“Hmm?” Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan, who had stopped walking.
Seeing this, Yue Shi, following ten steps behind the two, quickly had his guards and the soldiers Bai Qingyan had brought turn around, lowering his voice: “Avert your eyes! Avert your eyes!”
She lowered her gaze and reached out to grasp Xiao Rongyan’s distinct, powerful hand. Looking up at him, she said softly: “If Empress Ji knew that this precious sword is now in the hands of Yue Shi, who protects you, and knew that this precious sword has protected you countless times, she would surely feel comforted.”
Xiao Rongyan lowered his gaze and held Bai Qingyan’s hands with both of his. The desolation in his eyes was gradually dispelled by warmth. He lowered his head and gently kissed the back of Bai Qingyan’s hand, then raised his eyes to gaze at her: “A’Bao is my mother’s kindred spirit. If A’Bao says so… Mother would surely think the same!”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Yes!”
Thinking of his father, Xiao Rongyan inevitably thought of his mother’s fate. He spoke earnestly to Bai Qingyan: “In this lifetime, I will not fail A’Bao!”
Their eyes met. Bai Qingyan’s hand, held in Xiao Rongyan’s palm, tightened slightly, and even her ears couldn’t help but burn. She said softly, “If you do not fail me, I will not fail you.”
He restrained the impulse to embrace Bai Qingyan and kiss her deeply, forcefully squeezing her hand and leading her without letting go: “Let’s go, I’ll see you out…”
She nodded without struggling free.
After escorting Bai Qingyan to the inn’s entrance, Xiao Rongyan personally led her horse. Before Bai Qingyan mounted, he suddenly gently grasped her wrist and asked quietly: “A’Bao, regarding the Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince matter, do you resent me?”
Hearing this, she quietly gazed into Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, her lips curving in a shallow smile. Supporting herself on the saddle, she leaped onto the horse and pulled the reins from Xiao Rongyan’s hands.
Caught off guard, Xiao Rongyan’s hands were left empty, his fingertips slightly hurt by the reins.
Bai Qingyan, on her steed, looked at Xiao Rongyan’s astonished expression, as if she had vented her frustration and felt much more comfortable. Her eyes showed the faintest hint of amusement as she asked him: “Regarding Prince Xihuai’s matter, have you ever blamed me?”
Bai Qingyan felt relieved because she knew Xiao Rongyan was not at fault, and she believed that with her younger brother’s capabilities, Xiao Rongyan would not achieve his goals so easily.
Xiao Rongyan answered honestly: “Yes, but it passed in an instant. After all, we had agreed beforehand that when facing major matters, we would not consider personal feelings.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he understood that Bai Qingyan’s feelings were the same as his.
He also finally understood Bai Qingyan’s previous words: everything else can be reasoned with, but emotions alone cannot be measured by reason.
All human hearts are like this—no one is an exception.
But… both he and Bai Qingyan were extraordinary people.
His heart felt relieved. Smiling, he stepped back and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.
“Farewell!” Bai Qingyan raised her hand in a salute to Xiao Rongyan, pulled the reins to turn her horse around, and galloped away with her troops.
This was the first time Xiao Rongyan had been so cautious in trying to understand someone’s thoughts. He looked at his reddened fingertips, the corners of his mouth curving in a smile, his fingers tightening slightly. Accustomed to seeing Bai Qingyan’s composed and unruffled demeanor, he cherished this glimpse of her acting willfully in front of him without restraint—so utterly feminine…
“Master…” Yue Shi approached and said quietly to Xiao Rongyan, “Prince Xihuai has summoned Dong Gui’an.”
Dong Gui’an was Prince Xihuai’s most capable secret guard. It seemed… Prince Xihuai’s plans would change because of Bai Qingyan’s words.
But Xiao Rongyan’s purpose was to keep Prince Xihuai away from the State of Wei, finding a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters in the State of Liang for Prince Xihuai to spend his remaining years, continuing the comfortable, wealthy, idle life he had enjoyed before.
