“Today, under these circumstances, I asked Mr. Qin to come out and meet because of our past agreement. Mr. Qin is a gentleman… You once clasped hands with Bai Qingyan and swore an oath that if someday Qingyan could shoulder the great banner of the Bai family army and, as a woman, occupy a place in the high halls of the court, you would sweep the seat clean and wait. Therefore… today Bai Qingyan comes here, hoping that you will not abandon me, and that you can join hands with Bai Qingyan to support the common people of the world.”

Bai Qingyan was a person who honored her promises. She had made such a promise with Qin Shangzhi in the past, so today… even though Bai Qingyan knew that, given Qin Shangzhi’s nature, he probably wouldn’t betray the Crown Prince, she still arranged to meet him beneath the city walls.

Qin Shangzhi looked at Bai Qingyan, whose features were clear and bright, her eyes distinct and sharp, recalling the scene when Bai Qingyan, dressed in mourning clothes, had spoken these words to him outside the gates of the capital city.

At that time, Bai Qingyan’s family had suddenly suffered great calamity, with all the men of the household dead, yet she still harbored great ambitions to support the Jin state, stirring Qin Shangzhi’s blood with passion. Thus, he had clasped hands with Bai Qingyan in oath, only he hadn’t expected that Bai Qingyan would truly fulfill her words as she had said…

The current Bai Qingyan had more than just a place in the court—Bai Qingyan had already proclaimed herself Emperor.

“Qin Shangzhi has failed Princess Zhenguo and must break his word!” Qin Shangzhi’s eyes held a smile as he looked at Bai Qingyan, his eyes growing moist and red. He first bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, then slowly knelt and kowtowed once to her, saying, “Since Qin Shangzhi has already chosen the Crown Prince, I must walk this path even if it’s covered with thorns and mired in mud, even if it’s a dead end… I must continue. To change masters midway would violate Qin Shangzhi’s principles of conduct. Qin Shangzhi can only… fail Princess Zhenguo and break my word!”

Though this result was expected, Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but feel regret. If great talent like Qin Shangzhi could contribute to the Great Zhou, how much could he help the common people? “Why must Mr. Qin continue following the Crown Prince? What kind of person the Crown Prince is, you must already know very clearly. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne… he won’t be a wise ruler either. The current Crown Prince is still conscripting a thousand children for the Emperor’s elixir refinement on the Emperor’s behalf. Such a Crown Prince who fears the sovereign to the point of confusion between right and wrong, unable to distinguish black from white… why must you persist, Mr. Qin?”

“I, Qin Shangzhi, know the Crown Prince will very likely be a foolish ruler, but since Qin Shangzhi has acknowledged the Crown Prince as master, even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance to guide and correct the Crown Prince, to make him become a wise ruler, Qin Shangzhi is willing to try.”

Qin Shangzhi took out from his chest the dagger that Bai Qingyan had once given him for protection, holding the dagger with both hands and raising it above his head, clearly intending to return the dagger to Bai Qingyan: “The promise to Princess Zhenguo, Qin Shangzhi can only… fulfill in the next life.”

“This dagger was once given by Bai Qingyan to you for protection. Today, let it remain with you. If you ever change your mind, the doors of Great Zhou’s court will always be open to you…” Bai Qingyan bowed deeply to Qin Shangzhi as she spoke.

Then Bai Qingyan leaped onto her horse, grasping the reins and looking at Qin Shangzhi, who was still kneeling on the ground with moist, red eyes: “Mr. Qin, take care!”

Qin Shangzhi watched as Bai Qingyan yanked hard on the reins, turned her horse around, and departed, feeling indescribable emotions in his heart.

Knowing full well… that Jin’s great momentum was already lost, that in the future the Bai family’s eldest daughter would surely lead Great Zhou to unify the world and establish unprecedented achievements.

Yet Qin Shangzhi still couldn’t abandon the Crown Prince.

Only after watching the heavy shield soldiers under the black banners with white python designs part to allow Bai Qingyan and Lin Kangle to return to the Great Zhou formation did Qin Shangzhi slowly stand up.

