Dong Shi pressed her lips together and sat there for a long while without saying a word.

Her son was still alive—she already knew this.

But her husband… she had heard it was A’Bao who personally retrieved her husband’s head from the enemy camp, so there was certainly no possibility of survival.

On her birthday… A’Bao must be missing her grandfather and father.

At this moment, Bai Qingyan stood before the many ancestral tablets in the Bai family ancestral hall, one hand covering her heart, the other holding incense… lighting it against the flickering candleflame.

The main gates of the ancestral hall courtyard were tightly closed, with Steward Hao and Lu Ping leading Bai family guards stationed outside the Bai ancestral hall.

The solemn double-eaved ancestral hall had its six yellow rosewood carved partition screens wide open. Inside the hall, the hanging curtains suspended from the sandalwood crossbeams were hooked to the sides of the black sandalwood columns with their lotus-pedestal capitals by copper hooks. Hundreds of lotus oil lamps flickered on the high stands along both sides of the hall, bathing the solemn, quiet ancestral hall in warm tones.

Upon the front altar table before the many ancestral tablets that had been polished to a clean black shine, a gilt bronze mountain-shaped incense burner sent up curling white smoke.

The candlelight flickered bright and dim against Bai Qingyan’s pale, flawless features, making her eyes appear even more profound and resolute.

She lit the incense, used her hand to extinguish the flames on the three incense sticks, respectfully raised the incense above her head with both hands, inserted them into the incense burner, knelt on the prayer cushion and kowtowed three times, then covered her aching heart and knelt on the cushion, quietly gazing at her grandfather’s and father’s tablets, tears seeming to glisten at the corners of her eyes.

Those fragmentary memories of the past seemed like startled dust, reminding her of her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. At that time she was on campaign with her grandfather and father and hadn’t held any ceremony…

That day was also like today—clear skies and brilliant sunshine.

She and her father were in her grandfather’s commander’s tent, choosing her courtesy name.

The dazzling midday light streamed into the large tent from outside. She and her father knelt before her grandfather’s desk, looking at the several courtesy names her grandfather had written on paper. Her father frowned and looked up at her grandfather: “Father, what kind of names are these you’ve given A’Bao? Mingshan—how is that like a girl’s courtesy name! And this one… Mingqi, Father, aren’t you just fooling around? My generation uses the character ‘qi,’ so A’Bao’s courtesy name should avoid it!”

Her grandfather pointed at the paper with “Mingshan” written on it and said, “So didn’t I change it to Mingshan!”

Her father looked completely unwilling and could only ask: “A perfectly good girl, with the courtesy name Mingshan… what’s the reasoning behind that? I think my choice is better—just call her Chang’an! Chang’an, Chang’an… meaning long-lasting peace. What do you think, A’Bao!”

Before she could speak, her grandfather continued: “When the Zhou dynasty arose, phoenixes sang on Mount Qi. This is the reasoning behind the courtesy name I chose for A’Bao. Though A’Bao is female, she has natural talent as a general. She can endure hardship and be ruthless with herself. As long as A’Bao doesn’t confine herself to the inner quarters, she will surely compete and strive for dominance in these troubled times, achieving fame on the battlefield as a woman, becoming a general like our Bai family ancestors whom later generations revere, becoming the most brilliant woman of our Duke’s mansion… and even of Great Jin!”

Bai Qingyan’s throat constricted, her mind filled with images of her grandfather looking at her with smiling eyes full of hope.

Later, her courtesy name was never decided.

Her grandfather’s choice of the courtesy name “Mingshan” for her carried high expectations.

Her father’s choosing the courtesy name “Chang’an” for her expressed deep father-daughter affection.

She clenched her teeth and raised her tear-filled eyes to look at her grandfather’s tablet.

When the Zhou dynasty arose, phoenixes sang on Mount Qi.

And the rise of a new dynasty would surely begin at Niujiao Mountain in Shouyang.

Bai Qingyan straightened and respectfully kowtowed to all the Bai family ancestors, having decided to rebel against the Lin imperial power, solemnly informing her ancestors.

