Originally, when Prince Liang captured the people Great Yan had sent to spread rumors in Yanwo, and told them he wanted to cooperate with Great Yan and requested to meet Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, Xiao Rongyan had initially planned to ignore it entirely.

But Prince Liang said that Bai Qingyan was now feared by all nations and would also be Great Yan’s formidable enemy in the future. He was willing to join hands with Great Yan to bring about Bai Qingyan’s death. Only then did Xiao Rongyan feel he couldn’t let this matter go unmanaged.

Later… when Prince Liang’s disaster relief in Yanwo triggered civil unrest, Xiao Rongyan sent his own people to the capital to observe the situation and handle it accordingly. If Prince Liang was escorted back to the capital and had the ability to avoid punishment from the Emperor, then his people would meet Prince Liang as Great Yan’s Ninth Prince Murong Yan to see what Prince Liang planned.

If Prince Liang were dealt with, they would simply ignore the matter.

Who would have thought that Prince Liang could make the Emperor let him off lightly, even showing increased favor? Only then did Xiao Rongyan’s people go to see Prince Liang.

“Thank you for Mr. Xiao’s guidance!” Bai Qingyan straightened her spine and solemnly nodded to Xiao Rongyan. “I wonder if Mr. Xiao could tell me how Prince Liang intends to cooperate with Great Yan’s Ninth Prince?”

Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan with extremely faint amusement in his eyes, speaking with casual ease: “To borrow troops from him. However, currently, Prince Liang has nothing to offer Great Yan except promises. Even if he delivered leverage into Great Yan’s hands, his life… isn’t precious in Great Yan’s eyes. So Great Yan’s Ninth Prince told Prince Liang to wait until he had sufficient bargaining chips before discussing cooperation. However, to show Great Yan’s willingness to wait for Prince Liang’s sincerity, if Prince Liang has matters requiring assistance, he needs only go to Shangmo Book Studio. As long as it’s not excessive, Great Yan will help!”

That is to say, Xiao Rongyan currently looked down upon this Prince Liang, who feigned madness and stupidity.

Xiao Rongyan hadn’t placed people around Prince Liang, but used an advancing-by-retreating strategy to grasp Prince Liang’s movements, also to prevent Prince Liang from opportunistically seeking cooperation with other countries.

Only by Great Yan acting this way would Prince Liang feel that Great Yan was truly sincere.

Even so, Bai Qingyan’s heart still hadn’t settled.

Seeing Bai Qingyan lower her eyes in quiet contemplation without concealing it in front of him, Xiao Rongyan raised his hand to push the gold-decorated plate containing crabapple pastries toward her: “I specifically instructed the cook to make them mild in flavor and use vegetable oil. Try some.”

Bai Qingyan looked up at the sound and met Xiao Rongyan’s restrained and calm black eyes directly, as calm and deep as that night in Shuoyang.

“Were you injured in the northern frontier campaign?” Xiao Rongyan’s mellow and gentle voice sounded.

“Thank you for Mr. Xiao’s concern. I was not.” Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze to the chessboard on the small table, picked up her teacup with natural grace, and raised it toward Xiao Rongyan, saying, “I forgot to congratulate Mr. Xiao. This current chess game of the world… should be as Mr. Xiao desired.”

Xiao Rongyan picked up the teacup before him and said to Bai Qingyan: “Yan… also congratulates Miss Bai on her proper planning and arrangements. In a few years, this Great Jin realm will surely be under the Bai family’s control.”

Whether Xiao Rongyan or Bai Qingyan, both had walked on thin ice, seeking survival in desperate situations. How difficult it had been to reach this point today. In their hearts, besides the feelings hidden deep within that they dared not and could not speak aloud, there was also mutual admiration and sympathy.

“Speaking of which, Yan must properly thank Miss Bai. My elder brother wrote saying that due to Physician Hong’s care, his health has been gradually improving! Physician Hong is already on his way back to the capital. Calculating the time… he should arrive in the capital within three days!” Xiao Rongyan put down his teacup and said softly.

