Chapter 98 He stood at the door, staring intently...
Soon after, an imperial edict to reward the entire army was issued to the whole country.
All soldiers were rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, and all officers from the rank of colonel down were promoted one rank, with additional rewards. Even the third prince received a commendation from the emperor. However, compared to the jubilant atmosphere throughout the army, the arrangements for the commander-in-chief were rather vague.
Ji Chengning's merits should be rewarded, but his mistake of accidentally killing Xiao Dingguan should be punished. However, the imperial edict did not explicitly state whether it was a reward or a punishment.
There was some discontent among the troops, but Ji Chengnin seemed completely unconcerned, continuing to handle affairs in both places with great efficiency. His methods were ruthless, like a sharp knife cutting through rotten flesh, leaving no room for compromise, yet yielding immediate results.
This made the powerful families and officials in both places extremely resentful.
They only hoped that the emperor would use the Xiao Dingguan incident to severely punish Ji Chengning.
However, ten days later—the imperial court unexpectedly sent a special envoy to deliver an imperial edict, something no one had anticipated.
At this moment, in the government office.
"Ji Chengning, a scion of the Ji family, is virtuous and handsome, gentle, respectful, upright, and honest. Before he even reached adulthood, he brought order to chaos and rescued those in peril, carrying on his father's will and establishing illustrious achievements," the messenger's voice was slightly hoarse and breathless, as if he were in very poor health, yet he tried his best to suppress it and continued with an air of authority: "Now I hereby appoint Ji Chengning to inherit the title of Marquis of Yongning. May you uphold integrity and public duty, live up to the grace of Heaven above, be worthy of the common people below, and never bring shame upon your family's reputation."
His face was pale, but a smile flickered in his dark eyes as he gazed intently at Ji Chengnin.
This person was none other than Crown Prince Zhou Yu.
The fact that the Crown Prince personally came to the border region undoubtedly demonstrated the court's attitude.
The court was not dissatisfied with Ji Chengning at all; on the contrary, he was increasingly favored. Otherwise, why would His Highness the Crown Prince personally visit him?
What a great favor, what a great honor!
He looked at Ji Chengnin.
The young man, still in his armor, gave a military salute, kneeling on one knee, his waist, encased in iron armor, as upright as a jade bamboo.
It seems I've gotten a bit darker than when I left Beijing.
Zhou Yu stared intently at Ji Chengnin, thinking to himself with affection.
His gaze drifted and fell on the wound on Ji Chengnin's cheek, and he was suddenly startled. He gripped the imperial edict tightly in his hand. If all the generals hadn't been there, he would have pulled Ji Chengnin up and carefully examined and touched it.
Ji Chengnin's mind went blank for a moment.
At this moment, he was speechless with his thoughts. The joy of success had long been dispelled by Xiao Dingguan's few words that were hard to tell whether they were true or false. His emotions were indescribable and extremely complicated. He instinctively performed flawlessly, but alas, alas, it was Zhou Yu who came to deliver the imperial decree!
How could a young person not tell whether his expression was genuine or feigned when they had just met?
Their eyes met.
Eyes brimming with joy met a pair of eyes that showed absolutely no joy.
Zhou Yu was taken aback.
Xiao Ning... what's wrong?
Zhou Yu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He took two steps forward, grabbed Ji Chengnin's arm, and gestured for him to stand up.
In a low voice, "Xiao Ning?"
Ji Chengnin suddenly came to his senses.
He laughed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree." He then grasped Zhou Yu's hand, which reassured the latter somewhat.
Zhou Yu said, "All generals, please leave. I have something to say to General Ji."
The crowd filed out.
Ji Chengning quickly pulled Zhou Yu to sit down, poured some tea, tested the water temperature before serving it, and said with a smile, "Yan County is bitterly cold, and we don't have any good tea. I hope Your Highness won't find it offensive."
Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes, but he kept a straight face and said softly, "What hypocritical words. In just two months, Xiao Ning has picked up such bad habits."
They must have been misled by others!
Ji Chengning touched his nose and sat down next to Zhou Yu.
He didn't sit properly, resting his chin on his hands, his peach blossom eyes staring at Zhou Yu, his voice carrying a hint of half-joking reproach, "Your Highness must be tired from your journey, why did you have to come?" He gently touched the back of Zhou Yu's hand with his fingers, "It's so cold."
Zhou Yu raised her hand and tapped his nose, feigning anger, "You heartless wretch."
