Grand Marshal Lu was about to leave, but as if remembering something, he said: “His Majesty has just issued an edict to release the concubines from the previous dynasty’s harem from the palace and send them back to their respective maternal families. This matter… will be entrusted to Eunuch Wei. I must trouble Eunuch Wei with this.”

Grand Marshal Lu had just come to inquire of Bai Qingyan how to handle the concubines from the previous emperor’s harem…

However, the children of the former Jin Dynasty emperor and the concubines who had borne children had all been killed by Prince Liang. What remained were all consorts who had entered the palace but never given birth.

According to the customary practices of dynastic changes, when a new emperor ascended the throne… the harem would typically retain beautiful concubines from the previous emperor’s harem whom he favored, or those who entered the palace but were never favored yet possessed beauty. The rest would not be spared.

But Bai Qingyan happened to be a woman. Those concubines who still hoped to continue their glory in the harem, no matter how capable they were, had no place to display their talents. Being sent back to their maternal families… was already the best possible outcome for them.

Bai Qingyan had specifically instructed that Concubine Qiu need not be retained.

After all, Concubine Qiu was Prince Liang’s person. Who knew if keeping her would create future troubles?

“Grand Marshal, what are you saying? Serving His Majesty is this servant’s duty!” Wei Zhong smiled and bowed deeply to Grand Marshal Lu. “This servant heard that Young Master Lu Yuanpeng and Young Master Sima Ping returned with the Bai Family Army this time. Presumably, after dealing with the troops brought by the various princes outside the city, they’ll be able to return home. This servant occasionally heard General Shen Kunyang mention that Young Master Lu is extremely hardworking, concealing his identity and relying on his abilities—he’s now a commander of a thousand men.”

Hearing Wei Zhong praise his grandson Lu Yuanpeng, Grand Marshal Lu’s face showed more smiles: “That boy… when he was in the capital, he caused trouble all day long, provoking cats and teasing dogs! It’s still General Shen Kunyang who taught him well!”

The Bai Family Army belonged to Bai Qingyan’s forces. To become a commander of a thousand in the Bai Family Army was truly great fortune.

“Regardless, congratulations to Grand Marshal Lu!” Wei Zhong stepped aside to let Grand Marshal Lu go first. “Grand Marshal, please!”

When Wei Zhong brought Xiao Rongyan into the hall, he saw Bai Qingyan with her elbow resting on the hidden pouch supporting her head, still holding a memorial in her hand. She seemed to be contemplating with closed eyes, or perhaps… had fallen asleep.

He approached with small steps, softly calling out “Your Majesty,” and said, “Mr. Xiao has arrived.”

Bai Qingyan suddenly awakened, her heart beating extremely fast. She nodded, closed the memorial and placed it on the desk before her, instructing Wei Zhong: “Take the others out to wait outside the hall. Don’t come in without orders.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Rongyan entered the hall alone, and Wei Zhong had the carved palace doors closed for the two of them.

Their eyes met. Unable to bear his longing, he lifted his feet toward Bai Qingyan, his steps beyond his control, growing faster and faster…

Seeing Bai Qingyan also rise and walk toward him, his throat rolled as he forcefully embraced Bai Qingyan, lowering his head to kiss the top of her hair.

His elder brother had departed, leaving behind a vast Yan kingdom. His sister-in-law was weak… A’Li was too young to support such a large nation. He had been in such grief and anxiety that he couldn’t sleep. If not for A’Bao’s letter… he didn’t know how many more days he could have endured without sleep or rest.

But from the moment he read A’Bao’s letter, he found himself increasingly unable to control his longing for her. Even his dreams were filled with A’Bao’s shadow.

