Bai Qingyan glanced at the Huangshan Princess Consort, who was “unbearably disturbed.” The elderly woman with graying hair was now pale with terror, clutching her two young grandchildren protectively in her embrace, trembling uncontrollably.

“Since that’s the case, why don’t we have the Great Zhou send people to escort the Huangshan Princess Consort and the heir apparent’s party? May I ask where the Huangshan Princess Consort’s maternal family is located?” Bai Qingjue’s voice was gentle and warm.

The Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent shuffled forward on his knees again, turning toward Bai Qingjue’s direction and respectfully kowtowed: “In response to Your Highness, my mother…”

“Let your mother speak for herself.”

Bai Qingyan’s clear and peaceful voice drifted over, causing the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent’s spine to shudder as he swallowed hard and pressed his lips together.

The Huangshan Princess Consort tightened her grip on the child in her arms, feigning composure as she spoke: “Reporting to the Great Zhou Emperor, this old woman’s maternal family is in Yaodu.”

As soon as the Huangshan Princess Consort finished speaking, Shen Liangyu hurried toward Bai Qingjue’s direction. He looked at the Huangshan Prince’s family with extreme disgust, cupped his hands, and whispered to Qingjue: “Young Master, the old nanny beside the Huangshan Princess Consort couldn’t withstand interrogation and confessed. They’re going to Yaodu to seek refuge with the Huangshan Princess Consort’s elder sister.”

Shen Liangyu had only arrived after Bai Qingyan led troops to capture Dengfeng City. Later, when the young Yan Emperor sent envoys to sue for peace, His Majesty stopped the campaign without continuing the attack. Shen Liangyu had been holding back his frustration, wanting to beat down these Yan vassal princes who dared to move against their Xiao Bai Marshal.

Therefore, catching this group from the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent today made Shen Liangyu very excited, feeling that battle was about to commence…

Bai Qingjue nodded upon hearing this.

According to this prince’s knowledge, the Huangshan Princess Consort’s maternal family should be in Yangquan. How is it that… she’s going to Yaodu now?” Bai Qingjue turned and said to Bai Qingyan with a smile, “Elder Sister, there’s deception in this!”

The Huangshan Princess Consort glanced at the Great Zhou Emperor with that stunning appearance, pursed lips showing no emotion, yet emanating an overwhelmingly oppressive sense of authority. She then hurriedly lowered her gaze and said: “This old woman is going to visit her elder sister…”

When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. Moreover, the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent and the Huangshan Princess Consort’s statements were inconsistent, showing they hadn’t coordinated their story well. This indicated the Huangshan Prince had made a hasty decision to have his heir apparent take the family members away.

It seemed the Huangshan Prince was preparing for a desperate last stand.

It was understandable that vassal princes wouldn’t want their fiefs reduced. The military power originally held in their hands was now to be handed over—this was more than just the pain of cutting flesh; it could be called life-threatening.

Putting herself in their position, if Bai Qingyan were a vassal prince… she probably wouldn’t want to surrender to Zhou along with Yan, then lose the military power in her grasp and the benefits enjoyed as a vassal prince. Therefore, Yan’s vassal princes causing trouble was within Bai Qingyan’s expectations.

For example, Prince Jian, who was closest to the forces led by Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu. For example… Prince Huangshan of Yan, who was closer to her.

Although Prince Huangshan wasn’t as young and impetuous as Prince Xiping and Prince Jiujiang, at this moment, when the Yan Emperor was about to submit to the Great Zhou, he would still make one last desperate attempt.

These Yan vassal princes would not act alone. They must have already communicated with each other, with someone willing to take the lead.

Prince Huangshan was not the one taking the lead!

Those too far from the Great Zhou army, even if they took the lead, wouldn’t have sufficient persuasive power. Then… only Prince Jian remained to take the lead.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent: “It seems Prince Huangshan received Prince Jian’s letter.”

Bai Qingyan spoke casually, but the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent looked up at Bai Qingyan in shock, not expecting the Great Zhou Emperor to know. But how did the Great Zhou Emperor know?

Could it be… could it be that the Great Zhou Emperor sent the letter?

But Father Prince said it was Prince Jian’s letter with Prince Jian’s private seal!

Or had Prince Jian already submitted to the Great Zhou and was deliberately setting a trap to harm his father?

But that wasn’t right—Prince Jian had no reason to do this…

If Prince Jian truly wanted to curry favor with the Great Zhou Emperor, he should have persuaded his father to surrender rather than frame him!

