"How can that be the sa? The child under the second lady’s care carries the surna Qin, not Bai! Are we really going to let the Bai family’s throne fall into the hands of the Qin family?"
Bai Qingping continued to inquire, "Doesn’t the second lady carry the blood of the Bai family’s legitimate lineage?"
"It’s different, won are supposed to marry out..."
That clan mber spoke too hastily, and only after blurting out did he realize Bai Qingyan is also a woman.
"Oh... so you look down on won!" Bai Qingping raised the teacup beside him, "Since it’s like this, why do you hold yourselves as royalty? Her Majesty... is a woman!"
"A Ping, you too, discussing matters so boldly with the elders here. Is this sothing the clan can influence?" Bai Qihe, calm and collected, with an air of indifference, continued, "Don’t forget, the clan once acted outrageously, almost forcing Her Majesty to request to leave the clan. Now, donating money and grain to protect Shuoyang is just atonent for those cris! It’s already good that Her Majesty doesn’t hold grudges after ascending the throne; who dares to plead for rit before Her Majesty, or force Her Majesty to adopt a clan heir? If anyone dares... let them go to Her Majesty. As for , the clan leader, I don’t dare. I don’t want to disrupt my comfortable life by doing sothing foolish."
Upon hearing Bai Qihe’s words, the clan mbers fell silent.
"Father’s lesson is apt!" Bai Qingping stood up, his temper much calr, holding back laughter as he bowed deeply to Bai Qihe, "Your son won’t dare anymore."
Bai Clan mbers: "..."
·
For three whole days, Bai Qingyan and the officials have been handling state affairs in the grand hall.
During these three days, the palace has been bustling with activity, while the outside was equally chaotic.
Noble families were scurrying around to gather information.
The officials still detained in the palace, aside from those forrly part of Li Mao’s faction, abandoned by King Liang, were all supporters of the Crown Prince!
Previously, whenever news ca, it was always Left Pri Minister Li Mao, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, Minister of Judicial Review Lu Jin, Minister of Honglu Temple Dong Qingping and others firmly standing on the Crown Prince’s side.
Before King Liang ascended, he announced that he would execute Pri Minister Lu and other key ministers after his ascension. Beyond Pri Minister Lu’s family, any family supporting the Crown Prince was in great anxiety, hoping Bai Jinxiu could quickly storm the palace to rescue their fathers and children who would rather die than submit to King Liang.
Later, when Princess of Zhen led troops to capture the Imperial City, everyone rejoiced briefly, then news ca that Princess of Zhen planned to ascend the throne as Empress.
This scared the noble families in Dadu City terribly. Not only did Princess of Zhen return with troops, but Bai Jinxiu also held military power in her hands. In these chaotic tis... whoever holds military power is strong, and clearly, Dadu City was already under Bai Clan’s control.
Every family feared that if their fathers and sons stubbornly refused to submit to Princess of Zhen, they might not escape death, and their household mbers might not be spared either.
These anxious noble families sent their most capable servants to gather information outside the palace, yet they found nothing.
Without any news... this was the most unsettling.
So even went to Princess of Zhen’s mansion, but it was heavily guarded and they couldn’t enter. The people inside didn’t co out either, and the servants of Princess of Zhen were always tight-lipped, so even if they t, they likely wouldn’t find out anything.
Soon, palace emissaries were sent to officials’ hos to fetch clothing, which further agitated the noble won in Dadu City, clearly indicating their n were detained in the palace!
Those with inford connections heard that soone went to the Minister of Judicial Review Lord Dong’s ho to fetch clothing, leading many to rush to Dong Mansion for information.
Nevertheless, the wife of Minister of Judicial Review, Mrs. Song, knew nothing except to reassure everyone, highlighting that Bai Qingyan is not one to randomly kill like King Liang, and that Bai Clan has upheld a noble reputation for a century, with each descendant honorable and upright. Bai Qingyan, being a disciple whom Mr. Guan greatly admired, wasn’t prone to violence.
Mrs. Song suggested that Bai Qingyan probably kept the officials in the palace to handle the accumulated state affairs due to the unrest in Dadu City, though most believed it to be a misleading excuse.
After sending away those seeking information, Mrs. Song, dry-mouthed, accepted cups of tea handed by her daughter.
The initial news about Bai Qingyan planning to ascend as Empress and change the country’s na to Zhou had indeed shocked Mrs. Song.
A woman ascending as Emperor, unprecedented in Jin Kingdom, unlike Xiliang where the Empress of Xiliang ascended legitimately due to the Emperor of Xiliang having no sons.
But Bai Qingyan... although her grandmother was the Eldest Princess, she does not bear the surna Lin.
Remarkably, after her initial bewildernt, Dong Tingzhen analyzed why Bai Qingyan is suitable to be Empress, ntioning that neither King Liang nor the Crown Prince would be wise rulers.
The Jin Dynasty has been fraught with chaos, its decline visible.
Looking at her cousin’s actions, rescuing children from the Ninefold Terrace, the rebelling soldiers followed her after learning their cousin revolted; hence she returned swiftly.
That’s called the will of the people...
Bai Qingyan, noble and upright, is a towering figure amongst won.
Pure origins cleanse, proper form straightens the shadow.
If Zhou Kingdom’s Emperor were Bai Qingyan, a noble figure with an ice-clear heart, the state affairs would surely reflect righteousness, akin to great governance seen under Jin Dynasty’s ancestor... where court officials die for counsel, soldiers die in battle, a clear and just era.
Moreover, a female emperor in Jin Kingdom could significantly elevate won’s status, perhaps pioneering female participation in civil service exams and allowing won to beco officials.
Dadu City has many talented won, often constrained to the rear courtyard...
Families like Bai’s, where daughters can learn alongside sons and train in the battlefield, are scarce.
If her cousin, raised in such a family, beca Emperor, these winds of male dominance might well shift.
Mrs. Song, listening, turned to Dong Tingzhen, holding her hand, "So, you hope your cousin ascends to improve won’s status?"
"If my cousin becos Empress, the status of won in Zhou Kingdom will undoubtedly change," Dong Tingzhen replied firmly.
Mrs. Song slowly nodded. As a woman... she knew the low status of won in Jin Kingdom, but centuries of male dominance, could it really change with Bai Qingyan’s ascension?
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