That Sima Ping, gasping for breath, asked Bai Jinzhi whether she had come to save lives or take lives!

Later on, for a very long time, whenever Sima Ping saw Bai Jinzhi, he would shout… “She’s coming! She’s coming! She’s bringing enemy troops to take our lives!”

In short, his mouth was vicious!

Bai Jinzhi had wanted to beat Sima Ping to death several times.

Bai Jinzhi shook her head. Why was she thinking about those two? Could it be that she really could marry Lu Yuanpeng or Sima Ping or something?

Thinking of this, Bai Jinzhi cast aside her distracting thoughts and went to the side hall to play with Kangle and Xile.

·

Regarding the jade cicada’s ability to reverse time, Second Madam Liu had sent people to investigate thoroughly after returning home, but ultimately couldn’t resist coming to the palace.

When she arrived, Bai Qingyan was still in the morning court. Since everyone in the palace knew of Bai Qingyan’s respect for the Bai family madams, when Second Madam Liu anxiously came to peer into the Golden Luan Hall from behind, no one stopped her.

Chun Tao stood beside Second Madam Liu, covering her lips with a handkerchief and smiling as she said to Liu: “Second Madam, it’s only been a few days since you’ve seen First Miss, yet you miss her so much that you can’t wait a moment and must stand here to watch.”

Today’s palace visit truly wasn’t because Liu missed Bai Qingyan. These past few days, she had been extremely troubled by the matter of the jade cicada’s time reversal ability, and her subordinates simply couldn’t investigate as quickly as Bai Qingyan’s people.

Moreover, Liu had heard that the ruler of Tianfeng was currently in Dongyi, and coincidentally, Bai Qingyan was now sending envoys to Dongyi. If Bai Qingyan could send a letter to Liu Rushi, having Liu Rushi find a way to obtain the jade cicada in the Tianfeng ruler’s possession, and if they could also find the jade cicada that Xiao Rongyan had previously worn, perhaps… they could reverse time!

That day in the jewelry shop, those two girls who said behind Liu’s back that Bai Qingyan definitely wouldn’t want time reversal because she was reluctant to give up the imperial throne—Liu thought that was complete nonsense!

Liu had watched Bai Qingyan grow up and understood her temperament too well. While she ultimately sat on this throne because she rebelled against Jin for the people’s sake, in her heart… it was really to take the place of her grandfather, father, and uncles in protecting the Bai family, protecting her younger brothers and sisters, protecting these useless aunts of theirs!

If it were possible to reverse time to before the Nan Jiang campaign, Liu believed Bai Qingyan would be even more anxious than she was.

She came today because she was certain that Bai Qingyan, knowing about the time reversal matter, would send people to investigate. Thinking also of the Tianfeng grand shaman that Bai Qingyan had detained, Liu came today wanting to ask what Bai Qingyan had discovered, to get some information to put her mind at ease.

At this moment, Liu didn’t know what had happened in court. She only saw that among the two rows of ministers in the great hall, some had already knelt, trembling all over.

Bai Qingyan, dressed in imperial robes, had a cold expression as she walked down from the high platform. The ministers immediately bowed, constantly shifting their bodies as Bai Qingyan moved, always maintaining a respectful posture facing her.

“I know many people have great opinions about Shen Tianzhi… first promoted to Minister due to his merit in supporting the dragon, and now directly appointed as Minister of Public Works. You’re not convinced! Some even think Shen Tianzhi squeezed out the previous Minister of Public Works Shen Jingzhong, but… I want you to remember that none of this can be a reason for you to create obstacles and difficulties for Shen Tianzhi. This time I’ll leave it at that and won’t investigate further who else was behind this trouble, but… I don’t want there to be a next time!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze swept over the ministers. “Now the national gamble is our Great Zhou’s most important matter. Anyone who dares to delay or embezzle in this affair, regardless of the scale, I will take their head!”

The court ministers trembled in fear and quickly voiced their agreement.

Liu stood in the back, seeing the golden morning light streaming through the open palace doors and falling on Bai Qingyan. Her voice was resonant, like a blade that could carve marks into the blue stone floor, with the same proud integrity as always, but highlighted by the morning light with even more imperial majesty.

“From today forward, all matters regarding the areas in Yan territory designated for implementing Great Zhou’s new policies shall be handled by Prince Zhenguo and Prince Huguo. The commands of Prince Zhenguo and Prince Huguo are my commands—no need to request instructions… just execute! If there are further delays, immediate execution without mercy!”

Bai Qingyan was truly holding back a belly full of anger. In Great Zhou’s court, Bai Qingyan had never put on imperial airs, and the court atmosphere had always been good. But perhaps it was because Bai Qingyan had too few airs that former subordinates of Shen Jingzhong dared to create obstacles for Shen Tianzhi.

In their eyes, it seemed as if the one going to Yan to implement new policies for this national gamble was Shen Tianzhi alone. Even if they lost, it would be Shen Tianzhi’s affair and had nothing to do with them. They even harbored hopes… thinking that if Bai Qingyan won, she would take Yan territory, and if she lost, it wouldn’t matter because the brave Bai family army could fight it back.

If not for the lives of the soldiers, if not to spare the people from the suffering of war, she wanted to fight… they could have fought as early as when Yan’s main forces were trapped in Xiliang. What need was there for any national gamble?

When a nation’s civil officials lost their scholarly backbone and had no sense of honor, daring to say that if they lost the bilateral covenant wouldn’t count—how were they qualified to be officials?

“All ministers of the Great Zhou must remember! To lose faith with the realm… one cannot gain the realm! The Yan Empress Dowager once stabbed us Great Zhou in the back—this is a living example!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze swept over the several officials still kneeling on the ground, not daring to rise. “These few, dismissed from office and never to be employed again!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan turned and left. Wei Zhong loudly announced the end of court…

“Respectfully sending off His Majesty!” The ministers quickly kowtowed in salute.

Coming out of the great hall, Bai Qingyan instructed Wei Zhong: “Tell Prince Fuguo to have the Investigation Bureau look into who else is behind these people!”

Although Bai Qingyan had said openly that she wouldn’t investigate further who else was behind this, as emperor she couldn’t not know who else was involved. Anyone who dared to cause trouble at this time showed they could no longer be entrusted with important responsibilities.

Originally, the Investigation Bureau was meant to be used against other nations, but unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan now had to use it on her officials.

She clenched her fists.

How long had it been since they overthrew Jin and established the Great Zhou? Some officials in court were already becoming set in their ways, bringing the corrupt atmosphere of Jin’s officialdom into Great Zhou’s court.

“First Miss, Second Madam has entered the palace to visit First Miss…” Chun Zhi came forward to bow to Bai Qingyan, then stood properly at her side, walking while smiling, “When Second Madam arrived, First Miss was still in morning court. Unable to wait, Madam has been waiting behind the great hall for First Miss’s court session to end.”

With Second Aunt coming so urgently, Bai Qingyan worried that something had happened. Adjusting her mood, she said to Wei Zhong: “Wei Zhong, in a while, have Prince Zhenguo, Prince Huguo, Prince Fuguo, Prince Zhongguo, and Prince Gaoyi all come to the study.”