Seeing the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent’s expression, Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows slightly, turned to Bai Qingjue and said: “Take him down. Send word… all Great Zhou soldiers assemble.”

All soldiers assembling—was this to attack their Huangshan City?

The Great Zhou Emperor used troops like a god. If the Great Zhou Emperor became alert and initiated battle first while Father Prince wasn’t ready, Father Prince probably couldn’t withstand it.

Among the nine vassal princes, Prince Xiping had the strongest military forces, which was why Prince Xiping dared to move against the Great Zhou Emperor. Even Prince Xiping was dealt with by the Great Zhou Emperor, let alone his father.

The reason his father thought of assassination was that he knew his military strength was insufficient, and his soldiers’ combat power couldn’t match the Great Zhou’s soldiers.

“Your Majesty!” the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent called out loudly. Shocked and increasingly terrified, he cried out: “Your Majesty, my father doesn’t want to assassinate Your Majesty either! He was deceived by Prince Jian! Your Majesty… if you release me to return, I’ll go back immediately to persuade Father Prince to submit to Great Zhou! My father has always been timid—as long as Your Majesty agrees not to reduce the fiefs, Father Prince will certainly obey Your Majesty’s every command! He absolutely won’t resist!”

Bai Qingyan paused in her steps, glanced sideways at Bai Qingjue, who nodded.

This Prince Huangshan wasn’t very bold, and his son had inherited his father’s timidity. One scare and he spilled everything.

Bai Qingjue personally interrogated the Huangshan Prince’s heir apparent, who said Prince Huangshan planned to send people to assassinate the Great Zhou Emperor. After succeeding, he would have his mansion’s death warriors lead the Great Zhou army into an ambush circle.

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Ruojiang knelt at the desk, carefully examining the topographical map Xiao Ruojiang had drawn of the surrounding area.

“From capturing Dengfeng until now, time has been tight, so we could only calibrate based on the original maps we had. It’s usable though!” Xiao Ruojiang told Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingjue, kneeling beside Bai Qingyan, looked at the cool-eyed Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister… shall we mobilize troops to attack Huangshan City now?”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on the area around the Great Zhou military camp, then shifted to Huang’an City: “Have additional personnel been sent to watch the four gates of Huang’an City?”

“People have been sent to watch, Elder Sister, you can rest assured…” Bai Qingjue said.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Then we wait! We wait for Prince Huangshan to come assassinate me, this Great Zhou Emperor. Then we’ll send troops… to set an ambush here!”

Bai Qingjue picked up the candle lamp beside him, raising it to illuminate the position Bai Qingyan indicated on the map: “Here?”

“If Prince Huangshan sends people to assassinate me, this Great Zhou Emperor, whether they succeed or not, they must afterward lead the Great Zhou army to the ambush circle. Regardless of where Prince Huangshan sets his ambush, he must come out of Huangshan City!” Bai Qingyan’s finger tapped at Huangshan City’s location, then at the Great Zhou military camp’s direction. “Based on our camp’s position and Huangshan City’s location, Prince Huangshan’s options can exclude areas west of Huangshan City!”

Bai Qingyan drew a circle with her finger on the map: “Prince Huangshan is timid and cautious. To avoid detection, he can only act at night. It’s almost April now, and nights are getting shorter, leaving Prince Huangshan little time. He needs to deploy the ambush, send people to assassinate me as emperor, and lead the Great Zhou army to the ambush site before dawn! That leaves Prince Huangshan’s ambush options only within this range!”

Xiao Ruojiang suddenly understood.

“Still considering Prince Huangshan’s timidity, he’s making a surprise attack, so naturally, he’d choose the most suitable ambush location rather than the best one. Comparing travel distances and time, this is the best choice within the selectable range!” Bai Qingjue pointed to a specific location.

“Whether departing from Huangshan City by detour or direct route, to reach this ambush point, he must…” Bai Qingyan’s finger pointed back to the ambush location she had selected, “Pass through here! For Prince Huangshan, this isn’t the optimal choice within his available time, so we’ll set our ambush here!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan tapped the map heavily with her finger: “Depart tomorrow night!”

“So urgent?” Xiao Ruojiang looked at Bai Qingyan. “I mean… will Prince Huangshan be this urgent?”

“Prince Huangshan made the hasty decision to send his wife and children out of the city. Ajue examined their luggage—it was all packed incompletely, showing Prince Huangshan is anxious to act.” Bai Qingyan smiled.

