After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she solemnly bowed deeply to all the ministers in the hall.

Seeing this, Li Mingtang knelt very quickly and declared loudly: “I swear to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”

“Great Yan has already begun planning and acting for world unification. I, Yang Wuce, surrender to Princess Zhenguo precisely to follow Princess Zhenguo in unifying the world! As for those unwilling… they can just stay home obediently and watch others compete for supremacy in this chaotic world!” After Yang Wuce finished speaking, he knelt on both knees before Bai Qingyan. “This general leads the Liang Kingdom’s surrendered soldiers and swears to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”

“This general swears to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!” Yang Wei also knelt.

Bai Jinxiu bit her teeth tightly, her eyes reddening as she knelt: “Bai Jinxiu leads the Yuanping Army and Bai family army… swearing to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”

Bai Jinse wiped her tears with her sleeve and followed suit, kneeling.

The officials in the great hall were at a loss, hesitating uncertainly, not knowing what to do. They could only look toward Chancellor Lu, waiting for him to make a decision.

Dong Qingping saw that the officials’ eyes were filled with tears and they had clearly been moved, originally wanting to be the first to respond and lead those ministers who had already submitted to Bai Qingyan in their hearts. But considering his uncle-nephew relationship with Bai Qingyan, he worried it wouldn’t be convincing enough.

Dong Qingping also looked toward Chancellor Lu. If Chancellor Lu could take the lead in following Bai Qingyan, the hundred officials would certainly have no more doubts.

Chancellor Lu looked at the young woman standing on the high steps, bowing deeply to them, and once again thought of his old friend Bai Weiting. Due to their official positions, he and Bai Weiting had limited contact, fearing the emperor’s suspicion, but Chancellor Lu had always greatly admired Bai Weiting.

The eldest legitimate granddaughter valued by Bai Weiting, regarded by the great scholar Guan Yong as… the proudest disciple of his life – her character and strategies were so outstanding and extraordinary that how many people in this world could match her?

Just moments ago, the imperial city was still in chaos, then suddenly disaster reports arrived. Bai Qingyan first temporarily promoted officials, prioritizing disaster relief and comforting the people. She promoted the minor Ministry of Revenue Inspector who could propose disaster relief arrangements to Minister of Revenue, gave Wei Bugong thirty thousand soldiers, employed people without suspicion, and methodically arranged everything.

Wei Bugong from the Ministry of Revenue had been mentioned to Chancellor Lu many times by Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, saying this person had talent but was too upright to flatter superiors and was squeezed out and suppressed by the Ministry of Revenue officials.

In times of crisis, Princess Zhenguo dared to boldly employ minor officials who could propose countermeasures.

Then thinking of that emperor who wanted to use children to refine elixirs, thinking of the sinister and vicious Prince Liang, or… that spineless Crown Prince who would bow and beg for mercy to power regardless of right or wrong, completely without integrity.

Unexpectedly, Liu Rushi, who was known for his stubbornness like an ox, was the first to step forward.

Liu Rushi bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Liu Rushi was once dissatisfied because Princess Zhenguo burned and killed surrendered prisoners! But today, Princess Zhenguo did not put on pretenses by having others threaten or entice us, pretending to reluctantly ascend the throne under dire circumstances. Instead, she dared to openly tell us… that she rebels against the Lin imperial power for the people and world unification. Liu Rushi respects Princess Zhenguo’s openness and broad-mindedness! Although Liu Rushi is a scholar, he also has a backbone and wants to see the day of world unification! Liu Rushi… is willing to follow Princess Zhenguo!”

After Liu Rushi finished speaking, he knelt.

Although Liu Rushi was already dissatisfied with the Lin imperial power, when Li Mingtang entered the great hall earlier, muttering about “the sun being the mother of yang virtue,” it truly disgusted Liu Rushi.

Liu Rushi had thought Bai Qingyan was hypocritical, wanting this Jin nation’s throne… but not wanting to bear infamy, so she employed someone like Li Mingtang to persuade them to recommend and urge Bai Qingyan to ascend as emperor.

