The Imperial Palace.
Dragon towers and phoenix ramparts, shell gates and pearl palaces.
Magnificent and awe-inspiring, vast in scale and grandeur.
Like a colossal beast poised to devour its prey, it pressed down with immense authority upon anyone who entered.
"Summon Princess Anyang Shang Hongye for an audience."
The clashing of scaled armor rang through the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As steady footsteps drew near, Shang Hongye dropped to one knee and cupped her hands in salute.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise. Be seated."
Emperor Yuanchu's majestic voice echoed through the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
His deep, obsidian gaze assessed the valiant young woman before him. A heroine who yielded nothing to any man.
"Anyang, these past years, you and your father have guarded the Northern Border. Your merits are beyond measure."
"In the battle at Wind and Snow Pass, you reclaimed three thousand li of lost territory. What a joy for the people!"
"Your Majesty praises me too highly."
"Only because Your Majesty governs wisely and the realm enjoys peace beneath clear skies and calm seas was there this great victory at Wind and Snow Pass."
Shang Hongye spoke with cupped hands, humble in manner, without the slightest intention of claiming credit.
Eunuch Su gave her a covert glance.
Rumor had it that the Shang father and daughter were arrogant because of their achievements, always regarding themselves as the guardians of the Northern Border.
Yet now, they did not seem nearly so wild and haughty as the rumors claimed. They still understood propriety.
No matter how great the merit from the victory at Wind and Snow Pass was—
Before His Majesty, the foremost credit naturally belonged to His Majesty's wise governance and skillful appointment of men.
"The Northern Border has always been a bitterly cold land, and it is also the front line against the northern barbarians."
"If there is ever any shortage in food, clothing, or supplies, report it to the court. The court will not mistreat the soldiers of the Northern Border."
Emperor Yuanchu spoke with great magnanimity.
Yet Shang Hongye took his polite words seriously.
"Your Majesty, Hongye has one request."
"I have heard that Sacred Emperor Rice, yielding a thousand jin per mu, exists in the capital. I beg Your Majesty to grant the Northern Border seeds for the Sacred Emperor Rice."
"The people of the Northern Border have suffered through years of warfare and live harsh lives. If they could obtain Sacred Emperor Rice seeds, they would finally be able to breathe easier."
When Shang Hongye requested Sacred Emperor Rice, Emperor Yuanchu revealed an approving expression.
He appeared to be praising Shang Hongye for putting the people first and sympathizing with their hardships.
Yet inwardly, he became even more wary.
What were this Shang father and daughter planning?
With such tremendous merit, they neither sought rewards nor requested favors for the Shang army.
Instead, they pleaded on behalf of the people and asked for Sacred Emperor Rice.
Were they trying to win over the hearts of the people?
Though wary in his heart, Emperor Yuanchu knew he could not refuse this matter.
Otherwise, if word spread, would it not become that the Son of Heaven was suppressing the people of the Northern Border?
"Anyang, rest assured. The Northern Border will certainly receive a share of the first batch of Sacred Emperor Rice seeds."
"On behalf of the people of the Northern Border, this servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
After Emperor Yuanchu asked further about the conditions in the Northern Border, his tone suddenly shifted as he asked,
"Anyang, you are no longer young. It is time you became betrothed."
"What are Prince Zhenbei's plans?"
"My father is open-minded and has allowed Hongye to decide for herself."
Shang Hongye answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.
"Is that so?"
"Then does Anyang have someone she admires?"
Emperor Yuanchu smiled faintly, his eyes flickering as he recalled Prince Zhenbei's secret letter.
Prince Zhenbei wished to forge a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince.
And what of you, Shang Hongye?
Would you obey your parents' wishes, or did you truly intend to choose for yourself?
"Hongye has only recently arrived in Yujing City and has yet to find anyone she admires."
"I beg Your Majesty for grace and permission to choose someone I favor from among the imperial clansmen."
Seeing that Shang Hongye was sensible and did not resist a marriage alliance with the imperial family, Emperor Yuanchu nodded in satisfaction.
"I grant it!"
