Chapter 30

Princess Fengyang, Yan Yushu, was the second princess under the late emperor. She was three years older than Yan Donghuang, but like Donghuang, she lost her mother at a young age.

In the palace, princes and princesses without mothers were mostly adopted by high-ranking concubines, but if these concubines had their own children, how could they genuinely care for children who were not their own?

Princess Yan Yushu was somewhat fortunate. She was adopted by the late empress, who treated her fairly well to maintain her reputation for kindness and generosity.

However, Yan Donghuang was not so lucky before the age of nine. She was raised by Consort Jin, who was strict and harsh. Consort Jin not only mistreated Yan Donghuang’s diet but also particularly disliked Yan Donghuang’s “rough” nature, believing that girls should be gentle, dignified, and delicate.

However, Yan Donghuang loved martial arts, which made Consort Jin even harsher towards her, thinking she was like an unruly child from the outside, always causing trouble with a stick and lacking the demeanor of a proper lady.

Despite Consort Jin’s strict discipline, Yan Donghuang secretly continued to learn martial arts. Whenever Consort Jin discovered this, she would either starve her or make her kneel as punishment, sometimes even beating her.

Consort Jin would not hit her face or any visible areas but would twist her arms or pinch the tender flesh of her thighs. When Yan Donghuang was five or six years old, she couldn’t resist, but by the age of eight or nine, she had grown taller and stronger due to her martial arts training. Whenever the beatings became too severe, she would resist, sometimes hiding outside for a day or two, enduring hunger and thirst on her own.

It was because of this that Yan Yushu discovered her situation. At the age of twelve, Yan Yushu felt sorry for her younger sister and would occasionally help her by leaving some of her own food for her. But she knew this was not a long-term solution. The late emperor, who grew up on horseback, had led military campaigns himself and valued princes skilled in martial arts.

One time, after returning from the battlefield and visiting Fengyi Palace, Yan Yushu deliberately created an opportunity for their father to “accidentally” see Yan Donghuang’s agility and martial arts talent. This changed Donghuang’s fate.

The late emperor, recognizing Yan Donghuang’s exceptional talent and interest in martial arts, personally taught her martial arts, tactics, and military strategy. He even took her to the battlefield at twelve, starting her six-year career as a legendary warrior.

During these six years, Yan Donghuang gradually gained attention. The concubines in the harem began to show her favor, especially Consort De, who treated her the best. Consort De’s second son, Yan Ming, regarded her as a sister. When she returned from the battlefield, Yan Ming welcomed her and brought Yan Yushu along.

Yan Yushu once said she had discovered Yan Donghuang’s dire situation thanks to Yan Ming’s hints.

So, Yan Ming was the one who truly saved her.

Yan Donghuang was grateful to both of them. Consort De’s affectionate attitude, often saying she treated Yan Donghuang as her own daughter, gradually warmed Yan Donghuang’s lonely and cold heart.

Yan Ming also proudly claimed to have a capable warrior sister. Perhaps the harsh treatment and abuse she suffered from Consort Jin in her childhood made her more receptive to the recognition and acceptance from Consort De and Yan Ming regarding her martial prowess and leadership.

However, many things happened during those six years. The late emperor’s injuries worsened, and his condition became increasingly severe. External enemies saw an opportunity and repeatedly increased their forces to invade. Yan Donghuang had to shuttle between the border and the capital. In the twenty-fifth year of the late emperor’s reign, when Yan Donghuang was fifteen, the emperor appointed the empress’s son as the crown prince, but everyone could see that the crown prince was weak and unfit for the role.

The struggle for the throne among the princes remained intense. There were undercurrents between the empress and the concubines, and the princes schemed against each other, with the court officials forming factions. The political situation was tense, almost on the brink of eruption.

In the twenty-sixth year of the late emperor’s reign, the crown prince was caught frolicking with a young concubine by the lake. The emperor was furious and deposed the crown prince and the empress on the spot. At that time, Yan Donghuang was sixteen and still on the battlefield, defending against invading enemies.

After the emperor’s outburst, he fell seriously ill, and the palace was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere. When she returned to the capital at the end of the year, she arrived just in time for the late emperor’s final moments, urgently needing to re-establish the crown prince or, more accurately, to select a suitable heir to the throne.

The late emperor called Yan Donghuang to his bedside and asked for her opinion. It was the first time Yan Donghuang truly realized that no matter how wise and powerful an emperor was, he would eventually fall. Birth, aging, illness, and death were inevitable for everyone.

After a brief contemplation, she said that her second brother had a broad mind, acted decisively, and had the qualities of a benevolent ruler.

The late emperor listened and sighed weakly: “Donghuang, human hearts are fickle. Remember, your responsibility is to the Yong dynasty. If something overturns your understanding one day, if family ties are not as pure as you imagined, or if someone threatens your life, remember, you are protecting this kingdom.”

Yan Donghuang didn’t fully understand his words. She simply nodded: “Father, rest assured, I will not forget my responsibility.”

The late emperor looked at her with complex emotions: “I have said more than once that women can also go to the battlefield. Donghuang, today I leave you with one more thing: women can protect and govern the kingdom. If that day ever comes, if that day ever comes…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but Donghuang seemed to understand.

She nodded again: “I understand, Father.”

The late emperor soon gathered the princes and ministers and publicly announced that the second prince, Yan Ming, would inherit the throne, and Yan Donghuang would be titled Princess Qingluan. The siblings jointly created a prosperous Yong dynasty.

The other princes would assist them. After the late emperor passed away, the new emperor ascended the throne.

After the emperor’s funeral, she quickly returned to the battlefield. She didn’t return to the capital until the end of last year.
…

As memories flooded back, Yan Donghuang suddenly realized the hidden meaning in her father’s words and the unspoken regret. She had often wondered if her father regretted that she was a girl.

As a king and a father, he might have seen through his sons long ago, knowing that Yan Donghuang had trusted the wrong person. But in his final moments, he couldn’t tell her directly because there was no convincing reason, so he had to respect her choice.

“Your Highness.” Feng Yaoguang, holding a long sword, reported from outside the window, “Princess Fengyang is here.”

Yan Donghuang turned to look outside. The sun had already set.

The day was almost over.

“I’ve never felt a day pass so slowly.” She spoke calmly, “It feels like I’ve done what usually takes half a month to accomplish.”

Feng Yaoguang said, “Your Highness acts swiftly and decisively, unlike ordinary people.”

Yan Donghuang smiled faintly: “Bring her in.”

“Yes.”