Chapter 121 End. He was enjoying his congratulatory gift...
Chapter 121 The Finale
After such turmoil, the court was in dire need of rebuilding, and King Zhao ascended to the throne without any doubt.
Even when he was still King Zhao, he was more diligent than others. After experiencing such a great upheaval, he ascended the throne, but it was not as easy as he had imagined. He often told Lin Qingrong and He Hansheng that he felt the burden on his shoulders was heavier than ever before, so heavy that he often woke up in the middle of the night, unable to breathe.
How could it not be heavy? This time, Tuoba Dian marched south and slaughtered many virtuous officials in the court. In addition, those who ran away with the crown prince were also killed. At this critical moment, there were very few people in the court who could be of use. Xue Baoyi, the former Grand Tutor, originally did not want to return to the court to serve as an official. Li Yicheng personally went to his house several times to invite him out.
Xue Baoyi said he felt ashamed because the crown prince he had trained had fled without hesitation during the national crisis. If it weren't for Prime Minister Lin's strong persuasion, he should have atoned with his death.
However, the new emperor disregarded past grievances and even dared to sacrifice himself for others in a life-or-death situation, taking his aunt's place as a hostage. This legendary story was praised by many. With the crown prince as a negative example, Xue Baoyi admired the new emperor even more.
Speaking of the eldest princess, she was much more dignified than Li Yicheng when she was a hostage. After Tuoba Dian learned that she was He Changxin's wife, he did not make things difficult for her. On the contrary, he treated her well and said that without someone like He Changxin, half of Dacheng would collapse.
The princess herself never expected that, as a hostage, she would discuss her deceased husband with the foreign invaders who had captured her, and that they would talk for an entire day. So much so that when Shen Suining came to take her away later, she was in a daze and felt like she was dreaming.
Shen Suining smiled and told her that she had defended Danyu Pass and shouldn't have embarrassed her father-in-law too much.
The princess then came to her senses, choked with sobs, and hugged Shen Suining, saying that in the past month, Ningning had lost a lot of weight.
Shen Suining didn't mention her plan to replace Prince Zhao to the Princess at that time. She only asked Shen Fengyu and the others to pick up the Princess and Mingxi and the others from the city. The whole group from the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion were outside the city. After the Princess was safely sent out of the city, Shen Suining turned back.
Later, when the eldest princess heard about the harrowing events that followed, she was both terrified and heartbroken, especially because Shen Suining had a long scar on her neck, which made her cry for two days.
Shen Suining tried to coax and persuade him, but when all else failed, she went to find He Hansheng.
He Hansheng was also busy. The defense of Huadu needed to be reorganized, and there were vacancies in many general positions. He couldn't find suitable people, and he was at his wit's end.
Upon hearing Shen Suining's plea for help, he put down the roster in his hand, pretended to think seriously for a moment, and told Shen Suining, "Just coax your mother the way you usually coax me."
After hearing this, Shen Suining thought about it seriously for a moment and concluded: "He Hansheng, I think you should be easier to coax than your mother-in-law."
He Hansheng raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
Shen Suining didn't say anything, but stepped forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He Hansheng maintained his composure, but a cheap smile immediately appeared on his lips.
Therefore, women are much harder to coax than men. After all, Shen Suining couldn't possibly kiss the Princess. What's even more difficult is that after coaxing the Princess, she also has to coax Xu Lanji.
She's about to give birth.
...
That day, He Hansheng entered the palace to discuss matters with Li Yicheng. As soon as Li Yicheng saw him, he exploded, slamming his fist on the table and saying, "You've spent more time with me in the past two weeks than with your cousin-in-law! If she could enter the palace, she would be jumping on my table and pointing her finger at me, cursing me right now! Can't you even give yourself half a day off and leave me alone for once!"
He Hansheng coughed lightly and said that he came in this time not on official business, but on personal matters.
Li Yicheng had a premonition at the time, and when He Hansheng said that Xu Lan had just given birth to a son and that both mother and child were safe, he was so excited that he almost cried.
He Hansheng asked him, "What are Your Majesty's plans?"
Since Xu Lanji had given birth to a son for Li Yicheng without any official status, the first priority was naturally to bring Xu Lanji back to Huadu and into the palace, so that she and the imperial heir could have a legitimate position.
The difficulty lies in the fact that Li Yicheng himself is unsure of Xu Lanji's thoughts. He hasn't seen her for a long time, and he only knows about her recent situation from other people.
And look at him now...
