Chapter 189: with translation of chapter title

Ye Huanhuan watched the Dingyuan Army's eager stance, her heart blooming with joy, and she also let out a breath.

Ye Qingran, you are the Dingyuan Army's young master, so what? Look at your mother's old troops—aren't they still following me?

"Young master, what do you intend?" Seeing Ye Qingran take a long time to reply, Zhou Meng's tone sank, and a hint of impatience appeared on his face.

"Choose her as your new commander?" Ye Qingran raised her chin, pointing at Ye Huanhuan, asking nonchalantly.

"Not bad!"

"It seems these years you've grown accustomed to comfort and ease, actually degenerating into frogs at the bottom of a well."

"You…"

Zhou Meng was furious, his anger rising from all sides.

These years the border has been peaceful; they indeed have no need to go to the battlefield, yet daily drills have never ceased. Is saying they've grown soft in comfort too harsh? Moreover, how have they become frogs at the bottom of a well?

Ye Qingran ignored the furious Zhou Meng and added: "Choosing her is worse than choosing a dog!"

Hiss~

Upon these words, a gasp rippled through the crowd.

Ye Qingran, actually in public, scolding Ye Huanhuan as being no better than a dog?

Even though she is the Dingyuan General's daughter, Ye Huanhuan is after all the future Crown Princess!

Ye Li was startled, then helplessly laughed and shook their head.

A Ran, A Ran, when did you become such a humorous and witty person? It seems these years I've really missed a lot.

Brother promised you, your future—brother no longer wants to be absent.

In those eyes, bright as glazed crystal, a hint of determination surfaced.

Ye Huanhuan glared, seemingly not expecting Ye Qingran to dare openly scold her like that. She was furious inside, but deliberately restrained her expression.

"Sister, you…" she bit her lower lip, both startled and hurt, her eye sockets instantly red, a pitiful look of being bullied yet daring not to strike back.

Naturally lovely as a flower, now with pear blossoms and rain, truly pitiful to behold.

The camp is full of rough men, rarely seeing women, let alone a beauty like Ye Huanhuan; when she weeps now, who knows how many hardened steel hearts turn to soft wax.

Countless disapproving gazes fell on Ye Qingran; hindered by her status as the Dingyuan Marquis Manor's young master, they dared to be angry but not speak.

Zhou Meng curled his lip, repeatedly sneering, "Young master, Ye Second Miss is after all the future Crown Princess, even a nation's mother; saying that, is it not improper?"

"Could it be that you, young master, worry Ye Second Miss will steal your position, feeling dissatisfied?"

After Zhou Meng said this, he felt the pent-up anger in his heart dissipate somewhat.

"Of course, if you don't want to see Ye Second Miss become our Dingyuan Army's new commander, replacing you, you can also step forward and contend with Ye Second Miss; if you win, the position of Dingyuan's new commander will naturally be yours!"

Seeing Ye Qingran's eyes flicker, as if moved, Zhou Meng's contempt grew even stronger.

"A mere waste, still dreaming of contending with Ye Huanhuan, this genius?"

He says this merely to want to see Ye Qingran make a fool of herself.

Upon hearing Zhou Meng say that, everyone looked at Ye Qingran with a gloating, watch-the-drama attitude.

Everyone knows Ye Qingran's reputation as a waste. What does she have to compare with Ye Huanhuan? Her face? If comparing looks, Ye Huanhuan certainly comes out slightly ahead.

But the military camp is not a place that judges by looks.

Here it's iron-blooded and ruthless; whoever has the harder fist holds more sway and convinces more people.

Li Qing, who hadn't spoken for a long time, furrowed his brows. He naturally knew Zhou Meng's purpose—nothing more than wanting to see Ye Qingran embarrass herself.

Thus he coldly said, "Zhou Meng, the young master won't agree; don't cause trouble!" Although he was extremely disappointed in Ye Qingran, as a loyal Dingyuan Army member he also did not wish to see the general's daughter he most respected suffer humiliation.

Zhou Meng raised his chin, hooking his lips in a sneer, preparing to rebut Li Qing, when a clear voice rang out slowly: "Who said I don't agree!"

Everyone's hearts shuddered.

Ye Qingran, she actually agreed?

The smile on Zhou Meng's face froze. He had decided Ye Qingran would not act, after all she may be a waste but not a fool, knowingly doing the impossible.

But only for a brief moment, he regained his composure, confident and in control.

"Young master, have you really thought this through?" Zhou Meng said with a half‑smile. In his view, Ye Qingran's doing this was nothing but being stepped on, anger blinding her eyes, losing her wits.

All the better.

He still worried he wouldn't get to see Ye Qingran make a fool of herself in public!

"Commander Zhou, could it be your hearing is bad?"

Zhou Meng's eyes flashed with a hint of bloodlust: "Since the young master has agreed, let me lay out the rules. Yesterday Ye Second Miss endured fifty moves under my men; everyone here can testify. How about this: if you can withstand three moves from me, I will thereafter be sincerely convinced, acknowledge you as our new commander?"

This arrangement is hardly excessive—it's simply not putting Ye Qingran in the picture at all.

Ye Huanhuan, strong in battle experience, endured fifty moves under Zhou Meng's hands; Ye Qingran only needs to withstand three? How little they think of her! Moreover, even if Ye Qingran luckily wins, that victory would be hollow!

Upon saying this, many soldiers chimed in, claiming that if Ye Qingran can survive three moves under Zhou Meng, they will henceforth obey her every command.

"What do you think, young master?" Zhou Meng looked at Ye Qingran, expecting her to flare up and argue with him, but instead she calmly nodded, leaving Zhou Meng suddenly unsure.

Then it occurred to him: Ye Qingran's ready agreement only proves she truly is a waste.

Ye Huanhuan's eyes flickered: "Commander Zhou, my sister's spiritual root was dug out; because of a premature birth her body has suffered many problems these years, her strength has stagnated, she is no match for you. So let it be; otherwise if she gets hurt I will feel sorry!" Although certain Ye Qingran has no spiritual root, she had previously defeated Mu Qingrou and the Seventh Prince, then beat Ye Sisi—strange indeed. If Ye Qingran really manages three moves here, the Dingyuan old units' soldiers would look at her anew; thus she cannot take this risk.

Ye Huanhuan's words changed the listeners' looks.

Spiritual root dug out? Premature birth?

These two together are simply a great disgrace!

Zhou Meng's contempt and disdain for Ye Qingran grew even stronger, his heart ever more eager to humiliate her publicly.

"No problem, I will pay attention, absolutely will not hurt the young master!" He emphasized the words "young master".

"Besides, considering the young master has no spiritual root, I will conceal my cultivation and use pure martial arts to spar with the young master—what do you think?"

Ye Qingran gave a half‑smile: "Are you sure?"

Zhou Meng gave a cold smile: "Sure!" Dealing with a mere waste, his brute strength is more than enough!