Lu Jinxian quickly calculated, then looked up solemnly at Bai Qingyan: “It’s just that, Your Majesty, regarding how to establish schools—whether to set up one school per county or one per city—this needs careful planning. Moreover, when the government establishes schools, the Finance Ministry needs to allocate silver each year. This matter probably has to wait until the Finance Minister returns.”

Chancellor Lu: “…”

“Then at the coronation ceremony, we’ll announce it to the world. When Finance Minister Wei Bugong returns, we’ll put this matter into practice.” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she looked toward War Minister Shen Jingzhong: “Has Wei Zhong already handed the people over to Lord Shen?”

Before Bai Qingyan left the Capital City for Luohong City, she had ordered Wei Zhong to completely control the Jin Dynasty’s imperial shadow guards, handing half of them over to War Minister Shen Jingzhong for use by the newly established Bureau of Surveillance.

After all, these imperial shadow guards stayed in the shadows daily, rarely showing their faces. Even shadow guards from the same squad couldn’t guarantee they knew each other. They had all been separated from their birth parents since birth and raised by shadow guards. Such unfamiliar faces with no family concerns were the safest when sent to the front lines.

Shen Jingzhong nodded: “Lord Wei has already handed them over to this minister. Besides that… this minister has also gathered some capable people. After screening and verification, I selected another batch. Then, following Your Majesty’s instructions, I dispersed and arranged the second batch of people to be sent to Yan. If nothing unexpected happens… after the coronation ceremony, the third batch can also be sent to Yan.”

Bai Qingyan had already sent the first batch before going to Luohong City. She had told Shen Jingzhong… now that Yan had just swallowed Wei, when they hadn’t yet completely sorted out Wei’s details, it was a good time to plant operatives. She had Shen Jingzhong hurry with this matter.

But because selecting spies to plant in enemy countries wasn’t so easy—people needed to be capable… and able to endure loneliness. Since this concerned the future great cause of unification, Shen Jingzhong was inevitably cautious, so progress was slower than previously expected.

Bai Qingyan nodded, then heard Chancellor Lu say to her: “Your Majesty, there’s another matter… the construction of the Guang River canal was half completed. Later, when Prince Liang rebelled and fled to Luohong City, Master Qin, who was originally overseeing the canal construction, went to Luohong City, and… according to this minister’s knowledge, Master Qin came from the Jin Dynasty Crown Prince’s household. Now the Guang River canal is half-built and left there. Does Your Majesty have any instructions? Should we continue using this Master Qin or replace him?”

“Qin Shangzhi was brought back together with the deposed Crown Prince this time. Regarding the canal construction… originally, I was inclined to have Qin Shangzhi continue being responsible for it. Before the coronation ceremony, I’ll talk with Qin Shangzhi. If Qin Shangzhi is unwilling, it’s not that there aren’t more suitable people; it would just delay some time.”

“Since Your Majesty has it figured out, this old minister won’t worry!” Chancellor Lu said with a smile.

After Bai Qingyan had summoned her energy to say and listen to so much, she was extremely exhausted, so she said: “The various matters of the coronation ceremony… I’ll trouble you gentlemen!”

Having said this, Chancellor Lu and the others knew Bai Qingyan was tired, so they quickly stood up, bowed, and took their leave.

Such was the responsibility and burden of a nation’s ruler.

If one didn’t have a broad and resilient heart like Bai Qingyan, with the goal and ambition to unify the world, the moment of wild joy upon ascending the emperor’s throne would quickly be crushed by the heavy burden that followed without the support of goals and ambitions.

Naturally, if one occupied the position but couldn’t bear its weight, being incompetent and self-indulgent like the Jin Dynasty emperor, with virtue not matching the position, national destruction would be inevitable.

Zhen Ming, who had been guarding at the door, not daring to enter and report, saw Chancellor Lu’s group come out and quickly lifted the curtain to bow, ordering people to escort Chancellor Lu’s group away. Only then did Zhen Ming hurry inside, wanting to tell Bai Qingyan about the ladies’ imminent arrival in the Capital City.

Seeing Bai Qingyan with her elbow resting on the armrest, hand supporting her forehead, seemingly resting with closed eyes, Zhen Ming hesitated whether to report to Bai Qingyan, when she heard Bai Qingyan say: “Summon Wei Zhong…”

Zhen Ming saw Bai Qingyan with closed eyes, looking exhausted and haggard, and pressed her lips together. Thinking it wouldn’t be too late to report to Bai Qingyan when the ladies, young misses, and Seventh Young Master reached the Capital City gates, she responded: “Yes…”

Soon, Wei Zhong hurried over. Entering and seeing Bai Qingyan with closed eyes as if asleep, he solemnly kowtowed in greeting. After a long while without hearing Bai Qingyan respond, he turned to look at Zhen Ming… just about to signal Zhen Ming that he should leave first, when he saw Bai Qingyan let out a long breath, sit up straight, and ask Wei Zhong: “Among the shadow guards, are there any who would rather die than surrender, only willing to serve the Jin Dynasty emperor?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, there were… they have all been dealt with cleanly!” Wei Zhong’s voice was without any emotion.

“Besides those handed over to the Bureau of Surveillance, how many were lost?” Bai Qingyan asked again.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the shadow guards this subordinate handed over to the Bureau of Surveillance… were all veterans. According to Jin Dynasty rules, shadow guards over thirty… needed to choose successors to adopt and train as disciples by their side. This subordinate knew the Bureau of Surveillance was for Master to use in gathering intelligence from other countries, so I handed over those over forty-five. These people are older, and though their physical strength isn’t equal to young people, they’re steadier as spies! So… with new people filling the shadow guard ranks, we didn’t lose much.”

Wei Zhong also had his private considerations. These people had fought desperately their whole lives, and those who had survived to this point… their physical strength could no longer keep up with young people. Wei Zhong wanted them to have a good end. Going to be spies… as long as they hid well, they wouldn’t be much different from ordinary people, and their chances of dying peacefully of old age were much higher than continuing as shadow guards fighting and killing.

“What about the Jin Dynasty Crown Princess and little imperial grandson?” Bai Qingyan asked again.

Wei Zhong stared at the floor in front of him: “Reporting to Master, they’re still doing well. Does Master have any instructions?”

“Take good care of them. You may go…”

Wei Zhong’s brows tightened. For the first time, he disobeyed orders, kowtowing to Bai Qingyan: “Master, though innocent children are blameless, now that the new dynasty has been established, we should eradicate the roots. Otherwise… once someone harbors other thoughts and uses the Jin Dynasty Crown Prince or little imperial grandson as a pretext, it might cause trouble.”

“I know what I’m doing.” Bai Qingyan’s voice was weary. “There’s another matter I need you to handle. From today on, personally take people to wait at the city gates until the day of the coronation ceremony. If any… if any children of the Bai family return, personally welcome them home! If some can’t make it in time… who only return on the day of the coronation ceremony, bring them directly to the palace.”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong accepted the order.

“You may go…”

Wei Zhong responded, stood up, and retreated with a bow.

After Wei Zhong left, only then did Zhen Ming lift the curtain and enter again. Unable to contain her excited emotions, she bowed to Bai Qingyan and said: “Eldest Miss… Madam and the young misses have all returned! Just when you were meeting with Wei Zhong, the guards sent word that they’ve already entered the Capital City gates. It’s Seventh Young Master… Seventh Young Master escorted the ladies back!”