Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 498 Extra (2)

Little Jiuque hadn't even had a chance to grow up before she was already 'enslaved' by her own mother. However, just looking at her increasingly cheerful smile, it was clear she wasn't unwilling. Originally, with Ying Chongming's companionship, she could have grown up happily, but the situation worsened, the conflicts between the nation and the Northern Frontier increased, and eventually escalated into war!
The death toll continued to rise, and white mourning blanketed the entire nation. Until one day, every male member of the Ying family, from top to bottom, was wiped out in battle after battle. The endless stream of death notices extinguished any remaining naiveté in Ying Chongming.

Hearing the increasingly dire war situation coming from the frontier and the news of uprisings constantly emerging across the country, Ying Chongming grew more and more silent each day, and he went out to practice shooting more and more often in the middle of the night.

Jiu Que was powerless to do anything about it, but her unease grew stronger. Until one day, she saw Ying Chongming in military uniform, looking apologetic.

Jiu Que rushed forward like a madman, tearing at her armor.

"Ying Chongming! Are you crazy? Don't you know how dangerous it is for a woman to go to war?! This danger comes not only from the enemy on the battlefield, but also from the rear! If you lose, you'll be a sinner in everyone's eyes! If you win, you'll become their protector! They'll place all their hopes on you. Can you alone bear the hopes of the whole world? If you fail even once, they'll blame all their suffering on you! That's human nature! You're a grown man, don't you understand? Now is not the time for you to be brave. Take it off right now, take it off! You're not allowed to go!"

"...Nine Palaces".

Ying Chongming embraced the young child tightly. Her embrace was so warm, but when it reached Jiu Que through the layers of armor, only the coldness of metal remained. Jiu Que shivered from the chill, feeling excruciating pain all over his body.

However, no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free from his embrace. Even though she already knew the outcome, Jiu Que still wanted to struggle. But at this moment, Ying Chongming spoke up.

“I know you are an exceptionally intelligent child. I won’t even mention how many children like you, who haven’t even had a chance to grow up, are sent to the front lines to fight for them—that’s too high-sounding a reason. But Jiu Que, if I didn’t have the ability, I naturally wouldn’t go to the Northern Border. But you know me, Jiu Que. From childhood to adulthood, regardless of the harsh cold or scorching heat, I have never slacked off in my martial arts. The men of the Ying family are renowned throughout the world for their bravery and skill in battle. Of all the girls in the Ying family, only I have learned the Ying family’s ancestral martial arts and military strategies. I wasn’t forced by my elders; I wanted to learn them myself. Because I love it, I like it, I love it to the point of madness! I am not the kind of woman who can content to spend her life confined in the inner quarters. Such a woman is too noble; I cannot do it.”

"I dream of going to the battlefield, I want to go to the North, I want to run wild across the grasslands, I want to see the silver moon shining for thousands of miles, I want to personally reap the heads of the enemy, I want to be covered in blood... I want to die on the battlefield!"

Ying Chongming tightly embraced the young child in her arms; this was her only descendant. How could she allow this child to grow up amidst the pain of a nation's destruction and family ruin? Better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of chaos. In this world, if things truly descend into chaos, who cares what blood you have or what glory your ancestors possessed?
If we're really talking about it, it's nothing more than a lump of flesh and blood.

The capital city can temporarily protect the Ying family, but what about the future? The current emperor is not a wise and benevolent ruler; he is partly responsible for the nation's decline. Looking across the court, there isn't a single person of value on the battlefield. If she doesn't go to the front lines now, she will have no chance once the nation is truly destroyed.

"You're a smart child; you should understand my ambitions and know the dissatisfaction in my heart. Isn't that right?"

"..."

Jiu Que gradually stopped struggling. Listening to Ying Chongming's words, tears streamed down her face, adding a layer of moisture to her cold armor.

After a long while, she finally uttered two words in a sullen voice.

"Fool!"

"what?"

Ying Chongming didn't quite hear clearly, but Jiu Que wouldn't repeat it a second time.

"It's nothing. I mean, go if you want to. Everyone has things they want to do, and there's nothing wrong with striving for what you want to do. But!" Under Ying Chongming's approving gaze, Jiu Que broke free and grabbed Ying Chongming's armor tightly.

"But you must come back alive. I'm still so young. If anything happens to you, I'll be like a piece of meat bun, anyone can take a bite. If you don't want to die with regrets, you'd better take good care of yourself. Wait for me, wait for me..."

"Hmm? What are you waiting for?"

"nothing."

Wait patiently for me to grow up. When I grow up, I'll be able to help you.

Jiu Que didn't say the rest. She knew from her past life that actions often trump words. When she could truly be of use, it would be more effective than a hundred promises.

Perhaps the only general to emerge from the Ying family in hundreds of years is Ying Chongming. Since she appeared on the battlefield, she has not only quickly rallied the army and gained the trust of the soldiers, but has also soon driven the Northern Barbarians into a series of defeats. The shadow of war seems to be receding.

Those civil and military officials who had once clamored that women should not go to the battlefield were now silent. The entire court and the public were wildly praising the rising star general Ying Chongming. Amid this atmosphere of unbridled celebration, Jiu Que felt a vague sense of unease, but each letter Ying Chongming sent back was filled with reports of victory, so she could only believe him for the time being, though she had also provided considerable assistance behind the scenes.

Although separated by thousands of miles, the mother and daughter never stopped communicating. It was just a matter of sooner or later. For example, at this moment, Ying Chongming, on the battlefield, was holding a large stack of letters filled with writing. A smile appeared on her face, which was weathered by the hardships of the battlefield, making the generals surrounding her look on in disbelief.

No, their general can actually laugh! How strange!

Ying Chongming gave them a few slaps, then looked down at the letter again.

[To the letter: ...All is well in the capital. The nobles are still indulging in their decadent lifestyle. Ah, the saying goes, "Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the streets, the frozen dead lie." Now I understand. Oh, by the way, His Majesty has taken three more concubines and even held a palace banquet, letting everyone judge which of the three is the most beautiful. He's living the high life... Your cunning husband, whose mind is more cunning than hair, wanted to go to the estate again, but I had someone chase him away. You must be wondering where I found someone, right? Hehehe, I'm not telling you, because you haven't come back yet. I'll tell you, I've grown taller again. Who knows, you might not even recognize me when you come back...]

"...The south is experiencing another severe drought, and waves of refugees are arriving. Many people have died outside the capital. Our estate isn't safe either; some refugees tried to break in a while ago, but thankfully, the men you left behind repelled them. Of course, my men are also helping!"

……

[Why haven't you replied yet? You're a general now, is sending a letter that hard? Fine, I'll just tell you the answer directly. I've taken in some suffering women, and I don't know why women are always the ones abandoned. Maybe even in this desperate situation, many people still think that a man with a little more flesh is more noble. Okay, don't curse me, I knew you wanted to say my language was vulgar. So what? I saved their lives, so they're mine now. I'll teach them to read, write, and be polite, and those with martial arts talent will be taught martial arts. If I find any promising individuals, I'll send them to help you…]

Oh, and I also gave them nice names.

At the very bottom of the letter were two large characters that occupied a large space and were eye-catching enough that even Ying Chongming couldn't help but read them aloud.

"Morning Glory".