Great Liang was conquered later on, after all, and wasn’t part of Great Zhou’s territory from the beginning. Bai Qingyan knew exactly how many of Great Liang’s former nobles and distinguished families still harbored resentment in their hearts. Now that she had transferred the troops stationed in Great Liang to Great Zhou’s border with Yan, there was no guarantee that those harboring treacherous thoughts wouldn’t take the opportunity to cause trouble.

“Very well, this humble minister understands!” Dong Qingping nodded—this was precisely what he was worried about.

“Additionally, regarding… when I received the battle report yesterday and learned that military tactics known only to Great Zhou and Yan had been leaked from Yan, resulting in the unknown whereabouts of the Fifth Young Master and Seventh Miss of the Bai family, I ordered troops deployed to Yan’s borders and immediately set out for Xi Liang after giving birth, abandoning my children—I would trouble the three ministers to discreetly spread this news!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze was clear and bright. “Subsequently, impose martial law on the capital and have the Imperial Investigation Bureau begin investigating people leaving the capital, especially those previously recorded as having suspicious behavior. This time, we must eliminate all the spies from Xi Liang and Yan that we can root out!”

“Yes!” Grand Commandant Lu responded.

“There’s one more matter that the three ministers should know. A’Yu’s severe injury and capture this time—while it’s true that someone from Yan colluded with Xi Liang people, A’Yu had learned of this beforehand and turned the tables on them, opening the city gates for Great Zhou’s army to enter Yun Jing and reducing Great Zhou’s casualties! My using this incident to deploy troops to Yan’s borders is preparation for the struggle for the realm after Yun Jing is pacified!”

Bai Qingyan’s words were resolute and forceful. Her mention of the struggle for the realm immediately made even the elderly Grand Commandant Lu’s blood boil with excitement.

Yes, this was truly their Great Zhou Emperor!

Even when facing difficulties, she still didn’t forget to plan for the road ahead. Their Emperor had never forgotten those four words: unification of the realm.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan’s considerations were thorough, Minister of Works Shen felt reassured. It seemed Bai Qingyan hadn’t been temporarily blinded by hatred and wasn’t acting recklessly.

“For the remaining court affairs, I’ll trouble Grand Commandant Lu! Grand Commandant Lu should discuss everything with the Empress Dowager. For matters that can’t be sent to Xi Liang in time for my approval, whatever the Empress Dowager approves can be handled…” Bai Qingyan said.

“Yes!” Grand Commandant Lu responded.

“Very well, thus I entrust Great Zhou and the capital to the three ministers, especially regarding this spring examination. Please promote more talented women to serve as court officials, letting the people know that allowing women to study and serve in court was not my momentary jest! Furthermore… have Dong Changyuan and the others deliberate on corresponding policies for women serving as court officials, including matters of women marrying, giving birth, observing confinement, and so forth—who should temporarily assume the duties of their positions during these times!”

“There’s also the matter of what official positions women can hold when serving in court… this old minister was thinking of having a thorough discussion after Your Majesty returns!” Grand Commandant Lu said.

Bai Qingyan only replied calmly: “Whatever positions men can hold, women can hold as well. For now, follow the same procedures and try not to differentiate between men and women. If we encounter any situations during implementation, we can discuss and modify them then.”

“Yes!” Grand Commandant Lu responded.

“Well then, that covers most of what I wanted to say. If there are other matters later, we can discuss them further!” Bai Qingyan mentally reviewed everything once more, confirming there was nothing else that needed to be arranged, before saying to the three ministers, “Thus, I shall depart first!”

The three ministers hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan and took their leave, exiting the carriage.

Dong Qingping looked at Bai Qingyan as if he wanted to say something, but hesitated. In the end, he only advised: “Take care of your health! You’re not made of iron! Now that you know A’Yu is turning the tables on them, and you also plan to turn the tables, but for the sake of your health, don’t rush too urgently. If you really can’t rest easy, send a letter to Dengzhou and have your uncle go to Xi Liang instead. After all, the Rong Di have now been incorporated into the Great Zhou, so there’s no need to guard against them anymore!”

