Chapter 8

"Empress Dowager!" Zi You excitedly called out. Two lines of crystal tears flowed down her porcelain-like face. "Empress Dowager, Chennu thanks Empress Dowager for understanding Zi You's anger at the time. As Empress Dowager said, if someone insulted Chennu's mother and Chennu bore it in silence, then it's unfilial! Therefore, even if the person who insulted Chennu's mother is more powerful, Chennu cannot be scared."

At this moment, Zi You was filled with grievance, with a sore heart because of the Empress Dowager's understanding.

Shangguan LingRan had seen a lot of different kinds of women crying. Some cried like pear blossoms in the rain, some cried poignantly and touchingly, and some cried gracefully. Only Zi You cried silently, delicately, and unbearably. She was silently stubborn, delicately strong, and unbearably distressed.

Shangguan LingRan's heart couldn't help but tighten. It throbbed in pain and was distinctly sour.

He tried to suppress it, but finally couldn't suppress anymore. He said to the Empress Dowager, "Do you see, imperial grandmother? Old General Mu's precious treasure is crying. How cold would his heart be if he saw this? Her mother died in Nanjiang. She made a heroic and meritorious contribution for our country, but we're treating her daughter like this. Our imperial family will be scolded."

The Empress Dowager smiled and slanted a glance at Shangguan LingRan, as if to say, 'Rascal, you're the one who is distressed, right?'

Shangguan LingRan had a guilty conscience. He immediately jumped up and shouted, "Imperial grandmother, grandson is only thinking for the sake of the imperial family's prestige. Don't misunderstand!"

"Aijia didn't say anything. What are you getting excited for?" The Empress Dowager was old and mischievous. She kept teasing her grandson.

Shangguan LingRan finally fled in embarrassment.

The Empress Dowager saw that her grandson ran away in shame. She immediately pulled Zi You to sit down and sighed. "Child, Aijia knows that you are filial and have a patriotic heart. But have you thought that bringing a group of girls onto the battlefield will make it difficult for you to find a husband?"

Zi You nodded and replied firmly. "Chennu understands. Chennu have considered all the difficulties, but Chennu is not afraid. If all the men look down on Chennu because of this matter, then Chennu rather not marry for a lifetime. Empress Dowager, please fulfill Chennu's wish. Chennu doesn't want to be locked in her boudoir and fight all day with other women in the courtyard. Chennu rather get out of the residence, do Chennu's patriotic duty, and be filial to the elders."

The Empress Dowager nodded and exclaimed, "What a good 'Do your patriotic duty and be filial to the elders!' Good child, Aijia understands. Aijia will persuade the Emperor. You can rest assured waiting for the news."

The Empress Dowager moved fast. She quickly called the Emperor over and said smilingly, "Emperor, the harem shouldn't engage in politics and Muhou [imperial mother, referring to herself] shouldn't participate in court matters. However, this yatou's matter is an exception. Muhou is really touched by this child's patriotic and filial heart. Don't force the yatou. Let her train the female medical team and follow her grandfather onto the battlefield?"

The Emperor looked at Zi You with an inexplicable expression. He smiled at the Empress Dowager, "Erchen can agree, but Erchen wants two imperial doctors to train the female slaves along with the yatou and assign two guards to protect the yatou."

Old General Mu is a loyal official and very loyal to him, but he is not at ease. He can't insert spies into the army, so he decides to start with the yatou.

After all, he is the Emperor and Aijia is the Empress Dowager. Can I not give him face? Why don't I send Ling'er to the yatou's side? He can remind her and they can cultivate their feelings.

The Empress Dowager smiled. "Aijia won't manage however you organize it. But Aijia also wants to send someone along. Ling'er does nothing all day and causes trouble outside. This can't continue. As Aijia sees it, let Ling'er learn medicine with Mu Xiaojie and your two guards can teach Ling'er martial arts."

The Emperor's face changed.

Muhou wanted Fuwang [imperial father] to pass the throne to younger brother back then. Now, she is still partial towards younger brother.

His younger brother's civil and martial skills were better than his. All these years, he expended so much energy to guard against him. He was always afraid that his younger brother's Di son was too outstanding. Therefore, he cultivated his nephew into a dandy, but Muhou actually paired up with him to turn against him.

If Shangguan LingRan was sent to Mu Zi You's side, with his ability to please girls, he would successfully obtain Mu Zi You. If An Wang fu and Mu fu are in an alliance, the Emperor would be in trouble.

The Emperor immediately refused with a smile. "Let's not do that. Ling'er is male and unmarried. It's not proper to have him stay beside Mu Xiaojie."

The Empress Dowager's face turned cold and she was no longer polite. "Then are the two imperial doctors and guards female?"

"This?" The Emperor could not answer.

The Empress Dowager said impolitely, "Aijia knows what you're thinking. Aren't you afraid that if Ling'er marries the yatou Zi You, your younger brother and Old General Mu would become in-laws? They would be a threat to your imperial authority? Emperor, can you not be so suspicious? No matter who will turn against you, your younger brother will not. He and you both came out of Muhou's belly. Muhou dares to guarantee with Muhou's life that your younger brother will not do such disloyal and unfilial things."

The Emperor's face was unhappy as he replied, "Sisxth brother wouldn't, but what about sixth brother's sons and grandchildren? Muhou, Erchen knows you love sixth brother, but Erchen is also your son. Why can't you put yourself in my place and think for Erchen's sake?"

The Empress Dowager's heart turned cold at her eldest son's words. She couldn't help but shed sad tears. "Don't you have a guilty conscience saying those words? I know that you gave Née Su and Née Ning to your sixth brother as cefeis to monitor him. I acquiesced to that. For you to be at ease, I left Ling'er in the imperial capital and helplessly watch him turn into a dandy. For you to be at ease, I repeatedly suppressed six's wife. Say it. What more do you want me to do? Kill Ling'er or kill your sixth brother? Forget it. If you really can't be at ease, let your sixth brother go back to the capital and be an idle wangye. Don't send him to guard the Xibei border. Send whomever you trust."

The Emperor's complexion turned a little better. He began to speak soft words, "Muhou, it's Erchen's fault for making you sad. Actually, Erchen is most worried about Muhou's attitude towards Ling'er and sixth brother. Erchen always think that you favor them and neglect Erchen and your other grandchildren."

The Empress Dowager shook her head and sighed. "I also carried your sixth brother for ten months before giving birth to him. Don't I feel guilty treating him like this because of you? And what about you? You have everything. If the one to guard the bitterly cold Xibei border was you, I will also miss you. How can you not understand a mother's heart?

A sharp light flashed in the Emperor's eyes. His heart thought,

'This is good too. Let's test Shangguan LingRan and old man Mu to see if they have any intentions to betray Zhen.'