The entire court of officials: "!!!"

Shang Nanjue: "!!!"

Crown Prince: "!!!"

What's going on? What's wrong with His Majesty all of a sudden?

That's four chests of gold and four chests of silver!

Although the royal family had precedents of bestowing gold and silver as rewards, those were specific gold and silver coins, and most of them were kept as tribute and could not be spent.

How can you just go directly to the national treasury and get eight boxes at once!

The crown prince's eyes reddened: Did his father want to kill him but was worried about not having a reason, so he came up with all sorts of ways to find fault with him?

"Father, it is my duty to strive for progress, and I dare not ask for any reward; thank you for your kindness," Shang Dongyang said loudly, raising his hand with trembling hands, his whole body bent like a shrimp that had been attacked.

A cold glint flashed in Shang Xiche's eyes: What a coward!

Some of the court officials secretly caught a glimpse of the Emperor's expression and breathed a sigh of relief: That's more like it; the Emperor still doesn't favor the Crown Prince.

The promise of a reward was nothing but a joke.

Who the hell has a death wish to steal gold and silver from the national treasury...?

Emmmmm, that bandit was an exception after all;

Moreover, she was using the guise of the Empress Dowager at the time.

At this moment, Gao Chengwei strode in and respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince and Princess Chonghe have entered the palace, accompanied by prisoners of the Di Kingdom's royal family and the spoils of war captured this time, and they are heading towards the court."

"We've arrived. Summon him directly into the palace," Shang Xiche said coldly.

It was as if only an unknown junior officer had returned.

Shang Xiye only destroyed a small group of enemies, not an entire country.

Gao Chengwei paused slightly, noticing Shang Xiche's difference, but did not look up, still respectfully replying, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Having said that, he went outside the hall to wait.

Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao arrived hand in hand.

Both were dressed in formal attire; the man was dashing and imposing, with an extraordinary air; the woman was stunningly beautiful, charming and adorable.

Compared to their helplessness and disarray when they left Beijing, this time when they returned, their eyes were filled with open-mindedness and composure, and their every move was unrestrained and elegant.

It was as if they were about to enter not the most solemn and majestic royal temple in the world, but a random teahouse on the side of the street where people could rest and listen to storytelling.

Gao Chengwei immediately frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss: the Ninth Prince had returned victorious and entered the palace not in military attire, but instead in the usual royal robes.

Why did the Nine Princes remove their armor?

Ji Chenhai and Ji Fengming were no longer serving in the capital and no longer needed to honor the emperor. So the father and son, along with Xique, Bailu, Heixiao, and others, stayed in the square in front to wait.

Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao entered the palace with graceful steps and composure.

When the court officials saw them openly holding hands in court, especially the old-fashioned censors who were stubborn and conservative, they were immediately furious, their faces turning red. They repeatedly exclaimed, "This is outrageous! This is outrageous! It's an affront to public order and morals!"

Ji Fengyao stopped, turned her small face towards the old censor, and tilted her head innocently: "Sir, do you have any children?"

Although the old official disliked Ji Fengyao, this crude bandit, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and honestly answer, "Your Highness, I have three sons and two daughters."

The little bandit girl's phoenix eyes blinked: "Then why did you complain that I and the prince were immoral? If you didn't do immoral things with your wife, where would your children come from? Could it be that your noble lady would split into little babies on her own?"