Chapter 186

Actually, with the death of the Dingyuan Marquis, the Dingyuan Army also disbanded; who would become the new leader of this army that exists in name only was not important to Ye Qingran.

But that honor was ultimately weighty, and she would not allow anyone to try to exploit it for improper purposes to gain their own benefit.

Ye Huanhuan wanted to become the new generation commander of the Dingyuan Army, paving the way for her glorious future—no way!

……

From the Ye Residence to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, it was no more than one hour's walk.

When Ye Qingran stood before the gates of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, she only then realized she had not come here for ten years!

Those distant memories had grown fuzzy, as if wrapped in clouds; looking back, they seemed like a dream, as if they had happened in a previous life.

This residence, once the most admired in Xiliang, now has peeling walls, dull colors, sparrows nesting at the gate, and is shrouded in an air of desolation.

The plaque bearing the words 'Dingyuan Marquis Mansion' personally written by the former emperor still hangs above the gate, silently telling the story of those years.

That Female War God from East Lin loved military attire, not red finery.

Silver armor, furious steed, spear like a dragon.

Riding alone, raising dust, a red-faced general, heroic and spirited, the lady warrior yields nothing to men!

……

Inside the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion at this moment, it was bustling extraordinarily.

"Miss Ye is icy-clear smart, extraordinarily talented—she would be perfect as the new leader of our Dingyuan Army!"

"Yes, Commander Li, just agree with Commander Zhou's proposal! I truly think Miss Ye is the most suitable candidate!"

"Miss Ye is kind-hearted, and over the years she has looked after us even more—who knows how much better she is than that worthless, heartless Ye Qingran!"

……

Ye Huanhuan stood before the many soldiers of the Old Dingyuan Units; hearing their words, she showed a hint of humility: "You all praise me too much—I still have a long way to go!"

While saying that, she was already secretly delighted.

The Dingyuan Army now has only about two hundred people, with two commanders in total: Commander Zhou Meng and Commander Li Qing.

Zhou Meng watched coldly for a long time before speaking: "Li Qing, stop being obstinate! Although His Majesty has agreed to let the Dingyuan Army's banner remain standing, we are actually already in name only; if we continue like this, when the last Dingyuan soldier leaves, even that banner here will eventually vanish into smoke."

The middle-aged man named Li Qing, upon hearing this, changed his expression.

"I've already thought about what you said, but I don't believe Miss Ye has the ability to become the new commander of the Dingyuan Army!"

The disliked Ye Huanhuan lowered her face to the side; others thought she was struck, but in fact, from an angle unseen by others, a ruthless gleam appeared in her eyes.

Li Qing, once I become the new commander of the Dingyuan Army, I'll strike you first!

Zhou Meng gave a cold smile and retorted: "Then who do you think has that ability? Is it that waste, Ye Qingran? As the general's daughter, she doesn't even have a Spiritual Root! If she weren't utterly worthless, why would our Dingyuan Army have fallen to this state?"

When Ye Qingran was mentioned, Zhou Meng's eyes filled with hatred.

In his view, Yun Sui Feng was astonishingly talented and gorgeous; as her daughter, Ye Qingran might not match her mother's heavenly genius, but at least she couldn't be so incompetent as to be despised by all and abandoned like a dog.

If Ye Qingran had ability, the Old Dingyuan Units, even if they could not restore past glory, would not have fallen to the point of existing in name only, trapped in a tiny corner of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, being mocked and looked down upon by other armies.

Isn't their current situation still not entirely due to Ye Qingran?

When Li Qing brought up Ye Qingran, he didn't loathe her as Zhou Meng did, but he certainly didn't have a pleasant expression either.

His view differed from Zhou Meng's; he simply disliked this general's descendant who inherited none of the general's strengths.

"Although Ye Qingran is the general's daughter, she could absolutely never become our Dingyuan Army's commander!"

Hearing Li Qing say that, Ye Huanhuan's expression eased slightly. Zhou Meng curled his lips into a smile: "Isn't that settled then? Ye Qingran, though noble as the general's daughter, lacks ability; Miss Ye, whose fame fills the capital, is now a disciple of the Qingyun Sword Immortal of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect, with a promising future—if she leads us, our Dingyuan Army will surely shine again!"

"I disagree!" Li Qing waved his hand, looking at Ye Huanhuan without any fear despite her being the Prime Minister's daughter and the Crown Prince's consort: "Miss Ye is indeed excellent, but she is simply not suited to be a soldier!"

Zhou Meng no longer wanted to argue with Li Qing: "As the saying goes, more talk is useless; Li Qing, if you persist in being obstinate, we will ask His Majesty for a ruling—surely he will be delighted to appoint Miss Ye as the new Dingyuan commander!"

This Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is no longer what it once was. He, Zhou Meng, young and vigorous, full of ambition, does not wish to waste his life in obscurity in this remote corner.

He wants to shine and achieve, to accomplish fame and success!

He believes Ye Huanhuan can help him realize this dream!

Hearing Zhou Meng say that, Li Qing's face showed a hint of sorrow and indignation. The Dingyuan Army is no longer what it once was. Although His Majesty remembers the Dingyuan general's glorious deeds and permits these old units to continue existing, time will erode that glory. As Zhou Meng said, His Majesty would indeed be willing to do this, for after all, who would want to lead a useless army of merely a hundred men—what importance could it have?

However…

Battle is my soul; glory is my life.

Even if one has remained obscure for years, as humble as dust in this remote corner, yet as a soldier, if one simply yields to reality and abandons one's inner convictions, can one still be considered a qualified soldier?

The glory of the Dingyuan Army is gone; he will not allow anyone to destroy the last pride of the Dingyuan Army!

"Unless one is genuinely convinced, no one can become, in my heart, the new commander of the Dingyuan Army!"

Li Qing looked at Zhou Meng, his words striking the ground with force.

Zhou Meng gritted his teeth: "Li Qing, you are truly obstinate and unenlightened!"

Ye Huanhuan finally spoke: "Commander Li, Commander Zhou, please don't argue over me. If Commander Li disagrees, then so be it—I am after all not the daughter of General Yun, so I have no right to inherit her glory. Over the years, I have occasionally come to the Old Dingyuan Units merely to regard General Yun as a hero, dreaming that one day I might become a war goddess as astonishingly talented and gorgeous as she…"

Ye Huanhuan's tone carried a hint of self-mockery, yet her eyes revealed longing and determination; hearing this, the nearly two hundred soldiers of the Old Dingyuan Units could not help but feel ripples in their hearts.

An inherently excellent person, having spoken those words to their hearts, evoked resonance; recalling how Ye Huanhuan had treated them well over the years, they could not help but soften.

Actually, if Ye Huanhuan could become the commander of the Dingyuan Army's heart, that wouldn't be bad either…

"Commander Li, I suddenly feel that Miss Ye is quite suitable."

"Yes, Commander Li, General Yun has been gone for so many years; our Dingyuan indeed truly needs a new leader…"

"Commander Li, won't you… reconsider?"

……

The soldiers who had originally sided with Li Qing all defected, becoming supporters of Ye Huanhuan.

Li Qing looked at them in disbelief, seemingly unable to understand why they would so quickly abandon the things they had insisted on upholding.

"Li Qing, don't dwell on it—I know you actually harbor hopes for Ye Qingran. But over these many years, Ye Qingran has not changed in the slightest; she remains a utter waste. Such a person is fundamentally the disgrace of our Dingyuan Army—what are you still clinging to?"

Seeing that the situation was already decided, Zhou Meng couldn't help but speak mockingly.

As the words just fell, a clear and melodious voice came from the doorway.