"Since I am a bandit, of course I will do things in the bandit way... I will just break into your house, carry you and run away, and take you as my wife." Zhang Shixun laughed when he said this.

"You look like a dead man!" Ding Dusai hit him and laughed.

The two chatted and laughed all the way and soon arrived at the Ding family.

Zhang Shixun looked at the Ding family's gate, slowed down his pace, and said in a negotiating tone, "How about you go in first?"

Ding Dusai was puzzled, "Why?"

"You're not my wife yet. It's not appropriate for you to walk in with me so brazenly, is it?"

"What's the meaning of 'wife of the leader of a bandit group'? It's so ugly." Ding Dusai spat.

"Okay, enough joking. Think about it, if we go in together, what will people think?" Zhang Shixun said. Seeing that she still didn't understand, he said, "If they don't know, they'll think it's the new bride coming home."

"Pooh! Pooh! Pooh!" Ding Dusai covered his face and ran home quickly. After running a few steps, he turned back and said to him, "Come back later."

Zhang Shixun nodded in agreement and stood there holding the horse.

Ding Dusai ran to the door, turned around and smiled at him, then pushed the door open and walked in.

Zhang Shixun pricked up his ears and faintly heard Ding's father's voice: "You still remember to go home...?"

Zhang Shixun whistled and waited for a while. Just as he was about to go over, he heard someone shouting from behind, "Oh! It's Shixun... Madam, you have such a good eye... Shixun! Shixun!"

Zhang Shixun turned his head and saw that it was Han Shizhong.

Han Shizhong was walking towards this side with his mouth wide open, laughing loudly, and a small donkey was leading behind him. Sitting on the donkey was none other than Liang Hongyu.

"It's my uncle and aunt. Why are you here too?" Zhang Shixun was of course happy to see them.

With these two people mediating, it was easy to enter the Ding family's gate.

"Of course I'm here to wish my sister and brother-in-law a happy new year... Shixun, we spent the entire night in the tile house, it was truly a blast."

"So that's how it is. Saisai guessed it right." Zhang Shixun waited for the two of them with a smile.

"Shixun, Happy New Year!" Liang Hongyu got off the donkey with quick movements.

Zhang Shixun bowed to the two of them, "Happy New Year, sister-in-law! Happy New Year, uncle!"

"Happy New Year! Happy New Year!" Han Shizhong said while staring at the wine jar on the horse's back.

Zhang Shixun asked curiously, "Where did you get a donkey from?"

Liang Hongyu said, "Of course from your house."

"My family?" Zhang Shixun scratched his head. "We don't have a donkey at home."

Liang Hongyu said, "Now we have it... When we returned to your house from the tile house, we happened to meet a eunuch from the palace. He brought you a few palace maids, saying they were gifts from the emperor... and this donkey."

Zhang Shixun was shocked. "Palace...maid? For me?"

I heard that there will be a grand court meeting on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The emperor should be very busy. Why didn't he reward the emperor earlier or later, but at this time?

"In addition to the palace maids, I will also reward you with a donkey... Shixun, look at how strong this donkey is. I fell in love with it at first sight." Liang Hongyu said while stroking the donkey's back.

"Shixun, those palace maids are all as beautiful as flowers. You are so lucky." Han Shizhong patted Zhang Shixun's shoulder heavily. "I am so envious."

This was a bad remark. Liang Hongyu, who was standing next to him, glared at him when she heard it.

"Hehe! Madam, please don't misunderstand me. I am just complimenting Shi Xun. I don't mean anything else." Han Shizhong hurriedly explained.

"Huh! You're envious, aren't you?" Liang Hongyu gritted her teeth, her eyes wide open: "To tell you the truth, as long as I, Liang Hongyu, am here, you'll never touch another woman in your life. Just wait and see if you don't believe me!"

Han Shizhong pounded his chest loudly and said, "My lady, don't worry. I am a man of integrity and will never be fickle. I will always be loyal to you."

Zhang Shixun frowned and thought to himself: What is Zhao Ji doing by rewarding me with a few palace maids on New Year's Day?

It’s okay if it’s just a palace maid, but what’s going on with this donkey?

not good!

Something must be wrong! The emperor is thinking about me.

Han Shizhong and the other man saw that Zhang Shixun remained silent and looked at each other.

Zhang Shixun was stunned for a long time before he smiled to himself. He looked up at the two of them and saw that they were also looking at him with concern in their eyes.

"The emperor's grace is so great. On the first day of the new year, His Majesty the Emperor gave me a gift, which made me feel so excited and as if I were bathed in spring breeze." Zhang Shixun said this with a sneer on his face.

Han Shizhong changed his usual rough demeanor, with a hint of worry between his brows. "Shixun, it is understandable for the government to reward meritorious officials with a few palace maids, but rewarding them with a donkey is puzzling."

"There's nothing to be confused about. The emperor wants me to be more obedient and not be as stubborn as a donkey." Zhang Shixun certainly understood Zhao Ji's painstaking efforts.

Liang Hongyu said, "Even so, why choose to reward it on New Year's Day instead of earlier or later?"

Zhang Shixun said meaningfully: "Rewarding me at this time is the best way to make people remember the emperor's grace."

The couple looked at each other again and said nothing more.

Zhang Shixun nodded secretly: They are both outstanding people, and they can see the strangeness at a glance.

"Uncle, you can't follow me anymore. Leave the Tianwu Army after the New Year and work somewhere else. Tell me where you want to go, and I'll find General Gao to help you arrange it."

"Shixun, you underestimate me. I'm not going anywhere and I'll follow you." Han Shizhong said without a second thought.

"Uncle, don't you know that the eaves that stick out first will rot first? The emperor is afraid of me. If you continue to follow me, your future will be worrying." Zhang Shixun patted his strong arm, "Listen to me, let's go."

Liang Hongyu said, "Shixun, what do you think of your husband when you say that? If ordinary people are afraid of you, it means you have ability; if the emperor is afraid of you, it means you have extraordinary abilities... Don't say anything else, your husband will follow you!"

Zhang Shixun looked at the two of them, nodded, and said nothing more.

Liang Hongyu pointed at the Ding family and said, "Look, my brother-in-law is here."

The two looked towards the Ding family's house and saw Ding's father standing at the door, looking at them angrily.

"Let's go and wish my brother-in-law a happy new year."

Han Shizhong dragged Zhang Shixun towards the Ding family, shouting in surprise as they walked, "Oh! Brother-in-law, you are so polite. We are just wishing you a happy new year. There is no need to be so enthusiastic... Oh! I am so embarrassed."

Zhang Shixun, however, could not be as presumptuous as him. He bowed from a distance and said, "Uncle Ding, I wish you a happy new year and happiness for you and your family!"

Father Ding rolled his eyes and asked, "Who are you?"

As expected, the old man really gave people a cold look as expected.