A nation’s moral atmosphere originates from the emperor. Just as when the Jin Dynasty emperor practiced alchemy, noble families followed suit, inviting Taoist priests to their homes to refine elixirs and consume pills. For a time, this became a symbol of power and wealth in the capital city, making Taoist alchemists suddenly the most sought-after figures in the capital.

How many noble families learned from the emperor… buying young children from human traffickers just to refine elixirs and extend their own lives. No one knew how many children died unjustly in the alchemy furnaces.

Such a court, even if her cousin didn’t overthrow it, would inevitably cause even greater chaos in the future.

It wasn’t until the evening of the third day that the accumulated memorials in the palace were finally processed. The officials, dragging their weakened bodies, were escorted back to their residences by soldiers. The moment they emerged from the great hall, all the officials felt as if they had returned to those days when they were young and taking the imperial examinations – it was like having a layer of skin peeled off.

When news that Bai Qingyan had sent soldiers to escort the officials out of the palace and back to their residences reached each household, the matriarchs of each family brought their family members to stand at their gates, welcoming their lords or sons home.

Chancellor Lu had many children and grandchildren, and the entrance to the Lu residence was now crowded with Lu family descendants and female relatives. Lu Yuanqing had even ridden his horse to the palace gates to wait for his grandfather and eldest uncle.

As soon as he saw his grandfather’s carriage emerge, Lu Yuanqing immediately pulled his reins and rode forward: “Grandfather, eldest uncle…”

Hearing this, Chancellor Lu lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at his grandson, saying, “We’ll talk after returning to the residence!”

“Yes!” Lu Yuanqing spurred his horse to the front to lead the way.

On the way back to the Lu residence, Lu Yuanqing saw many officials who had gotten out of their carriages being supported into their homes by their crying female relatives or children. His heart couldn’t help but feel uneasy, wondering if these officials had suffered severe punishment in the palace and had agreed to Bai Qingyan’s ascension as Empress before being released.

As soon as Chancellor Lu arrived at the Lu residence entrance, his sons, grandsons, granddaughters, and daughters-in-law all gathered around. Lu Yuanqing helped Chancellor Lu down from the carriage when he heard his third daughter-in-law crying, “Father has suffered!”

Chancellor Lu’s brow furrowed tightly: “What kind of talk is that?! Handling accumulated government affairs, His Majesty also worked alongside us in the great hall for three days and nights. His Majesty didn’t complain of suffering, so how can we complain of suffering?”

Lu Yuanqing knew that his grandfather was afraid his mother might speak carelessly and say something disrespectful about Bai Qingyan, which would be disadvantageous to the Lu family.

Lu Yuanbao quickly stepped forward to support his father, saying to Chancellor Lu: “Grandfather, father, let’s go home and talk.”

“Quick, prepare hot tea and food for the master and father!” Chancellor Lu’s eldest daughter-in-law called out.

After supporting Chancellor Lu inside and the family sat down in the main hall, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son dismissed everyone around them, not even leaving their attendants. He let out a long sigh of relief and looked at Chancellor Lu: “Father, when we were in the palace, your son didn’t dare ask – do you truly support Princess Zhenguo’s ascension?”

“If you don’t support it, do you have a better candidate?” Chancellor Lu took a sip of hot tea. “Although she is a woman, during these three consecutive days… you’ve also seen her far-sighted wisdom, broad-minded vision, deep understanding of the governing methods of Great Yan and Western Liang, and even able to take their essence to remedy the deficiencies in our nation’s policies. She can also treat talented people with courtesy and listen to others’ opinions! Most importantly… she has the ambitious heart to unify the realm.”

Chancellor Lu’s eldest son nodded. If not for the fact that Bai Qingyan was a woman, after these three days of contact, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son would surely be filled with complete admiration.

“To dare propose implementing new laws at this time, and having already drafted the outline for legal reform that perfectly suits the current national situation, and daring to vigorously promote this strategy of… putting the people first, where prosperous people make a strong nation, and strong people make strong soldiers, rather than the previous approach of prioritizing imperial family and aristocratic interests! If the Crown Prince had ascended, he probably couldn’t have implemented new laws! Only with dynastic change and a new ruler taking the throne could one avoid being constrained by aristocratic families and the imperial clan! It’s clear that… the matter of replacing the Lin imperial power and legal reform, as she said, began to be planned as early as the Xuanjia years when the Bai family members died in battle!”

After Chancellor Lu had read the new laws, the shock in his heart couldn’t settle for a long time: “From conceiving this idea to now replacing the Lin imperial power, just three short years! Just three short years… His Majesty destroyed the Liang state and expanded Jin’s territory, then replaced the Lin imperial power! Such determination… moves mountains and surpasses seas! With such an emperor… why worry about not being able to unify the realm!”

“Indeed…” Hearing his father speak thus, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son suddenly nodded in understanding. “Three years ago, when the Bai family met with disaster, everyone thought the Bai family had no foothold in the capital. Who knew that three years later… His Majesty would lead the Bai clan to make a comeback, pacify the southern frontier, destroy Great Liang, and overthrow the Lin imperial power! What’s even more shocking is… three years ago, when the Bai family was on the brink of life and death, she had already begun planning for the unification of the realm! Though poor, her resolve only strengthened, never abandoning her lofty aspirations… such character is truly rare.”

“This woman’s vision encompasses the entire realm, establishing the Bureau of Investigation… not to monitor officials, but to collect intelligence from various nations, preparing for the future!” Chancellor Lu half-closed his eyes, gazing at the gently flickering candlelight, shaking his head. “Who among the Lin imperial family could have such foresight? The previous rulers lacked such ambition, and we ministers… never thought to accomplish that great undertaking of unifying the realm.”

Lu Yuanqing, sitting to the side and listening to his grandfather and eldest uncle exchange nothing but praise for Bai Qingyan, asked: “So, grandfather and eldest uncle support Princess Zhenguo becoming emperor?”

“It’s His Majesty!” Chancellor Lu’s teacup lid suddenly snapped shut as he instructed all the Lu family members: “From this moment on, you must all remember – although His Majesty has not yet ascended the throne, the new dynasty Great Zhou, is established! From now on, we are ministers of the Great Zhou court! Especially you… Lu Yuanqing, Lu Yuanbao, after His Majesty ascends the throne and promotes new policies, she will surely boldly employ new people. One of you ranked second in the palace examination, the other sixth in the second tier – you might catch His Majesty’s eye. You must remember grandfather’s words: never look down on His Majesty because she is a woman! To achieve such results in three years… forget about women, even among men, such people are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns! His Majesty… is someone with real ability.”

Lu Yuanbao and Lu Yuanqing quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Chancellor Lu: “Grandsons will carefully remember grandfather’s teachings.”

Even if Chancellor Lu hadn’t said this, Lu Yuanbao and Lu Yuanqing would never dare to look down on Bai Qingyan. After all… Bai Qingyan’s military achievements were outstanding. Not to mention this campaign to destroy Liang and her previous pacification of the southern frontier, when Bai Qingyan was young and accompanied Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting on campaigns, she had beheaded the enemy nation’s great general Pang Pingguo!

No matter what others said about Duke Zhenguo creating achievements for his granddaughter’s reputation, if Bai Qingyan didn’t have real skill, there would be no way she could have severed an enemy general’s head.

At this time, not only the Lu residence, but also after all the court ministers returned home, they almost all conveyed similar thoughts.