Chapter 5.2

The little girl in front of him had jet-black hair combed into a bun on top of her in an unmarried girls' hairstyle. She had a flower in her hair. The flower was studded with star-shaped sapphires. A curved blue gemstone necklace hung from her bun across her forehead.

Her whole person was fresh and elegant, classic and noble, and pretty as the autumn moon. Her jet-black eyes especially shone with luster, more brilliant than obsidian.

There was actually such a stunning beauty hidden in the General's Manor! The Emperor stared at Zi You without blinking. The Eunuch Yu next to him was getting anxious. He quickly coughed.

His heart thought, 'Don't be so useless, okay, old man? The guniang is still young, only twelve years old. Don't scare her.

Besides, you're about to turn forty in a few years, old man. I don't even know how many times you tangled with your heap of women. Now you lost your soul because of an underage little yatou? If this spreads out, if you don't feel ashamed, the country will feel ashamed.'

Eunuch Yu's cough called back the Emperor's soul. The middle-aged uncle also felt a bit embarrassed. His face turned red and he covered up with a cough. "Yatou, Zhen heard you wanted to form a female medical team and follow your grandfather and uncle onto the battlefield. Can you tell Zhen why?"

Zi You curtsied. She replied calmly, unhurriedly, clearly, and distinctly, "Emperor, a war has many casualties. Although Chennu had not done surveys, Chennu understands the numbers won't be small. Chennu is troubled watching the soldiers guarding their homes and defending the country die or be disabled; and watching relatives face the same dangerous situations as the soldiers. Grandfather and uncle are Chennu's family and these soldiers are our Great Yan's guardians. Without them, how can we civilians lead happy and peaceful lives? Before mother died, she told Chennu to guard grandfather and uncle in her place. Emperor, Nanjiang is dense with jungles. There are all kinds of poisons and poison miasmas. The northern grasslands have wolves and Xiongnu people. They are even more elusive, cruel, and vicious. The army only has about a dozen or so doctors. How can they cope?"

"Emperor, Chennu's family and enemies are battling on the frontline. Chennu may be a female descendant from a military family and cannot fight on the battlefield, but Chennu can save the wounded in the army with a female medical team. Chennu can protect Chennu's family and Great Yan's soldiers. It is a medical professional's duty to provide timely treatment. Chennu cannot hide in fear. Emperor, injuries on the battlefield are 30% treatment and 70% support. It's not sustainable to focus on medical treatment without prevention. This is the valuable experience Chennu's mother worked hard to accumulate. Emperor, please grant Chennu permission to train a female medical team and go onto the battlefield."

Zi You knelt down with a bang.

A censor hurriedly reported, "Emperor absolutely cannot. With young women in the army, can the soldiers focus on killing the enemy? Moreover, I heard that some of these women are descendants of criminal officials. If they aspired for vengeance, wouldn't our soldiers be in danger?"

Zi You bit her vermilion lips and asked with a mournful face, "Has this official been to the slave market?"

The censor tilted his head up proudly. "Why would this official go there?

Zi You looked at him and clearly said, "It is like hell on earth there. Does this official think that someone who escaped from hell would want to go back to hell? The oldest female slave is fourteen years old and the youngest is only ten years old. They were bought by Chennu at their most hopeless point and taught medical skills. They hate that they can't immediately make achievements and erase their slave status. How can it be possible that they would commit criminal acts? Besides, does this official think Chennu is dead? If Chennu can't even manage a medical team of fifty females, why talk about going to save people on the frontline? Chennu is willing to accept a military order. If things turn out the way this official says, then Chennu is willing to put her head up for guarantee."

At this time, Taizi walked out smiling, and said, "Fuwang [imperial father], Erchen [your son] feels that Mu Xiaojie should try it. Mu Xiaojie personally told Erchen about her mother saving many soldiers in Nanjiang. Erchen thinks that without Mu furen, even if we won that battle, our losses would be heavy. It can be seen that without medical skills, knowledge of the local regions and environment is not enough. Our army's doctors lack the medical skills in protecting against miasma and poisons. Since Mu Xiaojie's mother was well-versed in these skills, why not let Mu Xiaojie try? As for the situation Censor Sui mentioned… If he is worried, let's have some imperial bodyguards follow along for intimidation. The little guniangs are sure to be obedient if they're afraid."

The Emperor's face was gloomy. Although he was smiling, the smile did not reach his eyes. "Oh? The yatou and Taizi are familiar?"

"Not familiar," Zi You seriously replied. "We've meet twice. Once at Duke Anguo fu and once at Duke Yingguo fu. There were lots of people there. But we may be more familiar in the future, because Chennu's close jiejie Liu Ruixue will soon be Taizi Ye's Cefei."

The Emperor looked at Taizi and nodded. He continued to ask, "You've said that Nanjiang's jungles have many poisonous snakes and such. As a little guniang, aren't you afraid?"

Zi You lightly smiled, like an Epiphyllum in the nighttime: elegance and quiet. "Chennu is afraid. Chennu is afraid of snakes, scorpions, toads, and such animals. However, Chennu cannot be afraid and isn't qualified to be afraid because after mother's death, the task of protecting grandfather and uncle fell to Chennu. If grandfather and uncle are with troops in Nanjiang, being bitten by poisonous insects is the most common situation. If Chennu is afraid and cannot follow grandfather and uncle, what would happen if they are injured? And what would happen to the tens of thousands of soldiers? Chennu may be female and inferior, but Chennu loves her country. Even if there are difficulties as big as the heavens, for Chennu's family and the country's soldiers, Chennu will overcome them!"

The Emperor continually nodded his head. Just as he was about to speak, an old eunuch said, "Emperor, Empress Dowager wants to see Mu Zi You Xiaojie."