The emperor's reward to Ji Chengnin was by no means generous; in Zhou Yu's opinion, it was even stingy. Of course, this was also due to Zhou Yu's own reasons. In the words of the Minister of Works, "The young marquis is still young, and such a reward is not generous. It is also to ensure that the young marquis will have something to reward him for his future merits. If a young man is too successful, he will become arrogant and complacent, which will be detrimental to him."
He looked at Zhou Yu and said, “Your Majesty has put a lot of thought into this. If you give the young marquis an important position in the future, the young marquis will be even more grateful for your kindness.” He paused and said, “I am very grateful.”
Zhou Yu sneered, "Even my father didn't think this far ahead, so why should you try to make excuses for him?"
The Minister broke out in a cold sweat. "Your Highness, Your Highness, please be careful with your words." He then advised, "Moreover, how much reward is considered generous? If we really reach the point where there's nothing left to reward, how will you, young marquis, conduct yourself?"
He saw that Zhou Yu was eager to hand the throne over to Ji Chengning, hoping that His Highness would distance himself from Ji Chengning after ascending the throne, otherwise a powerful minister with absolute authority and great influence would emerge in the future!
Zhou Yu only came to Yan County because the rewards were meager.
Everyone inside and outside the court had to see that Ji Chengning had not fallen out of favor because of Xiao Dingguan; on the contrary, he had won the emperor's favor so much that even the crown prince had to come and deliver the imperial decree in person.
Ji Chengning lowered his head, and Zhou Yu's fingers lightly hovered at the corner of his lips.
But Lord Ji was oblivious, and even smiled, saying, "Yes, Your Highness is right."
Zhou Yu's fingertips trembled slightly.
Like touching a candle flame, yet not knowing to pull your hand away.
He vaguely felt the soft, moist heat, his eyes darkening, but he had to pretend to be nonchalant and smiled slightly: "Why were you so still when I was announcing the decree? Were you stupid?"
Ji Chengnin was greatly encouraged.
He looked up.
Her eyes, with their exquisite lines resembling the distinct black and white of peach petals, made the person who was about to interrogate her look away.
When Zhou Yu spoke to Ji Chengnin, he rarely displayed the majesty of a crown prince, and commanded, "You are not allowed to look at others like that."
Ji Chengnin tilted his head, a wisp of hair gently resting on his cheek, and asked with a smile, "Are you someone else?"
Zhou Yu silently gasped.
He swallowed the words "You are not allowed to speak to others like that" back down his throat, almost annoyed. His gaze unconsciously fell on Ji Chengnin's lips, but then he realized what he was doing and quickly looked away. "Don't try to sweet-talk me. You haven't told me why you did what you did earlier."
“Just now,” Ji Chengnin blinked, “I was so overjoyed when I saw that it was Your Highness who came to deliver the imperial decree that I lost my composure and begged Your Highness to forgive me.”
Zhou Yu took another deep breath. "You... never mind."
With a light touch, he tapped Ji Chengnin's shoulder. "Since you're here to see me, why wear full armor? It's exhausting to look at. Take it off and change into your everyday clothes."
The moment the words left his mouth, it was Zhou Yu himself who felt his ears burning.
He couldn't help but secretly glance at Ji Chengnin's expression. The latter didn't seem to notice anything amiss and just smiled and said, "Even when meeting Your Highness, one must be mindful of the etiquette of a subject. Otherwise, if word gets to some official's ears and they submit a memorial impeaching me, I wouldn't know what to do."
Zhou Yu couldn't tell whether he was relieved or disappointed, so he put on a stern face and said, "Pretending."
Ji Chengning smiled, got up and went behind the screen to remove his armor.
Today he wore light armor, hooking his fingers onto the rope, deftly untying one end and then going around to the other end to untie it.
Zhou Yu sat motionless, only the clanging sound of armor clashing against each other could be heard.
Presumably, the young man's tall and upright figure will gradually be revealed as his armor is removed piece by piece.
"Click".
He suddenly clenched his fingers.
His breath was scalding hot, but his expression was extremely calm. He spoke casually, "Xiao Ning, I heard that you have a new escort officer by your side. He's not a high-ranking official, and he got the position through donation. He seems to be quite close to you."
Ji Chengnin was struggling with the rope tied behind his neck when he heard this, and replied without hesitation, "There is such a person."
"It seems his surname is Cui?" Zhou Yu asked slowly.
He replied, "Cui Yao."
"Oh, Cui Yao." The Crown Prince's tone remained unhurried, especially when he pronounced the name Cui Yao. He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he wanted to chew the name up and swallow it down before he was satisfied.