“Tonight, he needs to select assassins. Since he wants to lead the Great Zhou army into an encirclement, assassinating me as the Great Zhou Emperor requires a killing blow. Naturally, he needs the most skilled fighters and foolproof preparation. Otherwise, if I don’t die, the Great Zhou army won’t pursue with full force, making their ambush meaningless! So tonight for preparation, tomorrow daytime is easily detected and inconvenient for movement—it can only be tomorrow night!” Bai Qingyan smiled. “After all, long nights breed many dreams!”

In Huangshan City, within the brightly lit barracks, Prince Huangshan stood before the topographical map hanging on the wall, pointing at the ambush location, then turned to look at his subordinate generals: “Act tomorrow night to prevent long nights from breeding dreams. Everyone acts according to plan.”

“Yes!”

Prince Huangshan’s subordinate generals cupped their hands in acknowledgment.

After the generals left, Prince Huangshan asked his deputy general, “Are the people selected?”

“Still need your inspection!”

“Let’s go…” Prince Huangshan clenched his fists.

Prince Huangshan prepared intensively all night. At dawn, he finally selected the death warriors to assassinate Bai Qingyan—all were elite fighters chosen from among the best.

Prince Huangshan ordered these death warriors to rest well during the day, eat their fill in the evening before departing, promising that if they could kill the Great Zhou Emperor and return alive, they would enjoy endless wealth and honor.

That day, the Huangshan army rested while the city gates remained tightly closed, allowing no entry or exit.

After nightfall, Huangshan City’s south gate opened wide. Over two hundred death warriors dressed in dark cloth garments with sleeves and trouser cuffs tightly bound with matching fabric rode out swiftly.

Subsequently, the cautious Prince Huangshan first sent the first batch of two hundred soldiers to the predetermined ambush location. Half an hour later, Prince Huangshan personally led all his forces to depart. The entire army was forbidden to light torches, advancing in darkness by moonlight toward the ambush site.

Prince Huangshan’s advance party of two hundred soldiers also served as reconnaissance. If discovered by the Great Zhou army and truly encountering danger, the main force would have time to retreat. If they reached safely undetected, they could establish a forward position.

Clouds obscured the moon, and stars were sparse. Distant mountains and nearby trees cast black shadows everywhere.

Prince Huangshan stopped at the entrance to the mountain forest passage, ordering his deputy general to lead the troops forward.

Whether due to years of cautious behavior, Prince Huangshan had felt uneasy since departing today.

Mounted on horseback, he gazed into the long but not steep mountain forest passage. This wasn’t the optimal ambush location—the mountain path was wide with long, gentle slopes on both sides. Ambushing the Great Zhou army here would allow them to easily charge up the slopes.

In confrontation and bloody close combat, Prince Huangshan knew his limitations. His soldiers absolutely couldn’t compare with those Great Zhou veterans who had survived the wars destroying Liang and Xi Liang.

The Great Zhou’s soldiers were truly elite, who had survived nine deaths and one life on the battlefields.

When Yan originally recovered Nanyan, they relied on Xie Xun’s new army, plus some troops that other vassal princes gave to the Second Prince. Moreover, the Nanyan campaign… Yan fought almost effortlessly with people lining the roads in welcome, naturally having no battlefield opportunities to risk their lives for experience.

Prince Huangshan gripped his reins tightly, feeling this passage seemed… deep and quiet, as if permeated with some dangerous yet sweet bloody scent.

Prince Huangshan wasn’t being paranoid. His first batch of over two hundred men sent to the ambush location had already been completely slaughtered by the Bai Family Army in this passage under the clear moonlight when he led his army out of the city.

When gray clouds covered the moon, killing cries shook the heavens.

When the crescent moon broke through clouds, casting clear light everywhere, corpses littered the ground.

These two hundred soldiers were slaughtered by the Bai Family Army without any ability to fight back.

The Bai Family Army swiftly and efficiently cleaned up this mountain passage between two peaks.

Except for traces of bloody scent lingering in the cold night wind, no one could detect that over two hundred Huangshan army soldiers had died here.

The Great Zhou forces ambushed on both sides, quickly detected the movement of a large cavalry force, with hoofbeats and footsteps moving very fast, with considerable numbers. Except for the two lead riders holding torches high, no other lights were visible.

Shen Liangyu chewed grass in his mouth, patiently lying in the grass nest, watching the Huangshan army gradually enter the mountain path completely…

“Whoosh—Bang!”

Fireworks shot skyward like dragons, exploding overhead.

