Chun Tao stood under the corridor gallery, rubbing her sore neck before yawning and returning to her room to rest.

Inside Boyun Courtyard, thanks to Dong Shi having the heating system lit, the air was warm and comfortable.

The little maid keeping watch in the outer chamber tonight had originally sworn confidently that like Chun Tao, she would remain alert through the night, ready to listen for any movement from Eldest Miss and replace her hot tea, so that Eldest Miss wouldn’t have to wait for her to fetch hot water when she wanted a drink.

Who would have known that the little maid, overwhelmed by the warm air, became drowsy and, before long, was wrapped in her quilt, snoring softly.

Bai Qingyan couldn’t bear to scold her harshly. She sat up and lifted her hand to part the bed curtains, preparing to pull the bronze bell to summon the little maid, when she heard extremely light footsteps in the corridor. She frowned, covering her chest, and moved her feet down from the bed onto the gold-inlaid cypress wood carved footstool, looking toward the latticed window with wariness.

The person outside in the corridor gallery seemed to have heard the very subtle movement inside and asked in a low voice: “A’Bao, are you asleep?”

Bai Qingyan’s brows relaxed. She hadn’t expected it to be Xiao Rongyan.

Bai Qingyan supported herself on the bed frame to rise, about to go open the window, when she heard Xiao Rongyan remind her: “Put on a cloak—it’s cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill.”

“Wait a moment…” Bai Qingyan took a thin cotton-lined cloak and put it on, lifted the hanging screen to glance at the little maid sleeping sweetly in the outer chamber, then carried a lamp to the window and opened the lattice.

The moonlight was bright and clear, casting its radiance everywhere.

The azure bricks and jade-green tiles of Boyun Courtyard were reflected in cold gray-blue and white hues.

Xiao Rongyan, wearing a black cloak, stood just outside the window. Hearing Bai Qingyan open it, he turned with a serious expression to look at her…

The stars were sparse, and the clouds were thin. Pale yellow clouds drifted across the moon, and heaven and earth suddenly darkened.

The candlelight in Bai Qingyan’s hand flickered, illuminating Xiao Rongyan’s well-defined profile beneath his black hood.

Xiao Rongyan was covered in travel dust, perhaps from rushing here day and night. Beneath his high, broad brow ridge, his deep-set eyes appeared even wider and more profound. He raised his hand to remove his hood, his features gentle and smiling, with a hint of fatigue, appearing especially steady and reserved under the bright, clear moonlight.

A cold wind swept by. Bai Qingyan’s azure hair, draped over her shoulders, tangled around her upturned lips. The candlelight in her hand dimmed momentarily, then brightened again.

Her eyes were touched with laughter, her clear and beautiful features tranquil and gentle: “How did you come here?”

This time he was more courteous than on the previous two occasions, not directly entering her boudoir but standing only at the window.

“Tomorrow is your birthday. Fearing I might be too late, I traveled day and night to arrive. I didn’t expect to be a day early…” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was low and mellow, like aged fine wine, intoxicating to hear.

But he had arrived in Shouyang too late in the evening to properly call at the Bai residence. Unable to restrain his longing, Xiao Rongyan could only have Yue Shi lead away the hidden guards again and slip inside.

Xiao Rongyan took out a square red wooden box from inside his robes, which looked like it contained jewelry such as bracelets.

“If Yan is so fortunate, I only hope… that in this life I may celebrate birthdays with A’Bao and share daily joy in conversation.”

Bai Qingyan’s lips parted slightly but made no sound. A warm current flowed through her heart, suddenly coursing through her limbs, and she smiled softly.

Bai Qingyan understood clearly what situation the State of Yan was currently in, yet Xiao Rongyan still remembered her birthday.

In previous years… when Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and her brothers were all present, her birthdays were most lively. This year, Mother feared the aunts would be saddened, so she kept everything simple—just the sisters sitting at one table for a meal would count as a celebration.

