Chapter 86: Wu Ji’s Request

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However, upon hearing Vice Minister Li’s memorial, Princess Wu Qingluan showed no reaction; she simply stood there with a composed, beautiful face, expressionless, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

“Your Majesty, I concur. If we were in times of peace, it would be acceptable for the Princess to serve as Marshal of the Flying Phoenix Army. But with war imminent, this is no trifling matter. I implore Your Majesty to see clearly: do not make an exception simply because Marshal Wu is the Princess. How will the ministers and generals of the court be convinced if things continue this way?” The Vice Minister of Personnel, Tan Hangyu, immediately stepped forward to submit his objection.

“Hmm? Who else supports this motion?” Emperor Wu Qing’s face was like ice as he questioned, not expecting his ministers to challenge his authority again.

“I support the motion.”

“Your Majesty, I too support the motion.”

“Your old minister also concurs.”

The ministers, certain that the Emperor would not punish a multitude, stood up one after another to express their agreement. In the blink of an eye, more than ten ministers opposed Princess Wu Qingluan’s appointment as Marshal of the Flying Phoenix Army. The two leading vice ministers were both of the third rank, while most of the others held fourth or fifth-rank offices.

“Marshal Wu, what are your thoughts on this matter?” Emperor Wu Qing looked over the assembly, his gaze finally resting on the Princess. He found her as calm as ever; aside from a slight darkness in her expression, she showed no sign of panic.

“I will abide by Your Majesty’s decision. I have no objections,” Wu Qingluan replied indifferently. In truth, she was not attached to the position of Marshal. Previously, she had led the army to support the Crown Prince, but now that he had abdicated, she had no wish to remain entangled in this.

“In that case, you will temporarily relinquish the command seal of the Flying Phoenix Army. However, from now on, the Wudu Battalion shall be separated from the Flying Phoenix Army, established as the Martial Guard, with the Princess as its commander.” Emperor Wu Qing spoke after some thought.

Though the Princess was to hand over the command of the Flying Phoenix Army, the Emperor allowed her to retain control of the Wudu Battalion, now renamed the Martial Guard, placing it under her command as one of the capital’s elite garrisons.

“Your Majesty, I nominate Xu Zhenglin, commander of the Mighty Guard Army, as Marshal of the Flying Phoenix Army. General Xu broke through to the Grandmaster Realm a month ago and is more than capable of bearing this responsibility,” Li Shanghua immediately recommended his own general for the post.

“It is a good thing that Lord Xu has advanced in cultivation. The Inner Palace shall bestow upon him a thousand-year-old ginseng. However, as Lord Xu has just made his breakthrough, let him spend half a year consolidating his realm before further responsibilities are assigned. As for the new Marshal of the Flying Phoenix Army, I already have someone in mind; we shall decide on another day,” Emperor Wu Qing waved his hand.

Having just had the Princess relinquish her post, how could he immediately appoint a new Marshal? That would only embolden the ministers. Thus, the Emperor set the matter aside. In order to balance the four great armies, he would also need to carefully consider the next appointment.

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After court was dismissed, Emperor Wu Qing summoned the Princess to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and asked, “Qingluan, do you bear any resentment over relinquishing the command of the Flying Phoenix Army?”

“Your Majesty, I dare not. In fact, had it not been for special circumstances, I would never have accepted the marshal’s post in the first place. Now that I can lay down this burden, it is a good thing. If it pleases Your Majesty, I would rather not command the Martial Guard either, but roam the land freely, overseeing the realm on your behalf,” Wu Qingluan replied, shaking her head.

“The fault was mine before, but Marshal Liu has been dead for years. You should let go. All these years, have you truly not found someone you care for?” At this moment, Emperor Wu Qing was not the lofty monarch, but an elder brother sighing with concern.

Ten years ago, when Wu Qingluan was only fifteen, Emperor Wu Qing had betrothed her to the then-young general Liu Shiguang, who was twenty years her senior, in order to win over the Marshal of the Flying Phoenix Army.

However, when Wu Qingluan turned eighteen and their wedding was just prepared, Liu Shiguang fell in battle against the State of Zhou, ambushed and slain by two Grandmaster-level enemies.

Upon hearing the news, Wu Qingluan was so shaken that she broke through to become a top-tier martial artist. She then volunteered to assume command of the Flying Phoenix Army, leading troops into the enemy’s territory and avenging her betrothed by razing five cities, earning the army’s loyalty.

But six or seven years had passed since then and Wu Qingluan, still the army’s commander, had never shown interest in anything else, let alone matters of the heart.

As emperor, Wu Qing felt secure with his sister commanding the Flying Phoenix Army. But as an elder brother, her personal affairs and future happiness remained a constant worry.

“Brother, I never truly loved Liu Shiguang. I avenged him simply out of duty as his bereaved fiancée. Now that I have given up command, I have no further ties to him. I ask that, should I one day meet someone I truly care for, regardless of his station or birth, you will not stand in our way but grant me some freedom.”

A vague figure surfaced in Wu Qingluan’s heart—perhaps the only man who had ever entered it in all these years. So she dared to make this request of the Emperor.

“Qingluan, I can promise to let you choose your own husband. But as the imperial princess, the pride of our family, you must not choose just anyone—you cannot give the world cause to laugh.” Emperor Wu Qing considered for a moment.

“Rest assured, Brother. I will not choose an ordinary man. You must trust my judgment,” Wu Qingluan replied with a smile and a nod.

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“That’s right, you should smile more often. You’re still young, in the prime of your youth. Before, I selfishly bound you to the Flying Phoenix Army. Now, you and Xiao’er are both free,” Emperor Wu Qing said with a sigh, sounding suddenly much older.

Returning to the clinic, Wu Qingluan’s expression was somewhat grave. Outwardly, she seemed unconcerned, and relinquishing command had lightened her burden. Yet being forced to yield her authority was a very different feeling from surrendering it by choice.

“Marshal, how could you give up your command? The men are furious. When they heard, they wanted to band together and petition the Ministry of War!” At the clinic’s gate, Wu Ji waited anxiously. Upon seeing Wu Qingluan, he strode forward, his voice brimming with anger.

“Nonsense. Will that do any good? The appointment of a marshal is not the Ministry’s decision, but His Majesty’s. Besides, I have long been weary and wished to step down for some time. If you want to stay with the Flying Phoenix Army, then make your mark. If not, I can have you transferred to the Martial Guard as my deputy,” Wu Qingluan scolded, casting him a stern glance.

“I am willing to follow the Marshal to the Martial Guard,” Wu Ji replied without hesitation.

Wu Qingluan nodded, then went into the small courtyard of the clinic, instructing her attendants to prepare food and wine. She invited no one, intending to drink alone—after all, she had almost no friends.

“Master Fang, I have a favor to ask.” Fang Xian had just finished treating the Crown Prince and returned to the front of the clinic when Wu Ji approached him.

“General Wu, you give me too much credit. Please speak freely. If there is anything I can do, I will certainly help,” Fang Xian replied. He had a high opinion of Wu Ji—a righteous and passionate young commander, highly capable and likely to become a grandmaster in the future.

“This morning in court, a group of ministers joined forces to oppose the Princess’s command. For reasons I cannot fathom, His Majesty had her relinquish the marshal’s seal of the Flying Phoenix Army. I saw the Marshal when she returned—she was deeply troubled, but we, her subordinates, are in no position to comfort her. I was hoping, sir, that you might speak with her. She trusts you more than anyone.”

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