Ancient Secret Realm (IV) No Male or Female Protagonist
"Your Highness! Please run slower!" The maid in green palace dress chased the person in front breathlessly.
The ten-year-old girl, dressed in a red palace dress, was sweating profusely. She turned to the palace maid and said, "Sang Luo, hurry up! Father will be leaving soon!"
Sang Luo finally caught up with the little princess and straightened her dress. "Isn't the academy just up ahead? Even if His Majesty left, you can tell him. How could His Majesty be willing to turn you away?"
The little princess waved her hands: "You don't understand. The other day my eldest brother said that I, a girl, shouldn't learn sword. Today I must let him see whether father will allow me, a girl, to learn sword." After saying that, she ran to the academy again.
Sang Luo had no choice but to lift her skirt and chase after her: "Your Highness, please go slower, be careful not to fall."
"I know! Sang Luo, hurry up!"
Inside the academy, Emperor Jianyuan was checking the lessons of his sons when he heard his youngest daughter's voice calling from outside the palace gate. "Father!"
Emperor Jianyuan shook his head and laughed, putting down the article in his hand. "Look at your sister. She's already grown up, but she's still shouting like this." He scolded her, but a doting smile appeared on his face. "Daughter is here? What do you want from your father?"
You Jingjia leaned in front of Emperor Jianyuan and glanced at the eldest prince provocatively. "My daughter wants to ask you something, father. Please agree to it."
"You little devil, you come right here and ask for my father's promise?" Emperor Jianyuan tapped her nose. "Tell me, what's the matter?"
"My daughter has read some books recently and she is really envious of those knights who travel the world with swords. Father, please hire a teacher to teach my daughter." You Jingjia blinked, but she was actually a little nervous inside.
The eldest prince frowned in disapproval. "Father, learning swordsmanship is hard work. We've raised our daughter with such pampering, how could she possibly endure this? Besides, what if she gets hurt? Wouldn't the Imperial Concubine blame you for playing with us?"
Seeing that Emperor Jianyuan was indeed hesitant, You Jingjia stamped her feet and said, "Brother, stop looking down on me! Why can't I endure hardship? Mother also agreed. Father, you love our daughter the most, so you will definitely agree to our daughter's request, right?" She pulled Emperor Jianyuan's sleeve and shook it.
Emperor Jianyuan was easily deceived and couldn't bear to be cruel to his beloved daughter. He raised his hand to straighten the hairpin on her head and said with a deliberately stern face: "Since you want to, your father will allow you. But let me make it clear first, you can't do it like learning needlework, making you tired today and sore hands tomorrow."
Seeing the eldest brother frowning worriedly, Emperor Jianyuan waved his hand and said, "Boss, ask her to learn with you and keep an eye on her. Don't let her get hurt."
The eldest prince bowed his head in agreement. You Jingjia happily hugged Emperor Jianyuan: "I knew that your Majesty loves us the most! I have things to do and will not disturb you and your brothers!" She blinked and ran out of the palace happily.
Emperor Jianyuan smiled helplessly: "What a heartless girl. Boss, send her back to the imperial concubine."
"yes."
You Jingjia hadn't left yet. She knew her eldest brother would definitely come to see her off, so she simply stood there. Seeing someone come out, You Jingjia's face lit up with pride: "See, eldest brother, even father allowed me to learn swordsmanship! You're the only one who said I shouldn't learn swordsmanship. You're even more pedantic than father."
The eldest prince pressed her head down and said, "Did I say that? I clearly said that being injured is not good. Come on, I'll take you back."
"I know, I know." You Jingjia tugged at his sleeve, "Brother Emperor, can you take me out of the palace to play again later?"
The eldest prince thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's wait until the beginning of the month, when there will be a lantern festival."
"Yeah!"
The imperial concubine, born into a military family, had also enjoyed wielding swords and spears even before she married. When she heard her daughter wanted to practice swordplay, she immediately sent someone back to the general's residence to retrieve the sword she had used in her youth. When You Jingjia returned to Dache Palace, the sword had just been delivered.
"Nannan, come quickly and look at the sword that your mother gave you."