Bai Qingyan accepted the carved red wooden box, clutching it in her palm. Thinking of Xiao Rongyan’s words about hoping to “share daily joy in conversation,” and remembering his previous words “without you, what joy is there,” she felt her cheeks and earlobes burning.

Looking up at Xiao Rongyan, she thanked him: “Thank you for remembering!”

The clouds drifted away…

The clouds parted to reveal the moon, and Qinghui Courtyard was instantly bright as daylight. Frost covered the tiles, making Bai Qingyan’s pure and extremely beautiful features appear even more lustrous, like a fairy from the moon.

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but step closer to Bai Qingyan, raising his hand to adjust her cotton-lined cloak. His profound gaze fell on the graceful curve of Bai Qingyan’s neck, his throat moved, and he looked up to meet her eyes: “Having seen you, I must leave and rush back to Great Wei.”

“Why trouble yourself to make such a trip…” Bai Qingyan rubbed the jewelry box in her hands, “It would be the same to make it up next time you have leisure to visit Shouyang.”

“It’s not the same.” Xiao Rongyan gazed at her fair face, his eyes calm and composed, with a smile hiding profound emotion deep enough to make one’s heart race. “A’Bao, I don’t want to miss any of your future birthdays.”

Bai Qingyan saw the red veins in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes and noticed his fatigue, but knowing he must be very concerned about the State of Yan, she swallowed back the words urging him to rest and only said: “The Crown Prince sent Liu Rushi to demand the return of lost territories, and General Liu Hong led troops toward Great Liang. This should somewhat relieve the pressure on Yan’s northern borders.”

This was still hard to say for certain.

Jin State had sent envoys to demand the cities and territories that Great Liang had ceded. For long-term planning… Xiao Rongyan had wanted Beirong to use this opportunity to send envoys to Great Liang… to join forces with Great Liang against Jin, dragging Great Liang into the war between them and the Jin State. This way, both the Great Liang and the Jin State would be unable to spare attention elsewhere, allowing the State of Yan to destroy Wei without worrying about their rear.

Otherwise, if they were halfway through attacking Wei and Jin State realized that Great Yan was no longer yesterday’s Yan, Jin would certainly constrain Yan State, never allowing Yan to destroy and absorb Wei, becoming the sole dominant power.

But the King of Beirong was still hesitating. After all, Beirong and Great Liang also had ancient enmities, and the King of Beirong feared going only to humiliate himself.

Without anyone to embolden Great Liang to attack Jin together, Great Liang might well return the territories they had promised to cede to Jin State and focus on attacking Great Yan instead.

“Although Jin’s emperor is incompetent and the Crown Prince is useless, they would never allow Great Liang to seize Yan territory and form a pincer movement against Jin from the northwest!” Bai Qingyan said.

This would benefit Jin State not at all. Even Bai Qingyan could not sit idly by. Even though Bai Qingyan knew that Great Yan intended to drag Jin State into the war so they could attack Wei without worrying about their rear, Bai Qingyan could not watch Great Liang occupy Great Yan’s territory!

This time, if Great Yan wanted to destroy Wei, what would benefit Jin State most… would be to use this opportunity to destroy Liang!

Thus, Jin State would face the sea to the north with no worries about their northern border, then find ways to ally with the Rong and Di tribes and Xiliang… to attack Yan. After defeating their formidable enemy Yan State, pacifying the realm would be within reach.

Naturally, Great Yan could use this same strategy against the Jin State.

What they had to compete on… was who would act faster after this great war. With A’Yu in Nanrong… Bai Qingyan was confident that the victor would be their Jin State.

Xiao Rongyan saw the determined fierce gleam in Bai Qingyan’s eyes, his smile deepening, his thumb gently stroking Bai Qingyan’s flawless fair cheek: “The last time I saw this expression on you was at the Crown Prince’s residence… when you blocked my grain trade proposal and asked the Crown Prince to temporarily delay sending envoys to the Rong and Di tribes.”