Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 886 - 883: Humble Plea

These court officials of the Jin Kingdom, whether they were those who succumbed to Bai Qingyan’s military power or those like Prime Minister Lu who genuinely wished to pledge allegiance to Bai Qingyan, all instructed their families that although Bai Qingyan had not yet ascended the throne, the new era of the Zhou Dynasty had already begun, and Bai Qingyan was already the Emperor of the Zhou Kingdom. They must respect and venerate Bai Qingyan, even in private, to avoid bringing disaster upon themselves.

Soon, Bai Qingyan’s orders to reappoint officials were conveyed to each residence.

Prime Minister Lu was appointed as the Imperial Master, and other officials were promoted as appropriate. Chen Taifu’s grandson, Chen Zhaolu, Dong Changyuan, and Lu Yuanqing were all greatly promoted, but there was no appointment for Li Mingrui among them.

Prime Minister Lu and his eldest son had just bathed and were preparing to rest when they heard that members of the Jin Dynasty’s royal family and nobility were coming to visit, claiming they had matters to seek Prime Minister Lu’s counsel on.

Prime Minister Lu’s eldest son hurriedly dressed and went to see his father.

"Father, I suppose these members of the Jin Dynasty royal family and nobility have learned from others about His Majesty’s intention to implement reforms. The reforms will inevitably harm the interests of the royal family and the aristocratic families, but since the Jin Dynasty has already been replaced by the Zhou Dynasty, they cannot put on airs before His Majesty and can only seek your counsel," Prime Minister Lu’s eldest son stood at the desk in his father’s study, watching his father, who had his eyes closed as Lu Yuanqing helped him squeeze his hair, and spoke worriedly, "The strength of these Jin Dynasty royal families and nobles should not be underestimated; I fear there will be chaos!"

"Do you think the troops His Majesty brought back are just for show?" Prime Minister Lu calmly kept his eyes closed, speaking slowly without a trace of worry, "His Majesty will not overlook the fact that these Jin Dynasty nobles will oppose the reforms. If my guess is correct... His Majesty must have a backup plan. Although this Majesty is a woman, she never acts without certainty!"

"Then... should we meet these Jin Dynasty nobles or not?" Prime Minister Lu’s eldest son asked.

"No!" Prime Minister Lu adjusted to a more comfortable position, "If His Majesty wishes for stable governance... the noble families of the previous dynasty must be dealt with. Meeting them now will be of no benefit..."

After speaking, Prime Minister Lu looked at his eldest son again, seeming in deep thought. Feeling uneasy under his father’s gaze, Prime Minister Lu’s eldest son examined his attire and then asked, "Father, is there something amiss with me?"

"Jinxian... let me ask you, do you wish to take over my position in the future?" Prime Minister Lu suddenly asked.

Lu Jinxian was taken aback, understanding his father had something to entrust to him. He bowed deeply to his father and said, "Please guide me, Father!"

·

The new emperor would ascend the throne on June 20th, and the imperial palace needed overall renovation. The concubines of the previous emperor had to be sent out of the palace, and the eunuchs and palace maids needed to be registered anew. Bai Qingyan entrusted Dong Qingping’s sons, Dong Changsheng and Dong Changqing, with these trivial matters.

Bai Qingyan sent orders to the two branches of the Bai family army rushing from the southern regions to Shuoyang and Dadu City, telling them not to hurry and to return in time for the ascension ceremony on June 20th. She then quietly moved back to reside temporarily in Qinghui Courtyard of the Princess of Zhen’s mansion.

The Bai family army and the Bai family guard from Shuoyang guarded the Princess of Zhen resided here, where the soon-to-be empress of the new Zhou Dynasty lived, who would dare to be negligent?

Yet, heedless people still tried to barge in.

A bedraggled beggar rushed towards the Bai Mansion, claiming to be a eunuch who served the Crown Prince of the Jin Dynasty and demanded to see the Princess of Zhen.

The Bai family army from Shuoyang looked at the disheveled beggar before them, and under the sheepskin lantern hanging on the eaves, they vaguely recognized the beggar’s clothes as indeed belonging to a eunuch from the Jin Dynasty’s imperial palace.

"Get lost! There’s no more Princess of Zhen now! It’s the Zhou Dynasty! Our Empress cannot be seen by a former servant like you. If you continue making noise at the Bai Mansion’s gate, watch out for your head!" The Shuoyang soldiers spoke in a local dialect, pushing Quan Yu away.

Quan Yu looked up and saw that the plaque of the Princess of Zhen’s mansion had been changed to "Bai Mansion".

"Impossible! How could the Princess of Zhen betray... The Princess of Zhen is loyal to the Crown Prince!" Quan Yu’s pupils trembled with disbelief, staring at the plaque and retreating continuously.

Even if everyone said the Princess of Zhen had betrayed, Quan Yu did not believe it. He clearly remembered the day when the Princess of Zhen unhesitatingly took an arrow for the Crown Prince, covered in blood...

How could someone so loyal to the Crown Prince betray him?! Quan Yu did not believe it!

He took a few steps back and suddenly halted. He knew... King Liang must have ascended the throne, and the Princess of Zhen thought King Liang had killed the Crown Prince, so she betrayed!

"Princess of Zhen! The Crown Prince is not dead!" Quan Yu cried out desperately as he rushed toward the Bai Mansion, "The Crown Prince was captured by King Liang, please save the Crown Prince!"

The Bai family army from Shuoyang firmly blocked Quan Yu. The squad leader, who had just told Quan Yu to leave, was instantly furious and kicked Quan Yu in the chest, sending him flying far and landing on the ground, unable to get up from the pain.

Just as the squad leader was about to pick Quan Yu up and toss him far away, a Bai family guard who often accompanied the eldest and fourth young ladies to the Crown Prince’s residence recognized Quan Yu and quickly ran out to stop the hot-tempered squad leader, "Brother! This eunuch served the deposed Crown Prince of Jin and has always been respectful to our eldest young lady, no need to treat him like this..."

The Shuoyang Bai family army calmed down after hearing what the Bai family guard said, and whispered, "But we can’t let him shout here."

"I’ll persuade him! I’ll persuade..." The Bai family guard smiled, saying hello to the Shuoyang Bai family soldier, then quickly helped Quan Yu up, "Eunuch Quan Yu!"

Quan Yu looked up, tears in his eyes, "The Princess of Zhen must not know that the Crown Prince is still alive. The Crown Prince was only captured by King Liang! Please... let me see the Princess of Zhen, I must ask her to save the Crown Prince!"

The guard looked at the anxious and desperate Quan Yu and spoke softly to soothe him, "Eunuch Quan Yu, the eldest young lady rushed back from Hancheng without rest and then was occupied with many state affairs. She hasn’t rested at all and just now had basket after basket of memorials carried into the Bai Mansion. The eldest young lady simply can’t spare any time to see you!"

Upon hearing this, Quan Yu knelt down before the Bai family guard: "Please, let me see the Princess of Zhen! I know the Princess of Zhen is most loyal to the Crown Prince. The Princess of Zhen even didn’t care about her own life to save the Crown Prince! Please let me see her, I beg you..."

Quan Yu looked up at the Bai family guard, choked with emotion, unable to stop himself from crying, humbly pleading.

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