Xiao Rongyan was also a rarely seen handsome man, the kind who possessed both shrewd masculine energy and elegant, refined bearing. How could Li Zhijie not have favorable feelings toward Xiao Rongyan?
Xiao Rongyan’s eyes and brows carried a smile: “Rongyan has rendered no service to the nation—how dare I seek a title?”
“If Mr. Xiao could marry the Great Zhou Empress and stabilize the alliance between Yan and Great Zhou… wouldn’t this be a great service to Yan?” Li Zhijie imagined Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan standing side by side, feeling it would surely be quite pleasing to the eye. Smiling, he asked the Great Yan Ninth Prince, “What do you think, Your Highness?”
·
Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua went ahead to welcome Dong Shi and the various Bai family ladies, as well as Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba, eager to tell the family the news that Third Son Bai Qingqi and Ninth Son Bai Qingyun had returned.
Chun Tao, Chun Zhi, Zhen Ming, Zhen Guang, Nanny Tong, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs were attending to Bai Qingyan as she changed into formal robes for the banquet. Accompanied by Bai Jinxiu, she walked toward Xuanming Hall.
Bai Jinxiu accompanied Bai Qingyan at her side, walking at the front, speaking softly with her: “Elder Sister, regarding sending A’Jue to Hancheng to exchange for Xiao Si and oversee the new policies, I think… it would be more appropriate to send me. First… A’Jue just returned and should spend more time with Fourth Aunt. Second… since Elder Sister wants to employ women as officials, sending me at this time would better demonstrate your resolve to the world.”
Initially, Bai Qingyan had favored Bai Jinxiu, but considering that Wang Ge’er was young, and later when Bai Qingjue returned… she had decided to send Bai Qingjue.
“If you go to Hancheng, what about Wang Ge’er? What about Qin Lang?” Bai Qingyan walked slowly with Bai Jinxiu. “Even if Qin Lang accompanies you to Hancheng, the journey is long and arduous—can Wang Ge’er endure the bumpy ride?”
“Departing tomorrow, we’ll just take the journey slowly. Though Wang Ge’er is a child, he can’t be pampered. I’m still counting on Wang Ge’er to serve Great Zhou when he grows up.” Bai Jinxiu had already thought this through carefully. “Now that Elder Sister has ascended as Emperor, it’s inappropriate for you to personally lead campaigns. When we attack Xiliang in the future… A’Jue leading troops is more suitable than I. First, A’Jue has fought against Xiliang soldiers. Second, these years, A’Jue has been hiding in Nanjiang and knows the terrain there better than I do. So Hancheng… I’ll go!”
Bai Qingyan’s steps paused, and the eunuchs and maids following behind her also quickly stopped.
She looked into Bai Jinxiu’s clear eyes. Among the Bai family siblings, some things didn’t need to be spoken aloud—they all understood.
Bai Qingyan had a three-year agreement with Yun Poxing, which she had never forgotten for a single day.
Bai Jinxiu had also never forgotten the revenge for Xiao Shiqi for a single day.
On the battlefield, life and death were matters of fate, but Yun Poxing’s disemboweling humiliation and wanton desecration of the Bai family son—this enmity could not go unavenged!
That day, though they had surrounded Yun Poxing, she had been forced to endure humiliation and pain to spare Yun Poxing’s life. Now that the Bai family had changed heaven and earth, it was time to seek revenge against Yun Poxing.
Bai Qingyan grasped Bai Jinxiu’s hand, gripping it tightly: “Let’s go…”
“Elder Sister…” Bai Jinzhao ran toward Bai Qingyan from afar, breathless. After bowing respectfully, she said, “Elder Sister, Sister Qing Zhu and Shen Tianzhi have both returned. Sister Qing Zhu is escorting the families of Prince Guang’an and Prince Baishui, while Minister Shen is escorting Prince Hedong and Prince Anxi’s heir, who attempted to bring troops in rebellion, along with fierce generals from the Hedong and Anxi regions. They’re waiting outside the palace gates for your summons.”