Seeing that Ji Chengnin hadn't come out yet, he simply got up and went behind the screen.
The first thing that catches the eye is a pair of hands, which are placed on the back of Ji Chengning's neck, awkwardly and laboriously untying something.
As if guided by some unseen force, Zhou Yu slowly stepped forward.
"Da, da, da."
Footsteps sounded from behind.
Ji Chengnin's body tensed for a moment, then slowly relaxed.
He let Zhou Yu walk behind him, raise his hand, and gently press his hand down.
It was cold and hard, like a withered branch covered in snow.
Ji Chengning closed his eyes briefly, his long eyelashes trembling slightly.
People who have been ill for a long time may not be very dexterous, but they are very patient.
Zhou Yu always had endless patience for Ji Chengning.
My fingertips moved, inadvertently brushing against the patterns on the armor.
It was just armor, yet it was enough to make people lose their minds and feel their bodies burning hot.
The unfamiliar heat made Zhou Yu very uncomfortable.
The armor was so cold that he naturally clung even closer.
His light, weak breaths brushed against his exposed skin, making Ji Chengning feel itchy, but because Zhou Yu was behind him, he suppressed the urge to scratch.
"Is it not ready yet?" he asked casually.
Pale fingertips traced the rough ropes, Zhou Yu's gaze shifting from the armor to the person supporting it.
He had grown taller, and his shoulders seemed to be half an inch wider than before he left the capital. Wearing armor, he appeared even more dashing and spirited.
Fine ropes can connect armor seamlessly, and just as they can bind the flesh beneath the armor...
Zhou Yu's thoughts suddenly stopped.
What am I thinking?!
"Your Highness?" Ji Chengning called him several times but he did not respond, his voice filled with deep doubt.
Zhou Yu suddenly came to his senses.
If someone had discovered some kind of secret, Zhou Yu would immediately lower his head, grab the rope with his fingers, pull it outwards forcefully, and mumble, "Not yet."
Ji Chengning knew that he had never worn armor before, and thought that His Highness the Crown Prince was having trouble with such a small rope, so he smiled and said, "No rush, take your time."
"Um……"
The hemp fibers that sprang up from the rope got caught on the edge of my fingernail.
Zhou Yu asked, "What kind of person is this Cui Yao you mentioned?"
Ji Chengning was puzzled, but told the truth, "He is calm and composed, and acts with great method. I sent him to Luanyang to handle affairs two days ago. Although he is cautious, he is by no means timid or hesitant. He is a capable official."
Hearing his undisguised praise, Zhou Yu's hands stiffened even more as he tried to untie the rope.
The slightly protruding bone at the back of his neck caught his eye.
It swayed back and forth with its owner's movements.
Zhou Yu moved slightly closer.
The bone became even more distinct.
"You speak highly of him." Zhou Yu's tone revealed no emotion.
As if in jest, Zhou Yu’s voice, so soft it was almost inaudible, came from behind, “Given the young marquis’s trust and reliance on this person, she must be quite beautiful, right?”
Ji Chengnin tilted his head, a hint of anger on his face, but his eyes were smiling. "In Your Highness's heart, I must be a lecherous man?"
"hiss."
Ji Chengnin's expression tightened. "What's wrong?"
But then it was discovered that the hemp fibers that had been hooking onto the edge of Zhou Yu's nail had somehow become embedded in it. With a slight force, the taut hemp fibers immediately cut off half of the nail!
Blood gushed out instantly along the nail seam.
Zhou Yu was already extremely fair-skinned, and the line of bright red attached to it made him look even more shocking.
"Creak—"
The door was pushed open.
Ji Chengning assumed it was just a general returning and didn't care. He grabbed Zhou Yu's wrist and tried to pull him out to wipe the blood and apply medicine.
The fit was perfect, and the heat emanating from the young general made Zhou Yu's breathing heavy.
Zhou Yu's injured little finger twitched slightly.
Ji Chengnin immediately asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
With that, he pulled Zhou Yu outside.
He stared at Ji Chengnin's anxious face, slightly curved his lips, and said softly, "It doesn't hurt at all."
Ji Chengnin was filled with regret. He should not have agreed, knowing that Zhou Yu had never touched armor before.
As soon as he rounded the screen, Ji Chengning abruptly stopped.
But the person who had just entered was none other than Cui Yao, who should still be in Luanyang.
He was standing at the door, staring intently at Ji Chengnin, and smiling at him.
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Author's Note: Come home, and a red envelope will drop in this chapter.
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