Xiao Ruojiang was also worried about Miss Bai, but returning like this would be difficult to explain to her.

Seeing Xiao Ruojiang’s concerns, Bai Qingjue said: “Tell Elder Sister that it was I who was worried about her and forced you to take people back! Besides, I’m following this Mr. Xiao and there are people protecting me—keeping the death warriors here would actually be wasteful! If I need them, I’ll certainly send someone to ask Elder Sister for people!”

After speaking, Bai Qingjue stuffed the jade pendant back into Xiao Ruojiang’s hands. He couldn’t stay out too long, so he lowered his voice and whispered in Xiao Ruojiang’s ear: “This Mr. Xiao claims to be a wealthy merchant from Great Wei, but observing his actions, I fear his identity is not so simple. He seems to have countless connections with Great Yan. You must warn Elder Sister… to be extremely cautious in any dealings or transactions with this person!”

Bai Qingjue had only been by Xiao Rongyan’s side for a short time and could only confirm these two points for now… other matters remained unclear.

Xiao Ruojiang clasped his fists in acknowledgment: “Seventh Young Master, rest assured, I will certainly relay this to Miss Bai!”

“I entrust Elder Sister to your protection! Please ask your brother and Shen Qingzhu… to be sure to find Xiao Jiu!” When Bai Qingjue said these words, his voice was slightly choked with emotion.

Originally, Bai Qingjue and Bai Qingyun had been ordered together to conduct cavalry raids on the Western Liang capital, but they had been ambushed in advance. As the elder brother, he should have fought to the death to protect his ninth brother Bai Qingyun, but… when he was injured, it was Bai Qingyun who quickly changed him into ordinary soldier’s clothing and pushed him into the Jing River, leading people to draw away the Western Liang ambush forces to secure a chance of survival for him.

Bai Qingyun had said that the rule set by their grandfather… the concubine-born must protect the legitimate-born!

When a legitimate son and a concubine-born son faced disaster together, the concubine-born son must sacrifice his life to protect the legitimate son.

Bai Qingyun was concubine-born, Bai Qingjue was legitimate-born, so… Bai Qingyun sacrificed his life just to fight for a chance of survival for himself.

While this was indeed the family rule, as an elder brother, Bai Qingjue always felt guilty toward Bai Qingyun and only hoped that Bai Qingyun could live well.

Following beside Xiao Rongyan, he had learned that the Western Liang capital was in chaos, the Western Liang Emperor had been assassinated and killed, and the Western Liang Empress had ascended the throne.

Therefore, Bai Qingjue guessed… perhaps this was Bai Qingyun’s doing.

The descendants of the Bai family had always been thus—once they received orders, they would complete their mission despite thousands of difficulties and obstacles.

He only hoped that after the assassination, Bai Qingyun had left himself an escape route and could withdraw safely.

To avoid making Bai Qingyan worry about Bai Qingjue, Xiao Ruojiang took it upon himself to leave ten Dong family death warriors to await Bai Qingjue’s commands. After parting with Bai Qingjue, he immediately led his people to rush toward Youhua Road within Western Liang territory.

On the fourteenth day of the second month, when the Jin army achieved a great victory, Bai Qingyan had mobilized thirty thousand garrison troops from Pingyang City to join her force of over forty thousand troops and proceed to station at Youhua Road. They should have arrived at Youhua Road by now.

Western Liang had boasted of their seven hundred thousand troops marching forth magnificently to attack Great Jin, with all nations avoiding them and none daring to oppose their might. But in the battle at Nan Jiang, Western Liang and Nanyan suffered a devastating defeat. In the Western Liang capital, the Empress ascended the throne, six princes rebelled, and Yun Poxing dared not fight Jin again. He led fewer than eighty thousand Western Liang soldiers back to rush directly to the Western Liang capital, Yun Jing, slaying the six princes beneath their horses and supporting the Empress’s ascension, ending the civil war in the Western Liang imperial capital—historically known as the Yun Jing Rebellion.

After the Western Liang Yun Jing Rebellion was quelled, Yun Poxing was personally enfeoffed by the Empress Dowager as Grand General Supporting the State, becoming an extremely prominent figure in Western Liang.

While the Nan Jiang battle was a humiliation for Yun Poxing, it shocked all the nations.

Bai Weiting’s legitimate eldest granddaughter, Bai Qingyan, with fifty thousand Jin troops and ten thousand Bai family troops—merely sixty thousand soldiers in total—had utterly defeated the Western Liang-Nanyan allied forces, burning and killing Western Liang surrendered soldiers without leaving any alive. Her reputation as the God of Slaughter intimidated the four seas.

