Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 891 - 888: Mutual Understanding Between Monarch and Minister

"There are some matters to discuss..." Dong Qingping said, glancing towards Prime Minister Lu and Lu Jinxian.

Prime Minister Lu, perceptive as ever, understood that some things couldn’t be spoken in front of him and tactfully supported himself on the table, ready to take his leave.

"Prime Minister Lu and Minister Lu need not hurry, sit!" Bai Qingyan gestured to the already standing Prime Minister Lu, signaling both him and Lu Jinxian to sit, "The four present here are ministers upon whom Bai Qingyan will rely heavily in the future; there is nothing that cannot be spoken. Only in this way... can there be mutual trust between ruler and subjects, so that we can work together to establish a strong Zhou Dynasty."

Mutual trust between ruler and subjects...

Because of these four words, Prime Minister Lu’s eyes reddened. Mutual trust between ruler and subjects is the wish of many ministers. Prime Minister Lu quickly bowed to Bai Qingyan in thanks, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust. I, an old minister... will exert all my abilities to support the Zhou Dynasty!"

Bai Qingyan nodded and said to Dong Qingping, "Uncle, speak..."

Dong Qingping raised his hand to touch his nose and began, "It’s like this: Minister Lu heard some rumors and was concerned that they might destabilize the Zhou Dynasty, thinking that we are family, he came to personally invite me to join him here!"

Lu Jin noticed that Dong Qingping seemed hesitant to elaborate, perhaps considering Bai Qingyan’s unmarried status, so after saluting Bai Qingyan, he spoke directly, "Your Majesty, having suffered injuries in your youth, the matter of heirs is difficult. Although Your Majesty is still young, court officials and nobles of Dadu City inevitably consider the future succession of the Zhou Dynasty leadership. Though it seems early to discuss this matter, inevitably people will have thoughts, and in the long run... it is truly detrimental to the nation!"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lu also nodded in agreement. Though he understood this matter in his heart, he dared not ever mention it to the new emperor, Bai Qingyan.

"Your Majesty, being a woman, has a natural disadvantage in terms of heirs compared to men, not to mention that Your Majesty’s health is not as it should be! History has seen many disorders arise from struggles for the throne. The ruling monarch is the foundation of the nation, and the crown prince should be the cornerstone! Traditionally, after ascending the throne, the first order of business would be to establish a consort, even the Empress of Xiliang did this after her ascension, swiftly giving birth to a crown prince for Xiliang." Lu Jin furrowed his brow, "For every day Your Majesty lacks a prince, there will be those with ulterior motives who will not be at peace."

Speaking to this, Lu Jin glanced at Bai Qingyan and boldly continued, "For instance, there have been whispers about the actions of the Shuoyang Clan... Bold speculation that the Bai Clan might try to have their offspring adopted under Your Majesty’s name, forcibly ordering their offspring to marry and produce heirs swiftly to compete for the position of crown prince, causing irreparable disturbances. Considering outward appearances... Your Majesty has been bedridden with illness, and even the warfare to extinguish Liang was endured with great effort! If my mention of the Bai Clan is offensive... I beg Your Majesty to be forgiving."

After all, they were elders of Bai Qingyan, Lu Jin knew that although the Shuoyang Bai Clan acted excessively, he still had to maintain their honor in front of Bai Qingyan.

Lu Jin spoke with much subtlety, unable to bluntly say... Your Majesty pretends to be frail, bedridden for two years, now everyone thinks that Your Majesty is near death, and those related to Your Majesty must be eagerly thinking about how they might inherit the throne from Your Majesty.

"Minister Lu speaks with reason!" Prime Minister Lu nodded to Bai Qingyan, "This matter requires Your Majesty’s attention; Doctor Hong, if he returned with Your Majesty, is needed to ensure the long-lasting stability of Zhou... Your Majesty should restore your health swiftly and meanwhile establish a consort to ease the people’s minds."

Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze, the flickering candlelight casting a fan-shaped shadow from her long eyelashes on her fair and flawless face.

She had previously agreed with Xiao Rongyan that once Yan had settled the Wei Kingdom, he would come forward to propose.

But now, Xiao Rongyan must manage the affairs of Yan Kingdom. Though... there has yet to be news of Emperor Yan’s passing, Bai Qingyan speculates... it is most likely because the Wei Kingdom has just been defeated, so Yan Kingdom keeps the mourning secret.

Who knows whether Xiao Rongyan received her letter.

Seeing Bai Qingyan lost in thought, Prime Minister Lu softly called, "Your Majesty?"

She raised her head at the sound, "There’s no rush to establish a consort; to eliminate these crafty thoughts isn’t difficult either, Uncle, please help me act out a scene, with Prime Minister Lu and the two ministers remaining silent."

"Are you asking Uncle to raise this matter in court, where you pretend to rebuke or even demote?" Dong Qingping sighed, "I don’t mind being rebuked or demoted, but it only suppresses temporarily, not long-term; the most secure course is still to establish a consort."

"I intend for Uncle to bring up the establishment of a consort, and I’ll refuse on grounds of new policies being unsettled and state affairs unstable. After all, I am healthy and strong now; truly adopting an heir would announce to the world that I am unfit, which helps neither national governance nor foreign relations." Bai Qingyan leaned against the armrest, rotating the tea cup in hand, smiling lightly, "Now is when I need Uncle most; if I demote him and then reappoint him, even if people don’t realize we’re staging this act, they will think it is again time to discuss establishing a consort or adopting heirs."

"Your Majesty... why are you unwilling to establish a consort?" Prime Minister Lu asked Bai Qingyan after a respectful bow, "Historically, emperors have drawn upon the harem for domestic affairs or sought alliances through marriage with other nations. The old minister speculates, could it be that you, as a woman, face an internal barrier?"

"That is not the case at all." Bai Qingyan caressed the tea cup in hand, "To tell you all honestly, Bai family has several sisters and a brother alive. Once he returns for the ascension ceremony, even if Bai Qingyan cannot bear children, a crown prince can still be chosen from multiple sons to inherit the throne, not leaving it vacant."

Prime Minister Lu suddenly remembered that Lu Yuanpeng had written that while in the southern borderlands, he had encountered someone strikingly similar to Bai family’s Seventh Young Master.

Yet if there truly are Bai family children and Bai Qingyan counts her sisters among potential successors, should situations turn unfavorable, it may again plunge Dadu City into the chaos of succession struggles. Prime Minister Lu thought of this and hurriedly stood, "If Your Majesty chooses thus..."

"I understand what bothers Prime Minister Lu." Bai Qingyan raised a hand motioning him to sit, smiling, "It’s like how common people fight among brothers for property; you’re concerned that if one day I pick a successor from my brothers or sisters, it may ruin Bai family’s bonds leading to sibling strife and resulting spousal fights! More so complicating matters by allowing scheming officials to prematurely pick sides, destabilizing court politics..."

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