Chapter 75: Loyalty and Bravery, Tenacity and Perseverance, the Very Soul of the Nation

Lin Hansu was very satisfied with Commander Lin’s arrangements.

Commander Lin had not only renamed the garden where she was to return home and observe mourning to ‘Huguai Garden’ in advance, but the new Huguai Garden was also right next to the third courtyard of Young Master Ding’s back residence, just as it had been at the Prince’s estate.

She was sharp-witted and naturally guessed the reason; it was nothing more than the fact that Young Master Ding now possessed strategic value.

Among the seven of Chongyin, Commander Lin undoubtedly cared most about the Prince of Shuochuan, yet the latter valued Ding Suian.

Given Commander Lin’s consistent temperament, as long as he discovered someone had value, he dared to place even the heaviest bet; otherwise, he would not have sent Lin Fuyao away to be a concubine in her early years.

Although she knew Commander Lin’s motives perfectly well, Lin Hansu ultimately felt a little less resentment toward him because of this.

On the day she returned to the capital, she took over the task of ordering furniture for the residence next door, personally overseeing every step of the process, from selecting the timber and determining the style to choosing the carpenters.

It was as if she were carefully managing the place next door as her future love nest.

However, besides being busy with these matters, she had another extremely important thing to do.

That was to pay a visit to Princess Xingguo.

Regardless of anything else, she had received the other party’s life-saving grace, and furthermore, she was a member of the Shadow Division, a subordinate of Princess Xingguo.

Now that she had returned to the capital, if she did not pay a personal visit, it would be unjustifiable in both reason and sentiment.

On the 23rd of the fourth month, Lin Hansu prepared generous gifts and headed to Ziwei Ward.

An hour later, at the Hour of the Snake, she returned to Xingping Ward.

After staying home for only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she changed her clothes and went next door again.

This was the greatest advantage of moving to Central Heaven. No one paid much attention to her, unlike in the City, where her every move was closely watched by many.

However, this time, she did not enter directly but waited alone in the gatehouse for a while.

Not long after, Granny Zhang, who had helped her go inside to inquire, returned and whispered, “My Lady, Squad Leader Ding’s father is not here, and even Miss Ruan has returned home.”

“Oh.”

Lin Hansu remained calm on the surface, but inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t exactly that she was afraid of Old Ding.

But when facing him, she felt a sense of guilt, like an older, wicked woman who had abducted someone else’s child.

In short, she lacked confidence.

Passing through the two courtyards, she arrived at the back residence.

Upstairs in the east wing, Zhao Yan was resting her chin on her hands, lying on the window frame, her gaze locked on Lin Hansu.

Lin Hansu’s walking posture was very graceful; her stride was not large, her waist swayed lightly, and although her full hips would also sway slightly with her steps, the amplitude was just right.

It was beautiful and feminine, yet not appearing lewd or wanton.

Zhao Yan’s long, narrow fox eyes stared at Lin Hansu’s bottom for a long time until her figure disappeared.

Then she got up, reviewed Lin Hansu’s posture in her mind, and began to practice by twisting her waist and hips in the room.

In the reception hall.

Because there were no tables or chairs yet, Lin Hansu and Ding Suian could only stand and talk.

“The content of the court gazettes has always been personally reviewed by Your Highness, and Your Highness mentioned that this matter is very tedious. I took the opportunity to propose helping Your Highness screen and select the content of the gazettes, filtering and organizing them first before submitting them for Your Highness’s review and final decision, so as to reduce the labor!”

Lin Hansu, who was usually good at self-restraint, could not help but raise her eyebrows with joy when speaking of this matter.

“She agreed?” Ding Suian was slightly surprised.

“Yes! Your Highness agreed! From now on, every morning and afternoon, I will go to Ziwei Ward to serve for two hours, specifically in charge of the preliminary review of the court gazette content!”

This matter was truly unexpected.

The court gazette was the mouthpiece of the imperial court; no matter how one looked at it, it was a very critical position.

Lin Hansu had obtained such trust upon her first meeting with Princess Xingguo?

Could it be because they were both women?

Furthermore, in the current power structure of Great Wu, Princess Xingguo could be said to be second only to one person, and because of this job, Lin Hansu would inevitably often be by her side.

It was very much like the eunuchs who handled the brush by the side of Your Majesty.

From now on, she would have the brand of being ‘Your Highness’s person,’ and she would no longer need to be as careful as before.

No matter how one looked at it, this matter had more advantages than disadvantages.

“Good news!”

“Hehe, do you know what I have to do on my first day of duty tomorrow?”

“What is it?”

“It is to have your ‘Memory of Qin E’ printed in the court gazette, to be circulated throughout the entire army and issued to local prefectures and counties.”

Speaking of this, Lin Hansu’s lips curled into a smile, her burning gaze filled with pride, “Young Master, how many more skills are you hiding from me?”

“That requires Sister to explore for herself. If I say everything, it will make me seem like I lack depth!”

