The quiet cobblestone path shimmered in a warm orange glow, particularly striking under the bright moonlight.
Xiao Rongyan never doubted Bai Qingyan’s capacity to undertake great responsibilities. Gender aside, in Xiao Rongyan’s heart, Bai Qingyan was a hero capable of seizing power in chaotic times.
When he was in Xiliang, he had also met the Empress of Xiliang. Although she was a woman of extraordinary wisdom, her ambitions were limited to strengthening her nation rather than seeking dominion over the world. Her vision was somewhat narrow.
Bai Qingyan’s deep, tranquil eyes were fixed on Xiao Rongyan. Her jade-like skin, luminous under the cool moonlight, radiated a delicate pearly sheen, exuding an unparalleled elegance that made the world pale in comparison.
"Just waiting for the right moment," Bai Qingyan did not hide anything from Xiao Rongyan. Her eyes shone with extraordinary resilience and calm.
It seemed as if they were discussing something as mundane as eating or drinking, rather than the profound matter of changing the world.
Everything that needed arranging had been taken care of by Bai Qingyan. She had the army!
After the spring examination, she quietly replaced personnel in the granaries and supply routes with her own people with the Crown Prince’s assistance. It was all set.
All that remained for Bai Qingyan was to wait for the right moment.
The moonlight, like a stream, illuminated the cobblestone path through the bamboo forest. The rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind created a soft sound.
The lamp in Xiao Rongyan’s hand swayed, causing the firelight to flicker.
A thin cloud veiled the bright moon. Xiao Rongyan couldn’t resist taking a step towards Bai Qingyan, lifting a strand of her windblown hair and tucking it behind her ear. His lips curved into an irrepressible smile as he noticed Bai Qingyan’s ear suddenly heating up. He grasped her slender shoulder, bending slightly to whisper in her ear, "Kid, it’s been months. Have you missed me?"
The familiar scent of agarwood lingered around Bai Qingyan, causing a momentary disruption in her breathing. Following her heart, she moved a step closer to Xiao Rongyan, encircling his lean waist with her arms and looking up at him, "I have..."
Xiao Rongyan’s throat tightened with emotion. He couldn’t resist sliding his hand from her shoulder to her delicate spine, pulling her tightly into his arms. Staring deeply into her eyes, he leaned in closer, "Kid, I miss you so much that I don’t want to be apart from you for a moment! I wish for nothing more than for the world to be unified now, so I can hold you in my arms day and night."
Listening to Xiao Rongyan’s deep, husky voice and meeting his dark, intense eyes filled with indissoluble tenderness, Bai Qingyan’s heartbeat quickened, and her face grew hotter. The previously unknown longing for a lover surged within her. She stood on tiptoe, their noses touching, their heated breaths entwining.
Lowering her eyes, Bai Qingyan gently kissed Xiao Rongyan’s lips, only to be embraced even tighter by him.
The fleeting tenderness soon deepened, growing more intense. She began to retreat, overwhelmed, until her back pressed against a sturdy bamboo trunk. She clung to Xiao Rongyan’s waist, tilting her head back to receive his increasingly passionate kisses.
The bright moon slowly emerged from behind the cloud, casting a silvery glow that pierced through the bamboo shadows like threads and ribbons.
Though it was not yet the time for the insect awakening festival, fireflies sensing the coming spring floated out, their faint light flickering as they flew unsteadily towards the lamp in Xiao Rongyan’s hand.
"Woof, woof... woof..."
Suddenly, the sound of a dog barking came from the distance in the bamboo forest, piercing through the quiet night and echoing clearly.
Bai Qingyan quickly pushed Xiao Rongyan away, adopting a serious demeanor. Clearing her throat, she turned, not daring to look at Xiao Rongyan, and smoothed the folds of her clothes. She then saw a yellow dog chasing a rabbit under the frosty moonlight in the distance.
"Wangcai, come back! My father said... if he catches you chasing rabbits at night instead of guarding the house again, he’ll stew you!"
A child’s clear voice called out from afar. Hearing the call, the yellow dog chasing the rabbit hesitated in the moonlight, glancing back at the retreating rabbit. Reluctantly, it licked its nose and swiftly ran back towards its home.
Xiao Rongyan moved to Bai Qingyan’s side, tightly clasping her hand as they strolled forward. He couldn’t help but sigh, "When will we be free from interruptions?"
Bai Qingyan pressed her lips to stifle a smile, feeling as though she had tasted honey. "If you are willing to marry into my family early, perhaps no one would disturb us then..."
Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Xiao Rongyan’s footsteps halted. He looked at her earnestly, "Alright!"
Bai Qingyan was stunned. What she had said was only a joke. Yet Xiao Rongyan’s serious response left her at a loss for words.
Their gazes locked. Bai Qingyan’s throat felt constricted, and her lips quivered.
"If you are willing, Kid, I can’t ask for more!" Xiao Rongyan’s expression remained calm, not a trace of jest. "I am willing to marry into your family, but I wonder if you, Bai Qingyan, would take me as your husband before the world is unified? If you agree... after this trip to Dadu, I will go to Shuoyang’s Bai Mansion to propose."
Xiao Rongyan’s hand tightly clasped Bai Qingyan’s delicate one. She felt utterly flustered.
He pulled her closer, looking down at her, "Do you agree, Kid?"
After a moment’s silence, Bai Qingyan seemed to have made a decision and told Xiao Rongyan, "When Yan conquers Wei and Jin extinguishes Liang, if your feelings remain unchanged, you may come to propose."
A profound smile appeared in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes. He knew Bai Qingyan to be a person of firm resolve. She had once said they would be together when the world was unified. He thought there would be no room for negotiation, yet today, the timeline moved forward.
"It’s a deal. When the time comes... please speak well of me in front of your mother!" Xiao Rongyan seriously bowed to Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan nodded, "Don’t worry, Mr. Xiao."
Under the bright moon, Xiao Rongyan gazed at Bai Qingyan’s smiling eyes, his heart swelling with uncontrollable emotion. He pulled her into his arms once more.
The two masters were absent, so Yue Shi was invited by the Bai family’s Hidden Guards to a guest room, where they drank tea and peeled peanuts. It was a rule of the Bai family that one could not drink alcohol while on duty.
Sitting with the Hidden Guards by Miss Bai’s side, Yue Shi felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Each time their master visited Miss Bai’s room, Yue Shi would divert the Hidden Guards. Yue Shi feared they might recognize him, which would be detrimental to Miss Bai’s reputation and cause the Bai family guards to mistake his master for a lecher.
Sitting at the Eight Immortals table under candlelight, Yue Shi dared not straighten his back, fearing he would reveal his nerves.