That barely concealed excitement, like a pebble dropped into warm water, rippled through my heart, making my voice unconsciously soften.

Even the original phrase "slaying more than 5,000 enemies" was changed to "annihilating more than half of the enemy," for fear that a stronger tone would shatter the admiration hidden in his heart.

At that time, I did not understand the profound meaning of this poem. After all, since the founding of the Tianxuan Kingdom, regardless of gender, it was common for the capable to command troops and the mediocre to step down.

I joined the army at the age of ten and took command of troops at the age of fifteen. The knife wounds on my shoulders and the calluses on my palms are the greatest honors.

But after she read it that way, it was as if my blood-soaked armor and this heavy military tally had become something she could secretly boast about.

It made my throat tighten even more than the golden seal bestowed by His Majesty or the shouts of "General, you are mighty!" from all the civil and military officials.

My fingertips trembled slightly, and I almost knocked over the pen holder on the table. That pen holder was a birthday gift she gave me last year. It was carved with bamboo joints and said, "Wishing the young general a continuous rise in rank."

After the court session ended, she walked under the corridor, clutching a scroll of memorials in her hand, the edges of which were wrinkled from being pinched by her fingers.

I deliberately slowed my pace to follow behind her, listening to her repeatedly recite that poem in her mind. Her eyebrows lifted as she recited it, and even the strands of hair that fell down were blown by the wind, revealing an unconcealable joy.

At that moment, I felt that the cold winds of the North, the hardships of war, and even the itching pain as the deep, bone-revealing knife wound on my shoulder healed were all worth it.

As long as she thinks this way, it's all worth it.

Later, when the Xuanyuan Kingdom was conquered, the surrendered officials knelt before the palace, holding their tablets, their white beards trembling like withered grass in the autumn wind.

They always make sarcastic remarks like "it is against ancestral rules for women to command troops" and "a country will surely be in chaos if a hen crows at dawn."

Spittle flew from her words onto the blue bricks, conveying her contempt that "a woman like you is not worthy of holding military power."

An old minister surnamed Wang even prostrated himself on the ground and wailed, "If our ancestors were alive, they would not allow such a rebellious act! Your Majesty, I beg you to withdraw the military tally and select another male general!"

The sound was shrill, like scraping porcelain, making one's teeth itch. His Majesty sat on the dragon throne, tapping his fingers on the armrest and sighing.

The dragon pattern under his fingertips appeared somewhat dark: "The imperial court is currently short of people, and we still need them to govern the local areas."

As she spoke, she pulled my hand over, the calluses on her palms rubbing against the back of my hand until it ached. She advised, "Yunxi, bear with it for now and consider the bigger picture."

I clenched my fists and endured it, my nails almost digging into my palms, and even the edge of my armor was digging into my ribs, making me feel like the fire in my chest was about to burst out.

If it weren't for a glimpse out of the corner of my eye that Qin Qianluo was frowning, her fingers unconsciously picking at the edge of the tablet, her fingertips turning white, and even her lips appearing paler, I wouldn't have noticed.

They probably overturned the sandalwood table where the meeting was being held and threw those sarcastic remarks, along with the officials, out of the hall.

It has to be said that the former Xuanyuan Kingdom was a place that makes people shake their heads when they think about it. Those incomprehensible systems were really uncomfortable. Fortunately, we have recovered it.

Oh, and she still kept muttering that embarrassing thing to herself.

Once, during a summer meeting, the palace was so stuffy it felt like a steamer. The eunuchs carried ice basins back and forth, the steam itself radiating heat. Even the cicadas outside seemed weary and listless.

I removed my outer armor and wore only the inner layer of dark-colored close-fitting clothing. The belt was tightly cinched at the waist, creating a sharp curve in my waistline. The fabric clung to my body, perhaps allowing her to see the outline of my muscles.

That's the result of years of shooting practice; every inch of it exudes power.

When the court session ended, she walked ahead, holding a bamboo-ribbed fan with a light lotus painting on its surface. The fan carried a sweet fragrance as she fanned herself, perhaps from a sprinkling of lotus dew.

I followed behind, listening to her thoughts running through her mind: "The general's waist is so slender... no, no, it's his abdominal muscles under the armor. They must feel hard to the touch."

"Will it feel like a block of iron? Will I get beaten if I touch it? If Deputy General Zhou sees it, won't it become the talk of the army? If word gets out, how can I continue as the Imperial Attendant?"

The voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, yet every word struck the tip of my ear, instantly setting my ears ablaze and my neck warm.

Even the bronze bells on the armor seemed to have caught heat, their swaying making their sounds distorted.

Actually, I had already trained according to the methods used in the military, and my muscles were well-defined, with every inch of them exuding strength.

Last time Zhou Lin compared strength with me, he patted my abs and laughed, saying, "General, with this physique, you can withstand three blows and still chase the enemy for ten miles. Which handsome young man wouldn't be tempted by that?"

If she dares to reach out and touch me, it's fine anytime. Even in a crowded corridor, I can stand still and shield her from other people's gazes.

But she only thought it to herself, while on the surface she still maintained the appearance of a court attendant, holding a tablet and with a dignified and upright demeanor.

When drafting imperial edicts, he could write them in neat and orderly small regular script, with even the strokes showing precision.

When he replied, his voice was clear and bright, and every word conformed to the rules of court etiquette. There was not a trace of overstepping the bounds or a hint of frivolity in his eyes.

When I privately practiced applying armor in front of the bronze mirror, my fingertips traced the muscles of my waist and abdomen, and I even muttered complaints about her in my mind.

"They speak with a straight face, but dare to think such shameful things in their hearts, even bolder than the soldiers in the army."

But then I bumped into her in the street. She was holding a string of candied hawthorns, the red berries coated in a shiny sugar coating. She was standing under a peach tree, the wind blowing her hair, a few strands falling on her forehead.

Upon seeing me, he hurriedly put away the candied hawthorns, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, bowed, and said in a slightly timid voice, "Young General Mu."

Those clear eyes looked up at me, like a pool of autumn water bathed in moonlight, and even the little complaints in my heart vanished without a trace.

I even secretly hoped that if she dared to reach out, I would stay still and let her touch me.

As for what happened after that, let's not talk about it.

Who would have thought that Su Jinyun, who could wield an ivory tablet and argue so vehemently with the old ministers of the Censorate that they were red-faced and unable to speak coherently?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!