Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 2 The Women's Army, Conferred the Title of County Princess

The crowd below immediately felt a sense of relief, followed by a burst of jubilation. The war between the imperial court and the northern barbarians had been going on for quite some time, and frankly, everyone had become accustomed to receiving occasional reports of defeats. This sudden victory was truly a cause for great joy.

However, a few people couldn't help but glance at a certain adult, while the female guests cautiously looked at Ying Jiuque, who had just been secretly mocking him.

Although the Women's Army's formidable reputation has almost disappeared in the past thirteen years, anyone who is older knows that the leader of the Women's Army is none other than Ying Chongming, the female general who came from a family of generals in the previous dynasty and whose reputation could stop children from crying.

In other words, she is Ying Jiuque's biological mother!
Sensing the strange changes in those around him, Ying Jiuque listlessly flicked his sleeves, his gaze lingering between the steaming teapot and Lin Shuran. Should he just flip the table over?
If she's unhappy, then nobody should be happy either.

Everyone dies eventually, whether sooner or later. With her frail body, who knows when she might just snap and die? She might as well enjoy herself first!
Meanwhile, among the civil and military officials, one man's fingers trembled slightly, his eyes flashing, yet he once again displayed the dignified bearing of a model civil official. The envious and disdainful glances of his colleagues around him seemed to leave no trace on his mind.

It was at this moment that Emperor Jingtai finally remembered this matter, and his gaze was openly fixed on Lin Wei, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

"Minister Lin, I remember that the Northern Border Women's Army was established by your first wife, the Heroine General, who made great contributions in resisting the Northern Barbarians."

The Vice Minister of Rites stepped forward respectfully. His handsome appearance had not lost its charm with age; on the contrary, it had added an indescribable allure. At this moment, a trace of sadness lingered in his eyes, evoking a sense of sympathy in one's heart.

"Your Majesty, the Women's Army was indeed established by my wife before her death. However, I never expected that they could still achieve such a feat thirteen years after her passing. This is beyond my expectations. But in this prosperous age, I believe my wife would rest in peace if she knew this in the afterlife."

Speaking of that legendary female general, Emperor Jingtai sighed deeply. Back then, when her father and brothers were all killed in battle, that famous female general stepped forward and fought against the northern barbarians with all her might as a woman, almost single-handedly turning the tide of the war.

It was thanks to her holding the line in the north that Emperor Jingtai was able to seize the opportunity to overthrow the previous dynasty. Although the two sides were enemies, Emperor Jingtai held her in high regard. Little did he expect that thirteen years would pass in the blink of an eye, and that they would hardly ever see each other throughout their lives…

Emperor Jingtai's chief eunuch, Jiufu, cautiously observed the emperor's expression and couldn't help but reminisce a little.

"Even I, living deep within the palace, had heard of that heroine's name. It's just a pity that General Ying died on the battlefield to stop the northern barbarians; it was truly a tragic end..."

"yes……"

Women don't usually have to fight on the battlefield, but Ying Chongming could have enjoyed a life of luxury in the rear, yet she still went to the front lines without hesitation, even dying on the battlefield. She is truly a model for women. Speaking of which, there were many women as noble as Ying Chongming in the past, but nowadays they seem to be fewer and fewer. I wonder why?
"The entire Women's Army has been rewarded this time, and General Ying Chongming should be rewarded as well!"

Immediately afterward, Emperor Jingtai bestowed a posthumous title upon Ying Chongming. Perhaps recalling past events, Emperor Jingtai was somewhat overwhelmed with emotion. Not content with bestowing such a title upon Ying Chongming, he seemed to feel a sense of unease. Next, he should have bestowed a title upon Lin Wei, since husband and wife were considered one entity. However, bestowing titles upon civil officials differed from that of military generals, and there were specific rules governing this. Just as Emperor Jingtai hesitated, Jiufu timely offered his assistance.

"I've heard that General Ying has an only daughter, I think her name is... her name is..."

Too much time had passed for Jiufu to recall the other person's name. But this gave Emperor Jingtai a heads-up.

He immediately inquired about Lin Wei's daughter.

Lin Wei immediately looked over with delight at the female guests' seats.

So, while still debating whether or not to assassinate the world-renowned Ying Jiuque, he was 'dragged' out.

The moment Emperor Jingtai saw Ying Jiuque, his lips twitched for a moment, then he tried his best to soothe the seemingly frightened girl with a gentle expression. "You are General Ying Chongming's only daughter?"

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty at the Nine Palaces."

hiss--

A series of subtle gasps suddenly rose from the surroundings, and the gazes that were increasingly focused on Lin Wei almost suffocated him.

They exchanged a glance, and the unspoken meaning was smoothly conveyed.

Wait, why doesn't Minister Lin's daughter take her father's surname? Could it be that the rumor that Minister Lin married into the Ying family is true?
The gazes of those around him had no effect on Minister Lin; he simply looked at his daughter with delight, his expression one of utter affection. Ying Jiuque pursed her lips, met her father's gaze, and gave a nervous smile, appearing both flustered and overjoyed.

Only the aloof Emperor Jingtai twitched the corner of his mouth.

[That old codger is quite the actor. With this performance, who could tell I was only brought back from the estate three days ago? No wonder he's an official; his acting is superb.]

Emperor Jingtai coughed lightly, and for some reason, Minister Lin felt a chill run down his spine. However, the emperor's subsequent bestowal of titles filled him with overwhelming joy.

"...Feng Yingjiuque was appointed as the County Head of Ruian, with a fief of one thousand households."

Your Majesty directly addresses Ying Jiuque by her name; does this mean you acknowledge that this woman is the heir to General Ying's lineage?

"Your Majesty, I kowtow in gratitude!"

"...This humble woman kowtows to express her gratitude for Your Majesty's grace."

Why does it seem like this cheapskate father is even happier than I am?
“Jiu Que, I never thought that your mother’s kindness would still fall on you after so long. You must not let your mother’s reputation be disgraced. You should be even more diligent and frugal.”

Amid the congratulations of those around him, Minister Lin grabbed Ying Jiuque's hand and only then noticed that her arm was wet. He was heartbroken and hurriedly asked her several questions, but he didn't notice that Ying Jiuque's expression was becoming increasingly strange.

Emperor Jingtai's attention had been subtly drawn to Ying Jiuque from the very beginning, and now he felt the man seemed to be thinking something strange. Although he had just bestowed an official title upon him, Emperor Jingtai's suspicion and murderous intent towards Ying Jiuque had never waned. He was certain that no one else could hear Ying Jiuque's thoughts; while novel, such an extraordinary and unorthodox individual shouldn't exist in this world…

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard the girl's voice.

[Ugh! This old man has sweaty hands! So filthy!]

Emperor Jingtai: "..."

(End of this chapter)