This answer seemed to completely disregard Xiao Rongyan’s true identity.

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t fathom whether this eldest daughter of the Bai family wanted to establish good relations with him, or if she was… trying to curry favor with all sides.

He was well aware of this eldest daughter’s capabilities and clearly understood her methods. Even though the memory of Bai Qingyan in Shu’s imperial palace, cloaked and mounted on a spirited horse, had left a deep impression on him, and even though he had once regarded Bai Qingyan as his mother’s confidante at Jin’s palace banquet, he couldn’t help but maintain caution and wariness in his heart.

What he shouldered was not merely his ambitions or his pursuit of achievement… If he failed in that, at most he would need to wait a few years before trying again.

What he bore was the responsibility for Great Yan’s restoration. In this struggle among heroes for supremacy… if he failed, it would mean the destruction of his nation.

If he failed, he could not bear the consequences!

“A chivalrous heart, a chivalrous person—Miss Bai, are you trying to tell me that the warning message sent that day was merely due to your chivalrous nature?” Xiao Rongyan’s well-defined fingers rubbed against the teacup as he lowered his gaze without looking at Bai Qingyan, his eyes growing increasingly deep. “Showing chivalrous mercy to an enemy nation’s secret agent… Miss Bai, are these perfunctory words, or are you deliberately evading the issue?”

Xiao Rongyan emphasized the four words “enemy nation’s secret agent” with particular weight.

Since they had encountered each other today and were speaking openly, Xiao Rongyan could not allow Bai Qingyan, who already knew his identity, to… beat around the bush.

Seeing that Xiao Rongyan’s sharp intent was already evident between his brows, she steadied her mind and also decided to speak more plainly with him.

“The lesser chivalrous draw their swords to help the weak. The greater chivalry saves the common people.”

The woman’s clear and steady voice reached him, and Xiao Rongyan’s grip on his wine cup tightened as he looked up.

She gazed directly at the handsome man opposite her without retreating, her brows clear and eyes bright, with no trace of negligence in her gaze, utterly serious.

Seeing the smile in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes gradually deepen and recede, she continued slowly: “Therefore… a chivalrous heart is precious. The greater chivalry is even more precious. This preciousness distinguishes neither between noble families and humble origins, nor between the Jin and Wei nations. In today’s chaotic times, regardless of who they are, as long as they possess the ability to pacify the troubled world and the talent for governing the nation and commanding armies, in the eyes of the Bai family, they are great chivalrous persons.”

Regardless of who they are… naturally, this also included the Great Yan prince Xiao Rongyan before her, which is why she called him a chivalrous person.

These words could be considered extremely bold.

She was essentially telling Xiao Rongyan plainly that in these chaotic times with winds and clouds surging, with various nations fighting each for themselves and seeking to compete for royal supremacy—regardless of which nation’s ruler harbored ambitions to compete for the realm, as long as their will was focused on pacifying this chaotic world and their virtue and ability could restore peace to the land, they would earn Bai Qingyan’s or the Bai family’s respect. The Bai family would even be happy to see such success.

Having spoken to this point, Xiao Rongyan no longer concealed anything and asked: “The Bai family has guarded Jin for generations, their loyalty and righteousness witnessed by all nations. Are these words from you, Miss, spoken in anger over the Bai family sons’ deaths in Nan Jiang?”

“The Bai family’s generations of loyalty and righteousness are true, but our loyalty is to the Great Jin people who support my Bai family with their taxes. The four words ‘protecting borders and securing the people’ are the faith passed down through generations of Bai family descendants!” Her voice was measured and unhurried, spoken as lightly as wind and clouds. “As for anger…”

She lowered her gaze that concealed sharp edges, burying all pain and grief deep in her heart: “Merit has its degrees of thickness, and lifespans have their lengths—all are destined by fate. What anger is there to speak of?”

She didn’t finish her remaining words—the Heavenly Way’s prosperity and decline, a nation’s fortune, are likewise all predetermined.

