Chapter 42: Just a Woman?
Huojin was not happy the Emperor let go of that lying person this easily and he is not caring that the Imperial Study forbids women to enter. Even the women from the harem aren’t allowed here much less some outsider. Also why does he have this uneasy feeling about this person,
"You!", he pointed at Xing, " You are being too Shameless! Not only did you mislead everyone dressing as a man, you have tainted this Imperial Study by coming here and sitting as equals to us even though you are just a woman! ", he barked.
With this everyone’s smile got turned to shock. Rijun, who always tries to avoid conflicts lost his cool, "Huojin, you really crossed the line", he said with his fists clenched. Xing got really mad, she can take disrespect if she was wrong but not for being a woman! The emperor too was not pleased and he looked at Shengli who was enraged.
Shengli fisted his hands and was about to punch when Xing didn’t turn and placed her left hand on his chest as to stop him and banged the table with her right hand and the tableware made a jingle,
" Really now, General Zhong? I’m just a woman? ", she sneered, " Where were you, a man when your emperor whom you swore to protect was in danger? Back there in the mountains and also yesterday, where were you?", she pointed at him.
Xing realised that Shengli got mad and was about to do something he might regret later, so she took action. No matter what, he was a fallen Prince and him losing his cool here will not fare well. Also this Huojin was too much.. Wasn’t the Emperor the one who summoned her here in the first place? She decided to not let this go...
Xing saw Huojin feeling bad and about to open his mouth, but she waved her hand and smirked, " That day and yesterday too, how come your enemies know this place better than you, huh? You said those assassins from yesterday killed themselves after being caught right? How come a criminal overlord has subordinates more loyal that they choose death to confessing while the Imperial Guards are just knocked over? Whose fault is that? How does that title General suit you if you can’t lead? You... how could you not realise me as a woman the moment you saw me? How long will you be surviving under your father’s reputation? That oldman was called the great General and he recognised me the moment he saw me. I bet he knew details upto my birth time within a day. Now he is someone worthy to be called a General, and that’s the one who will command the respect and adoration of their subordinates. I watched him fight in that war at the southern borders back then. The Great General won that war one against seven. Do you think he’d have won if he didn’t have trusted subordinates? You think he could have bravely fought the enemies in front of him if he worried about the traitors behind him? One need not fear the wild wind and strong currents, if they row in unison", she sighed and her voice got a bit softer,
"You know what those old people think right? They just want to teach you to fly so they left everything to you but you made such a mess yesterday. You know what went wrong yesterday? Rijun here went all alone doing everything himself and got the wine drugged. General Zhong thought everyone was loyal and got the imperial guards switched. Luckily the Emperor is not dumb and he realised the switch of the guards. If only you two had more trusted people you could delegate your work, then that disaster won’t have happened. What this place needs is a major cleanup. There must be people who really want to help common people in here. Find them and keep them close. Find those opportunistic persons who would serve anybody if they are properly rewarded and give them what they want and buy their loyalty if you have to. Can’t you see in what wretched position you are in? The Emperor is with no heir and enemies all around him! A Monarch solely dependent on the support of two families! I hope you dumb dumplings have realised why all this have to change. Also, have you realised the battles around the borders that had been going on for decades have been stopped for some years? Do you think peace have returned? Mark my words, war is coming, a big one. If I were you, General Huojin, I would be kneeling before the Great General to teach me war techniques and leading armies and preparing the troops for war and make value of precious time left and would stop criticising someone just for being a female", she stopped sensing them in utter shock.
Shengli was standing behind her with his arms folded and had no intention of stopping her. He always found it attractive when she stands up for what she believes like that without caring about anything else.
Xing already felt headaches from the smell of innocent blood in that room. It was too overwhelming for her and she looked at Huojin and remembered him saying she has tainted that place and her anger rose again, " General Zhong, Also you said, I’m tainting this place with my presence, right? How good are your eyes? This is the most disgusting and stinky place I have ever been and I’ve seen the worse scums. Everytime I help you but end up getting doubted by you. I should be a fool to help you people again now. Also you.. ", she pointed at the Emperor and he gaped in surprise,
" This place does not look like you at all. You are not that narcissistic to have five clawed dragons all over the place. Throw everything in here out and bring new things that you like. This is your place and only if you like the place you work in, your mind will work well. Also since your General said I am tainting your sacred place I won’t drag my tainted ass around here again, so you can have this back", she placed the tiger token on the table with a thud shocking everyone.
Xing turned and looked at Rijun, "We are having dinner together. There is a lot we’ll have to discuss ", she said and Shengli added himself too.