Chapter 1233 - 1143: Female Prime Minister 81
The Emperor has issued a Holy Decree, and Yin Shuangshuang felt at ease. She wasn’t worried that it wouldn’t be implemented, as General Feng at the border is not someone to be trifled with. Once the decree is out, General Feng will surely ensure that everyone is brought back.
General Feng is famously protective. He went to great lengths to arrange a good place for these people and used all the connections he could.
Yan Yi and the others received their deeds of sale from Yin Shuangshuang immediately. Holding these deeds in their hands, these stalwart men couldn’t help tearing up.
They never regretted killing those barbaric beasts to avenge the slaughtered common people and ending up in such a situation. However, they still felt wronged in their hearts.
Now, having finally regained their freedom, everyone was deeply moved and grateful to Yin Shuangshuang beyond words.
For such a great achievement, Yin Shuangshuang asked for nothing in return, only exchanging it for their freedom. Each of them was moved to tears with gratitude.
After securing their deeds, they all came before Yin Shuangshuang, knelt down and bowed, for no words could express their gratitude.
Yin Shuangshuang hurriedly helped them up: "You don’t need to do this. You are heroes who defended our country and should not have ended up like this.
It is because of your bloody battles at the borders that we enjoy peaceful days. What I do for you now is only what I should do.
Now that you have regained your freedom, and since General Feng has also been kind to you, if you wish to rejoin his ranks, I won’t stop you.
You don’t have to worry about my safety either. All threats around me have been eliminated, and with the Emperor’s favor, my future safety is assured. You can leave with peace of mind."
Yin Shuangshuang’s words were heartfelt and sincere. Initially, she indeed intended to buy guards when she took them in.
However, after spending time with Yan Yi and the others, who followed her wholeheartedly without ulterior motives, one inevitably developed feelings. She couldn’t bear to see their future wasted in servitude as mere household guards.
To Yin Shuangshuang’s surprise, Yan Yi and the others had no intention of leaving but expressed their desire to stay.
"Miss, we’ve long decided to follow you for life. You have great ambitions and will surely need us. Even if you wed in the future, we wish to follow as attendants."
Yin Shuangshuang’s lips twitched. She doesn’t plan to marry in this lifetime, and even if she does, what sort of bride has an entourage of men as attendants? Are they supposed to manage her husband and intimidate the in-laws?
Yin Shuangshuang sighed, thinking Yan Yi and the others stayed because of gratitude, and advised, "If you’re staying out of gratitude, it’s unnecessary.
Men should make their mark on the battlefield, and forsaking your future for gratitude would go against my initial intent in saving you."
"Miss, we’re not following you merely out of gratitude. Over time, we’ve seen your great ambitions.
Being useful to you doesn’t waste our time and allows us to contribute to the common people.
We genuinely wish to follow you, not just out of gratitude. Please don’t send us away."
"Right, everything the leader said speaks our hearts; we want to stay with you, miss. We don’t want to leave you."
"These days by your side, we’ve noted your kindness and willingly stay, even without the debt of gratitude."
"Miss, please keep us. Don’t send us away. We’ve resolved to follow you and don’t want to leave."
Seeing their firm resolve, Yin Shuangshuang felt touched and decided against letting them go.
From her heart, Yin Shuangshuang indeed was reluctant to let them leave.
In loyalty and character, these people are exceptional and have been nurtured by her for so long with great combat abilities.
Yan Yi’s leadership, and the intelligence-gathering prowess of Yan Qi, Yan Ba, and Yan Jiu, are immensely valuable to Yin Shuangshuang.
During their time in the Capital City, countless strategems relied on these three’s information-gathering skills. Saying that Yin Shuangshuang would willingly let such talents go is impossible.
The only reason she was willing to let them go was fear of hindering their future and leaving them with regrets.
Now that Yan Yi and the others have willingly chosen not to leave, Yin Shuangshuang was naturally pleased with their stay, confident that even without returning to the battlefield, she could secure their futures.
By restoring their freedom, their future relationship with Yin Shuangshuang was more of an employment one, but there was no need to rearrange their monthly salary since she initially paid them generously.
She never treated them like servants, always showing respect, which is the real reason why Yan Yi and the others were unwilling to leave.
Today was full of good news: Yan Yi and the others freed from a lifetime of bondage, and they decided to stay. Yin Shuangshuang prepared for a grand feast to celebrate Yan Yi and the others.
However, plans fell apart when the Emperor sent for Yin Shuangshuang. He was in a whimsical mood for a micro-visit and wanted Yin Shuangshuang to accompany him.
The Emperor summoned, and Yin Shuangshuang naturally couldn’t refuse. Given she was going with him, she left with only a few people.
The Emperor, being considerate of Yin Shuangshuang’s health, sent a warm sedan to pick her up. The sedan, carried by four, was spacious inside, with high-quality silver frost carbon, keeping it very warm.
Sitting inside, Yin Shuangshuang was quickly carried to the Emperor, who wore ordinary commoner’s clothes and was also in a warm sedan.
Beside him were Eunuch Gao, a few guards, and a familiar face: the ever-busy General An with his hands full.
Yin Shuangshuang hurriedly paid her respects to the Emperor and greeted General An. The Emperor, enthusiastic, said to Yin Shuangshuang, "Today, I plan to travel further for this micro-visit.
In the past, my micro-visits remained within the Capital City, only witnessing the lives of the residents here, and not the true lives of the common people nationwide.
Today, I won’t go to the bustling areas but to the remote villages to observe the real lives of my subjects and ensure they are indeed dwelling in comfort."