Chapter 275 is far inferior to Li Nanke.

Empress Xue smiled and tried to smooth things over.

“Your Majesty, Changsheng has only recently returned to our side and has forgotten many things from before, so he is not yet familiar with the rules of the court.”

He secretly winked at Shen Xu.

“Changsheng, the title of county princess has always been bestowed upon daughters of the imperial family or daughters of meritorious officials in the court, or girls who have made great contributions to the country.”

You've just gotten back and don't understand these things yet. Today is New Year's Eve, let's talk about it after the New Year.

Shen Xu received Empress Xue's hint and immediately realized what was going on.

The timing of his request was inappropriate.

Looking up at the emperor, he saw that the emperor's brows were slightly furrowed and he was looking at him with a deep gaze.

Shen Xu panicked, and cold sweat instantly streamed down his forehead.

He secretly regretted that he shouldn't have spoken carelessly at this time, but he had already made it clear to Zhao Wanqing that he would fight for her to become a county princess.

If he fails to win it, how will others view him as the eldest prince?

Shen Xu gritted his teeth and mustered his courage to speak again.

“Miss Zhao saved my son, isn’t that a great service to the country? I heard that Li Nanke from the Marquis of Anping’s mansion only predicted the day my son would return.”

"Father bestowed upon her the title of Princess of Fu'an County. Why is it that Miss Zhao, who truly saved my life, cannot be granted the title of Princess? Your son..."

Empress Xue gasped and immediately interrupted Shen Xu loudly.

"Immortality".

Before he could finish speaking, the emperor asked in a deep voice, "Who told you that the title of Princess of Fu'an was conferred because Yu Yan was the one who returned to the capital?"

Shen Xu subconsciously looked at Princess Zhaoning.

The Emperor and Empress Xue followed his gaze and saw Princess Zhaoning stand up with a pale face.

He explained in a low voice, "Isn't that right? And that's what the palace maids and eunuchs all say."

Empress Xue was furious.

The emperor frowned, but did not reprimand Princess Zhaoning.

Instead, she looked at Shen Xu and said, "You only heard that Li Nanke predicted the time of your return, but you don't know that she did other things before that."

Her status as a county magistrate has little to do with you.

Shen Xu was dumbfounded.

The emperor continued, "Let me tell you what she did."

Li Nanke had given early warnings of the previous torrential rains and floods, and her mother, Song, helped many people escape the disaster.

Later, she saved Zhao Ning when distributing porridge, and she also saved the pregnant Consort Shu when selecting study companions.

Despite all her merits, I have not yet bestowed upon her the title of County Princess.

"I bestowed upon her the title of County Princess because she discovered oil deposits, and oil will be a powerful weapon for the Great Chu army."

The emperor's voice was deep and powerful.

"This is truly a great service to the country! Therefore, it is only right that Li Nanke was granted the title of County Princess."

Shen Xu's back was soaked with cold sweat, and a look of panic flashed in his eyes.

He was unaware that Li Nanke had done so much, and simply assumed that the emperor was biased.

What should we do now?

He looked helplessly at Empress Xue.

Empress Xue quickly pulled him down to kneel.

“Your Majesty, Changsheng is still young and simple-minded. He only wants to repay the life-saving grace and has no other thoughts.”

As she spoke, she secretly gave Shen Xu a wink.

Shen Xu understood and quickly kowtowed as well.

"Father, please calm your anger. Your son only wants to repay Miss Zhao for saving his life."

The emperor did not tell them to get up.

"Why did you suddenly request that Zhao Wanqing be granted the title of County Princess? Could it be that someone is dissatisfied with my bestowal of honors?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his indifferent gaze swept over Zhao Hong.

Zhao Hong trembled and immediately stepped forward and knelt down.

He touched his head to the ground and said loudly, "It is my wife and daughter's blessing and duty as subjects to save Your Highness. Your Majesty has already rewarded them, and my whole family is extremely grateful. We would never dare to have any other thoughts."

"Oh? It's that you don't dare, not that you can't?"

Zhao Hong trembled all over and hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, I dare not, nor would I. My entire family is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's bestowal of honors."

Seeing the situation before her, Song Hui quickly came out with Zhao Wanqing.

He knelt down with a thud, not daring to utter a single word.

The emperor's gaze fell on Zhao Wanqing, and his voice softened slightly.

"Zhao Wanqing, raise your head."

"Tell me, do you want to be a county princess?"

Zhao Wanqing was terrified, and all traces of the smugness she had shown when facing Li Nanke were gone.

She hunched her shoulders and cautiously raised her head.

Her little face turned deathly pale with fright. She glanced at the emperor once, then collapsed to the ground in terror.

His voice trembled and became incoherent, with an undisguised sob in his tone.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty does not... want to."

A hint of disappointment flashed in the emperor's eyes.

Isn't Zhao Wanqing Li Nanke's cousin? Why does she look so timid and hesitant?

Compared to that little girl Li Nanke, she's far inferior.

The emperor shook his head secretly and looked at Shen Xu.

"You saw everything?"

Shen Xu's face turned a deep purplish-red, as if he had been slapped hard.

His earlier attempt to persuade the emperor had become a joke.

He lowered his head in frustration and said in a muffled voice, "Father, I know I was wrong. Please punish me."

The emperor raised his hand and patted his head.

After all, he was his only son, and he couldn't bear to criticize him in front of his ministers.

"You are my prince. As subjects, it is their duty to save their lord."

They did their duty, and your request for a reward for them is your intention, which is not wrong.

"Everyone, stand up and speak."

The emperor, not wanting to embarrass his son, waved for them to rise.

Shen Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and helped Empress Xue up.

Zhao Hong and Song Hui exchanged a glance, secretly relieved.

The emperor continued, "It is a fact that Zhao Wanqing rescued the prince."

"Well then, since my son has already spoken, I will bestow upon Zhao Wanqing another chest of gold, silver, and jade artifacts, and a chest of cloth. What do you say?"

Shen Xu's eyes lit up.

That way, he won't lose too much face.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Zhao Hong and Song Hui pulled Zhao Wanqing together to kowtow and express their gratitude.

"Your Majesty, I must plead my case."

Consort Shu, sitting to the right rear of the emperor, covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

The emperor turned and glanced at Consort Shu, his expression gentle.

"Oh? Why does my beloved concubine feel wronged?"

Consort Shu said, "The Zhao family saved the eldest prince and received two rewards."

Previously, the Princess of Fu'an saved Princess Zhaoning, and also saved me and the dragon child in my womb.

He saved three lives but only received one reward.

"Your Majesty, I must plead for the Princess of Fu'an."

Consort Shu smiled and looked at Empress Xue. "Your Majesty, don't you think that makes sense?"

After all, the Princess of Fu'an saved your Princess Zhaoning.

A dark glint flashed in Empress Xue's eyes.

How was she supposed to answer that?

If she says no, wouldn't people think she's a biased mother?

It is said that this is tantamount to giving Li Nanke a reward.

But in front of everyone, she couldn't say no.

Empress Xue's expression shifted constantly, and she could only grit her teeth and utter a single word.

"yes."

Consort Shu smiled.

"Your Majesty, you see that the Empress also agrees with what I said. You can either reward them all once or reward them all twice."

Otherwise, people would say that Your Majesty is biased.