"I agree with much of what Lian Yu said, including that it's not wrong or a sin to admire someone who doesn't reciprocate your feelings. You can be sad and heartbroken, but don't demean yourself. The Chi family indulged you for over a decade, never binding you with rigid rules, all for the sake of letting you act according to your heart, unburdened by worldly affairs. If you were to debase yourself for a man, that would truly be the most heartbreaking thing for your mother and the old madam."
Chi Yaoyao shook her head. "You're mistaken. I'm not debasing myself for the strategist. From the very beginning, I knew clearly that just because I admired the strategist didn't mean he had to like me back. I simply regret being so headstrong and abandoning my family, who cared for me wholeheartedly, to cause trouble for you and the strategist, letting a villain like Feng Qingheng use it as leverage against you?"
She endured it again and again, finally shedding tears. "Looking back, although I was doted on by my family, I wasn't an ignorant child. I knew Feng Qingheng had never let his guard down regarding my family, and I was well aware that a woman like me, with no strength to even tie a chicken, appearing in the military camp would be a great inconvenience. Yet, I was bewitched and ignored all these unfavorable conditions, fixated on pestering the strategist under the guise of repaying kindness, disregarding the guards who were exhausted protecting me. Thinking of this, I regret it deeply, yet none of you blamed me."
As Chi Yaoyao spoke, she began to sob uncontrollably. "I truly wish the strategist had pointed at my nose and called me shameless! I wish you and those guards had pointed fingers at my back and called me a burden; at least then my heart would feel a little better..."
Lu Qingwan watched her cry so hard she could barely sit upright. She sighed with melancholy, then stood up and pulled her into her arms. "Cry, child. After this cry, you won't like Lian Yu anymore. I'll take you home, alright?"
Chi Yaoyao just held her and cried, not answering.
When Feng Xiwu and Lian Yu had finished the task Lu Qingwan assigned them, they returned and heard Chi Yaoyao's suppressed sobs from outside the door. The two looked at each other for a moment, then turned and skillfully headed towards the study.
Inside, after Chi Yaoyao had cried her heart out, she didn't feel awkward. She tugged on Lu Qingwan's hand and forced a smile. "I'll listen to you. I won't like him anymore. I'll go home with you."
Her face streaked with tears, she said to Lu Qingwan, "You and the Prince need to conquer three southeastern countries and a part of another. There are many places where people are needed. I haven't learned much over the years, but I'm good at accounting. Can you give me a position so I can find something to do?"
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you going to join the army?"
"I am, but I know I'm not cut out for fighting wars. So, can I be a supply officer for you and the Prince?" Chi Yaoyao looked at Lu Qingwan seriously, her expression not like she was joking.
Lu Qingwan examined her with difficulty. "Miss Chi, do you remember that my Prince is currently a Prince of Qin, while your father and brother are officials of Da Gan?"
"So what?" Chi Yaoyao said matter-of-factly. "I don't mind you being outsiders, so why should you mind me?"
Lu Qingwan completely lost her composure. "I thank you for not minding us, my Miss Chi. Do you remember we are going to fight your mother country?"
"I remember." Their roles seemed to have reversed; Lu Qingwan was flustered, while Chi Yaoyao calmly nodded. "But I also know that you are only targeting the foolish Feng Qingheng and the Da Gan court, which has long been hollowed out by worms. You won't make trouble for my father and brother or the people of Da Gan. Thus, I can be considered to be contributing to protecting my father, brother, and Da Gan. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Lu Qingwan truly had no grounds to refute this statement. She silently gave Chi Yaoyao a thumbs-up. "I've met Prime Minister Wen and Scholar Chi several times before, and neither of them has separated loyalty to the sovereign from patriotism. You, however, think so clearly. I must say, women who abandon romantic entanglements are indeed formidable!"
Chi Yaoyao didn't understand all of it, but it didn't prevent her from guessing Lu Qingwan was praising her. Hearing this, she smiled beautifully. "So, do you agree to let me be a supply officer for the Xuanjia Army?"
"Forget about being a supply officer for now. With your slender arms and legs, before the supplies even move, someone will have to carry you." Seeing Chi Yaoyao about to get angry, she quickly added, "If you want to rapidly improve your physical fitness and learn self-defense skills so as not to be a burden to your colleagues, the army isn't suitable. I'll find a place for you to undergo a transformation. If you can persevere, whatever position you can achieve in the army will depend entirely on your abilities. The Prince and I will absolutely not hold your gender against you. Can you do that?"
Chi Yaoyao nodded without asking what Lu Qingwan planned to do to her. "I can."
"Alright, since you've agreed, don't regret it." Lu Qingwan said, and then lightly clapped her hands. "Ru Yue, take her to see Hua Ying."
Ru Yue responded and came forward. Chi Yaoyao was startled; she had never realized there was a third person in the room. Without time for further questions, Ru Yue expressionlessly led her away.
Lu Qingwan sat regally in the main seat, silently hatching her own plans. After finishing the snacks on the table, Li Jin arrived. "Reporting to Princess, the Prince requests your presence in the study for discussions."
Lu Qingwan smacked her lips and slowly got up. "Have the old generals Lin and Shen arrived?"
Li Jin smiled. "Princess's foresight is remarkable. General Lin and General Shen have indeed arrived, but you've missed one person."
Lu Qingwan carelessly plucked a sprig of winter jasmine and idly played with it. "Oh, we have a guest in the city?"
Li Jin coyly closed his mouth, wanting Lu Qingwan to guess. Lu Qingwan pretended to scratch her head in frustration for a long time, and only as they neared the study did she seem to have an idea. "Could it be,驸马 Shao has arrived?"
Li Jin was completely stunned. Lu Qingwan proudly strutted towards the study, flicking her tail. Her gaze pierced through walls and barriers, reaching directly into the study.驸马 Shao was sitting opposite Feng Xiwu, engaged in lively conversation. Lu Qingwan happily thought, is this the joy of having cheat codes? Thinking about it, it feels quite exhilarating.
Knock, knock, knock. After knocking, she walked in without waiting for a response. "A Wan, come quickly! See who has arrived."
Feng Xiwu immediately stood up and cheerfully led her to where 驸马 Shao was. The latter had already risen. "Your humble servant pays his respects to the Princess."
Lu Qingwan was formerly the Regent Princess of Da Gan and is now a Prince of Qin. By status, she deserved this bow. "驸马 Shao, you are too kind. You have traveled a long distance, and we should be treating you with great ceremony. We have been negligent."
After speaking, she shot Feng Xiwu a look. 驸马 Shao's visit wasn't sudden, and it was difficult for him to have endured the journey without mentioning it to her.
Feng Xiwu remained calm. "Feng Qingheng has detained the Grand Princess and Princess Fugai, and ordered 驸马 Shao to intercept this Prince at Beixiao Pass, seize the Xuanjia Army token, and exchange it for the Grand Princess and Princess Fugai. 驸马 Shao has also come to discuss plans to rescue them."