Fengcheng Flying General

Chapter 41

Junyu raised his head and said calmly, "Could it be that Your Majesty also has some suspicions? Does Your Majesty see me as a woman?"

Those eyes showed no panic, only firmness and composure—the gaze of a professional soldier, not a woman's.

The emperor's heart sank, but he laughed and said, "I was thinking that if Marshal Jun is indeed a woman of great talent, not only would she be blameless, but she would also have made a great contribution, which would be a legendary tale for all time, hahaha..."

A civil official stepped forward: "How can there be a woman as commander in the army? Marshal Jun's identity is suspicious, Your Majesty..."

Zhou Yida, Zhang Yuan, and others went to the capital with great enthusiasm, but before the rewards could be mentioned, their commander had already committed several serious crimes. The most bizarre and inexplicable of these was that someone actually questioned whether their revered commander was a woman disguised as a man.

The two could not bear it any longer and disregarded everything else. They immediately stood up from the back of the line and loudly defended Junyu.

Lin Baoshan and the others, seasoned officials, were used to the fabricated charges in the first memorial, but they were deeply shocked by the contents of the second memorial and couldn't help but look up at Junyu several times.

Those officials who had long suspected that Junyu was a woman couldn't help but exchange glances.

Wang Jun, the imperial bodyguard, was overjoyed to see Junyu but had no opportunity to greet her. Now, seeing her impeached again and the old accusations brought up once more, he was about to step forward when the emperor waved him off, thinking to himself, "If Junyu were truly a woman, then the impeachments in the supervisor's memorial would need not be mentioned again." However, Junyu firmly refused to admit it, and the main generals of the Northwest Army all defended her. In this stalemate, it was truly difficult to make a judgment.

Just as a close minister of Prime Minister Zhu was about to step forward to discuss the matter further, Zhu Yu stepped forward first and said, "Your Majesty, Marshal Jun's conduct is improper. He has brought women into the army without permission. If this continues, other commanders on the frontier will follow suit. How can we guarantee our fighting strength? If we still reward him, how can we convince the people?"

The emperor sighed slightly. Prime Minister Zhu had already been ostracizing Junyu, Meng Yuanjing, and others. Now, Zhu Yu was making a mountain out of a molehill, which was far too obvious.

Seeing Jun Yu glance at Zhu Yu quickly with a hint of resentment on her face, he couldn't help but feel even more disdain for Zhu Yu.

Junyu lowered his head, but felt a deeper gratitude than ever before for Zhu Yu's "kicking him when he was down." He had completely changed the subject, shifting the focus of the impeachment to his own "womanizing."

How could a marshal with a "womanizing" habit be a woman? Sure enough, the gazes of those who had initially doubted Junyu's gender immediately changed considerably. The minister who had intended to step forward also remained rooted to the spot, no longer able to leave the ranks.

Prime Minister Zhu, who had been standing calmly at the front, now wished he could turn around and slap his son a few times.

He knew that exposing Junyu's true identity as a woman in court was far more important than the three impeachments leveled against the military supervisor. Now that Meng Yuanjing had taken over the Ministry of War, his two cousins were in favor; and Junyu commanded a large following throughout the northern border. If Junyu's true identity were exposed, at the very least, Junyu would not be able to continue to hold military power.

The Emperor, already displeased with Zhu Yu's memorial, was unwilling to sever his own right-hand man at this crucial moment. He disregarded further investigation into whether Jun Yu was male or female, and laughed, "That old memorial has already been corroborated by Marshal Jun's classmates; let it be dropped and not discussed further. As for the three impeachments in the supervisor's memorial, I have already considered them. Regarding the release of prisoners of war, it was precisely because of Marshal Jun's benevolence that our Celestial Empire is a righteous army. As for the dealings with the Holy Palace, I have also investigated; Marshal Jun and the resident minister Qin Xiaolou were classmates, and it was Qin Xiaolou who invited them. As for the third point…" The Emperor laughed loudly, "A man who isn't romantic in his youth is wasting his life! With Marshal Jun's looks and character, it's not surprising that girls chase after him with luxury cars and throw flowers and fruits at him… Therefore, the flaws do not overshadow the merits, and the faults do not outweigh the merits… Do my beloved ministers have any further objections?"

"Your Majesty, I have something to say..." Meng Yuanjing stepped forward with a bitter face: "Among all of you present, who doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? It's common for men to have casual affairs, and besides, in the harsh and cold Northwest, military life is so monotonous that it can drive one almost mad. In this pacification of the Northwest, even if Marshal Jun has made mistakes, his merits and demerits should be offset. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider..."

Seeing Meng Yuanjing's expression, Junyu lowered his head and wore a bitter face, but almost burst out laughing. He thought to himself, "Even an honest man like Meng Yuanjing can act so well."

