The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife-Chapter 526: The First Female Official and Deputy Commander!

Now, a fourth-rank official is so anxious--every member of the Chu family is such a coward!

He wants to rush out to reassure A’Yuan, so he doesn’t belittle himself, to stand tall. But having already made a mess of things once before, A’Yuan has grown distant. He can only suppress his anger and watch the situation unfold.

"The Emperor already anticipated Duke’s rejection, so he specifically asked me to explain," the chief eunuch said, clearing his throat. "The Qing Feng guards also reported to the Emperor that the rescue plan to return to the capital was entirely proposed and planned by the Fifth Prince. Therefore, the Emperor said that the Fifth Prince is a rare talent who should be nurtured and become a pillar of the country."

Of course, Qing Feng had omitted mentioning Qi Hong.

However, it was indeed Chu Yan’s plan that broke through the array and killed Ye Chengyan. Awarding Chu Yan alone was met with no objections from the officials because his timely action in killing Ye Chengyan saved everyone from disaster.

With such strategy and courage, why not appoint him as a Dalisi Procuratorate minor minister?!

It’s more than appropriate!

Chu Hanlin, feeling conflicted, glanced at Chu Yan, signaling him to make his own decision.

Chu Yan, kneeling in the cold wind, felt a chill seeping through his limbs.

He pursed his lips, evidently wanting to express his gratitude. His previous ambition was to serve the country and bring honor to his family.

But now...

His Heart-Uniting Enchanting Bug could no longer be removed. Perhaps it was destiny that he could not remain in Mu Nation, nor be with his family...

"I am still young and inexperienced. I fear..."

He was about to refuse.

But unexpectedly, someone hurriedly entered and shouted, "Fifth Brother!"

Everyone looked over.

It was Ye Siheng and Nanli arriving together.

Nanli was dressed in a moon-white robe with a peach-red skirt embroidered with golden threads. Her already delicate appearance was further highlighted by this attire, making her complexion even rosier and her spirit more radiant.

Ye Siheng, in his usual black robe, did not wear a heavy cloak despite the cold. His face remained unchanged, showing no fear of the chill.

Seeing Nanli hurrying, he worried she might trip over the threshold and slightly frowned to remind her, "Be careful."

Nanli ignored him and, once inside, directly told the chief eunuch, "Your Excellency, there is no rush regarding Fifth Brother’s matter. Once he has considered it, I will bring him into the palace to express our gratitude."

The chief eunuch muttered to himself, thinking that such a young official needs time to consider such a big position?

Normally, no one would dare refuse the Emperor’s favor, but the Chu family was different. The Grand Lady’s golden-tiger scepter was like a life-saving talisman. With this, no matter who becomes Emperor in Mu Nation, they must not neglect the Chu family.

Thus, he said with a smile, "That can be arranged. I will report back to the Emperor."

Nanli nodded, thanked him, and let him continue reading the imperial edict.

Lastly, it was Qi Mu’s turn.

She had been staying at the Chu residence to recover from her injuries. Her achievements in breaking through the array were significant.

After careful consideration, Emperor Muwu not only personally wrote the words "The First Fortress of the World" to award Qi Castle but also made a shocking decision.

That was--

To appoint Qi Mu as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard!

This reward was even more startling than Chu Yan’s!

The Imperial Guard protects the palace, and the positions of commander and deputy commander are crucial.

Although Qi Mu’s martial skills were impressive, she had always been a wanderer in the martial world, accustomed to freedom and might not be suitable for this position. Moreover, an important reason was that Qi Mu was a woman!

Since the founding of Mu Nation, there had never been a female official, let alone a Deputy Commander wielding a sword and mixing with men.

"Deputy Commander... are you really appointing me as Deputy Commander? Did I hear that right?" Qi Mu blinked, still somewhat confused.

The chief eunuch said, "Miss Qi, you heard right. The Emperor discussed this with Prime Minister Lu and others. They all believe that Miss Qi’s superb martial skills and her sword that can restrain evil forces make her the best choice for Deputy Commander. No woman in Mu Nation has ever held such a distinguished position. Miss Qi, please express your gratitude."

Qi Mu, however, pouted and quickly lost her cheerfulness.

She grumbled, "What’s this? They only value my sword for dealing with evil forces. It’s not about appreciating me but about benefiting from my sword. This isn’t an honor; it’s an insult."

The chief eunuch’s smile faded slightly.

Chu Huan cursed Qi Mu inwardly for being so clueless--how could she say such things publicly? Her achievements and status still depended on the Emperor’s word.

"Miss Qi, please express your gratitude quickly!" Chu Huan reminded.

He himself did not realize how anxious he was, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Qi Mu glanced at him and said, "This is my business. Don’t interfere."

Chu Huan’s heart sank further.

Qi Mu continued, "Chief Eunuch, I’m a wanderer who enjoys traveling. Once I become Deputy Commander, I won’t be able to roam freely. Sigh, Capital is so far from Qi Castle. If I miss my family, it will take ten days to travel back and forth."

The chief eunuch frowned, "Does Miss Qi mean..."

"She wants the Emperor to prepare a residence for her family when they come to the capital so they have a place to stay," Ye Siheng said, looking at Qi Mu. "Right, Miss Qi?"

"Exactly!" Qi Mu’s eyes brightened, and she touched her treasured sword, then raised her hand, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together. "Hiring me has one price, but with my Qi Castle’s treasured sword, it’s another price."

The chief eunuch’s mouth twitched.

This demand for money looked oddly familiar.

Ye Siheng was used to this kind of thing. "Fine, I’ll ask the Emperor to grant you a large mansion with a small training field. As for the salary, how about three hundred taels a month?"

Three hundred taels were nothing compared to what Chu Shuo received, but in terms of court officials’ salaries, it was exceptional!

Qi Mu’s eyes lit up immediately, like a chick pecking at grains. "Very satisfactory! If you could also grant me some land and shops, that would be even better."

During her stay at the Duke’s residence, she had become familiar with Chu Hanlin’s four sons.

From Chu Shuo, she learned that officials’ salaries were insufficient to support a large family. The aristocracy in the capital relied on their own industries to live comfortably.

Qi Mu immediately noted this opportunity and asked for more.

Chu Shuo quietly gave her a thumbs up.

Ye Siheng looked at the chief eunuch. "Did you hear that? Arrange it with the Emperor."

The chief eunuch sighed, "Yes, I will report to the Emperor when I return to the palace."

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration, realizing that Qi Mu’s demand for money resembled someone else’s.

He looked at Nanli.

It was almost identical to the Ninth Princess, with a hint of even greater boldness.

Nanli, with a smile, said, "Miss Qi, congratulations!"

Qi Mu didn’t hide her satisfaction. "Impressive, right? I learned from you!"