Prince Huangshan, already in the mountain path, immediately reined in his horse and looked up wide-eyed at the red light suddenly appearing in the sky, enveloping all the soldiers in the mountain path… enveloping all the dense tall forests in red light.

“Release arrows!”

Prince Huangshan’s eyes reflected the red light and also reflected the terrifying scene of arrow rain falling rapidly toward them from high above.

The red light faded, and countless screams echoed through the mountain path.

Killing cries thundered from the passage entrance, shouting to block their retreat.

At the exit… The Great Zhou generals also called out loudly to block their escape route.

Prince Huangshan fell from his horse, protected by heavy shields forming a tortoise shell formation around him. Arrow rain continued relentlessly, striking the heavy shields with crackling sounds.

On both slopes, Great Zhou army archers in three alternating groups ensured the Huangshan army had no opportunities to exploit, as Prince Huangshan could tell from the storm-like arrows striking the shields.

Prince Huangshan couldn’t understand why he was being ambushed when he was supposed to be setting the ambush! But why… had he fallen completely into the Great Zhou army’s trap?

Was there a spy among his people, or had Prince Jian deceived him?

Bright moonlight illuminated the ground…

“Whoosh—”

An arrow from somewhere unknown pierced through the gap in the heavy shields, barely grazing Prince Huangshan’s nose bridge as it passed. Startled, Prince Huangshan fell backward, nearly knocking down the soldier holding a shield for him.

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness!”

Inside the heavy shield “tortoise shell,” the deputy general and guards rushed to help Prince Huangshan.

Prince Huangshan had no time to think further. Unable even to stand up, he stretched his neck and shouted: “Surrender! We surrender! I want to see the Great Zhou Emperor!”

Without surrender, all his Huangshan army would die here.

With surrender, at least one life could be preserved. Surrender was inevitable sooner or later—better early to save more soldiers’ lives and create fewer orphans and widows.

Shen Liangyu hadn’t expected Prince Huangshan to call for surrender so quickly. They had only deployed archers without the Bai Family Army fully engaging, let alone demonstrating the true capabilities of the Tiger Eagle Army.

The arrow rain ceased, and the Huangshan army dropped their weapons and surrendered.

Prince Huangshan also emerged from the heavy shield “tortoise shell” that had been shot full of arrows like a hedgehog, supported by others as he stood. The Huangshan army also gathered toward Prince Huangshan’s direction…

After the relentless arrow rain, corpses of Huangshan soldiers filled the mountain path.

Then, on the high slope, a figure in silver armor appeared, riding out from among the towering trees, holding a bow and arrow, standing on the steep slope looking down at them from above.

Moonlight fell like silver frost upon her. Although the distance was great, Prince Huangshan still felt the woman’s heart-stopping beautiful features, seeming otherworldly and independent in that sacred bright light, yet making one feel such lofty superiority and noble oppression.

On the twenty-sixth day of the third month in the third year of Yuanhe, Prince Huangshan of Yan led troops out of the city intending to battle the Great Zhou, but was ambushed at Yuming Mountain Pass and suffered a crushing defeat.

On the twenty-seventh of the same month, news reached Yan’s capital that the Dongyi navy had decisively defeated Yan’s navy, landed on Yan territory, captured two cities in one stroke, and continued advancing toward the Yan capital with unstoppable momentum. All Yan people knew Yan’s fate was sealed.

News of Prince Jian’s death and Prince Huangshan’s capture quickly spread throughout Yan.

Prince Yongjia, first to receive the news, reflected painfully and understood the Great Zhou Emperor’s determination to unify the realm. Realizing he could not resist the Great Zhou, he relinquished military command and accompanied the Yan Emperor’s envoys to the capital with his entire family, seeking only to preserve their lives and wealth.

Among the vassal princes, the most militarily powerful Prince Xiping and Prince Jian were already dead. Even if they rose in rebellion, the Great Zhou Emperor would certainly send troops to eliminate them. If all of Yan couldn’t resist the Great Zhou, how long could they persist? In the end, they might still face death and family destruction.

Prince Yiling, upon receiving news of Prince Jian’s death and Prince Huangshan’s overnight defeat, fell silent for a long time before consulting with Prince Tongqiu to jointly enter the capital, no longer harboring illusions of fighting the Great Zhou.

On the ninth day of the fourth month in the third year of Yuanhe, the Great Zhou Emperor led Great Zhou’s heavy forces to Yan’s capital. Yan Emperor Murong Li and Yan’s Regent Murong Yan led all officials, carrying jade symbols and leading sheep, emerged from the city to welcome them, formally surrendering to the Great Zhou. Yan was declared extinct, and the Great Zhou completed the great achievement of unifying the realm in just a few years.

