Now that a new dynasty had been established, everything needed to be rebuilt. Especially since the previous Jin Dynasty emperor had nearly emptied the national treasury for the Nine-Tiered Platform, how could the treasury still have the resources to support Bai Qingyan in warfare?

Even if the national treasury could still support Bai Qingyan in warfare, if the five princes with fiefs led their local people in a fight to the death rather than surrender, could she, Bai Qingyan, kill all the people in those five territories clean?

Wouldn’t she be afraid of gaining a reputation for militarism?!

Having made up their minds, the five old princes of the Jin Dynasty imperial clan with fiefs gathered together on the night before Bai Qingyan’s return… to discuss important matters.

In a secluded three-courtyard residence in the western part of the capital, Prince Guang’an, Prince Baishui, Prince Hedong, Prince Anxi, and Prince Shuofang sat in a secret room, making a blood oath and reaching consensus.

“Since Prince Guang’an, Prince Baishui, and Prince Hedong had already reached consensus before we arrived at the capital and had secretly dispatched troops, Prince Shuofang and I naturally have nothing more to say. We will send messengers back shortly to command our people to lead troops to the capital before Bai Qingyan’s coronation on the twentieth of the sixth month! If Bai Qingyan refuses to agree, we’ll rebel against her…” said Prince Anxi.

“But…” The twenty-seven-year-old Prince Shuofang gripped the fan in his hand, listening with fear and trepidation. Although he planned to follow Prince Anxi’s lead, he still hesitated: “This Bai Qingyan is invincible in battle, and she holds military power with elite troops who have fought in Great Liang. Our private soldiers… probably can’t resist!”

“What else can we do if we don’t resist? Isn’t the Third Prince of Liang a living example? He got the title of prince… but no fief, can’t raise troops, and can’t interfere with taxation! What does this mean… It’s just an empty title, living off others until death!” Prince Anxi, who was over fifty, had a gloomy expression.

“Our fiefs and princely titles were all passed down from our ancestors, hereditary and irreplaceable until now… Our ancestors for generations have depended on these fiefs for their livelihood. If they’re taken back from us now, what will happen to our descendants?” Prince Baishui looked at Prince Shuofang. “Prince Shuofang has just inherited his princely title and probably can’t understand our old folks’ feelings. When Prince Shuofang has grandchildren, he’ll understand!”

“Whether it was the Southern Border War or the Northern Border destruction of Liang, although we didn’t send troops, we all provided grain and supplies! Although the Grand Princess is now gone, Bai Qingyan cannot fail to remember our contributions!” The steady-natured Prince Hedong lowered his eyes to gaze at the clear tea in his cup, speaking unhurriedly. “I also believe that the Bai family… are not people who forget old kindnesses. Our troop movements toward the capital are just as a precaution – we may not necessarily confront Bai Qingyan.”

“Yes, Bai Qingyan hasn’t even dealt with the imperial relatives and nobles in the capital who are within five degrees of kinship to the former emperor. We are old dynasty imperial relatives who share the same ancestor as the emperor, but are far from the capital… we only seek a piece of fief to support our descendants. Surely Bai Qingyan can understand the importance of appeasing people’s hearts.” The eldest, Prince Guang’an, fingered his prayer beads. “Bai Qingyan herself is a woman. It’s not easy for her to become a sovereign. We’re willing to make concessions, and with the new dynasty just established… she should know when to stop. Stabilizing the court situation is the key for her!”

Prince Hedong smiled and nodded, placing his teacup on the side table: “From Jin Emperor Gaozu Mingzhao to now, the emperor has only granted fiefs to the ancestors of our five families. Since Emperor Wende, there has been an intentional weakening of us fief princes. Emperor Wuxuan allowed governors… to hold regional military power to oppose us, feudal princes, but even that didn’t succeed. Bai Qingyan is now at the time of the new dynasty establishment… Even if she has the intention to weaken feudal princes, the four words ‘stable situation’ are enough to constrain her.”

“Alright, that settles it!” Prince Guang’an paused in fingering his prayer beads, raised his hand to stroke his graying beard, and was about to stand up.

Prince Baishui quickly stood up to support Prince Guang’an. As he stood, Prince Guang’an continued: “Tomorrow morning, when Bai Qingyan returns to the capital, we should naturally follow the officials out to welcome her. When we see Bai Qingyan, we must put aside our pride and be more respectful than we were to the Jin Dynasty emperor, lowering our posture. Getting real benefits is what matters.”

“It would be best… if we could form marriage alliances with the Bai family, that would make things more secure!” Prince Hedong also stood up with a smile, brushing off nonexistent dust from his robe, his eyes smiling. “The Bai family… besides the Second Miss, who married Qin Lang, the original wife’s son of Marquis Zhongyong, the Third Miss, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, and Sixth Miss are all of age, and the Seventh Miss could be betrothed first!”

After saying this, Prince Hedong smiled at the other feudal princes: “As for Bai Qingyan… if any of you have the ability and suitable descendants in your families, you might as well try. Having one of our own by the sovereign’s side… would make information more accessible in the future. Don’t let past notions of male superiority and female inferiority constrain you. Now that a female emperor ascends the throne… with the change of dynasty, the world… is different!”

Prince Hedong was clear in his heart that Bai Qingyan couldn’t be treated as a woman, but should be treated as an emperor. Therefore, all the methods used on emperors throughout history could be used on Bai Qingyan.

“Different? What else does she want to do? Does she want women to become officials? Even someone as bold as Empress Ji… never dared to let women serve as officials! Even Xiliang is the same!” Prince Baishui frowned deeply.

Prince Hedong smiled elegantly: “Why must Prince Baishui argue with me here? I’m just making suggestions… Those willing to listen may listen, and those who don’t can treat it as a joke.”

With matters settled, the men left the small three-courtyard residence in batches.

Prince Hedong was the last to leave through the side gate of the small courtyard. Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, he wondered in his heart… whether this Bai Qingyan would dare to defy universal condemnation and allow women to serve as officials.

After all, he knew well… Bai Weiting never looked down on women and taught his grandsons and granddaughters equally.

He wondered if this would influence the female emperor who was about to ascend the throne!

If Bai Qingyan dared, Prince Hedong felt… he could make an issue of this. Only by making Bai Qingyan overwhelmed with problems… would she have no energy left to deal with feudal princes like them.

Not to mention that male superiority and female inferiority, men managing external affairs while women managed internal affairs, had long been deeply rooted in people’s hearts. Just considering human selfishness, the world’s scholars have already found imperial examinations and advancement difficult. If women were also added to participate in examinations and serve as officials, even more men would have no chance to get ahead.

Don’t say that women are inferior to men – if that were truly the case… how would Empress Ji, the Xiliang Female Emperor, and now Bai Qingyan be explained? Men throughout the world knew in their hearts that women were not necessarily inferior to men, which is why they created concepts like “men manage external affairs while women manage internal affairs” and “male superiority and female inferiority.”