Yan Hongzhao only had the fortune to witness the Commandery Princess reviewing the troops once in her youth.
Back then, she was not yet of age, clad in a bright red soft armor standing atop a high platform. Below her was a sea of generals, n who had participated in countless major and minor battles, adorned with military achievents. Yet, they stood there, utterly submissive, listening to the slightly childish voice command the troops.
Whenever she called out a na, without fail, soone would answer!
From that mont on, this scene was deeply etched into Yan Hongzhao’s mind.
Never had she imagined that she too would one day review the troops!
Her heart surged with emotion, continuing unabated until dawn, and she ultimately did not sleep a wink.
Dawn broke.
The crisp chirping of birds outside the tent brought joy to anyone who heard them.
Yan Hongzhao had risen early to practice a set of boxing moves. After working up a sweat, she went to a brook to freshen up quickly, then swiftly returned to the military camp.
By that ti, the lieutenant general was already waiting outside with a thick stack of registers.
Seeing Yan Hongzhao return, damp from her wash, he promptly lowered his head, "I greet the young lady."
Unaware of her identity, much less her surna or given na, he could only address her as "young lady."
Yan Hongzhao was aware of this and nodded in acknowledgent.
She entered the tent, "Co in."
"Young lady, everything is ready. Everyone is already waiting on the drill ground. When will you go over?"
Yan Hongzhao took the registers and flipped through them, "I’ll go right now."
"Then I will wait outside."
Watching him step out, Yan Hongzhao flipped through the register again and noticed several pages were filled with the surna Chen.
Moreover, these individuals were the personal soldiers of Deputy General Chen.
Upon seeing this, Yan Hongzhao raised an eyebrow.
The forthcoming troop review might not be entirely peaceful.
But no matter.
She relished excitent.
Too much tranquility was simply uninteresting.
"Boss?" Ghost Face’s gentle voice rang out from outside the tent. Having seen the lieutenant general go in, he knew she was awake and hurriedly waited outside, concerned she might need sothing.
"Hmm," Yan Hongzhao lifted the tent flap and erged, "Let’s go."
"Alrighty!" Ghost Face answered with a loud voice.
Hearing his call, the other five imdiately followed suit, and the group made their grand way toward the drill ground.
What a visually striking scene this was.
A delicate woman in red was followed by six burly n with wide faces full of horizontal scars, and they exuded an air of ferocity. So carried large swords, others had Purple Gold Hamrs at their waists jingling, and there were those who played with the Wolf Sheep Club. Even the most ordinary among them carried a Heavy Sword on their back, nearly as tall as a man.
The lieutenant general couldn’t help but wipe the sweat from his face.
Indeed, it was a very hot day.
"Young lady, you’re here," he approached to greet her.
Yan Hongzhao nodded her head and stood firm atop the high platform, with the six brothers stationed behind her.
"Girl, wielding the Tiger Talisman of the Crown Prince, what exactly is your official position in the imperial court?" a solid-looking burly man asked bluntly.
The lieutenant general quickly whispered to Yan Hongzhao, "This man is one of Deputy General Chen’s personal soldiers, nad Chen Cheng."
Chen Cheng, who was already a mature adult, had an average military career, staying in his position solely because of Deputy General Chen.
Now that Deputy General Chen had been killed by this girl, his personal soldiers were like a dragon without a head, unlikely to enjoy the comfortable days of the past.
But Chen Cheng was not a fool, he thought before he acted.
Knowing his lowly status, he took the initiative to inquire about Yan Hongzhao’s official court position.
"I hold no official post," Yan Hongzhao replied frankly.
While she was indeed tasked with eliminating bandits, she had not been officially appointed and had no desire to be involved with the court. If it ca down to seeking awards for her accomplishnts, she could at least be a third-grade official.
She, Yan Hongzhao, had cleansed and reford all the bandits around Dawei, an achievent that not many n could claim.
Official positions are but floating clouds to her.
