Volume One, Chapter 8: The Magnanimous Legacy

“Your Majesty, the fault initially lies with the Marquis of Pingyang’s household, but Yun Jinhua is also at fault. Since both parties are estranged and unwilling to reconcile, I beseech Your Majesty to issue an edict permitting their divorce,” Minister Li proposed, taking a step back.

“No divorce—I want to dismiss my husband!” Yun Jinhua declared firmly.

“No divorce—I want to dismiss my wife,” Su Ziwen retorted with equal determination.

Rarely did Yun Jinhua and Su Ziwen find common ground, yet both insisted on separating from the other.

“Yun Jinhua, show some mercy. Divorce will not harm you in the slightest. I will not allow the precedent of a woman dismissing her husband to be set in Nanling. If this were to happen, wouldn’t it make a mockery of the principle of the husband’s authority over the wife?” Minister Li frowned with displeasure.

This young woman’s fierce spirit made him uncomfortable.

“Minister, when Nanling’s women first took arms, I already set a precedent. Why didn’t you intervene then? You should have donned armor yourself and used your silver tongue of righteousness and morality to call off the battle!” Yun Jinhua cast a sidelong glance at him.

Reason only goes so far; sometimes, a fist is more effective.

Xiao Jin’an’s lips curved into a subtle, barely noticeable smile as he silently applauded Yun Jinhua’s boldness.

Three years apart, and this young lady’s words had grown as sharp as blades.

Minister Li’s face flushed alternately red and blue, rendered speechless by the pointed question.

A lump lodged in his throat, neither rising nor falling, nearly choking him.

After a long while, he finally caught his breath and huffed, “Your Majesty, please issue your sacred judgment.”

The Emperor, guided by his teachings, upheld the path of the sages and would not decree anything illogical, unlawful, or unjust.

“Yun Jinhua, your request is granted,” Xiao Jin’an’s voice was steady and unyielding.

Yet within, an unnamed feeling quietly blossomed—the young lady was once again free!

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Yun Jinhua bowed respectfully, surprised at the swiftness of the outcome.

“Your Majesty, this is unprecedented in our court. Should this spread, Nanling would become the laughingstock of other nations. Yun Jinhua may disregard a man’s pride, but Your Majesty must preserve Nanling’s dignity!” Minister Li urged earnestly.

“Your Majesty, my son is blameless. Yun Jinhua assaulted her husband and defied her elders, failing in her duties as a wife. By rights, she ought to be cast out, not disgrace the Su family!” The Marquis of Pingyang’s voice choked with grievance.

He could not comprehend why the Capital’s Magistrate and the Emperor sided with Yun Jinhua.

“Your Majesty, I implore you to decree a divorce between the couple,” most of the civil officials rallied behind Minister Li.

“This treacherous, greedy family deserves a lesson. Hmph! If the National General were in the capital, would the Pingyang household dare to openly bully Yun Jinhua? I’d respect you as a true man. Now, I spit upon you!” Zhang Meng spat in disdain at Su Hao and his son.

“What nonsense?”

“Your Majesty is wise and benevolent. We all share gratitude for your grace,” the generals expressed satisfaction with the Emperor’s decision.

They shed blood and sacrificed on the battlefield, yet returned unable to hold their heads high. How could they defend the realm without complaint?

What began as a marital dispute between the Su and Yun families escalated into mutual contempt between civil and military officials.

“Your Majesty, there is no precedent for this matter. I beg you to reconsider your decree,” Minister Li, struggling for further reasoning, resorted to ancestral laws.

“Minister, do you wish to see me reverse my decision and issue contradictory orders? That would be unprecedented counsel in Nanling,” Xiao Jin’an’s thin lips pressed into a straight line, faint anger flickering across his brow.

Minister Li’s heart pounded; the Emperor had never spoken harshly to him before.

Was this clear reprimand a sign of resentment toward him?

Indeed, the Emperor was no longer the obscure prince in the harem; three years into his reign, he had begun to display his talent for governance and his ruthless decisiveness.

He was no longer the scholar who could lecture him in the study.

“Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect. I am fearful,” Minister Li bowed his head despondently.

He hoped the Emperor’s concession was to comfort the returning soldiers, not a yielding for a woman’s sake.

Seeing the Emperor admonish even his own teacher, the previously vocal civil officials fell silent.

The Marquis of Pingyang and his son dared not utter a word.

“Yun Jinhua, receive your title,” the Emperor commanded with authority.

“Ah?” Yun Jinhua was stunned.

Wasn’t this a reward, allowing her to lay down arms and retire in peace?

“Kneel quickly!” Zhang Meng whispered urgently.

If she weren’t a woman, he might have kicked her in the back of the knees.

A gift falling from the sky—how could she not seize it?

Yun Jinhua lowered her knees, kneeling bewildered before the hall.

Would the Emperor send her to guard the frontier?

Perhaps that was best; she could devote herself to searching for her parents and brothers.

“Yun Jinhua, I confer upon you the title of Marquis of Wuan and grant you Meiyuan as your residence. Furthermore, I bestow upon you the privileges of entering the court without formal steps, exemption from daily court attendance, and the right to receive honors without formal naming. You need not attend court daily; your routine duties shall be assisting the Military Affairs Department in maintaining the capital’s security,” the Emperor spoke rapidly.

He feared interruption from some tactless official.

As sovereign, his words were imperial edicts—unchangeable and absolute.

Minister Li stared in disbelief, doubting his own ears.

This was not mere imperial favor—it was an unprecedented, magnificent grace!

Since Nanling’s founding, apart from founding emperors and victorious generals, no one had ever enjoyed such honor!

Yun Jinhua had merely pacified the border and reclaimed a few cities—why deserved such lavish treatment?

The Marquis of Pingyang stumbled, nearly falling out of the officials’ ranks.

He had assumed that once stripped of her military command, the young woman would retire quietly.

Divorce or dismissal—she was now a twice-married woman.

No young talent in the capital, no matter how favorably inclined, would dare offend the Pingyang household.

Yet the Emperor bestowed such dignity upon Yun Jinhua.

Was this not a deliberate slap to the Su family’s face?

“Your Majesty, this matter is improper. I beg you to deliberate with the ministers before making a final decision, for our court has no precedent,” Minister Li knelt, bowing his head to the ground.

The affairs of the realm are shared between sovereign and ministers.

He could not permit such reckless conduct.

“Precedent, precedent! Our ancestors’ laws are to be respected, but I shall leave a few for future generations,” Xiao Jin’an’s brows knitted.

His sharp eyebrows and narrow phoenix eyes glared down at the ministers, exuding a cold aura that seemed to chill the air.

Minister Li prostrated himself, a mixture of reverence and puzzlement swelling within.

For the sake of one Yun Jinhua, would the Emperor truly break with tradition and defy convention?