Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 878 - 875: Grand Ambitions

Bai Qingyan finished speaking and solemnly bowed to the court officials gathered in the hall.

Li Mingrui, seeing this, knelt swiftly and shouted, "I swear to follow the Princess of Zhen to the death!"

"Yan has already been making strategic moves for the unification of the nation. I, Yang Wuce, have submitted to the Princess of Zhen to follow her in unifying the nation! As for those unwilling...they can stay at home quietly and watch others vie for dominance in this chaotic world!" After speaking, Yang Wuce knelt down before Bai Qingyan, "I, with the surrendered soldiers of the Liang Kingdom, swear to follow the Princess of Zhen to the death!"

"I swear to follow the Princess of Zhen to the death!" Yang Wei also knelt down.

Bai Jinxiu bit her lip hard, eyes reddening, and knelt down, "I, Bai Jinxiu, with the Yuanping army and the Bai family army...swear to follow the Princess of Zhen to the death!"

Bai Jinse wiped her tears with her sleeve and followed suit, kneeling down.

The officials in the grand hall were at a loss, uncertain of what to do, and could only look towards Prime Minister Lu, waiting for him to make a decision.

Dong Qingping saw that the officials were moved to tears and clearly persuaded. He thought to be the first to respond, to take the lead for those already loyal to Bai Qingyan. But, considering his nephew relationship with Bai Qingyan, he feared it wouldn’t be convincing enough.

Dong Qingping also looked towards Prime Minister Lu, hoping that if Lu took the lead in following Bai Qingyan, all doubts among the officials would vanish.

Prime Minister Lu gazed at the young lady standing on the high steps, bowing to them, and once again thought of his old friend Bai Weiting. Due to their positions, they had little interactions, fearing the Emperor’s suspicion, but Lu always respected Bai Weiting.

The eldest granddaughter valued by Bai Weiting, the proud disciple of the great scholar Guan Yongchong... whether in character or strategy, she was unparalleled. How many in the present age could match her?

Just moments ago, the Imperial City was in chaos. When the disaster report was received, Bai Qingyan promptly promoted officials to prioritize disaster relief. She elevated a lower-ranked inspector from the Ministry of Revenue to Minister of Revenue for his plan on arranging relief supplies and gave Wei Bugong 30,000 soldiers, managing the situation seamlessly.

This Wei Bugong, promoted by the Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, had talents that were stifled by his honesty and refusal to flatter superiors, causing officials in the Ministry of Revenue to suppress him. freeweɓnøvel~com

In a crisis, the Princess of Zhen dared to boldly employ capable but lower-ranked officials.

Thinking further of the Emperor who intended to use children for alchemy, the venomous and ruthless King Liang, or the spineless Crown Prince who kowtowed to power without discernment, Lu knew they lacked integrity.

Unexpectedly, Liu Rushi, known for his stubbornness, was the first to step forward.

Liu Rushi bowed to Bai Qingyan, "I once harbored ill feelings towards the Princess of Zhen for burning and killing captives. But today, the Princess did not resort to coercion or subtlety to ascend the throne, instead openly declaring her intentions to oppose the Lin imperial power for the people and the unification of the nation. I admire her honesty and broad-mindedness! Though a scholar, I too possess blood and spirit and desire to witness the unification of the nation! I, Liu Rushi, wish to follow the Princess of Zhen!"

After speaking, Liu Rushi knelt down.

Though Liu Rushi was discontent with the Lin imperial power, he found Li Mingrui’s earlier invocation of some divine principle revolting.

Liu Rushi initially thought Bai Qingyan disingenuous, wanting the Jin Kingdom for herself without bearing the infamy, thus employing Li Mingrui to persuade them to suggest her ascend the throne.

If that were true, Liu Rushi had resolved to die rather than submit to Bai Qingyan.

But Bai Qingyan unexpectedly interrupted Li Mingrui’s speech, candidly expressing her ambitious intent to overthrow the Lin imperial power and seize the nation, stirring Liu Rushi instead of appearing overly ambitious. He was moved by her forthrightness and determination for unification, filling him with fervor, willing to follow her in establishing their grand enterprise.

Prime Minister Lu stepped forward, knelt before Bai Qingyan, and proclaimed, "As an elder minister, I wish to follow the Princess of Zhen. I respectfully request the Princess ascend the throne as Emperor to bring peace and order to the people!"

Dong Qingping knelt, and the other officials followed, loudly proclaiming, "We wish to follow the Princess of Zhen and respectfully request her ascend the throne as Emperor to bring peace and order to the people!"

With red eyes, Liu Hong finally followed his heart and knelt with the officials.

Bai Jinxiu, full of joy, looked up at her eldest sister standing on the jade steps...

Yes, this was her eldest sister. The Bai family sought the throne openly, without pretending to be reluctantly assuming a mandate.

The Bai family’s ambitions, their hearts set on protecting and comforting the people, their spirit and integrity were enough to inspire the court officials to follow; they needed no external support.

This realm, with a single script, unified transport, standardized measurements, and actions as one, was inherently one. Who among the ambitious officials wouldn’t want to achieve such monumental feats and unparalleled glory?

"Bai Qingyan will not betray your trust!" Bai Qingyan bowed to the officials, then straightened up and said, "The most urgent matter now is the disaster at Chongluan Ridge and Shuijiang Pass. Announce within the borders that no further conscription of children will be tolerated to stabilize the people’s hearts! The disturbances caused by King Liang have surely accumulated a mountain of delayed state affairs. Despite the hardships endured by the officials, I ask Prime Minister Lu to lead and organize state affairs first!"

"As it should be!" Prime Minister Lu cupped his hands and replied.

"Report..." A messenger hurried to the hall’s door, knelt, and shouted, "General Ji Tingyu reports that after King Liang and his party left the city, they split into six routes. General Ji Tingyu has divided his forces to pursue them and specifically sent someone back to report."

Bai Qingyan clenched her palm, signaling Bai Jinxiu to bring her helmet, and turned to Prime Minister Lu, "The Dadu City is entrusted to Prime Minister. Now, King Liang has absconded with the deposed Crown Prince and my grandmother. I must personally rescue my grandmother..."

"The Princess of Zhen must not!" Liu Rushi stood up hastily and corrected himself, "Your Majesty is now our Empress, the ceremony for ascending the throne is undecided, and Dadu City’s chaos has just settled. How can you risk yourself easily?!"

"The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau shall discuss the timing of the ascension ceremony. Prime Minister Lu will draft the decree to announce to other states, naming the country Zhou, with Yuan as the foundation... Unification as harmony, thus naming the era Yuanhe." Bai Qingyan spoke with steady authority, "Announce to the world... During the Xuanjia period’s southern campaign, any remaining Bai family army or members must return to the capital swiftly to witness the ascension ceremony and build the grand ambitions of the Bai ancestors together with Bai Qingyan."

Bai Jinxiu, hearing this, couldn’t hold back her tears, and they streamed down her face.

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