Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 306 looks so familiar
As life improved day by day, and the number of female officials in the court gradually increased, the grasslands unexpectedly came up with this idea of ​​national subjugation and extinction. It was truly unimaginable. However, now that it had been discovered, Chunyu Shuang naturally couldn't just stand by and watch.

“Since Sachi is being so secretive, refusing to even tell his own delegation the truth, we should at least lend him a hand. Such a good plan should be announced to the whole world, shouldn’t it? Not only our people, but also the herders on the grasslands who are suffering from the plague should know who is responsible for their current misery. I don’t believe Sachi can control things so well; no one on the grasslands will escape smallpox.”

"This matter still needs His Majesty's approval," Wei Yuan reminded him.

"Of course, did you think I would act on my own?"

Chunyu Shuang glanced at the other person strangely. Did Wei Yuan think she was someone who acted impulsively and without reason?

Faced with this, Wei Yuan could only cautiously avert his gaze. Well, it was all because Chunyu Shuang's reputation had been growing increasingly prominent lately—a cruel official, someone who deceived his superiors and bullied his subordinates…

Although he knew these rumors might have been fabricated by Chunyu Shuang's political enemies, the more such a reputation spread, the more it would leave an impression. Wei Yuan was simply offering a well-intentioned reminder. After all, not everyone was as trusted by His Majesty as Jiu Que.

After Chunyu Shuang informed His Majesty of this matter and spread it throughout the world, Emperor Jingtai's appointment was made.

Ying Jiuque was promoted again in a short period of time, becoming a first-rank official in charge of the three prefectures of Beihua, Beian, and Beiyuan, and assisting General Yuchi in commanding the Northern Frontier Army! He was also tasked with escorting one million shi of grain to the northern border to alleviate the urgent crisis.

Not only that, her title has changed again, and she is now the Duke of Zhen'an.

Given her early and fortunate rise to power, there were bound to be whispers and rumors in the court, though people were probably used to it and didn't say anything openly. If Ying Jiuque were to achieve further merit in the Northern Frontier, how would His Majesty reward her? Would their Great Jing Dynasty be about to produce a king of a different surname?
Emperor Jingtai offered no explanation for these speculations, but instead held a grand departure ceremony, sending the Nine Palaces out of the city in great style.

As he was leaving, in full view of everyone, Emperor Jingtai held Jiuque's hand, showing great reluctance.

"Speaking of which, now that you've been bestowed the title of princess, you should call me Father. It's a pity that none of your brothers amounted to anything, and they all died young. Only the fourth prince remains, and his health is poor. He was frightened by smallpox in the city a while ago and is now bedridden. I'm old now, and I no longer have the heroic spirit of riding across the frontier. I can only entrust these national affairs to you. Jiuque, remember to take care of yourself on this expedition and don't get hurt. I'm handing the frontier over to you!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will never fail Your Majesty's trust, even at the cost of my life."

Jiu Que solemnly promised, disregarding the strange expressions of the civil and military officials around her. Who cared what they thought? Her first priority was to defeat the grasslands! Besides, with Emperor Jingtai in command at the rear, she felt secure fighting on the front lines. The only problem was that she had never experienced real warfare before; everything was just theoretical, and she didn't know if it would actually work. Fortunately, she had her Uncle Chunyu and Aunt Lin with her. This time, she would probably be acting as a grain transport officer, just like before, and also supervise the soldiers' vaccination against smallpox.

Not only did she think this way, but almost everyone in the court thought so. Even some of Emperor Jingtai's old ministers couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Wasn't this just sending Ying Jiuque abroad to gain experience? His Majesty's actions were like promoting his own juniors; why didn't he promote their own good-for-nothing sons and daughters? Of course, they only thought this to themselves. With the war situation in the northern frontier uncertain, who would dare send their precious children there?
Thinking about it that way, it doesn't seem so enviable anymore. Just as Jiu Que was saying goodbye to His Majesty, he felt a piercing gaze following him. Taking a moment to turn around, he found Lin Wei hiding in the crowd.

Oh, it's that cheapskate father. To be honest, if I hadn't suddenly seen him today, Jiu Que really wouldn't remember what he looked like. But didn't this guy cut ties with me a long time ago? Now he's standing in the crowd putting on this sad, reluctant look, who's he trying to impress? He shouldn't even pretend to be natural.

And standing next to him, it seemed to be her little sister, Shu Mei. The one who deliberately made her get her sleeves wet at the Emperor's birthday banquet, what was her name again? She really couldn't remember. Oh well, they're all unimportant people anyway.

His gaze swept casually over them, then he looked away nonchalantly, as if he didn't care at all and had never taken them seriously.

Lin Wei, who had already put on a sorrowful and reluctant expression, and Lin Shuran, who was as delicate and frail as a willow in the wind, both froze, unsure of their own feelings at that moment.

They had assumed that with so many eyes watching, Ying Jiuque would at least pretend to be amicable. But it turned out that Ying Jiuque wasn't even bothering to pretend; the way he looked at them clearly showed he had almost forgotten about them.

Especially Lin Shuran, it hasn't even been a year, right? Back then, Ying Jiuque, who had just returned to the Lin family from the estate and was completely ignored, even though she was forced to go to the palace with her mother because of her status as the eldest daughter, had long since escaped the infighting within the household, broken free from the dark backyard, and jumped into a wider world. She can now lead troops into battle, and the safety of the entire country rests on her shoulders.

Of course, that might be too absolute. But with so many eyes watching so eagerly, Ying Jiuque looks every bit like a savior. Just like that valiant female general who rescued the country from its predicament.

They vaguely recalled the smallpox vaccination method that had been implemented in the capital a few days ago, supposedly capable of curing one of the most difficult epidemics in human history—smallpox. While the crowd remained skeptical, they also learned who had developed this method. Wasn't it Lord Ying and Xie Mingchen who had researched it together?
At that time, Lin Wei and his family even considered not getting vaccinated against smallpox. But Lin Wei was, after all, an official of the imperial court, and the doctors sent to administer the vaccinations were watching him closely, so he dared not refuse. His wife and children were also vaccinated.

They were initially filled with fear, worried that Ying Jiuque would kill them. But who would have thought that the smallpox epidemic, which had just begun to emerge, would disappear so suddenly! The most severe cases were only a few days of continuous fever and body aches.

Many people in the capital secretly built shrines in their homes to honor Ying Jiuque and Xie Mingchen. Lin Wei had never received such recognition from the people in his entire life. At this moment, looking at that spirited and dashing figure under the sunlight, he was stunned for a moment.

That back view looks so familiar...

(End of this chapter)