The amusement in Murong Yu’s eyes gradually faded as his gaze toward Bai Qingyan became increasingly solemn.

“Murong Yan wouldn’t ask such questions, also because neither he nor I is are arrogant person. We both dare not claim… that in the future struggle for the realm, only he and I will remain. The world’s situation changes in an instant – who dares say they have divine abilities to determine the future? Great Yan dares to, but I, Bai Qingyan, honestly dare not.”

Even now, though Bai Qingyan no longer walked as if on thin ice like before, she remained cautious and vigilant, not daring the slightest negligence.

Who could say that the Western Liang Empress’s current various measures wouldn’t push Western Liang back to its peak?

Who dared say the future wouldn’t see three powers standing as equals?

Who dared say… they could grasp the entire realm in their palm and achieve complete unification within their lifetime?

Bai Qingyan didn’t dare, and presumably Murong Yan didn’t dare either!

She simply hadn’t forgotten the Bai family’s ancestral aspiration for peaceful seas and clear rivers, and was merely doing everything in her power toward that goal.

Bai Qingyan’s clear, steady voice was like thunder striking the ground, bringing Murong Yu to sudden enlightenment.

Perhaps because Great Yan had recovered South Yan and beaten Wei into helplessness, this smooth journey had made Murong Yu believe that Great Yan could soon pacify the realm, as long as… they could invite Jin’s war goddess Princess Zhenguo to join Yan, unification would be within reach.

Before coming, he could guess that Bai Qingyan’s pretense of languishing on her sickbed was to reduce imperial suspicion and allow the Bai family to survive, but he hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan’s ambitions to be so vast – she wanted not just Jin… but the entire realm!

He had underestimated Bai Qingyan’s aspirations. Indeed, as Bai Qingyan said… though he didn’t look down on women because of his mother, he had never truly regarded women as equals to men, capable of achieving great accomplishments.

Since the words had already been spoken and the heart-piercing remarks made, even if this future sister-in-law came to despise him, Murong Yu wanted to achieve his purpose for requesting today’s meeting.

“The Bai clan is indeed admirable, but… if you joined Yan and worked hand in hand with a like-minded beloved, wouldn’t you be able to complete the Bai family’s hereditary aspirations more quickly? Or has… A’Yan’s resolve changed, becoming one who desires this eternal fame for personal gain rather than peaceful times for the people. So… you want to change dynasties in Jin, wanting to compete with Great Yan’s legitimacy!”

Murong Yu’s voice was gentle, but his words became increasingly aggressive: “Could it be that A’Yan fears that after joining Yan… you’d end up making wedding clothes for our Great Yan’s imperial Murong family, bringing fame to the Murong clan rather than leaving the Bai name for posterity?”

“May I ask… is Great Yan not also pursuing this eternal fame for personal gain?” Bai Qingyan countered.

“The Murong family is Great Yan’s legitimate imperial bloodline. Wanting to pacify the realm for countless people is perfectly justified!”

“Why must my Bai family only make wedding clothes for so-called legitimate imperial bloodlines, unable to both achieve peaceful accomplishments and leave the Bai name for posterity? Pacifying the realm is inherently an eternal achievement that should naturally bring eternal fame – this isn’t a matter of choosing one or the other. In ancient times, Chen Sheng once said, ‘Are kings, marquises, generals, and ministers born to their stations?’ Murong bloodline… your ancestors weren’t born emperors either! Counting five generations up from Emperor Yan, the Murong family was a treacherous rebel that usurped the throne! Empress Ji once said she was raised by a brothel prostitute, correct?”

Feng Yao raised his eyes, murderous intent gleaming as he looked toward Bai Qingyan.

The Murong family’s imperial throne, now spoken of as heaven’s mandate, was indeed obtained through less than honorable means by their ancestors.

Murong Yu could not refute these words.

If he said his ancestors lived in times when rulers were unworthy and the Murong clan had heaven’s mandate, then why couldn’t the Bai family now have heaven’s mandate?

“This peaceful achievement… the Murong family can accomplish it, and so can my Bai family! What the Murong family can do… the Bai family can also do! Any surname under heaven can! Establishing peace in the realm is… inherently a magnificent deed worthy of historical record, inherently an unprecedented achievement worthy of eternal praise. Those who can accomplish such feats – does Emperor Yan truly think they do so merely for fame and reputation? If so… does Emperor Yan think too simply of these four words ‘pacifying the realm,’ treating it like children’s games?”

In verbal debate, Murong Yu was indeed no match for Bai Qingyan.

In his life, Murong Yu had rarely encountered people who earned his respect. Bai Qingyan was one.

“If Emperor Yan cannot understand my words today, you may return and ask Murong Yan: if someday… only Jin and Yan remain in the world, should warfare continue to determine the realm, or should weapons be laid down… to merge into one Kingdom? And should it be the Bai family ascending to become the realm’s new master, or would the Murong family be more natural?”

Bai Qingyan smiled as she straightened her back and bowed to Murong Yu.

“A’Yan, please don’t be angry. Your foolish elder brother’s words were highly offensive – please don’t hold it against me.” Murong Yu also straightened and bowed. “What A’Yan said was entirely reasonable, and your foolish elder brother is impressed! Therefore, I seek instruction… if someday the world truly has only Jin and Yan remaining, what does A’Yan think should be done?”

“I never assume anything about events that won’t occur for at least a year,” Bai Qingyan replied.

Murong Yu nodded: “I hope that if such a day truly comes, A’Yan and A’Yan can resolve it properly.”

Suddenly, inspiration flashed in Murong Yu’s mind, and the amusement in his eyes deepened.

He had been worrying unnecessarily. If such a day truly came, with Bai Qingyan and younger brother A’Yan married, if heaven showed mercy and allowed Bai Qingyan to bear children of both bloodlines, the problem could be easily resolved.

However, he probably wouldn’t live to see such a day.

Murong Yu lifted the teacup before him and raised it toward Bai Qingyan: “Using tea in place of wine, I apologize to A’Yan. Please forgive your foolish elder brother.”

With Murong Yu’s humble gesture, Bai Qingyan, considering that he was ultimately Murong Yan’s elder brother, also lifted her teacup: “Our verbal dispute had offensive moments – please be magnanimous, Brother Yu!”

The shimmering light on the lake reflected the painted boat’s glossy, carved wooden ceiling. Murong Yu gazed at his future sister-in-law, feeling increasingly satisfied. When he went to meet Mother underground someday, he would have something to tell her.

At that time, he would certainly tell Mother that younger brother A’Yan’s wife was an extraordinary woman capable of governing the Kingdom through literature and securing the nation through martial prowess. What she was doing now was what Mother had wanted to do but couldn’t accomplish, and she shared the same heart and aspirations as A’Yan.

To gain such a daughter-in-law, Mother would surely be delighted.

“Life is short – why can’t it be eternal?” Murong Yu sighed softly. If only he could live forever to see the day of unification, how wonderful that would be.

Knowing that Murong Yu was lamenting his approaching death, Bai Qingyan felt inevitable melancholy and said: “People are born with limited time, just a few short decades, yet can establish achievements lasting ten thousand generations. During Brother Yu’s reign, being able to lead Great Yan from a state that other countries could bully and that faced constant danger of destruction to where it stands today is already an unprecedented achievement.”

Murong Yu turned to gaze at the shimmering lake surface, the swaying willows on the shore, and the vibrant human atmosphere under the green shade, his eyes growing ever more amused.