Xiao Rongyan sat up straight and alert, as if enlightened by sudden clarity. His entire body tensed up. Just moments ago, he had been thinking that once the world was unified, he could live a few days of relaxation, following his heart’s desires.

But Bai Qingyan’s words struck him like a wake-up call, suddenly stirring vigilance in his heart.

Great Yan was still in its current situation, yet he already wanted to live leisurely days. If there truly came a day when the world was unified, wouldn’t Great Yan’s court and even the common people develop this kind of complacent attitude?

In recent years, all of Great Yan had pulled together like a single rope, working with united hearts and minds—their goal was to recover South Yan.

Then, Great Yan’s army became ambitious, wanting to conquer the world.

Though unifying the world seemed distant, they were steadily moving forward step by step. He should indeed plan for Great Yan’s direction after unification, so as not to be caught off guard.

After the chaos of competing heroes comes the era of governance…

With the five nations unified, implementing Empress Ji’s New Policies for the people of all five nations would surely bring them joy and celebration.

But the aristocratic forces of each nation were deeply entrenched. Empress Ji’s New Policies would inevitably face strong resistance from the nobility. They couldn’t simply eliminate them all—how to balance and handle this would be the first major challenge after unification.

Xiao Rongyan was deeply shaken and felt even more strongly that if Bai Qingyan could one day enter Yan to assist Yan, Yan would be like a tiger with wings.

“Yan… has been enlightened!” Xiao Rongyan said sincerely.

“What I spoke with Mr. Xiao today were words my grandfather once taught my father. Whenever Grandfather mentioned the fall of Qin in its second generation, he felt deep regret and would constantly discuss it with Father. Today I happened to share them with Mr. Xiao.”

“Duke Zhenguo was truly a pillar of the nation!” Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but exclaim.

The Bai family had not only the ambition to pacify the world, but also the heart to support the common people—truly admirable.

Having spoken to this point, Bai Qingyan bowed to Xiao Rongyan: “The Bai family ancestors once swore: having eaten the people’s grain, we protect the people for life. If there comes a day when the Lin dynasty of Jin has exhausted its mandate, the Bai family will surely replace it. If I can witness such a day in my lifetime, then… I will certainly compete with Mr. Xiao for the Central Plains, to see who can claim the throne!”

Due to Bai Qingyan’s words, Xiao Rongyan’s heart immediately surged with excitement, just like… a master chess player encountering an equally matched opponent, inevitably feeling an irrepressible urge to compete.

Xiao Rongyan finally understood why Bai Qingyan had shared her grandfather’s teachings with him.

The Bai family had truly carved the four words “support the common people” into their very bones. What Bai Qingyan hoped for… was that in the future, when the world was unified—whether achieved by her Bai family or by his Great Yan—the ruling authority must think of the future path and stabilize this hard-won unified realm, not letting the people suffer the hardships of war, only to fall into even greater warfare after thinking their suffering had ended and sweetness had come.

Unification… was for the sake of peaceful seas and clear rivers, a world at peace! No nation or person with intentions to dominate the world could forget this.

Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan, very much wanting to agree, but once he agreed, the distance between them would seem to be pulled even further apart, making them adversaries.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan remain silent for a long while, Bai Qingyan rose first and said to him, “Let me see Mr. Xiao off.”

Xiao Rongyan nodded and stood up.

Seeing this, Yue Shi brought people forward to clean up the small table and tea service.

“Yan has two small trinkets brought back from Wei to give to Miss Bai and Fourth Miss Bai. I just forgot to bring them earlier as they were left on the horse. Would Miss Bai trouble herself to walk with Yan to retrieve them?” Xiao Rongyan seemed afraid Bai Qingyan would refuse, adding: “They truly are small trinkets. Fourth Miss Bai has such a lively personality, she will surely like them!”

Consider it thanks to Fourth Miss Bai for thoughtfully creating opportunities for him to meet with Bai Qingyan. Though she might sometimes cause trouble, her heart was good.

Bai Qingyan nodded and followed Xiao Rongyan to the white steed.

Xiao Rongyan took out a long whip and a brocade box from the silk bag draped over the horse’s back. The long whip was entirely fire-red… meant for Bai Jinzhi.

“I thank Mr. Xiao on behalf of Xiao Si!” Bai Qingyan accepted the long whip.

Xiao Rongyan smiled as he opened the brocade box, inside which lay a hairpin of pure, warm jade, though the carving seemed rather poor.

He took out the hairpin and said, “When in Wei, I obtained an excellent piece of jade. This was my first attempt at making a hairpin, so my hand was rather unpracticed. In the future, when I’m more skilled… I’ll carve better ones for you.”

As he spoke, Xiao Rongyan naturally and calmly stepped two paces closer to Bai Qingyan, not giving her a chance to retreat. He raised his hand to support her shoulder and inserted the jade hairpin into Bai Qingyan’s dark hair.

The man’s restrained and deep aura pressed close, causing Bai Qingyan’s mind to go blank for an instant. She looked up and her gaze fell directly on Xiao Rongyan’s prominent Adam’s apple, as his voice slowly reached her ears.

“Yan… wants to make a wager with Miss Bai.” After securing the jade hairpin, Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes to gaze at Bai Qingyan’s fair and delicate features, his gaze both deep and burning. “If Yan ultimately gains the world, I hope Miss Bai will not refuse… to be Yan’s wife!”

Bai Qingyan’s fingers holding the long whip trembled slightly, tightening imperceptibly without showing any emotion.

Seeing the composed Bai Qingyan’s ear tips flush red, Xiao Rongyan’s gaze grew even more solemn and gentle as he continued: “If the Bai family gains the world, I hope Miss Bai will not refuse… to take Yan as husband.”

Meeting Xiao Rongyan’s gaze, her heartbeat grew faster and faster, her ear tips also burning hot.

Xiao Rongyan’s large hand clasping Bai Qingyan’s shoulder slid down along her shoulder, just like that night, enveloping the back of her hand in his palm. His five fingers threaded through her fingers, tightly gripping her hand. He seemed to intentionally evoke memories of that day’s scene in Bai Qingyan, wanting to complete what was left unfinished that night.

He lowered his head and slowly drew near, his straight nose bridge gently touching her nose tip, causing her tense body to break out in goosebumps. As if awakening from a dream, she stepped back, about to withdraw her hand, but was pulled stumbling into his embrace as Xiao Rongyan exerted force with his wrist.

He supported her slender waist that couldn’t fill a single grasp, but had no intention of letting go, just quietly gazing at her like that.

Bai Qingyan’s heart beat so violently it seemed about to burst from her chest, her hand tightly gripping the clothing at Xiao Rongyan’s chest.

Xiao Rongyan restrained his heavy breathing, tightly holding her in his embrace. He lowered his head, slowly approaching Bai Qingyan, his gaze moving from her trembling eyes to her lips. His Adam’s apple rolled as he said in a low, hoarse voice: “Bai Qingyan, if you dare to wager, I, Murong Yan… in this lifetime, will never betray you!”

Murong Yan was his real name.

As Xiao Rongyan spoke, his burning thin lips brushed against Bai Qingyan’s lips, making her feel breathless and difficult to breathe, yet also stirring some kind of intoxicating flutter that made her anticipate… Xiao Rongyan’s lips were about to press down.

This was the first time in both her previous and current life that she had such intimate contact with an adult man.

She felt no revulsion. All along… she had known that deep in her heart she harbored admiration for Xiao Rongyan. Since learning of Xiao Rongyan’s feelings, she had also been suppressing her own emotions, because… for her, protecting the Bai family, protecting the Bai family army, fulfilling the aspirations of several generations of the Bai family…