Volume 1 Chapter 9 The Emperor Is Quite the Hypocrite

The young emperor showed his burgeoning prowess, and no one dared to challenge his majesty further.

Grand Tutor Li sighed deeply and stood up, looking desolate. How could it be that he, the esteemed imperial teacher, was considered less important in the Emperor’s eyes than a young girl with only modest contributions?

Yun Jinhua tugged at her ear and pinched her thigh hard to ensure she wasn't hallucinating or dreaming. The Emperor had truly granted her tangible rewards and honors—things her own father had never received!

Indeed, after the fall of Yannan Pass and the late Emperor’s death from fury, the new monarch had been designated to succeed the throne. It was clear the new sovereign intended to usher in a new era that valued both scholarship and military strength. This shift would gradually elevate the status of generals, bolstering the military’s combat effectiveness and cohesion, thereby securing the safety of the nation. This was a stroke of good fortune for the military and a blessing for the common people.

Thinking of this, Yun Jinhua kowtowed in gratitude. "Your Majesty’s grace is as vast as the sea; your subject will keep it in her heart. Henceforth, I am willing to offer my humble service, dedicating my full strength to assist Your Majesty in achieving a legacy for the ages. I shall not shrink from any sacrifice, even if it means being ground to dust."

This generous declaration left Emperor Xuanping feeling a complex mix of emotions. Looking down at the spirited young woman, a sense of inexplicable melancholy rose in his heart. He had heard that there were two ways for a woman to repay a man’s kindness: one was for the man to be strikingly handsome, leading the girl to fall in love at first sight and offer her hand; the other, if the man were less than ideal, was for the woman to solemnly promise to "repay your great kindness in the next life."

Yet, why had Yun Jinhua chosen such a grim path as "being ground to dust"? Xiao Jin'an touched his own face—surely his appearance wasn't that disastrous, was it?

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!" Yun Jinhua raised her voice, wondering why he was lost in thought and hadn't told her to rise.

"Rise, Minister Yun. The Plum Garden is maintained daily; I have gifted you all the servants and guards of the estate. You shall move in today!" The Emperor shook off his distraction.

"Your Majesty, I am content living at the Mansion of the General of Suppressing the Distant. Please put the Plum Garden to other use," Yun Jinhua dared not accept such a gift. The Plum Garden was a villa the Emperor had owned when he was the Prince of Ping. Although it wasn't his primary residence before he ascended the throne, it was still his property. For her to live there would be a breach of decorum.

"Very well. I shall order a new residence to be selected as the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion. For now, you may settle in the General’s Mansion," the Emperor replied readily. He had noticed a few conservative officials looking restless; if Yun Jinhua had moved into the Plum Garden, they would surely have harassed the girl with accusations of "presumption."

"Yes!" Yun Jinhua felt a weight lift from her heart.

A metaphorical flock of crows cawed over Grand Tutor Li’s head. As the ruler of a nation, shouldn't he avoid contradicting himself or changing his mind from morning to night? Yet with just one sentence from Yun Jinhua, he had changed his plans. The Emperor was truly playing favorites!

"Minister Yun, I grant you one month of leave to rest at home before you take up your post at the Ministry of War," the Emperor said, his care for her truly meticulous.

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty." Yun Jinhua’s eyes brightened. The Emperor was a man of his word; when she left for the campaign, he had been draped in mourning clothes, his eyes red as he promised her, "Jinhua, you have not failed Nanhua, and I shall not fail you." They had both kept their word.

As she stepped out of the Golden Hall, generals like Zhang Meng surrounded her, their boisterous laughter filling the air. "Congratulations, Marquis of Wu'an!" Although the honor belonged to her alone, they shared in the glory. Finally, the military was receiving the respect and favorable treatment it deserved.

"The Emperor is wise! Thank you all for your support," Yun Jinhua clasped her hands in gratitude, her eyes slightly moist. She had thought she would be fighting this battle alone.

While they were beaming, the Marquis of Pingyang looked like he had lost his soul, following behind Grand Tutor Li with a look of utter defeat. "Grand Tutor, are we really going to let Yun Jinhua be so arrogant?"

Li Chang rubbed his aching temples, sighing heavily. He no longer understood the Emperor’s intentions. Supporting Yun Jinhua was one thing, but was it necessary to lift her to the clouds and make her an object of universal admiration? It wasn't as if she had conquered vast new territories.

"Marquis of Pingyang, if you hadn't gone too far, you wouldn't have created this situation for Yun Jinhua. You heard the Emperor—he originally didn't intend to give her a seat at court," Li Chang said coldly. If they had known when to stop, signed the divorce papers quietly, and not coveted the wealth that didn't belong to the Pingyang Mansion, things wouldn't have come to this.

"Grand Tutor, are you willing to just let that girl flaunt her power in front of you?" Su Ziwen asked with a gloomy expression. He could not swallow the indignity of being trampled by her.

"The girl has no grudge against me. My arguing in court was not to support your actions, but to uphold ritual and propriety. Heir Su, do not drag me into your grievances." Li Chang walked away. He didn't particularly like Yun Jinhua, but he felt deep contempt for the Pingyang Mansion. He lived his life with integrity—how could he associate with such despicable people?

"Let’s go, let’s go home!" The Marquis of Pingyang ducked into his sedan chair. The Su family had lost all face!

"Did the Emperor grant the divorce?" the Old Madam asked anxiously upon seeing her crestfallen son and grandson. Her right eyelid had been twitching since morning, and she couldn't make it stop.

"The Emperor permitted her to divorce her husband," Su Ziwen said, his face as dark as a pot. How had this humiliating disgrace fallen upon him?

"Absurd!" The Old Madam was so angry that her vision blurred.

"Mother! Mind your words!" The Marquis of Pingyang stepped forward to cover her mouth. The charge of disrespect was something the Su family could not bear.

"The Marquis of Wu'an has arrived!"

A crisp, authoritative voice rang out clearly to the Su family.

"Marquis of Wu'an? Which official has been promoted?" The Old Madam brushed off her son's hand and asked in surprise. A title of nobility? That was an honor rarely seen in a century.

"It is Yun Jinhua," the Marquis of Pingyang said, feeling as if his throat had been slashed with every word. A mere slip of a girl was now his equal.

"Her? What is she here for? Is she here to flaunt her power at my Pingyang Mansion?" Ling Meijuan clutched her chest. The Su family’s dignity had already been trampled—what more did she want?

"I have come to collect a debt!" Yun Jinhua strode in, her posture upright. Every step she took was filled with such power that it felt as if she were trampling on the hearts of the Su family.

"What has the Su family ever owed you?" Su Ziwen demanded, his heart failing him, though he kept his tone stiff.

*Slap!*

A piece of paper was stuck onto Su Ziwen’s forehead, looking exactly like a talisman meant to suppress a restless spirit.