He gripped the dagger tightly in his hand, lowered his eyes, and gently caressed the carved patterns on the dagger, then slowly placed it back against his chest.

The general following behind Qin Shangzhi stepped forward: “My lord… we should return!”

Qin Shangzhi nodded, leaped onto his horse, turned around, and returned to Luohong City.

As soon as Qin Shangzhi entered the city, he saw Gao Demao, the head eunuch by the Emperor’s side, waiting for him with others inside the city gate. His hand gripping the reins tightened as he dismounted and bowed to Gao Demao: “Greetings, Eunuch Gao.”

Gao Demao had also witnessed from atop the city walls the elite soldiers that Bai Qingyan had brought—that formation was indeed intimidating.

At this moment, Gao Demao no longer had his usual smile, looking at Qin Shangzhi and asking: “I wonder what Princess Zhenguo said when she asked Lord Qin to come out for a meeting?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Demao bowed to Qin Shangzhi: “Lord Qin, please don’t take offense. His Majesty heard that Princess Zhenguo wanted to see you and sent this old servant to take a look. After all, Lord Qin currently controls the military deployment of Luohong City, so this old servant took the liberty to ask.”

“Nothing else was said. When I, Qin Shangzhi, was still unsuccessful, I once had the fortune to receive Princess Zhenguo’s assistance. Princess Zhenguo wanted me to pledge loyalty to her, but I refused, so I bid farewell to Princess Zhenguo.” Qin Shangzhi spoke frankly, “If Eunuch Gao doesn’t believe me, you can certainly ask the two generals who accompanied me!”

Those two generals quickly nodded to Gao Demao: “What Lord Qin said is true.”

Gao Demao nodded, then said to Qin Shangzhi, “Mr. Qin has worked hard. Princess Zhenguo has already agreed to enter the city tonight… Mr. Qin must be well prepared.”

Qin Shangzhi’s palm tightened, his expression showing bewilderment. Bai Qingyan was entering the city tonight?

Qin Shangzhi was intelligent—how could he not know why the Emperor and Grand Princess wanted Bai Qingyan to enter the city? If he could see it, Bai Qingyan certainly could too. Why would Bai Qingyan still come? Why hadn’t she spoken just now?

He had thought that when Bai Qingyan suddenly arranged to meet him outside Luohong City during the confrontation between the two armies, it was simply because tonight’s plans might not succeed, and she wanted to see him once before the impending siege.

Seeing Qin Shangzhi stunned, Gao Demao called out again: “Lord Qin?”

Qin Shangzhi came to his senses and bowed to Gao Demao: “Eunuch Gao, rest assured. This concerns His Majesty’s and the Crown Prince’s safety… Qin Shangzhi will spare no effort.”

Gao Demao flicked the whisk in his hand and turned to leave with a group of eunuchs. Just after walking a short distance, he whispered to a young eunuch beside him: “Keep watch on Qin Shangzhi. If there’s any unusual movement, report immediately!”

“Yes!” The young eunuch received the order and departed.

Gao Demao slightly raised his head, squinting at the blazing sun that was like a fire basin, unable to help but sigh. Jin’s fortune… was already exhausted, yet the Emperor still devoted himself wholeheartedly to elixir refinement.

What Grand Princess didn’t know was that the Emperor had already issued a death order—once Princess Zhenguo entered Luohong City, she would never be able to leave alive again. Grand Princess… had been deceived by His Majesty once more.

And now the young eunuch by the Crown Prince’s side was persuading the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince seemed to have been swayed and wanted to spare Bai Qingyan’s life. When Gao Demao left, he had seen the Crown Prince and that young eunuch standing outside the Emperor’s bedchamber, hesitating whether to request an audience with the Emperor. But… Gao Demao knew in his heart that the Crown Prince would not allow Bai Qingyan to become a powerful minister as His Majesty had promised the Grand Princess.

What Gao Demao truly worried about wasn’t Princess Zhenguo—it was himself…