The Imperial Concubine looked very gentle, but her words and actions were not as gentle as her appearance. When the Empress died in childbirth, the Imperial Concubine should have been made Empress, but she did not want to sit in the Imperial Palace and refused to do so. Emperor Jianyuan had no choice but to agree to her request.
You Jingjia opened the brocade box. The patterns on the scabbard were intricate but not messy, and the hilt was exquisite and beautiful. You Jingjia liked it at first sight: "What a beautiful sword, mother, is this your sword?"
"Yes." The imperial concubine nodded, drew out her sword, and swung it into a beautiful sword flower. "It's been a long time since I used it, and my hands are numb." She waved to her daughter, hugged her, and taught her how to hold the sword.
"This was given to me by your grandfather when I was learning sword. Now I give it to you. It is called Zhuyue, and it belongs to you." The sword is very light and very suitable for my daughter's home use.
You Jingjia touched the small words on the hilt and gripped the sword tightly.
——
At the beginning of the month, You Jingjia accompanied the eldest prince out of the palace to the Lantern Festival. After a while, she dragged him to Fule Hall. This was the place she had founded when she was eight years old, after encountering a child begging on the street while out of the palace. Upon returning to the palace, she proposed to Emperor Jianyuan that it be used to shelter homeless children. In the past two years, she had also had Fule Hall open a school, providing free education for girls.
The powerful people in the capital were dissatisfied with her behavior and talked about her behind her back, but she turned a blind eye and ignored them. She was the most favored princess of the Yu Kingdom, and they only fawned over her.
Every day at the hour of Mao, You Jingjia practiced swordplay with the eldest prince. Day after day, year after year, even the imperial concubine marveled at her perseverance. Five years passed in a flash, and the Jianyuan Emperor's fortieth birthday banquet arrived.
The Yu State was a wealthy nation, but its power was limited, its borders constantly ravaged by war. For Emperor Jianyuan's birthday, various nations sent envoys, but most had ulterior motives.
You Jingjia, already a master swordsman, spent three months choreographing a dance to be performed at a birthday banquet in honor of Emperor Jianyuan. The young princess of the Yu Kingdom was renowned for her favor, and seeking her hand in marriage was the obvious choice for securing financial support from the state.
Sure enough, after You Jingjia finished her dance, an envoy from another country stood up.
"I've long heard of the little princess's reputation, and seeing her today, I can see she's truly worthy of the reputation. I truly admire her." That was the young prince of the Great Zhou Kingdom. The Great Zhou Kingdom was powerful, but it was unwilling to give up its share of the Yu Kingdom.
The atmosphere in the palace suddenly cooled. The little prince was still smiling at the girl in the red dress. Emperor Jianyuan was an emperor after all, so he didn't show much emotion. He just smiled and said, "My little daughter has been spoiled since she was little, which gives me and the concubine a lot of headaches. We only think about what to do when she gets married. Fortunately, if she marries a young man from our capital, it won't be far away, so we can take care of her for a few more years."
"Nannan, come here." Emperor Jianyuan beckoned, and You Jingjia quickly walked over, held tightly by the imperial concubine. "Excuse me, everyone, but today is my birthday, and as a parent, I can't help but think of my children. I plan to keep our daughter for a few more years." He patted the clasped hands of mother and daughter in a comforting manner.
This was a disguised rejection of the envoys present who were seeking his hand in marriage. His beloved daughter, Emperor Jianyuan, could not be too far away from him even if she was to marry. He had raised this girl for over a decade, watching her from birth to adulthood. How could he see her marrying off to another country and suffering such humiliation?
The atmosphere was now cleared, and the envoys from various countries continued to smile and speak sweet words. The young prince was still smiling, looking very charming and suave.
You Jingjia remained silent. She knew the young prince hadn't given up, but rather disdained verbal arguments. In the Zhou Kingdom, this legitimate young prince always insisted on getting what he wanted, no matter the means.
If he really asked her to marry him, the emperor might not agree for a day or two. What if the army came? The emperor would not give up on her, but she could not give up on the Yu Kingdom either.