Li Yicheng clasped his hands on his lap, looking visibly uncomfortable. More than a month had passed, and his legs had not recovered enough to allow him to walk upright. He had consulted doctors all over China, and even some unorthodox quacks had examined him. Everyone said he could get better, but there was still no improvement.
After a long silence, Li Yicheng finally spoke: "I will have people take good care of her and the child. As for other things... there's no rush."
There's no rush.
Since the real war has not yet begun, the crown prince and half of the court who fled earlier are still nowhere to be found, and they will return sooner or later.
There has been considerable criticism of Li Yicheng's succession to the throne, as the late emperor did not depose the crown prince and the heir apparent is still alive, making his ascension to the throne illegitimate.
There were also some of the Crown Prince's former supporters in the court who outwardly submitted to Li Yicheng, but in reality, they always hoped for the Crown Prince's return.
During this period, another incident occurred: an old official from the Ministry of Rites instigated the Imperial Observatory to spread rumors in the palace that the celestial phenomena were abnormal and that the world was about to descend into chaos. After being exposed, he attempted to strike his head against a pillar to demonstrate his loyalty to the Li family.
Li Yicheng asked him, "Don't I have the surname Li? Why is being loyal to me considered disloyalty to the Li family?"
The old minister, his head bleeding from the banging, stammered for a long time before finally saying: "We should respect the will of the late emperor; the crown prince he personally appointed is the new emperor."
Li Yicheng then asked him: "When the late emperor was in power, there were factions in the court, and the empress dowager interfered in politics in the harem. The whole court was in a state of chaos. Is this the will you want to follow?"
The old minister remained silent.
Li Yicheng finally asked: According to your statement, I am not in this position properly, and only the Crown Prince is fit to sit in it, is that right?
The old minister wanted to say "yes," but as he was about to speak, a hint of confusion appeared on his face.
Is that really the case? If King Zhao, who was virtuous and talented and devoted himself to protecting the country, could not be a ruler, could the crown prince, who abandoned everyone when disaster struck, be one?
After struggling internally for a long time, the old minister finally answered truthfully, saying that he did not know either. He only knew that the crown prince was the rightful heir and that he would defend him to the death.
Li Yicheng smiled, grunted in agreement, and told the old minister that he would not kill him and would stay with them until the Crown Prince returned.
The Crown Prince and his followers returned in early November.
As if his return had been anticipated, no one inside or outside the capital city stopped him. With the support of the Duke of Zhenguo and others, Li Yichuan traveled unimpeded all the way to the Golden Palace.
Upon entering the hall, the Duke of Zhenguo pointed at Li Yicheng's seat and shouted, "The late emperor never deposed the crown prince. This prince beside me is the rightful heir to that position! You traitors and rebels, step down!"
Li Yicheng sat on the throne, with civil officials such as Lin Qingrong and Xue Baoyi standing on either side of him, while military generals such as He Hansheng stood in the front row, forming a silent protective barrier.
Seeing He Hansheng, Li Yichuan was shocked and disappointed. He laughed, "Cousin, you've finally chosen sides. Were all the things you said to me in the warm pavilion lies?"
“I have said that if Your Highness can benefit the people and care about the world, not only me, but many people will stand behind Your Highness. I have never lied to Your Highness about this,” He Hansheng said. “But Your Highness, in the end, you only care about your own power. Otherwise, when Danyu Pass was about to fall, you would not have visited the Marquis’s residence in the middle of the night, just to trick Ningning into going to her death, in order to delay your escape time.”
Li Yichuan raised his head, exhaled a long breath, and his eyes were filled with an unconcealed bewilderment.
Benefiting the people and caring for the world? That's easy to say. Can this alone make up for the huge difference in talent between him and Li Yicheng?
Everyone said that he was no worse than King Zhao. Even his teacher Xue Baoyi comforted him more than once, saying that King Zhao was just diligent. In terms of natural talent, it was really hard to say who was better between the two.
But Xue Baoyi was now standing next to King Zhao, looking at him with complicated emotions. Li Yichuan couldn't accept why everyone was giving up on him in the end.
After a long pause, Li Yichuan chuckled softly and asked indifferently, "But didn't Danyu Pass hold? Why don't you praise me, cousin? If I hadn't sent my sister-in-law to guard the pass, and Danyu Pass had fallen, do you think Huadu could have been taken so easily by you?"
"Your Highness makes it sound so easy. You sit firmly in the capital, but do you know how many people died defending Danyu Pass? When you fled the capital's decadent lifestyle, how many innocent people in Huadu were displaced?"
