The Empress Kneels in Her Palace to Admit Her Mistakes After Slaying Her Ways in the Female-Oriented

"Zhang Shi, how arrogant!"

"How dare you speak to me, the Commander-in-Chief, in such a tone!"

"Has he forgotten that his position as deputy commander was appointed by me, the very commander? He's only been here a few days, and he already thinks he can defy the heavens?"

Enraged, the guards trembled with fear.

Only Ruan Fei approached with a smile: "Oh, Brother Meng Yan, don't talk about General Zhang Shi like that!"

"That's just his temperament!"

"If he didn't have this kind of temper, how could Ren Tianye have made things difficult for him?"

"Besides, everything he's done is for our own good. At worst... I'll just send more people to be on guard!"

As she spoke, Ruan Fei's face lit up with joy. "Brother Meng Yan, I have secretly formed a reconnaissance team to monitor any unusual activity within the camp. If General Zhang Shi really goes astray, I will report it to you!"

"What do you think?"

If anyone else had said such things to Zhou Mengyan, he would have ignored them completely. But when Ruan Fei said them, Zhou Mengyan actually listened to them.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "What you say makes sense."

"Zhang Shi, who swept across the northern frontier and annihilated the enemy, is definitely a great talent. Great talents have always been untamed and have their own tempers."

"He has always been quite assertive!"

Even as he said it, Zhou Mengyan had already figured it out in his heart.

The anger on his face slowly faded, replaced by a calmer expression.

"Brother Mengyan, I knew you were the most magnanimous..." Ruan Fei nestled into Zhou Mengyan's arms like a little bird, and said, "See, you understood General Zhang Shi right away."

Zhou Mengyan enjoyed the intimacy that Ruan Fei brought, but still shook his head and said, "Even so, I'm not entirely at ease with Zhang Shi."

"Who is this Zhou Buzhang?"

"He was someone who opposed me before, and now the people he trained, can they say a good word about me?"

"I don't want to end up training a group of people who don't follow my orders."

Ruan Fei said coquettishly, "Oh dear, Brother Meng Yan, you're really overthinking things."

Even if Zhou Buzhang is dissatisfied with you, General Zhang Shi is watching over him. With General Zhang Shi around, how can Zhou Buzhang cause any trouble?

"Besides..."

"Didn't Xiaofei already say that?"

"Xiao Fei has already set up a secret reconnaissance team in the military, which will monitor every move in the military and act as your eyes, Brother Meng Yan."

"If anything happens, Xiaofei will definitely report to you immediately. Then, Brother Mengyan, you can deal with it then!"

"What do you think, Brother Meng Yan?"

The worry on Zhou Mengyan's face then disappeared.

Yes, and Xiao Fei too!

Back then, it was because his wife was there that he was free from many worries. Now that his wife has left, Xiao Fei is still here, and Xiao Fei can help him with a lot of things!

And Xiao Fei makes him feel much better than his wife.

His wife would point her finger at him and scold him, but Xiao Fei would never. She always went along with him and obeyed his orders.

Zhou Mengyan's expression completely improved, and he even showed a hint of joy, saying, "In that case, it was my fault just now."

"Therefore, I will find an opportunity to host a banquet for General Zhang Shi and apologize to him."

Ruan Fei wrapped her arms around Zhou Mengyan's neck: "Brother Mengyan, I knew it. You are the best at recognizing and appointing people."

"Xiaofei is so happy with you."

"Really?" Zhou Mengyan smiled. "Which 'fortune'?"

Ruan Fei playfully scolded, "Brother Meng Yan, you're so annoying!"

"Hahaha, the lady is gone, the constraints are lifted, I can fly freely like a bird in the sky. Little Fei, do you think you can escape the grasp of this governor?"

……

While the two were enjoying their honeymoon, Zhang Shi had already brought Zhou Buzhang to the military camp. He refused to sit down in the main seat, but did not invite Zhou Buzhang to sit down either. He just looked at Zhou Buzhang like that.

His gaze held scrutiny, but also an undeniable air of authority!

Just as Zhou Buzhang was feeling uneasy, Zhang Shi suddenly smiled and said, "General Zhou Buzhang, did your wife say anything to you when you came?"

Zhou Buzhang quickly replied, "My wife said that we should be loyal to General Zhang Shi."

Zhang Shi smiled again: "Oh, General Zhou Buzhang, as soldiers, we all speak directly. Why are you beating around the bush?"

"Regardless, I was the one who rescued you from the crowd just now, and you're spouting nonsense to me?"

Zhou Buzhang was immediately covered in sweat.

It's not fear or panic, it's a guilty conscience and a lack of approval for one's own actions.

