Although the Sixth Princess might have had a point, she didn’t understand how crucial an army’s commander was. Without a General, no matter how large the force, they would be nothing but a disorganized mob, incapable of achieving anything.

Sang Qi frowned. Though he disliked both Ye Qianning and Xiang Minghou, ’Sixth Sister’s words are wrong! It’s true people would scramble for the title if it were offered, but none of them have the skill for it. If anyone could be a General, the four nations would have been unified long ago.’

Sang Zhi’s young face filled with anger. ’Brainless,’ he thought. ’As stupid as a pig.’

"Mother," Nanxiang said, pouting, her childish voice full of confusion, "I don’t understand. Father faces so much danger on the battlefield, and isn’t it all so that people can live in peace? But after they get their peaceful lives, they look down on him. So why should Father and the soldiers on the battlefield still have to fight to the death to protect them?"

Her words stunned everyone present.

’Yes, why should they?’

’What did they receive in return for fighting and dying?’

’Insults, mockery, and contempt?’

Xiang Minghou’s face was grim. He had heard every word. Lowering his gaze, he looked at his daughter’s small, bruised face, her eyes swollen like walnuts from crying. In his heart, a decision began to take shape.

Although Elder Gu didn’t involve himself in court affairs, he knew the Imperial Family was difficult to serve. He was a merchant and knew nothing of war, but he saw the scars covering Xiang Minghou. The man had sacrificed his ability to ever have another child for Beili, effectively ending his line, yet the imperials could say such things.

’It sends a chill down my spine just listening to it,’ he thought. ’I can’t imagine how Xiang Minghou must feel.’

He shook his head discreetly. ’It wasn’t worth it for Xiang Minghou.’

Zhan Yi’s wife couldn’t help but begin to sob. This was why the Zhan family forbade Zhan Chi from serving as an official or a soldier in his generation. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

For three generations, her husband’s family had served the court, whether on the battlefield or in official posts. Many had died, and the rest had been wounded.

Zhan Chi’s paternal grandparents and uncle had all died on the battlefield. She still remembered the night before her mother-in-law left with the army, how she had repeatedly urged her to make sure the Zhan family had an heir... and not to let her husband join the military.

Zhan Yi’s eyes were rimmed with red. His father, mother, and three older brothers had gone to war and never returned. Of the once-great Zhan family, he was the only one left...

’Where did the Sixth Princess’s words leave all those who had died?’

Gu Shuo thought, ’Thank goodness I already resigned my post as an Imperial Merchant...’

’Having a prince and princess like this in Beili is truly cause for concern.’

Qian Fu toyed with his Buddha Beads. Even though the Qian family had been exonerated, he had no intention of returning to a position at court. ’A monk’s life is simple and free, with ears and eyes untroubled by the world.’

’I’m too old now. I don’t want to concern myself with these matters anymore.’

Qian Fanji’s expression was cold, his eyes bottomless.

The imperial consorts didn’t dare to breathe a word. The happiest person in the room at that moment was, without a doubt, the Empress. ’Sang Shu has been utterly spoiled by Consort Yuan,’ she thought. ’Normally, she doesn’t even show me a shred of respect.’

’Now she’s in trouble, isn’t she? She spoiled her daughter into a fool who fears nothing. After so many years of favor, the Consort seems to have forgotten that the only thing that ever truly matters to the Emperor is personal gain.’

’The Imperial Family has many heirs. No one is irreplaceable, and no one’s favor lasts forever.’

"Mother?" Nanxiang called out, tilting her head when she received no answer.

Princess Changyang didn’t know how to respond and silently looked toward the Beili Emperor.

The Beili Emperor was so furious he could have strangled Sang Shu. But then his gaze fell on her bald head, and seeing her utterly wretched state, some of his anger subsided.

’No matter how insolent she is, a princess is still a princess of the realm,’ he thought. ’To be beaten into such a state by a General’s daughter is simply unacceptable.’

’She may have spoken out of turn, but that child from the Xiang family was also outrageously bold. Never before has the daughter of a subject dared to strike an imperial heir.’

"Shu’er, hurry up and admit your mistake to your Imperial Father," Consort Yuan snapped, turning to her daughter.

"Mother Consort..." Sang Shu started to protest, but she wilted under her mother’s gaze, dropped to her knees, and kowtowed. "Imperial Father, I was wrong."