Shen Suining entered the main hall from behind him without him noticing, her words sharp and her voice full of questions.
Li Yichuan's face instantly turned red, and he turned around angrily shouting, "How dare you! You are merely a subject, how dare you speak to me like that!"
He turned around and saw that the eldest princess had also arrived. The shock and anger in his eyes were instantly extinguished, leaving only a sense of helplessness and unease.
“Aunt Jinyang…”
The princess didn't look at him, but walked up the steps. She glanced at Lin Pingrong beside her, then looked at Li Yicheng. She took out a copy of the late emperor's edict from her hand. It was a copy that Li Bo had put in the food box along with the glutinous rice candy for her to take with her.
Upon hearing the imperial edict, everyone knelt down to receive the order. Even Li Yicheng was carried on the back of the head eunuch to kneel before the princess.
Under the intense gazes of the crowd, the eldest princess calmly read out the contents of her will:
By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
The Third Prince, Prince Zhao, was exceptionally intelligent and gifted from a young age, possessing a kind and benevolent nature and a forgiving heart. Even in his youth, he was well-versed in the classics and history, able to distinguish right from wrong. As he grew older, he personally attended to state affairs, working diligently and tirelessly, showing compassion for the people. Wherever he went, he was praised by the populace. He treated people with sincerity, was inclusive and tolerant, respected the ancestral temple above, and comforted his ministers below; he was truly the only suitable candidate for Crown Prince. Now, after careful consideration, I hereby announce to the world that the throne is passed to Prince Zhao…
I, though I have rendered some service to the state, have also made many mistakes. I reflect upon these faults day and night, feeling deeply ashamed and unable to sleep. Now I entrust the empire to King Zhao, hoping that my son, Shaoyu, will always cherish benevolence, extend kindness widely, treat his relatives and brothers with kindness, and foster harmony among them. He must not allow the struggle for power to lead to fratricide. When brothers are of one mind, the nation is secure; when relatives are harmonious, the people will be united in heart.
"All my subjects, from the day King Zhao ascends the throne, must obey his decrees, assist the new ruler, and together usher in a prosperous era. So be it!"
After speaking, the eldest princess moved her lips slightly and slowly closed the edict. "Now, no one will question whether His Majesty's position is illegitimate or improper."
The hall was completely silent; no one uttered a sound. Only Li Yicheng, his voice trembling as he tried to control his emotions, said, "Your subject... will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
After handing the imperial edict to Li Yicheng, the eldest princess finally looked at Li Yichuan, who was kneeling below with a pale face.
She reached out and helped him up, saying earnestly, "The late emperor's last wish was that you two would not end up fighting each other. That's why I insisted on coming here personally despite Ningning's advice. Chuan'er, the situation is settled. Have your people evacuate. Don't make another mistake."
Li Yichuan clenched his jaw, seemingly struggling to control his emotions. He muttered to himself, "One mistake after another... What mistakes have I made? In terms of diligence, I am far superior to my third brother! Prince Zhao begins his morning reading at dawn, while I take out my books to review my lessons as soon as it's dawn! Since I was a teenager, I have diligently studied the classics, rising at midnight and sleeping at dawn, never missing a single court meeting, carefully considering every word in my memorials, daring not to slacken in the slightest—my third brother is diligent, but am I not? He personally attends to state affairs, and every single day I am not exhausted..."
"Why... even Father Emperor has to abandon me? If Father Emperor has always felt that my talent is inferior to Prince Zhao's, why didn't he make him the crown prince from the beginning? Why give me hope only to shatter it..."
Li Yichuan was on the verge of a breakdown. When he looked up, his eyes were almost bloodshot. He pushed aside the Duke of Zhenguo and drew his sword, pointing it at the Princess.
"Your Highness!"
"aunt!"
Amidst the shock of the crowd, Shen Suining stood in front of the Princess, and He Hansheng immediately stood in front of her as well.
He did not wield a sword, yet his broad body acted as an unbreakable shield, firmly protecting his mother and wife behind him, allowing no one to infringe or desecrate them.
With his sword pointed at He Hansheng, Li Yichuan stared intently at the Princess with trembling hands: "The edict... you forged it! You forged this edict of our father so that your son would wholeheartedly assist a usurper, so that he would be remembered in history and not be subject to any blame or slander from the world! It's fake! Father could not have abandoned me! He had no reason to abandon me at this time!"
Faced with Li Yichuan's almost frantic questioning, He Hansheng remained silent, only protecting Shen Suining and the princess behind her.
