Chapter 885: Revised: Chapter 882: Bear in Mind
The Emperor is the origin of a nation’s ethos. Just like when the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty practiced alchemy, the noble families followed suit. For a ti, inviting Taoists to practice alchemy and taking elixirs beca symbols of prestige in Dadu City, making Taoist alchemists highly sought after.
Many noble families imitated the Emperor, buying young children from traffickers for the purpose of making elixirs to prolong their own lives. Countless children died in the process.
Such an Imperial Court, even if my cousin didn’t overthrow it, would inevitably lead to greater chaos in the future.
By the third evening, the piled-up morials in the palace were dealt with, and the officials, dragging their weary bodies, were escorted back to their residences by soldiers. As they stepped out of the main hall, they felt like they had just completed the few days of youth exams, as if they’d been skinned.
The news that Bai Qingyan dispatched soldiers to escort officials back to their residences reached various mansions. The mistresses and family mbers stood at the doors to welco their husbands or sons.
The Pri Minister Lu’s descendants are nurous, and the entrance of the Lu Mansion was crowded with Lu family mbers. Lu Yuanqing rode a horse to the palace gate to wait for his grandfather and uncle.
As soon as he saw his grandfather’s carriage coming out, Lu Yuanqing imdiately spurred his horse forward. “Grandfather, Uncle…”
Pri Minister Lu heard him, lifted the carriage curtain, and glanced at his grandson. “Speak after we return to the mansion,” he said.
“Yes!” Lu Yuanqing rode ahead to lead the way.
On the way back to the Pri Minister Lu Mansion, Lu Yuanqing saw many officials being helped into their mansions by their crying family mbers and offspring. He couldn’t help but worry, guessing that these officials had likely undergone severe punishnt in the palace and had agreed to Bai Qingyan ascending to beco Empress before being released.
When Pri Minister Lu arrived at the mansion’s entrance, all his children, grandchildren, granddaughters, and daughters-in-law gathered around him. Lu Yuanqing assisted Pri Minister Lu down from the carriage, and his third daughter-in-law tearfully said, “Father has suffered!”
Pri Minister Lu frowned, “What nonsense! We were handling the backlog of state affairs, and even His Majesty worked with us in the main hall for three days and nights without complaining. How dare we complain!”
Lu Yuanqing knew his grandfather feared his mother might say sothing disrespectful towards Bai Qingyan, which would be detrintal to the Lu family.
Lu Yuanbao hurried forward to support his father and said to Pri Minister Lu, “Grandfather, Father, let’s discuss this at ho.”
“Quick, prepare hot tea and food for Old Master and Father!” Lu’s eldest daughter-in-law yelled.
After supporting Pri Minister Lu inside, the family sat in the main hall. Pri Minister Lu’s eldest son dismissed the attendants, not even leaving the close servants, and breathed a long sigh of relief. He looked at Pri Minister Lu, “Father, I didn’t dare ask in the palace, but do you truly support the Princess of Zhen ascending the throne?”
“If you don’t support her, who else do you have in mind?” Pri Minister Lu drank a sip of hot tea. “Although she is a woman, over the past three days… you’ve seen for yourself her vision and broad outlook. She deeply understands the governance thods of Yan and Xiliang, even extracting their essence to compensate for the deficiencies in our nation’s policies. She respects and listens to the opinions of others. Most importantly, she possesses a vigorous ambition to unify the world.”
Pri Minister Lu’s eldest son nodded. If Bai Qingyan were not a woman, he would have been in complete admiration after their three days of interaction.
“Daring to propose the implentation of new policies at this ti, having already drafted the reform outline, which is extrely appropriate considering current national circumstances, and boldly promoting such a strategy—putting the people first, believing a wealthy populace makes a strong nation and strong soldiers—instead of prioritizing the interests of the imperial clan and aristocratic families. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would likely be unable to implent these new policies. Only a dynasty change, with a new monarch on the seat, can avoid being shackled by the aristocratic families and the imperial clan! Hence… replacing the Lin family’s imperial power and implenting reforms, just as she said, the Bai family’s plotting started long ago during Xuanjia period when many Bai family mbers died in battle!”
Ever since reading the new policies, Pri Minister Lu has been profoundly shocked. “From having this thought to replacing the Lin family’s imperial power, it took rely three years! In just three short years, His Majesty expanded the Jin Kingdom by vanquishing the Liang Kingdom, then replaced the Lin family’s imperial power! Such resolve… moving mountains and seas! With such an emperor… how can the unification of the world be a concern!”
“Indeed…” Pri Minister Lu’s eldest son nodded in realization, “Three years ago, the Bai family faced calamity, everyone thought they would have no foothold in Dadu City, who knew three years later… His Majesty returned with the Bai Clan, pacified the southern borders, vanquished the Liang Kingdom, and replaced the Lin family’s imperial power! What is even more startling… is that during the Bai family’s critical survival period three years ago, she began planning for the unification of the world! Despite poverty and adversity, never losing ambition… such character is indeed rare.”
“This woman also has her sights set on the entire world, establishing the Secretariat… not to monitor officials but to gather intelligence from various countries for future use!” Pri Minister Lu squinted, gazing at the flickering candle fla, shaking his head. “This Lin family’s imperial clan, who among them has such vision? The forr kings lacked such ambition, we court officials… never thought of achieving the great task of unifying the world.”
Lu Yuanqing, sitting beside, heard his grandfather and uncle exchanging praises about Bai Qingyan, and asked, “So, Grandfather and Uncle support the Princess of Zhen as Emperor?”
“She is His Majesty!” Pri Minister Lu abruptly capped his cup, instructing the Lu family mbers, “From now on, rember this well. Although His Majesty has yet to ascend the throne, the dynasty change to Zhou has been decided! From now on, we are Zhou Dynasty courtiers! Especially you… Lu Yuanqing, Lu Yuanbao, after His Majesty ascends the throne and promotes the new policies, she will surely have the courage to utilize new talents. One of you is a Second Place Scholar, the other ranked sixth among the second-tier candidates. You may very well catch His Majesty’s eye. Rember your grandfather’s words, never underestimate His Majesty because she’s a woman. Achieving such feats in three years… even n would be rare. His Majesty… is truly skilled.”
Lu Yuanbao and Lu Yuanqing imdiately stood up and respectfully saluted Pri Minister Lu, “Grandsons will rember Grandfather’s teachings.”
Even if Pri Minister Lu hadn’t said so, Lu Yuanbao and Lu Yuanqing wouldn’t dare underestimate Bai Qingyan. After all… Bai Qingyan has nurous military achievents. Not only this recent campaign against Liang, but previously pacifying the southern borders as well. Even in her youth, accompanying King of Zhen Bai Weiting on expeditions, she beheaded General Pang Pingguo of the enemy nation!
No matter what others say, it may have been King of Zhen giving face to his granddaughter. But if Bai Qingyan lacked genuine skills, it would be impossible to behead an enemy general.
At this mont, not just the Lu Mansion, but many court officials upon returning ho have conveyed similar thoughts.
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