To Chen Cheng and his ilk, these words took on a completely different aning.
"Without an office or rank? Heh..." That was sowhat intriguing.
You, a girl without an office or rank, on what grounds do you command the entire army to stand here early in the morning for roll call?
Isn’t that a joke!
On what grounds, indeed?!
Chen Cheng and the others felt indignant, and their expressions turned disdainful.
"What’s the matter." Yan Hongzhao was expressionless.
"Nothing much, just that today you probably won’t be able to perform the roll call." Chen Cheng stepped forward brazenly, his whole deanor becoming very lax.
"Why not?"
"Because you hold no office or rank." Chen Cheng didn’t understand how she could still ask why, feeling that anyone with a bit of sha wouldn’t dare to have the whole army wait for them at the crack of dawn.
Yan Hongzhao didn’t realize that Chen Cheng and the others had categorized her as a thick-skinned woman.
"Just because I hold no office or rank, I can’t perform the roll call?" She held the Tiger Talisman, which was as if the Crown Prince himself was present. Even if she made the n follow her around the camp for fun, they couldn’t utter a single word of objection.
"Are you joking? This is a military camp, not a place for won to play house. You say, what status do you have to command the army here? You, without an office or rank, are at best a maid by the Crown Prince’s side, a re maid. Do you expect us to stand here under the scorching sun just for you?! Don’t ntion that you have the Tiger Talisman, rember, it’s a Tiger Talisman, not rouge or facial powder for a lady’s use. If you abuse your power, we can act on behalf of the Crown Prince to eliminate you."
Upon saying this.
The six brothers imdiately took a step forward.
Ghost Face’s gentleness did not hide the murderous intent in his eyes any longer.
Little bastard, if he dared to touch his boss, he’d beat the shit out of him!
Faced with such an attack, Yan Hongzhao continued to appear indifferent.
"I have a question."
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was forceful. She spoke deliberately, neither hurried nor slow, compelling people to focus on her.
This was sothing Yan Hongzhao had learned from her older sister.
Never be impetuous, always remain composed in any situation.
If one beca flustered, then nothing could be handled well.
So at this mont, Yan Hongzhao didn’t take Chen Cheng’s words to heart at all.
Chen Cheng watched the stage nonchalantly: "Go ahead."
"If it were a man standing here today, you, and the rest of you, would there be such a defiant mindset?"
Her sister had long ago said that in this world, n and won are not the sa.
Once a woman steps out of the Yan Family, life outside is very bleak for them.
They could never attain true freedom for their entire lives.
Before marriage, they follow their father; after marriage, their husband; and once the son grows up, they must follow him.
No matter the profession, even if a woman performs exceptionally, the credit will always fall upon n.
Yan Hongzhao, neither servile nor overbearing: "My sister once said, standing between heaven and earth, n and won are equal. If n can conduct a roll call, so can won. If you refuse to accept based on my gender, that’s rely your prejudice, irrelevant to . But if you doubt my strength, I, Yan Hongzhao, am right here. Feel free to co up and challenge !"
"Those are your words!" Chen Cheng naturally couldn’t place himself within the first kind of gender prejudice. The current Crown Prince had already agreed to won entering court as officials, and he could not let others grasp this handle against him.
So he exchanged glances with a few of his personal soldiers and unhesitatingly chose the second option.
In less than the ti it takes to finish a cup of tea.
Chen Cheng and those personal soldiers, drenched in sweat, lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air.
Yet Yan Hongzhao on the stage seed sowhat unsatisfied, not a single bead of sweat on her forehead.
The lieutenant general vaguely sensed sothing.
He stepped forward to ask.
"May I ask the na of your honored sister?"
Yan Hongzhao withdrew her hand, standing tall: "The previous emperor personally bestowed the title of Princess Anping, Great Marshal of the Western Expedition, and the legitimate daughter of the Duke of the State—Yan Wanqing." She paused, her voice filled with imnse pride, "Indeed, she is my sister!"
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