After Shedding My Ar Chapter 66

Gu Fu held the pitch-black Miao knife, her face displaying clear confusion: “What does the General an by this?”

The cold wind slapped against Gu Fu’s face. Although she was still dressed in n’s clothing and had her hair styled in a masculine fashion, when she widened her eyes and imitated the innocent and naive gaze of an ordinary girl, she truly looked sowhat pure and unsophisticated.

General Lin Hanhai of Zhennan looked at the second daughter of the Gu family, who tilted her head slightly, without the slightest internal wavering.

Because he vividly recalled last night, inside the Emperor’s tent, when the Prince of Yi attempted to assassinate His Majesty. At that mont, he was locked in a fight with the Prince of Yi’s guards, unable to break away. In that urgent situation, this Second Miss Gu suddenly appeared and decapitated the traitor.

That strike was as clean and crisp as cutting a radish, and the blood spurted everywhere. Gu Fu stood right amidst the blood, showing no fear or hesitation, as if she had long since grown accustod to taking lives with the weapon in her hand.

Lin Hanhai understood very well that possessing great martial skills and the ability to kill were two different things.

On the day Princess Yulou sparred with Gu Fu, and when Gu Fu challenged the military officers escorting foreign envoys to the capital, she defeated every opponent without injuring them. From start to finish, she had only struck to demonstrate skill, so at the ti, Lin Hanhai hadn’t found it strange.

But this ti, Gu Fu had killed soone, and her reaction afterward was nothing like that of a sheltered young lady who had never taken a life.

Moreover, her actions after the killing only further demonstrated her familiarity with the act of taking a life...

At that ti, seeing that the situation had turned unfavorable, the Prince of Yi ordered his guards to kill them without rcy. Only then did Lin Hanhai realize that those guards had been holding back their strength.

The reason was probably that the Prince of Yi thought they would still be of use. After seizing the throne, he could use their families' lives to coerce them into submission.

But now that the attempt to assassinate the Emperor had failed, the Prince of Yi naturally wanted to eliminate all of the Emperor’s trusted ministers, adding to the Emperor’s troubles.

Just as the Prince of Yi’s guards were about to strike, the second daughter of the Gu family swiftly bypassed the Prince of Yi and, with lightning speed, decapitated the guard.

Lin Hanhai doubted he could ever forget the sight of Gu Fu killing right in front of him.

When Gu Fu killed, there wasn’t the slightest hint of savagery or cruelty on her face, nor any madness or joy from the act of killing. She was extrely calm, as if taking another’s life was as simple and ordinary for her as drinking water or eating food.

—This was definitely not the behavior of an ordinary official’s daughter.

So, filled with doubts, Lin Hanhai approached Gu Fu and personally raised his questions.

The result, of course, was not ideal.

Lin Hanhai fixed his sharp gaze on Gu Fu and said, “There’s no need to play dumb with . I know you’re no ordinary woman. Otherwise, His Majesty would never entrust his safety to you. I’m just curious about your background and want to know who you really are.”

Gu Fu lowered her gaze, remained silent for a mont, and then said, “The General should know that whether I can speak or whether you can know isn’t for either of us to decide.”

Lin Hanhai understood: “Then I’ll ask His Majesty.”

With that, Lin Hanhai turned and left. Gu Fu stood in place for a mont before continuing on her way to deal with Mu Qingyao’s matter with the Empress.

Lin Hanhai did indeed go to seek out the Emperor. When he arrived at the main hall of the detached palace, there was a row of guards in crimson uniforms standing watch outside—the Chiyao army.

After multiple layers of reporting, Eunuch Zhao, who served beside the Emperor, hurried out from inside the hall and welcod Lin Hanhai in.

There were also guards standing inside the hall, but they were dressed in dark clothing—these were the Imperial Guards.

As Lin Hanhai entered, the Prince of Yi, now stripped of his princely robes and shackled hand and foot, was being escorted out by the Imperial Guards.

The two passed by each other. The Prince of Yi raised a gentle smile, completely unlike a prisoner. He still had the mind to inquire about Lin Hanhai’s purpose in seeking the Emperor: “General, are you here to ask about that Gu family’s second daughter?”

Before the Prince of Yi could finish his sentence, he was shoved by an Imperial Guard. The iron chains on his feet entangled, causing him to fall to the ground.

Slowly, the Prince of Yi got back up, while Lin Hanhai, without pausing, walked straight past him.

