Bai Jinse wiped away her tears with her sleeve, her throat choking with emotion. Turning her head away, she still couldn’t help but sob quietly.

She knew this was the greatest driving force behind her eldest sister’s desire to ascend to this position!

Once the eldest sister ascended the throne, the surviving members of the Bai Family Army and the Bai family descendants would know that returning to the capital would no longer implicate the Bai family. They wouldn’t need to endure humiliation for revenge anymore. Eldest sister wanted them to know that Jin had transformed into Great Zhou, that everything was over, and a new chapter was about to unfold—the beginning of the war to unify the realm.

The eldest sister wanted the Bai family masters and the Bai Family Army to return righteous and dignified!

Bai Qingyan beckoned to Bai Jinxiu, signaling her to bring over her helmet…

“Prince Liang’s party just left the city. I’ll rescue my grandmother and return immediately. If circumstances truly change, Bai Qingyan will certainly return before the coronation ceremony.” She took the helmet Bai Jinxiu handed her, tucking it under her elbow, and said, “During Bai Qingyan’s absence from the capital, Chancellor Lu and Bai Jinxiu shall oversee all court affairs.”

“Your Majesty!” Liu Rushi still wanted to persuade further, but was stopped by Chancellor Lu.

Chancellor Lu knew that Bai Qingyan had been personally raised by her grandmother, the Grand Princess. She couldn’t possibly abandon her grandmother. Moreover, Bai Qingyan probably still harbored thoughts of having a final reckoning with the imperial family. However, the capital was currently in great turmoil with unstable hearts, desperately needing Bai Qingyan to remain and stabilize the situation. Persuasion was necessary, but it couldn’t be as direct and rash as Liu Rushi’s approach—it required a more indirect method.

Chancellor Lu habitually smiled with the same diplomatic attitude he used when dealing with the Jin Emperor, and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty may proceed with confidence. The capital has this old minister and Madam Qin—we certainly won’t let anything go wrong! After the coronation date is set, this minister will dispatch envoys to notify all nations. Envoys from various countries will come to congratulate, so Your Majesty must return before the coronation ceremony!”

Chancellor Lu paused momentarily, then continued: “However… there is still one difficult matter. Many official positions remain vacant, and Your Majesty needs to determine the appointments before departing. This matter… we ministers truly dare not overstep our bounds.”

Bai Qingyan nodded to Chancellor Lu. She understood that Chancellor Lu was indirectly advising her to stay, and more importantly, he was avoiding suspicion. Chancellor Lu didn’t want people to think he would take this opportunity to place his people in various departments, and he was also preventing others from placing their people in various departments. Most importantly, he wanted to give her a chance to bestow favor upon the officials, to have her remain and stabilize hearts, but Chancellor Lu hadn’t stated this explicitly.

Perhaps out of habit from dealing with monarchs who wouldn’t listen to advice, when Chancellor Lu didn’t hear Bai Qingyan respond, fearing that matters concerning the Grand Princess would make Bai Qingyan act impulsively, he offered another word of advice: “Prince Liang has divided his forces into six routes. Before receiving concrete information, Your Majesty should remain in the palace. Once we determine which direction Prince Liang has taken the Grand Princess, it won’t be too late for Your Majesty to personally pursue them!”

Upon learning that Prince Liang had taken her grandmother hostage and fled the city, Bai Qingyan mentally reviewed the map and had already figured out where Prince Liang’s group was heading. To the south was Shouyang—Prince Liang wouldn’t go there. To the east was Dengzhou Prefecture… Bai Qingyan’s uncle was there with the Dengzhou Army, making the eastern route risky due to potential flanking attacks.

To the north, Bai Qingyan had just returned with her army, so Prince Liang’s group would be concerned about taking that risk. That left only the southwest direction. In the southwest, Prince Liang could choose either Guangling or Luohong City.

Prince Liang had no more troops. To contend with Bai Qingyan, he would need military forces and provisions… Coincidentally, Yanwo was currently constructing the Grand River Canal, possessing both troops and provisions.

