Wei Zhong was sharp-eyed and perceptive. After Dong Shi left, he also led a group of eunuchs and palace maids to retreat to a position five zhang away.
Seeing Bai Qingyan watch Dong Shi depart with her expression darkening, Bai Jinxiu couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Elder Sister, has something happened?”
Bai Qingyan turned around, not hiding anything from Bai Jinxiu and Bai Qingqi: “Jintong has been imprisoned in Xiliang. The reason is unclear. If she were discovered disguising herself as a man, or if the Xiliang Empress suspects Jintong of ulterior motives due to her identity as a person from the Great Zhou, it wouldn’t be a major problem. As fellow women… the Xiliang Empress understands that it’s not easy for women to establish themselves in this world, and disguising herself as a man to do business avoids many troubles. What I fear is that Jintong exposed something while gathering intelligence.”
Bai Jinxiu’s heart immediately leaped to her throat: “Jintong has always been clever…”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “I’ve already sent my milk brother Xiao Ruohai to rush to Xiliang. If necessary, he’ll tell Xiliang that Jintong is our Bai family’s Third Miss. This way… Xiliang will have some apprehensions. But I’m still not at ease. Xiao Ruohai probably won’t be able to make contact with the Xiliang imperial family, and even if Xiao Ruohai reveals that Jintong is the Bai family’s Third Miss, if Xiliang pretends not to know and secretly does something to Jintong, that’s still unknown.”
“Therefore, while Xiao Ruohai takes the covert route, I plan to send another route openly, going to Xiliang as Great Zhou’s envoy to negotiate alliance matters. This way… Xiao Ruohai operates in the shadows while one route goes openly. If it comes to it, we’ll demand her release in the capacity of Great Zhou’s envoy representing Great Zhou’s Empress. If Xiliang refuses, it means war!”
Bai Qingyan’s voice rang with determination.
Not one more person from the Bai family could come to harm.
“After deciding on the candidate for the envoy to Xiliang, I’ll have General Shen Kunyang return to Nan Jiang to await orders. If we ultimately can only retrieve Jintong by exposing her identity, I’ll have General Shen Kunyang deploy two hundred thousand troops to mass at Xiliang’s border and intimidate Xiliang.” Bai Qingyan spoke while thinking, her speech both rapid and steady.
At the same time, she would need A’Yu’s cooperation to make the Rong people appear as if they were about to attack Xiliang.
This way, by forcing Xiliang to the brink of national destruction, Bai Qingyan didn’t believe… that Xiliang would truly risk national annihilation just to detain Bai Jinxiu.
It would be best… if she could have Xiao Rongyan’s assistance. In everyone’s eyes, Xiao Rongyan was now a person of Yan, and as fellow merchants, it wouldn’t be surprising for Bai Jintong and Xiao Rongyan to have a relationship. Moreover, Xiao Rongyan already had a foundation in Xiliang and might even find it easier than people from the Great Zhou to investigate exactly why Bai Jinxiu was imprisoned.
Bai Qingyan clenched her fists tighter. But if she rashly asked Xiao Rongyan to intervene, would it ruin Jintong’s arrangements?
With inconvenient transportation and delayed information, Bai Jintong’s situation in Xiliang was unclear. She couldn’t make rash decisions and still needed to send trustworthy people on a mission to Xiliang.
For Bai Jintong’s safety, Bai Qingyan wouldn’t count the cost—she only sought Bai Jintong’s security.
“Elder Sister, let me take the open route…” Bai Qingqi spoke up. “Now that Xiliang has to face the Rong people, they won’t dare oppose the Great Zhou again. I’m A’Zhou’s younger brother. After I go there, I’ll assess the situation and adapt accordingly. If Third Sister’s identity hasn’t been discovered, I’ll claim to be an old friend. I believe the Xiliang Empress would be very willing to give this face and release her. I’ll depart immediately!”
Bai Qingyan’s lips moved slightly. A’Qi had just returned… had just met Fifth Aunt, and hadn’t yet properly accompanied Fifth Aunt and Little Eight.
