It was as if a large hand had suddenly gripped her throat—she almost couldn’t hold back her tears.

A’Yu… owed her a piece of pigeon-blood ruby.

A’Yu… had brought her the pigeon-blood ruby.

The Bai family always kept their word.

The moment Dong Shi saw the pigeon-blood ruby, she was certain that the Ghost-Faced Prince was her A’Yu. Before A’Yu left, he had told his elder sister that he would bring her the most beautiful pigeon-blood ruby—she knew about this!

Dong Shi almost couldn’t hold back her tears. She pretended to smile as she lowered her head and dabbed at the corners of her lips and eyes with her handkerchief: “Indeed, such a beautiful pigeon-blood ruby! It looks especially lovely under this candlelight. Let mother have a look… when one gets older, one grows fond of these festive things.”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan quickly handed the gem to Dong Shi with both hands.

Dong Shi acted as if she loved it very much, raising her hand to touch the pigeon-blood ruby, as if… the gem still carried her son’s warmth.

Bai Qingyu’s eyes grew sore. He couldn’t see his mother’s appearance clearly—the great fire had destroyed half his face and nearly cost him one eye. Though he had adapted to it now, when his remaining eye became clouded with mist, all he could see was a blur of light.

He had made his mother sad.

Seeing that the Great Zhou Empress Dowager said the gem was beautiful but their own Ghost-Faced Prince showed no reaction, the Rongdi envoy quickly said: “If the Empress Dowager likes it, this foreign minister will surely present an even finer pigeon-blood ruby to the Great Zhou Empress Dowager in the future.”

“Rongdi, Western Liang…” Bai Qingyan tapped her fingers on the low table, looking toward Liu Rushi and calling: “Minister Liu…”

“This subject is here!” Liu Rushi responded.

“After the state banquet, I troubled Minister Liu to have a good discussion with the Rongdi envoys and Western Liang envoys. Tomorrow morning, court, we’ll deliberate with all the court ministers on how to form these alliances.”

“Yes!” Liu Rushi received the command.

Having finished discussing the matters of Western Liang and Rongdi, the Yan envoy also smiled and rose, cupping his hands toward Bai Qingyan: “Great Yan has come for two reasons: first, to congratulate the establishment of Great Zhou and the female emperor’s enthronement, and second… to seek friendship and alliance with Great Zhou. When our new emperor ascended the throne… before this foreign minister departed, our king specifically instructed that when he was a hostage in the capital, he received guidance and answers from the female emperor. The female emperor has been like half a teacher to our king, so this foreign minister must convey our king’s congratulations to Your Majesty!”

Bai Qingyan nodded. She also had a deep impression of Murong Li.

The masked Ninth Prince of Great Yan then turned to look at Bai Qingyan and nodded: “Your Majesty, now that our king has ascended the throne, the empress position remains vacant. Our king and the Ninth Prince are interested in forming a marriage alliance with Great Zhou.”

Fourth Madam Wang Shi’s palms tightened. Although Bai Jinhua and Bai Jinzhao weren’t her biological children, she had raised them with her own hands. Now that A’Bao had ascended the throne, this Yan Kingdom immediately spoke of marriage alliances involving the empress position—weren’t they targeting A’Bao’s unmarried sisters?

“Speaking of marriage alliances…” Dong Qingping knew that Bai Qingyan would never let her sisters marry into foreign countries, so he smiled and glanced at Xiao Rongyan behind the Ninth Prince of Great Yan, then looked at the Ninth Prince himself and deliberately said: “Our Majesty has also just ascended the throne, and the imperial consort position is vacant. I hear that the Ninth Prince of Yan is still unmarried, and the Ninth Prince is the blood brother of Yan’s former emperor. I wonder if you might be willing to form a marriage alliance with our Great Zhou?”

Dong Qingping was Bai Qingyan’s maternal uncle—words that even Grand Marshal Lu wouldn’t dare speak, he dared to say.