He Hansheng did not know when Li Bo decided to pass the throne to Prince Zhao instead of the Crown Prince. He was even unaware of the existence of this edict. If he had to trace it back to its source, he thought it might have been on the afternoon when Xu Yong was dragged into the Dali Temple prison that Li Bo, who was already middle-aged, finally saw the redemption he had in his youth.
In his youth, he was in love with his cousin and longed to marry her, but unfortunately, he had no say in his marriage. As a result, his beloved died with regret, and even after her death, he never managed to secure a legitimate opportunity for her to stay by his side.
Although Xu Jin gave birth to Princess Biyue, Li Bo was still unable to posthumously confer the title of Consort on her. She could not enter the Li family's clan, nor could she be buried with Li Bo in the imperial mausoleum. Her tomb remained alone on a mountaintop, and for more than twenty years, Li Bo was unable to even visit her grave to pay his respects.
When Li Bo reached middle age and felt he had great power, he couldn't even keep his daughter with his beloved. Even though he knew the princess had died unjustly, he had to bow down to his mother and the noble family.
Li Bo always felt that he had too many things beyond his control in that position, until he saw that Prince Zhao, Li Yicheng, who was also supported by the Empress Dowager, actually dared to break free from the shackles imposed on him by the Empress Dowager in order to marry the girl he loved, and even though the outcome might be utterly disastrous.
Isn't that exactly what Li Bo has been missing for many years?
He had been suppressed and controlled for far too many years. Even in a high position, there were many things he could not make decisions about. Perhaps at that time, Li Bo had already made a choice between Prince Zhao and the Crown Prince.
As everyone remained silent, Grand Tutor Xue Baoyi slowly stepped forward and walked between Li Yichuan and He Hansheng.
He reached out and gently grasped Li Yichuan's hand that was holding the sword. Li Yichuan did not struggle and let Xue Baoyi take the sword down and put it behind his back.
This action is exactly the same as when Li Yichuan made a mistake as a child and hid the ruler for fear of being scolded by Xue Baoyi.
Li Yichuan finally broke down in tears, and then, ignoring everyone's attempts to stop him, he slammed himself against the pillar with nine dragons coiled around it in the Golden Palace.
After a dizzying spin, Li Yichuan lay on the ground, feeling as if everything before him had turned blood red. He struggled to find Li Yicheng among the blurry, indistinguishable figures.
He forced a smile and said softly, "I was going to give you a big gift, Third Brother. But... Azhi told me that Zhen'er... has given birth to a son for you, and both mother and child are safe..."
"She was originally mine."
"It was... that I gave it to you..."
...
It's Lunar New Year's Eve again.
This year's Lunar New Year's Eve seemed less festive than in previous years, and even the atmosphere was unusually cold, at least that's what He Hansheng felt.
It was his birthday, and he had been eagerly anticipating the surprise gift his outspoken wife would prepare. But as he waited and waited, the eve of the Lunar New Year finally arrived, and his wife... didn't come home all night!
The situation was so similar that He Hansheng almost thought that his experiences over the past year had all been a dream.
As evening approached, Shen Suining finally returned home happily, still holding the rattle drum she had accidentally taken from Xu Lanji. As soon as she entered the house, she saw He Hansheng sitting upright with a face as ugly as could be.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Shen Suining felt that He Hansheng's face seemed to darken a bit after seeing her excited expression.
She asked Jiang Yuchu, who was standing beside her, "What's wrong? Who provoked him again?"
"..." Jiang Yuchu stared at her toes, not daring to say a word, only wanting to say that the answer was right in front of her.
After a moment of stunned silence, Shen Suining finally realized what was happening and slapped her forehead, exclaiming, "Oh! He Hansheng! I almost forgot it's your birthday today! Happy birthday!"
He Hansheng: "..."
Jiang Yuchu thought to herself: Oh no, so the madam really forgot.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Did I remember wrong?" Shen Suining seemed completely unaware of what she was about to experience. She walked up to He Hansheng and shook a rattle a couple of times, like she was teasing Manman—
"Manman" is the nickname of Xu Lanji's son. His formal name has not yet been decided. It is said that Li Yicheng will personally name him after the mother and son enter the palace.
When He Hansheng saw the rattle drum, he knew where Shen Suining had gone again today.
He gave a soft hum, subtly grasped Shen Suining's wrist as she shook the drum, pulled her onto his lap, and held her waist with his other hand, encircling her in his arms.