Just as he was about to say something more, Zhang Shi suddenly took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, stood up and handed them to Zhou Buzhang, saying, "I told your wife that as long as you come to serve me, I will give you 100,000 taels of silver first, so that your Zhou family can get through the current predicament."

"Here, this money is what I promised."

"Take it; let's get through this crisis first."

Zhou Buzhang stood there, stunned.

He was actually very grateful to Zhang Shi for rescuing him from the crowd.

Zhang Shi is right. As a soldier, there's no need to be so hesitant about many things. Just say what you mean and do what you think.

His feelings have always been like this.

Repay kindness.

Zhou Buzhang had already developed a strong liking for Zhang Shi, but now that Zhang Shi had immediately offered him 100,000 taels of silver, a flame was ignited within him.

A raging fire!

Flames soared!

"General Zhang, General Zhang Shi..."

"Take it!" Zhang Shi waved his hand generously and said, "There's nothing happening in the camp today. Take this money home and use it to solve your immediate problem. The rest..."

"Come see me again tomorrow!"

"As for the guards at the gate, don't worry about them. I'll arrange for someone to pick you up tomorrow. No one dares to disrespect me, Zhang Shi, in the military camp!"

Zhou Buzhang held the silver notes excitedly, his eyes already brimming with tears. However, he simply knelt down, kowtowed heavily, then stood up and strode out.

However, just as Zhou Buzhang reached the door, Zhang Shi suddenly called out.

"Bu Zhang, there's something I need to tell you."

"Take this money back to help you out of your predicament, but you need to think it through carefully..."

"How long will this money last you?"

Zhou Buzhang suddenly stopped in his tracks!

How long will it last?

One hundred thousand taels of silver is no small sum!

For a normal family, he could never spend all of it in a lifetime. He was once a top soldier, so his expenses would be much higher, but under normal circumstances, even if he spent ten or twenty years, he still wouldn't be able to spend it all.

but……

His situation is different now.

Let alone 100,000 taels of silver, even 200,000 taels, 500,000 taels, or 1 million taels... so what?

As soon as he returned to that home and handed the money over to Madam Shen Zhian, Shen Zhian would immediately throw it into those bottomless pits that he could never see the bottom of!

One hundred thousand taels...

It was gone in the blink of an eye!

Zhou Buzhang's veins were bulging all over his body, and he couldn't help but start panting heavily.

There are some situations he is aware of.

They just pretended not to know.

On one hand, it's because he feels responsible for Shen Zhian and the child; on the other hand... he's naturally averse to these things, and he's willing to let go based on trust.

But now, all that sacrifice has brought is emptiness!

Before, he was dazed and lacked courage, but now... after seeing Zhang Shi and arriving at the military camp, his heart, which had been dormant for so long, began to pound again!

"General Zhang Shi..."

Perhaps influenced by Zhang Shi, Zhou Buzhang made a decision in his heart in an instant.

He collapsed to his knees with a thud, crying out in anguish, "General Zhang Shi, save me!"

Zhang Shi, who was always polite to people deeply entangled in bewitching demons, should have immediately helped Zhou Buzhang up and comforted him, according to normal procedure.

This time, however, Zhang Shi simply asked a question.

"Is it to save you?"

"Or, should I save your family?"

Boom!

It sounded like thunder exploding overhead.

Zhou Buzhang swayed as he stood up.

Save him?

Or...should we save his family?

General Zhang Shi had already seen it all clearly!

Can……

Can his family be saved?

Will General Zhang Shi really save them?

Zhou Buzhang's mind was in turmoil, with countless images flashing through his mind, but his resolve grew stronger and stronger.

He suddenly knelt down and cried out, "General Zhang Shi..."

"Help me!"

Zhang Shi finally burst into laughter: "Good, good, good! You haven't let me down after all. You understand that saving you saved your family. As for those in your family who shouldn't have been saved, let them go!"

"Yes, General Zhang Shi!"

"However..." Zhang Shi changed the subject, saying, "If you want me to save you, you have to do something for me."

Zhou Buzhang shouted, "General Zhang Shi, whatever your command, I will obey!"

"Really?" Zhang Shi laughed. "What if it meant risking your life?"

Zhou Buzhang replied without hesitation, "Even if it means climbing mountains of knives or plunging into seas of fire, I, Zhou Buzhang, will not flinch."

Zhang Shi laughed again. After all, this was within his expectations. He had seen too many people with love-struck minds and found that as long as they were rescued from their suffering, they would even give up their lives.

He helped Zhou Buzhang up and said, "The matter I entrusted to you is simple in some ways, and difficult in others..."