In late April, after more than a month of covering things up, the court gazette finally began to positively mention the Southern Expedition.

But the vocabulary used was mostly ‘unfavorable war situation’ and’strategic retreat’; it neither mentioned the casualty numbers nor explained Southern Zhao’s ‘insubordination and lack of tribute.’

The reasons for the failure briefly mentioned in the gazette were all attributed to Duke of Zhenguo Xia Jiye’s ‘underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly’ and ‘improper command.’

Although the dead could no longer be punished, since the court’s mouthpiece had spoken, it was basically a foregone conclusion that Xia Jiye was the scapegoat.

Of course, where there were villains, there were heroes.

This time, the hero was Dragon Guard Army Squad Leader Ding Suian.

Compared to the sporadic reports on the failure, the news about Ding Suian was overwhelming.

They wrote about how he got separated from the main army during the strategic retreat, how he remained calm in the face of danger, saved his comrades alone, and crossed Chongyin Mountain.

The article was written with great passion and was deeply moving, and it even gave everyone a happy ending at the end—after all, he had returned to the country safely.

Reading it a few times, one would momentarily think that Great Wu had won.

The scale of the propaganda was large, and the rhythm was fast.

Because on the ninth day of the sixth month of the 48th year of legitimacy, His Majesty would celebrate his 80th birthday.

Before the birthday, it was imperative to dispel the pessimistic mood among the people due to the Southern Expedition and create a joyful atmosphere of celebration for everyone.

For Ding Suian personally, the biggest impact of this matter was the massive amount of Protective Aura brought about by ‘Memory of Qin E’ spreading throughout Great Wu.

That Yang-excess state from before would occur almost every three or four hours.

Fortunately, there was Zhao Yan.

The little fox was like a bottomless pit; she could absorb any amount of excess Protective Aura, but just a few days later, she grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Not in age, but in other places.

Her complexion was moist and bright, as beautiful as peach blossoms.

As long as she didn’t open her mouth to speak, one could hardly find a trace of youthfulness on her.

In order not to be discovered by others, the little fox not only stayed at home obediently but also used breast binders on a daily basis.

Ding Suian recalled that Zhisheng had said earlier that the Jile Sect used ’emotion as drink and desire as food,’ and guessed that the little fox’s changes might be related to her having cultivated the secret techniques of the Jile Sect.

On the second day of the fifth month.

Early in the morning, the neighborhood head of Xingping Ward organized the neighbors to sweep and clean the streets, and prominent figures in the ward, such as Lin Dafu, waited at the entrance of the street early.

“Commander Lin, good morning.”

“Hehe, how did you know that I am an old friend of Squad Leader Ding? He even served under my command!”

“…” The other party obviously hadn’t asked.

“Commander Lin, is this the first time our Xingping Ward has received an imperial edict?”

“You’re talking about Little Ding, ah, he’s like family! I’ll set up a banquet later and let Little Ding have a drink with you!”

In the high pavilion of the Lin residence’s back courtyard, Lin Hansu looked out from the railing at the street entrance.

Ding Suian was surrounded by a crowd of neighbors.

A young hero, standing out from the crowd.

Lin Hansu smiled unconsciously, but when she spoke, there was a hint of disappointment, “If Young Master were married… this time, he could have won a title of honor for his wife.”

Granny Zhang looked at Lin Hansu strangely, hearing her tone, and wondering why she was envious, she whispered, “My Lady, an Anren is only an eighth-rank title, while you are a dignified first-rank Princess.”

After a long while, Lin Hansu sighed slowly, “If I could trade, this palace would rather trade this title of Princess for an Anren.”

At the Hour of the Snake.

The imperial envoy’s procession arrived at Suimian Street in Xingping Ward.

“By the grace of the Emperor, the edict states:

We have heard that when the pillar stands in the middle of the river, the raging waves can be turned back; when a red heart shines like the sun, even a commoner can hold up the sky!

You, Ding Suian, Squad Leader of the Third Squad of the C Camp of the Vermilion Bird Army, remained loyal and righteous while trapped in a desperate land;

In the face of danger, you alone held your weapon and returned to the perilous ground, saving your comrades while surrounded by enemies;

Across the treacherous Chongyin Mountain, you crossed thousands of feet of peaks while bandaged and wounded, stepping over mountains to guide the way for the return to the north.

Allowing five elite soldiers to return safely.

This loyalty, bravery, and tenacity are truly the very soul of the nation!

We hereby bestow special grace to honor this heroism.

Bestowed: One set of Beijing Brocade Gold-Woven Flying Fish Robe.

Promoted: To Zhaowu Captain.

Appointed: To Dutou of the Elite Cavalry of the Vermilion Bird Army.

Awarded: One hundred bolts of fine palace silk, ten medicinal pills made by the Imperial Pharmacy Bureau.

Once the imperial order is delivered, the Ministry of War shall issue a document to inform all armies.

Hold this sincerity and forever secure the borderlands.

Respect this!”

The second day of the fifth month of the 48th year of legitimacy.”