The Emperor waved his hand to stop the argument: "To uphold military discipline, in this great victory in the Northwest, Minister Jun's merits and demerits are balanced, and he will remain in the capital to await further orders. However, in recognition of his military achievements, he will be rewarded with several beautiful women from the Western Regions... Lin Baoshan, Zhou Yida, Zhang Yuan, and others, step forward to receive your titles..."

Many ministers secretly shook their heads. The Northwest Army had won a great victory, yet the commander-in-chief only received a few beautiful women as a reward. And what negated his merits was the very minor offense of "being fond of women," which they didn't even consider a crime.

Junyu and Meng Yuanjing exchanged a quick glance, both secretly smiling and letting out a sigh of relief. Suddenly meeting Zhu Yu's gaze, Zhu Yu subtly shifted her eyes, then resumed her indifferent expression.

Junyu originally wanted to resign from his official post in the court, but under the circumstances, weighing the pros and cons, he naturally could not speak up and had no choice but to step down for the time being and make further plans.

After the court session ended.

As soon as they left the main hall, some officials came over to greet Jun and Meng, but few of the high-ranking officials from Zhu's faction were greeted; they followed Prime Minister Zhu. Zhu Yu walked at the very back, then suddenly turned back to look at Jun Yu. Jun Yu nodded to him, and Zhu Yu quickly left.

The two left the palace gate and walked a long way before stopping. They stood in silence for a while before taking a deep breath.

Junyu sighed, "At least we've temporarily passed one hurdle."

Meng Yuanjing said, “When I returned to the capital, I was immediately summoned. Although Wang Jun and I provided strong testimony, the emperor was still very suspicious of your identity. That’s why he didn’t care about the three impeachments from the military supervisor. Otherwise, the accusation of ‘forming cliques’ between the frontier commander and the imperial palace would have been major evidence against you. The emperor would not have let it go. Judging from his tone, he is unwilling to hand over military power in the Northwest to other generals because he is too uneasy about them. Junyu, I’m afraid it won’t be easy for you to resign.”

Junyu recalled the imperial decree to "stay in the capital for the time being and await further instructions," knowing that the emperor would surely have many more excuses. He simply said, "In any case, I must leave the capital as soon as possible."

***************************************************************************

Chapter 116: The Emperor's Suspicion Returns

After bidding farewell to Meng Yuanjing, Junyu went to the temporary residence designated by the court to meet Lu Ling and the others. Everyone was celebrating with their rewards, but upon seeing Junyu, they couldn't help but feel indignant on her behalf. Junyu, however, felt completely at ease. The more rewards she received, the harder it was to extricate herself; high-ranking positions and generous salaries were like a tight band around her neck, and the more she tried to escape, the more she couldn't.

When they returned to the marshal's mansion, it was already dusk. They saw Zhao Manqing and Mo Feiyan directing the servants to receive a large batch of things.

Junyu took a look and was astonished to see that the corridor was filled with boxes and boxes of gold, jewels, brocades, and silks, while Zhao Manqing was carrying a large bushel of pearls, her eyes seemingly about to pop out of their sockets. Behind her, eight beautiful women of varying shapes and sizes stood gracefully on both sides, including two exotic beauties with deep-set eyes and high noses.

Upon seeing Junyu, Mo Feiyan immediately stepped forward and said, "Husband, you're finally back! The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree just left. He said the Emperor has bestowed so many gifts upon us. What should we do with them?"

Junyu secretly groaned, but smiled and said, "Let's put it away for now."

Zhao Manqing held the bushel of pearls, glanced at the beauties, her eyes darting around, and said angrily, "Hmph, husband, are you going to put this away too?"

Mo Feiyan also had a reproachful look on her face, and sneered, "My husband is so lucky with women. Do you think I'm too old and unattractive?"

Hearing the wind whistling on the roof, Junyu knew that there were at least two spies from the "Thousand Machines Sect" lurking in the shadows. He then put his arm around the two of them and said with a very ambiguous smile, "It's an imperial gift, I have no choice but to keep you two company from now on."

Then the emperor left the court and returned to the inner palace.

From afar, a melodious and enchanting zither tune drifted over, originating from the Zhaoyang Palace, where the Shi sisters resided. Although the palace intrigues were fierce, the sisters, with their mother, Lady Fang, directing operations from behind the scenes, managed to handle the situation with relative ease. Furthermore, their cousin's promotion to Minister of War and the fact that his close friend, Junyu, was now the Grand Marshal of the Army further solidified their positions among the concubines. Since Meng Yuanjing's appointment as Minister of War and the news of the great victory in the Northwest reached the palace, even the Empress, who had always resented the sisters' "bewitching charms," rarely bothered them anymore.

