodded: “Master, rest assured. This humble one will certainly handle it properly!”

Xiao Rongyan nodded.

Seeing Wang Jiuzhou leave, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes darkened as he sat before the brazier. Using popular opinion, he had truly never thought to act this way before.

He would try it. Perhaps Bai Qingyan’s method would prove effective and allow their Great Yan to lose fewer troops.

But if it truly proved effective, he would owe Bai Qingyan yet another very, very great favor. What could he use to repay it…

Thinking of this, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes took on an extremely faint trace of amusement.