Chapter 1713 -1706: Lu Mian’s Obstruction

In the end, Yang Xianhui wielded her longsword, knocking Lin Yu’s dual blades out of her hands and pressing the tip of the sword against her throat from above. “Lin Yu, you’ve lost!”

Lin Yu knelt on one knee on the ground. A gash ran across her face, blood streaming out from the wound, drop by drop, forming a crimson stain on the ground.

Lin Yu let out a long breath. “I… haven’t lost yet!”

She could still breathe. Though she’d lost her weapons, she still had her hands, her feet, and her strength!

“Ah!!!”

Lin Yu grabbed Yang Xianhui’s sword, got to her feet, and mustered all her strength in a desperate attack. Twisting her body, she landed a kick on Yang Xianhui, catching her off guard and nearly making her lose her grip on the sword.

But Yang Xianhui quickly recovered, striking Lin Yu’s chest with a palm. The force sent Lin Yu sprawling to the ground, her chest pierced by the sword. Blood gushed out instantly.

“Pfft!”

Yang Xianhui’s face was splattered with blood.

She looked down at Lin Yu. “This time, have you lost?”

Lin Yu staggered to open her mouth. This time, it seemed she truly had lost.

She no longer had the strength to rise.

But…

Lin Yu laughed. Her mouth full of blood, she mumbled indistinctly, “I… did it.”

She’d fought to the very end!

Yang Xianhui’s emotions were deeply conflicted.

When Ye Hongru rushed in with the court physicians, Yang Xianhui immediately withdrew the sword.

In truth, she had held back somewhat and hadn’t seriously wounded Lin Yu.

But Lin Yu’s unwavering determination suddenly made Yang Xianhui reconsider her opinion of her.

She was no longer the same as before.

Yang Xianhui and Lin Yu stepped down from the stage simultaneously. Lin Yu, injured, was carried away, while Yang Xianhui claimed first place.

She was the top martial champion of the Women’s Military Examination.

Chu Heng personally praised her.

Lin Sisi and Chu Jinling also spoke highly of her.

But Yang Xianhui set down her weapon, approached Chu Heng, and knelt on one knee, her voice resolute. “Your Highness, I petition for Lin Yu and Fu Yuan. The three of us wish to enlist in the military. Please, Your Highness, grant us the honor of becoming generals!”

They all sought to carve a different path for themselves.

Fu Yuan, typically reserved, knelt beside Yang Xianhui at this moment. “We humbly beg Your Highness to grant us entry into the military as generals!”

They were willing to endure hardship, to forsake their privileged lives, to undergo grueling and arduous training!

They were willing to contribute to the Great Cheng Dynasty, even at the cost of their lives!

Lin Yu, still recovering from her injuries, heard their words and struggled to climb to her feet. She knelt beside the two of them, echoing their plea.

“Lin Yu, your wounds…” Ye Hongru watched anxiously from below the stage, not daring to rush up recklessly.

But Lin Yu’s trembling figure made it clear she could barely maintain her kneeling posture before breaking protocol in front of the court.

Yang Xianhui and Fu Yuan shifted aside to position Lin Yu in the center, supporting her from either side.

Fu Yuan’s normally impassive gaze now held a hint of admiration for Lin Yu.

Yang Xianhui, her emotions always written on her face, said passionately, “Lin Yu, like us, you are someone with dreams and ambitions. We absolutely will not yield!”

They intended to enlist together! To become female generals, just like Lin Sisi!

Warmth filled Lin Yu’s heart. With her arms draped around Yang Xianhui and Fu Yuan’s waists, the three of them huddled tightly together.

This scene deeply moved several officials observing from the court.

Among the martial generals, someone stepped forward to advocate for them. “Your Highness, these three ladies are exceedingly brave. Their martial arts are in no way inferior to men. I implore you to allow them to join the military!”

“I agree!” another general declared.

“I, too, find them commendable!” added yet another.

Lin Aotian even knelt before Chu Heng directly. “Your Highness, united we stand! Though my daughter is unworthy, she was recognized and bestowed with a position by the emperor himself, allowing her to fight on the battlefield.

These three young women are just as exceptional. I hope that Your Highness will give them the chance to prove themselves and cultivate outstanding female generals for our Great Cheng Dynasty!”

Chu Heng smiled. “This prince will certainly grant this request, but…”

His eyes turned to Zhuo Junli.

Among those who had risen to support Lin Yu and the other two, all came from the ranks of martial generals. As the head of the civil officials, Zhuo Junli’s approval was essential.

Chu Jinling also fixed his gaze on Zhuo Junli, waiting for him to speak.

Under the scrutiny of two such prominent figures, Zhuo Junli’s serene smile remained unchanged, as gentle as a spring breeze. He rose with ease and stepped toward Lu Mian. “Lord Lu, the martial examination has concluded. What are your thoughts?”

Lu Mian stood up from his seat, his face cold, and spoke without hesitation. “This humble official opposes the enlistment of women in the military! I believe many other lords in the court share my view!”

As his words fell, a dozen or so civil officials rose simultaneously to oppose the motion.

They spoke with great conviction, armed with their rhetoric and ample citations, delivering lengthy arguments at length.

The martial generals, no longer able to tolerate it, began quarreling fiercely with them.

Martial generals, having seen much of the world, tended to be broad-minded and progressive. They admired heroines like Lin Sisi and cited numerous examples of female generals throughout history.

The civil officials, however, dredged up those same women’s histories as fodder for their arguments. As for Lin Sisi…

Though reluctant to overtly disparage her, Lu Mian, with a cold face, proclaimed, “General Lin has labored tirelessly for the nation and now suffers from numerous injuries and chronic ailments. Why endure such hardship?

Women should reside in their chambers, delicately nurtured, marrying and raising children.

A woman who reads and writes is a delight;

but one who wields weapons and roams military camps undermines the order of our dynasty!

It disrupts discipline and tests the boundaries of military law!

Across the Nine Continents, is there any nation that allows women to freely enter the military as generals?

If anything truly goes awry, who will bear the blame? Who will answer for tarnishing the Great Cheng Dynasty’s reputation?

Could Chu Heng, given his young age, confidently pledge his responsibility for this?”

Chu Heng clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves.

He could not.

The empire his father had built—his young shoulders were not yet strong enough to bear it.

As the crowd’s debate remained unresolved, Lin Sisi stood up and shouted, “Enough!”

She strode up to Lu Mian, with Chu Jinling hastily following right behind her.

Facing Lu Mian with her scarred face, Lin Sisi said, “Lord Lu, you claim that women’s military involvement corrupts the moral order. Have I corrupted the moral order of the Great Cheng Dynasty?

Have I, Lin Sisi, ever committed any act disloyal to the dynasty?

Are my military achievements not real?”

Lu Mian bowed his head slightly. “General Lin’s contributions are, of course, genuine. However, does General Lin believe that many women can match her? This humble official considers it impossible to find a second such woman in the Great Cheng Dynasty!”

Not every woman was like Lin Sisi, who lost her mother at a young age, never viewed marriage as her goal, and dedicated herself entirely to the study of military skills and martial arts.

Lin Sisi, born into a family of warriors, was exceptionally gifted and personally taught by both the emperor and Su Hao!

With such talent, it took years of training to produce someone as remarkable as her.

In the entire Great Cheng Dynasty, no one else could compare.

Lu Mian’s gaze fell upon the trio of Lin Yu, Yang Xianhui, and Fu Yuan. Raising two fingers, he asked, “General Lin, do you believe their family roots, talents, and diligence match yours?”

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