"I wonder which imperial clansman will be fortunate enough to marry a beauty like you, Anyang."
"Settle the marriage before the year ends. Do not keep your father waiting too long."
"Hongye shall obey the imperial command!"
It was already the twelfth lunar month of deep winter. Less than a month remained before the end of the year.
Emperor Yuanchu meant for her to settle her marriage within one month.
Shang Hongye knew that, because he considered her "obedient," Emperor Yuanchu had shown extra mercy by not directly decreeing a marriage, leaving her at least some room to maneuver.
Emperor Yuanchu gave Eunuch Su a look. Eunuch Su understood at once and produced an imperial edict that had long been prepared.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
I, in whom Heaven's mandate resides, regard the four seas as one family. The realm relies upon loyal and brave ministers to open new lands and expand its borders, thereby securing the state.
Shang Hongye, Princess Anyang, possesses a loyal and steadfast heart. She commands the three armies, campaigned against the northern barbarians, expanded our territory, and raised the prestige of our nation. Her achievements are outstanding; she is truly a pillar of the state and a support for the people. I am greatly pleased.
Therefore, Shang Hongye is elevated to Princess Anyang. She is granted one thousand taels of gold, one thousand qing of fertile land, ten bottles of Eight Desolations Dragon Elephant Pills, and one rare treasure. Effective immediately, she is transferred to serve as Battalion Commander of the God Slaying Department.
May Princess Anyang continue striving forward, forever preserve her loyalty and courage, assist My person, and together accomplish great undertakings.
By Imperial Decree!"
After hearing Eunuch Su read the imperial edict, Shang Hongye's expression remained unchanged. No one could tell whether she was pleased or saddened.
She dropped to one knee and lowered her head.
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for his grace!"
He had conferred upon her the title of Princess Anyang.
Her rank had risen from Princess of a Commandery to Princess, an immense favor from Heaven.
Yet to Shang Hongye, it was rather tasteless.
She had fought across the battlefields of the Northern Border and carved her way out through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Why did she need a princess's title to gild her name?
As for the post of Battalion Commander in the God Slaying Department, Shang Hongye's heart sank slightly.
A quarter of an hour later.
Led by a young eunuch, Shang Hongye left the Imperial Palace.
At the palace gates, Uncle Huo and the accompanying guards had waited for a long time.
"Miss, how did it go?"
"Did the Son of Heaven make things difficult for you?"
With concern on his face, Uncle Huo compressed his voice into a thin line and hurriedly asked.
"Third Uncle, let us get into the carriage first."
The two boarded the carriage and activated its soundproofing formation before discussing everything that had happened within the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Uncle Huo was not surprised that Emperor Yuanchu had ordered Shang Hongye to choose a husband within one month.
Only...
"To transfer you, Miss, to the God Slaying Department... This is... this is..."
Uncle Huo desperately wanted to curse, "utterly inhuman."
But after trying several times, he ultimately swallowed the words back down.
"The God Slaying Department specializes in hunting down divine aberrations and frequently battles them. Among all court offices, it is the most dangerous."
"Moreover, the God Slaying Department is at odds with the Three Prime Ministers and Seven Ministries. Once you enter the God Slaying Department, Miss, the Three Prime Ministers and Seven Ministries will surely ostracize you as well."
Uncle Huo was deeply dissatisfied.
In his eyes, the God Slaying Department was an office that was both dangerous and thankless.
The Son of Heaven was clearly suppressing his miss.
She had reclaimed thousands of li of lost land, only to receive such treatment. It truly chilled the heart.
"Third Uncle, there is no need for you to be angry."
"Before setting out, I had already prepared myself to be suppressed."
"Among the four kings of different surnames, Father may not possess the most troops."
"But the soldiers of the Northern Border have fought year-round. Looking across all of Great Qian, they are the most elite."
"With the emperor's arts of rule, he will surely fear us."
"Suppression is inevitable."
Seeing Shang Hongye so mature, Uncle Huo could not help but feel heartache instead.
"Miss, you have suffered."
"It is worth it."
"If I do not suffer, then Father and the soldiers of the Northern Border will suffer."