The emperor walked over, and the Shi sisters quickly bowed.

Shi Hongni was very charming and lively, and was deeply favored by the emperor. Seeing the emperor's hesitant expression, she asked in a sweet voice, "Is there something troubling Your Majesty?"

The emperor never discussed matters of the court with the harem, and strictly forbade them from participating in such discussions in private. Yet, at this moment, he asked, "Someone has secretly reported that Marshal Jun is a woman disguised as a man. What do you two beloved consorts think?"

Since that secret report, although the emperor strictly forbade his officials to discuss it, the court was a place of gossip and intrigue, where were there any real secrets? The Shi sisters had already known about it, and recently received a secret letter from their cousin. At this moment, Shi Lanni feigned great surprise: "Who is spreading such nonsense? Marshal Jun and my cousin have been friends since childhood. Marshal Jun has even rescued me twice. He is undoubtedly a man of honor, how could he be a woman?"

Shi Hongni laughed as well: "Marshal Jun has captivated countless noble ladies since he appeared in Jiangnan. How could anyone slander him like this? What woman in the world possesses such military achievements and martial arts skills?"

The emperor saw that all of Junyu's acquaintances, regardless of gender, strongly testified that he was a man. In addition, Zhu Yu and Zhu Sujie impeached him for "being lecherous and having a long history of it." Although the emperor was increasingly curious, he could not continue to ask questions.

After the emperor left, Shi Lanni dismissed her attendants and personally closed the door.

Shi Hongni said softly, "Sister, do you think Young Master Jun might actually be a girl?"

Shi Lanni whispered sternly, "Don't talk nonsense. My cousin has known him for so many years, how could he not know whether he is a man or a woman? My cousin's secret letter said that someone is jealous of his great military achievements and wants to bring him down, so this rumor is spread."

Shi Hongni said softly, "We have seen all three thousand beauties in the palace, but has any of them been able to match even half of Mother's looks? I originally thought that Mother's appearance was absolutely the best in the world, but this Young Master Jun, although he is a man, is even more beautiful than our mother. It's not entirely unfounded for people to suspect that he is a woman, is it?"

“Hongni, others may have doubts, but we must never have them.” Shi Lanni sighed, “This harem is like a battlefield. No matter how powerful Mother is, she is old and there will be times when she is no longer able to do what she needs. Now, my cousin and Young Master Jun are our greatest support.”

"But it seems that His Majesty is very suspicious."

Shi Lanni sneered, "Men are all like this, desperately chasing after beauty, never satisfied even with three palaces and six courtyards. With Young Master Jun's looks and character, he naturally wishes he were a woman. It's just a pity that my cousin swore that Young Master Jun was a man, how could that be a lie?"

She glanced at her sister and said coldly, "Young Master Jun is highly regarded by the Emperor and has made such great contributions. Everyone knows about our relationship with him. As long as he stands there, others will always be wary of him. Those concubines would love for him to fall so that we sisters can see him helpless."

Shi Hongni nodded, and the two sisters remained silent for a while. Even the charming and lively Shi Hongni felt a slight chill in this extremely noble place, where flowers bloomed and oil was poured.

The next morning, Junyu was sitting quietly in his study when he suddenly heard Zhao Manqing say in a low voice, "Husband, a guest has come to visit."

When Junyu came out the door, Zhao Manqing had already disappeared.

Junyu arrived in the living room, and soon the old butler led the two of them in: "Marshal, Lord Wang has come to visit."

Junyu looked up and saw that it was indeed the emperor and Wang Jun who had come in disguise.

She immediately dismissed everyone else.

The emperor looked at the newly decorated living room of the general's mansion and smiled, "It's much more presentable than when I last came here."

"It's all thanks to my two fiancées."

"Haha, you're so lucky, you even have two fiancées."

The emperor scrutinized the young man opposite him. This victorious marshal was no longer in her usual military attire, but wore a simple blue robe, a tall hat, and a wide belt, her every gesture resembling that of a renowned scholar from the Wei and Jin dynasties. This casual attire completely negated her martial prowess; she appeared so refined and elegant, a figure one could hardly believe existed in the world.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard a sharp commotion outside.

"My husband..."

"Husband...you need to explain clearly, who is older and who is younger..."

Amidst the commotion, two stunningly beautiful women, adorned with jewels, stormed in one after the other. The woman in front, her hair slightly disheveled, was sobbing, while the woman behind her wore a jealous and sullen expression, sneering, "Perfect! Today, I also demand an explanation from my husband. I've had enough of this life without any status or recognition..."

The butler shrank back at the doorway, stammering, "I couldn't stop the two ladies..."

