Chapter 681: Chapter 678: Turning the Tables_1

“Fourth Young Lady, why did you come out?” Chun Tao saw Bai Jinzhi coming out and quickly looked inside the main room’s lattice window, her face changing color.

Bai Jinzhi thumped her chest, “Sister Chun Tao, quickly get me a glass of water, I’m choking!”

Chun Tao hurriedly poured a glass of water for Bai Jinzhi, then, feeling uneasy, brought hot tea into the main room again. Seeing Xiao Rongyan still standing properly outside the silk screen, she was finally relieved.

“First Young Lady, have a cup of tea!”

“I came today to bid farewell to the First Young Lady. I sincerely hope the First Young Lady takes care. I… will take my leave now.” Xiao Rongyan solemnly bowed deeply to the ground.

Bai Qingyan solemnly nodded, “Mr. Xiao, take care on your journey!”

After Xiao Rongyan left, Bai Jinzhi came in again, smiling at her elder sister, “Eldest Young Lady… if you can’t bear to see Mr. Xiao travel in hardship, why not… just keep Mr. Xiao at the Bai family!”

Bai Jinzhi spoke very subtly.

“You talk too much…” Although Bai Qingyan’s words were chiding, her brows and eyes were smiling. There was not an ounce of intimidation.

On October 24, the Yan envoy entered Jin. Unable to meet the emperor who was nurturing his troops, they met the Crown Prince at the Crown Prince’s residence. The envoy stated that the Emperor of Yan, upon learning of Daliang and Wei Kingdom’s intention to jointly attack the Yan Kingdom, became so angered that not even medicine could cure him. He dispatched the envoy to request that Prince Li return to Yan, stating this might be the last meeting, and earnestly pleading for Jin Kingdom’s assistance to Yan.

The Yan envoy tearfully requested allowing Prince Li to return to Yan, his sincerity even moving the Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince insisted that the matter was of great importance and needed to be discussed with the Emperor.

Subsequently, the Crown Prince extended goodwill to the Yan envoy, stating that Jin was already aware of Daliang and Wei Kingdom’s plan to attack Yan. He reassured the Yan envoy to comfort the Emperor Yan upon returning, as Jin and Yan were on good terms; Jin would not stand by and watch the two countries attack Yan. Jin had already ordered an envoy to Daliang to stop Daliang from attacking Yan, and General Liu Hong had been sent with troops to the Jin-Daliang border to deter Daliang.

The Yan envoy, both shocked and delighted, hurriedly stated they would send a message back to Yan. The Yan Kingdom was deeply grateful to the Crown Prince of Jin.

The Crown Prince, feeling quite clever, thought that although sending Liu Rushi to Daliang was to demand territory on behalf of Jin, it would indeed alleviate Yan’s crisis. Knowing this, the Emperor Yan would undoubtedly send treasures as gifts. If the Emperor Yan was sensible… he would also send supplies when Jin mobilized troops and resources.

The Crown Prince gleefully calculated, and after sending off the Yan envoy, he entered the palace to discuss the matter with the Emperor.

The Emperor, hearing that the Emperor Yan was on the brink of death, wanted urgently to summon his son for a final meeting. Initially, he didn’t want to let him go…

Unexpectedly, Prince Murong Li of Yan, upon learning of the Emperor Yan’s severe condition, knelt outside the palace gate, pleading the Emperor of Jin to allow him to return to his country, swearing that he would return to Jin immediately after attending to his father.

Hearing Gao Demao report that Murong Li was kneeling and crying outside the palace gate, even injuring his head from kowtowing, the Emperor’s heart softened. He also thought that the Yan Kingdom couldn’t cause much trouble…

Two countries attacking Jin had already scared the frail Emperor Yan nearly to death. What kind of threat could the Yan Kingdom pose?

The Emperor pondered and then allowed Prince Murong Li to return to his country.

The Crown Prince personally brought the Emperor’s decree out of the palace, helped the kneeling Murong Li up, and repeated to him what he had told the Yan envoy. Murong Li was deeply moved, bowed deeply, and immediately bid farewell to the Crown Prince, leaving the Capital in a hurry without even packing his belongings.

Murong Li, escorted by twenty elite guards, rode swiftly. The wind roared like a tiger in his ears.

The young lad rode on horseback, staring resolutely in the direction of home, with thoughts of his ninth uncle’s instructions before leaving the Capital…

Ninth Uncle said, “Xiao Ali, remember, no matter what, even if you have to kneel and kowtow, you must get the Emperor of Jin to let you return home! Once the emperor agrees, immediately take the guards and ride fast out of the city. Change horses without rest day and night to rush back to Yan! Jin has many clever people; eventually, someone will guess that your father’s critical illness is just an excuse to bring you back to Yan. Yan is going to show its blade… we must let the world know that from now on, things will change. Our Yan will be the butcher! But if so, you cannot stay in Jin, making Yan vulnerable! You must get home safely before the Crown Prince’s men catch up with you!”

Home!

From the day he arrived in the Capital, Murong Li longed for home every moment.

But he knew his responsibility and mission, knew why he had come, so he never showed his homesickness.

Now, with Yan about to show its sharpness, he couldn’t become someone else’s leverage against Yan!

He had to fight his way back to Yan, back to his father and mother… and his brothers.

Bai Qingyan, upon learning that Murong Li had returned to Yan, guessed that… Murong Li would probably never return.

The Emperor Yan’s health had been managed by Doctor Hong. After Doctor Hong returned, he had once told Bai Qingyan that with proper care, the Emperor Yan could live another ten years without a problem.

Furthermore, the Emperor Yan had a determined mind. Despite almost losing the country and seeing Yan nearly destroyed in recent years, the Emperor had not fallen. Now, it was merely Daliang and Wei Kingdom’s intention to join forces against Yan. With Xiao Rongyan negotiating across various countries and… as long as the Emperor Yan looked carefully at the map, he would understand. Jin would not stand by and allow Daliang to seize Yan’s land. The Emperor Yan wouldn’t truly take this to heart.

The real reason Yan wanted to bring back Prince Murong Li was probably that… Yan planned to test its strength against Wei Kingdom, to show the world that Yan was no longer the small, weak country struggling to survive, easily trampled by anyone.

It was also to let the world understand that in these turbulent times… the situation was about to change. With strong nations rising and falling, it was time for Yan to stand tall.

In the ever-changing world, the situation evolved daily. Yan’s former glory under Empress Ji’s rule had been as brief as a fleeting bloom. Now, Empress Ji’s two sons, Murong Yu and Murong Yan, aimed to lead Yan back to its peak.

Yan had moved steadily till today, if they were truly to show a blade to Wei Kingdom, it wouldn’t be a mockery. It would be to force Wei Kingdom to kneel and beg for mercy, rendering it incapable of ever declaring war on Yan again, perhaps… even wiping it out altogether!

However, such a move might provoke the other countries’ fear. It was uncertain if… Yan would dare.

Should Yan truly annihilate Wei, the dynamics of the world would drastically change.

Yan’s actions stirred a passionate bloodlust in Bai Qingyan’s heart.

She had once explicitly discussed with Xiao Rongyan her ambition for the world and her willingness to compete alongside him to see who could ultimately dominate the world!

If Yan aimed to take Wei’s land, why couldn’t Jin take Liang’s land?

If Yan went to war with Wei, their forces would be entangled with Wei… Jin would then have a free hand to eliminate the Liang Kingdom located north of Jin. Only by completely taking Liang’s land could Jin secure its northern front… using the vast and treacherous sea as its rear defense, preventing Jin from being attacked from both sides. Only then could Jin plot for the world…