Liu Rushi had already decided that if this were truly the case, he would rather die than submit to Bai Qingyan.

But he hadn’t expected that Bai Qingyan would interrupt Li Mingtang’s words and speak directly from her heart, frank and upright… expressing her vigorous ambition to rebel against the Lin family and seize the world. Yet Liu Rushi didn’t feel Bai Qingyan’s ambitions were too great at all. Instead, he was moved by Bai Qingyan’s openness and honesty, moved by her words about unifying the world, his blood boiling as he willingly followed Bai Qingyan to create great achievements together.

Chancellor Lu stepped forward and knelt before Bai Qingyan: “This old minister is willing to follow Princess Zhenguo. I respectfully request Princess Zhenguo to ascend as emperor and support all people under heaven!”

Dong Qingping knelt, and the other officials followed suit, shouting: “We ministers are willing to follow Princess Zhenguo. We respectfully request Princess Zhenguo to ascend as emperor and support all people under heaven!”

Liu Hong’s eyes also reddened, finally following his heart and kneeling with the ministers.

Bai Jinxiu’s brows were full of smiles as she looked up at her elder sister standing on the jade steps…

Yes, this was her elder sister. The Bai family had open hearts – if they wanted that imperial throne, they would take it openly and honestly, unwilling to use others’ words or put on pretenses of reluctantly ascending under dire circumstances.

The Bai family’s aspirations, the Bai family’s heart for protecting and bringing peace to the people, the Bai family’s spirit and integrity were enough to make court ministers follow – what need was there for others’ assistance?

This world with unified writing, unified wheel gauges, unified measures, and unified conduct was originally one family. Any civil or military official with grand aspirations… who wouldn’t want to accomplish such great achievements? Establish unprecedented merit?

“Bai Qingyan will not disappoint your trust!” Bai Qingyan bowed to the hundred officials, then straightened and said, “The most urgent matter at present is the disasters in Chongluan Ridge and Shuijiang Pass, and announcing throughout the nation that there can be no more conscription of children, stabilizing domestic popular sentiment! The days Prince Liang caused chaos have delayed and accumulated government affairs that must have piled up like mountains. Though I know you distinguished ministers have suffered these past days, I still need Chancellor Lu to lead the hundred officials in the hard work of first organizing government affairs!”

“As it should be!” Chancellor Lu cupped his hands.

“Report…” A messenger soldier rushed to the great hall entrance and knelt, declaring loudly, “General Ji Tingyu has sent word back. After Prince Liang’s party left the city, they split into six routes. General Ji Tingyu has divided his forces to pursue them and has specially sent someone back to report.”

Bai Qingyan’s palms tightened. She beckoned for Bai Jinxiu to bring over her helmet, then turned to look at Chancellor Lu: “I entrust the capital to Chancellor Lu. Now that Prince Liang has fled the capital with the deposed Crown Prince and Grandmother as hostages, Bai Qingyan must personally rescue Grandmother…”

“Princess Zhenguo must not!” Liu Rushi stood up, changing his form of address: “Your Majesty is now our nation’s Empress. The coronation ceremony is not yet set, and the capital’s chaos has just been pacified. How can you rashly risk danger?!”

“The Ministry of Rites and Imperial Observatory should discuss the timing of the coronation ceremony. Chancellor Lu will draft an edict announcing to all nations that the dynasty name is Zhou, with Yuan meaning foundation… world unification being harmony, thus the era name is determined as Yuanhe.” Bai Qingyan’s voice was steady, with the decisive spirit of one whose word was final. “Announce to all under heaven… if any Bai family army or Bai family sons from the Nanjiang battle in the Xuanjia years still draw breath, they must return to the capital with all speed to witness the coronation ceremony and join Bai Qingyan in building the grand ambitions of the Bai family ancestors.”

Hearing these words, Bai Jinxiu could no longer hold back her tears and wept openly.