Moreover, once the Grand River Canal was completed, Yanwo would become Jin’s largest granary. Based on multiple considerations, if fleeing the capital to find a city to defend, naturally, Guangling City and Luohong City would be most suitable.

Since Guangling City was close to Yan, Prince Liang’s group presumably wouldn’t want to risk it, leaving only Luohong City.

Chancellor Lu, still fearing he couldn’t dissuade Bai Qingyan, turned back and grabbed Dong Qingping’s arm, pulling him forward together…

Bai Qingyan quickly descended from the high steps, showing no airs whatsoever, treating herself entirely as a junior.

Chancellor Lu pulled Dong Qingping to the front and spoke earnestly to Bai Qingyan: “Being an emperor is different from being a general who campaigns and kills. The capital’s turmoil has just settled, court and Kingdomside are in chaos… court affairs are unstable, and hearts are even more unstable. This place… needs Your Majesty to remain and stabilize the overall situation. Your Majesty is the backbone of this capital!”

Dong Qingping also nodded: “Indeed, in this matter… I think Chancellor Lu speaks reasonably.”

“Eldest sister, since Chancellor Lu and Uncle Dong speak thus, they naturally have their reasons. Let me go!” Bai Jinxiu said. “I will certainly rescue grandmother safely!”

Bai Qingyan was not someone who wouldn’t listen to advice. The Bai family had never harbored disloyal intentions, so… the Bai family children had learned from childhood how to be good generals, but no one had ever taught the Bai family descendants how to be emperors.

In the matter of being an emperor, she was a student with too much yet to learn.

She nodded and bowed to Chancellor Lu, who quickly stepped aside to avoid Bai Qingyan’s courtesy, repeatedly saying he dared not accept it.

“Bai Qingyan is young and once received instruction from her grandfather… learning how to be a good general. Now to lead a nation’s government, I still need Chancellor Lu and all the ministers to provide much guidance and support!” Bai Qingyan looked up at Chancellor Lu. “Bai Qingyan wishes to appoint Chancellor Lu as Imperial Teacher. Please teach me the way of being a monarch.”

Chancellor Lu, accustomed to being humble and diplomatic before emperors, was caught off guard by this soon-to-be-crowned empress’s suddenly humble attitude seeking instruction, and beyond his surprise, felt deeply moved.

The Bai family was upright and honest, caring for the realm, and willing to humbly seek instruction, incomparably superior to the Lin imperial clan. With such an emperor, how could the future Great Zhou fail to unify the realm?

The Bai family never produced worthless wastrels because the Bai family’s traditions were pure. The Bai family… was truly exceptional at educating children.

Chancellor Lu’s eyes filled with tears, his heart surging with myriad emotions. He solemnly bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “承蒙陛下不弃，老朽愿鞠躬尽瘁，穷尽所学匡翼陛下… Grateful that Your Majesty does not disdain me, this old minister is willing to dedicate himself wholeheartedly, exhausting all learning to support Your Majesty…”

Bai Qingyan’s sincere attitude of respecting virtue and recruiting talent made the scholars in the great hall’s eyes grow warm.

“Bai Jinxiu, Lin Kangle… you two first lead troops in a rapid march toward Luohong City to pursue them. You must ensure the Grand Princess and the deposed crown prince’s safety—speed is essential! I’ll follow shortly after.” Bai Qingyan said.

“Bai Jinxiu receives the command!” Bai Jinxiu clasped her fists.

“This general receives the command!” Lin Kangle asked no questions. Bai Qingyan’s strategic calculations were flawless—through three campaigns, Lin Kangle had witnessed this. Whenever Princess Zhenguo gave orders, he would never hesitate.

The palace had been thoroughly cleaned, and mountains of memorial scrolls were carried in.

Bai Qingyan hadn’t changed out of her blood-stained silver armor, and the ministers still wore white robes. They all sat together in the great hall, handling governmental affairs that had accumulated for far too long. None dared slack off.

Bai Jinse sent people to light the bright lamps in the great hall and instructed: “Send people to each minister’s home to fetch clean clothes, and prepare food for all the ministers.”