Xiang Rong’s Reward

　　Following the Emperor saying “You can give your thanks” the prime minister and General Ping Nan both went forward and kneeled at Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Ge’s side. Both of them said in unison: “Thank you, your Majesty for your imperial grace.” After this, Xuan Tian Ge said: “The Bai family does not have anyone in court, thus Tian Ge will personally make the trip to tell Fu Rong about this!” Seeing the Emperor nod, she stood up and smiled to Feng Yu Heng then turned and left Heavenly Hall.

　　Feng Yu Heng and the other two also stood up and returned to their own places. Xiang Rong was completely dazed from what she had heard. Only when her second sister walked back to her side did she recover. With just a few words from the Emperor, her second sister had been promoted from a standard second rank county princess to a lower first rank imperial daughter. The conferred lands had also been expanded from a small county to a larger one. Just how large was it? She heard that it was larger than the capital.

　　Heavens, this was truly something mythical!

　　Xiang Rong stood blankly in place, as her mind wandered wildly. As she thought more and more, she felt that the atmosphere seemed to be a bit off. It seemed as though everyone had turned their eyes on her, and someone was tugging at her sleeve.

　　She was startled and recovered mentally. She then heard someone quietly say: “What is going on with the Feng family’s children? None of them can hear the Emperor calling them.”

　　Feng Yu Heng also helplessly reminded her: “The Emperor is calling you.”

　　Xiang Rong’s calves tightened up once more, as she nervously asked Feng Yu Heng: “What should I do?”

　　Feng Yu Heng pointed at the middle of the hall, “Walk over there and kneel.”

　　Xiang Rong nodded, as she practically floated over. Along the way, she even swayed a couple times, scaring Feng Yu Heng into nearly going over to support her.

　　The Emperor watched the Feng family’s third daughter and roared to himself on the inside. With a damn girl like this, how did she manage to notice the chaos and report it? Was it possible for a person’s genes to mutate at a time like this?

　　The Emperor looked at Xiang Rong with an inquisitive gaze. After waiting for Xiang Rong to kneel after swaying a bit more, he forcefully subdued his emotions and said: “During this past chaotic event in the capital, it was fortunate that we had the Feng family’s third daughter, Feng Xiang Rong, who noticed it first and reported it in time, thus allowing us to avoid a man-made disaster. Feng Xiang Rong, I shall grant you one grace. What is it that you want?”

　　Xiang Rong was immediately dazed. Wasn’t she kneeling there to hear what sort of reward she would receive? Shouldn’t a grace be decided by the Emperor, and she just needed to give her thanks? Why was it that when it came to her… she was allowed to think for herself? What should she think?

　　Xiang Rong’s thoughts were messy, and she subconsciously turned to Feng Yu Heng; however, her second sister was happily blinking at her, thus she felt even more lost.

　　Feng Yu Heng hated her lack of progress. Xiang Rong, oh Xiang Rong, this was a blank cheque. You just needed to write a number on it! You could have however much you wanted! Fuck, why are you still just kneeling there foolishly!

　　Unfortunately, no matter how anxious Feng Yu Heng felt, how could Xiang Rong understand what a blank cheque was. She was just feeling lost and confused. She did not even dare to raise her head.

　　The Emperor also became anxious from seeing this. He had heard before that this third daughter got along best with Feng Yu Heng, and she was also quite a good person, but she was a little bit of a coward. But wasn’t this a little too extreme? Even if she did not dare ask for a grace, wouldn’t one normally say a few words of courtesy? But this girl just continued to kneel there stupidly while fiddling with her fingers. This personality was too different from her second sister. Even compared to the other daughters of the Feng family, it was too different! Were they truly born from the same father?

　　The Emperor began to think back to ten years in the past. Feng Jin Yuan had picked up an abandoned baby on a stormy night…

　　Zhang Yuan saw that the Emperor’s mind was beginning to wander as he sat in the throne. He quickly tugged the Emperor’s imperial robe to remind him, but the Emperor did not react. Zhang Yuan tugged again and found that there was still no reaction. Anxious, he used the opportunity when all of the officials were looking at Xiang Rong to kick at the Emperor’s calf.

　　This kick was a little too strong, causing the Emperor to let out a yelp then shout: “There are assassins!”

　　But in this large hall filled with eyes, where were there any assassins to be found. This shout caused all of the officials to become dazed, and Xiang Rong covered her ears in fear.

　　Feng Yu Heng facepalmed. This was too shameful. Both the old and the young were shameful.

　　Zhang Yuan was on the verge of crying and quietly said to the Emperor: “There are no assassins. It was this servant that kicked you.”

　　The Emperor became angry, “Why did you kick Us?” His voice was a little loud, causing the officials to glare at Zhang Yuan. All of them were wondering, was this eunuch rebelling? Where did he get the courage?

　　Zhang Yuan was angry and wanted to cover the Emperor’s mouth, but he could not help but grit his teeth and said: “Keep your voice down. If you continue shouting, this servant’s life will be forfeit!”

　　The Emperor knew that this damn eunuch had become rather accustomed to him, but he could not be too brazen about this matter. With the officials knowing about it, a report would come calling for Zhang Yuan’s impeachment. Thus he lowered his voice and asked him: “Why did you kick me?”

　　Zhang Yuan pointed at the kneeling Xiang Rong, “The Feng family’s third young miss is still a young child. Her lacking courage should be normal, but your Majesty, you cannot be the same as her! What are you two doing just looking at each other for such a long time? Have you taken an interest in her?”