Shang Hongye's expression was calm, without the slightest anger or discouragement.
"Let us return to the estate today and rest early. Tomorrow, we will visit Father's former students and old associates."
"Miss, when His Highness was young, he once received guidance from the Martial Prime Minister."
"Though they had no formal master-disciple title, they truly shared the substance of that relationship."
"Tomorrow, we should begin our visits with the Martial Prime Minister's Estate."
Huo Yunting offered a reminder.
Over the next several days, Shang Hongye represented Prince Zhenbei in visiting old friends from the past, and the city was quite lively.
While Shang Hongye paid her visits, the various princes also began taking action.
Emperor Yuanchu had ordered Shang Hongye to choose a husband from among the imperial clansmen before the year ended.
Though this verbal decree had not been written into an imperial edict—
Everyone of even modest standing in Yujing City had learned of it.
Whether in beauty, family background, or ability, Shang Hongye was among the finest choices. Naturally, she drew the pursuit of many princes.
"Miss, the congratulatory gifts sent by the various princes have all been inventoried."
Huo Yunting spoke as he handed Shang Hongye a gift list.
Shang Hongye looked over the densely packed gifts on the list, shook her head, and paid no attention to any of them.
Until...
She saw that among the gifts sent by the Second Prince was a military treatise.
Most importantly, she had never read this military treatise before.
"Third Uncle, keep this copy of Master Qian's Art of War. Return all the other gifts."
"Understood, Miss."
Shang Hongye picked up Master Qian's Art of War and began reading.
The title alone showed that this military treatise had been written during the era of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
During the era of the Hundred Schools of Thought, great figures of the Military School often titled their military treatises in the form of "Master So-and-So's Art of War."
She gave an order to the guards.
"I am entering seclusion. Without my command, no one is to enter."
With that, Shang Hongye entered the cultivation chamber. After activating its formation and sealing off the inside from the outside—
She took out a black battle flag, its flagpole marked with several cracks.
"Granny, I have found another new military treatise."
As Shang Hongye's soft call fell, spiritual light rippled across the black battle flag.
The phantom of an old woman emerged.
"Hongye, you have worked hard."
"You have gathered so many military treatises just to heal my injuries."
"Granny, if you had not saved me at Wind and Snow Pass, you would not have suffered such grievous injuries."
"In the end, I was still too careless and rash."
Shang Hongye's heroic brows knitted tightly.
Outsiders did not know the true details of the battle at Wind and Snow Pass, but she knew them well.
She had been careless and rash, falling into a northern barbarian trap.
In the end, Granny Tao had acted and turned the tide, reversing the course of the battle.
But the price had been immense.
Granny Tao suffered grievous injuries and had nearly been unable even to maintain her spiritual form.
What made matters worse was that Granny Tao's original body had been a great expert of the Military School in ancient times. After her death, she sealed herself within the Military Immortal Banner, remaining in the world in the form of an Artifact Spirit.
Granny Tao's current state was exceedingly mysterious, somewhere between a ghostly soul and a treasure's Artifact Spirit.
Ordinary methods of healing were utterly useless to Granny Tao.
The only thing that worked was the literary qi within military treatises.
Therefore, during this time, Shang Hongye had been collecting military treatises.
She was originally Prince Zhenbei's daughter. It was perfectly normal for her to collect military treatises, and it had not aroused any outsiders' suspicions at all.
Granny Tao glanced at the military treatise and spoke blandly.
"Master Qian's Art of War... so it was this military treatise."
"Though it isn't the original copy, the person who transcribed this military treatise was no ordinary person."
"His attainments in the Military School were at least at the Tenth Realm."
"Granny Tao, with this military treatise, your injuries can..."
"At most, they can recover by twenty to thirty percent."
Shang Hongye sighed.
She watched Granny Tao's spirit body float above the military treatise.
Threads of white qi from within the military treatise were drawn in by Granny Tao's breathing.
Her spirit body, once pale as paper, became slightly more solid as well.
The Second Prince's residence.
"Shang Hongye returned all the other gifts."
"Only the military treatise I sent was kept by her?"
Upon hearing this news, the Second Prince's face glowed red as he paced back and forth in excitement.
