Liu Zhenqing asked Huo Fenglie about it when he returned at night, but Huo Fenglie had no idea. He only knew that Dai Tingyu had issued a city-wide arrest warrant. But when it came to Dai Tingyu’s situation, the man seemed somewhat nervous, especially in regard to Tang Rou. Dai Tingyu seemed to be hiding something, and was fearful of Huo Fenglie finding out.

However, Huo Fenglie didn’t ask further questions.

Liu Zhenqing truly hated iron for not becoming steel, ah. How could he not have asked more questions? But soon, Liu Zhenqing became aware of what was going on.

Within the first two days, Dai Tingyu captured Uncle Tang and escorted him back to the City Lord’s manor so that Tang Rou could interrogate him.

Only then did Liu Zhenqing lay eyes on Dai Tingyu. The man often stared blankly at Tang Rou, but when Tang Rou looked over, he would immediately move his gaze away again with a look of discomfort on his face.

Liu Zhenqing instantly understood.

But before this situation could be exposed, there was a sudden commotion outside the City Lord’s manor.

Immediately after, a few officials rushed inside to find Tang Rou.

When they saw her, they got straight to the point. It had been exposed that the City Lord was a woman

Currently, it could be said that the entire city was in an uproar.

The officials, the servants, and the crowd outside the City Lord’s manor all seemed like shackles on Tang Rou’s body.

Her expression was no longer very surprised, but her face was pale. She looked down at her uncle, who was kneeling at the front of the hall.

And Uncle Tang was already trembling. It was clear that he had caused this.

“City Lord, are you really…..” Somebody stepped forward.

Dai Tingyu immediately stood in front of the visitor and said: “Do you still have discipline? You just believe what others say! I…..I can certify that the City Lord is a man! Are you just like the ignorant people outside, slandering the City Lord because of hearsay?!”

When Dai Tingyu said this, everyone who was about to take action fell silent.

But that fool Uncle Tang felt that if Tang Rou didn’t step down at this time, something might befall him. So he shouted: “Why did you arrest me? I didn’t make a mistake, I just told the truth! You…..are my niece, Tang Rou. Tang Mu died nine years ago, and Tang Rou replaced him as City Lord. You’ve all been deceived! This is a crime of deceiving the emperor! Don’t let this little girl keep fooling you!”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Dai Tingyu swiftly kicked Uncle Tang over.

Uncle Tang shouted: “Commander Dai supports my niece to such an extent, could it be that he’s having an affair with her?!”

These words were simply the most vicious insult. Dai Tingyu drew his sword in a fury.

Uncle Tang shouted at once: “If you don’t believe it, ask her to remove her clothes in public. She’s still unmarried and has no other women around her. Don’t you doubt her?”

Everyone looked toward Tang Rou in suspicion. 

Tang-furen had heard the news that her brother had been arrested, and also rushed over at this time in embarrassment. She originally intended to plead for her brother, but upon witnessing this scene, she was dumbfounded: “What do you think you’re doing!”

Uncle Tang saw his sister and quickly shouted: “Sister, you’re her mother. You are the best proof that I’m not lying. What I said was obviously true, but they still arrested me.”

In a rare occurrence, Tang-furen stood on her daughter’s side. She stepped forward and shoved Uncle Tang: “You’re crazy! Crazy! It’s all nonsense!”

Tang-furen often threatened her daughter, but never intended to actually expose her publicly. After all, this was a crime of deceiving the emperor!

Uncle Tang was angered by this: “How am I crazy? Sister is the one who’s crazy, actually thinking she’s the dead Tang Mu. You promised to give me the position of City Lord, but now you’re going back on your promise and allowing others to drive me away. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have…..”

Tang-furen couldn’t believe that the promise she’d made had actually given Uncle Tang this ambition. In the end, she had caused her daughter to be hurt. She looked at her daughter with great regret. Everything felt irreversible, and for an instant, she wanted to slam herself into a wall and end it all. 

Tang Rou closed her eyes and shouted for them to stop it. She was well and truly exhausted.

“I…..” Tang Rou was about to take off her official hat and reveal everything.

Suddenly, Liu Zhenqing’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“Tang-chengzhu is indeed a woman.”

Everyone looked toward Liu Zhenqing the moment he said this. Dai Tingyu was sweating anxiously. He wanted to refute, but seeing Tang Rou’s ashen expression, he didn’t know what to say.

“It’s just as I told you,” Uncle Tang shouted at once, “If you still don’t believe me, then you’ve all been fooled by her.”

The people present couldn’t help but make a clamor.

But then Liu Zhenqing walked over and directly kicked Uncle Tang, who cried out and glared at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing went to Tang Rou’s side and addressed everyone coldly: “Everyone, be quiet and listen to me.”

His voice couldn’t be considered commanding, but its condensed authority inexplicably silence everyone present.

