The scene then returns to the Qin state.

The morning court session in Zhangtai Palace was drawing to a close, and the main event was about to begin.

Seeing that no one was reporting, Ying Zheng cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I have something to announce."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall immediately turned their gaze to Ying Zheng, understanding that he was about to announce the rewards for the wicked husband.

Sure enough, Ying Zheng's next words confirmed their guess.

Ying Zheng stood up, walked to the front of the high platform, put his hands behind his back, and said loudly, "Wei Weiwei, you have destroyed two countries in one battle and greatly expanded the territory of my Qin state."

"Taking the first step in unifying the six kingdoms from the east is a monumental achievement; how could it not be rewarded?"

"You all, do you have any opinions? Please speak them!"

Upon hearing this, not only did no one stand up to express their opinion, but everyone even appeared cautious.

This king has no good intentions!

Feng Jie was just making a few nasty remarks, and besides, the two of them are on very good terms now. You, Ying Zheng, should give this old man a good beating.

Now they're asking for our opinion?

So, are you fishing here?

Do you think we're brainless idiots?!

Seeing that all the officials were silent, Ying Zheng showed a look of disappointment, which made them even more convinced that Ying Zheng had ill intentions.

"Gentlemen, are you really free of any objections?!" Ying Zheng continued to press.

"No, Your Majesty, you are the King of Qin, and everything is up to you. How dare a subject like me offer any dissent?!" Feng Jie shouted first, having learned his lesson, he was determined not to fall for Ying Zheng's tricks.

Yang Duanhe grinned and said, "The Commandant of the Guards annihilated two kingdoms in one battle. Who can compare to such merit? You can reward him however you like!"

"Yes...we support Your Majesty's decision!" The other ministers echoed, expressing their agreement with Ying Zheng's decision.

They knew that in the Qin court, speaking out against the king's decisions might offer a chance of survival, but when it came to matters concerning the wicked husband, anyone who dared to voice their opinion would be in deep trouble.

Seeing this, Ying Zheng's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible sneer. He thought to himself that these bastards had become cunning, and that they had escaped a calamity.

"Since that is the case, I have decided to appoint the wicked man as the Supreme General, promote him to the rank of Grand Master of Ceremonies, appoint him as Grand Commandant, and bestow upon him a hundred acres of fertile land outside Xianyang City, as well as gold, silver, jewels, silk and cloth..." Ying Zheng's voice echoed in the hall, every word filled with unquestionable majesty.

As soon as the words were spoken, the officials were shocked, and gasps of cold air filled the air.

This time, the wicked man truly rose to the highest position, second only to the emperor and above all others, and could also be called the head of the military generals.

In the future, even veteran generals like Meng Ao and Wang Jian would have to respectfully address the wicked man as "Grand Commandant"!

But that wasn't all. Seeing the officials' shock, Ying Zheng smiled again. "Grand Commandant, you are a man of great learning and skill in both civil and military affairs. I have decided to appoint you as the tutor of the Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing this, the entire court was stunned as if struck by lightning, and even forgot to breathe.

The tutor of the crown prince—that is, the teacher of the future crown prince of Qin—is a position of utmost prestige, and he will surely become the confidant of the second emperor. In name, it is an unparalleled honor, demonstrating the king's supreme trust in his subject.

The wicked man had achieved numerous military exploits and was full of cunning ideas. Whether it was trade or his earlier proposal to merge land tax with poll tax, these were all top priorities for the benefit of the Qin state.

Ying Zheng's description of him as having both civil and military achievements is not particularly problematic. If one were to nitpick, the only criticism would be that using the phrase "civil and military achievements" to describe a subject is not in accordance with proper etiquette.

In this way, it was truly impossible to refute, and even those ministers who disliked the wicked husband dared not stand up to argue.

Seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, Ying Zheng felt secretly pleased. He knew that this arrangement would solidify the wicked man's position in Qin and further consolidate his control over the court.

After all, as his confidant, once the wicked man becomes the crown prince's tutor, he can ensure that the crown prince is influenced by his own thoughts during his growth and will never be corrupted by those messy doctrines.

"Gentlemen, my command is the command of the Qin state. Do you have any objections?" Ying Zheng's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

The hall was completely silent; no one dared to voice any objection.

At this time, Ying Zheng was no longer the young monarch who could be easily challenged. He had consolidated his power through a series of means and decisions, and no one dared to challenge his authority.

Not to mention, the wicked husband, the main character in this incident, is also watching him intently from the sidelines.

"Very good. Since no one objects, then this matter is settled." Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

"Alas..." The wicked husband stepped forward reluctantly, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for the reward, but I am still young and cannot bear such a high position. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Upon hearing this, the officials present were furious. Wasn't this just taking advantage and then acting innocent?

"You wicked husband, what do you mean by this?" Ying Zheng frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.

The wicked man felt a bitter taste in his mouth and replied, "Your Majesty, I am truly devoted to the country and have no interest in these rewards. Why not reward me with some gold, silver, jewels, fertile land, and servants instead?"

"Your Majesty, my heart is set on serving the Qin state with utmost loyalty. I am not qualified for such a high position, and would that not be to fail Your Majesty's trust? I implore Your Majesty to choose another capable and virtuous person!"

This wasn't him deliberately showing off; he genuinely thought so!

If he were to become Grand Commandant, given Ying Zheng's nature, he would definitely be exhausted, and the things he would have to do would increase significantly. He didn't want to be tied up in Xianyang all day and unable to get away.

As for the concern that his achievements might overshadow the emperor, he never considered it, and he believed that Ying Zheng did not care either.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall felt a mix of emotions. How many people wanted but could not have it, yet it was being so disliked by the wicked husband.

However, they knew that the evil man's words were not false. He had made too many contributions to the Qin state, yet he never cared about rewards, nor did he ever put on airs of power and wealth. He regarded gold and silver as mere external possessions.

They've seen all of this; there's no way you can pretend in front of them!

Ying Zheng remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "My wicked husband, I understand your loyalty! But once I have made a decision, I will not easily change it. You need not say more, just do your best to serve the Qin state."

Seeing this, the wicked man had no choice but to bow and thank the king again: "Your Majesty, I will obey your command and will certainly not fail your trust."

Ying Zheng nodded, then turned to the assembled officials, his voice revealing an unwavering determination: "Gentlemen, I have no doubt about the wicked man's talent. If anyone dares to harm him in the future, they will be opposing me."

A chorus of agreement rang out again in the hall. All the ministers knew that Ying Zheng's words were both a warning and a reaffirmation of his status as a wicked husband.

At least during Ying Zheng's reign, no one could sow discord or challenge the relationship between the ruler and his subjects!