“I understand, Uncle.” Bai Qingyan nodded to Dong Qingping, her heart filled with warmth.

Only then did Dong Qingping sigh and exit the carriage, standing respectfully alongside Grand Commandant Lu and Minister of Works Shen to see off Bai Qingyan’s carriage.

Just now, inside the carriage, they were uncle and niece. Now they were sovereign and subjects.

Watching Bai Qingyan’s convoy disappear into the distance, Grand Commandant Lu finally straightened his back and said, “His Majesty just mentioned establishing corresponding policies for women serving as court officials. This matter has become urgent.”

“Although Dong Changyuan is young, passionate, and intelligent, he’s still too inexperienced after all. He could be mentored by that old fox Lu Jin. Lu Jin is… exceptionally clever!” Minister of Works Shen said.

Dong Qingping nodded in agreement.

Although Grand Commandant Lu wanted to support his son, honestly speaking… Lu Jin was stronger than his son, Lu Jinxian, a point even Grand Commandant Lu couldn’t deny.

Therefore, Grand Commandant Lu was also considering the time to push Lu Jin to the forefront, cultivating Great Zhou’s next Grand Commandant for Bai Qingyan. This incident… could serve as a small test for both Dong Changyuan and Lu Jin.

The Bai Mansion in the capital.

On the second day after Bai Qingyan departed for “Xi Liang,” news came from the palace that the little Princess had vomited milk again, followed by the little Prince also vomiting milk. Imperial Physician Huang was at his wits’ end. The Empress Dowager specifically summoned the Imperial Astronomer to inquire, saying she had dreamed for three consecutive days that the auspicious signs said to have appeared when the little Prince and Princess were born had occurred above the Bai Mansion in the capital, asking whether these dreams were related to the little Prince and Princess’s weak constitution and vomiting.

The Imperial Astronomer, reading between the lines, reported to the Empress Dowager that the Bai Mansion was where His Majesty had resided during his time as a hidden dragon, making it the most auspicious place in all of Great Zhou. They could try raising the little Prince and Princess at the Bai Mansion first.

The Empress Dowager was very satisfied with the Imperial Astronomer’s answer and summoned Grand Commandant Lu, Minister of Works Shen, and Minister of Education Dong to explain the situation. All three agreed that the little Prince and Princess’s health should be the priority, and where they lived was secondary.

Naturally, the matter of the Empress Dowager bringing the little Prince and Princess to live at the Bai Mansion still needed to be kept secret.

But imperial family matters were watched by everyone in the Great Zhou, and it was impossible to keep everything completely secret. Several ministers also learned of the Empress Dowager’s plan to bring the Prince and Princess to live at the Bai Mansion for a while.

When Lu Jin heard about this, he stroked his newly grown beard and pondered. His furrowed brow suddenly relaxed as understanding dawned—His Majesty probably hadn’t gone to Xi Liang at all, but had merely made a circle and returned.

The Empress Dowager’s plan to quietly bring the little Prince and Princess back to the Bai Mansion for a while set the entire household bustling with activity.

Just as Lu Jin had surmised, Bai Qingyan had already quietly returned to the capital.

Chun Tao, Chun Zhi, Lu Ping, and Wei Zhong were leisurely making their way toward Xi Liang.

Wei Zhong had other tasks for this journey; bringing Lu Ping, Chun Tao, and Chun Zhi along was just to make it more convincing.

Since ascending the throne, Bai Qingyan hadn’t returned to Qinghui Courtyard for a long time.

Qinghui Courtyard remained exactly as it had been, completely unchanged.

Bai Qingyan leaned against the cushioned backrest, sitting reclined on the bed with her daughter in her arms, a wind-blocking cap forced onto her head by her mother.