For a time, because the God of Slaughter had descended into the world, Jin displayed its sharp edge, and no nation dared to make rash moves again.

At the same time, Great Yan suddenly raised troops and marched straight into Nanyan’s heartland, raising the banner of restoring Great Yan’s orthodox rule. Wherever they went, common people who had been oppressed under the old rule rose with the defending soldiers to fight, opening city gates and welcoming them with lined streets…

In front, Nanyan’s elite forces had all been slaughtered at Yao Pass, while behind, Xiao Rongyan was scouting ahead and laying groundwork.

Nanyan soldiers had also been oppressed under the old rule for a long time and fought passively. Encountering Nanyan’s new elite general Xie Xun, who was invincible in battle, made them even more afraid to fight. For Xie Xun, Nanyan had almost become a smooth path.

Nanyan sought aid everywhere but was refused. All nations knew Nanyan had completely lost the people’s hearts, and Great Yan was raising the banner of restoring orthodoxy, with the people jubilant and celebrating. They all turned a blind eye and didn’t interfere. The Nanyan Emperor was unwilling to shamelessly seek help from Jin, the nation least willing to see Great Yan grow strong. Jin had no legitimate reason to act and could only watch helplessly as Nanyan’s destruction approached.

At the end of February, the Western Liang Empress sent peace negotiation envoys to Jin to contact the Jin Crown Prince, who was leading troops on this expedition. As Bai Qingyan had predicted, they would cede territory and pay reparations… However, Western Liang didn’t send hostages but chose to have the Empress’s sister Li Tianfu come to Jin for a marriage alliance.

Accompanying the peace negotiation envoys this time, besides the Empress’s sister Li Tianfu, was also Prince Yan Li Zhijie, who had merit in protecting the Empress during the Yun Jing Rebellion.

On the fourteenth day of the second month, after routing the Western Liang army and their withdrawal, Bai Qingyan had advanced the Jin army camp into Youhua Road within Western Liang territory. This place was a natural fortress of Western Liang, perfectly positioned to face Western Liang’s Qiushan Pass across the distance.

When the Crown Prince learned that Western Liang’s peace negotiation envoys had arrived at Qiushan Pass, he also brought Great Jin’s peace negotiation envoys to Youhua Road.

On this day, Bai Qingyan led various generals to welcome the Crown Prince at the Jing River’s edge. As soon as the Crown Prince disembarked, seeing Bai Qingyan in armor arriving with the generals standing by the riverside to welcome him, the Crown Prince was in excellent spirits.

“It seems I have successfully won over Bai Qingyan, haven’t I?” The Crown Prince chuckled softly.

Old Fang stroked his beard and nodded with a smile: “Indeed! Congratulations to Your Highness for gaining such a fierce general. Now, all nations spread word that Bai Qingyan is the God of Slaughter descended into the world—just hearing this name makes people tremble! Having such a person loyal to Your Highness, the borders will certainly be worry-free in the future.”

Qin Shangzhi walked at the very back without saying a word. Seeing Bai Qingyan arriving with her spirited and heroic bearing leading her subordinates, he felt relieved in his heart. No matter what, Bai Qingyan’s life was preserved.

“This general Bai Qingyan pays respects to Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan clasped her fists and knelt on one knee.

“General Bai, please rise quickly!” The Crown Prince hurried forward two steps to help Bai Qingyan up. “This time, when Nanyan and Western Liang joined forces to invade our Great Jin, it was thanks to General Bai that our Jin could achieve a great victory!”

“This general dares not claim credit. This great victory… was achieved through the united efforts of all the army’s officers and soldiers! This general is deeply grateful that Your Highness trusted me completely and granted me the military command seal!”

Bai Qingyan’s words were extremely well-spoken. The Crown Prince was so pleased he couldn’t stop smiling, nodding as he walked forward with Bai Qingyan: “Victorious but not arrogant—General Bai is truly worthy of being Duke Zhenguo’s legitimate eldest granddaughter. General Bai, rest assured… after returning to court from this campaign, I will certainly petition His Majesty to grant you an enfeoffment.”

“Your Highness, after this great victory and the conclusion of peace negotiations, Bai Qingyan will return to the capital and then go back to our old home in Shouyang with the Bai family widows.”

Qin Shangzhi nodded almost imperceptibly. At this time, the Bai family… should indeed retreat at the height of success. Miss Bai was doing the right thing.

Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, the Crown Prince’s steps halted momentarily.