Su Huaichen caught a glimpse of Wei Linlang beside him. He pulled his wife and knelt down in front of the emperor. Arching his hands, he said, "Your Majesty, the Duke Yong's Mansion has already received many rewards. As the heir of the Duke Yong, I lack nothing. However, I'd like to ask Your Majesty for a reward for my wife, Lady Wei."
Oh? Not asking for himself but for his wife?
The emperor raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "Speak. I'd like to hear what kind of request this is."
After removing the human skin mask, the emperor looked younger than when he was "Uncle Shu". Although there were traces of time on his face, one could still tell that he must have been an extremely handsome man in his youth.
Perhaps because he had once interacted with the Su family in the identity of "Uncle Shu", his eyes looking at Su Huaichen and the others were filled with a strange kind of kindness, instantly dispelling the nervousness and uneasiness in Su Huaichen's heart.
Taking a deep breath, Su Huaichen said, "Your Majesty, my wife, Lady Wei, is the daughter of the vanguard of the northern border army in Mobei. Her family background is not prominent. Before in Mobei, when our two families got engaged, in the eyes of outsiders, it was Lady Wei who was marrying above her station. After my father was enfeoffed as the Duke Yong and I became the heir, my wife's background seems even more humble."
"Although my wife never mentions it, I know in my heart that she has not been happy since she came to Shengjing City. There are powerful and noble people everywhere in Shengjing. I'm afraid that she might be bullied here. So I'd like to ask Your Majesty to bestow an imperial order on my wife."
"In this way, my wife's status will be equal to mine. It will also remind me all the time that she is not my vassal but the wife I will accompany for a lifetime. I will surely remember the vows I made when we got married. I will only love her in my life, cherish and respect my wife, and grow old with her."
It's not uncommon for court officials to ask for rewards for their wives. But like Su Huaichen, whose every word showed his love and protection for his wife and who even declared that he would only love one person in his life, he was the only one in the whole court.
Which court official didn't have a large number of concubines?
Wei Linlang never expected that the favor Su Huaichen wanted to ask for her was such a thing. She was deeply touched. Looking at Su Huaichen affectionately, she called out, "My husband..."
Su Huaichen gave her a reassuring smile and tightly held her hand.
Remembering the vows made when they got married and only loving one person in his life...
The emperor was in a daze for a moment. He couldn't help but think of the past years, the room filled with red silk and red candles, and the charming and peerless beauty.
The emperor lowered his eyes and looked at Su Huaichen and Wei Linlang with their hands tightly clasped together. Clenching his fist in his sleeve, he asked in a deep voice, "Su Huaichen, do you know how heavy a promise it is to say such words in front of me today? If you take a concubine in the future, it will be equivalent to deceiving the emperor, and you will lose your head. I can pretend I didn't hear it and allow you to make a new request. This time, you must think it over carefully."
Su Huaichen's gaze was extremely firm. He said, "I've already thought it over. If I change my heart one day, I will be betraying my wife. I really won't have the face to see her again. What's the use of this head then?"
"Very well." There was a tremor in the emperor's voice that he didn't even notice.
"I remember you are the vice - minister of the Ministry of War, holding the third - rank official position. Then, I will bestow the title of Lady of the Third Rank on Lady Wei. In this way, the two of you will be equal in status."
Su Huaichen was overjoyed. He pulled Wei Linlang and kowtowed to thank the emperor. "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. May Your Majesty live long and prosperous!"
After kowtowing, the two couldn't contain their emotions and hugged each other tightly.
The emperor's gaze fell on the two of them and he couldn't move it away for a long time. However, he didn't know that two people were also paying attention to his reaction. One was Cang Xuan and the other was Wang Chongling.
When he came to his senses, the emperor found that the corners of his eyes were slightly moist. He then turned to look at Su Huayuan and said, "Second son of the Su family, what about you? What kind of reward do you want? I remember that you defeated the young master of the Yan family in the confrontation. Just now, I saw that your martial arts are also very good. You're a good candidate for martial arts."
The emperor's words were almost an explicit hint.
Seeing that his elder brother had so easily obtained such a reward for his sister - in - law, a certain thought in Su Huayuan's heart became clearer and clearer.
He tightly clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and met the emperor's gaze. He uttered a "I...", but then immediately closed his mouth and lowered his head without saying a word.
The emperor found it a bit funny and said, "Have you thought it over?"
Su Huayuan's chest heaved violently for a while. Finally, he made a decision. Arching his hands towards the emperor, he said with a stiff neck, "Your Majesty, this commoner has nothing he wants. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!"
He did want to get an official position in the palace and do something for the people of the Great Chu so that he could fulfill his ambition.
But then he thought that if he did so, it wouldn't be obtained by his own real ability. It always made him feel suffocated. After careful consideration, he had to give up such a good opportunity with pain in his heart.
After the second elder brother had expressed his attitude, Su Huasheng also said, "Your Majesty, this commoner has no grand ambitions and nothing he wants. Can this commoner give his share of the wish to his younger sister?"
Su Huayuan's eyes lit up and he said, "Yes, yes. This commoner is also willing to give the opportunity to Yuanbao!"
The emperor nodded secretly in his heart.
The children of the Duke Yong's Mansion were really united and fraternal. They didn't care about power and fame at all. At this moment, they still had their youngest sister in mind.
Finally, the emperor looked at Su Yuanyuan, who had been silent for a long time and obviously in a bad mood. Teasingly, he said, "Girl, what about you? Your elder brothers plan to give the opportunity to you. You're not going to give up such a good opportunity like your two elder brothers, are you?"
Su Yuanyuan was still wearing the outer robe made of Tiankui brocade that Cang Xuan had given her at first. Hearing this, she raised her head. Opening her big, watery eyes, she said crisply to the emperor, "This commoner girl hasn't thought it over yet. Can I ask for a reward from Your Majesty after I've thought it over?"
As soon as Su Yuanyuan finished speaking, there came a sneer from below. "Humph, an arrogant little girl. It's the emperor's kindness that he's willing to reward you and give you an opportunity. You even want to bargain with the emperor. It's really impolite."
Cang Xuan gave a glance and gently wiped the sword in his hand. The cold and sharp light was projected onto the face of the minister who had spoken. He immediately shut up and lowered his head.
The emperor wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled at Su Yuanyuan and said, "Sure. I'll wait for you. When you've thought it over one day, ask the Duke Yong to bring you into the palace. I will surely see you. Including your brother's share, I'll grant you three requests. You must think it over before you come."
Su Yuanyuan hooked the corner of her lips and showed a cute smile. Bowing, she said, "This commoner girl thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
The next moment, the emperor looked at Cang Xuan and said, "Minister Cang, after returning to the palace, I'll have to trouble you to draft the imperial edict for me."
Cang Xuan nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The villa in Yandang Mountain had been destroyed. It was no longer suitable to stay here. And as it was getting bright, it was time to return to the city.
After a short rest, everyone set off on their way back.
On the side of the Duke Yong's Mansion, having received the rewards and with Wei Linlang getting the imperial order, whether it was Su Qing, Lady Mo, Su Huaichen or Wei Linlang, they were all very happy.
Compared with her family members, Su Yuanyuan seemed a bit silent.
Cang Xuan withdrew his gaze from the girl. Ignoring the discomfort in his heart, he turned over and mounted a horse.
At this moment, having made a decision in her heart, Su Yuanyuan suddenly turned around and walked towards Cang Xuan who was sitting on the horse.