Hearing this news, Bai Qingyan felt relieved: “Even if Mr. Xiao hadn’t mentioned this matter, I was going to ask about it.”

After all, Bai Jinxiu was now advanced in her pregnancy. Although there was Lu Ninghuan, it still wasn’t as reassuring as having Physician Hong there. It was just hard on Physician Hong to travel back and forth at his advanced age.

“Physician Hong prescribed medicine for my elder brother. As long as he takes it according to the prescription and on schedule… with proper care for several years, although his health won’t return to that of a normal person, he won’t have to suffer from poison attacks anymore.” When Xiao Rongyan spoke of this, he was truly grateful that Bai Qingyan had allowed the physician from her household to treat his elder brother.

Sitting under the ancient tree’s green shade, when the wind passed, the osmanthus fragrance filled the air.

The sky was clear and bright, the wind gentle and the sun beautiful, white clouds drifting by—truly a rare moment of leisurely ease.

From about the time he decided to leave Great Yan and work tirelessly for his Kingdom, he had never had a day of such relaxation.

Even when seemingly sitting idly with those wealthy and leisured people, his mind had never stopped working.

Just as Bai Qingyan had said, because the current situation of the world was exactly as Xiao Rongyan had hoped, he could breathe slightly easier.

But it was only slightly easier.

Great Yan… still needed to use its weak nation and poor people as a warning, secretly building strength, vigorously developing military and agriculture, and preparing for the future.

Xiao Rongyan remembered hearing from spies in the Crown Prince’s mansion recently that when Bai Qingyan learned of the Rongdi rebellion, she had suggested to the Crown Prince… that sending troops to assist the Rongdi could fully obtain their natural pastures, but neither the Crown Prince nor the Emperor had listened to Bai Qingyan.

It was also because Bai Qingyan truly had no one under her command. Otherwise… with her wisdom, broad vision, and foresight, if given people and troops! She would not only pave a stable path for the Bai family, but would also pave a stable path for embracing the world in the future.

Not yet twenty, but already possessing such insight and strategy—truly remarkable.

The wind passed, and the ancient osmanthus tree with its flourishing branches and leaves rustled. Sunlight filtering through gaps left dappled, swaying light spots. Osmanthus flowers also fell continuously, tangling and entwining with Bai Qingyan’s hair, landing on her shoulders, making Xiao Rongyan unable to resist wanting to reach out and brush them away for her.

“If there comes a day when the world is at peace, being able to drink tea with Miss Bai under the osmanthus tree would be quite leisurely indeed,” Xiao Rongyan said.

“It seems Mr. Xiao is confident about his great enterprise,” Bai Qingyan casually poured out the tea that had osmanthus flowers floating in it.

Xiao Rongyan chuckled softly, once again using the handkerchief to grip the teapot and pour tea for Bai Qingyan: “With Miss Bai’s assistance, Yan is naturally confident.”

Bai Qingyan knew Xiao Rongyan intended to pull her onto the same boat, so she deliberately brought up the matter of opening mines: “It’s not assistance, but mutual benefit!”

Since Bai Qingyan wouldn’t engage with the topic, Xiao Rongyan knew it wasn’t the right time yet. He just didn’t know whether Bai Qingyan currently looked down upon Great Yan’s strength, or… intended to have Jin’s imperial power change to her Bai surname, or make this world belong to her Bai family.

Having this rare opportunity today, Xiao Rongyan asked the question he least wanted to ask: “Does Miss Bai also want to embrace the world? Make this world… surnamed Bai?”

“This world has never belonged to any one family’s surname. Heroes compete for dominance, the capable claim the throne. Those who can bring benefit to millions of people will be remembered through the ages. Those who create slaughter and view the common people as ants, even if they embrace the world, will only be like passing clouds.” Bai Qingyan looked deeply at Xiao Rongyan. “Unifying the world, ascending to the supreme position, establishing such unprecedented achievements—the path ahead will be even more difficult and heavy. Otherwise… why did Qin unify the world yet fall after only two generations?”