Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 942 - 938: The Path of the Emperor

Chapter 942: Chapter 938: The Path of the Emperor

The imperial guard in shiny armor lined up on both sides, leading directly to the red carpeted path at the entrance of the grand hall, welcoming Bai Qingyan’s carriage.

Wherever the carriage reached, soldiers greeted it by kneeling on one knee, their armor clinking in unison, creating a remarkably grand aura.

Below the grand hall, Prime Minister Lu and other court ministers arranged themselves on either side of the red carpet, hearing the ceremonial music begin, adjusting their formal attire and crowns, following Prime Minister Lu forward with a few steps, facing Wude Gate, preparing to welcome the Empress of Zhou.

Inside Wude Gate, the sounds of drums and trumpets shook the hearts, behind the great drums stood the Bai family army, holding high the black flag with the white python emblem, soldiers’ expressions solemn, filled with murderous aura, truly formidable war lions.

Envoys from various countries stood with the Zhou Dynasty ministers on either side of the red carpet, basked in the dazzling golden morning light, watching as Bai Qingyan’s carriage slowly entered through Wude Gate, watching Bai Qingyan, clad in black regal attire, step off the carriage from a commanding height.

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Zhou!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Zhou!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Zhou!"

Amidst the wind and golden light, under the billowing black flag with the white python emblem, the Bai family army soldiers kneeled to welcome, thrice shouting long live; their chants, amidst the drums and cries, became grander, reverberating, shaking heaven and earth, resounding through Dadu City, stirring the hearts of those present.

Prime Minister Lu led the ministers also bowing to Bai Qingyan: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Zhou!"

Among the envoys from various countries... esteemed like the Ninth Prince of Yan, King Yan Li Zhijie, and the ghost-faced Prince of Rong, only followed their national etiquette, either by fist to chest nod or a deep bow as a salute.

Bai Qingyan, holding Bai Qingjue’s hand, stepped down from the carriage, her gaze fell on Bai Qingyu in Rong attire, masked, nodding as a gesture, her gaze subtly shifted again to the masked Ninth Prince of Yan, and on to Xiao Rongyan standing behind the Ninth Prince of Yan.

Their eyes met, Xiao Rongyan’s deep and smiling eyes gazed at Bai Qingyan, giving her a gentle nod.

The perceptive Li Zhijie gazed towards the resplendent golden double-eaved grand hall above the jade steps, wondering... what preparations King of Baishui had inside the hall.

Inside the grand hall.

Upon hearing the sound of trumpets and drums outside the hall, Bai Jinxiu, dressed in military attire and armed with a sword, with a heavy gaze, sheathed the glowing sword that shimmered coldly, wiping the fresh blood off her face calmly, filled with hostility.

The imperial guard soldiers and Bai family army had already executed all assassins arranged inside the hall by King of Baishui.

Now Bai family army and imperial guard soldiers were dragging out the assassins’ corpses from the grand hall, cleaning the blood stains within.

The King of Baishui, dressed in ceremonial attire, was tightly bound, a cloth stuffed in his mouth, a knife pressed against his throat, trembling uncontrollably.

He never expected such an outcome; he thought he had prepared adequately, only to realize... he was betrayed by the imperial guards!

However, he hadn’t lost completely yet, surely the armies of the five vassal kings were already outside Dadu City, he still had a chance!

Yet, even thinking so, King of Baishui was still afraid...

How could so many highly skilled Xiliang assassins and the assassins he paid for from the martial world be so easily slaughtered by Bai family army?

Could it be that these Bai family soldiers were all from the Bai family Huying Camp?

Bai Jinxiu turned her head, looking coldly at King of Baishui, who was trembling all over, yet maintaining an expression of defiance and fearlessness, meeting Bai Jinxiu’s gaze.

The grand hall had been cleaned, but the pungent smell of blood had yet to dissipate.

Bai Jinxiu turned around, loudly announcing, "Open the doors of the hall!"

The imperial guards stationed at the doors immediately swung open the six doors of Qiankun Palace, as Bai Jinxiu led fifty elite soldiers from Huying Camp out of the grand hall, Li Zhijie knew... King of Baishui had been defeated.

Clad in silver armor, Bai Jinxiu, leading Huying Camp soldiers, swiftly came from the left side of the jade steps, standing as protectors behind Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan gripped the hilt of the Emperor’s Sword at her waist, gazing at the jade steps seemingly extending to the sky, her steps firm.

Eunuchs holding feathered fans and treasured banners followed behind Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinhua led the Bai family army closely behind, ministers accompanied on either side under Prime Minister Lu’s lead, grandly proceeding towards the grand palace glowing with the gold from glazed tiles.

Looking at the radiant palace atop the steps, Bai Qingyan recalled her grandfather’s gentle smile when he named her "Mingshan".

Grandfather said, it signifies the rise of Zhou, the phoenix singing at Qishan, which was the essence of the nickname given by grandfather.

Grandfather believed, as long as she didn’t solely restrict herself to the inner chambers in the future, she could certainly strive for dominance in such chaotic times, becoming a famed female warrior like the Bai family ancestors, someone admired by descendants, becoming the brightest lady of the Duke’s Mansion and even Jin Kingdom!

Today, she adopted the national name Zhou, embarking on the path of an empress; she didn’t know whether she had become the brightest lady yet, she only hoped not to disappoint her grandfather as his granddaughter.

Grandfather once claimed, a Bai family daughter should have the heart to embrace the common people in the world, in order to realize the ambition of unifying the world.

Since childhood, she received her grandfather’s teaching, although he never directly taught her the way of emperors, yet imperceptibly... taught her to possess the heart of an emperor one day.

Only those who care for the common people can rule the world.

Seas peaceful and rivers calm, all four directions tranquil.

This... is the Bai family’s generations’ wish.

Unifying the world is the Bai family’s ancestral ambition.

Assisting wise rulers, expanding territories, making people prosperous and soldiers strong, to... unify the world.

This was the mission that the Bai family has pursued for generations, and now... she will not bow her head in submission.

She intends to ascend to that supreme position with the ambitions and aspirations inherited from the Bai family, safeguarding the sons of the Bai family, striving to accomplish... what the Bai family has done for generations but never succeeded in doing.

No matter how muddy and difficult the path, she vows to complete this unification endeavor.

Only praying for the protection from Bai family ancestors, grandfather, father, and uncles, today... so many Bai family members and soldiers can return, together witnessing this moment!

From now on, the path to world unification under Zhou will commence in a new manner.

As Bai Qingyan continued ascending the high steps, soldiers stationed on either side knelt in succession, welcoming the Empress of Zhou.

Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze and stepped onto the last step covered with red carpet, slowly turning around to face the ministers and soldiers...

The morning sun had already risen high, gently dispelling the long shadows cast by the palace walls, the golden light enveloping Dadu’s emerald-tiled towers, layered pavilions seemed to revive the entire city’s colors, appearing like rebirth, shining brightly.

Ministers and Bai family army soldiers, watching Bai Qingyan bathed in golden light, standing at the highest place, in the eunuch’s announcement voice, knelt in unison, thrice shouting long live, their voices shaking Dadu City.