In her previous life, the Bai family that guarded this Great Jin realm was not tolerated by the emperor and was framed by treacherous officials. After the Bai family’s destruction, in less than ten years, this Great Yan Regent Xiao Rongyan led his iron cavalry to knock down the gates of Jin’s imperial palace, just as Jin had once trampled Shu’s imperial palace.

Therefore, the Bai family need not sacrifice their entire clan’s lives for the Lin family’s imperial power, whose fortune was running out.

Her grandmother, Grand Princess, had said something very right—what mattered now were the people who remained alive. She had no choice but to plan and calculate for the Bai family’s long-term future.

She had not forgotten how Xiao Rongyan conquered Great Wei in her previous life. The chancellor’s Gongsun family, loyal to Great Wei, was uprooted entirely, leaving not a single soul alive overnight.

Speaking of sinister and ruthless methods, Xiao Rongyan could be called a master craftsman. In dealing with such a person of unparalleled wisdom and cold ruthlessness, if it had been during the Bai family’s peak, Bai Qingyan would still have dared to compete with him.

But as things stood, she had no strength to contend with Xiao Rongyan, nor did she have confidence that in competing and maneuvering with him, she could protect the Bai family from any harm.

The current Bai family needed to lie low, needed time to manage and plan, rather than engage in scheming and intrigue with others.

Since this was the case, there was no need to place each other in opposition at this time.

At least not before the Bai family’s great difficulties had safely passed, should she let this Great Yan Regent Xiao Rongyan believe that… the Bai family was foolishly loyal to Jin, and that even with only women remaining, they would still swear to death to support Jin and the Lin imperial power.

Only thus would Xiao Rongyan, who still retained goodness in his heart, refrain from destroying the Bai family at this very moment.

Xiao Rongyan was an exceptionally intelligent person, so he could hear the meaning in Bai Qingyan’s words clearly and distinctly.

Smiling, he poured out the lukewarm tea in front of Bai Qingyan, picked up the teapot from the stove, and refilled her cup: “Miss Bai’s meaning is that as for who will ultimately claim dominion over the realm, the Bai family doesn’t care.”

Since Bai Qingyan already knew his identity and had spoken so plainly, he too would not beat around the bush.

Her gaze swept over the cup of tea with rising steam, her expression peaceful and composed, her words decisive: “Qingyan was fortunate to be born into the Duke’s mansion, a family that never looks down upon women. In my youth, I studied the classics under Master Guan Yongchong and also followed my grandfather into battle. Though I may be dull-witted, I understand that… only with the realm unified can eternal peace be returned to the common people.”

She knew that Xiao Rongyan possessed such lofty ambitions and would have such capabilities in the future.

The Bai family was merely an ephemeral existence in the long river of time—why commit the foolish act of a mantis trying to stop a chariot?

Xiao Rongyan’s heart trembled slightly, his eyes seeming to contain a deep, distant spring. How young was she, yet she could speak with such calm composure about how only through unifying the realm could eternal peace be returned to the common people?

Over these years, Xiao Rongyan had traveled everywhere for Great Yan’s sake. He had met the rulers of the three great powers—Xi Liang, Great Wei, and Great Jin—and when they spoke of peace under heaven, none could comprehend the principle behind it.

He had only come to this understanding after traveling among the various nations for many years.

For a moment, he found himself unable to see through this woman before him, who appeared gentle in temperament yet was resolute and upright.

Had the great changes in the Bai family caused her to lose loyalty to Jin? Or had her heart and perspective always been so broad?

He recalled this eldest daughter’s courage and spirit when she advised Qin Lang to voluntarily relinquish his heir position—her bold determination to break and rebuild! Her frost-proud and snow-defiant bearing when dealing with that illegitimate son before Manjiang Tower! In the palace hall, she had been even more proudly unbending, full of love for the people, radiating righteousness throughout her being.

Xiao Rongyan believed that Bai Qingyan belonged to the latter category.

This eldest daughter’s perceptiveness and wisdom could blur considerations of her age and gender. Sitting across from her… what Xiao Rongyan felt was not the sentiment of “don’t underestimate a young person,” but genuine admiration and respect from the heart.