Chapter 70: Rewards and Polo [Thank You for Your Support! Grateful!]

As the first camp commander to die in battle after the war began, and a marquis who voluntarily charged into enemy lines for military intelligence, both civil and military officials held great admiration for him.

In addition to granting substantial silver and money to the families of the soldiers in his camp, the palace also bestowed upon Zhu Qinghu a residence in Bianjing, promoted him to Regional Military Commissioner of the Imperial Guards, and granted him the honorary title of Rank 8, Xuanjie Captain.

This effectively rewarded both Zhu Qinghu and his son for their merits.

The Cao and Xu families were rewarded with considerable silver for recommending capable generals.

However, both families distributed all the silver to the families of fallen soldiers, and this deed spread by word of mouth among Bianjing’s residents.

The soldiers who broke out of the encirclement alongside Zhu Qinghu were each promoted three ranks and granted the honorary title of Renyong Fuwei; those who continued serving mostly remained under Zhu Qinghu’s command.

From being stripped of all rank under the late emperor to now rejoining the Imperial Guards, Zhu Qinghu’s rise truly felt like a cycle.

Wu Dangzi witnessed the current emperor’s rewards in full.

After the eunuch delivering the imperial decree returned to the palace with the golden cakes, Sun Shi continued chatting with the two ladies of the Hou Fu.

“My nephew is a good one, but he must observe three years of mourning; by then he’ll be older, and his marriage prospects remain uncertain.”

Wu Dangzi, experienced in matchmaking, replied:

“Sister, don’t worry—such Imperial Guard officers are highly sought after in Bianjing; his unmarried status is simply due to mourning.”

“Then in a few years, please, Sister, keep an eye out for him.”

Though the Northern Liao had been restless since the war began, it had made no major moves, given the massive Zhou army presence to its east.

The northern front could only remain in stalemate.

But the Bai Gao state was beginning to crack.

Though it initially eliminated several Zhou border outposts and annihilated a Zhou camp, the surprise attack ultimately failed to deliver a decisive blow.

Day after day of stalemate fueled growing resentment within Bai Gao’s populace.

Meanwhile, vast and sprawling Zhou had merely imposed a small-scale tax increase.

In Xu Zaijing’s view, though Zhou resembled ancient Song in some ways, its horse-breeding lands in Lingzhou ensured Zhou’s elite cavalry never vanished from its military ranks.

More importantly, many sons of military nobles studied literature and gradually became civil officials, so the suppression of military officers was lighter than in Song.

Thus, as the weather grew hotter, the entire northwest front gradually shifted from defense to defensive counteroffensive.

Yet Zhou still could not achieve a decisive victory in one stroke.

This made the overall war situation increasingly clear.

At the polo match outside Bianjing, nobles from across the Eastern Capital gathered at the polo field to enjoy themselves.

Xu Zaijing sat with his family in their tent, watching the match.

The warm breeze blowing across made this an ideal time for outdoor recreation.

Horses thundered across the polo field, the drumbeats echoing with a martial aura.

Inside the tent, Xu Zaijing listened to his sister-in-law’s gossip, picked up from her close friend:

Two days ago, residents of Bianjing saw Fan’s eldest daughter’s family storming into Yu GeLao’s residence; days later, Yu’s eldest daughter, Yu Yanran, was brought back to live under her grandfather’s care.

The exact reason remained unknown; the family publicly claimed the grandparents missed their granddaughter, but rumors said young Yu’s performance review had been rated “low.”

Qingyun exchanged a glance with her young master.

At that moment, a handsome young servant arrived before the Yongyi Marquis’s tent, bowed, and said:

“Lady, I’m Buwei, a servant of the Qi Duke Mansion. The Empress invites Master Jing to her tent for a visit.”

“Mother, I’ll go then.”

“Mm, go,” Sun Shi said, continuing her gossip with her daughter-in-law.

Following Buwei, Xu Zaijing entered the Qi Duke Mansion’s tent.

The atmosphere inside the Duke’s tent remained as solemn as it had been years ago.

The maids and attendants all wore formal makeup and showed no smiles.

Xu Zaijing entered, bowed deeply, and said:

“Your Highness, may you enjoy golden peace.”

