[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son":3,"chapter-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-70":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Am the Xu Family's Son",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2307848,4510,"Chapter 70: Rewards and Polo [Thank You for Your Support! Grateful!]","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This effectively rewarded both Zhu Qinghu and his son for their merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cao and Xu families were rewarded with considerable silver for recommending capable generals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi witnessed the current emperor’s rewards in full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dangzi, experienced in matchmaking, replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, don’t worry—such Imperial Guard officers are highly sought after in Bianjing; his unmarried status is simply due to mourning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then in a few years, please, Sister, keep an eye out for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northern front could only remain in stalemate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Bai Gao state was beginning to crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it initially eliminated several Zhou border outposts and annihilated a Zhou camp, the surprise attack ultimately failed to deliver a decisive blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day after day of stalemate fueled growing resentment within Bai Gao’s populace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, vast and sprawling Zhou had merely imposed a small-scale tax increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, as the weather grew hotter, the entire northwest front gradually shifted from defense to defensive counteroffensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zhou still could not achieve a decisive victory in one stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the overall war situation increasingly clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the polo match outside Bianjing, nobles from across the Eastern Capital gathered at the polo field to enjoy themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing sat with his family in their tent, watching the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warm breeze blowing across made this an ideal time for outdoor recreation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horses thundered across the polo field, the drumbeats echoing with a martial aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, Xu Zaijing listened to his sister-in-law’s gossip, picked up from her close friend:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingyun exchanged a glance with her young master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a handsome young servant arrived before the Yongyi Marquis’s tent, bowed, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, I’m Buwei, a servant of the Qi Duke Mansion. The Empress invites Master Jing to her tent for a visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, I’ll go then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, go,” Sun Shi said, continuing her gossip with her daughter-in-law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Buwei, Xu Zaijing entered the Qi Duke Mansion’s tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere inside the Duke’s tent remained as solemn as it had been years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maids and attendants all wore formal makeup and showed no smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing entered, bowed deeply, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, may you enjoy golden peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, Jingge, sit here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng, seated beside the Princess, sighed in relief upon seeing Xu Zaijing and relaxed his rigid posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hengge, why don’t you greet him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng immediately straightened his back: “Hello, Jingge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Hengge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie’s pastries are always so delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Auntie,” Xu Zaijing smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng stared in disbelief at Xu Zaijing—his mother smiled far more often at Xu Zaijing than she ever did at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Princess Pingning’s reputation preceded her, even relatives like Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingye were somewhat restrained before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rarely seen a peer so at ease in front of his own mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng had been clever since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through idle chatter from his mother and personal maids, combined with his own observations, he had learned much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his mother married in, Qi Heng’s father followed suit—no concubines or maidservants remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Qi Heng’s birth, his mother became even more vigilant toward relatives with female cousins or nieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng had rarely even seen his female cousins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Pingning truly liked Xu Zaijing—she liked him as one likes a favored younger relative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the trivial anecdote she once casually mentioned in the palace, overheard by the Empress, had somehow led to the birth of a prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Pingning had been praised by the Empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jingge, have you continued practicing your calligraphy these days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing swallowed the pastry: “Yes, Your Highness—I’ve practiced daily, but thanks to the Empress’s fine gifts, my calluses have disappeared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good child. Has your elder brother prepared to take the examination?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second brother studies daily; perhaps he’ll take it next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. And you? When do you plan to take it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zaijing scratched his head: “My tutor says wait a year—I’ll likely take it alongside Second Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good child. Hengge, have you seen your Jingge? You must learn from him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Mother. I will learn from Jingge and strive to take the exam soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Auntie. I’ll submit my petition in a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d heard the Emperor flew into a furious rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Empress was the ruler of the inner palace, she handled the matter herself; those individuals vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the prince grew even healthier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Princess Pingning’s view, Xu Zaijing was a man of good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress, too, was someone who cherished fortune—she never summoned Xu Zaijing to the palace without reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, she merely said he should visit when he had time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Jingge went to Xiangzhou with Sun Da Niangzi?” Princess Pingning asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The fallen Zhu marquis, who died for the state, is my aunt’s husband.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A loyal and heroic man. Many would have abandoned their soldiers and fled long before such a situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. His family previously served in the Imperial Guards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Heng beside her looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a polo field servant arrived outside the tent and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female official entered, bowed, and said: “Your Highness, the fifth son of the Han Duke has challenged the Yongyi Marquis’s team.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, don't hit me so hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1423,"2026-06-20T10:32:38.675Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","499eb20594a719cb1696939145afeb45963e8a3ea0692ced7d9a843cfa9b215b","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-71","i-am-the-xu-family-s-son-chapter-69",790,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-xu-family-s-son-cover.jpg"]