"Every member of the Iron-Blooded Troop has their own rights. If they choose to be loyal to me, they can follow me to the battlefield throughout their lives. One day, if they feel tired and exhausted, they may choose to live in seclusion. n.o.body is eligible to call herself master or force them into slavery!"The whole Iron-Blooded Troop was dumbfounded.
One day, if they were tired of life on the battlefield, they could request to retire and return to their hometowns and live in seclusion. Could they do that?
She… would not force them to commit their whole life to her?
"So…" Feng Ruqing lowered her gaze at Feng Rushuang. She looked down at her with superiority. "Who are you… to claim yourself as the master of the Iron-Blooded Token?"
Feng Rushuang"s face went pale white. She bit her lip hard and her pet.i.te body was trembling, "Sister, didn"t you say earlier… that these people are your dogs?"
Why did she talk about human rights now?
Feng Ruqing chuckled coldly. "Because the old Feng Ruqing is already dead!"
"Feng Ruqing!" Feng Rushuang recovered from her surprise. Wickedness flashed through her eyes. She could not contain herself. "Don"t pretend anymore! Who doesn"t know your real face? The Iron-Blooded Troop members should have known your att.i.tude better. You"ve taken back the token just to order them around to do your dirty jobs, haven"t you?"
The Iron-Blooded Token was useless in their hands but if it fell into Feng Ruqing"s possession, they had no choice but to obey her commands.
"The Iron-Blooded Token?" Feng Ruqing smiled a little and took out the token. Much to everyone"s surprise, she suddenly broke the token into two halves with force. "Do you think I need to depend on this token?"
She had actually taken back the token from n.o.ble Consort Rong because she did not want her to stain it. In fact, Feng Ruqing never had the intention to use the Iron-Blooded Token to control the troop.
She only wanted to depend on herself!
Every Iron-Blooded Troop member was stunned.
Even Feng Rushuang was taken aback and shocked.
If Feng Ruqing had this token in hand, none of the troop member could go against her command as it represented the empress herself. His Majesty would never allow anyone to disrespect Feng Ruqing!
Thus, even though the Iron-Blooded Troop members did not submit themselves to Feng Ruqing, they could not disobey her order. This was what they most afraid of at the moment.
However, they did not expect her to break the token… She destroyed it without any hesitation.
"Your Royal Highness…" Tang Zi stared at Feng Ruqing in shock. "Are you aware of the consequence behind your action right now?"
Feng Ruqing turned to Tang Zi and smiled back. "Of course, I do. Would you not obey my command if I don"t have this Iron-Blooded Token anymore?"
"No, we won"t do that…" Tang Zi quickly shook her head to show her loyalty.
"It"s fine then. The Iron-Blooded Token does not have not many functions anyway. It only attracts those who eye it with bad intention. What I want is not the token, but your genuine loyalty. I want all of you to submit yourselves to me willingly." Feng Ruqing a.s.sured her with a gentle smile, "However, I promise that I will never stain the Iron-Blooded Troop"s reputation and tarnish my imperial mother"s reputation! I will only make our troop stronger and lead everyone into glory and more success!"
Tang Zi felt touched. Finally, this day had come. She had been waiting for this day for too long. She was glad that she managed to witness this day…
"I believe in you."
This time, she was willing to trust her words again, just because of her motivating words just now!
Tang Zi kneeled down on one knee, held her sword with both hands and said loudly, "The Commander of the Iron-Blooded Troop, Tang Zi, pays respect to Master."
"The Vice Commander of the Iron-Blooded Troop, Ling Yun, pays respect to Master!"
"Pay respect to Master!"
As the sun set in the west, the high-spirited and dignified sound echoed under the sky continuously without a break.
Feng Rushuang"s face went pale. She stared at Feng Ruqing with intense hatred. She glanced at Feng Ruqing coldly then turned and walked toward the door.