Chapter 226: The Name of Military Advisor (2)

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The empty garden was unusually quiet. Lou Suxin said with a hint of reproach, "Absurd, Empress, what kind of decorum is this? How can a woman follow the army to fight!"

Xin Yuening not only didn't stop there, but continued, "Mother, the Emperor has already promised to grant a marriage to General Su and Miss Qing. The General's wife following the army to fight and facing the enemy together will definitely be passed down as a beautiful story." Once this was said, the officials present were secretly surprised. Lou Suxin looked directly at Yan Hongtian and questioned, "Your Majesty, what is this about granting a marriage?" Su Ling was a general holding heavy troops; if he were to be granted a marriage, it should be to a princess or a county princess. How could it be the turn of a woman of a foreign race!

Yan Hongtian raised his wine cup slightly, and the eunuch behind him stepped forward to pour wine. Shaking the golden liquid in the cup, Yan Hongtian smiled, "Su Ling and Qing Mo are in love, and the Su family elders are also happy to see it happen. General Su is a pillar of the country, so his marriage naturally needs to be granted by me."

The Su family elders were actually satisfied with her? Lou Suxin finally looked at the woman who had been bowing her head beside Su Ling from beginning to end. Her figure was too thin, and her cheeks, like her sisters, had two scars. Fortunately, she was quiet and looked quite delicate. Since the Su family elders recognized such an eldest daughter-in-law, she had nothing to say.

Withdrawing her gaze, Lou Suxin said arrogantly, "Even if she is the General's wife, since ancient times, there has been no precedent for a wife to follow her husband to fight. If she can go, can all soldiers bring their wives to follow the army? A woman who cannot even truss a chicken is simply adding to the chaos!"

Xin Yuening leaned forward and smiled mysteriously, "Mother, you don't know, Miss Qing is different from ordinary women."

Lou Suxin frowned, "How is she different?" Thin and dry, not even as good as Qing Ling and Qingfeng!

"Miss Qing is not only familiar with military strategy but also highly skilled in martial arts. Not only will she not drag General Su down, but she can also help the General. Last time, if it weren't for Miss Qing's rescue, Lord Gao wouldn't have been able to escape." Turning back, she patted Qingfeng's arm and said with a fake complaint, "Sister, you are too modest. Your own little sister has such ability, why didn't you explain it earlier."

Qingfeng's face was a bit pale. It turned out to be about Gao Hongjian's matter. She only heard in the palace that a group of bandits captured Gao Hongjian's family and wanted to exchange for little sister's life. General Su refused to hand over little sister, and the bandits killed a secondary mistress of the Gao mansion. The Empress had always been narrow-minded. No wonder she wanted to make things difficult for little sister. Although she didn't know what exactly happened, Qingfeng still tried to calm herself and replied, "Sister, you praise her too much. Qing Mo has been active since childhood but has never practiced martial arts. A few fancy moves can't be considered martial arts. As for military strategy, she knows even less. Perhaps because of her love for Go, she only knows how to talk on paper. She is still young and doesn't understand etiquette. I hope the Empress Dowager and sister will not take offense."

Xin Yuening snorted lightly, "Sister, you are so modest. I have seen Miss Qing's ability, and the Emperor has seen it with his own eyes. Are you saying that the Emperor and I are both wrong?"

Qing Mo was timid by nature and her health was not very good. She had never practiced martial arts. Seeing her little sister, whom she loved, so scared that she didn't even dare to raise her head, Qingfeng felt a surge of anger in her chest. A sentence of "this concubine does not dare" was also said through gritted teeth.

These two were fighting openly and secretly. Lou Suxin waved her hand and said impatiently, "Alright, for a young girl, writing poetry and painting, playing the zither and chess is about enough. How can dancing with swords and guns compare to men!"

Qingfeng breathed a secret sigh of relief, thinking the matter was over. Who knew that Xin Yuening seemed determined not to let Qing Mo go, leaned toward Lou Suxin, and said flatteringly, "Mother, Miss Qing is a heroine who surpasses men. Otherwise, how could General Su be so fond of her and fall in love with her? Today is a happy day, and it is the full month of the Third Prince. Why not let Qing Mo demonstrate for Mother?"

A heroine who surpasses men? Lou Suxin looked at that thin figure again, but still didn't believe it. However, seeing the Empress's recommendation, she followed her words and replied, "Alright, I really want to see how she is a heroine who surpasses men."

Getting the Empress Dowager's permission, and the Emperor didn't stop her, Xin Yuening became even more proud and smiled, "This concubine also heard that Miss Qing's boxing is excellent, and even seven or eight strong men cannot get close to her." In the woods, Su Ling protected Qing Mo. Today, in this deep palace, she didn't believe he would dare to rebel in front of the officials!

Too much bullying! Su Ling stood up suddenly, but his wrist was grabbed by a cool, slender hand beside him. Su Ling looked at Gu Yun, who was standing silently beside him, only to see her stand up slowly and stand side by side with him, her head, which had been bowed, slowly raised.

The petite figure stood beside Su Ling, looking even more fragile. On her plain little face, the two scars not only didn't make her look ferocious and terrifying, but instead made her look even more pitiful. The Empress actually let such a small woman fight with eight strong men. The hearts of women in the harem fighting each other was a common occurrence, but taking out anger on someone else's sister was a bit too much.

