Chapter 2
The crowd below immediately felt a sense of relief, followed by an atmosphere of joy. The court had been at war with the northern barbarians for a long time; to be honest, people had grown accustomed to receiving occasional reports of defeat. So suddenly hearing of a victory brought everyone uncontainable happiness.
However, a few eyes couldn’t help but shift toward a certain noble, while the female guests carefully watched Ying Jiuque, whom they had just been secretly mocking.
Although the renowned fame of the women’s army had nearly faded over the past thirteen years, anyone of age would know that the commander of the women’s army was none other than General Ying Chongming, who had once hailed from a prestigious military family of the previous dynasty, a legendary woman whose reputation could silence a crying child.
In other words, she was Ying Jiuque’s own mother.
Feeling the subtle changes in the crowd, Ying Jiuque lazily swung her sleeves, her gaze wandering between the steaming teapot and Lin Shuran. Should she just flip the table outright?
If she wasn’t happy, then no one else should be either.
After all, everyone dies eventually; early or late, death comes all the same. With her fragile body, who knew when she might suddenly perish? It was better to enjoy herself first.
At the same time, a civil official among the scholars and generals trembled slightly in his fingers, his eyes flickering briefly before resuming his usual poised demeanor. The envious or dismissive gazes of his peers seemed to leave no mark on him.
At this moment, Emperor Jingtai finally recalled something and fixed his gaze squarely on the Minister of Rites, Lin Wei.
“Minister Lin, I recall that this women’s army in the northern territories was established by your late wife, the heroic general. She also achieved great merit while resisting the northern barbarians, did she not?”
The Minister of Rites stepped forward respectfully. Despite his age, his handsome appearance had not lost its charm; if anything, it had gained an indescribable allure. A hint of sadness lingered in his eyes, evoking a subtle sympathy from others.
“Your Majesty, the women’s army was indeed founded by my late wife. I did not expect that even thirteen years after her passing, they could achieve such remarkable success—it was beyond my expectation. But in these prosperous times, I believe my wife would rest in peace knowing this.”
When Emperor Jingtai mentioned the legendary female general, he couldn’t help but sigh. That renowned general had risen in a time of peril when her father and brothers were all slain in battle, and with her own strength, she fought the northern barbarians, nearly turning the tide of a hopeless war.
It was thanks to her blocking the northern frontier that Emperor Jingtai seized the opportunity to overthrow the previous dynasty. Though technically adversaries, Jingtai had always admired her. He never expected that thirteen years would pass in the blink of an eye, and they hardly ever met in their lifetimes.
The emperor’s inner supervisor, Jiufu, cautiously observed His Majesty’s expression, reminiscing quietly.
“The name of that heroic general was known even within the depths of the palace. It is a pity she fell in battle while stopping the northern barbarians; truly tragic…”
“Yes…”
Women were not supposed to fight, yet Ying Chongming could have enjoyed wealth and honor safely in the rear, but she chose to fight on the front lines, even sacrificing herself. She was a true model among women. Back then, there were many such heroic women, but now they were increasingly rare; the reason was unknown.
“This time, the entire women’s army will receive rewards, and General Ying Chongming should be honored likewise!”
Immediately, Emperor Jingtai boldly posthumously granted Ying Chongming a title. Recalling past events stirred emotions in him; rewarding her seemed insufficient. Naturally, he thought to honor Lin Wei as well, as they were husband and wife, but the procedures for civil officials differed from those for generals. As Jingtai hesitated, Jiufu stepped in to assist.
“I’ve heard that General Ying had an only daughter… her name… what was it again…”
Time had passed, and Jiufu could not immediately recall her name, but it reminded the emperor.
He immediately inquired about Lin Wei’s daughter. Lin Wei’s face lit up as he turned toward the female guest seating area.
And so, Ying Jiuque, who was still pondering whether to attempt to assassinate the famous Ying family, was promptly ‘dragged’ forward.
Upon seeing Ying Jiuque, Emperor Jingtai’s mouth twitched for a moment before he gently tried to soothe the seemingly startled girl.
“You are the only daughter of General Ying Chongming?”
“I am Ying Jiuque, Your Majesty,” she replied formally.
Hiss—
The crowd quietly exhaled, their gazes converging on Lin Wei, almost suffocating him.
People exchanged glances, passing unspoken messages among themselves.
Wait—why doesn’t Lin Wei’s daughter share his surname? Could it be true that Lin Wei once married into the Ying family?
The crowd’s gaze did not affect Lin Wei. He joyfully looked at his daughter with affection. Ying Jiuque pursed her lips and returned a nervous smile, appearing both awkward and pleasantly surprised.
Only the lofty Emperor Jingtai twitched his mouth corner.
[This old fellow acts convincingly. Who would know I only fetched her from the estate three days ago? True to being an official, he performs theatrically.]
Jingtai cleared his throat lightly. Lin Wei felt a sudden chill down his back. But the emperor’s granting of titles quickly made him overjoyed.
“…Ying Jiuque is hereby bestowed the title of Lady of Ruian County, with a fief of a thousand households.”
The emperor directly addressed her by name—was this an acknowledgment that she inherited her mother’s legacy?
“I humbly thank Your Majesty for the favor!”
“…I, your humble servant, thank Your Majesty.”
It seemed that the “benefactor father” was even happier than she was.
“Jiuque, it is remarkable that your mother’s grace still falls upon you after so long. Do not tarnish her reputation; be diligent and frugal as she would wish.”
Amidst the surrounding congratulations, Lin Wei grabbed Ying Jiuque’s hand. Noticing her arm was damp, he asked anxiously multiple times, failing to notice her increasingly strange expression.
From the beginning, Emperor Jingtai had quietly focused on Ying Jiuque, sensing she was thinking something unusual. Though just granted her title, he still harbored suspicion and a lethal instinct toward her. He could be sure no one else could hear her thoughts; though novel, such extraordinary deviation should not exist in the world…
Sure enough, the next moment, he heard the girl’s voice.
[Ugh! This old guy has sweaty hands! So gross!]
Emperor Jingtai: “…”