The Bai family had protected the people for generations. This corrupt, festering Jin dynasty Lin imperial power… was unworthy to rule the people!

She asked herself—lacking great ability to correct the imperial family toward righteousness, she wished to replace them. If this violated the Bai ancestors’ generations of loyalty to the Lin imperial power, after death… she would personally apologize.

Her eyes were composed as she kowtowed heavily…

Outside the six open doors of the ancestral hall, wind passed… withered leaves rustled and whispered.

The hanging curtains hooked to the black sandalwood columns by gilt copper hooks swayed. The hundreds of lotus oil lamps in the hall suddenly flickered left and right, and even the white smoke that had been curling up from the gilt bronze mountain incense burner was blown out for an instant.

Bai Qingyan, kneeling and kowtowing on the prayer cushion, tightened her palms and raised her head, her torch-like gaze looking at those tablets, finally settling on her grandfather’s and father’s tablets.

Previously ,Bai Qingyan had thought of her grandmother… worried about the people being affected by war, and still had that tiny bit of hesitation… hesitating whether to rebel against the Lin imperial power or support the Crown Prince’s ascension while trying to guide him toward righteousness.

This matter of the Crown Prince wanting to build the Nine-Tiered Platform for the Emperor completely extinguished Bai Qingyan’s thoughts of reforming the Crown Prince.

“The original purpose of establishing the Bai family army was for the people! Loyalty to the Lin imperial power… was also for the people. Bai Qingyan dares not forget the aspirations passed down through generations of the Bai family, dares not forget the achievement of bringing peace to the seas and rivers and tranquility to the realm.” As Bai Qingyan spoke, tears filled her eyes, her voice calm yet seeming to carry resounding force. “The Bai family army has always been Jin’s bulwark, yet was treated as rebellious subjects by the current Emperor! Bai Qingyan is no saint and unwilling to repay enmity with virtue. I am determined to rebel against the Lin imperial power. Though I dare not say it’s entirely for the people—it’s also for private vengeance—but… Bai Qingyan will certainly exhaust all efforts in this life to pacify this realm! This intention will not change! No regrets!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan kowtowed.

The fierce wind that had been blowing suddenly disappeared from the Bai family ancestral hall. The lotus oil lamp flames swayed gently, and the gilt bronze mountain incenser continued sending up curling smoke. If not for the withered leaves the wind had blown from the courtyard onto Bai Qingyan’s skirt, it would seem as if that gust of wind had never appeared.

Bai Qingyan stood up, supported herself against the ancestral hall’s carved partition screen, bent down to brush the withered leaves from her skirt, and stepped out of the hall…

Outside was still the same brilliant sunny day as when Bai Qingyan had entered, yet suddenly a large raindrop fell, landing at Bai Qingyan’s feet. In moments it became a torrential downpour.

The heavy outer doors of the ancestral hall were pushed open. Lu Ping ran through the rain to beneath the ancestral hall’s double eaves, patted the rainwater from his shoulders, and said with a smile as he cupped his hands to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss, this sunshine rain is a good omen. Usually, it comes quickly and leaves quickly, too. Would Eldest Miss like to wait a moment for the rain to stop before returning, or shall we go now?”

Bai Qingyan looked back at the ancestral hall with its brilliant, flickering lamplight and curved her lips. It could be considered a good omen.

“Let’s go!” Bai Qingyan said.

Lu Ping had Chun Tao bring an umbrella inside and escorted Bai Qingyan out of the ancestral hall under its protection.

Chun Tao got into the carriage first and was just about to help Bai Qingyan board when she heard someone call Bai Qingyan’s name.

“Princess Zhenguo…”

Bai Qingyan paused mid-step and, in this torrential sunshine rain, turned her head to look toward the end of the alley. She saw an elderly man in white cloth, wide-sleeved robes with an immortal, scholarly bearing, smiling as he bowed formally to Bai Qingyan.

The old man had a full head of silver hair and wore a jade crown. Beside him were his two disciples, a guard holding an umbrella, and a young attendant. The old gentleman’s servant led a blue-curtained horse carriage following behind.