Chapter 547: Like Water

If you ask my opinion, I think we should give it!

Under Chen Wuji's relentless questioning, Chen Luozi finally spoke his mind.

Then he added the reason for doing so: "Although Song Ruoshui came to Xishan Village as a spy, this girl's nature is not bad at all; she's just a bit single‑minded."

These days the village has been busy with construction—barracks, workshops, horse fields, all sorts of things built—yet this girl can do the work of two men, always arriving earliest and leaving latest.

At first we also suspected she was just putting on an act with ulterior motives, but later we found it wasn't so; she truly treats Xishan Village as her home.

She once went to Lao San asking for a plot of land to build a house and grow some grain and vegetables; Lao San agreed and marked out a little over one mu for her on the slope at the village entrance.

After getting the land, she worked even harder; during the construction of the workshops, the problems she uncovered led to dozens of cases of troublesome horses being rooted out. Oh right, she also has a flaw—her temper is a bit fiery; when she sees people cheating, stealing chickens or dogs, she goes up and hits them.

Chen Wuji chuckled, "It's clear, Jiu Shu, you truly like her."

Alright, since that's the case, let's change her surname; she's willing, you're satisfied—why should I be the bad guy?

"I do admire, I admire!" Chen Luozi emphasized solemnly.

Chen Wuji nodded while smiling, "I know, but I need to give you a heads‑up: if you're that kind of fond, changing the surname would make this awkward to handle."

"I don't have that idea!" Chen Luozi firmly denied.

After a pause, he added with a hint of uncertainty, speaking softly: "If it really happens in the future, it's just changing the surname to Chen; she's not my niece by clan, so there's nothing problematic about it."

"I understand!" Chen Wuji smiled and gave a slight nod, "Without doubt, bring that girl over!"

"Here!"

A moment later, Chen Wuyi brought Song Ruoshui into the camp tent.

"Song Ruoshui pays her respects, sir."

Wearing a simple fire‑hemp cloth dress, Song Ruoshui saluted Chen Wuji in the manner of a man.

Chen Wuji examined her closely; perhaps because she'd been doing hard labor for so long, her hands looked a bit rough, but her complexion was much better than before, she looked lively, and her eyes shone.

When I first saw her, I didn't really pay attention to her appearance; I only remembered her gaze, which was exactly the same as Shen Youwei's and Xue Hongdou's when they first arrived at the house.

Defeated, filled with despair, as if she had lost all hope in life, leaving only a corpse‑like figure pondering how to end herself, or simply to finish this miserable existence.

"Chen Judge strongly recommended you, believing it's time for you to come out and command an army on your own; I cannot deny his opinion, so I have approved this." Chen Wuji emphasized, speaking with a hint of authority.

"This army is called the Sinful Army; you are its first Negotiation Colonel, directly under my command, enjoying half the treatment of the Personal Guard Battalion, and will be promoted according to merit."

Song Ruoshui's face lit with joy, "Deputy General thanks the commander; I will not fail your great trust, I will atone through conquest, repay my deeds with merit, and renew myself."

Chen Wuji corrected, "The designation number 'Sinful Army' was set long ago; I know what you've done in Xishan Village, so we can't really say it's about repaying merit with guilt. However, 'atoning through conquest' and 'renewing oneself' are fitting—I hope you can completely discard your former identities and live as new people."

"Under my command we now have fifty thousand troops; the Sinful Army is the first to have a designation number. Whether this number will become one that soldiers admire, or whether people will fixate on the 'sin' character and gossip about your past, is up to you."

"Yes!" Song Ruoshui shouted, her eyes like lightning, her voice ringing and powerful.

Who says women are inferior to men? That shout alone radiates a fierce vigor.

Full of vital energy!

Chen Wuji took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, then continued, "Another matter concerns your private affairs. I heard from Chen Judge that you want to change your surname as well?"

Song Ruoshui suddenly felt a little embarrassed, "Well… I had indeed thought about it before, but I didn't expect the Chen clan's rules to be so strict; it was presumptuous of me."

"The Chen clan's rules are indeed strict, after all they once were prominent." Chen Wuji said with a light smile, "If you really want to change your surname to Chen, I can arrange this for you."

"The Chen family has had such precedents before; it's not difficult. But there's something I must make clear: after changing your surname you become a Chen, but you won't be entered into the genealogy."

"Don't even think about that—even if you acknowledge someone as an adoptive father or take a godparent, the genealogy won't accept you; you'll be entered into another register, but you do have a status, so you can think it over."

Song Ruoshui said without hesitation, "I want to change my surname; please grant it, sir!"

"My story—I've mentioned it to you before; regarding the family that gave birth to and raised me, all I can do now is spare myself, let go of hatred, there's not even a trace of longing. I want to change my name and surname, completely break from the past, live as a person for myself, and also live an honorable life."

"Good, your intention seems firm; from now on you will be called Chen Ruoshui—I'll have someone take care of this." Chen Wuji nodded.

"Thank you, sir, for bestowing the surname!" Chen Ruoshui said delightedly.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Go see your subordinates; the troops Chen Judge brought are your soldiers; if you have any other issues, come find me."

"Yes!" Chen Ruoshui clasped her fists in acceptance, her face glowing with a morning‑sun vigor, and strode out of the tent.

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "Have I really become so awesome that I can now grant surnames? It leaves me a bit dazed."

Chen Luozi fell silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, this doesn't have much to do with your status; it's entirely because you are the head of the Chen clan."

"When I'm feeling on top of the world, don't rain on my parade!" Chen Wuji shouted angrily.

Chen Luozi laughed heartily, then turned serious, "Actually, for her, changing a surname is probably secondary; what she wants is merely recognition. Since she now regards Xishan Village as her home and is close to the clan members, perhaps that's why she has the idea of changing her surname to Chen."

Chen Wuji clicked his tongue lightly, "Jiu Shu, I see you're really making old trees bloom—you understand so well, even knowing exactly what's on her mind."

"Because I've met many people and have a relatively good understanding of her, what on earth are you thinking in your head? Just because I casually mention something, you immediately jump to male‑female matters? I tell you, there's none, absolutely none!" Chen Luozi objected strongly, his firm tone almost making his face red and neck thick.