At that moment, You Jingjia suddenly felt a pang of resentment. Why was she born a woman? Emperor Jianyuan certainly loved her, but he had absolutely no intention of having her participate in politics. Since ancient times, had women ever been involved in politics? But if she could have been involved in politics, the Yu Kingdom would not have been as powerful as it was now, and why would it be so afraid of other countries?
These thoughts flashed through her mind for only a few moments before she tossed them out. No, this idea wasn't right. Someone had told her that women could also achieve something. But who was it? Her gaze swept across Emperor Jianyuan and the Imperial Concubine. It was A Niang... Was it her mother?
Half a month later, the envoy returned home, and You Jingjia told Emperor Jianyuan that she wanted to try her hand at politics. For the first time, Emperor Jianyuan got angry with her and even ordered the imperial concubine to confine her to her house.
Inside the princess's residence, You Jingjia sat alone under the candlelight, her face dark and unclear. It felt as if another self in her mind was constantly arguing with her.
"Look! The Emperor doesn't approve of you entering politics at all! Why are you still insisting on this? Just be a favored princess and marry the man of your dreams."
"You are also a member of the royal family. Are you going to watch the Yu Kingdom fall into decline?"
"What can you, a woman, do?"
"How do you know that women can't do anything?"
You Jingjia stopped struggling and bent over her desk, writing something densely. The next day, the eldest prince returned from the military camp and pleaded with Emperor Jianyuan to release her from house arrest. She admitted her fault to Emperor Jianyuan and remained the most favored princess of the Yu Kingdom.
Except for her and her siblings, no one knew what she had hidden in the sachet she had given to the eldest prince when he went to the princess's mansion to pick her up.
You Jingjia never mentioned the idea of entering politics again. With the imperial concubine protecting her, Emperor Jianyuan no longer bothered about her thoughts.
When You Jingjia was eighteen years old, the young prince of Zhou came to visit again, this time bringing a document from the emperor of Zhou, hoping to marry the young princess of Yu as his own queen.
He smiled, but spoke arrogantly, "Your Majesty, I sincerely wish to marry your princess, and have brought a hundred thousand troops to meet her at your border. What do you think?"
With an army of 100,000, he clearly looked down on the State of Yu.
Emperor Jianyuan's face turned livid, and the candles in the imperial study burned brightly all night. The next day, the crown prince, the eldest prince, once again rejected the Zhou Kingdom's marriage proposal.
For the first time, Prince Zhou's smile faded. He shook his sleeves and, without a word, departed for his kingdom. That same day, the Crown Prince personally led 300,000 elite troops to the border, and a major battle was imminent.
Emperor Jianyuan was so worried that he couldn't sleep all night. Half a month later, the crown prince personally sent back a message announcing a victory. This was the first time the Yu Kingdom had gained an advantage over the Zhou Kingdom in a war. It was also at this time that Emperor Jianyuan learned that the 300,000 soldiers led by the crown prince had all been trained using a method proposed by his youngest daughter years ago.
For the first time, Emperor Jianyuan looked at his little daughter with the eyes of an emperor.
You Jingjia knelt in Dache Palace for two hours, hoping to go to the border, and finally received the imperial concubine's approval. The candles in the imperial study burned brightly all night, and the next day, You Jingjia received the imperial edict and the tiger talisman.
When she was about to leave, Emperor Jianyuan and the imperial concubine stood at the palace gate to see her off. The imperial concubine cried for half the night and sewed warm clothes for her daughter overnight.
"Nannan, you promised mother that you would come back safely."
You Jingjia hugged them and whispered, "Nannan is going to be a military advisor. Father and mother, I will be fine."
Emperor Jianyuan patted his daughter on the back and said in a hoarse voice, "Nannan, your father owes you an apology. You are right. Girls can also realize their ambitions."
You Jingjia smiled, hinting, "Father, your daughter has never blamed you."
The war lasted a year. Ever since the incident with the scented sachet three years ago, the Crown Prince knew his sister was no ordinary person, and he adopted her advice against all odds.