“Come, Jingge, sit here.”

Qi Heng, seated beside the Princess, sighed in relief upon seeing Xu Zaijing and relaxed his rigid posture.

“Hengge, why don’t you greet him?”

Qi Heng immediately straightened his back: “Hello, Jingge.”

“Hello, Hengge.”

Xu Zaijing smiled at the fair-skinned, rosy-lipped young beauty Qi Heng, then casually picked up a pastry from the table and ate it.

“Auntie’s pastries are always so delicious.”

Princess Pingning did not correct Xu Zaijing’s term of address, only smiled: “If you like them, take a few boxes home when the event ends.”

“Thank you, Auntie,” Xu Zaijing smiled.

Qi Heng stared in disbelief at Xu Zaijing—his mother smiled far more often at Xu Zaijing than she ever did at home.

Because Princess Pingning’s reputation preceded her, even relatives like Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingye were somewhat restrained before her.

He had rarely seen a peer so at ease in front of his own mother.

Qi Heng had been clever since childhood.

Through idle chatter from his mother and personal maids, combined with his own observations, he had learned much.

For instance, his uncle’s wife came from a powerful family; her husband’s concubines were all driven out, leaving him with only one sickly cousin.

After his mother married in, Qi Heng’s father followed suit—no concubines or maidservants remained.

After Qi Heng’s birth, his mother became even more vigilant toward relatives with female cousins or nieces.

Qi Heng had rarely even seen his female cousins.

Princess Pingning truly liked Xu Zaijing—she liked him as one likes a favored younger relative.

Because so few young people were so relaxed before her, she felt this must be fate—that her pregnancy with Hengge and Xu Zaijing’s presence were linked.

And the trivial anecdote she once casually mentioned in the palace, overheard by the Empress, had somehow led to the birth of a prince.

Princess Pingning had been praised by the Empress.

Especially since the prince was far healthier than her previous children who had died young; every time the Empress looked at her son, she thought of “the one who offered advice”—Princess Pingning.

“Jingge, have you continued practicing your calligraphy these days?”

Xu Zaijing swallowed the pastry: “Yes, Your Highness—I’ve practiced daily, but thanks to the Empress’s fine gifts, my calluses have disappeared.”

“Good child. Has your elder brother prepared to take the examination?”

“Second brother studies daily; perhaps he’ll take it next year.”

“Mm. And you? When do you plan to take it?”

Xu Zaijing scratched his head: “My tutor says wait a year—I’ll likely take it alongside Second Brother.”

“Good child. Hengge, have you seen your Jingge? You must learn from him.”

“Yes, Mother. I will learn from Jingge and strive to take the exam soon.”

“Jingge, when I visited the palace recently to pay respects to the Empress, she said she hasn’t seen you in a long time—when you have time, visit the palace more often.”

“Yes, Auntie. I’ll submit my petition in a few days.”

Princess Pingning watched Xu Zaijing, her thoughts swirling—only recently had she learned that the Empress, using the Xu family’s donation of white cotton wool as a pretext, had uncovered several traitors in the palace.

She’d heard the Emperor flew into a furious rage.

Since the Empress was the ruler of the inner palace, she handled the matter herself; those individuals vanished entirely.

Afterwards,

the prince grew even healthier.

In Princess Pingning’s view, Xu Zaijing was a man of good fortune.

The Empress, too, was someone who cherished fortune—she never summoned Xu Zaijing to the palace without reason.

At most, she merely said he should visit when he had time.

“I heard Jingge went to Xiangzhou with Sun Da Niangzi?” Princess Pingning asked.

“Yes. The fallen Zhu marquis, who died for the state, is my aunt’s husband.”

“A loyal and heroic man. Many would have abandoned their soldiers and fled long before such a situation.”

“Yes. His family previously served in the Imperial Guards.”

“Oh?”

Qi Heng beside her looked puzzled.

At that moment, a polo field servant arrived outside the tent and spoke.

A female official entered, bowed, and said: “Your Highness, the fifth son of the Han Duke has challenged the Yongyi Marquis’s team.”

Uh, don't hit me so hard.

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(End of Chapter)