Chun Tao stood beneath the eaves, rubbing her sore neck, yawning before heading back to her room to rest.
Because Mrs. Dong had the Earth Dragon lit, the Boyun Courtyard was warm.
Tonight, the young maid who was supposed to keep vigil outside and stay alert like Chun Tao, ready to replace the large girl’s hot tea, was soon lulled to sleep by the warmth, snoring within a short while.
Bai Qingyan couldn’t bear to scold her. She sat up, lifting the bed curtain with her hand. Just as she was about to tug the brass bell to summon the maid, she heard extremely light footsteps under the eaves. Frowning and clutching her chest, she slipped her feet onto the gold-inlaid wooden step, her guarded eyes fixed on the window frames.
The person outside seemed to hear the fine movements inside the room and asked softly, "Kid, are you asleep?"
Bai Qingyan’s brows relaxed. She hadn’t expected it to be Xiao Rongyan.
Bai Qingyan, holding the bed’s edge, was about to open the window when Xiao Rongyan’s voice gently reminded her, "Put on a robe; it’s cold outside. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"Wait a moment..." Bai Qingyan grabbed a thin-cotton cloak, glanced at the slumbering maid, and approached the window with a lamp, opening the lattice.
The moonlight was bright, casting a clear brilliance everywhere.
The Boyun Courtyard’s green bricks and tiles appeared blue-gray in the light.
Xiao Rongyan stood outside in a black cloak. Hearing Bai Qingyan open the window, he turned solemnly to look at her.
The stars were sparse, and pale yellow clouds veiled the moon, darkening the world.
The flickering candle in Bai Qingyan’s hand illuminated Xiao Rongyan’s determined profile under his black hood.
Covered in travel dust, perhaps due to his hurried journey, his deep eyes under his high brow seemed even broader and deeper. He raised his hand, removing the hood, his gentle smile tinged with fatigue, looking especially composed in the moonlit serenity.
A cold wind swept by, tousling Bai Qingyan’s hair across her face. The candlelight dimmed but soon brightened again.
She smiled, her serene and gentle features shining: "Why are you here?"
This time, he was more mindful than before, standing at the window instead of barging into her room.
"Tomorrow is your birthday. I feared I wouldn’t make it on time even with nonstop travel, but it seems I arrived a day early..." Xiao Rongyan’s voice was low and rich, intoxicating like aged wine.
Since it was late when he reached Shuoyang, it wasn’t suitable to visit Bai Mansion. Unable to contain his longing, Xiao Rongyan had Yue Shi lure away the Hidden Guard and sneaked in.
Xiao Rongyan took out a square redwood box from his cloak; it looked like it held a bracelet or some jewelry.
"If fate allows, I only hope... to celebrate joys with Kid in this life and share words every day."
Bai Qingyan’s lips parted silently, a warm stream flowed through her, spreading to every part of her body as she smiled gently.
Bai Qingyan knew the state of the Yan Kingdom; Xiao Rongyan still remembered her birthday.
In past years... when her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers were around, her birthday was lively. This year, her mother kept it simple to avoid her aunts’ sorrow; the sisters just had a meal together to celebrate.
Bai Qingyan clutched the intricately carved redwood box, remembering Xiao Rongyan’s words... sharing joys, recalling his words... "Without you, what joy?" Her cheeks and ears grew hot.
Looking up at Xiao Rongyan, she thanked him, "Thank you for remembering!"
The clouds drifted away...
The moon reappeared, and the Qinghui Courtyard brightened like day, the frosted tiles reflecting Bai Qingyan’s radiant beauty like a moon fairy.
Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but step closer, adjusting Bai Qingyan’s lined cloak, his deep gaze lingering on her elegant neck, his throat moving. He met her eyes: "Seeing you, I must leave now. I need to return to Wei."
"With such trouble, why did you come..." Bai Qingyan caressed the jewelry box, "You could visit Shuoyang next time."
"It’s not the same." Xiao Rongyan looked at her fair face, his calm eyes hiding deep affection, "Kid, I don’t want to miss any of your birthdays from now on."
Bai Qingyan saw the red streaks in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, sensing his fatigue. Knowing his worries about the Yan Kingdom, she swallowed her words to rest and said, "The Crown Prince dispatched Liu Rushi to reclaim lost lands. General Liu Hong led troops to Daliang; it should ease Yan’s northern pressure somewhat."
For now, it remained uncertain.
The Jin Kingdom had sent an envoy to request Daliang’s ceded lands. Strategizing for the long term, Xiao Rongyan initially planned to have Beirong use this opportunity to send an envoy to Daliang to unite forces against Jin, dragging Daliang into conflict with Jin, which would leave both sides spread thin, allowing Yan to focus on defeating the Wei Kingdom without concerns.
Otherwise, if the Wei Kingdom was half-defeated and Jin noticed Yan was no longer as weak as before, they would certainly restrain Yan, not letting them destroy Wei and grow stronger.
However, the King of Beirong was hesitant, wary of past grudges with Daliang and fearing self-humiliation.
Thus, without allies, Daliang might retract the promised lands and focus on attacking Yan.
"Although the Jin Emperor is incompetent and the Crown Prince is weak, they won’t sit by and watch Daliang seize Yan lands, threatening Jin’s northwest!" Bai Qingyan said.
This wouldn’t benefit Jin. Even though Bai Qingyan knew Yan intended to drag Jin into the war to secure their front against Wei, she couldn’t let Daliang take Yan’s land!
If Yan aimed to destroy Wei, Jin’s best move would be to seize this chance to eliminate Daliang!
This way, Jin’s north would be coastal and secure, allowing them to unite with Rong and Xiliang to attack Yan, aiming to conquer the powerful Yan Kingdom and unify the realm swiftly.
Naturally, Yan could use this strategy against Jin.
The race was on... after the war, it depended on who acted faster. With A Yu in Nanrong, Bai Qingyan was confident Jin would win.
Xiao Rongyan saw the determined light in Bai Qingyan’s eyes, his smile deepening, his thumb gently caressing her flawless cheek: "I last saw this look in the Crown Prince’s mansion when you stopped me from using grain trade as a reason to delay sending an envoy to Rong."