Several hours later, the victory celebration banquet was held as scheduled.

Palace lanterns hung high, and drums and music resounded.

Ying Zheng and his courtiers sat in a row in the hall. Ying Zheng was dressed in a newly changed black official robe with gold thread and a jade pendant at his waist. He had completely shed his battlefield attire and looked heroic and dignified.

"Why don't we let the Grand Commandant tell us about what happened on this expedition?" After a few rounds of drinks, Meng Can suggested, "Our dynasty's generals have all achieved brilliant victories on expeditions, but the thunderous force of the Grand Commandant is truly rare."

Everyone chimed in, "Exactly! Please, Grand Commandant, tell us your story so we can broaden our horizons."

The wicked man put down his wine cup and smiled slightly, "There's not much to say. It was just that, according to His Majesty's decree, we wiped out the unruly Donghu and the remnants of Yan. As for the process... well, it was just a bloody mess of hacking and slashing."

Though the words were simple, they sent chills down the spines of every court official. The casual remark of indiscriminate killing and hacking was easily dismissed, yet it claimed countless lives. The blood of those 100,000 Donghu people alone could have formed a small pond.

Ying Zheng laughed heartily: "Very well, since the Grand Commandant is unwilling to say more, then I will explain it for you! Someone, read aloud the report on this expedition, so that all the officials may know the great achievements of this campaign."

Immediately, an eunuch presented the report and read it aloud. It recounted everything from the destruction of Qi to the fall of Xiangping, and then to the execution of 100,000 Donghu barbarians. Every word was powerful and every sound was awe-inspiring.

The hall was completely silent, and all the officials listened with bated breath.

In the end, many people had beads of sweat on their foreheads, clearly shocked by the ruthless and decisive nature of the wicked husband.

"Look, this is my Grand Commandant and his iron cavalry!" Ying Zheng said proudly. "With such capable ministers and fierce generals, the remaining states of Zhao and Chu are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs."

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall echoed his sentiments, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The wicked man sat quietly in his seat, his expression calm. He knew in his heart that the bloody battles could not be explained in a few readings; for the Qin Dynasty, the more bloodshed there was, the faster the unification might be achieved.

"Come, I shall drink with the Grand Commandant!" Ying Zheng raised his wine cup, stood up, and toasted the wicked man.

Seeing this, the wicked husband quickly rose, solemnly accepted the cup, and clinked glasses with him. The two simultaneously tilted their heads back and drank it all in one gulp. The aroma of the wine filled the air, and another thunderous cheer erupted throughout the palace.

After a few drinks, the wicked husband dropped his pretense and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, my congratulatory gifts have been delivered, but I wonder... when the wedding will take place?"

"My title as the Crown Prince's tutor is just that—a title. When will I finally get to see my student?"

Upon hearing the words "when will the wedding take place?", Ying Zheng was first taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Haha, you little rascal, you know perfectly well that I am preoccupied with conquering the six kingdoms and have not yet paid attention to matters of the harem. Yet you, the tutor of the crown prince, are making me anxious for me?"

Upon hearing this, many people in the court smiled knowingly.

"Your Majesty, I dare not be anxious for you, but only for the sake of the Queen Consort." The wicked husband smiled. "I personally welcomed the Queen Consort back, and as she is the Crown Prince's tutor, I naturally hope to drink her wedding wine and witness the birth of my student as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, the courtiers burst into laughter again. Some covered their mouths with their sleeves, while Wang Wan and a few others discussed, "Only the Grand Commandant dares to openly urge His Majesty to marry and make jokes. Truly, the emperor and his ministers are a perfect match."

Ying Zheng smiled wryly, speechless. Looking at his wicked husband's face, which seemed determined to get a date, he could only say helplessly, "Let's choose an auspicious day for the wedding!"

To be honest, Mi Ji has been in the palace for several months now, and it would indeed be against etiquette to continue delaying. They could have used the war as an excuse before, but now that they have achieved their goal, it is only right to put the marriage on the agenda.

Although Ying Zheng spoke these words casually, the court officials understood them very clearly: the king was already planning to hold the marriage, and was only waiting to finalize the specific date.

The hall erupted in excitement once again, with many casting admiring glances at the wicked husband, who had actually facilitated the marriage in front of the entire court.

"Haha, then Your Majesty should hurry!" The wicked husband laughed heartily, raised his cup and swirled it at Ying Zheng, "It wouldn't be good if the Queen Consort got impatient waiting."

"You brat..." Ying Zheng was both amused and exasperated. He picked up his wine cup and drank with his wicked husband again. "Very well, I will choose an auspicious day for our wedding ceremony. I will make a concerted effort to help you, the 'teacher of the crown prince,' achieve your wish as soon as possible."

"At that time, we will all gather to offer our congratulations!" Upon seeing this, the ministers also waved flags and shouted, bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Grand Commandant! Hahaha..."

Wang Wan, Wei Liao, and the others, who were sitting on the side, exchanged glances with a hint of amusement in their eyes. The conversation between the wicked husband and Ying Zheng seemed to have no barriers between ruler and subject, but rather resembled that of old friends amusing each other, which was rare among emperors throughout history.

After several rounds of drinks, the clinking of glasses seemed to have washed away the previous solemnity. Someone, emboldened by the alcohol, approached the wicked man and whispered, "Grand Commandant, are you truly going to personally tutor the Crown Prince?"

The wicked man laughed and replied, "Of course! This Grand Commandant is full of learning and strategy, so naturally I must pass on my mantle!"

"Haha, you're right, you're right." The other man laughed heartily, thinking to himself, "What kind of wisdom do you have? All you have is a bellyful of ruthless killing intent..."

At this moment, Ying Zheng was chatting with several high-ranking officials, occasionally glancing back at his wicked husband with a smile on his face.

He... was also very much looking forward to seeing what kind of crown prince this kid could cultivate for him and the Great Qin!

The banquet lasted until late at night.

After bidding farewell to his ministers, Ying Zheng walked side by side with his wicked husband along the corridor of the main hall. The night breeze carried away the aroma of wine and brought with it the unique silence of the deep palace.

"You wicked husband!" Ying Zheng stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the dark sky beyond the palace walls. "Now, of the six states, four have been destroyed, leaving only two... The ambition of our Great Qin to unify the land... will be realized in our hands."

The wicked husband stood by, smiling and bowing, "Now that Your Majesty has unified several kingdoms, this is a perfect opportunity. Let us announce the wedding to the world and add joy to joy. Next year, we will take advantage of this and destroy the kingdoms of Zhao and Chu in one fell swoop."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly and turned to look at him: "Since you are the 'teacher of the crown prince,' you must wait until I have an heir before you properly instruct him. At that time, you must not only focus on fighting on the battlefield but also neglect your responsibility of raising a child."

The wicked man laughed heartily: "Your Majesty, rest assured, although I am accustomed to risking my life, if a royal heir is entrusted to me, I will do my utmost to ensure that he is proficient in both literature and martial arts, and lives up to the bloodline of the Great Qin."

"Good!" Ying Zheng was delighted and patted his wicked husband on the shoulder. "I will formally announce the wedding date in the future, and you will be able to fulfill your wish."

"Your Majesty, I thank you." The wicked man bowed respectfully, and the two exchanged a glance before bursting into loud laughter.

Under the cover of night, the lights of Xianyang Palace remained bright, and palace maids and eunuchs could be vaguely seen bustling about, tidying up the aftermath of the banquet. A crescent moon hung in the sky, its soft light enveloping the magnificent palace and illuminating two figures, each with a distinct air, walking side by side.