That was his youngest legitimate grandson, who from childhood had feared neither heaven nor earth, and was closest to him.

Bai Jinzhi stood at the back, catching sight of Lu Yuanqing and Lu Fenglang, but not seeing Lu Yuanpeng. She wondered if Lu Yuanpeng’s injuries had not yet healed, and planned to visit the Lu residence tonight with Sima Ping after gathering with her family.

Dong Shi had set the grand banquet celebrating the unification of the realm for the eighth day of the fifth month, the day of Grain in Ear. Today, the Bai family’s children had returned from the battlefield, having fulfilled their ancestors’ aspiration for unifying the realm. The whole family simply wanted to close their doors and celebrate among themselves.

The matter of nationwide celebration could wait.

The first day of the fifth month seemed to have become a day of reunion.

Murong Li had also reunited with Yan’s eldest prince, Murong Ping. Xie Xun’s parents had also come to the capital this time to gather together.

At the family banquet, there were not only the Bai family members, but also the Bai family’s two sons-in-law, Xiao Rongyan and Qin Lang.

When Qin Lang saw Xiao Rongyan at the family banquet, he was so shocked he nearly slipped and fell.

Now that the realm was settled, and Xiao Rongyan had once been friends with Qin Lang, there was nothing to hide about his identity. He penalized himself three cups in apology.

Only then did Qin Lang suddenly understand: “No wonder I always felt that Brother Xiao, despite being of merchant background, carried himself with such noble bearing. So it turns out he’s the Ninth Prince of Yan.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Rongyan raised his cup again: “I apologize to Brother Qin…”

“No matter, no matter! Now we’re all family!” Qin Lang hurriedly smiled and raised his wine cup.

“Oh my! You two drink less. Qin Lang’s stomach has just recovered…” Liu Shi laughed and turned to instruct a nanny, “Replace their wine with plum juice!”

During the days when Bai Jinxiu was away, Qin Lang had taken very good care of Second Madam Liu Shi, treating her even more intimately than a birth son would.

He knew his mother-in-law worried that while the other households all had sons returning, the second household did not. So he comforted Liu Shi, saying that by marrying Jinxiu and calling Liu Shi mother, he was Liu Shi’s son. Until Liu Shi’s birth children returned, he was willing to take the place of his elder and younger brothers-in-law in caring for Liu Shi. This finally helped Liu Shi resolve her inner turmoil.

At the family banquet, Xiao Ba held Wang Ge’er and caught Kangle and Xile, not allowing the two little ones to crawl over to find Bai Qingyan.

The whole family had a lively, warm meal. It wasn’t until the sky had completely darkened that they dispersed, still in high spirits.

Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi escorted Third Madam Li Shi, who had drunk some plum wine and was already slightly tipsy, back to her bedchamber. Li Shi held onto them and talked for quite a while before they could escape.

Bai Jinzhi stretched her arms and smiled as she left the bedchamber with Bai Jintong, saying: “Oh, wonderful! Now that Third Sister is back, Mother won’t only catch me dressing up and then urge me to marry! With Third Sister blocking in front of me, Mother won’t have the energy to torment me!”

Bai Jintong raised her hand and knocked Bai Jinzhi’s head: “Go back and rest early!”

“I still need to leave the palace to check on Lu Yuanpeng! Third Sister, you rest early!” After saying this, Bai Jinzhi was about to slip away.

“Xiao Si!” Bai Jintong called out to Bai Jinzhi, remembering Fifth Brother’s instruction to tell Bai Jinzhi about Lu Yuanpeng’s situation, but even now, she hadn’t figured out how to properly tell Bai Jinzhi.

“Third Sister?” Bai Jinzhi waved her hand in front of Bai Jintong’s eyes.

Bai Jintong gently grasped Bai Jinzhi’s hand and looked up at her clear, pure eyes. Amidst the rustling sound of wind blowing through the leaves, she slowly began to speak…

The color gradually drained from Bai Jinzhi’s face.

Dong Shi summoned Xiao Rongyan to her palace and had Nanny Qin bring out the clothes she had ordered made for Xiao Rongyan. She had him try them on one by one to see what needed alterations, so they could quickly get the needlework done.

Bai Qingyu and Bai Qingyan sat beside a tall table under the lamplight, drinking tea.

Bai Qingyu held his tea cup, watching Xiao Rongyan being very obedient and cooperative, letting his mother holding Xile manipulated him as she pleased. Whatever she told him to change into, he changed into, and he even thoughtfully asked Dong Shi if she wanted him to put on the jade crown she had prepared to match the clothes.