She had only kept his military treatise.
Was Shang Hongye hinting at something to this prince?
At the thought of winning the beauty's hand and gaining the support of the Northern Border's million elite troops,
the Second Prince's lips curved upward slightly, utterly impossible to suppress.
A chestful of lofty ambition surged forth unbidden.
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations!"
"Winning the beauty's hand is right before your eyes."
"With Prince Zhenbei's support, how could the Crown Prince contend with you, Your Highness?"
"Well said!"
"Right, have that Northern Border merchant come see me."
The Second Prince gave the order.
Originally, the Second Prince had never intended to send Shang Hongye a military treatise as a gift.
But two days earlier, a Northern Border merchant surnamed Feng had come calling.
While currying favor with him, the man had mentioned that Shang Hongye adored military treatises.
If he gifted her a military treatise, he would surely win Shang Hongye's favor.
The Second Prince had merely decided to try it, never expecting it to actually work.
Before long, the merchant surnamed Feng arrived at the study.
The moment he saw the Second Prince's glowing face, he knew the great deed had succeeded.
He smiled knowingly and clasped his hands in salute.
"Congratulations, Your Highness. Marrying Princess Anyang is just around the corner."
"Hahaha, that is all thanks to your guidance."
"What was it you said you wanted last time..."
"Your Highness, the Northern Border is bitterly cold, and food is scarce."
"I beg Your Highness to show great mercy and grant Sacred Emperor Rice to us people of the Northern Border."
The merchant surnamed Feng bowed to the Second Prince.
His manner was humble to the utmost degree.
"Sacred Emperor Rice? A trifling matter."
"But you do have sharp eyes."
"Sacred Emperor Rice seeds are limited at present. For everyone to have Sacred Emperor Rice seeds, it will take at least three to five years."
"Getting Sacred Emperor Rice from this prince means you've struck it rich."
The Second Prince spoke indifferently. The more he looked at this merchant surnamed Feng, the more pleasing he found him.
He had vision and connections.
Not bad, not bad—he could take him in as a dog!
The merchant surnamed Feng wore a fawning smile as he groveled.
"That is only because this lowly one has basked in the Second Prince's radiance."
"Otherwise, who knows whether it would be the year of the monkey or the month of the horse before I could plant Sacred Emperor Rice."
"Steward, take him to the warehouse and fetch ten jin of Sacred Emperor Rice."
"Understood, Your Highness."
The merchant surnamed Feng followed the steward toward the storehouse.
Along the way, he slipped the steward a ten-thousand-tael banknote and said covertly,
"Lord Steward, these Sacred Emperor Rice seeds are not easy to preserve."
"Could you give me a few jin of the spoiled seeds?"
Hearing the merchant surnamed Feng's words, the steward rolled his eyes.
There was no merchant without cunning.
What spoiled seeds?
He made it sound nice, but he simply wanted to use him to pull strings above and below and get more Sacred Emperor Rice.
The steward accepted the banknote and snorted coldly.
"Hmph—"
"Give up on that thought."
"The Sacred Emperor Rice allotted to the Second Prince amounts to only fifty jin."
"It is precious beyond measure. How could there possibly be any spoiled seeds?"
Seeing the steward take the banknote without doing the job, the merchant surnamed Feng's expression stiffened, and he cursed inwardly.
Truly shameless.
Though the process had involved some unpleasant friction,
the merchant surnamed Feng still obtained the Sacred Emperor Rice he had longed for.
He then thanked the Second Prince profusely before finally leaving the prince's residence.
After leaving the residence, the Sacred Emperor Rice seeds in his hands passed through several intermediaries before ultimately falling into the hands of an ethereal young woman.
The ethereal young woman, her fingers slender as scallion roots, held the Sacred Emperor Rice seeds between them, a smile playing on her lips.
"So these are the Sacred Emperor Rice seeds?"
"They can yield a thousand jin per mu?"
"They don't look any different from ordinary rice."
"Someone, send one jin of seeds to each of the other five branches. Tell them to plant them as soon as possible."
"Understood, Saintess!"
Before you continue