My vicious dog, my horse, I can do whatever I want with it

Chapter 173 Reward

Officials in court robes stood in rows in front of the majestic gate of the imperial palace. At this moment, all eyes were directed towards the end of the street, listening to the calls of the people, which were getting louder and louder, with excitement, worship and joy of victory.

A black and red military flag appeared in front. The flag fluttering in the cold wind seemed to be coated with golden light under the warm sun.

Zongyan.

That was the military flag of the Zong Yan clan. A totem was printed on the bottom of the flag, and the national emblem of the Wu State was printed on the back.

All the ministers stared intently. They saw the military flag appear with their own eyes, and saw the well-organized army appear in their field of vision. They also saw Zong Yanli, standing in front of thousands of troops, wearing black armor and a bronze ghost mask.

The tall and mighty general on the black horse caught everyone's attention at this moment.

Gao Jiayue stood in front of the ministers, holding the little prince He Honglang by her hand. At this moment, seeing our army marching in a mighty force, her heart beat wildly, and her beautiful eyes fell on the extremely tall Zong Yanli in front of the army.

At this moment, the admiration and worship in her eyes could not be concealed at all, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on He Honglang's hand.

"Mother..." He Honglang looked up and called her.

"My son, go and welcome the great contributor to Wu State and your teacher." Gao Jiayue took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, lowered her head and looked at He Honglang and said with a smile.

"Yeah." He Honglang stood on tiptoe, staring at the extremely majestic army. Looking at Zong Yanli sitting high on a warhorse gradually approaching, a very hot light lit up in his eyes.

Facing the warm winter sun, Zong Yanli returned to his homeland with his triumphant army. The warhorse stopped outside the imperial palace. Gao Jiayue took He Honglang and walked forward, looking up at Zong Yanli who was sitting high on the warhorse. How tall and majestic she looked at this moment.

Zong Yanli stopped his horse and dismounted, followed by his soldiers who dismounted one after another.

She stepped sideways with one hand holding the sword, and walked towards Gao Jiayue and He Honglang. She took three steps closer, knelt on one knee, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Gao Jiayue held He Honglang's hand, gently pushed him forward half a step and then let go of his hand.

He Honglang raised his hand and bowed, saying, "Student greets the teacher."

Gao Jiayue smiled and said, "Grandmaster, you have worked hard all the way back. You have made great contributions to our Wu country. You are truly a hero in the world. This palace and the prince are extremely grateful. Please don't be polite."

Zong Yanli stood up in response. The sounds made by the heavy armor as she moved were so unfamiliar to them.

He Honglang looked up at Zong Yanli, his eyes sparkling, and said impatiently: "Teacher, I can already recognize words."

Zong Yanli looked down at the little prince who had grown a little taller. With a smile in his eyes, he squatted down and tried to look him in the eye and said, "Your Highness, can you read the book I left for you?"

"I read two paragraphs." He Honglang answered in a baby voice. Many of the words in the book were too difficult, and he was still trying his best to learn them.

"My son always wants the Grand Tutor to teach him personally." Gao Jiayue, who was standing next to him, smiled even more as she watched this scene. She said in a gentle and tender tone, "Now I can finally hope that you will return."

"This is not a place for conversation. Grand Master, why don't you invite the generals inside?" Gao Jiayue said in a gentle voice, "This palace and the prince have already prepared a celebration banquet for the generals. Please come in."

Upon hearing this, Zong Yanli stood up and responded respectfully. Of course, not all of these thousands of soldiers and horses entered the palace. Someone would lead them to the military defense garrison that had been prepared long ago. The so-called garrison was actually a hunting ground for the royal family. A mountain was cordoned off and a piece of forest was cleared to build a venue.

Only Zong Yanli, Long Feiguang and other main camp generals can enter the palace.

The rest of the soldiers all went to Yunshan Terrace, where there were naturally enough wine and food, and several attendants and dancers celebrated for the soldiers.

Zong Yanli asked after he entered the palace: "Is the emperor waiting in the palace?"

Gao Jiayue looked worried and said with sorrow in her eyes: "The emperor has been in a coma for two days. He is occasionally awake but cannot speak clearly. I informed the emperor that the Grand Tutor has returned to the capital early, but..."

Zong Yanli frowned and fell silent.

As a subject, Zong Yanli had to go to meet the emperor when he returned. Gao Jiayue had no intention of stopping him. He personally led the way and took Zong Yanli to meet the emperor.

The last time, the old emperor was still able to get up, and even spoke clearly, so he could entrust important tasks to Zong Yanli. But now when Zong Yanli met the emperor again, what he saw was the old emperor lying on the magnificent dragon bed like a dried skeleton.

