The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress - Chapter 10

 Two officers strode forward, the thick rattan rods in their hands swaying slightly with each step, exuding a chilling aura of authority.

Peng Yong-shen was forcefully pressed onto the punishment bench, her eyes shut tight, teeth gritted, and body tense as she braced for the intense pain.

Xiong Shao-qing watched with a cold gaze, her heart unmoved by Peng Yong-shen’s actions. In her mind, Peng Yong-shen had been too reckless. Challenging an officer was one thing, but openly defying military regulations? The punishment was her own doing.

Peng Yong-shen didn’t regret challenging Xiong Shao-qing. As the illegitimate daughter of the Minister of War, Peng Yong, she had grown up neglected by her father, desperate to make a name for herself and prove her worth. She had believed her martial skills were enough to stand out among the new recruits, but Xiong Shao-qing’s strength far exceeded her imagination, completely derailing her plans.

With a dull thud, the rattan rod struck Peng Yong-shen’s back. A sharp jolt of pain hit her, and her body involuntarily trembled. The second and third strikes followed in quick succession. Each blow felt like a heavy stomp on her pride, but she stubbornly endured, not making a sound.

Sweat dripped from her face, mixing with dirt and blood. Her back was soon covered in a series of deep, uneven welts. The surrounding female recruits watched with a mix of expressions—some with pity, some with awe, but most with a sense of caution. They understood this was a warning to everyone. Once they entered Xuanbing Camp, absolute obedience to a superior officer was required.

When the punishment was over, the officers put away their rods. Lin Jing-mo announced that the recruits were to be dismissed on the spot. Xiong Shao-qing, Huang Yu, and Peng Yong-shen were to stay behind. The rest of the recruits quickly dispersed.

Lin Jing-mo stepped down from the platform and began to assign training duties and barracks arrangements. Team leaders and their deputies would share a room, while the other team members would sleep in a large communal bunk with ten people per room. After giving his instructions, Lin Jing-mo patted Xiong Shao-qing’s shoulder, encouraging her to do well. He then turned to Peng Yong-shen, the smile on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a stern expression.

“You are not allowed to ask for leave tomorrow. If you can’t take the heat, don’t make a fool of yourself here—get out.” With that, he turned and strode away.

Peng Yong-shen collapsed to the ground, her entire body in agony, but she still stubbornly struggled to get up. Seeing this, Huang Yu stepped forward to help, her face showing pity.

“Let’s go back to the barracks and rest. At least the official training doesn’t start until tomorrow, so you’ll have half a day to recover.”

“Alright… thank you…” Peng Yong-shen replied weakly, her voice fragmented.

“The barracks isn’t far. Just hold on a little longer. I brought some wound medicine; it’ll help you heal faster,” Xiong Shao-qing said after a moment’s thought, deciding to extend an olive branch. Even though Peng Yong-shen held hostility toward her, they had to work together in the future, and she wanted to maintain a decent facade. She was also a little curious about the source of Peng Yong-shen’s hostility.

The three arrived at the barracks and entered to see three simple wooden beds lined up side by side. The room also had three wall cupboards and a desk, with no other unnecessary furnishings. Huang Yu helped Peng Yong-shen to a bed, where she lay face down, exposing her back.

Xiong Shao-qing took out the wound medicine she’d bought at the clinic from her pack. Huang Yu took it and gently applied it to Peng Yong-shen’s bruised back. Peng Yong-shen suppressed her pain, burying her hatred deep within her heart, not revealing a single trace.

After the medicine was applied, she sincerely thanked Huang Yu, then turned to Xiong Shao-qing, her face showing a perfectly timed expression of remorse. She lowered her head slightly, her voice soft and sincere. “I was too rash. I shouldn’t have challenged you and openly violated military regulations. I’m truly sorry. I thought you would hold a grudge, but I never expected you to be so magnanimous and even give me medicine. Thank you, truly.” As she spoke, she looked up, her eyes full of gratitude, but a flicker of resentment flashed deep within them, almost imperceptible.

