Chapter 448 - 448 445 Will Not Let You Down_1

Chapter 448: Chapter 445: Will Not Let You Down_1 Chapter 448: Chapter 445: Will Not Let You Down_1 Xiao Rongyan sat upright, as if suddenly enlightened, his whole body tensed up. Just a moment ago… he was still thinking that with the unification of the world, he could finally take a few days to relax and live freely.

But Bai Qingyan’s words hit him hard, making him suddenly alert.

Yan was still in such a situation now, and he wanted to relax. If one day the world was truly unified, wouldn’t the Yan royal court and even the common people below be prone to such laziness?

In the past few years, the entire Yan Kingdom was united, striving with one heart and mind to recover Nanyan.

Afterward, the Yan army was ambitious, wanting to… conquer the world.

Although the unification of the world seemed far off, they were steadily progressing towards it. He should indeed plan ahead, so that after unification, Yan’s direction wouldn’t catch him off guard.

After the chaos of the warring states, there would be an era of peace…

Once the five kingdoms were unified, Empress Ji’s new policies could be implemented for the people of all five kingdoms, who would surely be thrilled.

However, the entrenched forces of the aristocratic families in each country would strongly resist Empress Ji’s new policies. It would be impossible to eliminate them all. How to balance and handle this would be the first major problem after unification.

Xiao Rongyan was greatly shaken. He deeply wished that if one day Bai Qingyan could come to Yan to assist them, Yan would be like a tiger with wings.

“Rongyan… is grateful for the lesson!” Xiao Rongyan earnestly said.

“What I said to Mr. Xiao today are the words my grandfather once taught my father. Grandfather always lamented the fall of the Second Emperor of Qin and often discussed it with my father. Today, it just so happened to share it with Mr. Xiao.”

“The King of Zhen truly is the pillar of Zhen!” Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but sigh.

The Bai family not only had the ambition to pacify the world but also the heart to support the common people. Truly admirable.

Having said this, Bai Qingyan bowed to Xiao Rongyan: “My Bai ancestors once swore to protect the people if they ever took even a grain of the people’s food. Should the Lin family of the Jin Kingdom fall one day, the Bai family would take it. If I live to see that day, then… I will compete with Mr. Xiao in the Central Plains to see who can rule the land!”

Xiao Rongyan was thrilled by Bai Qingyan’s words. It was just like… an expert chess player meeting a worthy opponent, itching to play.

Xiao Rongyan finally understood why Bai Qingyan would share her grandfather’s teachings with him.

The Bai family truly engraved the words “support the common people” into their essence. What Bai Qingyan hoped for was that after the unification of the world, whether achieved by her Bai family or by his Yan Kingdom, the ruler would think ahead, stabilize the hard-won unification, and not let the people suffer again, thinking that after the hardships come the sweetness, only to fall into greater turmoil.

Unification… was for the sake of lasting peace and tranquility in the world! No one who aimed for dominion should forget this.

Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan and wanted to agree, but once he did, it seemed they would be pulled further apart, becoming opponents.

Seeing that Xiao Rongyan was silent for a long time, Bai Qingyan stood up first and said to him: “I will see Mr. Xiao off.”

Xiao Rongyan nodded and stood up.

Yue Shi saw this and came forward with people to clean up the tea set.

“Rongyan brought back two trinkets from the Wei Kingdom for Miss Bai and Miss Bai Jinzhi. I left them on the horse earlier and forgot to bring them. Please, Miss Bai, come with me to get them,” Xiao Rongyan said, seemingly afraid that Bai Qingyan would refuse, and added, “They are indeed small things. Miss Bai Jinzhi has a lively nature and will definitely like them!”

Consider it a thank you to Miss Bai Jinzhi for creating opportunities for him and Bai Qingyan, though sometimes causing trouble, her intentions were good.

Bai Qingyan nodded and walked with Xiao Rongyan to the white stallion.

Xiao Rongyan took out a long whip and a brocade box from the bag on the horse’s back. The long whip was fiery red… obviously for Bai Jinzhi.

“I thank Mr. Xiao on behalf of Bai Jinzhi!” Bai Qingyan accepted the long whip.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and opened the brocade box. Inside was a pure and warm jade hairpin, though the carving seemed crude.

He took out the hairpin and said: “I got a great jade stone in the Wei Kingdom and made a hairpin for the first time. My hands were a bit clumsy. I will carve a better one for you once I get better.”

As he spoke, Xiao Rongyan naturally and calmly stepped closer to Bai Qingyan, not giving her a chance to retreat. He raised his hand to hold her shoulder and inserted the jade hairpin into her black hair.

The deep and restrained aura from the man made Bai Qingyan’s mind go blank for a moment. Looking up, her eyes fell on Xiao Rongyan’s prominent Adam’s apple, and she heard his voice slowly coming.

“Rongyan… wants to make a bet with Miss Bai,” Xiao Rongyan said as he fixed the jade hairpin, looking deeply and passionately into Bai Qingyan’s delicate features. “If the Yan Kingdom finally takes over the world, I hope Miss Bai will not abandon me… and be my wife!”

Bai Qingyan’s fingers holding the long whip trembled slightly but tightened quietly.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s usually calm demeanor now with red ears, Xiao Rongyan looked at her with increasing seriousness and warmth, and added: “If the Bai family takes over the world, I hope Miss Bai will not abandon me… and take me as her husband.”

Looking into Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, her heartbeat quickened, and her ears burned.

Xiao Rongyan’s large hand that held Bai Qingyan’s shoulder slid down her arm, just like that night, enveloping her hand within his palm, intertwining their fingers tightly. It seemed he intended to remind Bai Qingyan of that night’s event, to complete what was left unfinished.

He lowered his head slowly closer, his prominent nose lightly brushing against hers, causing her body to break out in goosebumps. She woke as if from a dream, stepping back just as she was about to pull her hand away. But he grasped her wrist and pulled her into his embrace.

Supporting her slim waist, he had no intention of letting go, simply gazing at her intently.

Bai Qingyan’s heart pounded violently, as if it would burst from her chest, her hand tightly clutching Xiao Rongyan’s clothes.

Xiao Rongyan, restraining his heavy breaths, tightly held her in his arms. His gaze shifted from her trembling eyes to her lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and with a hoarse voice, he said: “Bai Qingyan, if you dare to bet, I, Murong Yan… will never let you down in this life!”

Murong Yan was his true name.

As Xiao Rongyan spoke, his hot thin lips brushed against Bai Qingyan’s, making her breath quicken and become labored, full of an intoxicating excitement, expecting Xiao Rongyan’s descending kiss.

This was the first time in both her past and present lives she had such an intimate interaction with an adult man.

She didn’t dislike it. All along… she knew, deep down, she harbored admiration for Xiao Rongyan. Since knowing his feelings, she had suppressed her own emotions because… to her, guarding the Bai family, protecting the Bai family army, fulfilling the aspirations of generations of the Bai family…