“General Lin and General Yang, you have worked hard!” After Bai Qingyan nodded, she looked toward the officials in the great hall who remained silent.

She knew what these officials were speculating in their hearts. They were speculating whether she, Bai Qingyan, had already defied the imperial edict and sent troops to the Nine-Tiered Platform before even entering the capital city, forcibly ordering the cessation of work at the Nine-Tiered Platform, and rescuing those children the emperor wanted. With such disregard for imperial authority, was she planning rebellion?

Much as Bai Qingyan had guessed, the hundred officials felt uneasy in their hearts…

Although what Princess Zhenguo had done was not wrong, such forceful and open defiance of imperial edicts, such disregard for imperial authority, inevitably made people suspect that Princess Zhenguo harbored disloyal intentions.

If Princess Zhenguo truly had disloyal intentions, if she truly intended to replace the current Lin imperial power, what could these civil officials, without the strength to truss a chicken, do?

Everywhere were Princess Zhenguo’s soldiers, and many rebellious cities had already submitted to Princess Zhenguo. What else could they do?!

Which of the officials present had not seen the Crown Prince’s fawning attitude when begging Prince Liang for mercy? If they were to assist such a monarch, which of the officials present would be willing?!

The Lin imperial power’s great momentum was already spent – this was obvious.

They respected Princess Zhenguo and were even willing to support Princess Zhenguo, but the prerequisite was… if she were a man. How could a woman govern a nation?

“Elder Sister…” Bai Jinxiu stepped into the main hall at the right moment, cupping her hands toward Bai Qingyan and giving her a meaningful look, “Seventh Sister has come! She says there’s urgent business to see Elder Sister about, concerning Grandmother!”

Although Bai Jinxiu disliked Li Mingtang as a person, she had to admit that Li Mingtang’s words were very correct. The matter of Elder Sister ascending to the throne… needed someone to take the lead, but the words could not be spoken by Elder Sister herself.

Bai Qingyan had originally planned to face the ministers directly, but she understood Bai Jinxiu’s meaning. Having reached this step, all that remained was for Bai Qingyan to openly declare that she had long decided to rebel against the Lin imperial power. But Bai Jinxiu didn’t want Bai Qingyan to bear the name of a traitorous minister – she wanted to push Bai Qingyan to take the next step legitimately and justifiably. However, she didn’t know that Bai Qingyan had her plans.

“I know that you all harbor many speculations and doubts in your hearts…” Bai Qingyan’s gaze was clear as she looked at the ministers in the great hall, “Please wait a moment… Bai Qingyan will certainly resolve your doubts! Now that the people’s hearts are unstable and everything awaits revival… please discuss and deliberate well, and come up with proper measures for how to stabilize the people’s hearts and the court situation! Also, regarding how to rebuild after the disaster in the Chongshan Ridge area, what kind of measures should be established? Although disaster relief in previous years has had precedents to follow, it is still quite burdensome for the common people. I trouble you all to put more thought into this.”

After Bai Qingyan cupped her hands toward the court ministers, she stepped out of the great hall with Bai Jinxiu.

The court ministers in the great hall immediately burst into heated discussion like an explosion. Some officials wanted to follow Bai Qingyan but were blocked inside the great hall by armed soldiers.

Minister of War Shen Jingzhong watched Bai Qingyan’s retreating figure, then turned and said in a low voice to Chancellor Lu: “Princess Zhenguo has returned with troops. If she truly wants to become emperor, I’m afraid… whether we agree or not, we must agree!”

Chancellor Lu pressed his lips tightly together, and only after a long while said: “But can you say Princess Zhenguo did wrong? His Majesty’s edict… who wouldn’t feel chilled upon hearing it? We remonstrated unto death yet were thrown into the heavenly prison. And Prince Liang? He only cares about ascending the throne – where would he care about the people’s lives and deaths? He doesn’t even fear how history will judge him! Such an emperor who usurps power so brazenly – do you dare serve him loyally?”

Shen Jingzhong lowered his eyes in quiet contemplation.

