The arrow broke through the air, and in the flash of lightning, it pierced through one of the assassins’ knee joints. The sword-wielding assassin’s knee buckled in pain as he fell to the ground in a sorry state, and was immediately captured by the Bai mansion’s hidden guards.

The Bai family guards reacted extremely quickly. Regardless of whether the newcomer was an enemy or a friend, they immediately protected Bai Qingyan and rapidly retreated.

Just as the other assassin was momentarily distracted, Yue Shi, who had appeared from nowhere, pierced his abdomen with a sword. When the sword was withdrawn, blood splattered everywhere.

Standing with her hands behind her back, Bai Qingyan looked toward the figure standing on the roof tiles in the distance. After her initial surprise, a faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips. Seeing that person leap down, her smile deepened.

After several months apart, as the war between Great Yan and Wei intensified, she hadn’t expected to encounter Xiao Rongyan in this place.

The Bai family’s hidden guards looked at Yue Shi. Unexpectedly, they saw that the Bai family’s hidden guards didn’t raise their swords against Yue Shi. Yue Shi had thought he would have to engage in a few exchanges to explain himself, but who would have thought the Bai family’s hidden guards would completely ignore him? One simply kicked the assassin in the face, instantly knocking out the assassin’s poisoned teeth, which scattered far away.

The Bai family’s hidden guard sheathed his sword, grabbed the assassin, and quickly walked to Bai Qingyan, clasping his fists: “Eldest Miss, we only captured one alive!”

Bai Qingyan withdrew her gaze and saw Yue Shi also sheath his sword and quickly walk before her: “Yue Shi greets Eldest Miss!”

Bai Qingyan nodded to Yue Shi: “Rise!”

Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, the Bai family guards finally lowered their guard against Yue Shi, all sheathing their swords and moving away from in front of Bai Qingyan.

“How did you and your master suddenly appear here?” There was an extremely faint smile in Bai Qingyan’s eyes.

Yue Shi rose, smiling as he said: “Master was going to the capital, but first went to Shuoyang, only to learn that Eldest Miss had already gone to the capital. Today was quite a coincidence…”

Bai Qingyan nodded, her gaze falling on the captured death warrior: “One of the idle Prince of Nandu’s men?”

The death warrior seemed quite surprised, but since he had been captured alive by Bai Qingyan, he didn’t deny it. After all, his master was already gone, and these death warriors were just rootless mayflies.

“Exactly!” The death warrior raised his head, glaring at Bai Qingyan with vicious eyes.

A Bai family guard struck the death warrior’s face hard with his sword hilt: “Don’t want your eyes anymore!”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand, signaling the Bai family guard not to do so: “The idle Prince and Liu Ruofu are both dead. Who sent you here?”

The death warrior spat out bloody saliva, raised his head, and sneered at Bai Qingyan: “I am a death warrior of the Liu family. The idle Prince and our princess both died because of you. Naturally, I came for revenge!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “A loyal one.”

“If you’re going to kill me, kill me! No need for more nonsense!” the death warrior said.

“Good!” Bai Qingyan nodded. She understood the duty of death warriors – they should die before their masters. When their masters died, they couldn’t live alone. “You are a loyal servant. I will certainly give you a quick death. Do you have any last words?”

“I wish to end my own life,” the death warrior said.

“You may.” Bai Qingyan turned to instruct the guard beside her, “Give him a sword…”

The Bai family guard drew his sword and handed it to the death warrior with both hands.

The death warrior, who had been held kneeling on one knee, shook off the Bai family guards restraining him and took the sword, shouting: “Master, young master! Your subordinate is coming!”

After speaking, the death warrior raised his sword and suddenly leaped up, charging straight at Bai Qingyan. But before he could get close to her… cold light flashed, and the death warrior’s head rolled to the ground.

The spraying blood mist under such bright, clear moonlight was truly soul-stirring.