Ah Yu turned to his sister and said, “Sister, this Xiao Rongyan is quite good at making Mother happy!”

Since Empress Ji’s death, no one had ever taken such care to make clothes for Xiao Rongyan. Xiao Rongyan was truly happy and touched, very much enjoying the way Dong Shi would point out modifications for Nanny Qin to note down after he changed into each outfit.

“If you could cooperate with Mother like this, she would be happy too!” Bai Qingyan smiled as she spoke.

“Sister…” Bai Qingyu set down his tea cup and said to his sister, “About Xiao Rongyan’s identity, how do you plan to arrange it? Our Bai family knows he’s the Bai family’s son-in-law, but outsiders think the Great Zhou’s Imperial Consort has already died. This needs to be arranged clearly. Why not have him take the identity of Yan’s Ninth Prince and marry you again? That way, the two children would have a legitimate father.”

“In a few years, when the new policies are all implemented smoothly, I plan to go to Baivo City with Ah Yan.” Bai Qingyan didn’t hide anything from her brother. She gently patted the sleeping Kangle in her arms and said softly, “So the matter of identity doesn’t matter. Ah Yan thinks the same way!”

Rather than having him remarry her as Yan’s Ninth Prince, letting outsiders speculate about whether he was originally Great Zhou’s Imperial Consort, with some people perhaps wanting to see his face beneath the mask, it would be better not to remarry and simply leave for Baivo City someday.

This was also Xiao Rongyan’s intention.

“Sister!” Bai Qingyu sat up straight, his brow furrowed tightly.

But Bai Qingyan acted as if she hadn’t heard, smiling as she spoke to Dong Shi: “Mother, you’re only making clothes for Ah Yan, none for Ah Yu… Ah Yu is jealous.”

“I am not!” Bai Qingyu quickly protested.

The smile in Dong Shi’s eyes deepened: “How old are you to still act like a child fighting for sweets? Yes, yes, yes… There are some for everyone, you all have them!”

Xile in Dong Shi’s arms also babbled, and Dong Shi’s smile grew even deeper: “Our Xile has some too! Kangle too! Grandmother made clothes for you to wear at the grand banquet on the eighth day of the fifth month, so all the officials can see how beautiful our little prince and little princess are.”

The state banquet on the eighth day of the fifth month was the first state banquet after the unification of the realm, grander than any previous state banquet. Therefore, intensive preparations began as soon as Emperor Bai Qingyan returned to the capital.

On that day, the sky was clear as crystal, without a single cloud.

The state banquet was set before the magnificent Guangming Hall with its layered eaves. The white jade azure steps blazed brilliantly in the sunlight, and the emperor sat at the top of the high stairs, with blood-red carpets spread on both sides of the azure steps.

Officials were seated according to their ranks on the white jade platform steps.

On the middle platform, bell and music masters were arranged on both sides, with Kangna sitting alone in the center, holding a pipa, opening with “Peaceful Seas and Clear Rivers.”

The music was sonorous and powerful, like thunder, shocking the heart and stirring the spirit.

The bronze bells resonated deep and heavy, as if one could see the prosperous age of peaceful seas and clear rivers after the great war.

Master Guan Yongchong and Master Min Qianqiu, sitting with Bai Qingyu and others on the left side below the Emperor’s position, felt no displeasure due to Kangna’s identity, but were both immersed in this magnificent and heroic piece of music.

Looking far into the distance, below these cloud-reaching high steps, besides the soldiers, there were also the physicians the Emperor had brought back from Yan.

Even those physicians had their emotions stirred by the music, their feelings rising and falling with it, tears in their eyes.

When the piece ended.

All the ministers raised their cups: “Congratulations to Your Majesty on unifying the realm! May the Great Zhou last ten thousand years! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”

Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li, sitting on the right side below Bai Qingyan’s position, also raised their cups to congratulate Bai Qingyan.

Li Mingrui, sitting with Chen Zhaolu, stood up and raised his cup toward Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty has unified the realm in just three short years since ascending the throne, creating this unprecedented achievement. You can truly be called an emperor for the ages! This minister congratulates Your Majesty.”

Chen Zhaolu, sitting beside Li Mingrui, raised his eyebrows slightly, hands clasped in his sleeves, eyes downcast and expressionless. Li Mingrui habitually spoke such flattering words, but their emperor was not like the former Emperor of Jin, who would never be one to enjoy sycophantic ministers.

Sure enough, Bai Qingyan chuckled softly upon hearing this and spoke slowly: “I have occupied the imperial position for merely three years. Though I have achieved brilliant military victories and worked diligently day and night, this unification of the realm was accomplished through the unity of all officials, the soldiers’ bloodshed, and extensive planning. How dare I claim credit and call myself an emperor for the ages?”

