As the situation at the border calmed down, the emperor issued another imperial decree, requiring Yuan Zhan to return to Beijing immediately without delay.
Yuan Zhan's personal soldier Wu Zhao rushed in and said, "Your Highness, you have stabilized the situation over the past three years with great difficulty. Now the Wu tribe has not been destroyed and is still eyeing the border covetously. This dog emperor is now inviting you to the capital, which makes you feel uneasy. Your Highness must not be fooled. If you replace him with a general who eats idle meals, won't this be the end of you?"
Since Yuan Zhan took over the border, he has been strict in military discipline, fair in rewards and punishments, never greedy for merit or reckless advances, and is good at deploying troops and battle formations. He has greatly reduced the death rate of soldiers, and in just three years, he has gained the trust of almost everyone.
Yuan Zhan frowned: "Did you ask the teacher to teach you how to talk etiquette with others recently? Why are you speaking so vulgarly again?"
Wu Zhao showed a guilty expression, his face was dark, and he was not interested: "I can't learn this, I might as well practice more gun skills in the martial arts field."
Yuan Zhan said helplessly: "I have my own plans for this matter, you can leave first."
Wu Zhao withdrew reluctantly.
Wu Zhao is extremely strong, brave and good at fighting. Yuan Zhan wants to focus on training him, but his brain is not very useful and he speaks without thinking. Yuan Zhan asks him to read more books, but it is of no use.
Yuan Zhan put down the imperial edict, but his mood was not affected at all. He had known for years that the emperor would take action, but he did not expect it to happen so soon.
After receiving the imperial edict, Yuan Zhan set out to return to Beijing. When he arrived at the Jinluan Palace, the emperor said tactfully that the border battle had ended and Yuan Zhan, as a prince, should stay in the capital. Yuan Zhan did not hesitate to present the tiger talisman to show his loyalty. The emperor was overjoyed and finally relieved. He rewarded him with 10,000 taels of gold and some empty titles, and let Yuan Zhan leave.
Yuan Zhan became an ordinary prince again, playing with birds in his own Zhan Palace. Others praised Yuan Zhan's righteousness, but in their hearts they might be gloating over his misfortune.
After three years of hard work guarding the border and getting nothing, what’s the use of some false reputation?
Tu Yufan was also free. He found Yuan Zhan and saw that he looked normal and was in the mood to appreciate flowers and birds. However, his face was grim, and he stood sluggishly, reaching out to fiddle with the parrot. His strange style of painting made people laugh and cry. He smiled and said, "It seems that you are in a good mood these days, and you have become a rich and idle person."
Yuan Zhan's cold expression softened a little: "After years of fighting, it's time to rest for a while."
Tu Yufan said meaningfully: "Since you have a plan, then wait until you return to the battlefield, and then you will be what the people want."
Although the Wu tribe is divided into pieces, it does not mean that they have stopped fighting. They can maintain a delicate peace only because they are afraid of Yuan Zhan. Let's see which of the emperor's confidants will be able to chew this bone.
However, Yuan Zhan hid in the mansion and did not come out, but trouble came to him.
The emperor ignored him for a while and then summoned him to the palace again.
Yuan Zhan was extremely annoyed. When he entered the council hall, he unexpectedly saw Imperial Concubine Sheng sitting next to him. She was wearing a skirt that did not hide her plump figure. Her makeup was gorgeous and her hair was adorned with gold hairpins and jewels, but she did not look tacky. Her skin was as white as cream and her every frown and smile was full of charm. No wonder the emperor was so bewitched by her that he could not find his way.
"Yuan Zhan, you are already over 20 years old now. Compared to your younger brother Yuan Xi, he already has legitimate sons and daughters. Now you no longer need to guard the border. I have chosen a princess for you. She is Yuan Yuan's niece, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Xuanyi, Feng Rongshuang. She has a good personality and is about the same age as you. She is a perfect match for you."
Yuan Yuan was Concubine Sheng. She saw Yuan Zhan’s smiling face, but the smile did not reach his eyes, and there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Everyone knows that Feng Rongshuang is famous for being arrogant and domineering. The reason why she has not been married until now is because no one dares to marry her.
When Feng Rongshuang was sixteen years old, she had a fiancé, who was a son of the Shangshu Mansion. Because he favored a maid, Feng Rongshuang rushed to the Shangshu Mansion and beat the maid to death. Her fiancé was not spared either. He was whipped on the knees several times and almost became unable to walk.
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