Yue Shi had originally been ordered to deliver Empress Ji’s letters to Bai Qingyan, but before entering the capital, she heard people saying… that today was Princess Gaoyi’s birthday, and a kite competition was being held at Jinhui Mountain to celebrate with the people, and even Bai Qingyan and all the ladies of the Bai family would attend.

Yue Shi still had a personal letter from her master to give to the eldest daughter, so instead of going directly into the city to the imperial palace, she came to Jinhui Mountain.

On the way there, Yue Shi thought of the Bai family shadow guards, thinking that if she had a chance to meet with several Bai family shadow guards later, she would buy some dried meat, food, and honey syrup to share with them.

Although it was said to be celebrating with the people, there were still distinctions of rank and status, so the common people were still blocked outside by layer upon layer of imperial guards. However, even from outside, they could see the kites flying up to the sky, and thinking they might have a chance to catch a glimpse of the Female Emperor, they all gathered there.

Fortunately, Xie Yuchang, Fu Ruoxi, and others knew that Yue Shi was a guard beside Xiao Rongyan. When they came early to arrange defenses, they saw Yue Shi and quickly had someone bring her over, asking where she had been during this time.

After bowing to the two officials, Yue Shi smiled and said, “I returned to Great Wei once. Before leaving, His Majesty instructed me to organize the master’s books and send them over. So… hearing that His Majesty would come here today, I didn’t enter the palace but followed here instead!”

“I’ll send someone to take you to rest under the pavilion for a while. When His Majesty arrives later, I’ll mention it to His Majesty!” Fu Ruoxi patted Yue Shi’s arm, thinking in her heart that she would speak to Bai Qingyan later. This Yue Shi had good martial arts skills – after settling Xiao family matters later, they could have Yue Shi stay in the military with some official position.

After all, she was Xiao Rongyan’s most trusted personal guard. Since their Majesty had married Xiao Rongyan, Yue Shi could be considered their Majesty’s subordinate. As long as His Majesty remembered the old affection with Xiao Rongyan, Yue Shi staying in Great Zhou would surely have unlimited prospects, and might even become a guard for the imperial heir in Bai Qingyan’s womb in the future.

Just as Fu Ruoxi thought, Xiao Rongyan had indeed considered placing Yue Shi beside Bai Qingyan to protect both her and the child. But firstly, there was no lack of experts around Bai Qingyan, and secondly… he feared that Empress Dowager Dong Shi would think he had ulterior motives in leaving Yue Shi beside Bai Qingyan, so he dared not do so.

Before long, the Great Zhou Female Emperor and Empress Dowager’s carriage procession came grandly, with imperial guards first blocking the common people on both sides of the road.

Azure banners with gold trim and black sails with white python designs led the way, fluttering majestically in the wind. A thousand black-armored cavalry followed in a slow, orderly procession with uniform steps, truly shocking the common people. Sword-bearing escorts followed closely behind, and after the feather fans and layers of precious banners and canopies, one could see richly dressed eunuchs and palace maids carrying gracefully curling lotus incense burners…

Behind them came luxurious and dazzling carriages one after another, with imperial guards in bright armor protecting both sides of the carriages in neat formation, their boot steps shaking hearts.

Among the common people kneeling on the outer side, the bold ones secretly raised their heads, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Female Emperor sitting in the carriage, or the Bai family ladies, but could only see the delicate gauze curtains swaying around the exquisite carriages.

Within the venue, officials’ family members, arranged on both sides of the Female Emperor’s pavilion according to official rank and closeness to the Female Emperor, all emerged from under their pavilions to welcome the Female Emperor.

Bai Qihe also led the Bai clan members out from under the pavilion. Seeing the Female Emperor’s carriage procession, he first led the Bai clan members to kneel respectfully.

After Bai Qihe returned to his residence from the palace that day, he summoned all the Bai clan members who had settled in the capital. Those who had designs on the Bai family ladies not only had their legs broken by Bai Qihe… but were also expelled from the clan as a warning to others.

This time Bai Qihe’s methods were truly severe, and did indeed intimidate these Bai clan members. Now they had given up their dirty thoughts, but Bai Qihe’s wife Lady Fang was still single-mindedly hoping that her elder brother could climb up to marry one of the Bai family ladies.

Lady Fang’s elder brother rushed over upon hearing the news, not only bringing unmarried young men from his own family and relatives, but also several pretty unmarried young women from the clan who were of marriageable age, thinking to use this opportunity to arrange matches for these children…

His ambitions weren’t great – he didn’t dare think of climbing up to marry a Bai family lady, but only wanted to use the marriage connection with the Bai family to help the Fang family’s younger generation establish a foothold in the capital.

As long as they could use the Bai family’s influence to climb up to the capital’s nobility, future business would be easier to conduct.

Moreover, from Bai Qingyan’s ascension to the throne until now, she had not yet bestowed titles on Bai clan members, showing she was still quite dissatisfied with them. As long as Lady Fang didn’t make mistakes, when the New Year celebrations came, Bai Qingyan would certainly make awards. As clan leader, Bai Qihe’s title would surely not be low, and then Lady Fang would be a titled lady. For this reason, Lady Fang should think thrice before acting.

He had told Lady Fang this, but she complained in her heart that her brother was too timid and planned to act on her initiative while keeping it from her brother.

She thought over and over that these imperial family ladies would always need to relieve themselves and change clothes, and even if they didn’t go, she had ways to force them to go!

She had almost emptied her private savings, spending large amounts of silver, confident that she could succeed. When the time came, as long as any of the Bai family ladies showed signs of trouble, she would have someone pull her brother aside to talk first, and could always bring the two together.

The person Lady Fang most wanted her brother to succeed with was the Bai family’s Fourth Lady Wang Shi. Wang Shi had always been timid and weak, unlike the other fierce Bai family ladies, making her easier to control if she truly married her brother in the future.

Moreover, Lady Fang had also investigated – this Wang Shi’s dowry was in no way inferior to the other ladies’, easy to handle… with an abundant dowry. If the Fang family had Wang Shi’s dowry support, their business would surely grow bigger and bigger.

Choosing Wang Shi had even greater benefits for Lady Fang…

Previously, everyone said Bai Qingyan couldn’t bear children, and Lady Fang had thought her son, Bai Qingping, had a chance. Who knew that later several from the Bai family returned.

Later, this Bai Qingyan, who was rumored to be unable to bear children, also became pregnant, which couldn’t help but surprise Lady Fang.

Lady Fang had also observed that among the Bai family sons who had returned, only Wang Shi’s son Bai Qingjue was intact. If something happened to the child in Bai Qingyan’s womb, or if it was a girl, she didn’t believe that Bai Qingyan, who couldn’t bear children, could be so lucky as to conceive again!

When that time came, the throne would most likely go to Wang Shi’s son…

Thus, her brother would be like a Grand Emperor, and she who facilitated this matter… surely her brother wouldn’t treat her poorly?

Lady Fang had also made up her mind, even keeping it from Pu Liu, using only the loyal servants she had originally brought from her natal family.

Bai Qingyan was naturally tall and slender, and now wasn’t particularly showing yet, moving nimbly. Combined with her loose clothing, one couldn’t tell she was pregnant.

After Dong Shi, Bai Qingyan, and all the Bai family ladies were seated, all the court officials returned to their pavilions.