Tianze Palace.
All civil and military officials stood solemnly.
Emperor Yuan Xiu had been sitting on the dragon throne for only a short while when he stood up, placing one hand on the back of the throne. After listening to the reports from his court officials and resolving a few matters, he descended the steps.
"Have you finished talking about your business? Have you finished?"
After receiving no response, Yuan Xiu said again, "You are all settled now. I have two things to say."
"Right Chancellor!"
"Your subject is here." Zhao Huan responded, then slowly walked out, supporting his waist, his pace as slow as if he were walking on a frozen river.
"The Right Chancellor, undeterred by hardship and danger, guarded the north, keeping the Yedan people at bay outside the borders, and slaughtered over 50,000 enemy soldiers beneath the city walls!"
"Such loyalty and bravery deserve a reward!"
Such merit deserves a reward!
Yuan Xiu spread his arms wide and said loudly, "Prime Minister, I will reward you with a thousand taels of gold as travel expenses, so you can go home and happily beat your son, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan appeared flattered and bowed, saying, "Excellent, excellent!"
He was about to kneel down when he said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
“Right Prime Minister, there’s no need for that.” Yuan Xiu quickly helped Zhao Huan up, gently patted the back of his hand, and said with a smile, “Right Prime Minister, just enjoy your family life in Yanchuan! Also… talk to your son and tell him to get married and have children soon, so he can cause less trouble for people, and you can hold your grandson sooner, right?”
"Your Majesty actually thought of this, it's truly... truly too much for this old minister!" Zhao Huan raised his sleeve to wipe away non-existent tears.
Upon seeing this, the civil and military officials couldn't help but whisper among themselves, expressing their astonishment at the emperor's actions.
Sending Zhao Huan home shows that they no longer suspect him.
A reward of a thousand taels of gold may be given...
Such merit in defending the country and killing 50,000 enemies is worthy of being ennobled, and a reward of a thousand taels of gold is not too little; it is simply an insult!
If Zhao Chengruo were here, he would be thinking... this isn't enough for me to go all in!
Zhao Huan wasn't angry, and the emperor acted as if it were perfectly normal. The officials really couldn't understand this pair of ruler and minister.
"The second thing, Wang Ren!"
“Your subject is here!” Wang Ren, who was standing behind Wen Tai, quickly stepped forward and knelt down.
"You are to come up with a plan for the Northern Expedition within three days. Once it is feasible, you will take over from the Right Chancellor and lead the troops into battle!"
"Yes!!" Wang Ren replied excitedly, but his dark circles and trembling voice made him look nervous.
Yuan Xiu moved closer to him and asked, "General Wang, didn't you sleep well?"
"Your Majesty, I have recently..."
"I remember now!" Yuan Xiu slapped his forehead and sighed, "General Wang, please don't be too sad. Your health is related to the future of Jingguo, and you bear a heavy responsibility!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Ren became even more excited, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subject will certainly devote himself to the cause until his dying breath!"
Wen Hu, who was standing to the side, turned his head to the side and scratched his cheek with his hand.
What do you mean by being too heartbroken? It's probably just excessive indulgence!
It seems that the ten beauties I sent have all started working normally.
Yuan Xiu then looked at Zhao Huan and asked, "Right Chancellor, what do you think?"
Zhao Huan said, "Your Majesty's decision is certainly appropriate."
"The Right Chancellor is an expert in military affairs. I won't feel confident unless you give me your assurance!"
Zhao Huan understood Yuan Xiu's meaning perfectly well. He slowly turned to face the military officers and said, "I'm too old to go as far as Ye Dan. If I insist on dragging you along, I'll only be holding you back."
“This General Wang Ren…” Zhao Huan squinted, always looking like he hadn’t woken up yet. He glanced at Wang Ren without moving his head and said, “In the Battle of Fuerzhuang, he led 700 light cavalry to repel 3,000 enemy troops. In the Battle of Changdan, he used ingenious strategies to defeat the enemy and turn defeat into victory.”