Bai Jinzhao caught her breath and continued: “Sister Qing Zhu says the troops of Princes Guang’an, Baishui, and Hedong have arrived outside the capital in hiding, awaiting orders. General Gu Wenchang has led the Bai family army to surround them, awaiting your command—they can be eliminated at any moment!”
“Go receive Qing Zhu and Minister Shen into the palace. Have them wait in the side hall for a summons to enter the main hall. Also, send someone to notify your Seventh Brother… to lead troops out of the city. If those three princes’ troops make any suspicious moves, eliminate them immediately.” Bai Qingyan calmly gave orders.
“Yes!” Bai Jinzhao responded, rising and hurrying away again.
“Prince Baishui has already been captured. The other four princes probably still think they can negotiate with Elder Sister at tonight’s palace banquet.” Bai Jinxiu’s voice was calm. “This palace banquet doesn’t include the former Jin royal family, but the five regional princes are among the guests. Prince Shuofang is anxious, fearing it’s a trap. Hearing that Prince Baishui claimed illness to avoid coming, he originally wanted to do the same, but was forcibly dragged here by Prince Hedong.”
“If the matter of reducing feudal power can be settled today, it will be killing the monkey to warn the chickens… resistance to implementing new laws will be much reduced.” Bai Qingyan tightened her hands behind her back. “Elevating women’s status, allowing women to participate in imperial examinations, employing women as officials, encouraging widows to remarry—these laws will be the most difficult to implement. I’m afraid someone will use Imperial Academy students to cause trouble.”
“Elder Sister, rest assured. Minister Lu Jin has already told me he’s sent people to watch the Imperial Academy. Minister Lu is worried someone might incite the Academy students to cause disturbances.” After saying this, Bai Jinxiu remembered the assassins who had ambushed them in Qiankun Hall today. “Elder Sister, the assassins who ambushed us in Qiankun Hall today were strange. Their sword techniques didn’t look like sword work but rather like knife work, and some of their killing moves resembled Xiliang methods.”
Bai Qingyan’s expression didn’t change as she said: “It must be related to Prince Yan Li Zhijie, who’s been stirring up trouble since arriving in the capital!”
·
Bai Qingyan personally welcomed her mother and the various aunts, supporting Dong Shi’s hand as they entered the great hall together.
Dong Shi had never imagined that one day she would become an empress dowager of a nation.
Now that her daughter had become Great Zhou’s Empress and she was Great Zhou’s Empress Dowager, such honor should have been cause for joy, but Dong Shi felt sorry for her daughter… from this day of ascension onward, there would probably be no more leisurely days.
All officials bowed in salute: “We respectfully wish the Empress Dowager good health.”
Bai Qingyan helped Dong Shi to her seat, and seeing that the various aunts were also settled, she knelt at her low table.
Prince Guang’an had already received word that his troops, along with those of Prince Baishui and Prince Hedong, had arrived outside the capital. Prince Shuofang and Prince Anxi’s troops should be arriving soon as well.
With five princes’ combined forces—at least 120,000 soldiers—Bai Qingyan would surely be shaken. If she insisted on reducing feudal power, threatening their family fortunes, they would fight to the death even if it meant perishing.
With troops in hand, Prince Guang’an felt confident, but he didn’t know whether Prince Baishui was afraid or what was happening—he still hadn’t arrived.
Prince Baishui had always followed Prince Guang’an’s lead. Today, as he stepped forward for all the princes, he feared that if Bai Qingyan took a hard stance and Prince Baishui didn’t speak up first in agreement, the other three princes would become cowards.
Li Zhijie saw that Bai Qingyan had taken her seat and was first to bow to her: “Great Zhou has just been established, and today is the joyous occasion of Your Majesty’s ascension. This foreign minister, Li Zhijie, under orders from the Xiliang Empress, presents congratulatory gifts to the Great Zhou Empress. Xiliang wishes to form a mutual alliance and maintain good relations with the Great Zhou.”
With that, Li Zhijie handed the diplomatic document to a young eunuch behind him.