Xiong Shao-qing’s expression was calm as she looked at Peng Yong-shen. “It’s alright. I can understand wanting to fight for a higher position. But military regulations come first. Just don’t make the same mistake again.”

Peng Yong-shen’s expression froze for a moment before she lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. “To be honest, I’m the illegitimate daughter of the Minister of War, Peng Yong. I’ve had no status in the household since I was a child, and my mother was constantly bullied by the main wife. I was so desperate to prove myself that I acted impulsively. I’m truly sorry, and I hope you can understand.” As she spoke, she looked up at Xiong Shao-qing, her eyes full of sincerity, but her right hand, hidden in the quilt, tightly clenched her clothes.

Since Peng Yong-shen had lowered her stance, Xiong Shao-qing didn’t want to hold a grudge, and the two resumed a semblance of peace on the surface.

Seeing the atmosphere relax, Huang Yu began to introduce herself. “My name is Huang Yu. I used to be a traveling performer, doing knife tricks on the streets. I lived a life of constant wandering.” She let out a hearty laugh, her voice loud and clear. “I really didn’t want to live that life anymore, so I came to enlist, hoping for a more stable future.”

Seeing Huang Yu’s candid demeanor, Xiong Shao-qing felt a sense of goodwill toward her. With a slight smile on her face, she spoke in a light tone. “My family is in Yongning Prefecture. My parents are farmers, but they wanted me to have a future, so they sent me to a private school and had me learn martial arts. When I heard about the recruitment, I thought I’d give it my all, earn a good salary, and let them live a comfortable life.”

Xiong Shao-qing’s eyes were filled with determination. Huang Yu looked at her, her heart full of envy. She longed for family, but she had been alone for as long as she could remember. She had finally taken in a younger brother, only to be forcibly separated from him. Huang Yu secretly vowed to make a name for herself and rescue her brother.

The next day, training officially began. From morning to noon, the recruits practiced formation drills, striving for perfect uniformity. From afternoon to evening, they had individual training, where the female soldiers could choose their preferred weapon.

By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted except for Xiong Shao-qing. Peng Yong-shen, especially, found it difficult to train with her injuries from the flogging. She blamed it all on Xiong Shao-qing and planned to secretly plot a scheme to make her stumble once her injuries healed.

Watching Xiong Shao-qing appear energetic and unfazed, most of the other female soldiers were full of admiration. Huang Yu was especially impressed. Only Peng Yong-shen’s face was grim, her fists clenched, seething with jealousy at how Xiong Shao-qing could possess such great stamina.

After training ended, everyone was exhausted and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

At a quarter past three in the morning, a deep, long horn blast suddenly echoed through Xuanbing Camp, instantly shattering the silence of the night. It was the assembly horn, demanding all soldiers to gather immediately.

Most of the new recruits were still in a deep slumber, startled awake by the sudden sound. They rushed out of their barracks in a flurry, their clothes disheveled, some not even having time to put on their shoes. They haphazardly gathered at the back of the formation, looking disorganized and chaotic.

Standing on the high platform, Lin Jing-mo’s face was ashen. It took a good while for all the new recruits to finally assemble. Looking at the chaotic scene before him, his eyes blazed with fury, and his voice, like a tolling bell, resonated throughout the entire training ground. “You are the worst batch of recruits I have ever trained!”

Lin Jing-mo’s face was grim as he continued to roar, “In a battle, if you were to encounter a sneak attack, your heads would be long gone! How can you even talk about defending the nation?!”

“The assembly horn is a military order! And a military order is as unshakable as a mountain! But what did you do? You dawdled and took your sweet time after hearing the horn! Is this how you treat a military order??” Lin Jing-mo’s voice grew even more powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

“Punishment! All new recruits, run twenty laps around the field and do one hundred push-ups, immediately!” He paused, his sharp gaze falling on the team leaders and their deputies. “Xiong Shao-qing, Huang Yu, and Peng Yong-shen, as leaders and deputy leaders, you failed to supervise your teams. Your crime is greater, and your punishment is doubled! Now, execute the order immediately! Anyone caught slacking will be dealt with by military law!”

