Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 827 - 824: Pure as Fire

The former Xiao Rongyan tolerated no opposition. Those who dared to obstruct him were either coerced or destroyed ruthlessly.

Mortal sentiments, divine will...rituals and morals were mere trivialities to Xiao Rongyan. He forbade anything from becoming an obstacle on his path to unifying the world.

Even if his methods were vile and filthy, as long as he could pacify the land and bring peace, who would later on fault him for being radical?

It was Bai Qingyan who taught Xiao Rongyan to genuinely respect the word "morality."

Yet, at his core, Xiao Rongyan was an unrestrained wolf!

He had jumped through so many hoops in vain, so he wouldn’t hesitate to use extreme measures. He couldn’t concern himself with what would become of the masked prince.

With the rise and fall of the nation at stake, personal sentiments had to be set aside...

Kid should be able to understand this.

Upon hearing Eldest Young Lady’s pet name, the killing intent flashed briefly in Bai Qingyu’s eyes before he regained an even temperament, his ability to control his emotions already refined to perfection.

Though Bai Qingyu had an inexplicable loathing for this man, since he knew Eldest Young Lady’s pet name, perhaps he really was someone Eldest Young Lady favored?

But how could Eldest Young Lady possibly have feelings for this worthless scoundrel, so clearly a regular of brothels?

Bai Qingyu fumed internally.

He wasn’t worried that Eldest Young Lady’s wisdom had been deceived by such a person; he could only surmise that the scoundrel appearance was a mere facade.

He squinted, pondering whether killing him would sadden Eldest Young Lady.

After a moment, Bai Qingyu clenched his fist. Eldest Young Lady’s heart had been hurt enough; he couldn’t bear to let her grieve further, even if there was only a one in a million chance.

Moreover, the supposed Ninth Prince of Yan accusing him of belonging to the Bai family, just as he suspected the Ninth Prince of Yan was Xiao Rongyan, had no concrete evidence. Killing him would seem too obvious.

Bai Qingyu leaned forward, exposing himself to the moonlight seeping into the carriage, propping one elbow lazily on his knee, sporting a slight grin, fearless and unperturbed. "Since joining the prince’s banner, I’ve yet to meet an adversary. Ninth Prince, use any tactic you please...I’ll accompany you."

Seeing Bai Qingyu undeterred by both hard and soft approaches, Xiao Rongyan laughed: "The Duke of Zhen’s household, which has produced military leaders for a hundred years, indeed does not yield weaklings. I can’t scare you. Since we’ve spoken openly, I’ll withdraw. If Rong releases the Yan soldiers, when you annihilate Xiliang in the future, the Yan Kingdom will not interfere."

Bai Qingyu’s fingers twitched, quickly sensing the trap laid by Xiao Rongyan using Xiliang as bait within his words. He curved his lips: "Yan Kingdom must not take any share!"

In essence, when the Jin Kingdom destroys Xiliang, Yan Kingdom shall neither intervene nor seize the chance to occupy Xiliang.

"Such ambition! Do you think the Jin Kingdom could easily annihilate Xiliang? The Empress of Xiliang has quite the political acumen; now in full control, with the major Xiliang clans gradually pledging loyalty! Xiliang’s rise is only a matter of time..."

Xiao Rongyan’s words were genuine. The Empress of Xiliang truly deserved the title of a wise ruler.

"Whether it can be destroyed or not is my concern. The lives of Yan soldiers are yours."

"Within two years, should you destroy Xiliang, Yan Kingdom will neither interfere nor claim a portion. Rong will return the Yan soldiers, forming an alliance between the two nations, with mutual non-aggression," Xiao Rongyan said.

Bai Qingyu calculated that Bai Qingyan’s destruction of Liang was imminent. Two years was a reasonable term.

Moreover, Bai Qingyu had already bribed spies within the Yan soldiers. Returning them would generate a greater effect.

"Three years, if the Ninth Prince agrees. From now on, the two nations form an alliance, with mutual non-aggression," Bai Qingyu said leisurely.

With the matter settled, Xiao Rongyan said, "Thus, these conditions will be written into the alliance treaty with the seals of both nations. Should the alliance read that when the Jin Kingdom destroys Xiliang, Yan Kingdom will not intervene, or should it read that when Rong destroys Xiliang, Yan Kingdom will not intervene?"

"I am a Rong man; naturally, I sign the treaty on behalf of Rong. However, I ask the Ninth Prince to remember, within three years, should Rong attack Xiliang...whether it is with allies or alone, Yan Kingdom must refrain from intervening, taking shares, or aiding Xiliang. Otherwise, Rong can only allow Xiliang to grow stronger and use Yan’s breach of the alliance as a pretext to justifiably attack Yan."

After saying that, Bai Qingyu took out a bamboo slip already signed and stamped from his sleeve and tossed it to Xiao Rongyan.

Seeing something fly from the carriage, Yue Shi, standing guard at the alley entrance, immediately charged forward to shield. To his surprise, Apulu swiftly drew his knife, prompting Yue Shi to swiftly retreat three steps, drawing his sword to block.

At the alley entrance, the two guards, knives and swords clashing, ready to strike at any moment.

In the alley, the two masters, all smiles, carefully reviewed the bamboo slip, ready to finalize the alliance.

Xiao Rongyan caught the bamboo slip, unrolled it, and quickly scanned the detailed terms, already stamped with seals.

He chuckled low: "It seems... before meeting me, the Prince had come prepared with two plans. Even if I hadn’t proposed that Yan Kingdom refrain from interfering in Rong’s destruction of Xiliang, the Prince would have suggested it! Skillfully feigning reluctance to relent!"

Xiao Rongyan’s praise was genuine; he was almost convinced by Bai Qingyu’s earlier stance.

He had underestimated the intellect of the Bai family descendants. This Bai family scion was not significantly less shrewd than Kid.

Bai Qingyu said nonchalantly, "It’s not feigned reluctance, but rather a precaution I thought unnecessary. Unexpectedly, for the sake of those Yan soldiers, the Ninth Prince would go this far, earning my respect and making me willing to compromise."

Bai Qingyu, raised in the Bai family military, admired Xiao Rongyan for preferring to sign such a treaty rather than abandoning his soldiers...

Xiao Rongyan removed his seal, walked to the side of the carriage, stamped it before handing it to Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyu also stamped the other copy of the alliance treaty and handed it to Xiao Rongyan...

The alliance treaty had one copy each for the two nations.

Who could have thought that an alliance treaty significant to the relations between two nations and involving Xiliang would be signed in a narrow alley behind a brothel?

On February 20, the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, the Jin Army Commander Liu Hong led his troops to capture Sanshan City while Princess of Zhen reclaimed Datong, leaving only two cities between Liu Hong’s army and the Hancheng capital of the Daliang Kingdom, and only three cities between Princess of Zhen’s army and Hancheng.

On February 27, the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Wei Kingdom Prime Minister Gongsun Chi was executed for treason with Xiliang, his entire family executed and their heads displayed publicly, causing widespread panic.

On March 19, the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Liu Hong, the Jin Army Commander, attacked Yuezhou City. On the same day, Princess of Zhen Bai Qingyan captured Jiangdu, nearing Hancheng of the Daliang Kingdom.

On March 21, the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, the Yan Army seized the former Wei capital, Chang City. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

Upon entering Chang City, the Yan Army discovered that General Song Guanxu of the Wei Kingdom had been dead for nine days, his grandson Song Wenzhong keeping the death secret to prevent panic, stubbornly defending the city but ultimately failing.

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