To avoid destabilizing the army, only a few close confidants knew of You Jingjia's female identity. In the final battle, You Jingjia, relying on her swordsmanship, accompanied the Crown Prince and captured the young Prince Zhou alive.
The young prince of Zhou looked unhappy. While the prince was away, he lowered his voice and said to You Jingjia, "Whatever you want, I can find it for you, as long as you go back to Zhou with me and become my staff." There was a desire for talent in his eyes.
You Jingjia smiled and returned to her original voice: "Young Prince, you keep saying you admire me and want to marry me, but when I put on my armor, you don't recognize me?"
Prince Zhou's eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought the little princess of the Yu Kingdom was just a pretty face with nothing to show for it.
"Young Prince, I told you four years ago that I am from the country of Yu." She would only stand on the side of her own country.
In this battle, the State of Yu won a great victory.
You Jingjia's appointment as the eldest princess and her access to government power caused an uproar. However, upon learning that the mysterious young military advisor on the battlefield was the eldest princess, no one raised any objections. The children raised in Fule Hall also possessed a skill, and girls no longer had to worry about not having an education.
What she has always wanted is absolute justice in this world. She wants to use her female body as a sharp blade to split the world.
The illusion ended on the day she was crowned the eldest princess.
You Jingjia opened her eyes and saw a young woman who looked very similar to the imperial concubine. She chuckled, "Congratulations, you passed my test."
You Jingjia blinked: "Should I call you Princess, or the Supreme God Daoqing?"
Yu Shumo smiled and said, "I'm not the eldest princess. It was you who took that step. After my father rejected my political career, I stopped trying."
She paused and added, "I changed my father's imperial decree and became the Crown Princess."
You Jingjia was stunned. This style of behavior... She was indeed the imperial concubine's biological daughter.
The illusion comes from Yu Shumo's memories before her ascension. She imposed her own memories on You Jingjia, creating another illusion that made her the Princess of the Yu Kingdom. In this world where life is difficult for women, only those who remain true to themselves are worthy of her gift.
You Jingjia's resolve was truly resolute, so much so that she came to her senses at the Jianyuan Emperor's fortieth birthday banquet. It was her mother, not Yu Shumo's mother, who had told her that women could also achieve great things. After all, the Imperial Concubine always acted rather than talked; she would only use her actions to show her child that being a daughter was not a bad thing.
Seeing You Jingjia's face full of surprise, Yu Shumo just smiled.
"Your sword is called Moon Chaser?"
The topic changed so quickly that You Jingjia was stunned.
"Yes, Moon Chaser is the sword my father made for me when I was born."
Yu Shumo nodded: "In that case, I guess you won't be able to use my sword anymore." She felt a little regretful, raised her hand and took off a hairpin.
It was a golden hairpin carved with a five-tailed phoenix, exquisitely crafted. Having accompanied Yu Shumo for tens of millions of years, it had long since become a magical instrument. Yu Shumo frowned, glanced at the white pearls on the phoenix's eyes, and muttered, "White doesn't suit you very well."
A drop of blood condensed from her fingertips and dripped onto the pearl, instantly dyeing the white pearl red. Yu Shumo was satisfied. She waved to You Jingjia and pinned the hairpin into her bun, saying:
"This was a hairpin designed by my father as a gift to me when I came of age. Now, I'm giving it to you." She smiled and smoothed her hair. "Jingjia, there are three thousand great ways. I hope you won't stray from them. If you stick to your path, my efforts will not be in vain."
The Five-tailed Phoenix Hairpin is a famous magical weapon of the Supreme God Daoqing. It can save lives in critical moments and can also be used as a weapon. Most importantly, it is a divine-level magical weapon that even Canghe finds difficult to find.
You Jingjia was still in a daze: "...Thank you, God."
Yu Shumo smiled, patted her head, and disappeared from her sight.
After leaving the illusion, they arrived at the edge of the secret jungle. You Jingjia touched the hairpin; it had automatically recognized her as its master. Unless she died, no one could possess it.
"Jingjia."
She turned around and saw Ling Qingqiu. Just under an hour had passed since they entered the illusion.
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