These Jin court ministers, whether officials who submitted to the military power in Bai Qingyan’s hands or those like Chancellor Lu who truly wished to serve Bai Qingyan loyally, all instructed their family members that although Bai Qingyan had not yet ascended the throne, it was already the Great Zhou dynasty, and Bai Qingyan was already the emperor of Great Zhou. They must treat Bai Qingyan with respect and reverence, and even in private, they must not speak offensively of her, lest they bring disaster upon their families.

Soon, Bai Qingyan’s decree appointing officials was delivered to each residence.

Chancellor Lu was appointed as Imperial Tutor; other officials were promoted according to their circumstances, and Grand Tutor Chen’s grandson Chen Zhaolu, Dong Changyuan, and Lu Yuanqing were all greatly promoted. However, there was no appointment for Li Mingrui among them.

Chancellor Lu and his eldest son had just bathed and were preparing to rest when they heard that… the Jin dynasty’s imperial relatives and nobles throughout the capital were coming to their door one after another, claiming they had matters to consult Chancellor Lu about.

Upon hearing this news, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son hurriedly dressed and went to see his father.

“Father, I imagine these Jin dynasty imperial relatives and nobles learned from others about His Majesty’s intention to reform the laws. Legal reform will certainly harm the interests of imperial relatives and aristocratic families, but unfortunately, the Jin dynasty has already changed to the Great Zhou. These imperial relatives and nobles cannot put on airs before His Majesty, so they can only come to consult father.” Chancellor Lu’s eldest son stood before the desk in the Left Chancellor’s study, watching his father with his eyes closed while Lu Yuanqing helped twist his hair, his heart filled with worry. “The power of these Jin dynasty imperial relatives and nobles cannot be underestimated – I fear they will cause chaos!”

“Do you think the troops His Majesty brought back are just for show?” Chancellor Lu remained perfectly composed with his eyes closed, speaking at a leisurely pace without showing the slightest worry. “His Majesty would certainly have thought that these Jin dynasty imperial relatives and nobles would oppose legal reform. If this old minister guesses correctly… His Majesty surely has follow-up moves. Although this Majesty is a woman, she never does anything without certainty!”

“Then… should father see these Jin dynasty imperial relatives and nobles or not?” Chancellor Lu’s eldest son asked.

“I won’t see them!” Chancellor Lu adjusted to a more comfortable position. “If His Majesty wants political stability… the previous dynasty’s nobles must certainly be dealt with. Meeting them now would be of no benefit…”

After speaking, Chancellor Lu looked at his eldest son again, as if pondering something. Perhaps feeling uncomfortable under his father’s gaze, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son examined his clothing, and seeing nothing improper, asked: “Father, is there something improper about your son?”

“Jinxian… father asks you, do you wish to take father’s position in the future?” Chancellor Lu suddenly asked.

Lu Jinxian was startled, understanding that his father had something to entrust to him. He bowed deeply to his father: “Please instruct me, father!”

The new emperor was to ascend the throne on the twentieth of June. The imperial palace required comprehensive renovation, the previous dynasty’s emperor’s concubines in the harem all needed to be dismissed from the palace, and the eunuchs and palace maids needed to be re-registered and catalogued. These matters were extremely tedious, and Bai Qingyan entrusted them all to Dong Qingping’s two sons, Dong Changsheng and Dong Changqing.

Bai Qingyan ordered someone to send messages to the two contingents of Bai family troops rushing from the southern frontier to Shuoyang and the capital, telling them not to be too hasty – they just needed to return by the twentieth of June for the coronation ceremony. Afterward, she quietly moved back to the Qinghui Courtyard in Princess Zhenguo’s residence to temporarily reside there.

The Bai family troops from Shuoyang City and the Bai family guard troops protected Princess Zhenguo so tightly that not even water could leak through. The founding empress of the Great Zhou dynasty, who was about to ascend, lived here – who would dare be careless?

