The decree to confer official titles on Yin Jie and the other two was issued with the first snow falling in early December.

After the first snow, the sporadic falling snowflakes seem to ignite people's enthusiasm. Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest, and the warm smiles on people's faces seem to carry their longing and yearning for a good harvest next year.

Yin Jie was granted the rank of the seventh-rank Yihui Colonel, Qi Tianyang was granted the rank of the seventh-rank Yihui Deputy Captain, and Qi Xiaoming was granted the rank of the eighth-rank Xuanjie Colonel.

Yin Jie and Qi Tianyang were both assigned to Jiang Lianshan, temporarily in charge of affairs within the capital, while Qi Xiaoming was directly sent to guard Shuozhou, which was considered the first barrier in the northern part of the Dagan Dynasty.

After the decree was issued, officials who wanted to make friends with the three people began to take action.

Qi Tianyang didn't see the officials who came under the pretext of visiting. Instead, he turned around and took the imperial edict of appointment and went to Cheng's house to propose marriage.

Having fulfilled his original promise and now with the imperial edict's blessing, Qi Tianyang is full of energy and eager to marry his sweetheart.

He stood in the hall, bowed with dignity, and said in a clear voice: "I sincerely ask Master Cheng and Madam Cheng to grant your daughter Cheng An my marriage as my legal wife. I swear here that I will love and protect her for the rest of my life and never leave her."

The boy's voice was full of vigor and excitement, making people feel refreshed when they heard it.

Cheng An, who was hiding behind the screen, blushed when he heard this. He didn't hear any response from his parents for a long time, and he couldn't help but nervously clench his handkerchief.

Both Cheng's father and mother saw Qi Tianyang's performance in the martial arts exam, and were moved by his unyielding appearance. Since Qi Tianyang made the promise to marry Cheng An, he has not slacked off or given up in the past few months, and has no complaints in the face of their difficulties, which is really surprising.

After the military examination, even though he was not given any high-ranking official title, the two of them agreed in their hearts that he should be their son-in-law.

Father Cheng wanted to get on his high horse and give his future son-in-law a good scolding, but instead the steward and a palace attendant hurried in. The palace attendant only quickly saluted and said breathlessly, "The emperor has spoken, ordering Deputy Captain Qi to come to the palace to see him immediately."

Everyone was stunned. Father Cheng took two steps forward and asked politely, "What happened?"

The palace attendant naturally understood what the others were doing in this situation. She felt a little sorry for interrupting their marriage proposal and only said, "There has been unrest in southern Xinjiang. The urgent report was sent to the palace after 800 miles."

Several people had grim expressions on their faces. Qi Tianyang knew that the matter was urgent, so he didn't dare to delay. However, he felt sorry that he couldn't hear Cheng's father's response.

After bowing and apologizing, he hurriedly took a few steps out when he heard Cheng's father's loud voice behind him: "Just focus on your work. I agree to your proposal of marriage."

Qi Tianyang paused, turned around and saw Cheng An standing next to Cheng's father and mother, looking embarrassed and anxious.

He bowed deeply, his face beaming with a smile like the melting snow on the mountains.

"Thank you, father-in-law! Thank you, mother-in-law!"

The boy was still as smooth-talking as ever, and both of them couldn't help laughing.

Qi Tianyang ran backwards, waving at Cheng An and shouting, "Xiao An, wait for me! I'll come and marry you when I'm done!"

Cheng An blushed at his bold confession. She didn't know whether to agree or not. She just bit her lip and stamped her feet, burying her head in Zhu Yun's arms, leaving only her eyes exposed as she looked at him with a bright smile.

Zhu Yun smiled with curved eyebrows, Cheng's father lowered his head and sighed, and the palace servant beside him also smiled.

The white snow reflected the joy in his eyes, and his black pupils were shining.

Not daring to delay too long, the two of them walked out of the house, mounted their horses, and headed straight for the palace.

On the other side, Zhou Jing'an, who had just celebrated his birthday, was granted a day off by Feng Yu. He was having breakfast with Jiang Ling when the palace servant came to summon him, so he hurried into the palace.

Jiang Ling took two steps forward and Zhou Jing'an stopped immediately.

"Why are you running? Just call me." He went back.

Jiang Ling spread out the cloak, and Zhou Jing'an chuckled and leaned down slightly, letting her put the cloak on him, her slender fingers flying to tie the straps.

She warned, "Don't worry. It's so cold. Don't get sick right after your birthday."

Zhou Jing'an nodded and said, "Go back quickly, it's windy outside."

Jiang Ling watched him leave, feeling somewhat worried. "Is war going to break out again in Southern Xinjiang?"

Feng Yu summoned several military generals, and Prime Minister Zhou Huaixin was also summoned, along with several powerful ministers in the court, and they all gathered in the Purple Palace.

"Nanzhao has just changed its lord, but it is already so ambitious. Do you think it can try to shake a tree with an ant?" Jiang Lianshan was furious.

Zhou Huaixin frowned and said, "This Ji Qing is no less cunning than the Third Prince Ji Cang. He's only twenty years old, and he's just come to power, yet he's already thinking about disrupting the peace between the two countries. He's truly impatient."

The protagonist they were talking about was the lord of Nanzhao - Ji Qing.

He is the half-brother of the third prince Ji Cang. His mother is from a famous noble family in Nanzhao and has many supporters behind her.

When Ji Cang was competing with other princes for the throne, Ji Qing was just a child less than fifteen years old. His talents had not yet been revealed, so he was forgotten by them for a while.

The other princes fought each other to the point of bloodshed, and over the years they either died at the hands of others or were seriously injured. It was only last year when the old master was bedridden that Ji Qing slowly emerged and took this opportunity to quickly establish his prestige and eliminate dissidents.

In just one year, he had already established a firm foothold in Nanzhao, and two months ago, he was directly designated as the next lord when the old lord was dying.

This young emperor started to carry out drastic reforms right after he came to power. He executed those who defied his orders with a single blow. He believed that in order to resist foreign aggression, one must first stabilize the country. Now that the vigorous reforms in the country were over, it was time for him to take bigger action.

Feng Yu threw the urgent report that had been sent over eight hundred miles on the table with a grim look on his face.

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