Cheng Yuanzhi, who had just mocked Gu Wenchang for shedding tears, looked at Bai Qingyan coming toward them, now considerably thinner than before. His nose tingled, and unable to contain his emotions, he clasped his fists and choked out loudly to Bai Qingyan: “Xiao Bai Commander! The Bai family army’s Cheng Yuanzhi has returned to the capital on orders to witness the coronation ceremony, to build the grand ambitions of the Bai family ancestors and the Bai family army together with Xiao Bai Commander, to fight alongside Xiao Bai Commander… for the unification of the realm! Until death in battle! Never remove our armor!”

Cheng Yuanzhi had suppressed his surging emotions the entire journey, but seeing Bai Qingyan now, he could no longer hold back. His rough, deep voice echoed above the imperial palace. This man of iron bones stood firmly, gazing at Bai Qingyan, his dark facial features taut, tears falling silently.

His words made not only Bai Qingyan… but also all the Bai family members, and the Bai family army generals’ eyes turned red.

All the Bai family army had heard Bai Qingyan’s imperial edict this time, heard that Bai Qingyan wanted them to return to the capital to witness her coronation ceremony together, to fulfill their aspirations that the Bai family and Bai family army had pursued for generations.

Shen Kunyang held back his tears, his reddened eyes filled with gratified smiles. Compared to the title “Your Majesty,” to the Bai family army… Bai Qingyan was, more importantly, their Xiao Bai Commander, the successor to Prince Zhenguo Bai Weiting and Duke Zhenguo Bai Qishan, the standard-bearer of the Bai family army!

Infected by Cheng Yuanzhi’s emotions, Shen Kunyang clasped his fists in salute: “We of the Bai family army are willing to follow Xiao Bai Commander! To fight for the unification of the realm! Until death in battle! Never remove our armor!”

Gu Wenchang couldn’t hold back tears again because of Cheng Yuanzhi’s words. He knelt with Wei Zhaonian and Shen Liangyu, clasping their fists: “We pledge to follow Xiao Bai Commander unto death, to fight for the unification of the realm! Until death in battle, never remove our armor!”

When Bai Qingyan’s imperial edict had reached Nan Jiang, which of the Bai family army veterans had not shed tears upon hearing it?

In the military camp, the Bai family army soldiers who had followed Shen Kunyang, Cheng Yuanzhi, and others back from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood at the Nan Jiang battlefield—these stalwart men of iron and blood—had each cried like children.

Because their Xiao Bai Commander still remembered them, these Bai family army survivors from the Nan Jiang battle who still drew breath. She wanted them to return to the capital to witness her coronation ceremony together.

Their Xiao Bai Commander of the Bai family army now… stood in an even higher position, had become the empress of Great Zhou, and would lead them to unify the realm and create everlasting peace.

The deaths of Prince Zhenguo Bai Weiting, Duke Zhenguo Bai Qishan, and the various Bai family generals in the Nan Jiang battle during the Xuanjia years hung like dark, heavy clouds over the heads and hearts of every Bai family army soldier, making it impossible for them to find peace.

But to all the Bai family army, Bai Qingyan was like that ray of dawn light in the deepest darkness before dawn… having crossed through all darkness, she dispelled the dark haze and let them see new hope, giving them new direction.

Now, their hope and direction stood in the most brilliant position in all of Great Zhou.

“Uncle Shen, Uncle Gu, General Wei, General Cheng, General Shen… quickly get up!” Bai Qingyan helped each of them to their feet in turn. “Last year, I heard that Uncle Gu’s leg would ache unbearably on cloudy, rainy days. Has Physician Hong’s medicine helped? Uncle Shen, General Wei… General Cheng, Shen Liangyu… have all your wounds healed?”

Cheng Yuanzhi wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and pounded his chest forcefully: “Xiao Bai Commander, rest assured! All healed! Strong as an ox!”