The disheveled woman was none other than Zhao Manqing, who was now sobbing uncontrollably, saying, "My late father entrusted me to you before he died, and what have you done? Now that you're rich and powerful, you keep making excuses and refuse to get married. Today it's Sister Mo, tomorrow it's Sister Shu, this sister and that sister, and you still don't think that's enough, so you've brought along a whole bunch of wildflowers and even foreign women, you heartless bastard..."

Mo Feiyan also cried out in grievance, and was about to speak when Junyu stood up and said angrily, "What's all the noise about? Get out of here, aren't you afraid the guests will laugh at you?"

The two dared not speak again, and left, crying and wailing.

The emperor watched their retreating figures for a long while before sighing, "The line 'Suddenly hearing the roar of the lioness from Hedong, my cane falls to the ground, my heart filled with confusion' must be referring to these two sisters of the Jun family, right?"

Junyu said with a bitter face, "I have failed to manage my household properly, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The emperor laughed loudly: "It's hardest to resist the kindness of a beautiful woman, but it seems that you, Lord Jun, have a special fondness for 'Sister'."

Junyu smiled and blinked, "Sister has her advantages, she's more gentle and considerate."

***************************************************************************

Chapter 117: Son, do you have the ability?

After receiving the secret report revealing Junyu's female identity, the Emperor outwardly expressed no suspicion but secretly dispatched members of the "Thousand Machines Sect" to investigate Junyu's background. The Zhu family couldn't find any information about the small town where Lan Xisi was suspected of living in seclusion, and the Thousand Machines Sect naturally found nothing either. However, in Phoenix Village, they discovered that Junyu not only had a fiancée, Zhao Manqing, the daughter of the former village chief, but also a woman named Mo Feiyan who had followed him through many hardships.

Perhaps Yan is a few years older than Junyu, and in addition, the supervising officer's memorial described Shu Zhenzhen as a "seductive woman in her thirties," which is why the emperor said he "has a special affection for his elder sister."

"In the past, I intended to betroth the Ninth Princess to you, but I thought you were deliberately making excuses. Now I realize that you have a shrew at home! Haha."

Junyu said solemnly, "Although my two wives are not worthy of a respectable marriage, one was entrusted by her father on his deathbed, and the other was my companion through thick and thin when I was down on my luck. I have been troubled by who is older and who is younger between them, which is why I have hesitated to marry them. How could I possibly presume to marry a princess?"

Wang Jun laughed and said, "I never expected that you, young master, would be so invincible on the battlefield, yet so helpless when it comes to managing your wives and concubines."

"Yes, I'll have to ask Brother Wang for some pointers another day."

The emperor, who was originally full of suspicion, looked at the young man who was completely "henpecked" and couldn't help but laugh. Although he was still extremely elegant, how could such a scholar's demeanor and behavior be the behavior of a woman? Although he was a little disappointed, he was also relieved: "A man who is not romantic in his youth is not a good man. As long as you show the spirit of the battlefield, you will not be afraid of having a few more wives and concubines who will not live in harmony."

"Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed and have made a fool of yourself."

Seeing that the emperor had no further doubt, Junyu said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Just speak up."

"Now that the Northwest is pacified and there is no war, and I have also received a generous gift of gold coins from Your Majesty, I have been away from home for many years and have no time to take care of my wife and concubines. I would like to take this opportunity to retire from the army and return to my hometown to enjoy a few years of peace and happiness. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission."

"Your Excellency is so young and accomplished, why would you have the audacity to consider retiring at the height of your power? You have made great contributions to the victory in the Northwest, and you deserve to be granted the titles of king or prime minister. Yet you have only received gold and silk as a reward. Do you think I am being harsh and ungrateful, and suspicious of meritorious officials?"

"I would never dare to." Junyu smiled and said, "To be honest, I also have my own selfish reasons. I have several 'older sisters' and 'younger sisters' that I admire, but I have never been able to enjoy the gentle embrace of the land due to years of fighting. Now that the northern border is finally at peace, I would like to find a quiet and beautiful place to enjoy Your Majesty's reward and live a carefree life as a wealthy landowner. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The emperor looked at her several times, seemingly considering the truth of her words, before finally smiling and saying, "Very well, I'll grant you a year's leave. That should be enough time to take as many wives and concubines as you want, right?"

Junyu was overjoyed. With a year to go, many things could be changed. He said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wang Jun was overjoyed: "Young master, on your wedding day, I, Wang, must come and offer you a few cups of celebratory wine."

"Definitely, definitely."

Jun Yu personally escorted the Emperor and Wang Jun to the gate and returned to the inner room, where Zhao Manqing and Mo Feiyan were already waiting.