Marquis Gu shifted his gaze and changed the topic, asking, "How old is this Xie Yun...?"
Gu Lan thought for a mont and speculated, "Twenty-four or five? You should ask Gu Changting, he would know."
"The last ti I returned to the capital, he was still the Eldest Prince’s companion."
"The Eldest Prince is now the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace."
"I know, but I’m used to calling him that," Gu Chengzhao reminisced a bit and started to explain to Gu Lan.
"I rember Xie Yun beca an Advanced Scholar at the age of seventeen. That year’s spring exam was hosted by the Crown Prince Rong Jing, who is now the Emperor. Later, the forr Emperor personally appointed Xie Yun as the top scholar and vindicated the Xie Family’s past grievances. Subsequently, he seed to advocate for won’s studies and beca Dayan’s First Noble Son."
Marquis Gu didn’t like studying, so he had a particularly deep impression of those who excelled in academics.
"What is he doing now?"
"He was previously the Crown Prince’s Advisor. Recently, when Chief of Staff Qian Zhen from the Ministry of Revenue was imprisoned, he was placed in the Ministry of Revenue by Pri Minister Su, and now he is the Vice Minister of Revenue."
Gu Lan replied earnestly, as long as Marquis Gu didn’t ntion any affection for Rong Heng.
She just wanted to be good brothers with Brother Hang!
Marquis Gu, after speaking at length, finally revealed his true intention:
"Xie Jingqi has no parents, a bright future, admired by Su Wenzhong, and he carries so of my own aura. Lan, marrying him ans you won’t have to worry about any conflicts with in-laws. Truly, you’re my daughter, with such keen insight."
Gu Lan: "..."
"Since when am I to marry Xie Yun?"
Marquis Gu waved his hand, showing an expression of seeing through everything.
"I know you young people are shy, but Xie Yun tricked that Miss Lu for your sake, and you know her well, tsk tsk tsk, nothing escapes my keen eyes."
"This matter was of Xie Yun’s doing. Who knows how he persuaded Miss Lu."
"His martial arts are average, but he’s talented in culture, which can compensate a bit," Marquis Gu muttered to himself.
Gu Lan took a deep breath, "Marquis, have you forgotten... my identity is male."
Marquis Gu beca more serious, "I returned this ti to restore your identity."
Gu Lan’s eyes narrowed, "Restore identity?"
Marquis Gu’s arrogant brows softened as he looked at her and continued:
"For these years, you were unable to live like an ordinary girl, couldn’t embroider by the window, couldn’t dress up in the waterside pavilion, but had to learn literature and martial arts like a man. Previously, you also had to face assassination attempts by the Qian Family...
Lan, I expelled the Qiangrong and achieved a great victory in the Northern Territory so that my daughter can be the most carefree and free-spirited girl in Dayan, doing whatever she wants, without needing to hide her identity anymore."
Gu Lan coughed, breaking the tender mont, and said:
"I want to be a man."
Marquis Gu: "... Lan, didn’t you used to want to regain your female identity the most, and how can you be with Xie Yun if you are a man?"
Gu Lan frowned, questioning, "I have nothing to do with Xie Yun. Besides, I didn’t want to dress up or embroider, and the Qian Family’s assassination attempts would happen whether I was male or female. Marquis, did you suddenly decide this because the Mada is pregnant again or is there sothing behind the scenes...?"
Marquis Gu blushed and quickly replied:
"How, how could that be, I only have your mother in my heart! I want to restore your female identity and have the Emperor confer the title of female heir upon you. As for the Marquis title and commanding troops, after this battle, I’ve cleared Qiangrong’s obstacles for the next ten years. The Marquis title is yours, but you won’t need to fight."
Gu Lan thought to herself, you could never imagine that while Qiangrong is cleared, it will be Wei Country that goes to war later on, and I, your son, this throwaway supporting male role, still have to command soldiers.
She thought for a mont and said, "If I reveal my identity now, I won’t be able to explain myself to Rong Heng, Rong Miaoyan, Rong Baoyi, Rong Yunhao... they all think I’m male."
Marquis Gu: "Did you ensnare the entire Rong Family?"
Gu Lan rubbed her forehead, feeling sowhat helpless.
Who let her attend the Imperial Family’s school, where all she t were mbers of the Imperial Family.
Gu Chengzhao steadied himself and said:
"If you are unwilling, I won’t force you, but you just ntioned Rong Baoyi and Princess Ning’an. As far as I know, one is now in the military and the other serves as an official in the court. Both maintain their female identity. Our dynasty has an open-minded culture, and won are much freer than before. At least, Wei Country doesn’t have a system like ours."
"Marquis thinks that as long as Rong Baoyi and Rong Miaoyan can join the military and serve as officials like n, that’s freedom?" Gu Lan asked.
Gu Chengzhao’s eyes showed so confusion, "They’ve achieved what ordinary won can’t."
"But it’s not fair."
Gu Lan looked at Gu Chengzhao. Her gaze was sharp as she slowly spoke.
"Why do n who want to serve as officials have access to the imperial examinations, personal recomndations, or even a few words of approval from a high official to rise swiftly, while won must risk public outrage, seeking the Emperor’s grace for just a chance at a minor position?
Moreover, Marquis, do you know, Baoyi indeed joined the army, and her archery skills are astonishing, her martial arts skills compare to ordinary n, and back in the Imperial school, her military insights were unrivaled, yet because she’s a woman, she remains a re city guard. Her County Princess status didn’t help her, but rather deepened others’ prejudices against her.
And Rong Miaoyan? Her position is high, and her authority is significant, but her quest for power required wrestling it bloodily from others’ hands. This too is because she is a woman. To achieve parity, she has to expend a hundred tis the effort and hardship.
They are lofty daughters of a Prince, born with blue veins, and even achieving a small degree of freedom is challenging. What about the other won in this world?
They are not daughters of Marquises, not from noble families, but the daughters of servants, wives of rchants, prostitutes of brothels, mothers of scholars. What kind of lives do they wish to live? Who knows? Who cares? Who can give it to them? Does effort equate to reward? No, as long as they are won, no matter how hard they try, they cannot overco the prejudice in people’s hearts."
Gu Chengzhao stared blankly at Gu Lan, as if seeing his daughter for the first ti.
"You... you are right, which is why I thought, even if the world disagrees, I must give the Marquis title to you."
"Then let them agree!"
Gu Lan said proudly.
Her eyes, clear and bright, the corners slightly upturned, gradually revealed so arrogance and audacity.
"Even if, after revealing my identity, I can be a female heir, can lead troops, in many people’s hearts, from the mont they know I’m a woman, everything changes. Millenia-old prejudices will not be erased.
Perhaps they might show respect and fear, but that’s only due to the high status and power of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Subtly, subconsciously, they will change their attitudes, show disdain instinctively, always rembering I’m an unconventional little woman. Whatever I do, I’ll encounter many troubles, and I despise trouble.
Since Marquis says I can do whatever I want, then what I want is to ride the fiercest horse, see the lone smoke over the desert from the vast snowfield, reclaim lost territory, drive out the Qiangrong, protect those I care about, lead the soldiers of the Dingyuan Army, achieve unparalleled rit, and then... I’ll tell everyone, I am a woman."
By that ti,
she will tell the world,
she is a woman.
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