After watching Quan Yu leave, Bai Jinse couldn’t help but sigh: “Eunuch Quan Yu is truly a person of deep loyalty and righteousness.”

During the recent period when Prince Liang had occupied the capital, the servants of the Crown Prince’s mansion had lived in constant fear. Later, when Elder Sister conquered the capital and issued an edict to become emperor, Quan Yu must have suffered countless cold looks.

Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze, picked up her brush, and dipped it in cinnabar, speaking softly: “Zhenguang… go give instructions to have those escorting Quan Yu to Luohong City tell Second Miss to take extra care of Quan Yu and ensure his survival.”

“Yes!” Zhenguang acknowledged, bowed, and hurriedly lifted the curtain to leave.

Bai Jinse knew that Elder Sister was showing gratitude for Quan Yu’s past care toward the Bai family members, and also because she appreciated his loyalty and righteousness. She sat down beside Bai Qingyan, looked up at her, and asked: “Elder Sister, with the coronation on June 20th, will you have Mother and the aunts return?”

“Counting the days, your Seventh Brother will certainly return before the coronation ceremony. He will go to Shouyang first, and then I’ll have him escort Mother and the aunts back.” Bai Qingyan looked back at Bai Jinse, whose childish features had not yet faded, saying, “With a large army as escort, I’ll feel more at ease!”

She could already imagine how overjoyed Fourth Aunt would be upon seeing A’Jue.

Bai Jinse rubbed her red, moist eyes, a smile appearing at the corners of her lips: “Elder Sister, do you think… when the proclamation goes out to all corners of the world about Elder Sister’s coronation, will the uncles and brothers who are still alive, and the Bai Family Army… all return?”

“They will!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were filled with smiles. Her coronation was not only to realize the aspirations of several generations of the Bai family, but also to tell the Bai family descendants and Bai Family Army members still surviving in the world that they could return home with peace of mind, return home with dignity. With her ascension to the supreme position… she would never again allow anyone to harm them in the slightest.

Bai Jinse nodded, tears flowing like broken strings: “If only Brother A’Yu were still alive…”

Bai Qingyan only smiled without speaking, not telling Xiao Qi that the Rongdi Ghost-Faced General was A’Yu. Based on her understanding of A’Yu, he would certainly remain in Rongdi.

Because it wasn’t yet time for Rongdi to be incorporated into Great Zhou. On March 29th, Yan Nation’s General Xie Xun had broken through Weishu City, Wei Nation’s Empress Dowager had perished in flames, declaring Wei Nation’s destruction, with all its territory falling to Yan Nation.

Having annexed the Wei Nation, Yan Nation could be said to have leaped to the head of all nations, causing Xiliang great anxiety.

Now, with Bai Qingyan destroying Liang and gaining Liang’s fertile lands, the current Great Zhou’s territory had expanded. The Great Zhou had ended Yan Nation’s brief position as the leading nation and once again became the foremost among nations. How could Xiliang not be afraid?

The stronger the Great Zhou and Yan Nation became, the weaker Xiliang would inevitably become…

At this time, Xiliang had to either ally with Rongdi to jointly resist Great Zhou and Yan Nation, or… annex Rongdi to strengthen Xiliang, or submit to Great Zhou or Yan Nation to preserve their nation.

But neither the Great Zhou nor the Yan Nation would allow the annexation of Rongdi!

So Xiliang only had two paths to choose from: either ally with Rongdi, or submit to Great Zhou or Yan Nation.

However, both the Great Zhou and the Yan Nation harbored ambitions to annex the entire realm. For Xiliang to submit to either would be like seeking skin from a tiger – they couldn’t escape the fate of eventually being devoured.

If Bai Qingyan were the Xiliang Female Emperor, she would certainly choose to ally with Rongdi…

However, if Rongdi were incorporated into the Great Zhou at this time, it would certainly create a sense of crisis in Xiliang, forcing Xiliang toward Great Yan to counter the increasingly powerful Great Zhou.

Throughout history, national alliances had always been formed by weak nations joining together to resist the strong.