If Prince Xihuai decided to return to the State of Wei because of Bai Qingyan’s words, or had Dong Gui’an go back to deliver a message, he would have no choice but to use extreme measures.
“Go order our people to watch Dong Gui’an. If Dong Gui’an tries to return to the State of Wei, find an opportunity along the way to eliminate him. Do it cleanly.” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was indifferent.
“Yes!” Yue Shi nodded.
Only after Bai Qingyan’s figure disappeared did Xiao Rongyan turn back, planning to persuade Prince Xihuai once more.
When Xiao Rongyan entered, he heard Prince Xihuai instructing Dong Gui’an: “Deliver this message to Chancellor Gongsun as quickly as possible. Tell Chancellor Gongsun that this prince has failed his trust—I’m afraid I cannot persuade the Rongdi to assist us. The State of Wei has reached a critical moment of survival. Please ask Chancellor Gongsun to agree to Xiliang’s conditions! You must be fast! Don’t delay on the road—the State of Wei’s safety rests on you alone.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Xihuai saw Xiao Rongyan and patted Dong Gui’an on the shoulder.
“Is Your Highness having Lord Dong return to Weishu City to deliver a message?” Xiao Rongyan stepped across the threshold. “Besides having Your Highness seek the Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince, do the Empress Dowager and Chancellor Gongsun also have contingency plans with Xiliang?”
Through Xiao Rongyan’s desperate rescue of Prince Xihuai, both Prince Xihuai and those around him had long regarded Xiao Rongyan as trustworthy, but they still had not revealed Chancellor Gongsun’s arrangements.
Dong Gui’an only cupped his hands to Xiao Rongyan and said: “After Gui’an leaves, I hope Master Xiao will take good care of His Highness!”
Xiao Rongyan nodded to Dong Gui’an. After seeing Dong Gui’an off, he looked at Prince Xihuai and asked: “Is Your Highness planning to divide forces, having Dong Gui’an return to report while Your Highness continues to seek the Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince?”
Prince Xihuai nodded: “Princess Zhenguo’s words awakened me like a dream. Although this prince doesn’t understand much about military campaigns, Princess Zhenguo’s reputation is well-known. Regardless, I must send someone back to inform Weishu City so the Empress Dowager and His Majesty can be prepared! This prince will continue to seek the Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince. If that Rongdi Ghost-Faced Prince refuses to agree…”
Prince Xihuai’s voice stopped, his lips moving for a long time without making a sound.
“If he refuses?” Xiao Rongyan asked back. “Surely Your Highness wouldn’t reveal the Ghost-Faced Prince’s secrets in a desperate gamble?”
Seeing no answer from Prince Xihuai, he pressed further: “I… just heard from Your Highness that Chancellor Gongsun has contingency plans?”
Prince Xihuai nodded: “Chancellor Gongsun is a pillar minister of our State of Wei. Unless necessary, Chancellor Gongsun is unwilling to use this method. The matter is of great importance, so this prince won’t discuss it with Rongyan in detail!”
“What if Chancellor Gongsun’s method also doesn’t work?” Xiao Rongyan asked again.
“It will work!” Prince Xihuai said this with rare firmness in his voice. “Even if it truly fails in the end, this prince will rush back to Weishu City to share life and death with His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.”
Xiao Rongyan looked at Prince Xihuai with considerable surprise at his resolute gaze. He had not expected Prince Xihuai, who had always been pleasure-seeking, to say such words. This truly made Xiao Rongyan view him with new respect.
Xiao Rongyan pressed his lips together: “Your Highness, if Dong Gui’an returns, but it’s already too late, and the State of Wei… is destroyed, Your Highness should plan an escape route for yourself. I am willing to assist Your Highness.”
“Even if the Kingdom is destroyed, this prince must return to the State of Wei!” Prince Xihuai sat limply in his chair, as if he could already see the State of Wei’s destruction.