Bai Qingyan could hardly contain her joy, calling out loudly once more: “And Shen Qingzhu and Xiao Ruojiang.”

The last traces of bloody sunset at the horizon were completely covered by the star-dust of night, and the entire imperial palace of the capital was already brilliantly lit. One after another, the magnificently imposing double-eaved palace halls stood solemnly in the dazzling bright lights. From afar, that grand and solemn sight was truly awe-inspiring.

Shen Kunyang, Gu Wenchang, and Wei Zhaonian were better off—they had followed Prince Zhenguo into the palace before in earlier years. But Cheng Yuanzhi and Shen Liangyu had only viewed the imperial palace countless times from outside; this was their first time entering the palace, so they inevitably found everything curious.

Cheng Yuanzhi felt the imperial palace was truly magnificent and splendid. Even on the steps leading up to the white jade high platform, bronze crane lamps half a person’s height were placed every five steps, illuminating this spotless jade stairway passage with a golden glow.

Cheng Yuanzhi looked left and right. Just as he reached the bottom of the great hall’s high steps, he saw Bai Qingyan standing with hands clasped behind her back at the top of the steps.

Bai Qingyan had already changed into her usual practice clothes and had been waiting here for the Bai family army generals for quite some time. Upon seeing them, her eyes immediately filled with warm smiles.

“Xiao Bai Commander!” Cheng Yuanzhi could hardly contain his excitement. He pointed toward Bai Qingyan on the high steps and shouted with his rough voice, drawing sideways glances from the imperial guards stationed on both sides of the steps.

Today Bai Qingyan had ascended to the throne. Except for Shen Kunyang, the other four generals had all been outside the city guarding against the armies of various feudal princes and had not entered the city. But their Xiao Bai Commander had overthrown the Jin Emperor and ascended to the throne herself… how could they not be excited?

During the Nan Jiang campaign, Bai Qingyan had explicitly told these Bai family army generals… to maintain private troops, both to preserve the Bai family army and for the future… should they encounter a foolish ruler, to rebel against the ruler and protect the people.

After the Bai family’s misfortune, they had watched the one they had seen grow up—the spirited young pioneer who rode in fine clothes and wielded sharp weapons, their sharp-edged Xiao Bai Commander—single-handedly shoulder the burden of the Bai family army, transforming into a steady, reserved, and resolute person. Even in dire straits, she never forgot her great ambitions, never forgot the original purpose of establishing the Bai family army, and never forgot the Bai family’s original intentions. Her spirit could swallow mountains and rivers.

Now, their Xiao Bai Commander had achieved it. She had rebelled against the Jin Emperor, who, in pursuit of immortality, had made the people’s lives unbearable. She had ascended to the imperial throne, avenged the Bai family army, avenged the Bai family, and even founded the Great Zhou nation.

No one could be happier than these Bai family army generals who had watched Bai Qingyan grow up.

“Old Cheng!” Gu Wenchang quickly pressed down Cheng Yuanzhi’s hand that was pointing at Bai Qingyan, indicating the imperial guards nearby. “Xiao Bai Commander is now Your Majesty. This is the imperial palace… mind your manners! Properly bow and address her as Your Majesty!”

As soon as Gu Wenchang finished speaking, they saw Bai Jinxiu pushing Bai Qingyun, along with Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua in military attire, all standing beside Bai Qingyan.

Looking at Second Miss, who had once fought alongside them… seeing Bai Qingyun, who had escaped death, their eyes grew hot. It was as if the scenes of them fighting bloody battles alongside these Bai family descendants were still before their eyes. In the blink of an eye, they had all grown up!

Even Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss, who before deployment had still worn their hair in two little buns and been held in their wet nurses’ arms, now stood at the top of those high steps dressed in armor with heroic bearing. The Bai family’s Seventh Miss, standing beside Xiao Bai Commander, though young, already faintly showed Xiao Bai Commander’s bearing and would surely become a fierce general of the Bai family army in the future.

