Chapter 103

Chapter 103: The Eight Trigrams Formation “However, who should we send to the border frontier to oppose the Sheyu Kingdom?” Mu Yuye asked. The ministers exchanged glances at his words. Aside from the brave and battle-tested General Luo, the imperial court had no military commanders capable of galloping across the battlefield. The entire imperial court fell into deathly silence. At that moment, the Third Prince, Mu Yuyang, spoke. “Father, I have heard that the First-Rank County Lady is exceptionally brave. Why not send her to drive back the forces of the Sheyu Kingdom?” Mu Yuye raised his brows and glanced at Ling Jiayue. She stood there demurely, as though she might topple over at the slightest breeze. Mu Yuye could not help laughing. “This is the imperial court, not a place for horseplay. The First-Rank County Lady is merely a delicate woman. How could she shoulder such a responsibility?” “Father, although the First-Rank County Lady is a woman, she has accomplished what no other woman could and attained the title of County Lady. If we send her out and she succeeds in driving back the forces of the Sheyu Kingdom, then from that day forward, no other kingdom will dare covet our Dayi Kingdom.” The Third Prince, Mu Yuyang, appeared to be making a forceful and reasonable analysis. In truth, however, his intentions were vicious. Though he repeatedly claimed to be acting for the sake of the country and its people, he actually wanted Ling Jiayue to die on the march—preferably torn apart by the Sheyu Kingdom’s army. As soon as Ling Taian heard Mu Yuyang’s words, he grew frantic. He hurriedly argued with the sovereign, “Your Majesty, please judge this matter wisely. My daughter is merely a delicate woman. How could she possibly shoulder such a grave responsibility? Would this not be asking me to watch helplessly as my daughter goes to her death? I beg Your Majesty to have pity on this old minister.” Hearing the words of the Third Prince and Ling Taian, Mu Yuye looked thoughtfully at Ling Jiayue. Although she was a delicate woman, she also appeared rather clever. As he studied her, Mu Yuye continued weighing the matter in his heart. As for Ling Jiayue herself, when she heard that the Sheyu Kingdom had sparked a conflict in the Northwest, something stirred faintly within her heart. That was right—she wanted to join the army. She wanted to use this opportunity and her own strength to turn the four kingdoms upside down, pull Chu Chaoci down from his position as Sovereign of Ye Kingdom, and avenge herself. Ling Jiayue stood proudly, straight and unyielding like a green bamboo, quietly waiting for Emperor Mu Yuye’s decision. Mu Yuheng, however, recalled what Ling Jiayue had told him by the pond the previous night. Looking again at her resolute gaze, he smiled. He knew what Ling Jiayue’s final decision would be—and he had made a decision of his own. Mu Yuye deliberated for a long while. On one side was the ever-confident Third Prince; on the other was Ling Taian, desperate to protect his beloved daughter. Suddenly, Mu Yuye saw Ling Jiayue. The determination in her eyes filled him with admiration. He simply asked her directly, “Ling Jiayue, are you willing to lead troops into battle?” Just as Ling Jiayue was preparing to answer, Ling Taian spoke again. “Your Majesty, this old minister is nearly fifty years old, and Ling Jiayue is now my only remaining daughter. I ask that you take pity on this old minister. Please leave me at least one daughter.” Mu Yuye watched Ling Taian weep copiously and could not help feeling sympathy for him. He sighed and was just about to let the matter drop when Ling Jiayue spoke. “Your Majesty, this subject, Ling Jiayue, is willing to lead troops into battle!” Every word Ling Jiayue spoke rang out with force, displaying great courage and responsibility. Upon hearing this, Ling Taian grew even more frantic. “Yue'er, girl, you’re driving a knife straight into your mother and father’s hearts! How can you bear to make your mother and me worry about you day and night? You’re truly too heartless.” Hearing this, Ling Jiayue knelt on one knee before Ling Taian. “Father, forgive your daughter for her unfilial conduct. But the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every common man. I am unworthy of the office I hold if I do not attend to the duties of that office. Now that the country is in danger, how could your daughter concern herself with her own safety?” Ling Taian was utterly unwilling in his heart, but after hearing Ling Jiayue say this, he could find no grounds on which to oppose her. He let his hands fall, seeming to age ten years in an instant. “Enough. You’ve grown up, and I can no longer control you. Go and do whatever you wish. Ah...!” Seeing how worried Ling Taian was for her, Ling Jiayue was filled with guilt. She said only, “Father, please forgive your daughter.” When Mu Yuyang saw that Ling Jiayue was willing to lead troops into battle, he feared she might change her mind and quickly said, “The First-Rank County Lady is truly acting for the sake of the country and its people. We men can only feel ashamed by comparison. She is indeed a model for all the women of Dayi.” Mu Yuye also praised her. “Though the First-Rank County Lady is a woman, she possesses such a broad and courageous heart. She is truly a blessing to Dayi. However, County Lady, are you well versed in military strategy and tactics? If not, you should remain at the Hanlin Academy as a Hanlin compiler.” Ling Jiayue cupped her hands and stood respectfully before Mu Yuye. “This daughter has read military texts and studied strategy extensively. I have also studied formations in depth. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may put me to the test. If I prove unable to bear the responsibility, I will obediently return to the Hanlin Academy and continue working as a Hanlin compiler.” “Very well. Someone, bring out the Eight Trigrams Formation and let the County Lady try her hand at it. If the County Lady can decipher the Eight Trigrams Formation, she may immediately lead troops into battle!” Mu Yuye ordered. The Eight Trigrams Formation was a formation passed down through the generations in Dayi. Its changes were endless. Any general capable of deciphering half of it could already be considered outstanding. Someone capable of completely deciphering it would be a rare pillar of talent. Mu Yuye was using this to test whether Ling Jiayue truly possessed ability. After Mu Yuye finished speaking, Eunuch Chen led the little eunuchs in carrying out the Eight Trigrams Formation. Ling Jiayue found the Eight Trigrams Formation extremely familiar. It had actually long since spread to the Ye Kingdom. When she was young, she had often played with the Eight Trigrams Formation together with Father and her older brothers. She had long since committed every method of deciphering it to memory. Thus, she was not the least bit flustered when she saw the formation. Instead, she gave a faint smile. “County Lady, please proceed,” Eunuch Chen said in his high-pitched voice. Ling Jiayue smiled faintly, then stepped forward to break the formation. She arranged the troops calmly and without the slightest haste. Under her hands, the situation within the Eight Trigrams Formation gradually became clear. Finally, Ling Jiayue lightly touched one point with her slender finger—and the Eight Trigrams Formation was actually broken. The ministers, including Ling Taian, were all stunned. The Third Prince, Mu Yuyang, was also shocked. He had pushed Ling Jiayue toward the expedition solely because he wanted her to die. He had never expected her to possess such considerable attainments in military affairs as well. The look he cast at Ling Jiayue became even more sinister. Mu Yuheng, on the other hand, was not surprised by the result at all. He knew how outstanding a woman Ling Jiayue was, and everything had unfolded exactly as he expected. Mu Yuye clapped his hands and sincerely exclaimed, “Excellent! The First-Rank County Lady truly deserves to be called a model for the women of Dayi. She is proficient in both literary and military arts, and is in no way inferior to a man. Prime Minister Ling, you truly have raised a fine daughter!” After Mu Yuye finished speaking, the assembled ministers also began praising Ling Taian and Ling Jiayue, some sincerely and others merely out of flattery. “Prime Minister Ling, you truly are blessed. With a daughter like this, what more could a father ask for?” Close