Bai Qingyan’s breath was filled with Xiao Rongyan’s familiar scent. She closed her eyes and unconsciously gripped tightly at the clothing on both sides of Xiao Rongyan’s narrow waist, feeling that Xiao Rongyan had lost considerable weight since their last meeting: “You’ve grown thin…”

“When we last met, I was still asking when A’Bao would seize power. Now, upon meeting again… A’Bao has become the Empress of Great Zhou.” Xiao Rongyan’s rich voice came slowly. He gently bit his back teeth, his low voice carrying guilt: “I once said that after pacifying Wei, I would come to propose marriage, but now… I can only break my word.”

Bai Qingyan looked up at him: “I know. Your elder brother just passed away, and my grandmother also just passed away. Great Yan’s young lord has ascended the throne… Great Yan cannot do without you. Now that I’ve also ascended to the imperial throne, I also cannot leave Great Zhou…”

Both of them had their respective difficulties—this was true. But their feelings… were also true!

Gazing at Bai Qingyan’s beautiful and tranquil features, overcome with emotion, his distinct, dry palm cupped the side of Bai Qingyan’s face, his thumb caressing the corner of her lips. Longing surged like violent rain and tidal waves, drowning Xiao Rongyan. In his gaze fixed on Bai Qingyan, the tender affection simply couldn’t be hidden.

Xiao Rongyan’s breath lingered around her nostrils. This quiet gaze made her heartbeat suddenly quicken.

Silence and emotions that were almost ready to break free from their cocoon spread wordlessly between the two of them, growing stronger with time… almost ready to burst forth.

Xiao Rongyan restrained his heavy breathing, slowly bowing his head… gazing into Bai Qingyan’s eyes, his voice hoarse as he spoke: “A’Bao, let us marry!”

Bai Qingyan’s pupils trembled lightly, somewhat bewildered: “But you…”

“Not as the Empress of Great Zhou and Prince Jiu of Great Yan, but as you and I… Bai Qingyan and Murong Yan, let us marry.” Xiao Rongyan’s warm lips pressed against Bai Qingyan’s lips, tasting briefly before withdrawing, his voice rich and moving: “With heaven and earth as witnesses, I, Murong Yan, seek only Bai Qingyan as my wife for this lifetime. For the rest of my life, I will never betray you! Let heaven be my witness! Let your relatives be witnesses!”

Within this capital city built by his mother, Xiao Rongyan wanted to marry Bai Qingyan, to establish the name of husband and wife with the woman he had long regarded as his wife in his heart…

Since his elder brother could no longer come to propose marriage for him, he would come himself!

Bai Qingyan’s thoughts were somewhat chaotic. If Bai Qingyan’s relatives were to witness… then Xiao Rongyan’s identity couldn’t be hidden.

When Xiao Rongyan spoke, his burning breath brushed across her lips, making her breathing also become scorching. Words of affection that were somewhat difficult to voice almost slipped out: “In my heart, you are already my husband…”

Otherwise, Bai Qingyan wouldn’t have said in front of Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce that Xiao Rongyan was her fiancé.

Nor would she have respectfully offered that cup of tea to Emperor Yan Murong Yu and called Murong Yu elder brother.

Whether they married or not, they were already together.

Unable to accompany each other daily like ordinary couples, their deeper thoughts had never been separate.

Between them, there was no need to be constrained by a ceremony.

“Emperor Yan once went to Shouyang to see me. I accepted the brocade box that Emperor Yan sent on behalf of Empress Ji, offered tea to Emperor Yan, and called Emperor Yan elder brother. A’Yan… in my heart, you have long been my husband. For this lifetime… I will also never betray you.” Bai Qingyan’s eyes, already bloodshot from fatigue, became even redder.

Although Bai Qingyan didn’t feel the life-and-death pain that Xiao Rongyan experienced over Emperor Yan’s departure, she was still saddened.

Emperor Yan was a good elder brother, a good emperor…

Mentioning his elder brother and hearing Bai Qingyan speak these words, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes grew hot as he kissed Bai Qingyan again.

“Your Majesty…” Wei Zhong’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall. “Grand Marshal Lu, the Minister of Works, the Minister of Education, and General Xie have urgent matters and seek an audience!”