Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 345 You'd better not have it!
But where is that child now? How can she guarantee that she can catch up with those grassland soldiers on the grassland without getting lost? Perhaps she has some ability that she doesn't even know about?
Although Lin Chongshan had always admired General Ying, she also knew that Jiu Que, having grown up in the capital, hadn't received proper education. She had indeed considered sending a few people there initially, but Lin Wei in the capital had repeatedly sent them back. After all, Lin Wei was Jiu Que's father; back then, they had faced countless life-or-death situations on the frontier, unsure of their own survival. Perhaps staying in the capital was a better option for the child, so Lin Chongshan didn't quarrel with Lin Wei.

By the time she realized the child wasn't being well cared for, it was too late.

So who taught her these novel weapons and combat methods? Or is Jiuque truly gifted?

Unable to find an answer after much thought, Lin Chongshan felt a deep sense of melancholy. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. When he looked up and saw the equally bewildered yet relieved expressions on the faces of his brothers and sisters in the tent, he could only console himself that this was, after all, a good thing.

However, they couldn't just wait idly, so they ordered the rested soldiers to assemble and sent several capable generals to the grasslands to meet them. This also implied a desire to venture deeper into the grasslands to support Jiu Que. Even if the girl failed to win, they needed to let those grassland people, who lived on the edge of a knife, know that Jiu Que wasn't alone, and that she had so many Northern Frontier troops standing behind her.

Everyone was overjoyed to receive the order. They were all eager to see the new weapon in Jiu Que's hands; to be honest, they had never seen it before.

Thousands of miles away in the capital, people were also chanting about Jiuque, but their voices carried a barely perceptible hint of resentment.

Lin House.

"Father, are you just going to stand by and watch Ying Jiuque rise to power, steadily crushing you? She's already arrogant enough; if she returns safely from the Northern Frontier, won't she trample us both?! I see no respect for you whatsoever. If she had any fatherly affection, she wouldn't have completely ignored the Lin family when she went to war. As a woman, instead of staying at home, being gentle and virtuous, and practicing needlework, she runs off to fight for fame and fortune among men. What good family can she find even if she returns? What good man would want a woman who came from the military? The military camp is full of men; an unmarried woman going in and out among men—who knows if she still has any chastity left! These past few days, I've been ridiculed so much that I can't even lift my head!"

Before even seeing the person, just hearing this long string of complaints was enough to show how much malice this person had towards Jiu Que.

As one of the parties involved, Lin Wei had a gloomy expression and a somewhat dazed look in his eyes.

He sat in the large mahogany chair in his study, facing the painting of a female general going to war hanging on the wall. The woman in the painting was tall and slender, with resolute features and a heroic and beautiful air.

This painting has been hanging in the study for nearly twenty years. Over the years, the painting has turned slightly yellow. Although the owner has taken great care to preserve it, the traces of time on the painting cannot be removed.

Seeing that Lin Wei remained unmoved, the person who had just spoken was very dissatisfied.

"Father, didn't you hear what I just said?!"

"Huh? What?"

“I said, I can’t even show my face in public now. People everywhere are mocking our Lin family because it’s run by women. They’re all laughing at you, Father, saying you only got into the family because of…”

"Alright, I know what you're going to say."

Lin Wei gave his child a cold look. "Go back first. This matter has nothing to do with you. If your sister is capable and has a smooth career, it will only benefit you, not harm you."

"But she can't even see me! I think she's forgotten my name, or even knows I exist! She's willing to raise disabled orphans, but she won't even glance at me. Am I some kind of lowly person? If I had to grovel before her, I'd rather not have this sister at all!"

"Then what are you doing spouting all this nonsense? Get out!"

The man was startled by Lin Wei's unusually stern attitude and could only reluctantly walk out of the study. When he turned around, he found his father still staring blankly at the portrait of the woman who had been dead for more than ten years, and he felt even more indignant.

Still looking! Still looking! You've been looking at it for over a decade, are you trying to stare a hole through it?! The person's been dead for so many years, what's the point of pretending to be sentimental now?

My mood was already bad, and seeing a figure rushing past as I went out only made things worse. I rushed out in a few strides, grabbed the fleeing figure, and spoke to it without any politeness.

"Second Sister, why are you running away?! No, you were eavesdropping on my conversation with Father. If he finds out, you'll be in big trouble!"

"I... I didn't mean to. I just wanted to bring my father some pastries I made myself. I didn't hear what you were saying, and I left after I noticed you talking..."

"Second sister, don't think that just because that vile woman Ying Jiuque became an official, you can follow suit. Women are born to marry and have children. Ying Chongming was so powerful back then, but didn't she still have to marry Father and bear him children? After she died on the battlefield, didn't her only daughter still suffer repeatedly on the farm?"

"What are you saying? I'm your sister, would I do anything to harm you?"

"Lin Shuran, you'd better not have one!"

Lin Moran stared coldly at Lin Shuran's pale and beautiful face, her tone warning.

"Ever since Ying Jiuque insisted on showing his face in public as an official and general, the women in the capital have become increasingly restless. Second sister, you weren't like this before. You used to make me many sachets, handkerchiefs, and towels. Although your embroidery wasn't the best, it still took you a lot of time. But now, I haven't seen you make anything for me in a long time. I heard from the servants that you've been reading lately? I wonder what you've been reading, so engrossed that you've even neglected your own brother?"

"I……"

Lin Shuran was speechless for a moment. Her wrist, gripped by her younger brother, throbbed with pain. She knew Mo Ran would never be so unreasonable; he was merely a little arrogant. Why was he acting so fiercely now? She had simply been reading more books. Hadn't her teacher said that reading made one wise? Why couldn't she read? Was she, as a woman, destined to stay in the inner quarters, embroidering and doing needlework for her father, brothers, future husband, and children?

Lin Shuran was pale and frail, like a willow branch in the wind, as if she might break at the slightest breeze. How could a woman as weak and helpless as her possibly step out of her home to compete for power and profit with a man?