EBE Chapter 435 Princess Mingzhu
Chapter 435 Princess Mingzhu
The Emperor met General Lu, whom he had not seen for a long time.
If asked whether he felt guilty,
Yes, there are some, but only a tiny amount.
He is the emperor, the supreme ruler.
His decrees are neither right nor wrong, only reward and punishment.
If the king wants the minister to die, the minister has to die.
Who in this world dares to question this?
"I am very pleased with Lu Qing's great victory over the enemy and should reward him handsomely. However, you are about to retire from the army, so this favor can only be given to your son. How about we appoint him as General of Weibei? But you have two sons, so which one should I reward?" The Emperor smiled warmly, but his eyes were full of scrutiny.
I just want to know, after the Lu family was unjustly exiled, did they hold any grudges against him?
Now we will resume our former glory.
Will they still be loyal to him as always?
However, General Lu was also meticulous in his work.
When he heard that the emperor was going to bestow the title of General Weibei upon his son.
His heart trembled.
It's perfectly normal for the merits of one's parents to fall into the hands of their descendants when there's no more reward or recognition to be given.
But he was promoted four levels in one go.
This is not a good thing for a military general.
Unlike the hereditary titles inherited by scions of noble families, military generals earned their military merits through real battles and by risking their lives.
Even when rewards are bestowed, they are based on merit.
If just anyone could become a general and command a large army based on their father's achievements.
Isn't that playing with the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers?
Although his two sons were not so incompetent, they had suddenly received such a great reward.
That position was beyond their capabilities.
Don't say he won't agree.
Even the soldiers in the camp would disagree; it would be impossible to convince the masses and would inevitably cause controversy.
Such a simple truth, the Emperor surely knows it.
Either the emperor is incompetent and tyrannical, or he is deliberately testing the waters.
To test whether he still coveted military power.
If one is greedy, then when there is nothing left to give, one will be sentenced to death; this has been the way of emperors since ancient times.
To say that the emperor is overly suspicious is an understatement.
Now that he has resigned from his post, he has no right to interfere in military affairs, so why would he still covet military power?
If it weren't for his family, the brothers who risked their lives for him, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the army, and every family behind them...
Who would willingly forgo the warmth and beauty of a loving family, or the joys of family life?
Go to that desolate land where sandstorms rage, risk your life and shed your blood.
They're either bored out of their minds or have lost their minds.
He propped himself up on the table leg, cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, my son is dull-witted and I fear he is not capable of serving as the General of Weibei. If Your Majesty wishes to reward me, why not bestow it upon my daughter? Although she is a girl, she is no less than any man. When the Lu family fell into misfortune, she single-handedly supported the family and donated provisions to the border soldiers. She even contributed to the Lu family’s exoneration. If this old minister has made any contributions, she must have been among them.”
General Lu immediately declined his son's offer of a reward, but took the opportunity to ask for one for his daughter.
They say he's biased.
He admitted that his heart did indeed lean towards his daughter.
His Yao'er was just as capable as any man, even though she didn't go to the battlefield to fight and make a name for herself like her two brothers.
They also carved out a path for themselves in this world.
Not only for herself, but also for the Lu family.
It can be said that without Yao'er, the Lu family would not be where they are today, and the entire Lu family would have died unjustly long ago.
Therefore, he was willing to give his military merits to his daughter.
I just hope she can have an easier life for the rest of her days.
This will put the Emperor at ease.
Furthermore, the rewards and honors bestowed upon women were different from those given to men.
Rewarding men with titles and ranks was inevitable, and those bestowed upon them were all real powers.
At this critical juncture, General Lu's strategy is to avoid direct confrontation and conceal his true abilities, as this is the way to survive.
Otherwise, why would he resign from his post, and why would he return to the capital at this time?
But bestowing honors upon women is different.
Even the highest reward would only be given in gold, silver, and silk, or perhaps a title, or a salary and fief.
Although they do not have the same real power as men.
But for Yao'er, that was enough.
Even after Yao'er became a divorced woman, those who gossiped dared not act recklessly in front of her.
However, General Lu underestimated the cunning of an emperor.
The emperor also remembered.
Lu Sanniang, who donated her entire dowry to redeem her father from imprisonment and also donated grain to the imperial court.
Indeed, he possesses considerable courage and skill.