Yet there were still those blind enough to try to force their way in.

Indeed, a beggar covered in dirt charged toward the Bai residence, claiming to be a eunuch who served beside the Jin dynasty Crown Prince and demanding to see Princess Zhenguo.

The Bai family troops from Shuoyang looked at the disheveled beggar before them. By the light of the sheepskin lanterns hanging from the eaves at the Bai residence entrance, they could vaguely make out that the clothes on this beggar were indeed the attire of Jin dynasty palace eunuchs.

“Go, go, go! There’s no Princess Zhenguo anymore! It’s the Great Zhou dynasty now! Our Empress isn’t someone a former dynasty slave like you can meet just by asking. If you keep making noise at the Bai residence entrance, watch your head!” The speaking Shuoyang soldier spoke in a local dialect and pushed Quan Yu away.

Quan Yu looked up and only then discovered that the Princess Zhenguo residence plaque had been changed to Bai Residence.

“It can’t be! How could Princess Zhenguo rebel… Princess Zhenguo was loyal to the Crown Prince!” Quan Yu’s pupils trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at the Bai Residence plaque and kept backing away.

Even though everyone said Princess Zhenguo had rebelled, Quan Yu didn’t believe it. He clearly remembered how resolute Princess Zhenguo had been that day when she blocked an arrow for the Crown Prince, covered in blood…

How could someone so loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince have rebelled against him?! Quan Yu didn’t believe it!

He backed away several steps, then suddenly stopped. He knew… it must be because Prince Liang had ascended the throne, and Princess Zhenguo thought Prince Liang had already killed the Crown Prince, so she rebelled!

“Princess Zhenguo! The Crown Prince isn’t dead!” Quan Yu desperately charged toward the Bai residence. “The Crown Prince was taken hostage by Prince Liang – please, Princess Zhenguo, save His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The Shuoyang Bai family troops held Quan Yu back firmly. The squad leader who had just told Quan Yu to leave was instantly enraged and kicked Quan Yu in the chest, sending him flying far away to crawl and kneel on the ground, in too much pain to support himself.

That squad leader was about to step forward to grab Quan Yu and throw him farther away when a Bai family guard who had often accompanied the eldest miss and fourth miss to the Crown Prince’s residence multiple times recognized Quan Yu. He hurriedly ran out from the Bai residence and stopped the hot-tempered squad leader: “Brother! Brother! This eunuch served beside the Jin dynasty’s deposed Crown Prince and was always respectful to our eldest miss. There’s no need for this…”

Hearing the Bai family guard speak thus, the Shuoyang Bai family troops finally contained their anger and said in a low voice: “But we can’t let him shout like this here either.”

“I’ll persuade him! I’ll persuade him…” The Bai family guard smiled and spoke to the Shuoyang Bai family troops’ squad leader, then hurried forward to help Quan Yu up. “Eunuch Quan Yu!”

Quan Yu raised his head, tears in his eyes: “Princess Zhenguo surely doesn’t know the Crown Prince is still alive. His Highness the Crown Prince was just taken hostage by Prince Liang! Please… let me see Princess Zhenguo. I must beg Princess Zhenguo to save His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The guard looked at Quan Yu, whose eyes were full of panic and urgency, and spoke in a low, comforting voice: “Eunuch Quan Yu, the eldest miss rushed back from Han City day and night without rest, and then there was a pile of government affairs waiting. She hasn’t rested at all. Just now, basket after basket of memorials were carried into the Bai residence. The eldest miss simply can’t spare time to see you now!”

Hearing these words, Quan Yu knelt to the Bai family guard: “Please, let me see Princess Zhenguo! I know Princess Zhenguo is most loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince. Princess Zhenguo… Princess Zhenguo once risked her very life to save His Highness! Please let me see Princess Zhenguo, please…”

Quan Yu looked up at the Bai family guard, his voice choking with emotion until he couldn’t help but cry out loud, pleading humbly.