"The simple thing is that you have to help me train naval generals and recruit soldiers... In any case, you used to have prestige. As long as you show it, I estimate that there will be quite a few people who will believe in you."

"Yes!" Zhou Buzhang agreed, "General Zhang Shi, I can guarantee that too. As long as I regain command of the navy, I will definitely win back the soldiers' respect!"

"Alright!" Zhang Shidao said, "Then let's talk about the difficult ones."

"The difficulty lies in the fact that I, the general, not only require you to train people, but also to select the best among them..."

He paused, then emphasized, "To select the best talent for the Duke!"

Boom!

Another thunderclap sounded above Zhou Buzhang's head.

Choosing the right person for the Duke?

Doesn't that mean...?

General Zhang Shi is an undercover agent sent by the Duke.

No way, an undercover agent became the deputy commander of the Yangtze River defense army?

Zhou Mengyan... how come he's still as brainless as ever?

"Didn't you understand?"

"Your subordinate understands!" Zhou Buzhang quickly replied, "Your subordinate will certainly recruit talents for General Zhang Shi and the Duke... but..."

Zhou Buzhang hesitated for a moment, then stopped talking.

Zhang Shi saw what Zhou Buzhang wanted to say in Zhou Buzhang's eyes.

It's simply saying, how can you trust him so much on the very first day you've met?

There's no other reason than that Zhou Buzhang was being targeted by Zhou Mengyan!

Even if Zhou Buzhang really wants to file a complaint, Zhou Mengyan has to believe him!

"Alright, since that's the case, go and take care of your own family matters. We'll be busy for a while!"

"This military camp used to be under the control of the Madam, but now it is under the control of Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan. However, this general also has his own ambitions."

"My goal is to be the one who calls the shots from now on!"

"This general will make sure Zhou Mengyan can't stop me!"

"Just like how he couldn't stop his wife back then!"

Zhou Buzhang respectfully replied again, "Yes, General Zhang Shi!"

……

With the addition of Zhou Buzhang, Zhang Shi's expanding power is flourishing, and at the same time, Gu Qingyue's all-female army is also thriving!

"Sister Wanqin..."

Gu Qingyue, dressed in a white gown and with exquisite makeup, had one hand behind her back, exuding an air of magnanimity and command.

He said to Ning Wanqin, who had come to join him, "This is the empire I have built for you!"

Ning Wanqin looked in the direction Gu Qingyue was pointing and saw a dense military camp stretching as far as the eye could see, quite imposing.

A surge of excitement welled up inside me.

This……

It's her career!

Although she had encountered many hardships during this period, losing Lu Chaosheng first and then Shen Moyan, which made her extremely depressed, all her unhappiness vanished when she saw this all-female army!

With this army of women, Ning Wanqin should also follow General Zhang Shi's example and make a name for herself!

"Sister Wanqin..." Gu Qingyue smiled, "You deserve some credit for this. When I sent people to recruit troops at the Jiangbei Fortress Complex, how could it have gone so smoothly without your help?"

Now that you're here, come with me to see what this army is like.

"Walk!"

Gu Qingyue rode ahead on horseback, with Ning Wanqin following beside her on horseback. Before long, they arrived at the all-female army camp.

Although Ning Wanqin didn't understand military affairs, she had seen some before with Lu Chaosheng. At first glance, she felt that this all-female army was quite impressive.

The guards were all burly women.

"These women all come from impoverished backgrounds. In Yunjing, women with their looks are basically unrelated to love and have a hard time living. So, when I set my conditions, it was easy to seduce them!"

"Once we've lured them here, they won't be leaving!"

Gu Qingyue explained.

Ning Wanqin nodded. Love is everywhere in Yunjing, but in the end, it is only enjoyed by people like them. Ordinary women are affected but it is all in vain. They cannot pass the test in terms of appearance and will eventually return to normal life and live a difficult life.

From this perspective, it's not surprising that they recruited him.

But this actually deviates somewhat from Ning Wanqin's wishes. After all, in her imagination, the entire female army should be heroic and beautiful, so as to satisfy her beautiful vision of a flower-filled garden!

These burly men are fine for odd jobs, but for real battles, they need to be beautiful female generals!

That way, the sheer force of the argument will scare the enemy away!

Gu Qingyue seemed to have guessed what Ning Wanqin was thinking, or rather... Gu Qingyue had the same idea, and said, "Sister Wanqin, there are 60,000 men in the army, and many of them are not from poor backgrounds. There are quite a few with dreams and determination. I have incorporated these outstanding-looking men into various levels of leadership and our suicide squads..."

"Wanqin, would you like to go take a look?"

Ning Wanqin's eyes lit up instantly.

My dream has come true!

……