Chapter 584: Personally Enfeoffing Li Wu as a King of a Different Surname!

It's obvious the crown prince had already smoothly ascended the throne; if it weren't for him saving this tyrant, the entire dynasty would already have been peaceful.

Only Da Chu could possibly have a chance to turn the tide!

He actually rescued that tyrant.

Do they think the tyrant's harm to Da Chu isn't enough yet?

Do they want to destroy the entire nation before they're satisfied?

This Li Wu is purely ill-intentioned!

What nonsense—saving all of Da Chu? Clearly he just wants to keep harming all of Da Chu!!

Some people look at Li Wu with eyes that seem to carry knives.

Although Duan Rongshi felt a prickling sensation on his back, he could sense that everyone was directing their most hostile gazes at him.

But having long been accustomed to playing the villain in DaLiang, he still stood there with his hands clasped, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, utterly unmoving.

How others view him has never bothered him in the slightest.

The Chu emperor glanced at the assembled officials, his eyes turning cold.

"My beloved officials, don't you wish I had returned alive?"

"How is it that no one is offering thanks to General Li Wu for this great achievement?"

The officials then realized, each turning and immediately bowing to Duan Rongshi with clasped hands: "Thank you, General Li Wu, for risking your life to save the emperor; thank you, General Li Wu, for saving the realm of Da Chu—"

Duan Rongshi gave the crowd a faint, cold nod.

"Gentlemen, please, I merely did my duty as a subject."

Knowing no one was sincere, he merely gave a perfunctory reply.

The Chu emperor closed his eyes, thinking: Forget it.

What he wanted was to pave the way for Rongshi.

Whether these people are sincere or not is no longer important.

What matters is letting all of Da Chu know that Rongshi is a stunningly talented commander!

In the future, he will be the true hero who can rescue Da Chu's lands and rivers!

"General Li Wu has achieved such great feats; I naturally must bestow rich rewards to show my gratitude."

"My beloved officials, what do you think I should grant General Li Wu?"

The officials looked at each other.

Li Wu did indeed save the emperor, and that is meritorious.

But when it comes to rewarding such great achievements… isn't that a bit of a stretch?

Is the tyrant trying to thrust his confidant completely into the spotlight?

Yet, few people envy Li Wu.

After all, everyone knows what kind of character the tyrant has.

Today the tyrant favors him, but tomorrow, if he's displeased, he might personally behead him.

Such things have happened before.

Who would still envy the tyrant's favorite?

Then someone flattered, saying: "Your Majesty, how about awarding a thousand taels of gold?"

"Your Majesty, I think it would be better to promote General Li Wu by one rank."

"I've heard Lord Li has only one wife; Lord Li is so handsome and exceptionally skilled in martial arts—perhaps granting him a few concubines would also be a fine thing."

This Li Wu is merely a son-in-law who married into a merchant family.

He's just a commoner with no background; to already be a captain of elite cavalry in the Imperial Forest Army is thanks to his ancestors' burning incense, and another promotion would bring honor to his whole household.

Surely that would be enough, right?

Who would have thought, the Chu emperor's expression grew darker the more he listened.

Although he suppressed his anger and didn't erupt on the spot, the officials who could read his mood lowered their voices, no longer daring to casually submit opinions.

The Chu emperor turned his head to look at the crown prince.

"Crown Prince, what do you think?"

The crown prince's spirit was elsewhere.

Having only been emperor for a day, he still felt as uncomfortable as if a thorn were stuck in his chest.

So he didn't even notice what the Chu emperor had just said.

Now, upon suddenly hearing his father call him, he was startled, his heart jumping.

He didn't dare ask what the Chu emperor had just asked, so he merely replied: "Father, I think… all the officials are right."

The Chu emperor could no longer contain himself, his face darkening as he bellowed: "Yes, yes, yes—what 'yes'?!"

"Nonsense!"

"If I only wanted to promote him by one rank, why would I ask you?"

"A thousand taels of gold—does his family even care about gold?"

"His lady is now the city's richest woman, running taverns that serve the finest fare in Nan'an, bringing in bushels of gold daily—would she even look down on this paltry thousand taels of filthy money?!"

"And beautiful women? Do you think he, like you, lusts after beauty and indulges in licentious pleasures?!"

"His lady is also fierce; if you anger her, you'd better deal with her yourselves—don't come bothering me with your bad luck!"

"A bunch of—"

The Chu emperor bit his tongue hard, preventing himself from shouting "idiots, trash!"

Under the fearful gazes of the assembled civil and military officials, he struggled to swallow those unpleasant words, then slammed his hand on the dragon throne's armrest, no longer pretending.

"I have decided—I will personally enfeoff Li Wu as King Yue!"

Enjoying the same status and treatment as the prince, with emoluments even more honorable.

I will reward him with ten thousand mu of good farmland.

Ten thousand taels of gold.

Cloth, gold and silver jewelry, weapons...

I will also appoint him as commander of the Imperial Forest Army!

And I will grant him the Harmony Prosperity Garden.

All you beloved officials, what do you think?

