And here we find the identity of Yi Zhihua’s employer! Perhaps you remember Lang Bailing we met in chapter 15 - she was a general (of the Right) of the same Imperial Insignia guard. General-in-Chief is a higher rank in the same position (but of the Left), I believe? So both General Lang and General Qiu are commanders of their respective units of the Imperial Insignia Guard, but General Qiu is of a higher standing. I’m not 100% sure how that works, but that seems to be how it is.