Chapter 366 Celebration Banquet
After a long while, Yan Shixu loosened his arms slightly, but his hands were still tightly around Wen Li'er's shoulders.
He lowered his head and looked at her carefully.
His fingertips, with thin calluses on them, stroked her visibly thinner cheeks, passed by her slightly red eyes, and finally landed on her chin, which still had some rounded curves but was already pointed.
His brows knitted slightly, barely perceptible.
Wen Li'er's face flushed when she saw him looking at her, and she subconsciously wanted to lower her head.
But he gently lifted her chin with his fingertips and forced her to look at him.
"I have said that if you reduce the amount by even a little, I will definitely punish you."
He lowered his voice, his breath painted on the side of her ear, with a hint of danger.
Wen Li'er's heart skipped a beat. She remembered the overbearing "threat" in the letter, and seeing how serious he was, she couldn't help feeling guilty.
She pouted slightly, with a hint of coquettishness.
"I am not thin... Your Majesty is thin..."
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, and finally she simply hid behind Xiaoxiao.
When he saw Xiaoxiao, Yan Shixu suddenly remembered something and looked at Wen Lier's belly.
...The child had already been born? Why didn't he know?
Wen Li'er smiled secretly. She didn't let anyone tell him because she wanted to give him a surprise.
"Where is the child?" he asked anxiously.
"In the Bixi Palace, there is a wet nurse looking after her." Wen Li'er chuckled, and suddenly felt that His Majesty looked a little silly.
At this moment, a loud, even somewhat dissatisfied baby cry came from the wet nurse's arms next to her - it was Miaomiao.
The little guy seemed dissatisfied that his father's attention was all on his mother, and announced his existence in the most direct way.
This sudden crying instantly broke the charming atmosphere between the emperor and his concubine.
Yan Shixu turned around and stretched out his arms towards the crying Miaomiao.
The wet nurse quickly and carefully handed the princess over.
Yan Shixu's movements were a little awkward, but he held the small, soft ball in his arms very gently.
Miaomiao's crying gradually subsided. She opened her big dark eyes, which were still filled with tears, and looked at her father in front of her curiously.
"Miaomiao..." Yan Shixu called his daughter's name softly, and gently touched her delicate face with his fingertips, his heart softening.
He looked at Xiaoxiao and Tiantian again, and finally his gaze fell on Wen Li'er's still somewhat thin figure.
"Return to the palace. I want to take a good look at the children. As for you..."
He locked his eyes on Wen Li'er: "Take good care of her. I will personally watch over her."
Wen Li'er nodded obediently.
At this moment, Yan Shixu finally remembered the ministers and generals standing solemnly under the city wall.
He held Miaomiao in his arms, looking majestic and his voice spread far and wide:
"Everyone, please stand! Southern Border has been pacified, and the rebel chieftain has been executed! This is the result of the dedicated service of our Great Yan soldiers and the concerted efforts of the people! I am deeply gratified! All meritorious officers and soldiers will be generously rewarded by the court! For those who died in battle, their families will be generously compensated, and their heroic spirits will be forever honored!"
"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened! Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long, long live His Majesty!"
The roar rose again, shaking the sky.
"Please return to the palace!" the eunuch shouted.
Yan Shixu held Miaomiao in one hand, and with the other hand he naturally took Wen Lier's hand, interlocking their fingers.
Wen Li'er snuggled up to him, feeling the warmth and strength coming from his palm.
The emperor and his empress walked hand in hand slowly down the city wall, surrounded by officials and with palace maids clearing the way.
Su Muyang looked at the backs of the two people walking away together, breathed a sigh of relief exaggeratedly, patted his chest with his fan, turned around and winked at Luo Yunzhen.
"Look at this. I told you a short separation is better than a new marriage, right? Tsk tsk, that look is so touching... tsk tsk tsk..."
Luo Yunzhen rolled his eyes at him and ignored him.
After returning to the palace, Yan Shixu first went to see the Grand Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother.
When the Empress Dowager saw her grandson returning safely, tears welled up in her eyes and she nodded repeatedly.
"I'm glad you're back safely. You've gotten darker and thinner."
Yan Shixu looked at the Empress Dowager's increasingly aged face, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. He stepped forward and helped her back to her chair.
"Grandmother, you must also take good care of yourself."
"I know, don't worry, Xu'er."
The Empress Dowager turned her cloudy gaze to Miaomiao in Yan Shixu's arms, and Xiaoxiao and Tiantian who were being led by their wet nurse beside Wen Li'er. The wrinkles on her face relaxed a little, with a look of relief.
"Xu'er is a blessed child with many children, and Li'er has worked hard too."
Wen Li'er hurriedly said that she was not tired.
The Queen Mother also nodded with a smile, her eyes lingering on Wen Li'er for a moment with approval.
"Li'er looks fine, but she still needs to take good care of herself."
Wen Li'er bowed: "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your concern. I will not need to worry about this."
That night, a celebratory banquet was held in the palace.
The Qiyuan Hall was brightly lit and filled with the sounds of wine.
Yan Shixu sat high on the dragon throne, with Wen Li'er beside him.
Below, all the civil and military officials, meritorious generals, and surrendered Nanzhao dignitaries gathered together.
Yan Shixu first posthumously conferred titles on the fallen soldiers and provided generous relief to their families.
Then, rewards are given according to merit:
Su Muyang made great contributions and was granted the title of "Marquis of Pingnan", which was hereditary and he was given a red-lettered iron certificate and enjoyed the salary of a marquis.
His father Su Zhanyue was conferred the title of Grand Tutor.
Luo Yunzhen was the bravest among the three armies and was named "General Protector of the Country" and was in charge of the defense of the capital.
Wen Zhiyan was stationed in the rear, making plans and taking charge of the initial establishment of the two states of Lancang.
I will reward him after he returns to Beijing.
Generals such as Zhang Sicheng and Chen Zhen were each rewarded with countless gold, silver, and land.
The surrendered Nanzhao officials were recruited based on their talents and contributions to appease the people.
Regarding the former territory of Nanzhao, Yan Shixu announced a conciliatory policy at the banquet:
The two prefectures of Lancang were exempted from taxes and corvee labor for three years, agriculture and commerce were encouraged, water conservancy projects and roads were built, good officials were appointed to govern, and local customs were respected.
However, witchcraft, poison and epidemic diseases are strictly prohibited.
At the same time, the Southern Xinjiang Protectorate was established, temporarily led by Chen Zhen, and garrisoned to suppress the rebellion and ensure the implementation of the new policy.
The atmosphere at the banquet was warm and the cheers were deafening.
Wen Li'er watched all this with a smile and carefully served him the food.
Picking out fish bones... peeling shrimp shells... all done personally.
Seeing that he had already drunk several glasses of wine, she hurriedly took some tea and added it to his wine.
Yan Shixu: "..."
Civil and military officials and their families all lowered their heads, indicating that they saw nothing.
Yan Shixu calmly picked up the "fake wine" and toasted the officials again.
As the night deepened, the banquet gradually dispersed.
Yan Shixu brought Wen Li'er back to the Bixi Palace where he had been away for a long time.
The warmth of the palace lanterns dispelled some of the smell of alcohol from Yan Shixu.
Wen Li'er had just stepped into the gate of Bixi Palace and was about to say that she would take him to the side hall to see the two babies who were just one month old.
Before he could even open his mouth, he was pulled under the palace wall by a huge force.
Wen Li'er looked up in a daze, and saw an anxious handsome face pressing down on her, taking her breath away.
——
(My dears, I have modified the scene where the Empress Dowager is on the city wall. She is so old, it is better for her not to climb the city wall.)
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