Before the officials could recover from their shock, he waved his hand again and said: 'If you have objections, just keep them bottled up inside. If you're capable, you too can come rescue me from danger three or four times.'

Court dismissed——

The Chu Emperor is still the Chu Emperor.

Although he had previously put on an act of wanting to reform and become a benevolent ruler, he soon revealed his true nature again.

Even compared to before, he had indeed restrained himself somewhat.

But he actually intends to ennoble a commoner as a king of a different surname—not a great general who earned merit on the battlefield for the state—so how could he just be made a king?

Isn't this just the same reckless behavior as before?

Hardly anyone is convinced by this.

Even the Crown Prince's gaze toward Duan Rongshi was filled with hostility and suspicion.

Duan Rongshi also did not kowtow to thank the imperial grace.

Because he simply did not want to stay in Great Chu as a King of Yue!

Therefore, the Chu Emperor arbitrarily bestowed a kingship, which also made him quite annoyed.

But he did not go to look for the Chu Emperor again.

He must be avoiding me today as well, so Duan Rongshi, amid everyone's displeased stares, calmly turned and strode away.

Yang Qilang and Zhang Tingji exchanged a glance.

The two quietly slipped out of the great hall, and when no one was watching, they hurriedly pursued.

Elder Brother Li——

Younger Brother Li——

Wait!!

Congratulations, congratulations! Your Majesty actually made you a king of a different surname! You're still so young, your future is limitless!

Indeed, Your Majesty favors you so much and hasn't punished us two; you're truly talented—we both want to kneel and become your disciples.

Tell us quickly how you managed this.

Right, did you poison him with gu?

Duan Rongshi looked at the blathering Yang Qilang: 'Watch your words.'

Zhang Tingji gave Yang Qilang a slap.

Do you want to kill him?

Thanks to the great favor of the Li brothers, we avoided being implicated by His Majesty for the crime of binding him in the imperial mausoleum; from now on we are tied to the Li elder brother like grasshoppers on the same rope—you must henceforth speak and act with far greater caution!

Be careful, or we'll all suffer together!

Duan Rongshi agreed with Zhang Tingji's remarks.

He also nodded at Yang Qilang: 'Just listen to him.'

However, please keep the matter of being ennobled as a king quiet for now.

I don't want to be a King of Yue at all.

When the time comes, I may leave Great Chu.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qilang and Zhang Tingji froze as if struck by lightning.

What did you say?

They wished they could cling to Duan Rongshi's thigh and beg him.

If you leave, how will we two possibly survive? You absolutely cannot go!

Indeed, although that tyrant... uh, I mean, Your Majesty now favors you so greatly, your royal favor is at its peak—where else would you go?

You have a perfectly good kingship, yet you insist on merely being a merchant's live-in son-in-law?

Come on, wouldn't it be happy for your younger sister to be a queen consort? Besides, you wouldn't need to toil in public handling those business affairs anymore.

Don't be foolish.

Exactly, exactly, stop talking nonsense from now on!

The Chu Emperor's actions were swift.

Before Duan Rongshi even reached home, all his ennoblements had already arrived at the Nan Gong Fu.

Eunuch Ji first read the imperial edict, then smiled so broadly his eyes disappeared as he continually congratulated Duan Rongshi: 'Li... oh no, Your Highness the King of Yue.'

Congratulations, from now on you will be the foremost noble in Nan'an City.

If I have ever offended you, please be magnanimous and do not hold it against me.

After saying many pleasant words, and once the palace servants had piled the mountain‑high gifts into several courtyards, he then escorted the party back to the palace to report.

Duan Rongshi rubbed his temples, headache.

He looked at Zhui Yu standing nearby: 'Where is the lady?'

Zhui Yu replied: 'She hasn't returned since last night; she said she was handling shop affairs.'

Duan Rongshi was somewhat surprised: 'Still not back?'

Looking at Zhui Yu, whose demeanor had greatly changed, now as steady as Leng Dian and the others, Duan Rongshi asked: 'Would you like to accompany me out onto the street?'

Zhui Yu didn't dare hesitate, quickly nodding.

"Grandfather, the madam and the others are at Wangzhen Lou."

Wangxian Lou is the second gold and silver shop that Li Qingluo reopened after Duan Rongshi left.

It has now become the most sought-after gold and silver jewelry shop in all of Nanan.

Inside, the styles, textures, and even the materials are now the finest, most exquisite, and most genuine in the imperial city.

There are also inexpensive items.

But there are also extremely valuable hairpins, hair ornaments, and headwear that cannot be found anywhere else in Nanan.

Most importantly, almost every item is one-of-a-kind, precious treasures that other shops can never imitate.

Who wouldn't like it?

So, Li Qingluo has indeed become increasingly wealthy and richer.

That Zongzheng Wuheng, in order to lure her back, has truly gone to great lengths this time.

Although Li Qingluo showed no major hindrance, Zheng Mama's return also nearly drove her completely mad.

That bastard Zongzheng Wuheng would rather sacrifice the lives of two of his confidants than burn down Li Qingluo's gold and silver shop.