Chapter 138: Using Brotherly Love to Show Favoritism
Song Xiang and others had made a great contribution to the country, so it was expected that the rewards in the imperial edict would be considerable, but he did not expect that His Majesty would give Song Xiang such a dazzling honor.
He didn't dare to say more, bowed and walked out.
…
The midday sun was warm and the wind was light, so Song Yunchu sat on a rattan chair in the courtyard, feeling warm all over by the sun.
The emperor took into consideration the hard work she and her subordinates had put in these days, so he exempted her from court today, and all the people from the Mingjing Division who were traveling with her also took a rest today.
In front of him on the right, Chu Yuni was leading her followers and walking towards him with a few geese in her hands.
"Sir, look what good stuff I brought you? This is the smoked goose I made at home. You can't buy it outside."
Chu Yuni came to her like offering a treasure, "My mother made these. She said she would bring a few for you to taste. I assure you, they are delicious."
Song Yunchu was naturally happy to accept the gift from the elder. She sniffed the aroma of meat in the air and said, "I'll go back and thank your mother on my behalf."
"Would you like to try it now, sir?"
"Then cut one and let's eat together."
As soon as Song Yunchu finished speaking, he heard a servant come to report: "Sir, someone from the palace has come to deliver an imperial decree. It's Li, the chief steward of His Majesty! The housekeeper has invited him to the hall. Please go and receive the decree as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Song Yunchu hurried to the lobby with everyone else.
If nothing unexpected happens, what Chief Steward Li conveyed should be the imperial edict of reward.
Before she even got close to the lobby, she saw many boxes placed outside the lobby, which made her eyes light up slightly——
How much would this cost for so many boxes?
When Li Zongguan saw her appear, he smiled at her and said, "Lord Song is here. Please accept the order."
Song Yunchu led everyone to kneel down.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims that the Right Prime Minister Song Yunchu has made meritorious suggestions and has extraordinary wisdom. He has also been brave and fearless in fighting the epidemic in the west of the city, saving thousands of people from disaster. I now grant him three boxes of gold, jade, and weapons, one hundred rolls of silk, five hundred hectares of fertile land, an imperial plaque, and a snake-coiled purple gold crown."
Even though Song Yunchu was mentally prepared, it was still a little unexpected.
She had guessed about gold, silk, and fertile fields. The imperial plaque was not surprising, as successive emperors liked to bestow personally-written plaques on meritorious officials as a token of recognition. What really surprised her was the thing that Li Zongguan mentioned at the end - a snake-coated purple gold crown.
This hair crown is a symbol of status and honor, and is usually owned by favored princes. In the original novel, the Dog Emperor was not valued by the previous emperor. He won the mutual slaughter with his brothers and burned his second brother's purple gold crown. After ascending the throne, he ordered the Palace Affairs Office to make a new one. Perhaps to make up for the regret in his heart, he has always treasured the hair crown.
After all, as an emperor, he only wore a dragon crown, so this snake-coiled purple gold crown could only be a collection. In the original book, he did not give it as a reward to anyone.
Now I am willing to give it to her...
Not only Song Yunchu, but everyone in the Prime Minister's Mansion was also dumbfounded. After they came to their senses, they were filled with ecstasy.
In the Tianqi Kingdom, men's hair crowns were very particular. Only the emperor could wear a dragon crown, while the prince could wear a snake crown. If any dignitary below the rank of prince carved their hair crown into the shape of a snake, it would be considered a serious crime of usurpation.
Even a prince can only wear it after inheriting the title of prince.
The snake-coiled purple gold crown has only been awarded to a few princes by the emperor since the founding of the Tianqi Kingdom. In the past, Emperor Taizu once awarded his best brother the snake-coiled purple gold crown, which was both a recognition of the brother's ability and a symbol of the brotherhood between the two.
The later emperor also rewarded the then crown prince and second prince.
Although Lord Song is valued by His Majesty, he does not have royal blood after all. Logically speaking, he cannot wear the snake-coiled purple gold crown. But now that he has made great contributions, His Majesty insists on rewarding him... What else can others say?
"Your Highness, I, Song Yunchu, bow to thank you for your grace."
After Song Yunchu came to his senses, he took the imperial edict and glanced at the young eunuch holding a tray behind Manager Li.
The tray was covered with a piece of red silk cloth, probably hiding the purple gold crown with a coiled snake pattern.
"Sir Song, His Majesty has ordered the Palace Affairs Office to make a plaque. It will take some time for the plaque to be delivered. The rest of the rewards are all here."
After Li Zongguan finished speaking, the eunuch behind him came to Song Yunchu and handed the tray in his hand to her, "My lord, your hair crown."
Song Yunchu unveiled the red silk cloth and looked at the extremely exquisite and luxurious hair crown inlaid with dark purple oriental pearls on the tray, feeling a little emotional.
If the Dog Emperor had pretended to have a deep affection for her as a subject before, now he probably really treats her as a sister.
It's not surprising when you think about it. All of the dog emperor's brothers are dead. Although he holds a high position, he sometimes can't help feeling lonely. He has no relatives to accompany him. Those imperial uncles are either mediocre or arouse his suspicion. What he probably longs for is to have a confidant or a good brother who can make him feel less lonely.
He always used to say - Yun Chu, you and I are not only king and subject, but also good friends.
Now this has come true and is no longer false.
"Sir, this snake-coiled purple gold crown is so beautiful. Can I take a look at it?"
Even someone as wealthy as Chu Yuni was dazzled by the oriental pearl on the purple gold crown.
Song Yunchu was never stingy, so he said, "This is a gift from the emperor, so you must be careful when you hold it."
The oriental pearl on the purple gold crown cannot be broken, but if the imperial gift is dropped on the ground, Chu Yuni's buttocks will be in trouble.
"Don't worry, I'll take a look."
Chu Yuni held the purple gold crown in her hands and exclaimed in amazement, "The texture and color of this oriental pearl...I dare not easily estimate its price."
As he spoke, he raised the hair crown and compared it to Song Yunchu's head, "Sir, this hair crown is so magnificent. If you wear it when you go out, you will definitely attract thousands of attention and be like an immortal guiding the way."
"The Immortal's Guidance is a way of playing in the gambling house." Song Yunchu rolled his eyes at Chu Yuni, "Do you think it is possible? The word is called the Immortal's Appearance."
Chu Yuni was suddenly embarrassed.
How could he forget that His Majesty had warned him not to force praise on others if he didn't know how to do it, and to talk less and do more, so as not to say the wrong thing and embarrass Lord Song.
Fortunately, fortunately this is not outside, and the people around are all Lord Song’s own subordinates, and they will not laugh at him.
Chu Yuni felt satisfied after touching the hair crown, and put it back on the tray carefully.
Sure enough, his guess was never wrong.
This snake-shaped purple gold crown was originally awarded by Emperor Taizu to his most trusted brothers. Your Majesty loves Prime Minister Song so much, and in the eyes of outsiders, it is just a brotherly love. Others will only think that Your Majesty regards Prime Minister Song as a brother, which is why he gives him this honor.
In fact, Your Majesty is just using the name of brothers to show favoritism, which is very shrewd.
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