Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 922 - 919: The Deceased Are Supreme

Chapter 922: Chapter 919: The Deceased Are Supreme

The King of Hedong understood this point in his heart, as did all the men in the world. Otherwise, why would most men do everything they could to suppress women, while very few families like the Bai family would offer women the same opportunities as men?

Which man in the world is willing to find more opponents for himself?

The King of Hedong was actually looking forward to Bai Qingyan carrying out bold reforms, greatly enhancing the status of women. In this way... if the scholars start causing trouble, it would definitely be a tough challenge for Bai Qingyan.

·

On the seventeenth of June in the early years of Yuanhe, the Empress of Zhou returned with the spirit, and Prime Minister Lu led the officials out of the city to greet her.

Accompanying the Ninth Prince of Yan, Murong Yan, to Dadu City was the wealthy merchant Xiao Rongyan, who also appeared at the gate of Dadu City.

The citizens were blocked by the soldiers on both sides of the city gate, and the scene was unprecedentedly grand.

Yang Wuce, standing among the ranks of the generals, casually glanced and saw that Xiao Rongyan was among the citizens, stopped by the soldiers.

Perhaps Xiao Rongyan’s imposing presence and handsome, strong features were too conspicuous, not only Yang Wuce... but officials who had seen Xiao Rongyan before also noticed.

Others might not know, but Yang Wuce was aware that Xiao Rongyan had a marriage contract with Bai Qingyan. On New Year’s Eve... he even sneaked into the military camp to meet Bai Qingyan privately, and Yang Wuce and Zhao Sheng stumbled upon them. It was only later that Yang Wuce realized that he and Zhao Sheng might have ruined Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan’s good thing by going at that time.

No matter what, Yang Wuce could see that Bai Qingyan was very interested in this Xiao Rongyan; otherwise, why would she personally treat Xiao Rongyan’s wounds?

Yang Wuce’s eyes turned, thinking that Xiao Rongyan might just become Bai Qingyan’s consort in her harem in the future! Even if his status as a merchant was low, just with that face, it seems he could at least become an imperial consort... well! A noble consort to say the least...

Noble consort?

Yang Wuce found it strange but couldn’t think of a more appropriate title to address Xiao Rongyan.

He didn’t think too much about it, taking three steps in two and walking over to greet Xiao Rongyan with a smile: "Mr. Xiao!"

Surrounded by Yue Shi and others, Xiao Rongyan, who hadn’t been pushed or crowded at all, paused momentarily, thinking that this general must be Yang Wuce, the surrendered general from Liang Kingdom who submitted to Bai Qingyan. He also smiled and returned the greeting: "General Yang!"

Yang Wuce patted the soldiers blocking the citizens, signaling them to let Xiao Rongyan through...

"There’s no need to trouble the general, it’s the same if I stay here." Xiao Rongyan smiled, exuding a gentle and refined calm aura.

Just as Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, a guard squeezed to Xiao Rongyan’s side and whispered a few words in his ear. Xiao Rongyan’s expression didn’t change as he smiled and cupped his hands towards Yang Wuce: "General Yang, I have some business that requires my immediate attention, so I must take my leave..."

"Mr. Xiao isn’t going to wait for Her Majesty?" Yang Wuce was surprised; what could be so important that it would outweigh making an impression in front of Bai Qingyan?

"I will seek an audience with Her Majesty another day to apologize." After saying this, Xiao Rongyan left among the citizens under the escort of the guards.

Yang Wuce raised a hand to scratch his head, turned around, and returned to the ranks of generals to wait together for Bai Qingyan.

As the sun rose, amidst the gradually brightening dawn, a grand procession, resembling a dragon with flags held high, slowly approached from the golden light.

Hearing the cries from the citizens standing at high places, Prime Minister Lu and others hurriedly stepped forward, seeing from afar Bai Qingyan, riding a completely snow-white steed, wearing mourning clothes, and with mourning cloth on her head, leading at the front.

