Chapter 66: Rewards and Polo [Thank you all for your support! Many thanks!]

As the first battalion commander to die in battle since the war began, and as a viscount of noble rank who deliberately charged into the enemy lines to secure military intelligence, he received high praise from both civil and military officials.

In addition to granting substantial silver and money to the families of the soldiers in this battalion, the Imperial Palace also bestowed upon Zhu Zhu Qinghu a residence in Bianjing, transferred him to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard, and granted him the honorary title of Captain of Proclaimed Valor, a Grade 8 official rank.

This reward effectively honored the merits of both Zhu Zhu Qinghu and his son.

The Cao and Xu families, having been commended for recommending capable generals, were also rewarded with considerable silver and money.

However, both families distributed all this silver and money to the families of the soldiers who had fallen in battle, a deed that became widely spoken of among the residents of Bianjing.

Those few soldiers who broke out of the encirclement alongside Zhu Zhu Qinghu were all promoted three ranks and granted the honorary title of Deputy Captain of Benevolent Valor; those able to continue serving were mostly placed under Zhu Zhu Qinghu's command.

From having his official rank stripped completely during the late Emperor's reign to now re-entering the Imperial Guard, Zhu Zhu Qinghu's journey truly resembled a cycle of reincarnation.

Wu Da Da Niangzi witnessed the entire ceremony of the current Emperor's rewards.

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict returned to the palace with the golden pastries, Sun Shi continued conversing with the two ladies of the Hou Fu.

"My nephew is also a fine young man, but he must observe mourning for three years; by then he will be older, and I wonder what will become of his marriage prospects."

Wu Da Da Niangzi, being well-versed in matchmaking, replied:

"Sister, there is no need to worry; such Imperial Guard officers are highly sought after in Bianjing, and his being unmarried at an older age is solely due to his mourning period."

"Then in a few years, I must ask Sister to keep a careful eye out."

In recent days, although Northern Liao was stirring restlessly, it had not made any major moves, largely because to its east lay the massive army corps of Great Zhou.

The northern front could only remain in a stalemate.

Meanwhile, the state of Bai Gao was beginning to feel the strain.

Although they had initially captured several Great Zhou border outposts and fortresses and annihilated a battalion of Great Zhou soldiers, their surprise attack ultimately failed to achieve its objectives.

Day after day of stalemate caused growing complaints and resentment within Bai Gao.

In contrast, the vast territory of Great Zhou had so far only imposed a small-scale additional tax levy once.

In Xu Xu Zaijing's perception, although Great Zhou bore some similarities to the Song Dynasty of his previous life, the horse-breeding grounds in Lingzhou ensured that the elite cavalry of Great Zhou had never disappeared from its military ranks.

More importantly, many sons of martial generals and noble families studied literature and gradually became civil officials, meaning the constraints and suppression placed upon military officers were lighter than in the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, as the weather grew hotter, the entire northwest region saw Great Zhou gradually shifting from a purely defensive stance to a strategy of defense and counterattack.

However, Great Zhou still could not achieve total victory in a single campaign.

This made the overall war situation increasingly clear.

At the polo match held outside Bianjing City, nobles from all over the capital had gathered at the polo grounds for entertainment.

Xu Xu Zaijing was currently sitting with his own family inside their tent, watching the polo match on the field.

The warm breeze blowing against their faces made this time particularly suitable for outings.

On the polo field, galloping horses thundered past, and the drumbeats created an atmosphere somewhat reminiscent of a battlefield formation.

Inside the tent, Xu Xu Zaijing listened to gossip his sister-in-law had heard from her close friends,

regarding how, two days prior, residents of Bianjing had seen relatives of Lady Fan's maiden family storm angrily into the residence of Grand Tutor Yu, and a few days later, Yu Yu Yanran, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yu family, was brought back to live under Grand Tutor Yu's care.

Few people knew the specific reasons; the family publicly claimed only that the grandparents missed their granddaughter, though it was heard that Young Master Yu's performance evaluation had been rated as inferior.

Brother Qingyun exchanged a glance with his Young Master.

At this moment, a rather handsome young servant boy arrived before the tent of Marquis Marquis Yongyi, bowed, and said:

"Da Da Niangzi, this humble servant is Bu Wei from the Duke of Qi's mansion; the Princess invites Young Master Jing to her tent for some fun."

"Mother, then your son will go."

"Mm, go ahead," Sun Shi replied, then continued chatting about gossip with her daughter-in-law.

Following Bu Wei, Xu Xu Zaijing went to the tent of the Duke of Qi's mansion.

The atmosphere inside the Duke's tent remained as solemn and strict as it had been several years ago.

The nannies and maids were all neatly made up, serious, and devoid of smiles.

Upon entering the tent, Xu Xu Zaijing bowed deeply and said:

"May the Princess enjoy golden peace."

