Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 945

Chapter 945: Chapter 941: Men’s and Women’s Academy

But today, Eldest Young Lady said, if he can return home safely, that would be the greatest news, which finally relieved Bai Qingqi of some burden.

"But I couldn’t even protect A Yu! A Yu... all that’s left is... just a charred corpse, I could only recognize from the armor..."

The always mature and steady Bai Qingqi couldn’t help but choke up, for the first time, he cried quietly and couldn’t resist kneeling to plead guilty.

A Yu was the legitimate heir of the Bai family, he was the one who most needed protection... the one who should survive the most!

Bai Qingqi had always been the harshest to Bai Qingyu, in order to... ensure he could survive on the battlefield.

But A Yu was still gone, burned beyond recognition...

His biological younger brother left only his body, he manually searched the battlefield and couldn’t find his younger brother’s head!

Uncle’s archery was superb, if he had been faster, he surely could have saved Ah Zhuo and the others, but... he was too slow! Letting them bleed to death!

The immense grief swept over Bai Qingqi again, causing him physical pain to the point of uncontrollable trembling, feeling worse than death.

Bai Qingyan tightly pressed her lips, looking at Bai Qingqi, who for the first time was so emotionally exposed, almost unable to hold it together, she bent down to gently stroke Bai Qingqi’s head, firmly gripped his arm, helping him up, as if soothingly murmuring, "A Qi, don’t feel guilty, A Yu is still alive, it’s just... his identity cannot be revealed."

Bai Qingqi’s body stiffened and he looked up, his bloodshot eyes looked at Bai Qingyan, as if trying to determine whether her words were meant to comfort or were true.

Bai Qingyu, from a distance, vaguely heard the words "A Yu" and saw his third brother kneeling to plead guilty, then he knew... that his third brother thought he was already dead. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Thinking of the white hair at the temples of his third brother, Bai Qingyu closed his eyes, holding back his tears.

Xiao Rongyan had excellent hearing, although he didn’t hear what Bai Qingyan said to Bai Qingqi, he did hear Bai Qingqi say... that all Bai family members were personally buried by him, no one came back.

He looked at Bai Qingyu with a deep gaze, then... who is this ghost-faced Prince of the Rong? Could it be... not a member of the Bai family, but from the uncle’s generation?

The ghost-faced Prince’s voice was destroyed, hoarse and aged, coupled with the mask, making it truly difficult to determine his age.

Prime Minister Lu saw that the auspicious time was almost over, stepped forward to salute, and once again invited, "Your Majesty... the auspicious time is about to pass, please ascend the throne!"

"Please ascend the throne!

"Please ascend the throne!"

"Please ascend the throne!"

The soldiers and officials shouted thrice in unison.

Bai Qingqi, Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinzhao also knelt down: "Please ascend the throne!"

He firmly believed that he would see the day when the Zhou Dynasty unified the world in his lifetime, and witness the long-awaited peace and tranquility hoped by the King of Zhen and the Duke of Zhen!

The Minister of Rites loudly proclaimed: "Kneel..."

The Bai family along with Prime Minister Lu faced Bai Qingyan, leading the officials to kneel and salute: "Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Zhou Dynasty!"

Bai Qingyan looked at the kneeling civil and military officials and said: "Issue the decree."

"The edict, upon the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, everything is in need of reconstruction, and now as I ascend the throne as emperor, I will prioritize benevolence and filial piety, honor my birth mother Mrs. Dong as Empress Dowager, appoint Lu Shian as Imperial Master... to guide me on the path of national strength, now for meritorious service in pacifying the Liang and Jin chaos conferring... Bai Jinxiu as Auxiliary General, Bai Jinzhi as Lord of Gaoyi, Zhao Sheng as Great General of Zhen, Fu Ruoxi as General of Chariot and Cavalry, Xie Yuchang as General of Chariot and Cavalry in charge of the imperial guard, Lin Kangle as General Wei, Yang Wuce as General of the Army."

"Imperial Master Lu Shian is conferred as Commandant, ranked first among the Three Ducal Ministers... as Chief of Staff, Shen Jingzhong is conferred as Minister... as Imperial Secretary, Dong Qingping is conferred as Minister... as Minister of the Presence, Lu Jinxian is appointed as Minister of Personnel, Lu Jin as Minister of Justice, Wei Bugong as Minister of Revenue, Zhang Duanning as Minister of War, Shen Tianzhi as Minister of Works, and Liu Rushi as Minister of Rites, with other meritorious ministers to be rewarded separately."

By announcing these appointments for the Three Departments and Six Ministries, elevating Prime Minister Lu Shian to the position of Commandant and Chief of Staff, it indicated the complete abolition of the chancellor position in the Zhou Dynasty.

And as for the generals, Bai Qingyan didn’t confer extremely high positions at the outset, leaving room for rewards in future conquests to the south of Xiliang.

She was also cautious about granting titles to Bai family members, intending... that after they make achievements in future campaigns in Xiliang, they would be honored appropriately, justifying it further then.

"At the beginning of the new Zhou Dynasty, with a thirst for talented individuals, now... I wish to recruit virtuous and talented individuals on a grand scale, reopening the examinations to select talents for the imperial court." The Minister of Rites’s voice was solemn and rhythmic, "As I ascend the throne, I am aware of the heavy responsibilities and long journey ahead, contemplating diligently what constitutes a path to national strength, examining history and pondering the present, I realize that virtuous talents are the foundation of national prosperity, the cornerstone of enriching the people, I desire to establish men’s academies and women’s academies in various places across the Zhou, allowing women to partake in imperial examinations and serve as officials, employing their will and spirit together to support the Zhou."

The officials of the Zhou Dynasty already knew that Bai Qingyan intended to establish coeducational academies and allow women to serve as officials, even though they harbored some dissatisfaction in their hearts, now that Bai Qingyan, a woman, ascended to the throne as Empress, and given the decree from the Empress of Zhou... which officials would dare stand up and oppose?