Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

"Why not, during the time of the Four-Nation Alliance, our two countries first form a separate alliance, or simply during the gathering of the four nations for the alliance... make the alliance first," Xiao Rongyan said with a smile. "In other words, openly tell them that Yan and Zhou advance and retreat together, so they better be wise."

"Alright..." She nodded, as these were minor matters, originally decided internally between the two countries. "For this matter, have the official responsible for this alliance coordinate with Liu Rushi, and there's one more thing I want to ask you..."

"Hmm, go ahead," Xiao Rongyan nodded.

"The former advisor of the deposed Crown Prince of the Jin Dynasty... Ren Shijie, do you still want this person?" Bai Qingyan asked.

Xiao Rongyan's lips slightly parted; there had been no news of Ren Shijie for a long time. He had sent out many people to investigate but found no trace, and he thought Ren Shijie had died during the palace upheaval under King Liang of the Jin Dynasty.

"You've kept him detained for so long?" Xiao Rongyan was quite surprised.

"Indeed..." Bai Qingyan recalled Ren Shijie with a slight smile at the corner of her lips. "He originally intended to use Jinxiu to escape but was seen through by Jinxiu. After the situation in Dadu City was stabilized, Jinxiu had him locked in a dungeon, which was supposed to be used for interrogating spies! There were no methods to harm the flesh, only that place... without a sound, no people, and no light, silently quiet."

Xiao Rongyan was familiar with this place; it had been built by his mother, Empress Ji, in Dadu City. The Yan Kingdom had construction plans of Dadu City, and he knew it thoroughly.

Those locked in that place, although unharmed physically, suffered the deepest mental torment, unable to feel the passage of time, entirely unaware of how long had passed, not knowing day from night, seeing only pitch darkness.

Xiao Rongyan couldn't help but worry about Ren Shijie.

Bai Qingyan said, "When I thought of him, it was already before setting off for Pingyang City. I thought Mr. Ren, like the others locked in that dungeon before, had either taken his own life or gone mad. To my surprise, he was still alive, so I brought him to you. Naturally... he should be used during this treaty signing and then handed over to the Yan Kingdom as a sign of our sincerity."

Surviving under such conditions for so long revealed his resilience.

Upon hearing Bai Qingyan say this, Xiao Rongyan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded...

Whenever Xiao Rongyan sent someone out, he hoped they could safely return home alive, not to end up like Mr. Guan.

And now, the Yan Kingdom no longer needed these loyal warriors sacrificing their lives for the nation's survival.

"Alright, please trouble Kid... to take good care of him," Xiao Rongyan said.

Bai Qingyan nodded, "Don't worry, Doctor Hong has already treated him. Although he looks thin and worn, thankfully, his spirit is intact. According to Doctor Hong... if Zhou were to use him to threaten the Yan Kingdom, he would face self-destruction, being highly loyal to Yan. Such a person... we greatly admire."

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan settled the date of the Four-Nation Alliance on December 15, which was the date Liu Rushi had previously informed the envoys of Tianfeng Kingdom and Xiliang.

Zhou and Yan had a unified stance, setting the alliance date for the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month. Even if Tianfeng Kingdom and Xiliang were more stubborn, they knew that Yan and Zhou were likely in complete agreement.

In the early years of Yuanhe, on the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou, Yan, Xiliang, and Tianfeng, the Four-Nation Alliance convened.

The alliance location was set ten miles outside Pingyang City.

Bai Jinzhi, Shen Kunyang, and Cheng Yuanzhi had already gone to mobilize troops and prepare for departure.

After breakfast, Chun Zhi assisted Bai Qingyan in changing into the attire of the Emperor of Zhou, as today was the Four-Nation Alliance, requiring more formal attire.

Chun Zhi was kneeling beside the soft couch, adorning Bai Qingyan with luxurious boots embellished with pearls, when Wei Zhong rushed in, unable to contain his excitement even from behind the screen, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, the fifth young master has arrived! It is the fifth young master! Waiting at the door!"

Bai Qingyan suddenly lifted her head, "A Yu?!"

Hadn't she already sent word to A Yu to return to Dadu City? Why did A Yu come!

"Please bring him in!" She said this, but had already stood up, lifting the hem of her imperial robe as she walked out.

A Yu... could finally return openly using his own identity.

Even before seeing A Yu, her eyes had already reddened.

Seeing Bai Qingyan striding quickly toward the outer room, eunuchs and palace maids knelt down on the ground.

"Big girl, slow down!" Chun Zhi hurriedly ran after her.

As the heavy cotton curtain was lifted, she stepped out of the main room, hit by a warm, sour wave that stung her eyes.

The accumulated snow in the courtyard had been swept clean, with only the snow on the bare trees falling quietly as the wind blew.

Clad in a black cloak, with a frost-colored robe and jade belt, Bai Qingyu stood tall at the courtyard gate, looking up at the snow-covered tree in the courtyard. His ink-black hair was meticulously groomed, wearing a half-silver mask to conceal the burnt half of his face, leaving intact the other half...

Warm as jade, a noble gentleman.

His eyebrows were like the crescent moon in the cloudless sky, his posture like a solitary pine, elegant and peerless, unique in the world.

Even revealing only half of his features was enough for one to glimpse what a handsome and graceful young man he once was, evoking thoughts of... the youthful springtime, riding a horse leaning against the bridge, red sleeves beckoning like verses from poems.

Glimpsing his elder sister standing beneath the corridor, Bai Qingyu's lips subtly smiled, eyes watering, he respectfully bowed from afar to his sister.

By Bai Qingyu's side, Wang Dong's throat was choked up, staying hidden in the posthouse during Bai Qingyu's time as the ghost-faced Prince, fearful of showing up in Dadu City where familiar faces could recognize him, causing trouble for his master. He could only bow from a distance towards the palace's direction for the big girl and the Bai family's ladies.

Seeing Bai Qingyu lift the hem of his robe, stepping into the courtyard threshold, Wang Dong quickly followed behind.

Bai Qingyan's lips quivered, and seeing A Yu's features, once youthful, now more resolute and defined, her eyes swelled with soreness.

Previously encountering A Yu in the palace, hearing his hoarse voice, she knew A Yu was burned, so she never forced A Yu to remove the mask, fearing his pride might be hurt and also worried their mother would be sad upon seeing it. Now witnessing her brother's face half-perfect, her heart finally settled, yet felt increasingly pained.

Amidst the misty eyes, Bai Qingyu stepped before her, standing at the higher steps of the corridor, lift the hem of his garment, knelt down, and choked up saying, "Sister, A Yu has returned under his own name..."

"Big girl..." Wang Dong knelt heavily to the ground, kowtowing to Bai Qingyan, "Wang Dong was useless, unable to protect the master, please penalize me, big girl."