“General Huo has known for some years that Tang-chengzhu is a woman.”

These words were like thunder, shocking everyone.

Even Tang Rou was staring at Liu Zhenqing blankly.

Liu Zhenqing said calmly: “Back then, Tang Mu left for business, leaving his sister Tang Rou to temporarily take on the position of City Lord in order to prevent the surrounding countries from seizing the opportunity to cause chaos. They didn’t expect that something would happen to Tang Mu at that time. But the borders of Great Zhou were unstable, and the three southwest countries were looking on with anticipation. Great Zhou was considering sending more garrison troops to Nanfeng City during that period. Tang Rou didn’t know how best to act, so she wrote a letter to General Huo explaining the situation, and was willing to accept the punishment for her crime. Upon learning that Tang Rou was the interim City Lord of Nanfeng City and was managing it properly, he asked her in his reply to continue managing it in case something unexpected happened.”

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard this, and stared at Tang Rou in disbelief.

Uncle Tang regarded her with a horrified expression.

And Tang Rou knew that Liu Zhenqing was lying. She had never done any of this.

Liu Zhenqing continued: “And General Huo promised to explain his reasoning to His Majesty in private. As you all know, war was constant at that time, and General Huo rarely returned to the capital, so the matter was repeatedly delayed. But before coming here and accepting the Imperial Edict, General Huo wrote to His Majesty for an Imperial Edict to appoint Tang Rou as City Lord. I believe this edict is on its way, and everything will be reasonable and legal at that time. Do you still have any doubts?”

Dai Tingyu looked toward Tang Rou, but she was looking at Liu Zhenqing. She was in a daze, feeling that although the person in front of her was obviously not tall, he was still holding back a flood. He was just as dazzling as that person, causing one to be unable to tear their eyes away.

“Young Master, is what you say true?” Someone asked. “If you’re lying, then…..”

“It’s a lie, it must be a lie! You’re just using General Huo’s name to help her get away with it!” Uncle Tang shouted at once.

“It’s so noisy, Commander Dai.” Liu Zhenqing glanced at him.

Dai Tingyu understood immediately and stepped forward, knocking Uncle Tang unconscious to await interrogation.

Liu Zhenqing looked at everyone once more and said with a smile: “Don’t worry, when General Huo comes back later, you can ask him to see if I’m lying.”

When he said this, someone dared to ask: “Where is General Huo right now?”

Liu Zhenqing smiled and pointed out the door to the north.

“Fifty thousand troops are coming here, so he naturally went to pick them up.”

It was unknown if it was just a psychological effect, but everyone felt the ground shaking slightly at this moment. That was the movement of 50,000 cavalry heading toward Nanfeng City.

Everyone present wore solemn expressions, as if they didn’t dare to offend Liu Zhenqing at all.

“Don’t worry, if you have any questions, you can ask me or General Huo later.” Liu Zhenqing’s smile remained unchanged, but there was no trace of one in his eyes. “Our Great Zhou Dynasty has laws that permit women to take office, so General Huo recommended Tang Rou to continue as City Lord based on her past achievements. If everyone feels that Tang Rou was incompetent and inadequate during her nine years as City Lord, hindering the development of Nanfeng City, or if you feel that someone else would do better than her, or perhaps you already dislike her because of her former false identity as Tang Mu, you can also make reports, suggestions, and recommendations to General Huo. While General Huo is still in Nanfeng City, he will help you take care of it in one go so that you’re all satisfied. How about it?”

Liu Zhenqing glanced at everyone, and they lowered their gazes. After all, no one could justifiably say that Tang Rou hadn’t done well.

“Tang Rou is a woman, after all, so she certainly has her shortcomings. Everyone talk it over. If you don’t speak up, you won’t have a chance in the future.” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile, “Tang Rou, if you don’t wish to be City Lord, you can dismiss yourself when the Imperial Edict arrives and recommend someone else. You have the freedom to do so.”

Tang Rou stared blankly at Liu Zhenqing, not knowing for the moment which of his words were true or false.

But the others were a bit flustered. It wasn’t a question of whether the City Lord was qualified, but whether Tang-chengzhu wanted to lead them.

Everyone examined their own consciences, and really didn’t think that Tang Rou had done anything wrong. In the past, they had praised her the most for being young and promising, a model member of the Tang family. Now that they knew she was a woman, they still felt at first that a woman couldn’t take on such a huge responsibility. But now Liu Zhenqing had said these things, giving them the right to refuse and Tang Rou the opportunity to choose, they didn’t feel happy at all.

At this moment, Dai Tingyu said with a sneer: “I’ve been here for many years, and whether male or female, I haven’t met anyone better than the City Lord. I’m willing to follow her. But if someone else takes over, it remains to be seen if the General can be convinced.”

Stunned, Tang Mu looked at Dai Tingyu.

