She had only one purpose in returning to the capital. To reclaim what her father and brothers had paid for with their blood and lives—it must never fall into the hands of the second branch of the family!
As these words fell, murmurs immediately rippled through the surroundings.
Shen Qingxi was utterly stunned. She had thought Shen Qingwu merely wanted to seize her status as the Marquis Manor Miss, never imagining that this seemingly frail cousin actually aimed to snatch her father’s nobility rank!
The Emperor’s smile remained on his face, but his eyes darkened first. Even the Grand Princess was deeply surprised.
Time passed in silence, the Emperor merely watching the young girl kneeling on the ground with a faint smile, not uttering a word.
Shen Qingwu straightened her slender spine, her pale little face filled with determination. Countless skeptical gazes pricked her like thorns, yet she met the Emperor’s warning eyes without flinching.
The Crown Prince timely stood up, gently breaking the stalemate: “Eldest Miss Shen is requesting His Majesty to bestow a marriage upon her.”
The hall immediately erupted in relieved laughter, with many chiming in that she had indeed reached the age for marriage discussions.
“No!” Shen Qingwu’s voice was clear and resolute, “What this commoner girl requests is to inherit her late father’s nobility rank.”
“Preposterous!” The Fourth Prince slammed the table and stood up, “Since ancient times, has there ever been a precedent for a woman to inherit a peerage? Once you marry, the rank will naturally pass to your husband—won’t it still be yours then?”
He scanned the surroundings, his tone mocking: “At worst, you could request His Majesty’s permission to take a husband who’ll marry into your family, preserving the rank for your future descendants. But how could a mere woman like you personally inherit the title? This is the greatest absurdity under heaven!”
Shen Qingwu raised her head, candlelight dancing like stars in her eyes: “I beg Your Majesty to permit this commoner girl to inherit her late father’s nobility rank!”
Her eyes slightly reddened—she wanted both to reclaim the rank and to avoid depending on others.
That would only lead to her being controlled again.
Since there was no precedent, then she would become that precedent!
Under everyone’s astonished gazes, the Emperor’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
“Shen Qingwu.” The Emperor spoke gravely, and the hall immediately fell silent.
“Your father, Yongyi Hou, joined the army at sixteen, was appointed Great General capable of independent command at twenty-one, and guarded the Northern Territory for twelve full years starting at twenty-seven, experiencing ninety-three battles great and small! Your elder brother Shen Qingfeng, during his first battle at eighteen, led a hundred light cavalry in a surprise attack on the enemy camp, burning their supplies and lifting the siege of the border city. I personally praised him as having ‘Youthful Tiger Might’.”
“Your second brother Shen Qingluan was the youngest Military Supplies Transfer Envoy in the Northern Territory Army! I remember, four years ago when heavy snow blocked the roads in the Northern Territory and supplies were cut off, he personally led a team of three hundred laborers through waist-deep snow for seven days and nights, delivering food to the front lines. When he returned, three of his fingers were frostbitten beyond use, but he saved the lives of three thousand of our soldiers!”
His voice resonated deeply through the hall, each word carrying immense weight that struck everyone’s hearts. Among the full court of civil and military officials, many veteran generals showed expressions of remembrance and grief.
“They were the backbone of our Da Sheng, my most trusted pillars! Their merits, I have never forgotten for a single day, and the historical records of Da Sheng will surely record their deeds with profound significance!”
The Emperor’s gaze returned to Shen Qingwu, carrying both scrutiny and a trace of complex tolerance born from remembrance of her father and brothers.
“Precisely for this reason, I cannot rashly bestow this Nobility Rank earned with their lives.” He leaned forward slightly, an intangible imperial pressure descending upon the hall. “Shen Qingwu, tell me—what abilities do you possess, what qualifications do you have to inherit the title ‘Courageous and Resolute’? Is it merely because you carry the Shen family bloodline and this… reckless bravery that knows no bounds?”
Amid the hall’s profound silence, Shen Qingwu slowly raised her head. She showed neither panic nor retreat. Instead, her clear eyes ignited with moving light under the Emperor’s imposing pressure.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for remembering these things. But this common woman does not make this request lightly.” Her voice rang clear, each word distinct. “I beg Your Majesty to grant me an opportunity to demonstrate.”
