But Bai Qingyan felt no regret. Though they couldn’t become husband and wife for the moment, their hearts were in harmony… and they could compete as equals in this world. Even if they couldn’t accompany each other closely, they would never be lonely.

“There’s also Rongdi, who seems to have intentions of seeking peace. Rongdi envoys have already arrived in the Capital City first, saying… their Ghost Face Prince will arrive before the coronation ceremony to personally congratulate Your Majesty.” Dong Qingping still didn’t know that Rongdi’s Ghost Face General was A’Yu, speaking in a calm tone.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened. She knew A’Yu would return…

It was just that this time, she didn’t know if there would be a chance for A’Yu to meet privately with Mother. However… even if they couldn’t meet privately, it wouldn’t matter. As long as Mother could see that A’Yu was safe, that would already be Heaven’s blessing for Mother.

“Additionally, there’s another matter that Your Majesty probably doesn’t know about yet. This minister should inform Your Majesty first—members of the Bai family’s Shuoyang clan have come to the Capital City early to purchase residences, using the name of imperial relatives… privately accepting mansions given as tribute by lower officials.”

Lu Jin frowned deeply, placing detailed records of which Bai clan members had accepted bribes and which people had offered bribes on the table in front of Bai Qingyan: “These are only the major items the Bai clan members received openly. As for the rest… since they are ultimately Your Majesty’s clan members, this minister hasn’t dared to investigate closely.”

“This Xiliang Prince Yan Li Zhijie arrived early. Learning that Bai clan members were purchasing residences in the Capital City, he also lent a hand and sent quite a few Xiliang beauties to the Bai clan members…” Shen Jingzhong sneered coldly, looking up at Bai Qingyan. “The Bai clan members are ultimately Your Majesty’s relatives. If Your Majesty is determined to deal with them, it wouldn’t be difficult! But this Xiliang Prince Yan has been jumping around everywhere since arriving in the Capital City… he doesn’t seem very well-behaved!”

“Jingzhong, you’re being too rigid…” Chancellor Lu stroked his beard and chuckled lightly. “Great Zhou has just been established. The former Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives that various nations once courted can no longer be used. Now… this Xiliang Prince Yan Li Zhijie has come to the Capital City openly, not as a secret agent. Naturally, he wants to take this opportunity to make more connections with imperial clan members for easier dealings in the future. This is also reasonable!”

Shen Jingzhong sighed. He understood these words from Chancellor Lu too, but he just felt uncomfortable about it.

“This time, Li Mao and other treasonous officials who fled to Luohong City with Prince Liang have all been brought back and handed over to Lord Lu Jin for imprisonment. If family members wish to visit them, Lord Lu may allow it…” Bai Qingyan said.

“Does Your Majesty intend to show leniency?” Lu Jin asked.

“Since we need to use severe measures to reduce the feudal princes’ power, we need gentle methods to appease people’s hearts. I believe we need to balance firmness with flexibility… to avoid losing balance in the court.” Bai Qingyan looked toward Chancellor Lu, straightened her posture, and nodded to him. “If what Bai Qingyan has said is inappropriate, please guide me, Chancellor Lu.”

Chancellor Lu looked at Bai Qingyan, who was humbly seeking advice, first feeling honored, then suddenly realizing that this Female Emperor of Great Zhou was different from the Jin Dynasty emperors. His tense spine gradually relaxed as he returned the courtesy to Bai Qingyan, his moist eyes smiling as he nodded: “Your Majesty speaks correctly. Whether governing a Kingdom… or handling affairs, balance firmness with flexibility… appearing relaxed on the outside while being tight on the inside! Your Majesty’s considerations are comprehensive. This old minister admires you!”

“Since Your Majesty has the heart to show mercy, in the future, have Jinxian pay more attention to these officials and simply not let them hold important positions.” Chancellor Lu looked toward his son.

Lu Jinxian immediately straightened up and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty can rest assured. With this minister in the Personnel Ministry, I will never let these people touch important positions.”

“Thank you for your trouble…” Bai Qingyan nodded to Lu Jinxian, then asked, “How is Wei Bugong’s disaster relief efforts going?”

“The worst has passed. It was indeed Your Majesty’s keen eye for talent, personally promoting Wei Bugong to Minister of Revenue to handle disaster relief, granting him the authority to act first and report later. This person acts with great boldness, and with Your Majesty appointing General Wang Xiping to lead troops for protection, giving him backing and support, he wrote IOUs everywhere, requisitioning stored grain from various local granaries for disaster relief provisions. He truly has an iron fist—he didn’t let the situation of corpses littering the ground happen. This time it can be said… not a single disaster victim starved to death!”

After Chancellor Lu finished speaking, he smiled again, intentionally defending Wei Bugong: “However… we also received memorials sent up from below, from which one can see that this Wei Bugong has quite a temper. Others think that just because he has some ability, he looks down on everyone.”

In the former Jin Dynasty, such people were destined not to receive important appointments or promotions, but these were precisely the kind of people the court couldn’t do without.

“Hard bones and iron wrists with ability—the court lacks such people!” Bai Qingyan nodded. Hearing that the disaster victims hadn’t starved to death, she felt somewhat relieved. She looked toward Lu Jinxian: “How has the implementation of new policies in Han City been going these days?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, implementation has been relatively smooth, though it’s been hard on Lord Shen and all the officials in the Justice Ministry…” Lu Jinxian looked toward Shen Jingzhong. “According to the reform outline Your Majesty provided, using Jin law as the foundation, we need to completely recompile and revise it, first implementing it in Han City alone, while gradually releasing some news here in the Capital City as a test, then preparing to officially promulgate it during Your Majesty’s coronation ceremony. This has exhausted the Justice Ministry, but fortunately… Li Mingrui played a major role in this. The new laws were sent to Han City by swift riders five days ago. I imagine… the small portion of new laws that Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing brought have been gradually implemented almost completely, and the rest sent over should connect perfectly.”

“From the memorials sent back by Chen Zhaolu and Yuanqing, one can see… implementing new policies on the former Liang territory hasn’t been too difficult. Everyone in the Liang territory knows that Great Liang has been destroyed, so implementing new policies there is easier than in Great Zhou!” Lu Jinxian’s brows tightened: “As for Great Zhou…”

He looked up at Bai Qingyan. Although Bai Qingyan hadn’t asked about how the implementation of new policies within Great Zhou’s borders was proceeding, Lu Jinxian had been appointed by Bai Qingyan to implement new policies, so naturally, he needed to account to Bai Qingyan.

Lu Jinxian thought for a moment, straightened his back, and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan with a sincere voice: “This minister dares to speak out of turn. Implementing new laws benefits the people, but will inevitably damage the interests of imperial relatives and old noble families. Logically speaking… changing Jin to Great Zhou, if Your Majesty’s grandmother hadn’t been the Jin Dynasty’s Grand Princess, if Your Majesty had dealt with the old dynasty’s imperial relatives and clan members before going to Luohong City, perhaps implementation would have been easier.”

Before Bai Qingyan could speak, Lu Jin said to Lu Jinxian: “Your Majesty didn’t move against the old dynasty’s imperial clan when she first took control of the Capital City precisely to avoid making the feudal princes in various places wary and defensive. Before Your Majesty left the Capital City, she had already ordered this official to begin collecting and organizing the evil deeds committed by the Jin Dynasty’s imperial clan members over the years. We’re just waiting for this matter of reducing feudal power to settle, then we’ll deal with them all together. Lord Lu need not be anxious.”