　　The Emperor really hated that he could not strangle this damn eunuch to death, “Interested my ass!” He angrily rolled his eyes and waved his hand, loudly saying to Xiang Rong: “Forget it! Since you are unable to think of anything that you want, We will grant you one. I heard that the children of the Feng family are not living very well under Feng Jin Yuan’s oppression?”

　　Everyone was stunned. How had the discussion turned to whether or not she was living well?

　　Xiang Rong was a little dazed, but she still subconsciously nodded. She truly felt that they were not living well. Her father was truly too cold-hearted.

　　Seeing Xiang Rong nod, the Emperor laughed, “Look, it’s as We said! Feng Jin Yuan, that ignorant man, has always paid more attention to benefits than familial relations. Where is there any of the compassion that We have toward children.”

　　Everyone wiped away some sweat. You just killed one son and locked up another, yet you now say that you are speaking of compassion?

　　Zhang Yuan also felt helpless. How could he dare to even bring out the words ignorant man. But he did not remind him any further. The Emperor had been in this position for more than half of his life, and he had always spoken like this. The officials had also become accustomed to it. This was nothing.

　　While speaking, he looked at the fifth prince. Xuan Tian Yan quickly walked forward and kneeled: “Would father Emperor please allow it.”

　　“Hmph.” The Emperor snorted, “Whether or not I allow it, you did not even come to ask Us before going to the Feng family to bring up marriage. But We do not wish to worry about your matters. If you want to marry her, just marry her! We currently wish to speak about the third young miss Feng’s matters. She has benefitted the community, thus We must reward her, but this reward must be a little more practical. How about this, We will give you a grace. Feng Xiang Rong, We will allow you to marry as you please in this life. You will not be affected by the Feng family’s plans, and you will not be controlled by Feng Jin Yuan, but at the same time, you cannot make any requests of him. Do you want this grace?”

　　Once these words were said, Xiang Rong felt as though there was a warm air that suddenly enveloped her. The formerly hopeless and dark life was immediately lit up. The Feng manor that was pressing down on her like a large mountain had suddenly been lifted with the words “marry as you please.” There was no longer any feeling of being forced, and there was no longer any panic. Before, there was only a tiny path in her life. Now; however, a large road had been opened up from the other side by the ruler of the country.

　　Xiang Rong was happy. She was so happy that she could leap with joy. What nervousness, fear or trembling, they had all disappeared. The girl that had been kneeling on the ground with her head lowered suddenly looked as though she had been given an injection. With her head held high, a bright smile lit up her face. She looked like an idiot while looking at the Emperor. She then kowtowed three times and loudly said: “Thank you, your Majesty for your imperial grace!”

　　The Emperor was given a start and wiped his forehead. He thought to himself that she really was Feng Yu Heng’s younger sister. She really changed quite quickly. Thinking a little more, he seemed to have heard that when old ninth had left her in the Yu Palace to keep an eye on old fourth, this girl had forced old fourth to work on embroidery with her for an entire night. He felt that this was funny, and an image appeared in his mind of old fourth holding an embroidery needle. He could not help but commit that image to memory, “That uh, wasn’t it just said that old fourth would be imprisoned? We will give him a job. Either way, he will be locked up. Let’s have him embroider things for the third young miss Feng! He must send at least one embroidered work to the Feng manor each month. If he cannot finish, he will not be given food! Alright, Feng family’s third girl, you can get up and go wait with your second sister. We must chat with these old guys for a bit about some other things.”

　　Xiang Rong happily leaped up and ran back to Feng Yu Heng’s side. Where was there even a trace of nervousness left. Even Zhang Yuan had to admire it. The Feng family’s children really had strong personalities!

　　The Emperor spoke up once more, but it was no longer related to the matters of the young girls. He was expressing his stance on the night of chaos that had occurred in the capital, “Early this morning, the remaining evil forces of the North have been captured. Only Bu Cong has escaped. Starting on this day, Bu Cong is to be relieved of his position as the General of the East. All of the troops in the East will fall under Xuan Tian Ming’s command.”

　　None of the officials made a sound, but they were also shocked. The Emperor spoke these words lightly, but in reality, Xuan Tian Ming was already in control of the troops in the West and Northwest. Now that the North is causing trouble, it was inevitable that troops would be sent to suppress them. The troops to the South fell under General Ping Nan’s command, but the distance between the Southern army and the North was too great. The one sent to handle this would definitely be Xuan Tian Ming. With the North under control, there would no longer be two leaders. Thinking like this, three-quarters of the troops would be under the ninth prince’s control!

　　The officials that had thought that the Emperor would use this opportunity to announce a crown prince immediately understood. Whether or not a crown prince was announced was just a formality. Right now, it was already clear that the Emperor had only ever favored the ninth prince alone. what eldest prince, what third prince or fourth prince, they were nothing more than chess pieces in the ninth prince’s hand. This world would belong to Xuan Tian Ming, sooner or later.

　　At this time, Xuan Tian Ming also walked forward from the crowd. Bowing to the Emperor, he loudly said: “Son has already handed down the order. Of the 30 thousand troops that were stationed near the border of the Northwest, ten thousand have been sent North to regain control of the three Northernmost provinces. They have deputy general Qian Li supporting and leading them.”

　　Feng Yu Heng also stepped forward, standing at Xuan Tian Ming’s side. The two exchanged a glance, and she loudly said: “From the Divine Intent Army, 500 from each of the Divine Archery group and support group have also been sent along with the army. Daughter-in-law will promise once again to father Emperor that the new steel weapons will be spread to all of the soldiers in the army in five months time. At that time, daughter-in-law and his Highness Prince Yu will personally bring these weapons North.”

　　Xuan Tian Ming curled his lips into a wicked smile, “Once the North has been controlled, we will launch our offensive on Qian Zhou!”