"Come, Brother Jing, sit here."

Qi Heng, who was sitting upright beside the Princess, let out a quiet sigh of relief upon seeing Xu Xu Zaijing and relaxed his straightened back slightly.

"Brother Heng, why did you not greet him when you saw him?"

Qi Heng quickly straightened his back again and said, "Greetings, Brother Jing."

"Greetings, Brother Heng."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled as he glanced at the handsome young boy with red lips and white teeth, Qi Heng, then casually picked up a cake from the table and began to eat.

"Auntie's cakes are always so delicious."

Princess Princess Pingning did not correct Xu Xu Zaijing's form of address, but simply smiled and said, "If Brother Jing likes them, take a few boxes home when the gathering ends."

"Thank you, Auntie," Xu Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Qi Heng stared at Xu Xu Zaijing in astonishment; his own mother smiled far more often in Xu Xu Zaijing's presence than she ever did at home.

Because Princess Princess Pingning was famous for her strict demeanor, even relatives like Gu Gu Tingyu and Gu Gu Tingye felt somewhat restrained in her presence.

He had rarely seen any peer behave so relaxedly before his own mother.

Qi Heng had been intelligent since childhood.

Through overhearing conversations between his mother and her personal nanny, combined with his own observations, he had learned many things.

For instance, regarding his eldest uncle's wife, whose maiden family was powerful: all of his eldest uncle's concubines and bedmaids had been driven away completely, leaving him with only one sickly cousin.

After his own mother married into the family, Qi Heng's father was treated by his mother in the same way, resulting in not a single concubine or bedmaid.

After having him, his mother became even more strictly vigilant against relatives who had older or younger female cousins.

Qi Heng himself had barely ever seen any female cousins of his own age.

Princess Princess Pingning also liked Xu Xu Zaijing very much, possessing the kind of affection an elder feels for a junior.

Since few juniors relaxed so much in her presence, she felt this might be fate; conceiving her own Heng-ge'er and Xu Xu Zaijing had been fate.

And that amusing anecdote she had casually mentioned in the palace years ago was overheard by the Empress, who ultimately gave birth to an Imperial Prince.

Princess Princess Pingning also received praise from the Empress.

Especially since the Imperial Prince was far healthier than the several who had died young before; every time the Empress saw her royal child, she would think of Princess Princess Pingning, who had 'spoken up with advice.'

"Jing-ge'er, have you continued practicing your calligraphy these past days?"

Xu Xu Zaijing swallowed the pastry and replied, "Replying to the Princess, I have been practicing all along, but fortunately, thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's wonderful remedy, the calluses on my hands are gone."

"Good child, has your elder brother at home prepared to take the examinations?"

"Pei Erge is studying every day; perhaps he will attempt them next year."

"Mm, and what about you? When do you plan to take the examinations?"

Xu Xu Zaijing scratched his head and said, "The tutor said to wait a year; I will likely take them together with Pei Erge."

"Good child. Heng-ge'er, do you see your Brother Jing? You must learn well from him."

"Yes, Mother. I will learn from Brother Jing and strive to take the examinations as soon as possible."

"Jing-ge'er, I went to the palace some days ago to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress. Her Majesty said she hasn't seen you in a long time; when you have time, Jing-ge'er, you should visit the palace more often."

"Yes, Auntie. I will submit my name plaque in a few days."

Princess Princess Pingning looked at Xu Xu Zaijing with myriad thoughts churning in her heart; only during this period had she learned that the Empress, using the matter of the Xu family presenting white cotton fluff, had rooted out several individuals within the palace.

She had only heard that the Emperor had flown into a tremendous rage.

Since the Empress was the mistress of the rear palace, she was tasked with handling the matter, and those several individuals never appeared again.

Afterwards,

the Imperial Prince became even healthier.

In Princess Princess Pingning's view, Xu Xu Zaijing possessed good fortune.

The Empress was also someone who cherished fortune, never summoning Xu Xu Zaijing to the palace without cause.

At most, she would merely say that Xu Xu Zaijing should enter the palace when he had leisure.

"I heard Jing-ge'er and Sun Da Da Niangzi went to Xiangzhou together?" Princess Princess Pingning asked.

"Yes. Xie Zijue Xie, who sacrificed his life for the country, is my uncle-by-marriage."

"He was a loyal and heroic man; some people, seeing such a situation, would have long abandoned their soldiers and fled to save their own lives."

"Yes. My uncle-by-marriage's family previously served within the Imperial Guards."

"Oh?"

Qi Heng beside her wore a look of confusion.

At this moment, a servant from the polo field outside the tent approached the tent entrance and said something.

The female official entered, performed a bow, and reported, "Princess, Han Wulang of the Duke of Han's household has pointed to the name plaque of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's family."

Mm, hit me gently.

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(End of Chapter)