Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1551 - 1546: Military Authority

Liu Pinggao held the sword at his waist and smiled proudly and honestly: "Our Anping Army has finally stolen the spotlight from the Bai family army. Being able to accompany His Majesty, we certainly must do everything well to deserve His Majesty’s favor."

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded.

"Your Majesty! They’re here!" Liu Pinggao saw in the distance amidst the flying dust, a fast horse approaching, with the Zhou Dynasty’s banner leading in front, and he pointed it out to Bai Qingyan.

This place has already been heavily guarded by Liu Pinggao’s soldiers.

Clad in a cloak, Xiao Rongyan rode swiftly, and upon seeing Bai Qingyan’s slender and upright figure standing before the large tent, he raised his hand to signal his guards behind to halt. He only took Yue Shi with him to meet Bai Qingyan.

"Regent Prince!" The captain of the escort team was worried, holding the reins forward, "Surrounded by Zhou’s heavy troops, it’s unsafe for you to go with just Yue Shi. Perhaps... let the Emperor of Zhou speak with you in an open area, where we can see and protect you readily."

"No need, the Emperor of Zhou is not a treacherous person!"

With that, Xiao Rongyan urged his horse forward toward the tent.

"Prince!" The captain of the escort team couldn’t stop Xiao Rongyan, his expression full of worry.

Bai Qingyan was standing in front of the tent, watching Xiao Rongyan approach. Her hands behind her back couldn’t help but clench slightly.

Today’s meeting with Xiao Rongyan was both personal and public.

Just recently, before entering Anshun City, Bai Qingyan received news that the Yan Army stationed in the Dongyi Kingdom seemed to have clashed with the local populace. Dongyi Kingdom dispatched troops to protect their people, leading to a battle between the two sides. Dongyi Kingdom was furious and claimed to be a vassal state of Zhou, refusing to pay further compensation to Yan and officially engaging Yan’s garrison in warfare.

Bai Qingyan didn’t know whether this was Tuoba Yao’s scheme or if the Yan garrison truly clashed with Dongyi people, and Tuoba Yao merely took advantage of the situation.

However, Bai Qingyan could discern from the message that Tuoba Yao had indeed taken control of the Dongyi Kingdom’s royal court, and the important ministers of Dongyi Kingdom had been already instructed not to allow the inner palace to interfere with politics, citing the young emperor’s exceptional intelligence as sufficient to assume great responsibility, reassuring the Empress Dowager to accompany the late emperor.

In the meantime, it was the emperor who protected the Empress Dowager, stating that according to the late emperor’s testament, she should join him after coming of age, gaining praise for his benevolence in the royal court. The Dongyi Empress Dowager was thoroughly abandoned by the court officials, and Tuoba Yao had her strictly confined within the palace, spreading news of the Empress Dowager being seriously ill and bedridden.

Perhaps due to Dongyi Kingdom’s current situation resembling Yan Kingdom’s darkest hour, coupled with their young emperor being decisively capable, the Dongyi court rarely unified from top to bottom, directing the emperor’s sword towards action, with everyone in Dongyi following suit without hesitation.

According to Tuoba Yao’s character, if the Dongyi Empress Dowager becomes obedient in the future, he might spare her life, allowing her to meet Dongyi’s true seventh prince someday. But should Dongyi Empress Dowager cause further troubles... it’s feared he won’t spare her!

Bai Qingyan had witnessed that child’s resolve to seek vengeance. That child could be ruthless to himself for revenge, not to mention the Dongyi Empress Dowager.

Bai Qingyan thought today she would see if she could glean from Xiao Rongyan whether he plans to reallocate troops to Dongyi.

"Whoa..."

Eager to see Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan galloped at full speed, quickly reining in his horse as he approached, the mighty black steed raised its hooves and halted. The valiant man leapt from his horse and walked towards Bai Qingyan.

Yue Shi closely followed Xiao Rongyan, unable to hide his smile.

"Your Majesty..." Xiao Rongyan ceremoniously bowed to Bai Qingyan.

"Yue Shi greets Your Majesty!" Yue Shi hurriedly followed suit.

"Regent Prince, please rise!" Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded to Yue Shi, "Yue Shi, how are you faring with the Regent Prince?"

Yue Shi understood that in the presence of outsiders, he still appeared as Bai family’s eldest daughter’s spouse, Xiao Rongyan’s guard, so Bai Qingyan’s concern was natural. Therefore, he played along: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Regent Prince treats Yue Shi very well, there’s no need for the eldest lady to worry."

Bai Qingyan nodded and gestured towards Xiao Rongyan: "Regent Prince, please..."

"Your Majesty, please!" Xiao Rongyan’s voice couldn’t conceal his delight as he traditionally exchanged pleasantries with Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty seems to be in a very good mood."

"Indeed! The epidemic in the cities under Zhou’s jurisdiction has been contained. I believe... it’s the heavens favoring Zhou, as it is destined for Zhou to unify the land. Thus, the Zhou government is clear and bright, from the Empress Dowager to the subjects, all work together, unlike Yan Kingdom, making the Regent Prince toil and labor, it’s truly exhausting!" Bai Qingyan spoke with a faint smile, "The Regent Prince must understand, the mandate of heaven is unalterable! Zhou... is where the mandate belongs!"

Bai Qingyan’s words, Xiao Rongyan understood clearly.

Indeed, as Bai Qingyan said, the new Zhou Dynasty has established a new order, ready to launch.

Yet the Yan Kingdom... the royal clan has entrenched influence in the royal court, and Yan has not dared to make major moves like Zhou to dismantle vassal powers, hesitating at every step, being restrained! Unlike Bai Qingyan who holds absolute military power in Zhou, decisive in her commands!

Moreover, due to their soft-heartedness considering the Empress Dowager, he and Ah Li couldn’t bring themselves to drive the Empress Dowager out of Yandu, resulting in Yan’s continued missteps from the Xiliang battle turning its back on the Zhou alliance, now akin to a beast cornered.

If not for Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan wouldn’t have this reverence for life, surely, when Ah Li ascended, he would’ve acted to eradicate the clan, seizing the opportunity when Ah Li ascended to the main hall to kill vassal kings, even killing till not one remained!

Yan’s domestic affairs ought to be broken before being established anew.

However, since the destruction of the Jin Kingdom, with a formidable adversary like Zhou alongside them, Xiao Rongyan was unsure if Yan could establish itself after such a major downfall. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

This fleeting hesitation and reverence for life inhibited his decisive action...

Yet, history’s wheel never grants anyone the luxury of indecision, it relentlessly marches forward, entangling everyone helplessly, opportunities missed are missed forever.

Perhaps, unbeknownst to Xiao Rongyan, his heart had already embraced Zhou’s governance and policies as more beneficial to the populace than Yan’s.

Because the reforms Bai Qingyan was implementing, the changes she was making, were what his mother, Empress Ji, longed to do but couldn’t... dared not do.

Not only Xiao Rongyan, even his nephew Xiao Ali sensed this, otherwise... why would Ali send envoys to Dongyi Kingdom.

The two barely walked into the tent Liu Pinggao ordered his men to set up, when distant hoofbeats rapidly approached.

The galloping steed was stopped by Zhou soldiers, and the General in Yan Army’s armor reined in his horse, eagerly shouting: "Regent Prince! Regent Prince..."