Lin Jing-mo’s words were stern and uncompromising. As soon as he finished, the new recruits dared not delay and immediately began to run. This sudden punishment instantly woke everyone up; no one dared to be careless again.

Xiong Shao-qing was used to this. She had gone through all kinds of rigorous training since she was a child; even unreasonable demands were commonplace for her. Her father had always been strict with her, and seeing this scene now, she couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic for him.

Peng Yong-shen was indignant. Why should she, as a deputy leader, be punished extra? She was a manager, yet she was still being oppressed by a superior. It was infuriating. The bigger the rank, the more power you have. She vowed that once she made a name for herself, she would never endure such injustice again.

Huang Yu, however, had a peaceful mindset. She felt that as a deputy leader, she had indeed failed in her supervisory duties, and the punishment was deserved. She had nothing to complain about. She used to have no fixed residence, and now that she was in Xuanbing Camp, she would do what was required. She only hoped to gain a foothold and achieve something so she could rescue her only family member from that person’s clutches.

Huang Yu’s mind wandered to the past. She had been surviving alone in the world until she was eight years old when she saw a bewildered, three-year-old child in Fei-du City. Although she was young, she had already experienced a lot of life’s hardships. Fearing the child might be in danger, she gave him some food and took him back to the dilapidated temple where she lived. From then on, they depended on each other. Their life was tough, but they managed. She had asked the child his name, but he shook his head. Seeing that the child was handsome, she named him Huang Jun.

The two of them traveled from street to street, performing for a living. Who would have thought that one day, while performing in Zhaoyang County, ten-year-old Huang Jun would be forcefully taken away by a young master. Huang Yu went to report it, but the officials protected each other. The county magistrate, feeling sympathy for her, secretly told her that the young master was Zhou Yi, the youngest son of the Minister of Works. He was doted on by his father and was known for his arrogance and bullying. The magistrate said he was just a small official and couldn’t afford to offend the Minister, so the matter had to be dropped.

Huang Yu was filled with resentment but also understood the magistrate’s predicament. From that day on, she resolved to make a name for herself and rescue her brother, Huang Jun. After all, they had lived together for seven or eight years; their bond was deep, even if they weren’t blood relatives.

Soon after, she heard about the military recruitment and traveled from Zhaoyang County to Fei-du City, successfully passing the evaluation.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and the new recruits had gradually adapted to the training at Xuanbing Camp.

One day, the sun hung high in the sky, casting light on the Xuanbing Camp training ground, illuminating a series of tall, straight figures. Lin Jing-mo stood on the high platform, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the new recruits below.

At this moment, the recruits were performing formation drills. Their steps were uniform, and their chants were loud and powerful. Compared to their initial unorganized state, their progress was significant. The formation was like a block of meticulously carved stone—solid and orderly. Under Xiong Shao-qing’s command, the recruits advanced and retreated in an orderly manner, their turns sharp and precise. Every action demonstrated military discipline. Lin Jing-mo nodded to himself, quite satisfied.

Next was the individual skill test. The new recruits took turns demonstrating their swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship. Their movements were more practiced, and their control over strength and speed was more natural. Their swordplay was like a dancing dragon, their arrows flew with fierce speed, and the thunderous sound of hooves proved the effort they had put in.

Lin Jing-mo watched it all with a sense of relief. He stepped down from the platform and stood in front of the formation, his eyes full of praise. “Well done. Your hard work and progress have not gone unnoticed.” He paused, his voice growing deeper and more powerful. “A soldier’s honor lies in resilience and courage. Keep pushing, and you can become even stronger!”

Lin Jing-mo’s encouragement filled the recruits with fighting spirit. They stood tall, their eyes shining with unwavering determination.

“Next is your quarterly leave, which will last for three days. You are free to do as you please, but you must not be late for your return! Team leader Xiong Shao-qing and deputies Huang Yu and Peng Yong-shen, stay behind. Everyone else, dismissed!”

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