His gray hair was a little sparse, his sunken cheeks were devoid of flesh, and when he lay on the bed with his eyes closed, all he could see was the slightly rising and falling bedding.

Zong Yanli's heart trembled when she saw the old emperor who had already stepped half a foot into the coffin. She glanced at Gao Jiayue inconspicuously, walked forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Zong Yanli bowed his head for a long time without hearing any answer. Gao Jiayue wiped the non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "Don't blame me, Grand Master. The Emperor is ill and often sleeps peacefully. He will not wake up even if disturbed."

"Why did the emperor become like this?" It might be a little cruel, but Zong Yanli felt that the emperor should have died a long time ago, but...

Zong Yanli stood up and looked at Gao Jiayue. It was she who didn't want the old emperor to die.

Gao Jiayue said sadly: "Since the incident with Prince Xuan, the emperor has..."

She sighed sadly and said, "It's all my fault. My poor son is still so young. If it weren't for the Grand Tutor protecting him, we mother and son really don't know what to do."

There was a hint of gloom in Zong Yanli's eyes. He clenched his fists and walked out of the palace. He tilted his head slightly as if he had something to say to Gao Jiayue. Gao Jiayue understood and raised her hand. The maids following behind them sensibly fell behind and no longer came forward.

Zong Yanli approached Gao Jiayue and asked, "Your Majesty, are you suffering from this?"

"Grandmaster, you have wronged me." Gao Jiayue looked up at her, with a bit of resentment and grievance in her eyes, she said: "I have found elixirs and good medicines to prolong the emperor's life, but it will only make the emperor feel like he is in a fairyland in the clouds. How can it be torture?"

“Even if one day the emperor can no longer accompany me and the prince, he will sleep peacefully and pass away on a crane without any suffering,” Gao Jiayue said quietly.

After hearing what Gao Jiayue said, Zong Yanli could finally be sure that it was Gao Jiayue who had forcibly extended the old emperor's life.

Her brows were furrowed under the mask. Gao Jiayue looked at her and couldn't see the emotions in Zong Yanli's eyes, but she couldn't help but stop and stare at her and said, "Grandmaster, do you think I did something wrong?"

Zong Yanli then stopped and looked at the extremely noble woman in gorgeous clothes in front of him. He lowered his eyes and said, "I dare not judge whether the noble concubine is right or wrong."

The brightness in Gao Jiayue's eyes dimmed a bit. She looked at Zong Yanli, as if she had many grievances to express, and as if she wanted to explain herself. But in the end, she said nothing. Zong Yanli only looked at her and said, "Your Majesty's path is destined to be difficult. Whether it is right or wrong, what others say does not count."

"Grandmaster, General..." Gao Jiayue looked at her, her eyes showing a kind of indescribable dependence, and said, "The general is never a stranger to me."

"If the general thinks it is wrong, I will not do it."

"..."

Zong Yanli seemed to be stunned by Gao Jiayue's words. There was a strange look in his eyes. He felt something was wrong. He frowned for a long time, not knowing how to respond.

Until the palace maid came to report that Prince Ping had entered the palace.

Gao Jiayue then calmed down and turned around and said, "Please ask Prince Ping to go to Zhaoming Palace and wait."

The emperor is in bed and the prince is young. Now all the powers in the former dynasty and the harem are in the hands of Gao Jiayue alone.

Zong Yanli took half a step back and distanced herself from Gao Jiayue, showing the distant attitude of a monarch and his subject. Gao Jiayue glanced at her sideways, with a look of wanting to say something but hesitant. In the end, she did nothing and turned around and walked towards the front hall.

He Anxing is the sixth prince. He is plain-looking and mediocrely educated. He can be said to be the most inconspicuous prince. He has been idle for half his life. Even the emperor bestowed the title of "Prince Ping" on him, which shows that he has no regard for him at all.

When He Anxing first saw Zong Yanli, the forty-something man was so frightened that he sat down on the ground.

"Your Highness Prince Ping, please be careful." The palace servants in the palace did not find this funny at all, as if it was the only reaction Prince Ping could make.

"Oh my, oh my..." Prince Ping did not feel embarrassed. He patted his butt and stood up. He stared at Zong Yanli's bronze ghost face with some timidity and said, "Hey, this, this is the General Pingxi, right?"

"He is so majestic and intimidating, even this king is frightened." He Anxing smiled foolishly, his eyes a little evasive, not daring to look directly at Zong Yanli's grimacing face.

"Your Highness Prince Ping." Zong Yanli bowed and saluted.

He Anxing waved his hands and stepped back, and Gao Jiayue stepped out to smooth things over.