She stood up holding her wine cup, and all the ministers and officials hurriedly stood up holding their cups as well.

She looked at Great Zhou’s officials and soldiers, at those white-robed physicians and her teacher with Master Min Qianqiu, her voice rising: “Today this wine should be offered by me! I toast all the soldiers who dared to fight bravely for our Great Zhou and died gloriously for the country! It was they who watered the land with their blood, creating today’s prosperous age! This wine… I toast my grandfather Bai Weiting, my father and uncles and brothers, I toast the Prince of Hancheng, General Zhang Duanrui, General Fang Yan, General Yue Zhizhou! I toast Lu Yuanpeng…”

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinzhi’s hands resting on her knees tightened, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Lu Yuanpeng had died saving her.

Bai Jintong quietly reached out and patted Bai Jinzhi’s hand.

“I also toast the Prince of Yanshan and the Prince of Yanxiang…” Bai Qingyan turned to raise her cup toward Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan’s direction. She didn’t want Murong Li to bear the reputation of a fallen ruler; she wanted to vindicate him. “I toast the Prince of Yanshan and the Prince of Yanxiang for their broad hearts. When Yan and the Great Zhou allied to destroy Western Liang, they had already made a national wager, saying that the two countries would compete based on their governance and policies. Whichever country’s governance could make the people prosperous and strong would unify the realm and use their methods to govern the nation. This was not Yan being forced into a desperate situation, seeking survival in death. Although the national wager ultimately could not be implemented due to various reasons, the Prince of Yanshan and Prince of Yanxiang’s hearts that put the people first, valued the common folk above the imperial throne, command my respect!”

Murong Li’s throat constricted. He hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to vindicate him at such a grand state banquet.

Unifying the realm was such a great achievement. Concentrating it all on Bai Qingyan alone would make it easier for her to govern ministers and people, but she chose to vindicate him instead.

Murong Li said with reddened eyes: “Yan’s governance had many shortcomings. Though the national wager lasted only briefly, Li could still glimpse some of it. The Great Zhou’s national policies and governance benefited the people. Li willingly submits to the Great Zhou! I only hope that the people can enjoy peace from now on, and that there will be no more wars in the world!”

Bai Qingyan nodded and drained the wine in her bronze cup with Murong Li.

Chun Tao came forward with a wine pot and refilled Bai Qingyan’s cup, then retreated to the side.

“This cup of wine is for the soldiers who returned safely!” Bai Qingyan raised her wine cup and turned toward Physician Hong, then looked at the physicians she had invited to the capital. “It’s also for the physicians who accompanied me into the plague city to treat the people! You are heroes!”

The physician from Yan who had once thought of fleeing felt ashamed and stepped forward, saying loudly: “We practice medicine to save people, which is our duty. We cannot compare to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for unification, and dare not be called heroes alongside the soldiers. Your Majesty flatters us!”

“Sir, I cannot agree with these words!” Bai Qingyan smiled and waved her hand, saying solemnly: “The soldiers who went to battle are heroes, fighting to protect their homes and country, to safeguard the people’s lives and border peace! The physicians who dared to enter the great plague city are even more heroic, practicing medicine to help the world, treating illness and saving people, also protecting the people’s lives and peace! This cup of wine… I toast you, and I toast the heroic spirit that all our Great Zhou people possess! A hundred years from now, we will all turn to dust, but the heroic spirit of our Great Zhou people will be immortal!”

Upon hearing this, the physician wiped his tears with his sleeve, choking as he called out: “Great Zhou is immortal!”

“Great Zhou is immortal!”

“Great Zhou is immortal!”

The mountain-like cheers of the ministers and soldiers before the great hall were earth-shaking and deafening, making hearts surge with excitement and blood boil with passion.

Xiao Rongyan’s deep eyes watched that woman in imperial robes, as if standing at the edge of clouds, standing in the blazing sun, surrounded by golden radiance, holding the gleaming bronze wine cup, her eyes smiling as she looked toward him.

This peace was hard-won. Naturally, both Bai Qingyan and he hoped it could be immortal.

But as Bai Qingyan had once told him, merit has its thickness and thinness, material quality has its durability and brevity, times have their middle and end, and the Heavenly Way has its prosperity and decline. They only hoped this peaceful and unified prosperous age could last longer… much longer.

He gently raised his cup toward Bai Qingyan and spoke slowly: “To the times of war in the past, and to the peaceful, prosperous age to come.”

