The former Xiao Rongyan was one who prospered those who submitted to him and destroyed those who opposed him. If anyone dared obstruct Xiao Rongyan… if threats and bribes failed, he would uproot them entirely.

What worldly human hearts, what gods above… propriety and righteousness were illusory things to Xiao Rongyan. He would not allow anything or anyone… to become a stumbling block on the path to unifying the realm.

Even if his methods were sinister and dirty, as long as he could pacify the realm, he could quickly restore peace and prosperity to the world. Who would then criticize his radical methods?

It was Bai Qingyan who taught Xiao Rongyan to respect the two words “righteousness” from the bottom of his heart.

But deep in his bones, Xiao Rongyan was an untamable wolf!

He had used such elaborate means yet still could not achieve his goals, so he wouldn’t mind using extraordinary measures. He could no longer care what fate befell this Ghost-Faced Prince.

With the rise and fall of the nation at stake, personal feelings… he could only set aside.

He thought A’Bao would understand.

Hearing his elder sister’s pet name, murderous intent suddenly flashed in Bai Qingyu’s eyes, but in an instant, he calmed his emotions again. His ability to control his emotional fluctuations had reached perfection.

Although Bai Qingyu inexplicably detested this person, since he knew his elder sister’s pet name, perhaps… he truly was the person his elder sister favored?

But how could his elder sister have feelings for such a person, a wastrel who frequented brothels and pleasure quarters?

Bai Qingyu felt stifled.

He wasn’t worried that his elder sister had been deceived, given her intelligence, so he could only guess… the wastrel behavior was merely his unavoidable facade.

He narrowed his eyes, thinking whether his elder sister would be sad if he killed this man.

After a moment, Bai Qingyu clenched his fists. His elder sister’s heart had already been wounded enough—he couldn’t cause her more grief, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance.

Moreover, this so-called Great Yan Ninth Prince’s accusation that he was a Bai family son was like his own suspicion that this Yan Ninth Prince was Xiao Rongyan—both lacked concrete evidence. Killing him would instead appear as an attempt to cover up the truth.

Bai Qingyu leaned forward, exposing himself to the clear moonlight streaming into the carriage. With one elbow resting on his knee, he casually tilted his head, his lips curving in a faint smile, fearless and unconcerned, speaking deliberately: “Since joining my ranks, I have never met a worthy opponent. Whatever methods the Ninth Prince has, feel free to use them… I shall gladly accompany you.”

Seeing that Bai Qingyu was unmoved by both soft and hard approaches, Xiao Rongyan laughed: “The hundred-year military family, Duke Zhenguo’s mansion never produces waste. Indeed… you cannot be intimidated. Since you and I have laid our cards on the table… then I’ll take a step back. The Rongdi will release the Yan soldiers, and in the future… when you destroy Xiliang, Yan State will not interfere.”

Bai Qingyu’s fingers moved slightly as he quickly detected the trap Xiao Rongyan had set in his words, using Xiliang as bait. He smiled: “Yan State also absolutely cannot come to share the spoils!”

In other words, when the Jin State destroyed Xiliang in the future, the Yan State could not interfere or take advantage to occupy Xiliang territory.

“What great ambition! You think… that Jin State alone can easily destroy Xiliang? The Xiliang Empress is quite capable and has now consolidated power, with the major clans of Xiliang gradually showing signs of loyalty! Xiliang’s rise only needs time…”

Xiao Rongyan’s words were not bluffing. That Xiliang Empress… deserved to be called a wise ruler of her generation.

“Whether it can be destroyed is my affair. The lives of the Yan soldiers are your affair.”

“Within two years, if you destroy Xiliang… Yan State will not interfere with or share the spoils! The Rongdi will return the Yan soldiers, and the two nations will ally in mutual non-aggression.” Xiao Rongyan said.

Bai Qingyu had calculated that Bai Qingyan’s destruction of Liang was imminent. A two-year deadline… wasn’t excessive.