Lou Suxin saw Gu Yun's thin figure and also determined that it was impossible for her to be the opponent of eight strong men. She was about to say to cancel this competition, but was shocked by the firm look in her eyes that shouldn't have appeared on such a weak woman. When she looked directly at you, an imposing aura forced its way into your heart, making people feel terrified involuntarily. A woman shouldn't have such eyes.

Gu Yun's cold eyes swept over the eight people who were eyeing her covetously not far away, and a sarcastic smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. Looking at the people with different expressions in the main seat, she laughed loudly, "Just as sister said, Qing Mo has never studied under any master, and all the fancy moves are just for show. Last time I happened to save Lord Gao, it was all because the Su Family Army was well-trained and Su Ling gave guidance from the side. I wouldn't dare to claim to be a heroine who surpasses men."

Qingfeng breathed a secret sigh of relief. Little sister was not bad in the General's Mansion. In the past year, she had become much braver. She could talk eloquently in front of so many people. Gu Yun's humility, however, gave Su Ling a bad premonition. Sure enough, Gu Yun changed the subject, met Yan Hongtian's unfathomable eyes, and asked with a hint of provocation, "However, Qing Mo does have the idea of following the army to fight. If I can prove today that I am not a weak woman who cannot even truss a chicken, will the Emperor grant Qing Mo permission to follow the army?"

Yan Hongtian laughed heartily, "If you can win against eight guards with swords, I will grant you permission to follow the army!" She was naturally not a weak woman who couldn't even truss a chicken, but winning against eight guards was simply impossible. If he remembered correctly, more than a month ago, she had suffered a sword injury that almost cost her her life, and almost all the imperial physicians in the palace were invited by Xiyan. Recovering from a serious injury, plus the disparity in strength between men and women, if she could still win, letting her go wouldn't matter.

What a cunning way of saying it. It meant that if she didn't defeat all eight, she would still lose? Gu Yun smiled indifferently, "Is it a deal?"

"A word from the Emperor is final!"

Gu Yun nodded with satisfaction. Just as she was about to walk toward the few burly men, a large hand like iron pliers tightly grabbed her wrist. Gu Yun turned her head and immediately met Su Ling's hawk-like eyes filled with anger. Her wrist hurt a bit, fortunately, he didn't use cruel force, but she definitely couldn't break free. Gu Yun sighed, leaned down slightly, and whispered in Su Ling's ear, "Don't worry, I won't be stupid enough to compete with them in strength. You let go first. If I am really in danger, it won't be too late for you to save me."

Gu Yun was full of confidence, and the civil and military officials were all staring at them. Even if Su Ling was angry in his heart, he could only let go first. She had better not get injured, otherwise, he would definitely lock her in the General's Mansion from now on, not letting her step out of the door!

Glaring at Gu Yun warningly, Su Ling finally let go of his hand.

Standing up and walking to the open space in the middle, Gu Yun stood beside the eight guards. She was thin and only reached their chests. Gu Yun nodded at them from the side, with excellent demeanor. The eight were a bit embarrassed, and there was a commotion in the crowd. This was simply incomparable! Every punch they threw, that little girl wouldn't survive!

Gu Yun stood opposite them, but didn't rush to make a move. She turned around and said loudly to the people in the main seat, "Since today is the full month of the Third Prince, and there are so many wives and young ladies present, fighting and killing is too ugly. And if the eight of them come together, it's not fair. If they come one by one, it's too time-consuming. I have a better test method, which can not only compete with the eight of them at once but also prove that I am not a weak woman who cannot even truss a chicken."

Holding Qingfeng's waist, which was struggling non-stop, in one arm, and holding fine wine in the other, Yan Hongtian smiled, "How do you want to compete?"

Pointing to the scattered river lanterns drifting away on the lake, Gu Yun replied, "The river lanterns on the lake are so beautiful. Why don't I compete in archery with the eight guards? I'll be in one group, and the eight of them will be in another. With the main seat as the center line, have people place one hundred river lanterns on each side of the river. The competition time is a quarter of an incense stick. By then, whichever side has fewer lit lanterns on the river surface, that side wins. What does the Emperor think?"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 227 =====

Giving Gu Yun a warning glare, Su Ling finally let go of her hand.

Rising to walk to the open space in the center, Gu Yun stood beside the eight guards. Being slender, she only reached their chests. Gu Yun nodded to them calmly, her demeanor excellent. The eight men felt somewhat awkward, and a stir began among the gathered officials. There was simply no comparison to be made; if each of them threw a single punch, would that little girl even survive?

Gu Yun stood facing them but was in no hurry to make a move. She turned around and said loudly to the person in the main seat, "Since today is the Third Prince's full-month celebration and there are so many madams and young ladies present, fighting and killing would be truly unsightly. Moreover, for the eight of them to attack together would be unfair, and if they came one by one, it would take too much time. I have a better testing method that can allow me to compete against all eight of them at once while proving that I am not a weak woman with no strength to truss a chicken."

With one hand around Qingfeng's waist, which was still struggling, and the other holding fine wine, Yan Hongtian smiled and asked, "How do you wish to compete?"

Pointing at the scattered river lamps drifting away on the lake, Gu Yun replied, "The river lamps in the lake are so beautiful; why don't I compete with the eight guards in archery? I will be in a group of one, and they will be in a group of eight. Using the main seat as the center line, we shall have people place one hundred river lamps on each side of the lake. The time limit for the competition will be a quarter of an incense stick. Whichever side has fewer lit lamps on the water at the end wins. What does the Emperor think?"

(End of chapter)

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