"The imperial court needs a commander like General Wang. You should all follow General Wang and learn from him, so that we can wipe out the Night Dan in one fell swoop and achieve a glorious feat that will last for generations!"
"Yes!!" Most of the military officers responded. Some of them instinctively wanted to kneel down, but when they saw Zhao Huan's gaze fixed on them, they suppressed the urge.
Seeing this, Yuan Xiu was both satisfied and dissatisfied, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
But Zhao Huan knew that this was exactly what Yuan Xiu wanted.
Only if Zhao Huan said those words could Wang Ren take over military power.
"Alright, my esteemed ministers, do you have anything else to say? If not, the court may adjourn!"
Yuan Xiu waved his hand and turned to walk up the steps.
At this moment, Wen Tai stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
Yuan Xiu had just stepped onto the first step when he heard this, paused for a moment, adjusted his smile, turned around, and said, "Left Prime Minister, what is it?"
Wen Tai said, "The eldest son of the Right Chancellor, Zhao Cheng, is intelligent, decisive, loyal, brave, and righteous. He has surpassed his father in many ways. He launched an attack on the secret spy organization that the Southern Zhou had painstakingly built in Yanchuan, killing the number one spy Chen Yuxian, the number three spy Aqi, and capturing the number two spy Hu Xiayong, almost wiping them out in one fell swoop!"
"Such meritorious service deserves a great reward!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Including Yuan Xiu.
What... is going on?
Although Zhao Huan and Wen Tai were master and apprentice, their relationship had been severed since the position of Left Chancellor was created. Moreover, it was common knowledge that Wen Tai had been targeting Zhao Huan at every turn in court. Yet now, Wen Tai wasn't angry that the emperor had released Zhao Huan to return to Yanchuan; instead, he was even petitioning for a reward for his son?
Could it be that the master and disciple have reconciled?
The officials began to discuss amongst themselves again. At this moment, He Yin stepped forward and said, "Father defeated the Yedan people on the border, and son purged the Southern Zhou spies in the country. Father and son fight side by side. This is a fine story in our Jingguo. I agree with the Left Prime Minister's proposal and Zhao Cheng should be rewarded!"
Xu Shouli also stepped forward and said, "I second that proposal!"
Seeing this, several more ministers stepped forward one after another.
"I second that proposal!"
"I second that proposal!"
"..."
Yuan Xiu, seizing the opportunity, passed the ball back to Wen Tai: "Then, how does the Left Prime Minister think Zhao Cheng should be rewarded?"
"Let's appoint Zhao Cheng as General Zhaoyong!"
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent once again!
Everyone knows that the title of General Zhaoyong was recently bestowed upon Wang Ren's son, Wang Yufeng. Now that Wang Yufeng has just died, the Left Chancellor is about to transfer the title to Zhao Cheng.
What kind of operation is this?
While everyone was surprised, Yuan Xiu smiled and continued walking up the steps.
After sitting down on the dragon throne, Yuan Xiu said, "Granted!"
After the court session ended, the ministers left Tianze Hall one after another and walked down the white jade steps.
Zhao Huan moved slowly, supporting her waist as she walked.
The military officers wanted to help Zhao Huan up, but Zhao Huan glared at them and turned them away. Some civil officials also wanted to lend a hand, but seeing Wen Tai behind them, they abandoned the idea.
To everyone's surprise, Wen Tai actually walked up to Zhao Huan, took Zhao Huan's hand in one hand and put his other hand on Zhao Huan's shoulder, and accompanied him down the steps.
All the civil and military officials were stunned as they watched the teacher and student walking hand in hand.
What's going on?
What's wrong with the Left Prime Minister today?
He was both helping Zhao Cheng request a reward and showing concern for Zhao Huan...
Have the teacher and student really made up?
The officials could only guess; none of them dared to make any unfounded comments on the steps.
Wen Tai smiled and said, "Teacher, you've raised a fine son!"
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