229: Chapter 230 Minmin Temur, the Imperial Concubine

"This is overstepping!"

"It is a grave crime!"

"Enough to doom the entire Family to eternal ruin!"

Watching Wang Baobao kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, the surrounding civil and military officials did not dare to breathe a word.

They all lowered their heads and averted their eyes, wishing they could shrink themselves into a ball, terrified of being drawn into this sudden storm.

Xie Xun furrowed his brows, glanced at the kneeling Wang Baobao, then at the strange expression on Lu Chen's face, and ultimately chose silence.

Dai Qisi held Han Zhao, turning slightly to the side as if to whisper comfort to her frightened little daughter, but the corner of her eye never left the center of the scene.

The four imperial concubines behind Lu Chen reacted differently.

Yin Susu raised an eyebrow, her smile deepening.

She looked with great interest at the slightly blushing Lu Chen, then at Wang Baobao kowtowing on the ground, and finally let her gaze rest on the still clueless Princess Shao Min.

She gently nudged Fang Yanqing beside her with her elbow and whispered with a laugh: "Hey, Sister Fang, look at how Your Majesty is blushing—how many years has it been since we've seen that? This little brat has a bright future!"

Fang Yanqing ignored her teasing. Her cool gaze landed on Lu Chen and lingered for a moment before turning to Princess Shao Min, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, as if she felt some pity.

The atmosphere in the scene suddenly became incredibly bizarre.

On one side was the young general kowtowing to beg for forgiveness.

On the other side was the six-year-old Princess, ignorant and seemingly unaware of how much trouble she had caused.

Standing in the middle was the Emperor, with a strange expression, seemingly not yet fully recovered from the state of being "confessed to" and "teased."

And there was a group of onlookers, imperial concubines and officials with various expressions.

Lu Chen looked at Wang Baobao kneeling on the ground, then at Minmin Temür beside him, who was opening her large, innocent eyes. She seemed frightened by her brother's intense reaction, her little mouth pouting, on the verge of tears.

The strange emotion in his heart from being "confessed to" was instantly replaced by helplessness.

"What is this all about..."

He took a deep breath, suppressed the feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and waved his hand.

"Get up, General Zhaoyong."

His voice returned to its usual calm, revealing no joy or anger.

"Children speak without taboos; my four beloved concubines would not stoop to bickering with a six-year-old child."

Yin Susu even walked forward and took Princess Shao Min's hand. "Minmin is truly adorable; I must get closer to this little sister in the future!"

Princess Shao Min was even more tactful: "Noble Consort Sister, you are so beautiful, just like a fairy in a painting..."

Wang Baobao's movements stiffened. He raised his head, as if unable to believe his ears.

Was his sister planning to dig a pit for their entire Family today, aiming for total destruction?

The Noble Consort's father was the Left Commander of the Five Military Commissions!

And also the commander-in-chief of the Azure Dragon Army!

"Your Majesty..." He still wanted to say something.

"Hmm?" Lu Chen glanced at him indifferently.

That glance held no emotion, yet it made Wang Baobao instantly close his mouth, swallowing all his words.

He knew that if the Emperor said he wouldn't hold it against them, then he wouldn't.

Saying more would only seem pretentious.

He quickly scrambled up and respectfully retreated to the side.

Lu Chen ignored him and let his gaze fall back onto Princess Shao Min.

The little girl seemed frightened by the earlier spectacle; a layer of mist covered her large eyes, and she was about to shed tears.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Lu Chen couldn't help but smile again, reached out, and patted her head.

"Alright, Minmin, don't be afraid." His voice softened further. "I have remembered what you said just now."

After saying this, he returned her to Yin Susu.

Remembered what?

Remembered that she wanted to marry the greatest hero in the world?

Or remembered that the hero was him?

The people around had different thoughts, but no one dared to ask.

Lu Chen straightened up and swept his gaze toward Wang Baobao.

The young general immediately straightened his back, waiting nervously for instructions.

"Kuokuo."

"This general is here!"

"In this western expedition, you must observe more, learn more, and think more." Lu Chen's voice returned to calm. "Your blade is sharp enough, but not steady enough."

"I want you to hone yourself into a precious blade capable of stabilizing the nation, not just a reckless brute who only knows how to charge into battle."

"This general... obeys!" Wang Baobao's heart jolted. A complex emotion surged within him—excitement, fear, and the heavy feeling of being entrusted with a great responsibility.

He nodded vigorously and replied loudly.

Lu Chen said no more and mounted his horse.

"Pass the order, set up camp!"

The order was issued again, and the army began to get busy.

Setting up tents, burying pots to cook.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the vast grassland, dyeing everything in a layer of gold.

The battlefield, which had just experienced slaughter, gradually returned to peace in the twilight. Only the lingering smell of blood in the air reminded people of the cruelty of the day.

Lu Chen stood on a high slope on his horse, gazing at the endless tents in the distance and the curling smoke from the cooking fires.

Yin Susu and the others also dismounted and came to his side.

"Your Majesty seems to hold that pair of siblings in high regard?" Yin Susu asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

Lu Chen did not turn his head, his gaze still fixed on the distance.

"Wang Baobao is a good blade, but it still needs to be sharpened."

He paused, a curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Mongol cavalry are indeed good at fighting."

"As for loyalty..." Lu Chen smiled lightly. "Didn't Minmin just say it? Whoever provides food, whoever provides clothing, whoever provides weapons—that is who is Family."

Yin Susu covered her mouth and chuckled upon hearing this: "Your Majesty's strategy of 'using barbarians to control barbarians' is truly mastered to perfection."

Fang Yanqing glanced at Lu Chen, then at Wang Baobao and his sister in the distance, lost in thought.

Ji Xiaofu felt a bit of pity: "It's just... the displaced common people suffer."

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at Ji Xiaofu, his eyes calm.

"Xiaofu, in troubled times, one must use strict laws; benevolence does not command an army."

"What I want is an ironclad Ming dynasty and a Celestial Empire to which all lands submit."

"In this process, growing pains are inevitable."

"But I guarantee that today's pain is for the sake of a longer-lasting peace and prosperity tomorrow."

After finishing, he offered no further explanation, turned his horse around, and headed toward the central army tent.

Leaving the imperial concubines behind, watching his receding figure with different thoughts.

The night gradually shrouded the grassland.

Campfires were lit, and the sound of soldiers' laughter and horses' neighing drifted through the military camp.

Wang Baobao stood in front of his own tent, gazing at the star-filled sky, silent for a long time.

Everything that happened today was too much of a shock to him.

The Emperor's majesty, his sister's intelligence, and the expectation of being "honed into a precious blade to stabilize the nation"...

He clenched his fists, his eyes gradually becoming firm, and his admiration for the Ming Emperor's brilliance and martial prowess grew even deeper.

Race and Bloodline seemed to be becoming increasingly distant.

In another tent, Princess Shao Min had already fallen asleep, nestled in the arms of a maid brought by Yin Susu.

Her little face still wore a satisfied smile, as if she were dreaming of something delicious.

No one could imagine that this seemingly innocent little girl had, with just a few words during the day, secured a future for her Family on this grassland.