“Both Yan State’s ambition and Great Zhou’s ambition are to unify the world. Now, Yan State has entered the ranks of powerful nations. Although there’s still a considerable gap in strength compared to the Great Zhou, their ambition remains undiminished. I wonder… Ninth Prince of Great Yan, do you wish to fight with Great Zhou, or make peace with Great Zhou?”
“Your Majesty once spoke of determining victory through the prosperity of both nations’ strength. Forgive Murong Yan for not daring to agree.” Xiao Rongyan nodded slightly toward Bai Qingyan. “The foundation that generations of the Murong family built through hardships, Murong Yan dared not hand over…”
“So it seems the Ninth Prince is not confident that Yan State’s national policies can surpass Great Zhou!” Bai Qingyan’s hand, resting on the table, tapped intermittently. “Therefore… the Ninth Prince is more inclined toward determining victory through military force.”
Bai Qingyan was not without intelligence on Great Yan’s governing strategies. Great Yan’s governing policies were based on their original national laws and regulations, taking what was favorable to the imperial family from Empress Ji’s governing principles. Even though Xiao Rongyan was clear about this in his heart, he was unwilling to change it.
What Xiao Rongyan wanted was peace in the world and unification, while what Bai Qingyan wanted was prosperity for the people after world unification, believing that when the people are strong, the nation is strong.
Xiao Rongyan did not hide this, but he also didn’t want to admit it. He only said: “Great Zhou can compete for the throne, and Great Yan can also compete for the throne. After all… who will emerge victorious, no one knows until the very end.”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Since the Ninth Prince does not agree with my proposed method of determining victory through national policies, then from today onward, let each rely on their abilities!”
Bai Qingyan’s mistake was in never having studied imperial statecraft, in thinking she shared the same aspirations as Xiao Rongyan… forgetting that Xiao Rongyan was born into the imperial family.
None of this mattered. Fortunately… Bai Qingyan had awakened quickly enough.
“Your Majesty…” Chun Tao called out from outside the hall.
“Come in…”
Hearing this, Chun Tao pushed open a crack in the hall door. Looking up and seeing Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan each sitting in their respective seats, with Xiao Rongyan being particularly well-behaved, she felt relieved. Taking small steps, she walked to Bai Qingyan’s side, covered her lips with one hand, and whispered: “The Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rong Di requests an audience. Lord Wei has invited him to the side hall for tea.”
Chun Tao still didn’t know the Ghost-Faced Prince’s identity to this day. Seeing that azure-faced, fanged ghost mask, she couldn’t help but feel afraid.
Although Chun Tao wasn’t clear why Wei Zhong would bring an enemy nation’s prince to the rear hall, she knew Wei Zhong must have his reasons for doing so.
A’Yu should have heard that Li Zhijie had entered the palace, so he came hurriedly. Coincidentally, she also had things to discuss with Wei Zhong.
“You’re saying Wei Zhong brought him to the side hall?” Bai Qingyan was somewhat surprised. It seemed Wei Zhong knew something about A’Yu’s identity.
“Yes!” Chun Tao nodded.
Bai Qingyan glanced at Xiao Rongyan and said, “Go invite him in…”
“Alright!” After bowing, Chun Tao took small steps toward the side hall.
Before long, Bai Qingyu, wearing the azure-faced, fanged ghost mask, was respectfully escorted into the great hall by Wei Zhong. Seeing that Xiao Rongyan was also in the great hall, sitting in the seat below his elder sister, Bai Qingyu’s surprised expression was hidden behind his mask. He lifted his crow-blue robe with rolling cloud dark patterns, entered the hall, and bowed to Bai Qingyan.
“Your Highness need not be overly courteous. Please sit…” Seeing the proud and aloof A’Yu, Bai Qingyan’s expression showed a gentle smile.
Bai Qingyu nodded with an arrogant demeanor, not even glancing at Xiao Rongyan, and took a seat on Bai Qingyan’s other side.
“I wonder what matter brings Your Highness to the palace?” Bai Qingyan asked Bai Qingyu with a smile.