After a long moment, Bai Qingyan nodded and instructed Bai Qingqi: “There’s one more thing. Jintong previously sent back word saying… the Xiliang Empress seems to be forming a force modeled after the Tiger Eagle Battalion. Keep an eye out, but your primary mission is Jintong.”
“Elder Sister, rest assured. I understand the priorities,” Bai Qingqi said.
After the palace banquet ended, Xiliang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie, the Rong people’s Ghost-Faced Prince, and envoys from both countries were all invited together by Liu Rushi to Honglu Si, saying they would go together to discuss alliance matters.
Don’t let Liu Rushi’s appearance as a frail scholar with a rigid personality fool you—his mind was absolutely sharp. Now… whether it was Xiliang or the Rong people, both were competing to form an alliance with Great Zhou. Since that was the case, why not bring both parties together, like conducting business—highest bidder wins.
Just as Xiao Rongyan and Prince Jiu of Yan were walking out of the palace gates, they were stopped by Wei Zhong.
After Wei Zhong bowed to Prince Jiu of Yan, he said to Xiao Rongyan: “Mr. Xiao, His Majesty requests your presence…”
Li Zhijie, who was about to board his carriage to go to Honglu Si, turned back to look at Xiao Rongyan, wondering in his heart whether Xiao Rongyan’s marriage arrangement with Great Zhou’s Empress was about to change. Indeed… Xiao Rongyan was merely a merchant. Even though he bore the title of the world’s foremost righteous merchant, he was still just a merchant!
Previously, Bai Qingyan was only a princess with an empty title, and Xiao Rongyan had shown favor to the Bai family, so Xiao Rongyan marrying into the Bai family was acceptable. But now… Bai Qingyan had become Great Zhou’s Empress, overnight achieving the most exalted position in Great Zhou. How could she establish a mere merchant as her imperial consort?
Thinking of this, Li Zhijie had other thoughts. If this alliance with Great Zhou couldn’t be finalized… they might as well form an alliance with Yan instead, offering cities to Yan, only asking that when Xiliang fell into a great war with the Rong people, Yan could restrain Great Zhou’s main forces, giving Xiliang time to eliminate the Rong people.
Originally, when Great Yan destroyed Wei, incorporating Wei’s fertile lands and people, their strength leaped to first among all nations. Who knew the Great Zhou would closely follow by destroying the Great Liang, ending Great Yan’s brief advantage. Now what Yan least wanted to see was Great Zhou destroying Xiliang as well, otherwise Yan would no longer be able to contend with Great Zhou.
Li Zhijie looked deeply at Prince Jiu of Great Yan, then boarded his carriage without looking back.
Inside the carriage, he closed his eyes, his iron fan tapping his palm intermittently. He knew that allying with Yan… was merely a second choice. After all… Yan had been poor for so many years, becoming wealthy after recovering Nanyan, and rising to the ranks of powerful nations after destroying Wei. They might not necessarily be willing to consume their national strength for Xiliang’s sake, so it would still be best to directly ally with the Great Zhou.
Xiao Rongyan looked toward Prince Jiu of Yan. He saw the prince standing with his hands behind his back, nodding to Xiao Rongyan: “You may go!”
Xiao Rongyan respectfully bowed to Prince Jiu before departing with Wei Zhong.
The azure sky was clear as a wash, cloudless for ten thousand li. The towering palatial buildings with their layered roofs and white jade-carved ceremonial steps gleamed brilliantly under the dazzling sun.
Xiao Rongyan lifted the hem of his robe, following Wei Zhong up the steps. His gaze fell upon… the newly gilded lotus column bases, which appeared even more resplendent under the golden light. Compared to the former deathly atmosphere of the Jin Dynasty, it seemed to have renewed its vitality.
Wei Zhong had just led Xiao Rongyan up the high steps when they saw Grand Marshal Lu emerging from the great hall. Wei Zhong quickly bowed: “Greetings to Grand Marshal Lu…”
“Grand Marshal Lu…” Xiao Rongyan also smiled and bowed.
“Eunuch Wei, Mr. Xiao!” Grand Marshal Lu nodded amiably to Wei Zhong.