Chapter 385 My lord, you've worked hard at acting.

Shen Qingyu went to the palace to see Huangfu Ruoxi.

Huangfu Ruoxi's belly wasn't showing yet, but upon meeting Shen Qingyu, she finally felt like she had found someone she could talk to.

The two whispered to each other while looking at the armor that Emperor Xiao Wu had commissioned to be made.

"Do you see this part of the chest? He said it was made with gold thread using a special method."

While it's not quite invulnerable to swords and spears, I've heard it's extremely effective for self-defense.

It uses a special weaving method, so it can't be damaged by ordinary swords!

"Look, I've put protective gear on my chest and abdomen!" Huangfu Ruoxi pointed to her set of protective gear and showed it to Shen Qingyu.

Shen Qingyu nodded repeatedly.

This armor is really good; it's much lighter than what the soldiers wear now.

It is very suitable for women to wear.

"Your Majesty has gone to great lengths!"

Men's armor used to be very heavy.

There is a set of armor that my father used to keep in our mansion.

I secretly tried it, and it's so heavy!

Wearing that suit, while providing good protection, would restrict movement and definitely limit one's ability to move on the battlefield.

This one is better; it's lighter and more convenient.

Huangfu Ruoxi touched the specially made armor, wondering if one day she could wear it and gallop across the northern grasslands...

"Sister Ruoxi... oh no, Your Majesty the Empress."

Now that we have this kind of armor, what kind of armor does your personal guard wear?

"It can't be the kind of heavy, lifeless thing like the Imperial Guards, can it?" Shen Qingyu asked.

Huangfu Ruoxi smiled and shook her head.

"How could that be! His Majesty has already ordered the Imperial Workshops to begin mass production of armor specifically for women."

I heard that although the life-saving parts are not woven with gold thread like we do, they are woven with copper wire and other materials.

It's also quite effective at saving lives.

Shen Qingyu chuckled.

It's already being mass-produced!

That means it will be put into use very soon...

Emperor Xiao Wu's plan to establish a women's personal army for Huangfu Ruoxi is progressing smoothly.

The ministers in the court were all waiting to see the joke.

They felt that no family wanted their women to participate in such a procession and show their faces in public.

Except for those poor families who can't afford to eat.

Which family would be willing to send their pampered daughter to join the women's team?

What about the Empress's personal guards?

In the end, don't you still have to get married and have children?

Therefore, this all-female personal guard will definitely not be able to recruit enough members...

But who would have thought that after the Imperial Household Department posted the registration time, the ladies and young women of the entire capital would be in an uproar.

Some were just watching the spectacle, some were itching to participate, and many more wanted to see just how many people actually signed up.

Everyone crowded around the recruitment office in the inner palace and saw that the monthly salary was three taels of silver...

That's really not low...

Although most of the applicants were indeed girls from poor families, some ambitious daughters of noble families also secretly ran out to register.

For example, the youngest daughter of the Minister of War...

Why can't I sign up to join the Women's Guard?

I am a concubine's daughter, not the legitimate daughter of the family.

Arranged marriages to consolidate family interests are the eldest daughter's business; what does it have to do with me?

Am I supposed to just stay at home and wait for you to negotiate a good price and then sell me to some family as a concubine?

Or are you just waiting for me to be randomly assigned a marriage?

They'll marry me off to whichever family will be most beneficial to you in the future.

I can't choose my birth, but I can decide the path I take in the future!

I would rather die on the battlefield than be used as a pawn by others!

Let me go, I'm going to sign up...

The people in the Ministry of War's household were so anxious when they saw that this young lady wanted to register that they tried to bring her home.

However, the recruitment was handled by the Imperial Household Department, and the Imperial Guards were responsible for maintaining order.

"His Majesty has decreed that no one may prevent any woman who wishes to register from doing so!"

Anyone who disobeys will be executed!

And so, the youngest daughter of the Minister of War finally registered.

This incident has stirred up a lot of onlookers' interest.

Yes, many people who are not favored at home, why don't they forge their own path?

Thus, with the daughter of the Minister of War leading the way, many women from well-off families, but whose social status was rather awkward, signed up.

One of them was even a young widow who had just married into the family, only to have her husband die, and was already being planned to be sold by her in-laws...

On that day, the recruitment of 500 female soldiers was successfully completed.

As evening approached, Minister of War Liu was summoned to the palace by Emperor Xiao Wu.

"Thank you for your hard work on today's scene, Lord Liu."

Minister of War Liu also breathed a sigh of relief.

"It is my honor to serve Your Majesty and the Empress."

However... my daughter is unruly; if she does anything improper in the army, I hope Your Majesty can be a little... lenient!

Emperor Xiao Wu laughed heartily.

"Don't worry! The Empress really likes your daughter and even said she'd make her a squad leader!"

It's just that... after all this commotion, Mrs. Liu's reputation is going to be damaged!

I have prepared a few gifts for you, Lord Liu. Please take them back as a token of my gratitude.

In addition, since the eldest daughter of the household is getting married, I have also ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare two gifts.

The Empress said to add some makeup for Miss Liu, so that she would look better on the surface.

Lord Liu quickly expressed his opinion, saying that his wife was very understanding and had taken on the task without hesitation when she learned that she was to help the imperial family and the empress.

He then thanked Emperor Xiao Wu again on behalf of his wife and eldest daughter for the reward.

Actually... it's true that Miss Liu was born out of wedlock.

But her birth mother died from severe bleeding when she was born.

She grew up with Madam Liu since she was a child.

Madam Liu treated her like her own daughter, teaching her when she needed to and punishing her by making her kneel before her birth mother's memorial tablet when she needed to be disciplined.

Over time, outsiders saw that Madam Liu disliked her illegitimate daughter.

Only the people in the Liu family knew that this young lady was still quite favored...

Originally, Miss Liu was unwilling to say those things, feeling that saying them would definitely damage her stepmother's reputation.

But Mrs. Liu said that acting must be real.

"Just say what your mother says, so that everyone will believe that this is a path you can walk."

It's just reputation, isn't it? You can't put food on the table.

Otherwise, how will you go to the battlefield to fight the enemy? Don't you envy the young ladies of the Shen family who can move around freely?

The opportunity is right here! Also, becoming the Empress's personal guard means you'll be one of her people.

Even after we're gone, with this identity, who would dare bully you?

Listen to your mother and do as she says. If it's appropriate, you can even kick the housekeeper a couple of times!

When he comes back, his mother can give him a generous reward...

......

Shen Qingyu and Huangfu Ruoxi were dreaming about the day when the women's personal guard would be formed.

The two had only been talking for a short while when a palace servant came to report.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

Huangfu Ruoxi and Shen Qingyu exchanged a glance, and then had the palace servants put away the two sets of armor that were placed in front of them.

Once everything was in order, Consort Xu Roujia entered, led by palace servants.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Xu Roujia performed a standard, grand salute.

Huangfu Ruoxi accepted the greeting with a smile before being offered a seat.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Qingyu also bowed to Xu Roujia.

"Why has the Imperial Concubine arrived at this time?" Huangfu Ruoxi asked with a smile.

"In the morning, my mother sent over some pickled fruits from the south."

I think it tastes good.

I heard that Her Majesty has not had a good appetite these past two days, so I thought I'd send some over.

"Your Majesty, try some. Perhaps it will whet your appetite."

As soon as Xu Roujia finished speaking, the palace maid behind her knelt down holding a food box.