Why refuse?

Wu Lanxi leaned back in her chair, looking at Tang Huan with a half-smile.

Lin Wan'er, standing to the side, was also full of questions, constantly looking at Tang Huan.

Under his gaze, Tang Huan smiled wryly and said, "I know Your Majesty values ​​me highly, but I am unwilling to serve as the Grand Commander in the palace. Your Majesty also knows that I am still the magistrate of Qihuai County. The people and industries there need to be managed. It is already extremely difficult for me to stay in the capital and serve as a teacher at the Imperial Academy and in the Hanlin Academy."

"Moreover, I have long been used to being at ease over the years. I am not used to the life of the Grand Commander and I am afraid I will not be able to do a good job."

Tang Huan said without hesitation, "I think Zhao Kai can temporarily hold this position. He is loyal to His Majesty and is also a confidant of Commander Xiao. He can hold this position temporarily for the time being, and then he can continue to hold this position after Commander Xiao recovers from his injuries."

"Tang Huan, don't you know what the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard represents?" Lin Wan'er didn't understand why Tang Huan could refuse this condition.

Tang Huan smiled wryly and said, "I know, but I still have to refuse."

The Grand Commander, to put it nicely, was the Empress's chief of security; to put it bluntly, he was her personal bodyguard.

There are advantages, of course. As the leader, he doesn't need to care about others, since he has the Empress as his trump card.

However, the downsides were also significant: most of the time they had to stay in the palace, they had no freedom, and they couldn't often visit the beautiful girls at Chunfeng Tower.

The thought of this kind of life gave Tang Huan a headache.

As for the people of Qihuai County and their own industries, those are just excuses.

Everything in Qihuai County is now operating stably, so it doesn't matter whether Tang Huan is there or not. Even if he's a hands-off manager, he can still make a huge profit every year.

Tang Huan's personal intervention was simply to make the business bigger.

Faced with Tang Huan's straightforward rejection, Wu Lanxi looked over with a headache.

"You don't want to be the Grand Commander of the Palace, so what kind of reward do you want?" Wu Lanxi raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat troubled. "In short, I cannot promise you the position of Prime Minister. However, if you want to sit in that position, I can help you take the throne within a year."

This is really taking it seriously.

That makes sense, though. The Northern Region lost a huge amount of profit to Daqing this time. Those old fogies in the court who are just loafing around can't do that now.

Tang Huan thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, after careful consideration, I realize that I am not competent for any of the positions in the court. Their jobs seem simple, but if I were to do them, I would be more likely to make mistakes. It would be better to let them continue to do their jobs.”

This trip to the capital made Tang Huan realize one thing: instead of trying to climb the ranks, he should just be the magistrate of Qihuai County.

Especially since there are countless people watching you from behind, the higher you climb, the more envy and fear you inspire.

If he remained just a county magistrate, neither Cui Renshi nor Redding would bother him anymore.

“But you have indeed made great contributions to Daqing this time, so a reward is necessary,” Wu Lanxi said. “Since you like women, how about I arrange a marriage for you? Prince Taiping has a granddaughter who is just sixteen years old this year and is already a beautiful young woman…”

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I am not planning to consider marriage at the moment."

Wu Lanxi sighed, "You don't want a promotion, you don't want women, you have money yourself, I can't give you any more, what do you really want?"

Tang Huan looked up at Wu Lanxi, and the two stared at each other. Tang Huan did not try to avoid the gaze.

“Your Majesty, this competition concerns the interests of the entire Daqing. As a citizen of Daqing, I should do my utmost. This is my duty. Therefore, please do not bestow any rewards.”

As soon as Lin Wan'er said she didn't want any reward, she opened her mouth wide and looked over.

Such a great contribution, you just want to give it up?

Wu Lanxi naturally disagreed. She could do without Tang Huan, but she couldn't refuse to give him a reward.

Moreover, bestowing rewards is also a means of winning people over.

The people of the Northern Region have already offered Tang Huan the price of becoming a prime minister, hoping he will go to the Northern Region. Now that Cui Renshi is still sitting in that position in Daqing, she cannot make a promise and must find something else to replace him.

However, Tang Huan's demeanor was indeed one of indifference and lack of desire, which left Wu Lanxi somewhat helpless.

Just as Wu Lanxi was racking her brains, Tang Huan smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, I have a request. Why don't you grant my request as a reward for this?"

What do you want?

Is it really so serious that they have to plead with me? Is it some kind of big trouble?

Wu Lanxi began to speculate.

But to everyone's surprise, Tang Huan only asked for leave.

“Your Majesty, I have been in the capital for over a month. Now that winter has arrived and the Imperial Academy is on holiday, the Northern Region delegation will also be leaving soon. Therefore, I request Your Majesty’s permission to return to Qihuai County.”

"You want to go back?" Wu Lanxi frowned, her expression immediately turning serious.

Tang Huan couldn't help but panic; the empress had no intention of releasing them.

"Tang Huan, you should know how important you are to Daqing right now. I will naturally not stop you from going back for a while, but if you only intend to be the magistrate of Qihuai County, even if I allow it, no one else will agree."

"Your Majesty, I understand that with great power comes great responsibility. Even though I am just a county magistrate, I will do my utmost to fulfill any need that Your Majesty or Daqing may have," Tang Huan said with heartfelt sincerity, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Wu Lanxi sighed softly, "Since that's the case, then I won't force you to stay. There's nothing else to do right now, so if you want to go back to Qihuai County, then go back. I will send someone to invite you back in the spring."

Tang Huan's face darkened.

I've said all that, and all I got in return was a winter vacation.

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