Chapter 9 Redefining the Father-Daughter Smile
He Zhaojun chuckled, "I know that Prince Yong is plotting treason, and most of these shops will be fined and confiscated. I don't have many shops on hand, so why don't you let me manage them?"
"What? The He family's troops, land, gold and silver jewelry are not enough for you to squander?"
Seeing that he disagreed, He Zhaojun tried to smooth things over: "Who would complain about having too much money? Besides, the He family's prosperity is due to my father and brothers fighting on the front lines. If I squandered it carelessly, I would feel guilty. Now that I've come to my senses, I naturally want to earn some back. General Ling, you understand, right?"
"If your father and brother knew that you are such a filial and obedient girl, they would be willing to do it no matter how tired they are." Ling Buyi shouted to the outside of the tent for someone to come, and He Zhaojun saw her father and brother being invited into the tent.
Before the greetings even started, He Yong started asking questions like pouring beans, one after another.
"Good boy, quickly tell me how you discovered the whole story."
He Zhaojun had already memorized the confession by heart.
"Ever since I learned that Prince Xiao had rebellious intentions and was trying to drag the He family into this, I've thought about warning my father and brother, but I've been unable to speak because I have no evidence. After all, this matter is of great importance, and who would believe the words of a little girl like me?"
He Yong was anxious again: "Then why did you break off the engagement with the Lou family and risk your life to marry far away? But do you really still have feelings for Master Xiao?"
"Of course not! Since Prince Yong has set his sights on the He family, even if I withdraw, I will not be able to avoid disaster. I might as well go deep into the enemy camp and respond to any changes with the same strategy."
"As for the quarrel with Lou Yao and the cancellation of the engagement, it was just a matter of course. Father, don't worry. I have absolutely no romantic feelings for them."
After He Zhaojun finished speaking, everyone present fell silent. They were heartbroken when they thought of He Zhaojun, a little girl, enduring all this alone.
Ling Buyi still felt something was amiss: "I heard that the young lady replaced her dowry with weapons, modified her carriage to protect herself from arrows, protected women and children, went out alone to lure the enemy, and even refused the care of her maidservants..."
"You were adept at using sleight of hand and empty city tactics along the way, and you knew Fengyi County's terrain like the back of your hand. When you arrived at the military camp, you personally rescued every wounded and refugee. This completely contradicts the rumors that you're unruly, headstrong, and unlearned."
He Zhaojun wiped the sweat off her face and forced a smile. "General Ling, the He family is a family of military commanders, with many followers and abundant farmland...General Ling understands the principle that a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
"So your usual appearance is all an act?" Ling Buyi looked at the other members of the He family. They were obviously shocked by this explanation and did not come back to their senses for a long time.
"Of course. The more I ruin the family, the more unruly and willful I become, the more people will look down on the He family. Let me take on all of this!"
He Zhaojun spoke with great awe and righteousness, as if she had sacrificed a heroic death. Several brothers even had tears in their eyes. They were all rough men in the army and had no idea what their sister was thinking.
Upon hearing this, Ling Buyi stood up and said goodbye to General He. "It is a blessing for the He family that General Xiaoqi has such a daughter. However, we must consider how to explain her secret deployment of troops to the general and to His Majesty."
He Zhaojun was so angry that she was fuming. It would have been fine if she had reminded her father and brother to come up with a statement to counter the emperor, but why did they have to say half a word in advance?
"This Ling Buyi speaks so harshly, no wonder Shao Shang doesn't like him." He Zhaojun muttered, and put on her previous pitiful look, crying and stealing glances at her father.
"Wuwuwu, father, brother, I have no choice. I would rather you live and I die than let the He family die and I live alone. When I return to the capital, I will ask His Majesty to take all the blame, wuwuwu..."
He Zhaojun was crying like a pear blossom in the rain, with tears as big as beans streaming down her cheeks.
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