Chapter 177 From beginning to end, Xiao Jingheng did not appear.
For a moment, the atmosphere was solemn and slightly sad.
Zhao Yueru stepped forward first, took Xiaoyu's hand, and solemnly knelt down before the Marquis and his wife.
“My lord, my lady.” Zhao Yueru’s voice choked with sobs, her eyes already red: “This servant… no, this commoner Zhao Yueru, along with my daughter Xiaoyu, kowtow to thank you, my lord and my lady, for your kindness and care over the years. Without the Marquis’s mansion, my daughter and I would not be where we are today. We will never forget this kindness and virtue.”
After saying this, the mother and daughter kowtowed in unison.
Su Zhong also lifted his robe and knelt down, clasped his hands and said, "This humble general Su Zhong thanks the Marquis for his kindness and the Madam for taking care of his wife and daughters over the years. This humble general is a rough man and not good with words, but this life and this loyalty will forever belong to the Marquis and to the Marquis's mansion!"
Madam Liu had already pressed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes, and personally stood up to help her up: "Get up quickly, Zhao Mama, General Su, what are you doing? You have achieved what you have today entirely through your own hard work."
Madam Liu's gentle gaze swept over Zhao Yueru and Su Xiaoyu: "We have seen your hard work and dedication during your years in the Marquis's mansion, especially Xiaoyu, who is a blessed and fortunate child. Now that you have overcome your hardships and have your own mansion and future, we can only be happy. Please come and visit us often in the future. The gates of the Marquis's mansion will always be open to you!"
If you encounter any difficulties, please be sure to let us know. The Marquis's residence will always be your support.
Xiao Dingshan stroked his beard, his voice deep and powerful: "Su Zhong, you are a soldier I personally trained. I have never doubted your loyalty and ability. Now you have earned your future through military merit, which is well-deserved."
"In your future service as generals in the court, you must remember to be loyal to the emperor and love your country, and to cherish your soldiers like your own children. As for your relationship with the Marquis's household, it is not a matter of master and servant, but of old acquaintances. In future interactions, there is no need for formalities."
"Thank you, Lord Marquis! Thank you, Madam!" The Su family of three bowed deeply once again, their hearts filled with warmth, yet also with sorrow at parting.
When it was the younger generation's turn to say goodbye, Xiao Jingxuan stepped forward first, touched his nose, and looked unusually awkward:
"Hey Su Xiaoyu, if anyone bullies you in the capital, just say my name! I'm a member of the Imperial Guard now, I can protect you!"
Su Xiaoyu smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Second Young Master."
When it was Xiao Lingxi's turn, her eyes were already slightly red. She stepped forward and first bowed respectfully to Su Zhong: "Uncle Su, Aunt Zhao, I wish you both a bright future and good health to your families."
Finally, she turned to Su Xiaoyu, as if a thousand words were stuck in her heart.
This woman, who was once a gluttonous maid, unexpectedly found herself personally escorting her out of the Marquis's mansion, and soon, she might become her...
Thinking of this, Xiao Lingxi suddenly felt less uncomfortable and maintained her proud lady demeanor.
"Su Xiaoyu, from now on... from now on, when you see me, remember to greet me."
Otherwise, it would be her turn to greet Su Xiaoyu later on.
Afraid that Su Xiaoyu wouldn't agree, she eagerly added, "Did you hear me?"
Just as Su Xiaoyu was about to answer, she hurriedly reached out and hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear, "Silly Xiaoyu, remember what I said, and... you must take good care of yourself and wait for my big brother, remember!"
Su Xiaoyu was stunned and didn't react.
But Xiao Lingxi quickly let go of her and pushed her toward Zhao Yueru: "Alright, alright, you should leave now, or the auspicious time will be over."
Su Xiaoyu felt a pang of sadness, glanced again at the outside of the flower hall, then looked away with a hint of disappointment. Forcing a smile, she solemnly bowed to Xiao Jingxuan and Xiao Lingxi:
"Second Young Master, Second Miss, take care. Little Fish... will remember you."
After bidding farewell, the auspicious time arrived. The Su family of three bowed to the head of the table once more, then turned and slowly withdrew from the main hall.
Xiao Jingheng did not appear at all from beginning to end.
...
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study.
Xiao Jingheng was kneeling upright on the floor tiles in front of the emperor, his back straight, his face calm, and his lips slightly pursed, revealing a hint of determination.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study became somewhat tense for a moment.
The emperor sat upright behind his desk, his no-longer-young eyes sharply scrutinizing the ministers below him, his face showing displeasure.
The eunuch standing to the side silently tried to make himself less noticeable, wishing he could bury his head in his neck.
After a long silence, the emperor finally spoke, his voice carrying the authority of a superior: "Xiao Jingheng, you are now... becoming more and more adept at making decisions for me."
He gently put down the wolf-hair brush, his voice still authoritative: "You have indeed rendered meritorious service in protecting the hunting grounds. The Crown Prince has also pleaded on your behalf, father and son. I will not be stingy with rewards that are due."
"But you, before you've even received your credit or reward, are already trying to bargain with me? You've erased seven or eight tenths of your own merits, just to give a little girl the title of county princess? Xiao Jingheng, are you blackmailing me?"
"Your subject dares not!" Xiao Jingheng kowtowed, his forehead touching the cold ground, but his voice remained neither humble nor arrogant:
"Your Majesty's rewards and punishments are decided solely by Heaven and Earth. Your subject can only bow your head and obey. How could you dare to harbor even the slightest thought of using your merits to enhance your own status?"
He straightened up, his gaze fixed on the ground, and continued, "However, I believe that while military merit is valuable, it is not as precious as loyalty. Although Su Xiaoyu was once a maid in the Marquis's mansion, during the palace coup at the autumn hunt, she risked her life to shield Your Majesty, taking a heavy blow from the copper ruler with her frail body. If it weren't for the superb medical skills of Physician Crane, she would have perished long ago. This loyalty and courage in protecting Your Majesty is something that many military generals in the court may not be able to match."
"Your Majesty is willing to offer military merits in exchange for granting her the title of County Princess, so that the world may know that Your Majesty is fair in rewarding and punishing, and that loyalty and virtue are not determined by birth. Your Majesty has always been wise and virtuous, and I believe that you will not be 'petty' because of a trivial matter."
"you……!"
The emperor was speechless at his words, and his hand trembled as he pointed at him.
He turned to look at the eunuch beside him and laughed in exasperation.
"Look at this, you all! You're indirectly calling me stingy! I think you've thrown away all your dignity for that little girl!"
Xiao Jingheng lowered his head and said, "What I seek is only peace of mind. Su Xiaoyu has rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor and should be rewarded. I am willing to exchange my military merits for her dignity."
The emperor suddenly chuckled, "Xiao Jingheng, I knew you were a brilliant judge and incorruptible in the past, but I didn't know you also had such...eloquent tongue."
He picked up another memorial and began to review it, his smile enigmatic: "If I disagree, what will you do?"
"I believe that even if a maidservant has made some minor contributions, rewarding her with gold, silver, and land is already an act of great grace. Suddenly bestowing upon her the title of county princess would disrupt the proper order of things and invite criticism... What do you think?"
Xiao Jingheng slowly kowtowed, his voice steady as a rock: "If Your Majesty does not agree, I will relinquish the reward for this suppression of the rebellion and request to serve as a principal officer in the Ministry of Revenue. I will devote the rest of my life to organizing household registers and will no longer concern myself with military and political affairs."
As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the imperial study seemed to freeze.
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