I've heard that this woman is skilled in business, owns numerous properties, and enjoys considerable prestige among merchants.
It would be fine for an ordinary young lady.
But if someone like Lu San Niang is granted a title, it would be tantamount to giving her power.
She was also a divorced woman.
A woman will eventually marry, and if she remarries...
If the Lu family were to be exploited by someone with ulterior motives, wouldn't they be easily manipulated and become a tool in someone else's hands?
The Emperor frowned slightly, not wanting to bestow this favor upon Lu Qingyao.
But the reward should still be given.
Subconsciously, I thought of the little maid that Yuqing often brought into the palace.
The Emperor couldn't help but smile when he thought of the little girl's proud and arrogant demeanor.
"If it weren't for Minister Lu's reminder, I would have forgotten that you have such a capable daughter. I originally intended to bestow upon your daughter the title of Princess, but once she has a title, we must consider the dignity of the royal family, and she must never show her face in public again..."
The Emperor paused, his face full of regret: "My dear minister, I really cannot bear to bury your daughter's business acumen, so I have come up with a compromise. Why don't we let her daughter receive the title of Princess? I find that child to be clever and well-behaved, as dazzling as a pearl. Let's bestow upon her the title of Pearl. What do you think, Minister Lu?"
"Mingzhu?" General Lu's eyes widened.
He really is a cunning and treacherous fox.
It seems the Emperor already knows that Miaomiao is his granddaughter.
Although he hasn't seen Miaomiao since returning to the capital, according to his wife, Princess Yuqing dotes on the child, and the mother and daughter look alike.
It's hard not to make people overthink.
Everyone knows the truth, but no one says it out loud.
But the old emperor was far too cunning.
Miao Miao is Princess Yuqing's biological daughter, and should have been a princess.
What difference does it make whether this reward is given or not?
General Lu cursed the emperor several times in his heart.
The Emperor, however, was quite pleased with himself: "What, Minister Lu, do you not like my reward?"
"Of course I like it," General Lu said with a smile, expressing his gratitude.
Whether you like the emperor's reward or not, you have to accept it, even if it's not what you want.
But something is better than nothing.
To the outside world, Miaomiao is Yao'er's daughter and his granddaughter.
Rewarding her is no different from bestowing a title upon Yao'er.
The Emperor smiled when he saw how readily General Lu accepted the offer.
He just liked his subjects to obey him unconditionally. What did it matter if they made contributions?
He has the final say on what titles to bestow and who to reward.
He continued, "As a father myself, I understand your deep love for your daughter. I'm sure you're also worried about your daughter's marriage. I happen to have a suitable man here who is a perfect match for your daughter. Would you like to hear about him?"
General Lu's heart skipped a beat.
He cursed the emperor countless times in his heart, but it was all in vain.
They actually dared to interfere in his daughter's marriage? No way!
"Your Majesty, this old minister also wishes for my daughter to have a home and live a peaceful life, but she has been wild since childhood and was heartbroken by her husband, Minister Jiang. Now she has gone to travel the world to do business, showing her face everywhere. She has been away for several months and has not returned home. This old minister has even had difficulty seeing her, let alone arranging a marriage for her." General Lu said, his voice filled with sorrow.
The emperor opened his mouth but didn't speak.
Although the word of the arranged marriage has been spoken, finding a suitable candidate is proving to be quite difficult.
The divorced woman, who has three children, is known for her provocative behavior and is said to be quite fierce.
The emperor abandoned the idea of bestowing a marriage upon him.
The two, ruler and minister, engaged in a back-and-forth exchange.
After much arguing, no one gained anything. The emperor was also exhausted. He took out an imperial edict of investiture, bestowed some money and silk as rewards, and then returned to his palace to rest.
General Lu was escorted home.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw a young man who looked somewhat like my grandson from afar.
Upon closer inspection.
It's not that he looks like his grandson; it's his little grandson, Yan Ge'er.
The child from back then has grown into a handsome young man.
Jiang Ziyan looked at his maternal grandfather, not daring to take a step forward, staring blankly.
My maternal grandfather has grown old, so old that he is almost unrecognizable.
The marks of time are deeply etched on him.
His hair and beard were completely white, his face was covered in wrinkles and scars, and his legs...
“Grandfather…” Jiang Ziyan slowly walked over, bent down, and finally couldn’t help but hug his grandfather, burying his head in his neck.