The Bai family guard cleanly retrieved his arrow and stood beside Bai Qingyan.

“Bury these three beside Liu Ruofu!” Bai Qingyan said.

The idle Prince’s corpse naturally didn’t meet a good end, but Liu Ruofu… had been secretly buried in the outskirts by Lu Jin’s daughter, Lu Baohua. When Bai Jinxiu learned of this, she instructed the hidden guards to protect Lu Baohua’s actions.

After all, in this world, many worshipped the high and trampled the low, who added flowers to brocade, but few like Lu Baohua, who valued emotion and righteousness. Bai Jinxiu was willing to help Lu Baohua. Later… Bai Jinxiu informed Bai Qingyan of this matter in a letter. After learning of it, Bai Qingyan was silent for a long time.

Liu Ruofu, as Princess of Nandu, was pursued and adored by others, beloved by thousands. How many people claimed to be Liu Ruofu’s close friends, yet after her death, only Lu Baohua dared to secretly collect Liu Ruofu’s body. Bai Qingyan respected Lu Baohua.

After the Bai family guards dragged away the corpses, Xiao Rongyan came up from downstairs properly.

He bowed formally to Bai Qingyan from afar, standing in the distance and smiling gently at her.

After several months apart, Xiao Rongyan’s features seemed much more resolute and distinct. Although his appearance still maintained that of a gentle gentleman, the decisive killing intent in his bones gradually showed signs of being unable to hide, and the innate pressure between his brows gradually emerged.

The Bai family’s hidden guards left one after another. Seeing that Yue Shi still stood there without any sense of propriety, a Bai family hidden guard glanced at Yue Shi and said: “What are you still standing here for? Let’s go…”

Yue Shi quickly nodded and left together with the Bai family’s hidden guards.

The doorway still had unclean blood. Bai Qingyan took a cloak and walked outside the post station with Xiao Rongyan.

“Now that Jin and Great Liang are at war, Great Yan’s attack on Wei is gaining momentum, Nanrong wants to swallow Beirong, and Xiliang is also restless now. I thought you should be in Xiliang or maneuvering between Great Wei.”

Bai Qingyan walked quietly and slowly with Xiao Rongyan along the secluded path behind the post station.

“I was originally maneuvering between the two countries, but Prince Xihuai of Wei knows that I’m on good terms with the Crown Prince of Jin. Therefore, this time, I was entrusted by Prince Xihuai of Great Wei to bring Wei envoys to meet the Crown Prince. I originally wanted to go to Shuoyang to see you, so I parted ways with the Wei envoys midway. By now, the Wei envoys… should almost be reaching the capital.” Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved in a smile, carrying a yellow sheepskin lantern in his hand. “Great Wei originally wanted to rally Great Liang to embolden themselves and jointly covet Great Yan, but halfway through, Great Liang and Jin started fighting and couldn’t spare the effort! Great Wei then wanted to request Xiliang, but… after Xiliang weighed their national strength, they decided to send troops to assist Beirong. Now, Great Wei is being beaten into continuous retreat and can only send envoys to Jin to request aid.”

“Now Jin is trapped in war with Great Liang, the plague in Huayang and Qinhuai cities hasn’t been eliminated, Jin will begin preparing for the broad river canal project this month, plus the Emperor wants to build the Nine-Tiered Platform. The Nine-Tiered Platform project is massive, comparable to building a palace.” Bai Qingyan’s tone was cold when mentioning this. “Now, Jin has been continuously recruiting soldiers. For building the Nine-Tiered Platform, besides deploying troops there, they’re also conscripting civilians. Even during the great epidemic in Huayang and Qinhuai cities, what the Emperor was concerned about was whether his Nine-Tiered Platform could continue being built.”

Hearing this, Xiao Rongyan was silent for a moment, then asked: “When a ruler is unkind, the capable can replace him.”

He suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at Bai Qingyan. “When does A’Bao plan to replace him?”