Behind her was the Eldest Princess’s coffin, made of golden nan wood, inlaid with brass, and adorned with gilded phoenix carvings, extremely dignified and luxurious.

Also wearing mourning clothes and mourning cloth, Nanny Jiang, leading a group of loyal servants of the Bai family, walked forward.

Nanny Jiang’s status was special as she was the personal nanny of Bai Qingyan’s grandmother, the Eldest Princess, and had watched Bai Qingyan grow up. Therefore, when Nanny Jiang came, Prime Minister Lu instructed people to lead the loyal servants of the Bai family that she brought to the forefront.

They were indeed here to greet the Empress of Zhou, but now that the Empress of Zhou could return with the spirit, they certainly had to honor the deceased, giving precedence to the departed.

Prime Minister Lu sighed heavily as he looked away from Nanny Jiang, who followed Bai Jinse. He... still owed the Eldest Princess a favor.

If it hadn’t been for seeking the Eldest Princess’s help through Nanny Jiang back then, and if the Eldest Princess hadn’t kindly lent a hand, Prime Minister Lu’s eldest son, Lu Jinxian, wouldn’t have been born smoothly. His wife had once given the Eldest Princess a hairpin in front of him, saying that if the Eldest Princess ever needed it in the future, the Lu family would definitely repay.

Later, the Eldest Princess accepted his wife’s hairpin and asked Prime Minister Lu if he was willing to repay the favor, to which Prime Minister Lu agreed... and thereafter, his political career advanced smoothly. Prime Minister Lu knew... he couldn’t have achieved this without the Eldest Princess’s support.

Over the years, the Eldest Princess had never brought the hairpin for assistance, not even during the most difficult times for the Bai family.

Now that the Eldest Princess had passed, this debt... Prime Minister Lu could only keep in his heart and repay it to Her Majesty in the future.

Bai Jinxiu, following beside Bai Qingyan, after listening to the Hidden Guard she left in Dadu City quietly report, moved her reins forward to get closer to Bai Qingyan: "Eldest Young Lady, those clan vassal kings have also come out to greet you. During the days you weren’t here... these people saw you hadn’t dealt with those former royal relatives of the Jin Dynasty, thinking... they could rely on Grandmother, and sent gifts to Nanny Jiang under the pretense of greeting the Eldest Princess, offering mountains of treasures to the Bai Mansion. But who knew the Eldest Princess had not returned, and Nanny Jiang accepted all the gifts on her behalf, ordering people to keep them in storage."

Bai Qingyan acknowledged with a nod, her eyes calm and unwavering.

Bai Jinxiu glanced into the distance and continued, "Who knew Grandmother would suddenly pass away, and these five vassal kings panicked. When they got the news, they wanted to leave but couldn’t find a reason. Last night, they gathered in a small mansion in the west of the city, probably discussing how to coerce you, Eldest Young Lady."

Bai Qingyan initially held back, not taking the opportunity to deal with those royal relatives of the Jin Dynasty, not because she cared that they shared the surname Lin with her Grandmother, or the little familial relation they had.

Nor was it, as Prime Minister Lu and others thought, for the stability of the political situation.

The reason she held back was entirely because of these five vassal kings, fearing that if she acted rashly, these vassal kings would see the commotion... and retreat to their fiefs, refusing to come out.

Although it would be easy to seize the city, it would still harm the citizens, and she wanted to achieve peace in Zhou at the smallest cost.

Just as Bai Qingyan expected, she didn’t act against those anxious... willing to trade their wealth for their lives former royal relatives. When these vassal kings learned that Bai Qingyan had gone to Luohong City to save the Eldest Princess, they abandoned the idea of feigning illness, each making arrangements and coming to Dadu City.

Who knew that shortly after they arrived, news came that the Eldest Princess had passed, so they found it difficult to leave again.

With the old vassal king gone, surrounding their fiefs with soldiers and catching them off guard was exactly what Bai Qingyan wanted.