Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 369 Entering the Palace
Everyone was indeed dissatisfied, but no one was foolish enough to show it in front of so many people. They just smiled and flattered Jiu Que, hiding their scheming thoughts behind their fake smiles.

Jiu Que looked up and saw that from the main gate of the capital, the entire main road was lined with people. They might be elderly people with white hair, young couples with their children, middle-aged people with weathered faces, or even bewildered children. But they were all smiling, as happy as if it were New Year's Day.

The Central Plains had suffered under the grasslands for too long, and they had only enjoyed a decade or so of peace. To have strangled the Central Plains' greatest enemy on the frontier was the best news for the entire Da Jing people. They had already prepared flower petal pouches, and even dried fruit. In the dead of winter, these things were rare; the petals were mostly woven from silk, and a few wealthier families had purchased flowers and petals cultivated in greenhouses at high prices. Now, seeing Ying Jiu Que standing at the head of the procession in the distance, the crowd erupted in cheers!
"It's Lady Ying! I see Lady Ying! It's been so long since I've seen her, and she's become even more dashing. Truly a heroine among women!"

"More than that! I don't think there's anyone as capable as her in the entire Great Jing Dynasty in the last ten years. And Lord Ying is not even nineteen years old this year. So young, yet so accomplished. She is truly an outstanding person! I wish my child could be as outstanding as Lord Ying!"

"Hey, why are you still calling him Lord Ying? He's already Prince Rui. From now on, we should address him as Prince Rui, you know? He's the first prince of a different surname in the history of our Great Jing Dynasty, he's very noble!"

"Of course I know he's Prince Rui now. I'm just happy. I used to call him Lord Ying. Prince Rui is truly an auspicious omen for our Great Jing! Look, since she appeared, we can not only afford salt, but our lives are getting better and better. Now we've even defeated the grasslands! You don't know, I have a distant relative on the frontier. He used to complain every time we corresponded. But when he wrote to me recently, he didn't complain at all. He said life there is getting better and better. Prince Rui has set up a chicken farm and a wool factory there, and he gets a lot of money every month. He doesn't need my help anymore. He even said he'd send me some local specialties. It's a really thick wool sweater. When the weather gets colder, I wonder how warm it will be to wear it under the sweater."

"Speaking of which, I've also heard about the products from northern Xinjiang. Putting aside everything else, the quality is really good."

"..."

As the conversation drifted off-topic, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to Ying Jiuque, who was riding a white horse with dashing bearing. Large petals rained down like a storm, leaving a layer of petal-strewn rain wherever Jiuque passed. Small fruits and dried fruits were also tossed in.

Jiu Que casually accepted a flower made of silk cloth. This flower also had a unique feature: a stamen made of pale yellow gauze, which made the flower exceptionally beautiful.

These flowers are so beautiful.

Jiu Que lowered her head and smiled at the flower in her hand. The cheering crowd on the street paused for a moment, and then burst into a deafening scream.

"Ahhh-"

"Prince Rui! Look here, look here!"

"Prince Rui is so handsome! She just caught my flowers! Did you see them? They were the flowers I threw down!" Amidst such cheers, Jiu Que struggled to cross the main road. Because of the crowd, what should have been a short walk took almost half an hour!

But the cheers of the surrounding people were so genuine that Jiu Que felt a sense of comfort. For so many years, the Central Plains had been harassed by the grasslands on the frontier, bringing not only suffering to the people on the frontier, but also causing constant worry to the people in other places. After all, if the northern frontier could not be stopped, those grassland barbarians would not care about the lives of the people of Da Jing.

But now that the mountain hanging over their heads has been removed, how could everyone not be happy and excited?
The smiles on the faces of the court officials following behind were slightly stiff upon seeing this scene. They were naturally happy that the Great Jing had won the war, but the sight of Ying Jiuque, a woman, receiving such adoration from the people filled them with resentment. The Great Jing's victory was not solely due to Ying Jiuque and the stubborn, unyielding Northern Frontier army; it also owed much to the efforts of the ministers who managed state affairs, transported supplies, and maintained domestic peace in the rear. Yet the people were so narrow-minded, only seeing this unconventional woman, Ying Jiuque—it was utterly unfair!

Forget it, what's the point of talking to these rural villagers? Even if I talked myself hoarse, they wouldn't believe me.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jiu Que caught sight of the barely suppressed disgust and resentment in the eyes of the ministers behind her. She was utterly speechless. In this world, the capable always prevail. If you were talented, you would have been promoted long ago. Why are you drooling over me now? It's not like she's blocking your path to advancement. Why are you giving me attitude at this time?

Forget it, it's not worth arguing with them. But His Majesty... he was in such a hurry to bring me back, yet he didn't appear in the crowd. This isn't typical of His Majesty. In the past, knowing his nemesis had been brought to the capital in a cage, he would have been the first to see Sachi's wretched state. But strangely, Emperor Jingtai didn't appear at all.

Something must have happened.

When they arrived at the palace gates but still couldn't see His Majesty, Jiu Que's heart grew heavier. Meanwhile, those ministers who secretly disliked Jiu Que, though outwardly composed, were inwardly sneer. No matter how many great achievements Jiu Que made outside, wouldn't he still return to the desolate palace gates, heartbroken and dejected?

His Majesty truly lives up to his title; at this crucial juncture, he gave Ying Jiuque a taste of her power, effectively curbing her arrogance. Look at her smug demeanor as she entered the city today—does she really think she's some kind of unparalleled general?

Jiu Que paid no heed to the sneers of those petty people; she was eager to see His Majesty as soon as possible, so she walked a little faster than usual. A moment later, Jiu Que finally saw the Golden Palace, which she was used to visiting.

I spotted Grandpa Jiufu waiting at the door right away.

Eunuch Jiufu's face was beaming with smiles, a genuine smile that was far more heartfelt than the polite smiles he usually wore when addressing other officials. As someone who had once fought against barbarians, Jiufu was truly happy to see Jiuque.

After all, this is the man who ended a century of chaos!