Chapter 63  : The Determination of the Iron-Blooded Troop II

Qing Zhu was scared that Feng Ruqing would misunderstand it. Thus, it quickly explained to her so that it would not end up as snake soup.

Feng Ruqing’s face darkened again. Did she... mention anything?

“It’s getting late now. Little snakie, I think I need to make a move now. I’ll come to visit you again next time.”

She stood up and stretched herself while looking at the sunset. Her smiling face gave people a warm feeling despite her gigantic figure, unlike her atrocious old self before.

Qing Zhu almost teared up. He pleaded silently, ‘Please do not come and see me again. I beg you. My little snake heart cannot take any shock.’

“Little Snakie, I know you are sad to see me leave. Don’t worry, I will visit you tomorrow.” Feng Ruqing assured when she saw Qing Zhu tearing up. She patted its head while smiling sweetly.

Since she had retrieved the Iron-Blooded Token, she should pay a visit to the Iron-Blooded Troop to prevent the people who had been loyal to her imperial mother for so many years from feeling bitterly disappointed at her.

***

Since the year Empress Nalan had passed away, the Iron-Blooded Troop had not appeared in public. They seemed to be hiding away in the palace and ignoring everything that was happening around them. They were even unwilling to obey the emperor’s command.

Due to Feng Tianyu’s profound love toward Empress Nalan, he just turned a blind eye to those who refused to obey his command and let them do whatever they wanted.

At this moment, there were a few women wearing plain attire practicing their martial arts in the quiet courtyard. Coincidentally, one of them saw Feng Ruqing who suddenly appeared in the courtyard. She was so shocked to see her that she was unable to avoid the sword attack from her opponent, allowing a cut through her sleeve.

Her sleeve was ripped off before falling to the ground.

Feng Ruqing stood at the entrance. She greeted them awkwardly, “Have I disturbed your practice?”

At this moment, everyone stopped moving and turned to look at Feng Ruqing.

That woman who had had her sleeve cut off laughed bitterly and sneered. “Since Princess has given away the Iron-Blooded Token to Noble Consort Rong, you have never visited again. Who knew you would remember us, the abandoned people?”

After Empress Nalan had passed away, they initially thought that once the princess grew up, she would lead them on the battlefield. However, what awaited them was completely different. The princess had given them away.

They were only loyal to the empress. After the empress had passed away, they would only obey the empress’s daughter but not even her son, if she had one.

However, the princess did not understand what this had meant to them.

Her decision to give away the Iron-Blooded Token was like a betrayal which forced them to betray their late empress. They might even be barred from entering the battlefield for the rest of their lives!

“Tang Zi,” The woman wearing purple attire who was standing at the side tugged at Tang Zi’s sleeve to stop her. She then turned to Feng Ruqing. She maintained her indifference and was faintly aloof toward Feng Ruqing. “Your royal highness, what do you command us to do?”

Feng Ruqing rubbed her nose and walked into the courtyard. “I am quite free so I am here to visit all of you. Oh, by the way, the Iron-Blooded Token... I have retrieved it from Noble Consort Rong.”

Tang Zi’s body stiffened for a few seconds before raising her head sharply to look at Feng Ruqing.

The Iron-Blooded Token... She had gotten it back?

Really?

“I was too immature before this. I have done a lot of wrongs. I am also aware that I have hurt all of you deeply. However, I will spend the rest of my life compensating my wrongdoings. I will let you go to the battlefield again to prove to the people that women are not weaker than men. I assure you of more accomplishments and glory in the future!”