Dai Tingyu didn’t avoid eye contact now, and nodded firmly at Tang Rou.

Everyone seemed to recall that when Dai Tingyu first came to Nanfeng City, his Dai family had produced military commanders for generations, and there was a precedent for their women to be marquis. So when he came, his status was higher than anyone present here. There was no one he didn’t look down on, not even the weak, scholar-like Tang Rou. But later on, he was gradually tamed by Tang Rou’s management ability, as they had witnessed themselves. 

Now that Dai Tingyu had said this, they could only acknowledge Tang Rou’s ability.

The shaking of the ground seemed to gradually stop at this moment, and very soon, someone announced that General Huo was coming.

When Huo Fenglie arrived, he sensed something off about the atmosphere. He glanced at Liu Zhenqing and was given a playful wink.

Someone came forward at this time to ask cautiously: “General Huo, have you known for a long time that Tang Rou is a woman? We’re not…..calling you into question, we’re just worried that there is a possibility of a crime. These subordinates will listen to you…..”

Not waiting for the man to probe further, Huo Fenglie said directly: “I knew from the start. His words are my will. Are there any questions?”

Huo Fenglie’s expressionless majesty turned all of Liu Zhenqing’s unbelievable words to facts. The dust settled. 

Liu Zhenqing smiled in satisfaction. Tang Rou didn’t expect even the general to lie so easily on her behalf. 

Tang Rou drew in a deep breath. She stepped forward and cupped her hands, saying: “Everyone, it was wrong of me to deceive you. But since I became City Lord in my brother’s stead, I have tried my best, and have never done anything detrimental to Nanfeng City. Everyone, please believe in me and join me in protecting Nanfeng City through this calamity. If you have no faith in me, you can dismiss me, and I will have no complaints. I have worked with you all throughout the years. Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”

Tang Rou bowed deeply after she finished speaking. She wasn’t Tang Mu, but she was still the person who had been City Lord for the past nine years. She was faultless, her grace undiminished.

At this time, someone finally said: “Tang-chengzhu, don’t say that. As long as you don’t violate the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I’m willing to follow you.”

Once one person spoke up, others spoke up one after another to pledge their allegiance. In the end, all of the officials in the room saluted Tang Rou.

How many of them were sincere? How much of this was due to the support of Huo Fenglie and Dai Tingyu? None of this mattered to Tang Rou.

Tang Rou’s mental barriers were no more.

She was willing to be City Lord if others supported her, and willing to step down if they didn’t .

Tang Rou asked everyone to leave and see to their business, and to not worry about rumors from the outside world. She would take care of them herself.

There were some people who trembled, wanting to ask that since it was true that Tang Rou was a woman, were the rumors about the Old City Lord also true? 

But with a cold glance from Huo Fenglie, they were forced to retreat, as if one word from them would get them arrested as spies.

The shaking Tang-furen was also helped away. What had just happened had likely cost her half her life.

Once everyone departed, Tang Rou saluted the remaining three people.

“Chengzhu, don’t be like this. I meant everything I said! I haven’t had conviction in many women, but I have faith in you!” Dai Tingyu said with a blushing face.

“As long as you don’t blame me for deceiving you.” Tang Rou showed her womanly side for a rare moment, which immediately made Dai Tingyu even more flustered.

Tang Rou turned to Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie, at a momentary loss for words.

Liu Zhenqing first made things clear to Huo Fenglie.

Dai Tingyu was absolutely shocked to hear that everything he’d said was a lie, yet Brother Huo hadn’t reacted at all. On the contrary, he seemed accustomed to Liu Zhenqing using his power to intimidate people.

“Understood,” said Huo Fenglie.

“Just like that?” Dai Tingyu said, “Then what about the Imperial Edict?”

A lot of what had been said just now about Huo Fenglie’s private actions had been fabricated. As long as Huo Fenglie and Tang Rou didn’t tell anyone, nobody would know whether it was true or false, but what did the Imperial Edict say, ah?

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “Actually, before…..”

Tang Rou looked over, her eyes full of shock.

In fact, after they discovered that Tang Rou was a woman, Liu Zhenqing felt that it might cause trouble in the future. In order to avoid this, he had asked Huo Fenglie to request an edict to clear Tang Rou’s name. 

According to its speed, the reply should already be on the way.

The general who guards the country, a leader below one man and above thousands, made his statement, and Liu Zhenqing polished up his private message. It boasted of the difficult and desperate situation Tang Rou was forced into. According to Liu Zhenqing’s understanding of Yuan Jue, Huo Fenglie was just asking for a small favor during wartime, and Yuan Jue wouldn’t care at all as long as it didn’t hurt his interests. In addition, Tang Rou had indeed performed well, so this situation would not be difficult to handle.

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Chapter One Hundred Fourteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Sixteen