Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinse, the corners of her mouth curving upward as she said softly: “The road is long and arduous, and we of this generation should search high and low…”

“Elder sister’s words, Xiao Qi has remembered them all! To search high and low for the way to govern and strengthen the nation… our generation has an unshirkable responsibility!” Bai Jinse bowed to Bai Qingyan.

Seeing Bai Qingyan nod, Bai Jinse handed her the teacup and said softly: “Elder sister should drink some tea and rest. Tomorrow, when the Bai mansion arrangements are complete, Sister Chun Tao and Nanny Tong will be able to enter the palace to care for elder sister.”

Bai Jinse was precocious, so Bai Qingyan never concealed anything when speaking before her. Seeing her sister’s determined gaze, she was deeply moved and reached out to ruffle her sister’s hair, accepting the teacup.

“Your Majesty, Prince Yan of Xiliang requests an audience…” Wei Zhong approached and said quietly.

“At this hour, Prince Yan still comes requesting an audience without saying what matter it concerns?” Bai Jinse frowned.

Ever since her elder sister ascended to the throne, she had been even busier than before… so busy she couldn’t even eat a proper meal.

Bai Qingyan, holding the teacup in her hand, smiled slightly at the corners of her mouth. It seemed… Li Zhijie was getting anxious.

“Tell Prince Yan of Xiliang that it’s too late today. After tomorrow morning’s court, I’ll meet with him then.” Bai Qingyan lowered her head and gently blew on the tea leaves in her cup.

“Yes!” Wei Zhong slowly retreated from the great hall.

Bai Qingyan looked down at the tea leaves floating in her cup. Tomorrow when she met Li Zhijie… she could naturally arrange to see A’Yu as well.

After all, both Rongdi and Xiliang wanted to form alliances with the Great Zhou. With the alliance treaty undecided, if Li Zhijie came to meet the Great Zhou Empress, the masked prince from Rongdi would naturally need to meet with her as well.

Bai Qingyan covered her cup with the lid and gripped the teacup tightly, deciding to have someone send word to A’Yu that after she met with Li Mingrai… he could come by, preferably when she was together with Mother.

“Wait…” She looked up at Wei Zhong. “Have Li Zhijie come immediately after tomorrow morning’s court, right… Before I go to accompany Mother for breakfast.”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong responded.

As long as this message got out, A’Yu would know that after Li Zhijie left the palace, she would be having breakfast with Mother—that would be the time to come… to see Mother.

A’Yu would come.

·

Yesterday, Bai Qingyan had told Li Zhijie to come again after today’s morning court. Li Zhijie dared not delay and arrived early to wait outside Bai Qingyan’s study, bringing along that brightly feathered parrot.

On the day of Bai Qingyan’s coronation, Li Zhijie had been anxious and uneasy after the assassins lent to Prince Baishui were discovered, so he hadn’t mentioned giving the parrot to Bai Qingyan. Coming to see Bai Qingyan again today, he brought this parrot along as a pretext for the visit.

After a while, Wei Zhong emerged from the study, smiled and bowed to Li Zhijie, saying: “Prince Yan, His Majesty requests your presence…”

Li Zhijie nodded his thanks and slipped Wei Zhong a heavy purse, saying it was for tea, before following Wei Zhong into the study.

Seeing Bai Qingyan seated on the soft couch, Li Zhijie quickly stepped forward to bow, had someone bring up the parrot, and said with a smile: “Originally on the day of Your Majesty’s coronation, I intended to present this parrot to Your Majesty, but who knew the incident with Prince Baishui would occur. This foreign minister was anxious and uneasy, and forgot about this matter!”

This was Bai Qingyan’s first time seeing such a large parrot. Its body was entirely blue with yellow feathers around the neck, and even indoors, one could see the lustrous, iridescent quality of its plumage. It was indeed of superior quality, rarely seen.

The parrot in the cage carried by two men gripped the perch tightly with both claws, wings spread wide. Only when the cage was set down and the parrot saw Li Zhijie did it fold its spread wings, making low sounds in its throat.

Seeing Bai Qingyan looking at this parrot with clean, bright plumage, Li Zhijie smiled and said: “Your Majesty might have a servant feed this parrot something—there will be a pleasant surprise.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan nod at him, Wei Zhong took some melon seeds and approached the parrot, feeding it one. The parrot immediately stretched its neck and cried shrilly: “Zhou Empress, most beautiful! The Great Zhou Empress is most beautiful!”

Even Wei Zhong was surprised.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s slightly astonished expression, Li Zhijie said again: “Trouble you, Eunuch, to feed this creature once more.”

Wei Zhong fed the parrot again, and after eating, the parrot stretched its neck and cried shrilly: “Great Zhou Empress, long live! Great Zhou Empress, long live!”

Li Zhijie looked deeply at the parrot that had brought him honor, then turned to bow to Bai Qingyan: “This small creature, to bring Your Majesty a moment’s joy—I hope Your Majesty will accept it.”

Bai Qingyan nodded to Wei Zhong, indicating he should accept it: “Then I thank Prince Yan. Bring Prince Yan a seat…”

Li Zhijie bowed his thanks, and only after sitting did he speak leisurely: “I remember when I first saw the Great Zhou Empress, it was at Qiushan Pass. From afar I saw Your Majesty riding toward us, heroic and valiant… this foreign minister was struck as if by a celestial being. Thinking back now, perhaps the heavens were reminding this foreign minister that when the world changed, Your Majesty would be the master of these ten thousand li of rivers and mountains.”

Bai Qingyan looked at Li Zhijie with a smile: “Prince Yan’s visit should not be merely to present a parrot and offer a few compliments!”

Li Zhijie rose and bowed: “Xiliang still hopes to ally with Great Zhou, but… with the matter still undecided, this foreign minister dared to request an audience with Your Majesty. This foreign minister knows… what General Yun did to the Bai family’s Seventeenth Young Master indeed broke Your Majesty’s heart, and it’s natural for Your Majesty to harbor resentment. General Yun regretted it deeply after returning; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent his legitimate eldest grandson to offer his life for the Bai family’s Seventeenth Young Master. Our Xiliang Empress wouldn’t have given up so many cities either.”

Bai Qingyan lifted her teacup and gently blew on it, lowering her head to drink tea without responding, wondering how to probe whether Li Zhijie knew Jintong’s identity.

Seeing this, Li Zhijie gritted his teeth and continued: “What Xiliang can give Great Zhou far exceeds what Rongdi offers. Great Zhou can obtain over twenty cities without lifting a finger—this is equivalent to Great Zhou winning a battle, and victory without fighting!”

“Rongdi has warhorses, and Xiliang has them too… It’s just that Xiliang must prepare for war now and cannot produce so many horses at once! As long as Great Zhou can sign an alliance treaty with Xiliang, after the great battle, however many horses Rongdi gives Great Zhou now, Xiliang will provide in full measure!” Li Zhijie’s voice was measured. “For Great Zhou, this is an extremely profitable deal.”

“But Rongdi’s fine horses can arrive immediately, while Xiliang promises them after the great battle… to Great Zhou, this is nothing but empty words on paper.” Bai Qingyan rubbed the teacup in her hands. “What if Xiliang loses? Wouldn’t it be… promises without substance? The Great Zhou does want Xiliang’s cities, but warhorses are also extremely important to the Great Zhou. With warhorses… The Great Zhou has capable generals like clouds. With Xiliang’s main forces tied up by Rongdi, taking those twenty-odd cities shouldn’t be difficult for the Great Zhou. What does Prince Yan say?”