She nodded to Qin Shangzhi: “Thank you for Master Qin’s concern. Master Qin, take care!”

Qin Shangzhi bowed deeply again and didn’t straighten up until he heard the sound of wheels rolling over the earth fade into the distance, then he silently blessed Bai Qingyan in his heart.

Bai Qingyan had fulfilled her promise – not merely occupying a place in the court, but standing tall within it, becoming the Emperor of Great Zhou. Yet Qin Shangzhi in this lifetime… would ultimately still walk the same path as his previous life, remaining loyal to the deposed Crown Prince of Jin.

·

When Bai Qingyan arrived at Pingyang City, she was greeted by the first snowfall of the season.

The border people had always held deep affection for the Bai Family Army and the Bai Family. Learning that Bai Qingyan was coming, the common people had braved the snow early to leave the city and welcome her carriage.

During this period, the elephant army had frequently appeared at the border. For the people of Pingyang City who had never seen such gigantic creatures as elephants, fear was naturally in their hearts.

In the mountains at the border between the two countries outside Pingyang City, many hunters had all suffered misfortune. Some temporary shelters built by Great Zhou citizens hunting in the mountains had also been trampled by elephants.

The common people spread tales by word of mouth, making the elephants sound extremely fierce, like the monsters of legend that no one could resist, causing panic among the people.

The wealthy and powerful in Pingyang City had already fled with their families when the elephant army reached the border. Even those parent-officials who used to come out to comfort them had long since transferred their wealth and families out of Pingyang City. No one knew how desperate the common people felt seeing such scenes.

They thought that once war began, they would surely be the first abandoned by the Great Zhou.

Some common people had even begun cursing that after Bai Qingyan ascended to the imperial throne, her heart had changed, no longer possessing the iron backbone of the old Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting and the Bai Family generals who had sworn to protect these common people to the death.

They hesitated whether to evacuate Pingyang City, but once they left their homeland, they would become refugees. With winter upon them, even if they didn’t starve to death, they might freeze to death. So they held onto a thread of hope, thinking that since there were no signs of war yet, they never actually left their homes.

The common people at the frontier were unlike those in the capital. When winds blew in the court… the capital’s people could still hear some whispers, but the frontier people heard nothing at all and could only guess. The more they guessed, the more frightening it became, feeling that their worthless lives had long been abandoned by the court.

Later, Duke Gaoyi Bai Jinzhi and Shen Kunyang arrived at Pingyang City first with the Bai Family Army, which finally put the people’s minds at ease, making them understand that the court had not abandoned them!

The court had sent the Great Zhou’s most valiant Bai Family Army! And it was personally led by Duke Gaoyi, who had destroyed Great Liang!

The people cried as they welcomed them in the streets that day. They knew… as long as the Bai Family Army was there, as long as the Bai Family generals were there, they would fight to the death to protect these border city people!

Now, the Great Zhou Emperor was coming in person – that was the Emperor of Great Zhou! Just when those wealthy families and officials of Pingyang City were transferring their families and fleeing, their Emperor had come personally to be with these border city people. How could this not invigorate them!

Their Majesty was once the renowned God of Death.

Bai Qingyan’s arrival filled the people with excitement like drinking chicken blood!

Even in heavy snow, they were not afraid – they insisted on coming to welcome their protecting Emperor.

From afar, seeing the black-armored heavy cavalry slowly approaching with black sails and white python banners, those black banners fluttering in the blizzard, someone among the people, already covered with snow, was sharp-eyed enough to spot them first and excitedly shouted: “It’s the black sail, white python banner! His Majesty has come!”

The people all gathered toward the gate, their voices of discussion growing increasingly loud.

“It’s His Majesty! His Majesty has come!”

“With His Majesty here, we no longer fear the elephant army! His Majesty truly hasn’t abandoned us, border city people! His Majesty has come personally!”

“Exactly! How wonderful! We’re saved!”

Joy and excitement were the most contagious emotions, and the people burst into thrilled cheers.

“I said the Bai Family Army and His Majesty would never abandon us, border city people! You all didn’t believe it then!” The man saying this had a red face from the cold, but his eyes were extremely bright and his expression supremely proud. “His Majesty is from the Bai Family! Bai Family generals all fight to the death to protect the people! His Majesty is a child of the Bai Family – even after ascending the throne, this will never change!”

Shen Kunyang, along with Cheng Yuanzhi, Lu Yuanpeng, and Sima Ping, watched the black sail white python banners with the Pingyang City garrison commanders. Lu Yuanpeng, hearing the people’s cheers, could no longer contain himself and spurred his horse forward: “General Shen, I’ll go welcome the Bai Fam… His Majesty!”

“What kind of address is ‘Bai Family His Majesty’?” Cheng Yuanzhi glared at Lu Yuanpeng, who was covered in snow.

“We used to always call her Bai Family Elder Sister – it’s a habit!” Lu Yuanpeng grinned sheepishly.

“Wait here. In such heavy snow, if you go over there, our little Bai…”

Cheng Yuanzhi almost let it slip, and before he could correct himself, he heard Lu Yuanpeng howling loudly: “Ooh ooh ooh… General Cheng, what kind of address is that!”

“You little rascal!” Cheng Yuanzhi raised his hand as if to strike Lu Yuanpeng.

“Stop fooling around!” Shen Kunyang turned and shouted angrily.

Both Cheng Yuanzhi and Lu Yuanpeng became obedient. Cheng Yuanzhi grinned at Shen Kunyang, while Lu Yuanpeng, already afraid of General Shen Kunyang, quickly averted his gaze and rubbed his nose. In any case, both finally sat properly on their horses behind without moving.

Sima Ping tilted his head to glance at Lu Yuanpeng beside him, sighed, and shook his head. Lu Yuanpeng could be considered blessed in his foolishness – at least he had caught General Cheng Yuanzhi’s eye, though he hadn’t escaped many beatings with the military rod… which had dragged Sima Ping into getting beaten too.

Thinking of this, Sima Ping felt his buttocks were still somewhat sore. He stretched his waist and looked at the vigorous Lu Yuanpeng. Was this guy part dog? How did he recover so well?

With a raise of Shen Kunyang’s hand, the soldiers immediately held back the people to either side, loudly telling them to step back for fear that the approaching carriages and horses might injure the people.

Because of the falling snow, Bai Qingyan’s carriage did not stop at the city gate. Only Shen Kunyang rode quickly forward to greet Bai Qingyan, telling her that Bai Jinzhi had taken people out of the city to bring the hunters from the border area between the two countries into the city.

“These hunters all live at the border – there are our Great Zhou people, but also Great Yan people and Xiliang people, all making their living by hunting. I heard that before we came, the elephant army was active in the mountains, causing the hunters heavy losses. Some hunters even lost their houses! Now… with the snow falling, Fourth Miss worried that the people couldn’t withstand the severe cold, so she took people to bring them into the city,” Shen Kunyang told Bai Qingyan.

Hearing this, she nodded.

Bai Qingyan, hearing that Bai Jinzhi had gone to bring people into the city, felt deeply comforted and said softly: “Xiao Si has grown up…”