“All healed! All healed…” Shen Kunyang nodded with a smile. During today’s coronation ceremony, Shen Kunyang and Bai Qingyan had no opportunity to speak privately, so now he couldn’t help but worry about Bai Qingyan’s health. “In Nan Jiang, we heard that Xiao Bai Commander took a blade meant for the former dynasty’s crown prince and hovered between life and death several times, which truly made us break out in cold sweats…”

“Yes! Has Xiao Bai Commander fully recovered?” Gu Wenchang looked Bai Qingyan up and down. “How come you look even thinner than last time? Haven’t you fully recovered yet?”

“All healed! Uncle Gu, don’t worry!” The smile in Bai Qingyan’s eyes grew even gentler.

Wei Zhaonian looked up toward Bai Qingyun sitting in the wheelchair, but not seeing Bai Qinqi, he couldn’t help asking: “I heard Third Young Master also returned. Why don’t I see Third Young Master?”

“A’Qi had matters to attend to and left the capital early.” Bai Qingyan glanced at Shen Liangyu, whose eyes were completely red, then looked at Shen Kunyang, Gu Wenchang, Wei Zhaonian, and Cheng Yuanzhi, smiling as she spoke: “I’ve prepared a wine feast at the General’s Pavilion. Let’s go there to talk…”

Everyone nodded and followed Bai Qingyan toward the General’s Pavilion.

Seeing Cheng Yuanzhi wiping his tears, Gu Wenchang couldn’t help but retort: “Oh my, what’s that hanging on your face? A dignified seven-foot-tall man… what are you crying about?”

“Old Cheng isn’t crying—this is called… a fierce tiger shedding tears!” Shen Kunyang joked with a laugh.

Cheng Yuanzhi: “…”

What should have been the solemn and dignified white jade high steps echoed with several men’s rough laughter and banter, sounding particularly warm in the night.

Bai Qingyun sat in his wheelchair, looking at the Bai family generals and gently gripping the hem of his robe, remembering how he used to sit with his elders around campfires, heartily discussing battle strategies… how he and his brothers would joke and laugh before their elders.

Perhaps because the Bai family elders were all gone, seeing Shen Kunyang, Gu Wenchang, and Wei Zhaonian—these three Bai family army generals who had often accompanied the family elders and were of the same generation as their fathers—Bai Qingyun regarded them as elders from the bottom of his heart.

Upon seeing Bai Qingyun, Shen Kunyang and the others couldn’t help but redden their eyes again, but they didn’t speak to Bai Qingyun with the gentle concern they might show a young girl, only telling him they would fight together on future battlefields! The Youlong Cavalry couldn’t do without Bai Qingjue and Bai Qingyun…

Bai Qingyun nodded through his tears.

Just as the group reached the General’s Pavilion, Shen Qingzhu and Xiao Ruojiang arrived one after the other.

Shen Qingzhu bowed to Bai Qingyan and the Bai family misses, as well as Bai Qingjue, then solemnly bowed to Shen Kunyang: “Foster father!”

Shen Kunyang nodded and quickly said, “Sit down quickly! There’s no need for such formalities between us, father and daughter!”

After Shen Qingzhu had greeted Xiao Rongyan and the other generals, she took her seat.

After Bai Qingyan generally inquired about the troop training in Nan Jiang, she had Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinse pay their respects to the generals.

Shen Kunyang quickly stood up waving his hands: “This won’t do! This won’t do!”

But Bai Qingyan, sitting at the round table, smiled gently and gestured for Shen Kunyang to sit down, saying: “This courtesy… all the generals deserve it! When grandfather, father, and uncles were alive, every Bai family child who entered the military camp bowed to you, generals. To us, Bai family descendants, you are not only elders… but also our predecessors! Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, Xiao Qi… bow.”

Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinse properly bowed to the generals.

The generals couldn’t remain seated and rose to return the courtesy.

Wei Zhaonian, always astute, had already perceived Bai Qingyan’s intention before the other Bai family army generals realized it.