Bai Qingyan’s eyes smiled even more deeply as she raised her cup high: “To the times of war in the past, and to the peaceful, prosperous age to come! Everyone… peace is hard-won. In the future, we still need to work together, shoulder to shoulder, to jointly ensure Great Zhou’s national fortune lasts ten thousand years!”

“Jointly ensure Great Zhou’s national fortune lasts ten thousand years!”

“Jointly ensure Great Zhou’s national fortune lasts ten thousand years!”

“Jointly ensure Great Zhou’s national fortune lasts ten thousand years!”

Master Min Qianqiu looked at the soldiers cheering below the white jade platform, at the ministers with raised cups and excited, impassioned faces, then his gaze fell on the emperor atop the high platform. He had never attended such a stirring state banquet.

He had originally begun writing the biography of the Bai family because of Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting.

Later, he found he could not stop writing because of the Great Zhou Emperor.

He thought that perhaps he would never be able to complete the biography of the Bai family in this lifetime. The Great Zhou Emperor Bai Qingyan had unified the realm today, and in the future might accomplish even more unexpected feats.

Just as when the Bai family faced disaster, everyone thought the Bai family would decline from then on, yet no one had imagined that with a dramatic turn of events, the Bai family’s eldest daughter would ascend the throne and unify the realm.

That night, Master Min Qianqiu returned to his lodgings and had his disciple light the candles.

With hair loose and still fully clothed, he sat under the lamp, moistening his brush with ink, wanting to record the day’s grand spectacle in his writing.

Outside the window, a gentle breeze caressed, copper bells chimed from the eaves, summer insects hummed softly, and moths fluttered against the lowered bamboo curtains.

Master Min Qianqiu sat for a long time without putting brush to paper, his mind filled with Prince Yanxiang Murong Yan’s words: “To the times of war in the past, and to the peaceful, prosperous age to come.”

Coming back to himself, Master Min Qianqiu was surprised to find that on the paper, there were only two characters: “Peaceful Prosperity.”

Seeing his teacher put brush to paper, Master Min Qianqiu’s disciple set down the silver needle he had used to raise the lamp wick, covered the lamp shade, and asked quietly: “Teacher, will the Bai family biography be completed and finished today?”

Master Min Qianqiu shook his head, his kind and gentle features appearing even more composed and dignified in the bright lamplight.

At this moment, he seemed to have gained a new understanding of the Bai family’s aspiration to protect and bring peace to the people, a new comprehension of the original purpose behind establishing the Bai family army.

He asked: “Do you remember how the Bai family army’s military song goes?”

His disciple nodded and softly hummed aloud: “Donning my protective armor, with you I share the same enemy and hatred. Grasping the enemy-slaying long blade, with you I share life and death…”

Donning my protective armor, with you, I share the same enemy and hatred.

Grasping the enemy-slaying long blade, with you I share life and death.

Guarding rivers and mountains, protecting the people, fearless true warriors.

Not dying in battle, not removing armor, fine sons of family and country…

Dear little darlings, little ancestors, today, “The Eldest Daughter” will complete its serialization!

Thank you, little darlings, for your companionship along the way!

Don’t feel regretful about today’s ending, little darlings. We will meet again in new stories.

Qianqian’s new work, “The Grand Chancellor,” will begin serialization in mid-February. I hope little darlings will support Qianqian as always.

Here’s the synopsis for “The Grand Chancellor”:

Xie Yunchu was forced to jump off a cliff and died miserably, only to be reborn as the legitimate grandson of the second branch of the enemy nation’s Xie family.

Disguised as a man, despised by her father, and with a short life ahead! Fortunately, her mother feels guilty and cares for her attentively.

Her elder sister cherishes her younger brother and grants his every request.

Having never received such devoted love in her previous life, she naturally wants to repay them well.

Those who bully the Xie family’s second branch pay them back in kind, yet they begin to follow the second branch’s lead? Those who look down on the Xie family’s second branch, she tramples underfoot, yet they begin to obey the second branch’s every command?

Life gets better and better. Xie Yunchu originally thought this life would have no connection with her previous one.

But her previous life’s husband, who had been stunning among the nations and upright in character, actually became her mentor.

He gently stroked the child’s head, smiling warmly: “Your teacher once had an old friend, also named Yunchu. She was the most kindhearted person in the world. I hope you can be like her, upright in conduct and character. Whether you enter government service or pursue a scholarship in the future, I hope you find your path.”

In her previous life, many people owed her debts, but only Ji Jingci was the bright moon in her heart.

Once entering government service, I rose to the position of Grand Chancellor.

Heaven let her live again, wearing the python robe. Her path is… to restore order and rectify the ruler.

(Chapter Complete)