Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 376: Down Before Up

Qin Yao rolled her eyes at him. Did he really need to say that?

If there was a connection, Mrs. Qi wouldn’t be openly discussing with that General Mu Ling right in front of her.

"Oh, right." Qin Yao smiled triumphantly at Liu Ji, "Do you know what position that person in the back courtyard from the Princess holds?"

Liu Ji shook his head, thinking to himself, perhaps it’s a capable female official by the Princess’s side or something.

Qin Yao answered word by word, "It’s the Left General Mu Ling, who commands half of the Capital City’s Imperial Army, a woman."

She particularly emphasized the last two words, making Liu Ji think he heard wrong, "Ah?" he exclaimed, slowly comprehending and looking at Qin Yao in shock, "I haven’t read much, don’t lie to me!"

Qin Yao: "Even if I were to lie to you, I wouldn’t use this. If you don’t believe me, go ask your teachers or senior brothers, they definitely know."

"Then why have they never told me?" Liu Ji was incredulous, how could any woman be Left General, it’s absolutely impossible!

"That’s what I’m saying, we still know too little, only aware of the small matters of our land, never even stepped out of Zijing Mansion, completely unaware of how people and things are outside." Qin Yao sighed.

Liu Ji straight-up said it was impossible, "How is this possible!"

"Women can join the army, I only found out today." Qin Yao shared the noblewomen’s special privilege she learned from He Zhanghua, making Liu Ji feel his worldview was about to be overturned.

He instinctively looked at her with worry, thinking if women could become generals, wouldn’t the rest of his life be under this vicious woman’s control without ever flipping the tables?

Hearing about the military recruitment thresholds later, he breathed a sigh of relief and even laughed mockingly twice, "That’s what I said, if ordinary women could join the army and earn military credits, Sheng Country would be turned upside down."

"Fifth-rank official’s family, hahaha, really there is such a thing, if I were a well-off lady, why would I foolishly want to suffer in a military camp with a bunch of unbathed, unwashed, stinking men."

As he spoke to this point, Liu Ji suddenly paused, something important flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t grasp it.

Qin Yao, walking ahead, also suddenly stopped. She had just been thinking, this world wasn’t as bad as she thought, at least women of a certain social class could gain power through military achievements.

But on second thought, women naturally have a weaker physique, yet still choose to join the military, isn’t this a desperate measure under severe patriarchy pressure?

And even such a difficult path was deeply feared by commoner men like Liu Ji, afraid that the world would turn upside down, and men like him with no power, status, ability, or merits would no longer enjoy patriarchal protection.

The bustling scene ahead suddenly quieted down, and the pondering couple looked up together.

A team of women, all dressed in simple red military uniforms, appeared in the alley at some point, five tall and strong, each holding a sword, unsmiling, standing there exuding an intense oppressive presence.

The peddlers collectively fell silent, fearfully dropping their eyes, not daring to look at these obviously high-status female generals.

The leading woman stepped forward, clasped her fists, and asked, "Qin Yao?"

Qin Yao cautiously looked at them, about to step forward, when she realized her hem was being held, Liu Ji hiding nervously behind her, muttering:

"No way, no way... Could it be true, the Princess sent people to make me a concubine!"

Qin Yao glanced at him, already knowing what he was thinking, speechlessly pulled away his hand from her hem, stepped forward and replied, "It’s me, I am Qin Yao, and you are?"

The other party saw her without any panic and raised an eyebrow meaningfully, not answering, and just gestured invitingly, "Qin Yao, our Lingtou wants to see you, please!"

"General Mu Ling?" Qin Yao was a bit surprised, hadn’t they just met?

The group made a path, with some intimidation, not allowing her to refuse.

Qin Yao glanced back at Liu Ji, pointing to the street corner nearby, "You wait for me there."

Liu Ji quickly agreed, "Oh, oh," rarely showing some concern for her, tentatively asking, "My lady, are you sure you don’t need me with you?"

Qin Yao put her hands on her hips, resignedly sighed. Did it look like these five women had any intention of inviting you along?

Liu Ji laughed sheepishly, briskly scurried to the street corner, leaned against the wall, furtively staring at the black carriage parked at the He Mansion’s main gate.

Qin Yao followed the women to the carriage, from which Mu Ling’s teasing voice came:

"I heard you possess Divine Power, I wonder if you can split those two stone lion statues in front of the He Family’s gate with a single palm."

Qin Yao frowned, displeased, "Does the General want to watch? Then you’d better prepare the compensation yourself, because I can’t afford to pay for breaking them."

The curtain of the carriage window lifted, Mu Ling glanced out at the two stone lions, "So you’re saying you can split these two stone lions with your bare hands?"

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow and took half a step back, crossing her arms, she didn’t like looking up at people, it made her neck uncomfortable.

Now stepping back a bit, her line of sight was level with Mu Ling in the carriage, instantly feeling much better.

Mu Ling’s mouth twitched faintly, reminding her, "You a commoner, dare not salute when seeing this General! How bold!"

At this, the female soldiers immediately cast threatening gazes at Qin Yao, the leader shouted, "Bold Qin Yao, kneel before our General!"

However, the woman they called remained still, speaking with a light smile, "Which law in Sheng Country’s decrees states a commoner must kneel before a general?"

The five female soldiers were truly stunned, is there such a law? Seems there must be, hasn’t it always been this way?

Mu Ling could hardly look, waved her hand, signaling them to step back, and personally told Qin Yao:

"A village woman indeed has some courage, but Sheng Country’s law in the etiquette section, page thirty-five, states all commoners must perform a squat salute to officials as a sign of respect."

Qin Yao nodded, indicating she learned something, "But I am just a rural village woman, I don’t know how to perform a squat salute, can the General teach me?"

She was sincere in asking for guidance, but to the five female soldiers, it sounded like blatant provocation.

"You..." The leading female soldier tried to take action, but was glared back by Mu Ling.

Qin Yao innocently looked at Mu Ling, she genuinely didn’t know, and truly wanted to learn.

Mu Ling smirked inwardly, then let me teach you, let’s see if you’ll salute!

She leapt down from the carriage, motioned for the leading female soldier to come to the front, to demonstrate for Qin Yao.

The so-called squat salute involved positioning the legs one in front of the other, bending down fully until the posterior touched the back calf, hands spread open and placed flat on the knee of the front leg, while addressing respectfully, "Commoner Liu Qin greets the General!"

The female soldier finished demonstrating, challenging Qin Yao with her gaze, your turn.

Mu Ling didn’t believe she would actually salute her, after all, talented outsiders always had some pride, preferring to break than to bend.

She had already planned what to say after Qin Yao refused to salute, effortlessly managing her.

After all, delivering a great blow then offering a carrot, this suppressive and uplifting tactic had always worked for her.

But to her absolute surprise!

Qin Yao squatted down, performing a perfect salute towards her, "Commoner Qin Yao greets General Mu Ling!"

After saluting, she got up, smiling at her.

The female soldiers were dumbfounded: How could she not follow the script! Where was her pride? Where was her stubbornness?

The air froze momentarily, Mu Ling’s mind was buzzing, unable to tell whether she felt disappointed or her expected maneuver was disrupted, making her angry, feeling like a mocked monkey!