Since Zong Yanli could not report military affairs to the emperor, he could only report to Gao Jiayue.

Gao Jiayue held the little prince and sat in the main seat, while He Anxing moved half of his butt and sat on one side, looking like he wanted to leave but didn't dare to.

He was completely forced to listen to the military reports. Zong Yanli had already written a military report on the general situation of the war and submitted it back to Beijing. Gao Jiayue naturally knew about it a long time ago, and reporting it again now was just a formality.

But King Ping didn't know this. He spent his days visiting prostitutes and having fun, and he only heard from the side about Zong Yanli's victory in another battle, and even the glorious event of destroying the State of Qing.

I don't know how to fight specifically.

But now I know, I heard Zong Yanli say with my own ears that he had broken through three passes in a row, killed and captured many enemies, seized military equipment and supplies, etc...

The more He Anxing listened, the more his legs trembled. Death, so many people died? And he killed, so many people were killed?

He Anxing's face turned pale and he was about to collapse. Looking at Zong Yanli who was standing in front of the hall, it was as if he was looking at the evil ghost Yama, which made people feel scared.

"I have discussed with the ministers and drawn up the details of rewards for the generals. Would you like to take a look at it, Grand Tutor?" Gao Jiayue said as she asked He Chang to hand over the booklet.

Zong Yanli took it with both hands, glanced at it, and then closed it, bowed and said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Royal Concubine have already been rewarded, and I have no objection to this."

How could Gao Jiayue treat Zong Yanli's soldiers harshly? When the military reports were submitted, Gao Jiayue had already started preparations. Now the rewards are entirely based on military merit. In addition to the rewards for the recipients, there are also many mansions, treasures and other rewards.

Those were all sorted out and added by Gao Jiayue herself.

The generous rewards were given in a way that was neither against the rules nor inconsistent with the rules.

Afterwards, a celebration banquet was held in the main hall, and before the banquet, the rewards and awards were announced.

He Chang read out the names from the roster, and generals including Long Feiguang and Meng Qi came forward one after another to listen to the titles. The reward process lasted for as much as two hours.

And because Zong Yanli had been appointed as the Prince's Grand Tutor, he could only be given more gold, silver and jewelry in the end. He had not yet married, so a special decree was issued to enthrone Zong Yanli's mother, Han, and grant her the first-rank imperial edict.

Zong Yanli had no objection to this, and many soldiers were also excited.

"Let the banquet begin!" As the enthronement ceremony was completed, the celebration banquet officially began.

The court officials all stood up to congratulate Zong Yanli and his generals.

The celebration banquet lasted until midnight, and it was lively with singing and dancing.

Zong Yanli never took off her mask. Even when someone came to toast her, she just pushed the mask up a little, drank the wine, and then put it down again. Others did not dare to ask her why she did not take off the mask. They just muttered in their hearts, wondering why Zong Yanli was like this.

Gao Jiayue, who was sitting in a high position, turned a blind eye to this and completely acquiesced to Zong Yanli wearing the mask.

The palace banquet lasted until midnight. After leaving the palace, Zong Yanli and others turned around and went to Yunshan Terrace, where they continued to cheer and celebrate with the soldiers.

The banquet ended until dawn.

Zong Yanli took off her mask, feeling a little dizzy after a night of partying.

Gao Jiayue was quite generous and rewarded many dancers to celebrate the victory of the soldiers. Their enthusiasm made many soldiers jealous. If Zong Yanli had not already set military rules, who knows what kind of trouble would have happened. Now, these soldiers and generals, those who were a little bolder, only dared to reach out and touch them.

"General, have some sobering soup." Wen Nian made two bowls of sobering soup, drank one himself and brought the other bowl to Zong Yanli.

"...I really can't drink anymore." Although she didn't get drunk that night, she drank enough. She went to the toilet so many times that the chamber pot was filled up by her.

"I'll go home later." Zong Yanli took a breath and said, "Reward according to merit. Let Pei Liang and others do the rewarding for me."

"Let the soldiers go home. If they are homeless, they can stay here. People in the capital can go there in plain clothes." Zong Yanli paused and said, "It's still the same old rules. Anyone who dares to bully others and cause trouble will be dealt with according to military regulations."

"Soldiers returning home need to leave their homes and be ready to return to the army at any time."

"Hurry up and go home to celebrate the New Year."

Zong Yanli pressed his forehead and gave clear instructions: "If there is any emergency in the army, please come to Zong Yan's residence to find me."

Wen Nian lowered his head and nodded in agreement, staring at Zong Yanli as he finished drinking the sobering soup, then turned around and left.