General Dingyuan’s reaction was within Yun Chu’s expectations.
She smiled and was preparing to have the soldier relay another message.
At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves rang out behind her, raising yellow dust. Immediately after, all the guards at the camp entrance dropped to one knee: “Greetings to Prince Pingxi!”
Yun Chu turned around.
She saw the man atop the tall horse.
He wore pitch-black battle armor with a jet-black sword at his waist, his entire bearing imposing and awe-inspiring.
His eyes met Yun Chu’s as he dismounted from his horse.
“Greetings to Prince Pingxi.”
The several brothers beside Yun Chu hurriedly bowed.
“Are you trying to enter the military camp?” Chu Yi got straight to the point. “Then come in with me.”
Yun Yi scratched his chin. “Would that be against protocol?”
“Protocol?” Chu Yi smiled. “Miss Yun has my token, which allows her not only free passage in and out of the Court of Judicial Review, but also entry to all the major military camps in the capital’s suburbs.”
Yun Chu truly hadn’t known this. She was about to express her thanks.
Chu Yi waved his hand. “Follow me inside.”
The Yun family group followed Chu Yi into the military camp. Along the way, no one dared to stop them.
As they neared the center of the camp, General Dingyuan finally received the report and hurried over to greet them. “Your Highness honors us with your presence. This humble official failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive this transgression, Your Highness!”
Chu Yi raised his eyes toward the training ground, where two soldiers from the Yun Family Army were bound to frames, currently receiving the lash.
His expression darkened as he drew the sword from his waist, slashing several times in swift succession.
General Dingyuan was so frightened he stumbled and fell to the ground.
He felt the flash of blade and sword flying before his eyes. He sensed intense killing intent.
He wanted to say something, but under the overwhelming pressure of that aura, he couldn’t utter a single word.
Finally, the oppression ended.
He looked down and discovered that his entire suit of armor had been sliced open by that sword, falling in pieces onto the yellow earth. The helmet on his head had also shattered.
For a general to have his armor and helmet cut to pieces was the ultimate humiliation.
Yet he didn’t dare show the slightest resistance.
Prince Pingxi’s first time on the battlefield was at just fifteen years old, when he assisted the Pillar General in quelling the Western Border rebellion.
Later, remaining to guard the capital, he led several thousand guards and hunted down bandits until they gradually disappeared from Great Jin…
As a mere third-rank general, he didn’t dare even breathe too loudly before Prince Pingxi.
“That Great Jin stands among the nations is partly due to the merit of the Yun Family Army!” Chu Yi said coldly. “You, General Dingyuan, whipping the Yun Family Army is like whipping the faces of the millions of soldiers still stationed at the borders. Those soldiers are the soul of our Great Jin. You dare show such contempt for Great Jin—what should your punishment be?!”
General Dingyuan shuddered and knelt on the ground. “Your Highness, it’s not like that. These two men defied this humble official and incited the Yun Family Army to cause trouble!”
“The Yun Family Army was simply anxious to rescue someone—they didn’t intend to cause trouble.” Yun Chu spoke gently. “Please allow me to say a few words to the Yun Family Army, General Dingyuan.”
General Dingyuan kept his head lowered, his face full of resentment.
With Prince Pingxi here, did he even have the right to refuse?
But it didn’t matter.
A wise man knows when to bend.
Once Prince Pingxi left, he would have plenty of opportunities to discipline these disobedient soldiers.
As long as he could make the Yun Family Army become dogs under his command, he could successfully establish a connection with Prince Gongxi…
Yun Chu walked onto the platform and looked at the Yun Family Army standing below—three thousand men, with two bound, a dozen or so under guard, and the rest with faces full of anger.
“Rumors around town say that Pillar General committed treason. I don’t believe it, and I think you don’t believe it either. That’s why you’re all desperate to personally go to the southern border to search for my father’s whereabouts.” Her voice was very gentle, like flowing water. “Thirty years of fame and glory are but dust and dirt, eight thousand miles of roads beneath clouds and moon… Loyalty so deep it can split metal and stone, strive to build merit worthy of recording in the annals… When my father completes his mission, he will surely return to the capital. I ask that you also complete your own mission—remain loyal to His Majesty and protect the Imperial City!”
Her meaning was clear.
There was no need to stand up for the Yun family anymore.
Understand the circumstances and seek to preserve yourselves.
That would be the greatest loyalty to the Yun family.
Yun Yi was the first to speak, shouting loudly: “Loyal to His Majesty, protect the Imperial City!”
The Yun Family Army soldiers exchanged glances, then shouted in unison: “Loyal to His Majesty, protect the Imperial City!”
General Dingyuan knelt on the ground, looking up at the Yun Family Army, his face full of disbelief.
After taking over the Yun Family Army, he had said every kind word and harsh word, employed every method of coercion and enticement, even resorted to punishment, yet these men remained completely unmoved.
With just these few simple words, the Yun family’s daughter had made these people suddenly change their attitude.
The Yun family’s influence over the Yun Family Army was truly staggering.
His ability to take over these three thousand soldiers was the Emperor’s trust in him, and would be his foundation for advancement in officialdom.
With these three thousand soldiers, he wouldn’t need to curry favor with Prince Gongxi anymore—it should be Prince Gongxi begging him to board that ship…
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through General Dingyuan’s mind.
However—
Chu Yi’s voice rang out at that moment: “From this moment on, the Yun Family Army is under this prince’s command. General Dingyuan, where is the command token?”
General Dingyuan was stunned speechless.
The token to command the Yun Family Army had been in his hands for less than a day, and now it was changing hands already?
Just when these three thousand men had become obedient, and with just a bit more effort they would become his Zhou Family Army—how could he bear to hand it over…
He lowered his head. “This humble official received the imperial command to take over the Yun Family Army. Your Highness…”
Before he could finish speaking.
He felt pain in his wrist.
Chu Yi’s sword edge was actually pressed against his hand, already drawing blood.
He knew that if he continued to resist, Prince Pingxi would surely sever his arm.
The token slipped to the ground.
Chengxu picked it up and presented it to Chu Yi with both hands.
“Get out!”
Chu Yi’s cold rebuke rang out.
General Dingyuan led his subordinates away in utter humiliation.
Deep in Yun Chu’s eyes were complex emotions.
Was this man no longer concealing his intentions after the Yun family’s troubles?
The Yun family had fallen, so he seized the Yun Family Army?
As she pondered this.
Chu Yi walked before her holding the token. “You are the eldest daughter of the Yun family. I entrust this Yun Family Army command token to your keeping.”
Yun Chu was utterly astonished.
Did he know what this token meant?
“I believe General Yun would not commit treason, nor will anything happen to him. He will surely return to the capital one day with a distinguished record of merit.” Chu Yi’s stern face and sharp gaze softened as he spoke these words with gentleness. “When that time comes, you can personally return this token to your father.”
Yun Chu’s heart inexplicably softened.
Various emotions intermingled.
The man before her suddenly bent down, his voice very low: “Right now the Yun family is under scrutiny, and too many eyes are watching your movements. Later, I’ll personally deliver the children to Yulin Alley.”
Yun Chu pressed her lips together. “Thank you.”
“Why should Miss Yun thank me? I should be the one thanking you.” The corners of Chu Yi’s lips curved upward. “Thank you for being so patient with my pair of children.”
Yun Chu fell silent.
She also thanked him for saving the two children’s lives.
Thanked him for letting the pair of children grow to this age.
She realized that she truly had no way to scheme against the man before her.