Being ignored, the Prince of Yi laughed: Everyone thought the Emperor was a saint, but they didn’t know that His Majesty was no different from him—both were ruthless n who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

While the Prince of Yi was being sent to the underground prison, Lin Hanhai went to see the Emperor. He bowed and, without hesitation, asked directly about Gu Fu’s background.

The Emperor set down his pen and said to Lin Hanhai, “There is indeed sothing I want to discuss with General Lin, and it concerns Gu Fu. General Lin can advise

on this matter.”

The Emperor’s directness caught Lin Hanhai off guard, but he got the answer he sought.

The truth was, this second daughter of the Gu family was indeed the biological daughter of Gu Qizheng, but at the sa ti, she was also the forr commander of the northern army, posthumously honored as Marquis Zhongshun.

When Lin Hanhai heard this, he almost thought the Emperor was joking.

A woman had served in the northern army for five years without her identity being discovered, and she had achieved such military rits? How could that be possible?!

Yet, the Emperor was not joking.

Lin Hanhai’s worldview was shaken, but the Emperor, showing the sa tactfulness as the Prince of Yi, gave Lin Hanhai enough ti to process this revelation.

During this ti, the Emperor finished reading the reports sent from the capital and even wrote a reply to Fu Yan.

When Lin Hanhai finally gathered his thoughts, the Emperor noticed that Lin Hanhai’s expression was full of “regret” rather than “disgust,” and a smile crept into his eyes.

In fact, Lin Hanhai’s regret for Gu Fu didn’t stem from being different from most people, who would object to won serving in the army. If this had happened in the past, Lin Hanhai would have scolded Gu Fu for her absurdity and regarded her with hostility and disdain. In his view, won joining the military was a disgrace, no matter their achievents, and they should be scorned by all.

However, Lin Hanhai happened to have a son he had sent to the northern borders—Lin Yi.

Lin Yi was born into a family of generals, and the only ti he ever stumbled in his life was over Tang Mumu. Otherwise, whether in martial skills or temperant, he was one of the top young talents in the capital.

But once he arrived at the northern borders, Lin Yi realized that there were always people more skilled than oneself.

Gu Fu, the forr commander of the northern army, had already passed away and beco a legendary figure.

Since they were about the sa age, Lin Yi initially dismissed her. But as he learned more, even Lin Yi couldn’t help but curse the heavens for taking such a brilliant general at such a young age.

In his letters to the capital, Lin Yi often ntioned Gu Fu, which filled Lin Hanhai with admiration for the northern army's commander who had died young. Lin Hanhai even subconsciously elevated Gu Fu’s status to that of an elder in his mind, frequently advising Lin Yi to learn from her.

With all this, it’s no wonder that Lin Hanhai’s attitude towards won serving in the military had changed.

After confirming Lin Hanhai’s stance, the Emperor, who had prepared several contingencies, adjusted his approach. He said to Lin Hanhai, “The Secret Cabinet

reported this morning that they’ve found evidence of the current northern army commander Wei Xiao colluding with the Prince of Yi. I cannot tolerate him, but the northern borders still need soone to guard them.”

Lin Hanhai was stunned. “Your Majesty, do you an…”

The Emperor shook his head. “It’s just a thought for now. I’m still hesitant about how to proceed.”

If the Emperor had insisted on having Gu Fu return to command the northern army, Lin Hanhai might have urged the Emperor to reconsider. But since the Emperor was still undecided, Lin Hanhai began to seriously think about the feasibility of the idea.

Winter had arrived, and with the failure of peace negotiations, the Zuojia tribe would likely resu their raids. Wei Xiao had committed treason and could not be allowed to remain, but if Wei Xiao was removed, what would happen to the northern borders? The northern army had just changed commanders less than a year ago, and now they would have to change again. If it were anyone other than Gu Fu, could they truly hold the position?

Lin Hanhai’s concern grew into shock after his return to the capital.

Urgent reports arrived from the frontlines: Princess Yulou’s holand, the State of Lei, had launched a surprise attack on Dayong’s southeastern borders, causing severe losses in the region.

At the sa ti, the State of Yin in the east took advantage of Dayong’s troubles. The hostage from Yin had already escaped from Dayong during the rebellion of Prince Ying, with the help of the Prince of Yi’s followers.

anwhile, in the northwest, the defensive plans had been leaked. The northwestern borders suffered consecutive defeats, with three cities falling to the tribes eyeing the territory. One of these cities had been taken by the Zuojia tribe, and its population of over ten thousand was massacred.

When the battle reports reached the capital, the Emperor urgently summoned his ministers to the palace. Along with them, Gu Fu was also summoned.

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