Although Shui Yuan looked a bit plain, she was still pretty. It was possible that Emperor Mingzheng, who was used to eating wild game, would also try some light side dishes...

Just thinking about this, Yang Congwen's heart trembled. He couldn't help but stare at Shui Yuan and Emperor Ming Zheng, thinking about how to get rid of Shui Yuan.

Zhu Yu was thinking about how to create an "accident" to make Xue Rong miscarry. The master and servant each had their own ulterior motives.

Until a eunuch announced, "Ji Wudao is here to see the emperor."

Ji Wudao entered the hall, followed by two guards escorting the fourth prince of Wala.

"Your Highness, long live the Emperor."

Ji Wudao is only over 30 years old this year. Although his ancestors had produced great generals, most of their descendants were mediocre. If Ji Wudao had not married Shen Tian, ​​he might not have had a chance to succeed.

"Stand up." Emperor Mingzheng glanced at the fourth prince of Oirat and ordered that he be taken away first and the matter of Oirat be discussed in the court another day.

He looked at Ji Wudao with a smile on his face, "General Ji has made great contributions this time, and he deserves a generous reward."

After saying that, he glanced at Guo Changsheng. Guo Changsheng took the hint, stepped forward, and announced, "Xuanfu Commander Ji Wudao captured the four princes of the Oirat alive, defended the country and the borders, worked diligently, and intimidated the Oirat. His virtue and merits made me very happy. I will reward you with a mansion, confer the title of Weixuan Earl, give you a fief of 2,000 households, and grant you 500 pieces of silk to commend your loyalty. I hope you will live up to my trust. I decree this."

After Ji Wudao knelt on the ground and listened, his face was gloomy for a moment. He thought that he would be awarded the title of commander-in-chief of the three great armies when he returned to the capital this time, but he didn't expect that he was only given a title with no real power.

The hall was silent for a moment. Zhu Yu could not help showing his joy. Seeing that Ji Wudao did not stand up, he cleared his throat and said in a stern manner, "General Ji, why don't you thank the Lord for his grace? But are you dissatisfied with the reward from His Majesty?"

Emperor Mingzheng, who was sitting at the top, was holding a wine cup and looking at Ji Wudao with his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he was completely unaware of the undercurrent in His Highness's mind.

Ji Wudao suppressed his emotions, looked at Zhu Yu deeply, and replied, "I dare not." Then he knelt down and said, "The emperor's grace is so great that I will not refuse even if I die."

Emperor Mingzheng was delighted and waved his hand, "Go and give General Ji some wine!"

Xue Rong knew that Ji Wudao was unhappy, so she smiled and said, "General Ji has made such a great contribution, which is admirable. I would like to offer a toast to General Ji."

At one moment, many people raised their glasses and came forward to toast Ji Wudao. Ji Wudao accepted all the toasts and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, quite happy.

When there were fewer people toasting, Shen Tian, ​​who was sitting next to Ji Wudao, raised his glass and said, "Congratulations to Wei Xuanbo."

Ji Wudao covered his face with his sleeves while drinking and whispered, "Master Shen, please don't embarrass me. I don't want to be the Marquis of Wei Xuan."

Shen Tian knew Ji Wudao's thoughts, so he comforted him, "Xiao Ning has not been caught yet, and the whereabouts of the three generals' tiger talismans are unknown. We can only take it slowly."

Ji Wudao was unhappy. He didn't quite believe what Shen Tian said. If Xiao Ning had not handed over the tiger talisman of the three military towns, how could the emperor let him leave Beijing?

The emperor held a grand banquet when Xue Rong became pregnant, which showed that he doted on her. If Shen Tian and Xue Rong were willing to work hard and help him win the position of commander-in-chief, the reward today would definitely not be just a title of Wei Xuanbo.

The reason is simply that he is not a branch of the Shen family and has no relationship with Shen Tian. If he holds great power, Shen Tian will be worried about him.

Ji Wudao frowned and looked up to see Emperor Mingzheng hugging Xue Rong and talking about something with a smile on his face. After a while, the eunuch announced another decree, this time to reward Xue Rong for conceiving an heir.

Xue Rong wanted to stand up to thank him, but was stopped by Emperor Mingzheng. "My beloved concubine is pregnant, please don't be so polite. From now on, when you walk in the palace, no matter if it's me, the emperor, or anyone else, you don't need to be polite."

Countless envious eyes in the palace were cast on Marquis Jingyuan. Marquis Jingyuan had been mediocre all his life and was not capable of great use, but he had a good daughter. She had been favored for decades, and the Marquis Jingyuan's mansion enjoyed endless wealth and glory.

At this moment, Ji Wudao suddenly stood up and said, "I have not yet congratulated Her Majesty on the birth of the Qilin, and I specially asked someone from Xuanfu to prepare a gift."

As he was speaking, someone brought in a gift. It was a bottle of blood coral that was emerald red and transparent, and almost half a meter high. The most amazing thing was that there was a fish in the blood coral that looked lifelike, as if it was swimming.