As her words faded, her gaze suddenly shifted to an elderly general among the attendees—Duke Zhen Guo. He had fought alongside Shen Qingwu’s father and brother in the Northern Territory, and now suffered from chronic injuries that flared up during rainy weather, leaving his right hand unable to lift heavy objects—a fact well-known throughout the court.
“This common woman observes from Duke Zhen Guo’s complexion that cold energy from old injuries has penetrated deep into his meridians. Does your right arm feel as if pierced by needles and frozen solid around midnight, making restful sleep impossible?”
Duke Zhen Guo started violently, instinctively responding: “You… how could you know this?”
Shen Qingwu didn’t answer, instead turning to a pale-faced senior eunuch beside the Emperor: “Esteemed Eunuch, have you recently experienced tinnitus like cicadas, dizzy spells, and found temporary relief only after drinking cold water?”
The eunuch jumped in surprise, stealing a glance at the Emperor. Seeing no objection from His Majesty, he whispered: “…The young lady’s assessment is accurate.”
Within moments, Shen Qingwu pointed out several attendees in succession, accurately describing their hidden ailments and symptoms with perfect precision! The hall’s initial skepticism gradually transformed into astonished silence.
She turned back to face the Emperor, bowing deeply: “This is the ‘Qi Observation’ technique of Medicine King Valley. Though lacking in talent, I have received personal instruction in the medical arts from the Medicine King himself.”
Shen Qingwu’s voice carried clearly throughout the grand hall, her gaze pure and steadfast as she met the Emperor’s eyes:
“Your Majesty, the current peace in the Northern Territory is the good fortune of all people. However, many court officials and border troops who serve the nation tirelessly suffer from chronic illnesses and old injuries. Although the Imperial Hospital gathers numerous skilled physicians, they are primarily dedicated to Your Majesty and the palace nobility’s health, leaving them overstretched.”
She turned slightly, her gaze sweeping over the numerous military officers and civil officials present: “This common woman wishes to establish a medical clinic in the capital, charging no fees, specifically treating persistent and difficult illnesses for meritorious soldiers, honest officials, and their families. Firstly, to repay Your Majesty’s kindness in remembering my father and brother’s contributions. Secondly, to share Your Majesty’s burdens and comfort the hearts of loyal ministers and capable generals, enabling them to continue serving our great Da Sheng.”
These were all plans she had contemplated during her journey back to the capital, and what she genuinely wished to accomplish. Her master had said that physicians cannot heal human hearts.
She wanted to try.
“Furthermore,” Shen Qingwu shifted topics, drawing several handwritten pages from her sleeve that were passed to the Emperor by attendants, “these are the ‘Wounded Soldier First Aid Manual’ and several inexpensive yet highly effective Trauma Medicine and Epidemic Prevention Formulas I compiled based on Medicine King Valley texts, combined with Northern Territory climate conditions and common battle injuries.”
She declared clearly: “If these methods can be implemented among border troops, they might grant our Da Sheng sons one more chance at survival when wounded, and one more layer of protection against epidemics!”
She kowtowed deeply once more:
“I beg Your Majesty’s wise judgment! What this common woman seeks is not personal power or position, but to continue the heart that protected home and country embodied by my father and brother! I wish to use this body’s medical skills, here in the capital, to uphold the will of ‘Courage and Resolve’!”
Shen Qingwu’s words were like a massive stone cast into an ancient well, stirring a silent yet monumental wave within Qionglin Courtyard.
All sound ceased.
In that instant, the resplendent hall seemed to freeze. Music fell silent, conversations halted, and even the palace maids moving among them instinctively held their breath.
What she had presented was no mere prescription? This was a grand strategy to sustain a dynasty’s military strength and comfort its frontier armies.
Several white-bearded old generals unconsciously clenched their fists, their chests heaving violently. They understood better than anyone what an effective battlefield medical method meant—how many comrades would return home alive, and how greatly it would boost the army’s morale!
Just then, a dull clap of thunder rolled down from the highest heavens, exploding with a deafening roar.
A blinding flash of lightning illuminated Shen Qingwu’s pale, nearly translucent skin, and also lit the twin flames burning ever brighter in her eyes.
The thunder rumbled on.
The Emperor looked up at the sky and suddenly laughed:
“Excellent! Then We shall grant you this opportunity.”