Bai Qingyu glanced sideways at the deep-featured Xiao Rongyan and said in a deep voice: “My king sent someone to relay a message that Western Liang’s military movements are unclear. He commands this external minister to return to the Rong Di to prepare for war. This external minister has come specifically to bid farewell to Your Majesty…”
After speaking, Bai Qingyu looked seriously at Xiao Rongyan: “I didn’t expect this Great Wei… Great Yan’s wealthiest merchant is to be here.”
“Today is quite a coincidence. Why don’t I reintroduce this world’s wealthiest merchant, Master Xiao, to Your Highness?” Bai Qingyan’s gaze turned to Xiao Rongyan. “This is Great Yan’s Ninth Prince… Murong Yan.”
Bai Qingyu’s heart skipped a beat, and his hands unconsciously gripped his robe tighter.
So this meant… Elder Sister truly acknowledged her engagement to Xiao Rongyan knowing he was Great Yan’s Ninth Prince. Did Elder Sister truly have feelings for this Great Yan Ninth Prince?
Or… had this Great Yan Ninth Prince deliberately deceived his elder sister?
“I once had the honor of meeting the Ghost-Faced Prince in Xiangliang, where we established the covenant that Yan State cannot interfere with Western Liang for three years. We could be considered old acquaintances.” Xiao Rongyan’s smile deepened as he straightened his back and bowed to Bai Qingyu. He was very curious about the Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rong Di’s true identity. “Since we’re being honest about our identities today, I wonder… which general of the Capital’s Bai family is the Ghost-Faced Prince? It would be good for Yan to know.”
That Great Yan Ninth Prince had once risked his life to go to the border between Dengzhou and the Rong Di to rescue Great Yan’s marriage alliance princess. It wasn’t surprising that he could see through the intricacies of military formations and deployments.
Later when they met in Xiangliang… when the two signed their agreement, this Great Yan Ninth Prince had said to him… “for the sake of Elder Sister,” words like that. He had thought this Great Yan Ninth Prince knew his identity, but it seemed he had overestimated him.
Bai Qingyu slowly relaxed his grip on his robe. He was certain that even if Elder Sister had developed feelings for this Great Yan Ninth Prince, she would not voluntarily tell this Great Yan Ninth Prince his name. It seemed this Ninth Prince only thought he was a Bai family member.
Bai Qingyu said unhurriedly, “The Ninth Prince overestimates me. I am merely a member of the Bai family army…”
This wasn’t exactly a lie. Bai Qingyu had been part of the Bai family army since birth.
Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Bai Qingyan, seeing her pick up her teacup to drink tea. Combined with what Bai Qingqi had said when he returned… although he still had doubts about Bai Qingyu’s identity, he didn’t press the matter further.
After all, based on Xiao Rongyan’s understanding of Bai Qingyan, if this person were just an ordinary Bai family soldier, why would Bai Qingyan have been so distraught that day in Dengzhou… when she came to ask him about the details of his encounter with this Ghost-Faced General?
Xiao Rongyan was unwilling to investigate further and nodded.
“Since that’s the case…” Bai Qingyu pressed his thin lips together, raised his eyes to stare steadily at Xiao Rongyan. “As a member of the Bai family army, we could be considered Little Marshal Bai’s relatives. I boldly ask the Ninth Prince: Great Yan has the ambitious aspiration to unify the world. In the future, when Yan State and Great Zhou are on opposing sides, I wonder how the Ninth Prince will choose? Fight, or make peace?”
“Great Yan… absolutely cannot submit to another nation.” Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Bai Qingyan. “But, Yan… can marry into the family.”
“Is this the Ninth Prince’s condition for exchange?” Bai Qingyu let out a scoffing laugh with his hoarse, smoky voice and gracefully adjusted his sitting posture with a somewhat arrogant air. “Your Yan State has the determination to unify the world, and my Great Zhou… also has the ambition to pacify the world! Moreover, my Great Zhou has already grasped the Rong Di in the palm of our hand and can incorporate them into Zhou territory at any time!”