Bai Qingyan coldly smiled at Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao is not unaware of what I’ve said. It’s simply… Master Xiao is not from Jin and doesn’t care about Jin’s survival or death… only about personal interests!”

The Crown Prince’s hands, resting on the chair armrests, lightly stroked them. The Crown Prince could take Bai Qingyan’s words to heart.

Indeed, Xiao Rongyan was a merchant, and moreover a person from Wei. He absolutely couldn’t be blinded by such petty immediate gains.

Only when Xiao Rongyan married into the Bai family as a son-in-law and became a Jin person, with Xiao Rongyan’s future tied to his own, could Xiao Rongyan’s words be trusted.

Then, as long as Xiao Rongyan knew he could gain more by staying in Jin than in his mother Kingdom, Wei, Xiao Rongyan would wholeheartedly serve him.

At this time, what Xiao Rongyan said and requested, the Crown Prince indeed should think thrice about.

“Alright, I originally had no intention of agreeing to this matter. You two needn’t argue so fiercely here.” The Crown Prince smiled and said, “Rongyan, this time I truly cannot help you. Not only have the envoys already been dispatched, but even if envoys hadn’t been sent yet, I must think of Jin’s long-term interests. You are my friend, and I will certainly help when I can, but sitting in the position of Crown Prince, I must put Jin first. Do you understand!”

With the Crown Prince speaking to this extent, Xiao Rongyan knew he couldn’t continue speaking, and could only smile and rise to bow to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness is the heir apparent of a nation and must consider the millions of people in Jin. This is my business… merely losing some silver, which naturally cannot be compared to Jin’s great affairs. That Your Highness is magnanimous and didn’t have me thrown out already gives me tremendous face, which I naturally understand!”

“Rongyan, those words are too formal. I regard you as a friend…” The Crown Prince smiled and looked at Bai Qingyan. “Princess Zhenguo will go to the Court of Judicial Review prison to see Fu Ruoxi later. If Rongyan has nothing else… why not accompany her?”

Xiao Rongyan smiled and bowed to both the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan: “Then, please, Your Highness and Princess Zhenguo, wait a moment. I’ll have my guards return to send a message, notifying my people not to transport the grain to the Rong barbarians, and must also instruct my stewards to urgently dispose of this batch of grain.”

“Regarding disposing of the grain, I can help Master Xiao. Currently, Shuoyang is training militia and suppressing bandits, with many refugees coming to seek refuge, precisely when grain is needed. This can be considered… Bai Qingyan is helping solve a troublesome matter for His Highness’s friend!” Bai Qingyan looked at the Crown Prince and smiled. “Fulfilling the friendship between His Highness and Master Xiao!”

Now that Ji Tingyu had intercepted the new soldiers recruited by the court, Bai Qingyan precisely needed grain. Whether Xiao Rongyan’s batch of “grain” actually existed or not, she wanted Xiao Rongyan to deliver it to her.

Bai Qingyan’s words delighted the Crown Prince, who felt that Bai Qingyan had indeed been won over by him and was completely loyal to him.

The Crown Prince couldn’t wait for the two to have more opportunities to interact, quickly saying: “Excellent! Rongyan… you must properly thank Princess Zhenguo!”

“I speak presumptuously, but this batch of grain is enormous in quantity. I fear Princess Zhenguo might not store it properly, and it could become moldy. How about I send half of it first?”

Bai Qingyan smiled gently at Xiao Rongyan, showing none of her earlier sharp-tongued demeanor: “Master Xiao needn’t worry. No matter what, Master Xiao is a benefactor to the Bai family. Within the Bai family’s capabilities… we’re very willing to solve troubles for Master Xiao. Since I dare accept this responsibility, I can naturally store it properly.”

“Even so, I… thank Princess Zhenguo.” Xiao Rongyan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan again. “Then I’ll go instruct my guards to send the message, having my people deliver the grain directly to Shuoyang!”

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Xiao!” Bai Qingyan nodded to thank Xiao Rongyan.

Watching Xiao Rongyan leave the main hall, the Crown Prince shifted his body, leaning toward Bai Qingyan’s direction, lowering his voice to say: “You! Don’t you know that Rongyan is devoted to you? Why be so aggressive toward Rongyan! If you spoke to me properly, wouldn’t I listen carefully?”

Having just received Bai Qingyan’s declaration of loyalty, the Crown Prince now spoke to Bai Qingyan in an extremely intimate tone, as if entirely considering her interests.

Seeing Bai Qingyan about to speak, the Crown Prince raised his hand first to indicate she should listen to him: “While Rongyan hasn’t returned yet… tell me what you think of Rongyan. Now that only you daughters remain in the Bai family, haven’t you thought about… taking a son-in-law into the family?”

Bai Qingyan quickly stood to bow: “Your Highness…”

But the Crown Prince interrupted Bai Qingyan’s words, gesturing for her to sit: “I am your cousin, so naturally I must plan for you. I know you’re not an ordinary woman who becomes shy when marriage is mentioned. I truly feel that Xiao Rongyan is exceptional in both appearance and bearing. Aside from his merchant status, there’s nothing wrong with him, and he’s devoted to you. When I previously mentioned to him your shallow fate with children, he said… he seeks a wife, not sons. I truly feel Xiao Rongyan would be a good match.”

“Your Highness, I know Your Highness cares for me deeply, but currently I don’t want to think about these matters. I only hope… my sisters can grow up safely.” Bai Qingyan smiled.

The Crown Prince had already broached the subject with Bai Qingyan, letting her know his thoughts. He shouldn’t push her too hard for now, so he didn’t continue.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan enter, the Crown Prince straightened and smiled at him: “All arranged?”

Xiao Rongyan smiled and bowed to the Crown Prince, then said to Bai Qingyan: “Everything is properly handled. Xiao Rongyan will escort Princess Zhenguo to the Court of Judicial Review prison, as an apology for my verbal offense to Princess Zhenguo earlier.”

Bai Qingyan also stood and returned the courtesy to Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao is originally a benefactor to the Bai family. For the sake of the Kingdom, Bai Qingyan had to be offensive in words. I hope Master Xiao will be magnanimous!”

“Princess Zhenguo plans for the Kingdom, not avoiding personal feelings. I admire this greatly! Moreover, Princess Zhenguo has already resolved the grain matter for me, for which I am very grateful.” Xiao Rongyan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

Seeing the two now harmoniously apologizing to each other, the Crown Prince felt greatly relieved, his smile deepening.

Watching Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan take their leave, the Crown Prince didn’t want Quan Yu to disturb their time together, so he said to Quan Yu: “Quan Yu, go tell Minister Lu of the Court of Judicial Review that I’m sending Princess Zhenguo to interrogate Fu Ruoxi!”

Standing beside the Crown Prince, Quan Yu quickly acknowledged, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and left first to relay the order.

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan left the Crown Prince’s mansion together. Neither rode horses. After Xiao Rongyan ordered his attendants to leave the horses and depart first, Bai Qingyan also took the reins from the Bai family guard and told him to return first.

The two walked side by side on the road outside the Crown Prince’s mansion’s high walls, where no one dared to travel. Bai Qingyan apologized to Xiao Rongyan: “I’m sorry.”

“Why apologize? You’re for Jin… I’m for Great Yan. You haven’t blamed me, so how could I blame you?”