“And speaking of that Crown Prince…” Chancellor Lu shook his head at the mention of the Crown Prince.

“Better not to mention him!” Shen Jingzhong couldn’t hide the disdain in his heart. Just thinking of the Crown Prince’s tail-wagging, begging appearance before Prince Liang made Shen Jingzhong unable to acknowledge the Crown Prince as his sovereign.

Bai Qingyan emerged from the great hall and removed her helmet. Bai Jinxiu took it in passing, noticing her elder sister’s arms were trembling. She knew that in this battle, her elder sister had exerted all her strength for a swift victory and surely had injuries.

Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinxiu with gentle eyes: “Did something happen to Grandmother, or are you afraid that if Elder Sister directly faces those ministers and speaks of her intention to rebel, she’ll be condemned by all?”

“Prince Liang took Grandmother, along with the already deceased emperor and the Crown Prince, and left the capital city together!”

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan’s pupils contracted sharply.

“Elder Sister, don’t worry. Ji Tingyu has already taken people to pursue them.”

Bai Jinse, riding swiftly from outside the palace gates, saw Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu on the high steps. She leaped down from her horse’s back, nearly stumbling and falling, shouted “Elder Sister” at the top of her voice, then lifted her skirts and hurriedly ran up the steps.

Both Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu descended several steps from the high platform to meet her. As soon as Bai Jinse saw her elder sister, her eyes reddened: “Elder Sister…”

Bai Qingyan gazed at her youngest sister, who had grown considerably taller, and raised her hand to pat Bai Jinse’s head.

“Seventh Sister, didn’t Second Sister send soldiers to protect Princess Zhenguo’s mansion? How could Grandmother be taken away by Prince Liang?” Bai Jinxiu asked impatiently.

“Prince Liang used the lives of the emperor and the Crown Prince to threaten Grandmother. Grandmother then left Princess Zhenguo’s mansion alone and departed with them. But Elder Sister… Grandmother had deeper intentions!” Bai Jinse gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand firmly, “Before leaving, Grandmother spoke some words to Nanny Jiang, and I heard it all. Grandmother knows Prince Liang wants to use her as a bargaining chip. The reason she went was, first, because she couldn’t bear to watch Elder Sister, the granddaughter she loves most, overthrow the Lin imperial power. Second… it was to teach Elder Sister the most important lesson of becoming an emperor: an emperor’s heart should be ruthless, an emperor’s blood should be cold. Only by sacrificing small righteousness for great benevolence, sacrificing personal feelings for the greater picture, can one become a mature emperor. An emperor’s heart must encompass all under heaven, and at the pinnacle of power, one is born to solitude. There are only the nation’s interests, with no room for an emperor’s personal honor, disgrace, or private feelings.”

Bai Jinse recited Grand Princess’s words almost verbatim to Bai Qingyan.

“Elder Sister, Grandmother has made up her mind to die – either to use her life to protect the Lin imperial power, or… to use her life to teach Elder Sister imperial ruthlessness.” Bai Jinse used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Bai Qingyan had been raised personally by Grand Princess, so when the emperor issued the edict to forcibly seize children, when Bai Jinxiu led troops to surround the imperial city but delayed attacking, when Bai Qingyan led troops back to the capital, Grand Princess knew… this Lin imperial power had reached its end.

The Bai family didn’t rebel because they didn’t want the innocent people of Jin to suffer, nor did they want the soldiers to die meaninglessly.

But now, not only did the Lin imperial power fail to protect the people, they wanted to use the people’s children to refine elixirs – one for seeking immortality… one for legitimately exchanging the throne. And that Crown Prince… would most likely do whatever the emperor ordered!

When the Bai family first established the Bai family army, it was to protect and bring peace to the people. Now that the Lin family was harming the people, it was only natural for the Bai family to raise troops in rebellion.

“Elder Sister, Grandmother is the Lin family’s Grand Princess, but she’s also our grandmother… For Grandmother, this is already the best choice she could make.” Bai Jinxiu didn’t want Bai Qingyan to feel sad, and softly comforted her, “Grandmother protecting the Lin family is the same as us protecting the Bai family.”