This point, Prince Hedong understood in his heart, and all men under heaven understood in their hearts; otherwise, why would most men do everything possible to suppress women, while there were very few families like the Bai family that could give women and men equal opportunities?

Which man under heaven was willing to seek more opponents for himself?

Prince Hedong looked forward to Bai Qingyan making sweeping reforms and greatly improving women’s status. In that case… when the scholars made trouble, it would be more than enough to keep Bai Qingyan busy.

·

On the seventeenth day of the sixth month in the first year of Yuanhe, the Great Zhou Female Emperor returned escorting the coffin. Chancellor Lu led all officials out of the city to welcome her.

The wealthy merchant Xiao Rongyan, who had come to the capital together with the Ninth Prince Murong Yan of Great Yan, also appeared at the capital’s gate.

The common people were blocked on both sides of the city gate by soldiers, creating an unprecedented spectacle.

Yang Wuce, who had been standing among the military generals, casually glanced around and saw Xiao Rongyan blocked among the commoners by soldiers.

Perhaps Xiao Rongyan’s imposing bearing and handsome, rugged features were too striking – not only Yang Wuce… officials who had seen Xiao Rongyan before all noticed him.

Others might not know, but Yang Wuce was clear that this Xiao Rongyan had a marriage engagement with Bai Qingyan. On New Year’s Eve… he had even secretly infiltrated the military camp to meet privately with Bai Qingyan, and was spotted by him and Zhao Sheng. Yang Wuce only figured out later that his and Zhao Sheng’s untimely arrival might have spoiled Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan’s good time.

Regardless, Yang Wuce could see that Bai Qingyan cared very much about this Xiao Rongyan; otherwise, why would she personally apply medicine to Xiao Rongyan’s wounds?

Yang Wuce’s eyes turned – then this Xiao Rongyan might very well be the imperial husband in Bai Qingyan’s future harem! Even if his merchant status was lowly, just based on that face of his, he could probably become a noble consort… bah! A noble husband…

Noble husband?

Yang Wuce felt it sounded strange, but couldn’t think of what an appropriate title to use for Xiao Rongyan.

He didn’t think too much about it and walked over in quick steps, smiling as he bowed to Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao!”

Xiao Rongyan, who was protected in the middle by Yue Shi and others without being jostled in the slightest, was stunned for a moment. He figured this general was Yang Wuce, the surrendered general from Liang who had submitted to Bai Qingyan, and also smiled as he returned the courtesy: “General Yang!”

Yang Wuce patted the soldier blocking the commoners, indicating to let Xiao Rongyan through…

“No need to trouble the general, I’m fine here as well.” Xiao Rongyan’s eyes held a smile, with an air of refined and elegant composure.

As soon as Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, a guard squeezed to Xiao Rongyan’s side and whispered a few words in his ear. Xiao Rongyan’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and cupped his hands toward Yang Wuce: “General Yang, Xiao has some urgent matters and must take leave first. Farewell…”

“Master Xiao isn’t waiting for His Majesty?” Yang Wuce was surprised. What important matter could be more significant than showing his face before Bai Qingyan?

“I’ll visit His Majesty to apologize another day.” After Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, he left among the commoners under his guards’ escort.

Yang Wuce raised his hand to scratch his head, turned around, and returned to the group of military generals, waiting for Bai Qingyan together with everyone else.

As the sun rose in the east, gradually brightening morning light revealed a procession with raised banners, winding like a long dragon, slowly approaching from the golden light.

Hearing the shouts from commoners standing on high ground, Chancellor Lu and others hurriedly stepped forward to welcome them. From far away, they could see Bai Qingyan riding a pure white steed at the very front, wearing mourning clothes and a mourning headband.

Behind her was the Grand Princess’s coffin – a golden silk nanmu wood casket edged with brass, with gold-traced carved phoenixes, extremely solemn and luxurious.

Nanny Jiang, also wearing mourning clothes and a mourning headband, led a group of loyal Bai family servants forward.

Nanny Jiang held a special status – she was the Grand Princess’s personal nanny and had also watched Bai Qingyan grow up. Therefore, when Nanny Jiang arrived, Chancellor Lu had instructed people to lead the loyal Bai family servants she brought to the very front.

They had indeed come to welcome the Great Zhou Female Emperor, but now that the Great Zhou Female Emperor could return escorting the coffin, they should naturally understand the imperial intent and put the dead first.

Chancellor Lu looked at Nanny Jiang following behind Bai Jinse and sighed deeply before withdrawing his gaze. He… still owed the Grand Princess a favor.

Back then, if not for asking Nanny Jiang to petition the Grand Princess, and if the Grand Princess hadn’t been kind-hearted enough to help, Chancellor Lu’s eldest son, Lu Jinxian, wouldn’t have been able to be born smoothly. His wife had once given her hairpin to the Grand Princess in his presence, saying that if the Grand Princess ever needed anything in the future, the Lu family would repay her.

Later, the Grand Princess accepted his wife’s hairpin and asked Lu whether he was willing to repay the favor. Lu answered that he was willing… Afterward, Lu’s official career soared, and Lu knew… this was not without the Grand Princess’s behind-the-scenes support.

All these years, the Grand Princess had never come with that hairpin to seek his help, not even during the Bai family’s most difficult times.

Now that the Grand Princess was gone, this favor… Chancellor Lu could only keep in his heart and repay His Majesty in the future.

Bai Jinxiu followed beside Bai Qingyan. After listening to the quiet report from her hidden guards who had stayed in the capital, she pulled the reins forward to get closer to Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, those clan feudal princes also came out to welcome Elder Sister. During the days Elder Sister wasn’t here… these people saw that Elder Sister hadn’t dealt with those Jin Dynasty former imperial relatives and thought… they could rely on grandmother. Every few days, they went to give gifts to Nanny Jiang to curry favor, sending treasures like mountains to the Bai mansion, saying they were paying respects to the Grand Princess. Who knew the Grand Princess hadn’t returned, so they had Nanny Jiang accept them on her behalf. Nanny Jiang accepted every single gift without exception and had them stored in the warehouse.”

Bai Qingyan acknowledged with a sound, her eyes calm and unperturbed.

Bai Jinxiu glanced toward the distance and continued: “Who knew grandmother would suddenly pass away – these five feudal princes panicked. When they got the news, these five feudal princes wanted to leave but couldn’t find a reason. Last night they all gathered at a small three-courtyard residence in the west of the city, probably discussing how to force Elder Sister.”

When Bai Qingyan had originally restrained her temperament and didn’t take the opportunity to deal with those Jin Dynasty imperial relatives and nobles, it wasn’t because Bai Qingyan was mindful that they shared the Lin surname with her grandmother, mindful of that pitiful bit of kinship.

Nor was it, as Chancellor Lu and others thought, for the stability of the court situation.

The reason she held back was entirely for these five feudal princes. She was afraid that if she acted rashly, these feudal princes would see the commotion… and shrink back to their fiefs and not come.

Although taking down cities was easy, it would still hurt the common people. She only wanted to exchange the smallest price for Great Zhou’s peace.

Just as Bai Qingyan had predicted, when she didn’t move against those trembling former dynasty imperial relatives who were all prepared to use their family wealth to buy their lives, these feudal princes learned that Bai Qingyan had gone to Luohong City to rescue the Grand Princess and abandoned their thoughts of claiming illness, making arrangements one by one to come to the capital.

Who knew that shortly after they arrived, news came that the Grand Princess had died. If they wanted to leave now, it would be difficult.

With the old feudal princes absent, surrounding their fiefs with troops and catching them off guard – this was exactly what Bai Qingyan wanted.