The masked Ninth Prince of Yan’s palms tightened, and the Yan envoy quickly bowed deeply to both Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingping: “The Ninth Prince is currently the regent of our Yan Kingdom, managing Yan’s political affairs until our king comes of age. Moreover, before our former emperor passed away, a marriage was already arranged for the Ninth Prince. Please forgive us, Your Majesty and Minister Dong.”

The Yan envoy reacted extremely quickly. What a joke… if their regent prince became Great Zhou’s imperial consort, wouldn’t that be absurd!

Though the engagement was fabricated, at least the Great Zhou female emperor was a woman—surely she wouldn’t pursue the question of which young lady from Great Yan the Ninth Prince was engaged to!

Since Great Yan had previously shown goodwill to Western Liang, Li Zhijie also hoped to help the Yan Kingdom secure a marriage alliance. If so, Yan Kingdom could also put in a good word for Western Liang. Li Zhijie quickly said: “This prince has heard that before the Great Zhou female emperor ascended the throne, she seemed to have been engaged to Master Xiao Rongyan. If the two countries wish to form a marriage alliance, isn’t this ready-made?”

Bai Qingyu was quite displeased. He glanced at Xiao Rongyan, frowning tightly. Had elder sister… truly made a marriage agreement with the Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom? He looked toward his elder sister, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

Though the news came suddenly, Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan’s aunts and sisters had vaguely heard some rumors before and remained relatively composed. However, Bai Qingqi and Bai Qingyun were hearing this for the first time. After glancing at their eldest sister, their gazes all turned to Xiao Rongyan in unison.

Yang Wuce also clenched his fists tightly. That’s right… His Majesty and Xiao Rongyan had mutual feelings, true affection. If there were to be a marriage alliance… it should touch His Majesty’s heart!

Xiao Rongyan lightly gripped his straight robe, calmly nodding to Li Zhijie before raising his eyes to look at Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan knew his identity, knew that A’Li was still young… and knew that he currently couldn’t leave Yan Kingdom.

A’Li was young; there were things A’Li couldn’t do. A’Li was to become a wise ruler, so only he could do certain things.

While his younger brother hadn’t departed and Bai Qingyan wasn’t yet the Great Zhou female emperor, even if they married… he could still use business as an excuse to travel around. But if he truly married Bai Qingyan, moving around under the identity of Xiao Rongyan would no longer be so easy.

Their eyes met, and Bai Qingyan slowly spoke: “Great Zhou has just been established, with countless matters to attend to. Moreover, my grandmother has just passed away, and I’ve decided to observe mourning for my grandmother. This matter… let’s discuss it later!”

“Exactly, the matter of an imperial consort… needn’t be so urgent! Besides, the younger sisters are either older than Yan’s new emperor, or… Seventh Sister is still too young. Grand Aunt and eldest sister surely wouldn’t bear to have Seventh Sister leave home at such a tender age,” Bai Qingyun said gently.

Xiao Rongyan straightened his spine: “Your Majesty and Ninth Young Master speak truly.”

Dong Qingping didn’t understand—was Bai Qingyan dissatisfied with Xiao Rongyan? Or did she want to use the imperial consort position… to balance the former dynasty?

The palace banquet hadn’t yet ended when Bai Qingyan used the excuse that Empress Dowager Dong Shi was feeling unwell and needed to be escorted back to her sleeping quarters to leave early. Bai Qingqi and Bai Jinxiu, sensing that their eldest sister seemed to have matters requiring her departure, had Dong Shi pretend to be unwell so they could leave first.

The two also rose, claiming they would escort Dong Shi, and left together with Bai Qingyan.

As soon as they exited the great hall, before reaching Shou’an Palace where Dong Shi resided, Dong Shi squeezed Bai Qingyan’s hand and looked at Bai Qingqi and Bai Jinxiu: “Alright, you can escort me this far. Go attend to whatever matters you have… with Nanny Qin accompanying me, and your aunts still in Xuanming Hall, you can all go with peace of mind!”

Nanny Qin supported Dong Shi’s arm and, after bowing, departed unhurriedly.