Shen Suining tried to pull her hand away, but He Hansheng's palm exerted a slight force, preventing her from breaking free.
Seeing that he seemed to be serious, Shen Suining laughed out loud: "What? You want to fight again during the New Year?"
The people in the Marquis's mansion were used to it. Their Marquis and his wife would have a minor fight every ten days and a major fight every half month. The former was for fun, and the latter was even more fun. They were also very perceptive and immediately disappeared from the couple's sight.
Shen Suining tried to break free a couple more times, but to no avail. Somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, she pushed He Hansheng away, saying, "That's enough."
He Hansheng snorted coldly, grabbed Shen Suining's hand and pulled her forward, then hoisted her up and carried her into the room.
"What are you doing?!" Shen Suining exclaimed, and the rattle drum fell to the ground with a soft sound due to the sudden suspension.
“I see that Madam’s mind is not on me lately. If I don’t work harder, I’m afraid Madam will forget that there is a handsome young man in the house. He is looking forward to Madam’s return home every day.” He Hansheng put his hands on Shen Suining’s sides, encircling him in the small space formed by the wooden bed and his chest. His words were sour, as if he was afraid that Shen Suining would not know that he was unhappy.
Shen Suining was amused by him and couldn't help but reach out and pinch He Hansheng's face. "As beautiful as a flower? He Hansheng, have some shame. You're out in the wind and sun every day, how can you be as beautiful as a flower?"
He Hansheng suddenly retorted, "Does Madam not like it?"
"!" Shen Suining had a premonition that she was doomed. The next second, He Hansheng pressed down on her, murmuring into her earlobe, "That's right. I've noticed that Madam has been going to visit other people's homes lately. She probably prefers younger and more beautiful women."
"Wait, He Hansheng, what nonsense are you talking about? I didn't go to anyone else's house."
Shen Suining covered his mouth, but his hands became restless. She laughed and dodged, explaining, "Isn't this Manman's 100-day celebration? As her godmother, I have to show my support, right? Otherwise, once they enter the palace, I don't want to join in the fun. You know, I hate attending palace banquets the most."
Li Yicheng planned to bring Xu Lan and her son to the palace on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year for the investiture ceremony, to establish Xu Lan as Empress, and the little prince's 100-day celebration was also scheduled for that day.
It's quite a strange story. Back when Xu Lan was six months pregnant and living in the countryside, she and Li Yicheng hadn't seen each other for more than half a year. Li Yicheng had Shen Suining act as a go-between every day.
Shen Suining was naturally unhappy. From her perspective, Li Yicheng was going to be the emperor in the future, and emperors always had three wives and four concubines. She thought that Xu Lanji's personality meant that she could live a peaceful life even if she married into an ordinary family. But if she married the emperor, there would be no one to help her if she suffered any grievances in the palace.
However, Shen Suining had no idea what changes had occurred in Xu Lanji's heart. In any case, after she relayed Xu Lanji's words to Li Yicheng, who was being held hostage in Baohua Palace, the two of them seemed to hit it off immediately and then naturally progressed to where they are today.
Of course, this was not what He Hansheng cared about; he only knew that Shen Suining's heart and eyes were always on her godson.
He Hansheng wasn't a patient person, nor did he particularly like children. He thought that although he and Shen Suining had been married for over a year, they had experienced various hardships and separations during that time, and in reality, they spent very little time together. He didn't want their precious time together to be disturbed.
In addition, after Shen Yan resigned and left the capital not long ago, most of the people from Huadu Shuyu Villa withdrew. Although He Hansheng had not heard Shen Suining mention it, he always felt a little anxious. He knew clearly that it was he who could not leave Ningning, not Ningning who could not leave him.
But He Hansheng didn't want to restrict her, so even though he was about to have sex many times, he never asked Shen Suining if she liked children very much, then was it possible for her and him to have a child of their own?
"Why aren't you saying anything? He Hansheng, you're not even jealous of Manman, are you?"
Seeing that He Hansheng remained silent, Shen Suining cupped his face and kissed him, unable to resist laughing, "Alright, it's just that I didn't give you a birthday gift, young marquis? Don't be angry, I put the gift by your bedside a long time ago, get up and go see it?"
He Hansheng snapped out of his daze, got up with some doubt and went to search the bedside table, where he indeed found a fine longbow.
He picked it up and weighed it in his hand. It was heavy, but it suited his strength perfectly. Such a fine bow was rare even in Huadu.
So He Hansheng asked, "...Was it built by Linrong Pavilion?"
