boyutpedia Chapter 281: Marriage as Concubine
Chapter 281: Marriage as Concubine
The drums roared and the barracks were shaken.
In less than half an hour, the training ground was filled with female soldiers, but they looked listless and lacked any energy.
Lu Mingyang stepped onto the platform and said in a loud voice, "Soldiers, His Majesty has come to inspect the troops and will be here shortly. Our army is the first female army in Dasheng. This is an unprecedented feat and a towering mountain for future generations to look up to."
Standing here, each of you is destined to be extraordinary.
You are no longer the so-and-so who wait in the backyard for men's mercy and pray for the blessing of fate. Each of your names will be written proudly in the history books of Dasheng.
Whether to be remembered for eternity or to be laughed at for eternity.
Right now, today.
Your destiny is written by you.
Tell me loudly, do you want to be admired and remembered forever, or go back to prison and be laughed at forever?
"His name will be passed down through the ages, his name will be passed down through the ages..." Eight hundred people congratulated together, the sound shaking the sky.
Lu Mingyang had once thought such inspiring words were merely self-entertaining, self-consoling jokes, ridiculous and absurd. But now, looking at the faces filled with so much fighting spirit, a surge of ambition welled up within him.
She was sure that this was not a game, not a joke, but hope that was within reach. They were truly changing history, changing this world that was unfair to women.
The sound was like a knife, splitting the sky and earth, and it lingered for a long time.
Lu Mingyang looked into those hopeful eyes and said loudly, "Sisters, soldiers, pick up your spears and look at your comrades beside you. Remember, your support is not in men, but in the spears in your hands and the comrades beside you."
"Today, we will carve out a kingdom for ourselves. Tell His Majesty that women should strive for self-reliance."
The eight hundred female soldiers congratulated each other again in unison: "Women should be self-reliant."
War drums beat, flags waved, and each formation began to train in an orderly manner, with great momentum.
The imperial carriage slowly entered the Chengyang military camp. Eight hundred female soldiers saluted and shouted "Long live the emperor." Lu Mingyang looked up slightly and saw the emperor stepping down from the imperial sedan chair. He was followed by several officials, including the Prince of Ningyuan, the Prince of Guangcheng, and Song Wei.
Guangcheng Wang Chu Minghui was short. As he walked past Lu Mingyang, he secretly pinched her cheek and grinned. Song Wei hurriedly pulled his hand away.
Lu Mingyang smiled and rubbed her face, and happened to meet Chu Mingzheng's resentful eyes. She hurriedly lowered her eyes, stood up and followed him onto the platform.
The Emperor sat on his high seat, glanced at the densely packed female soldiers below, looked at Lu Mingyang, and said with a smile: "Indeed, it is true that women are as capable as men."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lu Mingyang bowed again.
"Everyone, stand up!" The emperor motioned for Lu Mingyang to sit down, then asked knowingly, "Why are you in charge of the Chengyang female soldiers?"
Lu Mingyang said, "My elder sister is out for something, so I'm temporarily helping her with training. My commanding skills are not even eleven times as good as yours, so if I make any mistakes, please correct me, Your Majesty."
As he said this, he wanted to invite the emperor to inspect the troops.
The emperor raised his hand to stop them. "You are originally a soldier of the Chengyang Marquis's mansion. Since the Chengyang Marquis asked you to come for training, I can't say anything. But it's not a long-term solution for a woman like you to stay in the barracks all the time."
What does it mean?
Lu Mingyang looked over in surprise, "Your Majesty, the barracks are full of women."
"The Lu family has been loyal for generations. How can they be compared to those women of humble origins? Good women don't enter the military camp. You must not belittle yourself." The emperor's casual words floated in the air, shattering all the beliefs of the eight hundred female soldiers.
Lu Mingyang said angrily: "Your Majesty, all the people in the world are your subjects, how can you be so humble..."
"Fourth sister." Song Wei stopped her, "Don't be disrespectful to His Majesty."
"No problem!" the emperor sighed. "I'm delighted by the great victory of Marquis Bei'an and your brother on the border. But when I think of your late father, I can't help but feel guilty. Your eldest sister has vowed not to marry, and I can't bear to see his daughters die as widows."
Lu Mingyang subconsciously glanced at Chu Mingzheng, only to see a tense profile staring intently at the emperor. Clearly, he had no idea what the emperor's intentions were.
Who did the emperor want him to marry? Lu Mingyang panicked: "What does your majesty mean?"
The emperor smiled and said, "Yuanrui, go ahead."
Song Wei glanced at Lu Mingyang, brushed off his clothes, knelt down, and said in a loud voice: "My late father's last words were that if the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion was in trouble, I must do my best to help to atone for my sins."
The emperor frowned and rebuked him lightly, "What's the point of talking about guilt or not? The Lu and Song families are old friends. Although there was a misunderstanding, Duke Song died to apologize for his crime. Don't mention the past again."
"Yes!" Song Wei kowtowed and said, "I beg Your Majesty to grant me the marriage so that I can take care of my fourth sister for the rest of my life."
Lu Mingyang first deceived the royal family into marrying her and had her title abolished, and then she killed her ex-husband. She can be said to be an unethical and unethical person. It is impossible for her to find a good marriage again. In the eyes of others, Song Wei's action is a kind and loving act.
"You are indeed the son of the Duke of Song." The emperor praised him a few times and said with a smile, "Yuanrui cannot bear to see you die alone. I also hope that your two families can reconcile and comfort your ancestors. I will..."
"Father!" Chu Mingzheng's voice interrupted the emperor hastily, reminding him, "Young Master Song has already married, and his wife is the daughter of Marquis Bei'an, who has just made great contributions to Da Sheng. It's not a good idea to let Young Master Song divorce his wife and marry again at this time."
"Did I say divorce?" The emperor glared at Chu Mingzheng, then looked at Lu Mingyang and continued, "Of course, I won't let you down. I'll confer you the title of Fifth Rank Imperial Edict, and let Yuan Rui solemnly welcome you as his concubine."
Chu Mingzheng said anxiously: "Father, the fourth daughter of the Lu family is the daughter of the late Marquis of Chengyang. How can she be a concubine?"
The emperor angrily rebuked her, "Since she is a woman of imperial decree, she is a woman of the imperial court. How can there be any talk of wives or concubines?"
"I thank Your Majesty." Song Wei bowed to express his gratitude for the emperor's grace.
The emperor smiled and said, "After you marry the daughter of the Lu family, I will have the clan office choose an auspicious day for you to inherit the title of Duke."
After Duke Song committed suicide, the emperor did not dethrone the Song family's title of Duke. However, since Song Wei was a convicted criminal, he did not allow his other descendants to inherit the title. The title of Duke had remained vacant, and now, taking this opportunity, the emperor spoke of this matter.
Lu Mingyang wanted to laugh when he saw it.
Yes, even if she was the legitimate daughter of a marquis, given her current situation, being able to enter the Duke of Song's mansion as a concubine with the imperial decree was already a great favor from the emperor.
Since he took her as a concubine and the two families reconciled, Song Wei's guilt towards Chengyang Marquis' Mansion could also be wiped out. What a good strategy.
Lu Mingyang glanced at Song Wei coldly, knelt down, and said loudly: "Your Majesty! I still have to mourn for my husband."
According to the Da Sheng laws, after the husband's death, the wife had to observe mourning for at least three years before she could remarry.
The emperor said, "Lun Junhou has just won a victory for Dasheng. I will make an exception for the Lu family and allow you to remarry today."