Chapter 1143: Ruyi of the Wang Clan of Qingshan City

The cat sniffed the air and looked up.

It seemed to sense something.

Beside it, Ruyi noticed the cat's reaction.

She asked, "What is it?"

Lihua snapped out of its daze and muttered, "Nothing."

Ruyi paid it no mind. She turned back and continued following the official.

This time, she was on her way to receive her reward.

Not to become some momo, but a proper commandery princess.

Ruyi originally hadn't wanted to go, but considering their past ties and wanting to cut all future connections anyway, she decided to give him face this one last time. Not to mention, people from the palace had come straight to her door to invite her, speaking so humbly and pleadingly that she felt a bit bad about refusing. So, here she was.

Following the official into the Imperial Palace, Ruyi remained curious the whole way. She asked, "Why was it an official who came to invite me, instead of a eunuch?"

"Miss Wang might not know, but nowadays... nowadays there are hardly any eunuchs left in the palace..."

The official smiled; those who knew, knew.

After all, His Majesty had not ascended the throne through orthodox means. Most of the eunuchs from the previous dynasty were currently sitting in prison.

Ruyi scoffed and said, "So, you're saying Yan Nantian has killed quite a few people."

The official jolted. "Miss Wang, please speak cautiously! How can you refer to His Majesty by name?"

"Alright, alright. Then just tell me, what kind of people has he killed?"

"This..."

"Just say it. I definitely won't mention you. We'll just say 'he'—who knows who 'he' is anyway?"

The official merely smiled and shook his head, not daring to say more.

He simply did not possess Ruyi's kind of nerve.

Ruyi didn't force the issue, taking a different angle. "Those officials from the previous dynasty, were they all thrown into prison?"

"They've been locked up for a long time. Not many of them are still alive."

"Huh?"

"Miss, you might not know, but there's a saying: 'Better to be a convict laborer than linger in a cell.' It didn't take long before some of them started hanging themselves."

"They deserved it."

Ruyi said, "Those dog officials pushed a child out to deliver the letter of surrender, hiding in the back like cowards terrified of losing their lives. Since they wanted to live so badly, let them be the first to die."

The official breathed a sigh of relief, deathly afraid that Ruyi would utter more treasonous words.

"Not bad, he knows how to play the game. When the historians write this down, they won't record it as him ruthlessly executing them; they'll just write that these people yearned for the old dynasty and hanged themselves in prison. Tsk, tsk. Yan Nantian isn't entirely stupid..."

"Heh... heh..."

The official broke into a cold sweat, completely unwilling to touch that remark.

By the time Ruyi arrived outside the grand hall, she looked around and saw a large crowd already waiting.

A protocol officer periodically stepped out of the hall to read aloud an imperial decree.

"Staff Officer Chang Zhengyun of the Right Long Army, step forward to receive your appointment!"

"This humble subject greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty..."

"The realm is newly settled. We wish to honor virtue and ability to bring peace to the state. Thus, We specially appoint you as the Deputy Commander of the Jinwu Guard. You ought to humbly accept counsel, serve diligently, and cherish the people..."

Several people in a row received their appointments.

Ruyi waited below, starting to doze off.

"When is it my turn? I'm getting sleepy."

The official beside her said, "It will be Miss Wang's turn momentarily."

Before he even finished speaking, the protocol officer called out.

"Ruyi, daughter of the Wang Clan of Qingshan City, step forward to receive your edict!"

Hearing this, Ruyi stepped out and slowly walked forward under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

The surrounding soldiers and officials were puzzled by this unfamiliar face, murmuring among themselves in confusion.

"Who is she?"

"I've never seen her before."

"Never seen her."

No one in front of the hall had much of an impression of her.

Ruyi walked up but did not kneel to receive the decree. Instead, she asked, "Do I have to kneel?"

The protocol officer smiled and answered, "His Majesty said that if Miss Wang does not wish to kneel, standing to receive the decree is perfectly fine."

It was clear Yan Nantian had anticipated this and had given specific instructions beforehand.

The protocol officer coughed lightly, unrolled the imperial decree, and read aloud: "We rose from humble beginnings. Fortunately, with the aid of Our subjects, We ascended to the great throne. Along this journey, We fell into peril several times. Ruyi of the Wang Clan of Qingshan City holds the illustrious reputation of a Sword Immortal in the jianghu, and has saved Us from danger on three separate occasions."

"Ruyi, daughter of the Wang Clan of Qingshan City, possesses both virtue and talent, outstanding martial prowess, and spearmanship akin to the divine, yielding to no man. We are deeply moved by her character and ability. Today, We specifically confer upon her the title of Commandery Princess Ruyi. May she enjoy wealth and glory, pass down her family's incense, and uphold a heart of benevolence, governing diligently to benefit the people, ever mindful of the eternal prosperity of the nation!"

Ruyi stepped forward and took the imperial decree.

Her gaze shifted toward the inside of the hall.

The grand hall was magnificent and resplendent, and the man seated on the Dragon Throne was looking right at her.

Ruyi raised the imperial decree with one hand, waved it a bit, and said, "Thanks."

Yan Nantian's brow twitched slightly, but he said nothing.

Following that, Ruyi carried the imperial decree down the steps. Before long, she vanished from his sight.

An official inside the hall spoke up, "Your Majesty, this woman knows nothing of respect or hierarchy. If..."

Yan Nantian waved his hand, silencing the official.

"This matter shall not be mentioned again. Continue with the conferments."

The officials were struck dumb, saying no more.

On this day, every official in Shangjing City came to know of Ruyi of the Wang Clan. She was granted her own name as her title and stood to receive her edict without incurring His Majesty's wrath. This couldn't help but make the civil and military officials immensely curious about her.

Dong Chiyu had been waiting outside the palace gates and saw Ruyi walking out with Lihua.

She hurried over and asked, "How did it go? Did His Majesty make things difficult for you?"

Seeing her anxious expression, Ruyi said, "Look at how panicked you are. Relax, what could possibly happen? Here, the imperial decree—take a look. You were actually right. He really did make me a commandery princess, and even used my name as my title. I suppose I'm the first case of this in a hundred years."

Dong Chiyu breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Didn't you already ask him about this? Why are you talking like you just found out?"

"It's not the same. I just had a huge argument with him yesterday. Who knew if he would try to trip me up today? If he really made me a momo like you joked, I would've been thoroughly humiliated."

Dong Chiyu covered her mouth with a laugh. "Then you would've torn down his Fengtian Hall."

Ruyi grinned. "Don't tempt me; I really would have."

Dong Chiyu shook her head with a sigh. "You, ah, you. If you really started a brawl in there, you definitely would've made a name for yourself."

Ruyi lifted her chin and said, "I'm already famous."

Dong Chiyu looked at her and asked, "What did you do this time?"

"I stood while receiving the imperial decree," Ruyi said.

Dong Chiyu suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Ruyi kept walking. Seeing that her friend hadn't followed, she looked back and asked, "Why did you stop?"

Dong Chiyu just looked at her and shook her head helplessly.

Ruyi walked back, grabbed her hand, and said, "Come on, Blockhead. Stop worrying about this and that. Relax, I'm perfectly fine. Who would dare cause trouble for me?"

Dong Chiyu said, "I just feel that you shouldn't have given him so little face. No matter what, he's still..."

"Alright, alright, I know. Let's go. Your big sister is a commandery princess now! I'm taking you out for a good meal. Let's go!"