Moreover, Bai Qingyu had already bribed spies among the Yan soldiers. Releasing all the Yan soldiers would serve a greater purpose.

“Within three years, if the Ninth Prince agrees, from then on… the two nations will ally in mutual non-aggression.” Bai Qingyu spoke deliberately.

With the matter settled, Xiao Rongyan said, “In that case, write these conditions in the alliance document with both nations’ seals. But should this alliance document state… that Yan State won’t interfere when Jin State destroys Xiliang, or when the Rongdi destroy Xiliang?”

“I am a Rongdi person, so naturally I sign the alliance for the Rongdi. However… please remember, Ninth Prince, that within three years, whenever the Rongdi attack Xiliang… whether joining forces with other nations or acting alone, Yan State cannot interfere, cannot share spoils, and cannot assist Xiliang. Otherwise… the Rongdi can only allow Xiliang to grow stronger, then use Yan’s breach of the alliance as justification… to righteously turn and attack Yan.”

Having said this, Bai Qingyu took from his sleeve a bamboo slip already signed and sealed, tossing it toward Xiao Rongyan.

Yue Shi, standing guard with his sword at the alley entrance, saw something fly from the carriage and immediately moved to protect his master. Unexpectedly, A’Pulu quickly drew his blade. Yue Shi reacted extremely fast, immediately retreating three steps and drawing his sword to block.

At the alley mouth, two guards with blades and swords clashing, tension mounting, ready to explode.

In the alley, two masters in perfect harmony, examining bamboo slips, preparing to ally.

Xiao Rongyan caught the bamboo slip and unrolled it to look. The alliance terms were written in detail with various clauses, and it was already sealed.

He chuckled softly: “It seems… before meeting me, Your Highness already had two preparations. Even if I hadn’t proposed that Yan State not interfere in the Rongdi’s future destruction of Xiliang, Your Highness would have brought it up! Your Highness used the tactic of feigning retreat excellently!”

Xiao Rongyan’s praise was sincere. Earlier, Bai Qingyu’s posture of wanting to leave had even convinced him.

He had still underestimated the intelligence of the Bai family descendants. This Bai family son, in terms of intelligence, was not much inferior to A’Bao.

Bai Qingyu said indifferently, “It wasn’t feigning retreat, but something I originally thought wouldn’t be needed. I didn’t expect Yan State’s Ninth Prince could go this far for those Yan soldiers. This prince greatly admires this, which is why I’m willing to make concessions.”

Born into the Bai family military, Bai Qingyu had great respect for someone like Xiao Rongyan, who would rather sign such a treaty than abandon his soldiers.

Xiao Rongyan removed his seal, walked to the carriage, stamped it, and handed it to Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyu also sealed the other copy of the alliance and handed it to Xiao Rongyan…

The alliance between two nations, in duplicate.

Who could have imagined that such an alliance concerning the diplomacy of two nations and the fate of Xiliang would be signed in this narrow alley behind a flower house?

On the twentieth day of the second month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Jin army commander Liu Hong led his forces to capture Sanshan City. Simultaneously, Princess Zhenguo recaptured Datong. At this time, the main army led by Liu Hong was only two cities away from Great Liang’s capital, Han City, while the main army led by Princess Zhenguo was only three cities away from Great Liang’s capital.

On the twenty-seventh day of the second month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Wei State’s Chancellor Gongsun Chichong secretly communicated with Xiliang in an act of treason. His entire family was executed, their heads hung on the execution platform for public display, causing panic among the people.

On the nineteenth day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Jin army commander Liu Hong led his troops to attack Yuezhou City. On the same day, Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan captured Great Liang’s Jiangdu, approaching Han City.

On the twenty-first day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Yan forces captured Wei’s former capital, Chang City.

Only when Yan forces entered Chang City did they learn that Wei’s General Song Guanxu had been dead for nine days. Song Guanxu’s grandson Song Wenzhong, fearing it would harm morale, kept the death secret and defended Chang City to the end, but ultimately could not hold out.