Therefore, at this time of three-way balance… when Yan Nation could stand shoulder to shoulder with Great Zhou, it wasn’t yet time for Great Zhou to show its hand too openly, lest they push Xiliang toward Yan Nation, allowing Yan to gain Xiliang without lifting a finger.

“Miss…” Zhenming lifted the curtain to enter, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and said: “Chancellor Lu requests an audience at the side gate!”

Bai Qingyan put down the memorial in her hand, pinched the bridge of her nose, and said: “Please invite Chancellor Lu in…”

“Chancellor Lu has been busy for three days and nights without rest, yet visits late at night. This must be because of the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives all going to the Lu mansion today.” Bai Jinse stood up and said to Bai Qingyan.

Although Bai Qingyan hadn’t imprisoned the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives, she had assigned people to watch them.

Before Zhenming could leave to invite Chancellor Lu, Zhenguang also lifted the curtain to enter, reporting: “Miss… Master Dong and Minister of Justice Lu Jin have come together to request an audience.”

“Uncle has come too…” Bai Jinse looked toward Bai Qingyan.

“Go personally, keep the disturbance small, and invite them to Mulan Pavilion.” Bai Qingyan pointed to the bamboo scroll on the desk, “Take that bamboo scroll I just finished writing!”

Mulan Pavilion was secluded, suitable for discussions.

“Very well…” Bai Jinse bowed to Bai Qingyan, then accompanied Zhenming and Zhenguang to the side gate to invite Chancellor Lu, Dong Qingping, and Lu Jin into the Bai mansion, heading to Mulan Pavilion.

When Chancellor Lu, Dong Qingping, Lu Jin, and Chancellor Lu’s eldest son, Lu Jinxian, arrived, Bai Qingyan was already at Mulan Pavilion, sitting at the desk waiting for the four men.

Chancellor Lu and the others were all wearing black cloaks, entering Mulan Courtyard with Bai Jinse. Seeing the maidservants lift the curtains respectfully for the four to enter, the four didn’t stand on ceremony. Upon entering, they saw Bai Qingyan holding a teapot, pouring tea for the four.

Chancellor Lu hurried forward to perform a grand ceremony for Bai Qingyan, but was stopped by her words: “Chancellor Lu, such formality is unnecessary! This is Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, not the palace! Moreover, my uncle is also here…”

“Propriety cannot be abandoned!” After Chancellor Lu finished speaking, he insisted on performing the grand ceremony for Bai Qingyan.

Dong Qingping, Lu Jin, and Lu Jinxian also hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan.

“Please sit!” Bai Qingyan pushed the teacups toward the four men kneeling across from her at the desk. “Chancellor Lu, please have tea. Uncle, please have tea. Both Master Lu, please have tea!”

Under the thirty-two-headed bronze lotus flower lamp, Bai Qingyan sat upright, showing no signs of fatigue from three consecutive days and nights of handling government affairs.

Bai Jinse knelt behind Bai Qingyan’s position.

“Chancellor Lu, Uncle, and both masters coming late at night must certainly be for extremely urgent matters.” Bai Qingyan’s gaze was clear and bright. “Please speak directly, all four masters.”

“Your Majesty, this old minister has come today regarding Your Majesty’s intention to implement new laws.” Lu Jin didn’t rely on his age or position, maintaining a very respectful attitude before Bai Qingyan, with the loving smile of an elder. “Your Majesty’s intention to implement new laws will harm the interests of noble families and the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives. Your Majesty’s benevolence… did not arrest and imprison the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives, but these people all have their calculations. Relying on the fact that Your Majesty’s grandmother, the Grand Princess, was a Jin Dynasty princess, they consider themselves Your Majesty’s elders. These people already intend to unite with noble families to bargain with Your Majesty.”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “New law implementation benefits the nation and the people, but whenever new laws are implemented, they will inevitably harm noble families and imperial relatives – this is natural! The reason I didn’t forcibly arrest the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives after entering the city was for the sake of legitimacy. Chancellor Lu, rest assured… Bai Qingyan has a clear understanding in her heart.”