"Hmm, Shen Yunwei made it herself. I begged and pleaded with her, writing her a hundred or eighty letters and saying all the nice things before she finally agreed to give me this favor," Shen Suining leaned against the headboard, a half-smile on her face. "So? How much face do I, the young master of the manor, still have? Is the young marquis satisfied with this gift?"
"Even if it were aged arsenic, I would swallow it whole if the lady gave it to me."
"...Old arsenic is ineffective now, so who would still use it?"
"..." He Hansheng opened his mouth, speechless and choked with emotion.
Putting aside Shen Suining's mouth, which never utters sweet words all year round, He Hansheng really liked this gift. Moreover, it was prepared from Shuyu Manor and then transported over a thousand miles, so you can imagine how much time and effort it took. It must have been prepared months ago.
Come to think of it, He Hansheng has never celebrated Shen Suining's birthday with her.
Her birthday is in February. Two days before her birthday last year, He Hansheng hurriedly led his troops south to quell the rebellion. However, her birthday is less than two months away. He Hansheng thought that he must spend a good time with her on that day and give her a worthwhile gift in return.
"Actually, there's something I've been wanting to discuss with you." After putting away the longbow, He Hansheng spoke cautiously, his tone still somewhat hesitant.
Without even thinking, Shen Suining asked, "Are you planning to take a concubine?"
He Hansheng: "..."
Shen Suining: "..."
"Ahem, that's not what I meant," Shen Suining coughed awkwardly, "It's just that your tone makes it hard not to misunderstand."
"There are so many ways to misunderstand, why did you have to think of taking a concubine?" He Han's voice was sharp and sarcastic. "Admit it, Madam, have you been secretly reading some frivolous novels lately? Hmm?"
Okay, Shen Suining admits that she has recently become a bit obsessed with some novels about palace intrigue. The men in these novels all have three wives and four concubines. Even if the male lead insists on having only one female lead at the beginning, he will still marry several wives later for various reasons.
Of course, it wasn't that she didn't trust He Hansheng.
“Alright, go ahead,” Shen Suining brought the topic back, curious yet wary. “There’s no room for discussion about your secret stash of money—you know, there are many expenses at the end of the year, and we really can’t spare any money for you to spend.”
He Hansheng: "..."
He suddenly didn't want to talk anymore, so he silently took off his coat and threw it aside, then lay on the bed and started to sulk.
Shen Suining quickly chased after her to coax her, "Hey, go ahead and say it, I won't interrupt."
He Hansheng wasn't actually angry, but he liked the way Shen Suining coaxed him, which was usually a very direct and passionate kiss.
"...It was His Majesty's will," He Hansheng finally spoke after a long while, slightly out of breath. "He said that you made great contributions to the court by guarding Danyu Pass, and that you stepped forward in a time of crisis to exchange him for someone else and become a hostage yourself. According to military regulations, such merits should be rewarded."
Upon hearing about the reward, Shen Suining's eyes lit up instantly. "How much gold does His Majesty intend to reward me with?"
"...That's another matter. What I want to discuss with you is this honor. There is no precedent in our dynasty for a woman to serve as an official. Although this honor is most likely just an empty title, it is still an acknowledgment of your contributions, and—" He Hansheng paused, "it should have been yours anyway. But I was worried that you wouldn't like these titles, so I haven't given His Majesty an answer yet."
What he really wanted to say was that he was afraid Shen Suining would think that these titles and other rewards were too empty, neither practical nor a constraint for her.
Shen Suining understood his meaning, but she didn't take it too seriously. She just smiled and said, "Since His Majesty wants to reward me, of course I will. Besides, he mentioned it himself, so you can't refuse, can you? Or are you trying to pocket my credit? Hmm?"
The two were playing around when Shen Suining pretended to choke him. After a few rounds, they ended up rolling onto the bed and embracing each other tightly.
He Hansheng kissed the tip of her nose and whispered, "I'll listen to you. These things are rightfully yours. If you want them, I'll fight for them for you; if you don't want them, I can stop them for you. Either way is fine."
A moment later, Shen Suining wrapped her arms around He Hansheng's neck and said breathlessly, "Actually, I also prepared another birthday gift for you."
"Hmm?" He Hansheng didn't even look up; he was enjoying his congratulatory gift.
“He Hansheng, I know what you’re worried about, but don’t worry,” Shen Suining’s fingertips curled slightly, almost digging into his back, but she still insisted on finishing her sentence: “I’m willing to stay in this not-so-beautiful Huadu for a few more years for you.”
(End of main text)
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