Simultaneously, Dongyi envoys who had captured four Yan cities met the Great Zhou Emperor in Yan’s capital, expressing Dongyi’s complete submission to the Great Zhou. Since Yan had surrendered to the Great Zhou, Dongyi would naturally withdraw troops unconditionally.

In Yan’s imperial palace, Bai Qingyan finally met her third younger sister, Bai Jintong.

In the great hall where bronze lamp flames flickered and swayed, Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li saw Bai Jintong appear in their field of vision dressed in men’s clothing with heroic bearing, truly unable to tell she was a woman.

“Elder Sister!” Bai Jintong entered and first paid respects to her elder sister, then turned to look at Xiao Rongyan and called: “Brother-in-law…”

Murong Li understood this was a family meeting, so he obediently rose and paid respects to Bai Jintong, though unsure what to call her, he said: “Third Miss!”

Bai Qingyan beckoned to Bai Jintong: “Ajue still has some matters to handle. You’ll see him later.”

Bai Jintong’s eyes reddened as she hurried over to Bai Qingyan’s side and solemnly paid respects: “Congratulations to Elder Sister on unifying the realm…”

“Congratulations to us all for finally achieving our heart’s desire!” Bai Qingyan smiled at Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li. “Working together with united hearts, we were able to unify the realm. Jintong… you’ve been put through hardship!”

Bai Jintong shook her head: “Elder Sister knows me. Dressing as a man now, conducting business… gathering intelligence for Great Zhou, I’m very willing!”

“This time, without your timely delivery of news about Yan’s royal family and vassal princes joining forces in your elder sister’s hands, Yan would have suffered much more warfare!” Xiao Rongyan said. “Your merit is immense.”

“Without Third Miss’s timely message, whether I could have survived is questionable. With Ninth Uncle unable to return in time, my mother… my mother empress would have been used by the royal relatives and vassal princes, all Yan soldiers would have become… killing tools serving the vassal princes and royal relatives, causing even more suffering for the people.” Murong Li also said. “As Ninth Uncle said, Third Miss’s merit is immense.”

Bai Qingyan smiled and patted Bai Jintong’s head: “This time returning, you should be enfeoffed as a prince! Third Aunt will surely be delighted!”

When Bai Jintong went out to conduct business, Bai Qingyan had said… Bai Jintong’s fortune would be the Bai family’s fortune!

This time, the key to the Great Zhou’s victory over Yan was Bai Jintong delivering news back to the capital. With the Great Zhou’s advance deployment of heavy forces, they caught those vassal princes completely off guard.

On the tenth day of the fourth month in the third year of Yuanhe, the Great Zhou Emperor enfeoffed Yan Emperor Murong Li as Prince Yanshan and Yan Regent Murong Yan as Prince Yanxiang, departing with Prince Yanshan and Prince Yanxiang to return to the capital.

The army led by Great Zhou’s Prince Huguo and the army led by Prince Zhennan also departed to return to the capital, scheduled to meet the Great Zhou Emperor at Yudai.

The armies led by Great Zhou’s Prince Zhenguo and Prince Fuguo met the Great Zhou Emperor at Yan’s border to escort the Great Zhou Emperor back to the capital.

Shen Qingzhu and Xiao Ruohai, who had brought Dongyi forces to Yan territory, received word and led the Dongyi army to withdraw and return to Dongyi.

Returning from Yan with Bai Qingyan were the Great Zhou Minister of Works Shen Tianzhi, who had previously been responsible for Yan territories under Zhou control, and Xue Renyi.

On the route where heavy forces escorted the Great Zhou Emperor back to the capital, people lined the roads to welcome them, kneeling and shouting “Long live!” hoping to glimpse this emperor who had once again unified this land long ravaged by warfare.

Their emperor sat within a carved carriage decorated with magnificent sun and moon reliefs depicting all things recovering. They didn’t see their emperor’s heroic mounted figure, nor the legendary Prince Zhenguo, Prince Fuguo, and Prince Zhongguo. Riding at the front was the Great Zhou Emperor’s fourth sister, Prince Gaoyi, also displaying heroic youthful bearing and the pressure power of women despite her young age.

Throughout the journey, Bai Qingyan reviewed memorials and discussed post-unification matters with Xiao Rongyan, Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, Bai Qingjue, Murong Li, and Shen Tianzhi.