After all the Bai family elders had died in battle, the Bai family descendants, led by Xiao Bai Commander, had become the backbone of the Bai family army.

In that instant, Gu Wenchang’s tears surged, and he even had the feeling that he might be getting old.

Clearly… even if he went to battle now, he could still fight one against a hundred, but looking at Bai Qingyan, looking at Bai Jinxiu… looking at Bai Qingyun, looking at Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinse, as well as Bai Qingjue beside them, Gu Wenchang actually felt he was getting old.

Fortunately… Heaven had eyes and preserved people for the Bai family!

“Uncle Shen, Uncle Gu, General Wei, General Shen, General Cheng… let’s go, elder sister is still waiting for us.” Bai Qingjue said, leading the way.

Cheng Yuanzhi, following Bai Qingjue up the high steps, didn’t see Gu Wenchang beside him. Knowing Gu Wenchang had difficulty with his legs and feet, he was about to help him when he turned back and saw Gu Wenchang wiping tears with his sleeve. He shouted in disbelief: “Old Gu, why are you crying?”

Gu Wenchang: “…”

Gu Wenchang looked up and glared at Cheng Yuanzhi, saying irritably: “Crying my ass! I got sand in my eyes!”

“That’s what I thought! A dignified seven-foot-tall man… It’s just that your legs aren’t good, so you can’t walk as fast as we! If you cried, I’d look down on you!” Cheng Yuanzhi walked down the high steps. “I’ll help you!”

“Even with bad legs, I could still kick twenty of you away!” Gu Wenchang said, then lifted his foot to walk up the high steps.

“Now that’s just bragging!” Cheng Yuanzhi pounded his chest with his fist, walked down a few steps, and reached out to support Gu Wenchang. “With my size, even when your legs were good, you might not have been able to kick me away. Now you want to kick twenty of me away—aren’t you afraid the wind will make your tongue slip?”

Wei Zhaonian, who had already removed his armor and changed into a frost-colored robe, looked down with a gentle smile at Cheng Yuanzhi supporting Gu Wenchang in the swaying golden lamplight, then looked back up at Bai Qingyan on the high steps, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Bai Qingjue, walking at the front, looked back at the laughing and joking Gu Wenchang and Cheng Yuanzhi. The night wind carried a trace of the day’s remaining heat, blowing Bai Qingjue’s scattered hair and the ribbon binding his hair so they fluttered around his eyes filled with warm, gentle smiles. It had been so long… so long since he had seen these Bai family generals like this.

Even when he was in Nan Jiang, he had never… seen these generals together, laughing and talking so joyfully.

Bai Jinhua, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinse had never followed these generals on campaign before. Previously, they had only seen them from afar before deployments, or heard their names from their elders… brothers and sisters.

Especially Bai Jinse—she had never led troops or even entered a military camp. Looking at those generals… besides curiosity, her heart was filled more with admiration!

The Nan Jiang battle during the Xuanjia years had been so tragic for the Bai family army. Of the Bai family army’s numerous distinguished generals, only these five remained.

As the generals walked up the high steps, they looked up toward the brightly lit summit where Bai Qingyan stood before the magnificent, solemn double-eaved palace hall. They felt that Bai Qingyan’s presence was not at all diminished by this imposing hall, but displayed restrained and profound dignity in her quiet composure.

“Haven’t Qingzhu and Xiao Ruojiang arrived yet?” Bai Qingyan asked Wei Zhong.

Wei Zhong stepped forward with quick steps and respectfully told Bai Qingyan: “Miss Shen and Your Majesty’s milk brother sent word that they’ll arrive a bit later.”

Seeing the generals had almost reached the top, Bai Qingyan nodded and couldn’t wait to walk down the high steps to meet them partway. Shen Kunyang led the generals to kneel on one knee atop the high steps in salute.