Bai Qingping had just reached the corridor and hadn’t yet had time to step into Bai Qihe’s study when he heard clan members discussing how their family had contributed the most in defending Shouyang and what merit they should be credited with, whether Bai Qingyan shouldn’t grant them princely titles…

“Clan Leader, tell us… Now that His Majesty is ascending the throne, as clan members—and clan members who rendered merit in defending Shouyang—shouldn’t we receive proper rewards and honors? We can’t speak directly to His Majesty, so when the time comes, we hope you, Clan Leader, can mention our contributions before His Majesty. After all, we’re all imperial relatives now. Getting some fief and a hereditary princely title shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Exactly, that First Madam of the Bai family, Dong Shi…”

“Hey! What kind of address is that! Now she should be called Empress Dowager!” a clan elder corrected.

“Right, right, right! Empress Dowager! It’s Empress Dowager! When we were defending Shouyang, the Empress Dowager personally promised that whoever contributed the most would be rewarded according to merit. Several of our families nearly bankrupted themselves stockpiling grain for Shouyang—you know this well, Clan Leader!”

“That’s right! To ensure Princess Zhenguo could ascend the throne smoothly and protect the Bai family ladies from being captured by Prince Liang’s people to threaten Princess Zhenguo, we fought desperately to protect them and made great contributions! Clan Leader, think about it—if the Empress Dowager had been captured… could Princess Zhenguo have ascended the throne so smoothly? When you think about it, our Bai clan should take first credit for Princess Zhenguo’s ascension!”

Bai Qihe listened to the clan members’ chattering fantasies, simply lifting his teacup and lowering his eyes to drink tea, restraining himself from speaking.

“First credit?! I had no idea… when did you all become prophets who knew early on that Princess Zhenguo would ascend as emperor? And when exactly did you all fight desperately to protect the Bai family ladies?” Bai Qingping spoke at a measured pace, unhurriedly entering the study from outside. He bowed to Bai Qihe, then addressed the clan members: “When Li Mingrei led troops to attack Shouyang, did any of you lead soldiers up the city walls to repel the enemy? Or personally shoot and kill bandits and capture Li Mingrei alive? It was the two Bai family misses who led the Shouyang Army trained by Princess Zhenguo up the city walls to defend against enemies, and it was the Bai family ladies who dispatched all the mansion’s guards to resist the enemy forces! It was also Bai family guard Ji Tingyu who led the Bai Family Army, arriving just in time, who saved everyone present here!”

“Though Bai Qingping is young, I’ve seen the shameless, I’ve seen the ungrateful, and I’ve seen those who repay kindness with resentment, but I’ve never seen such black-and-white reversal… taking others’ kindness toward oneself and claiming it as one’s kindness toward one’s benefactors! You’ve truly opened my eyes.” Bai Qingping’s tone was cold and stern.

The Bai clan members had been boasting about their achievements, but now that Bai Qingping, who had led troops up the city walls to fight during Shouyang’s defense, had returned with such sharp words, the clan members looked down their noses and hearts, thinking Bai Qingping was dissatisfied that they hadn’t credited Clan Leader Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping’s father and son.

Someone began flattering Bai Qingping: “Of course, your and the Clan Leader’s contributions are certainly the greatest! His Majesty should grant you and the Clan Leader the largest fiefs.”

“In terms of merit, Bai Qingping dare not compare myself with the soldiers who rushed to Han City to destroy Prince Liang, nor dare I compare myself with the Bai family ladies and misses in the capital! It’s just that all of you… Defending Shouyang was also to protect your own lives. Your contributions in defending Shouyang… the Bai family ladies remember them all and will report them to His Majesty, who will naturally reward you according to merit.”

“But… if you continue such black-and-white reversal, thinking that defending Shouyang was entirely the Bai clan’s achievement, I, Bai Qingping, will be the first to disagree and will report everything you’ve said today… word for word to His Majesty!”

Seeing Bai Qingping’s firm attitude—that he wouldn’t even accept flattery, giving first credit to the father and son—the clan elders didn’t dare easily offend this father-son pair, since currently only Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping could speak before Bai Qingyan.

The eldest clan elder, seeing the situation, smiled and said: “Alright, alright! We won’t discuss competing for credit here anymore. Whether we get fiefs or princely titles… whether we’re granted them or not, we’re all His Majesty’s relatives and elders!”

As soon as he finished speaking, seeing the clan members about to argue, the eldest clan elder waved his hand to signal them not to rush, then gripped his walking stick with both hands, deliberately sighing deeply with feigned composure, and turned toward Bai Qihe: “Clan Leader, you see… we’re all His Majesty’s relatives, clan members, and elders. There are things others cannot say, but we elders must worry about His Majesty’s concerns!”

Bai Qihe held his teacup and looked up with a smile: “Outside, His Majesty has all the officials and ministers; inside, His Majesty has the Bai family ladies. I wonder what matter His Majesty has… that requires your worry, Elder?”

Even though Bai Qihe’s words were so unwelcoming, the elder didn’t get angry, maintaining an appearance of mature prudence as he waved his hand: “These words… the ministers dare not say them, and bringing them up would probably sadden the Bai family ladies, so only we elders can brazenly offer counsel to His Majesty!”

“Let’s hear it…” Bai Qihe placed his teacup on the table before him and gestured for Bai Qingping to sit first.

“You see, His Majesty injured her body in his early years and cannot bear children! Moreover, this body was damaged once to save the previous dynasty’s crown prince, and during her recovery in Shouyang, several times she nearly…” The elder seemed unable to bear continuing, pausing before continuing: “His Majesty’s body has become like that, and she can no longer have children. If something were to happen… all of Great Zhou would be in chaos, so for the stability of the entire nation, we need to establish a crown prince early to reassure people’s hearts!”

“Exactly!” A clan member quickly chimed in agreement: “We could have His Majesty adopt a young son from the clan, establish him as crown prince to raise at her side. If something happens to His Majesty’s health in the future, with a crown prince in the nation… There would be a backbone, and the Kingdom wouldn’t fall into chaos!”

“You jest…” Bai Qingping, having taken his seat, laughed coldly. “His Majesty’s health is not something you should worry about, and His Majesty would never adopt children from the clan. Although His Majesty has a thin fortune regarding children, that doesn’t mean His Majesty won’t have offspring. Moreover, His Majesty has many sisters, and the Bai family’s Eighth Miss has been with His Majesty since childhood with very deep affection!”

“Succession has always been passed to sons—how can it be passed to sisters! What kind of talk is that…”

“There are precedents in the world of passing the throne to brothers. If His Majesty, being a woman, can ascend as emperor, why can’t she pass the throne to her sister?” Bai Qingping turned to look at the clan member who had spoken. “Even if His Majesty truly wanted to adopt children, never mind that His Majesty’s sisters are all still unmarried—the married Bai family lady, Madam Qin, has a son. In terms of close kinship… wouldn’t he be closer than children of clan members?”