This deserves a reward!

According to what Qin Shiyu had laid out, not only should there be a reward, but it should be a substantial one at that.

Emperor Qizhen pondered carefully for a moment, and his tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

Waving his hand, he said, “Very well, I will consider your words again.”

Qin Shiyu lowered his head.

But Emperor Qizhen voiced another concern: “However, Marquis Kang lost two thousand soldiers this time. That old fellow will likely feel displeased about it.”

“This is precisely the other matter that brings this humble minister to the palace today.”

“Oh?”

“Your Majesty knows Marquis Kang’s temperament well. Although he willingly lent the troops, having lost two thousand soldiers, there will inevitably be some unhappiness in his heart. Your Majesty might as well make up for it, lest Marquis Kang constantly bring it up in the future, saying the court owes him a favor.”

“Don’t tell me I need to compensate him with two thousand more soldiers?”

“That won’t be necessary. Your Majesty need only compensate what is dearest to Marquis Kang’s heart.”

What is dearest to his heart!

Qizhen immediately understood.

Among all the civil and military officials at court, who didn’t know that what was dearest to Marquis Kang’s heart was the golden threaded armor!

Emperor Qizhen’s brow furrowed tightly. As for which was more important, he had already weighed it carefully in his mind.

Outside the hall!

Jing Yi had not left, but instead waited outside for a short while.

Before long, a young eunuch emerged from inside, bowing as he whispered a few words in his ear.

Then he said softly, “Prince Yi, this servant only heard this much.”

Jing Yi nodded, cast a meaningful glance back at the hall, then left.

He went directly to Consort Xiao’s palace.

He reported everything that had just transpired in full detail.

Consort Xiao narrowed her slender phoenix eyes, her long fingernails painted with henna tapping lightly on the armrest of her chair.

After a long pause, she said, “Let this matter be for now. Jingrong has already left the capital. What you should be concerned about is your betrothal to that legitimate daughter of the Ji family, not a prince destined to fail.”

Jing Yi nodded. “Yes, your son understands.”

Toward his own mother consort, Jing Yi was always so respectful and deferential.

Consort Xiao continued, “Your father emperor has not been in good spirits these past days. The Crown Prince’s death—though your father emperor appears unaffected, he is actually quite grieved inside. Wait a few more days, and once the matter of the Crown Prince has passed, I will mention your betrothal to the Ji family before your father emperor. But most importantly, you must not cause any trouble. Whether Prince Rong fares well or poorly outside, you must not openly concern yourself with it. Before your father emperor, speak more of Prince Rong’s good qualities.”

“Yes, I will follow Mother Consort’s guidance entirely.”

Jing Yi was obedient!

After all, this period was critical.

Having finished discussing her son’s affairs, Consort Xiao then thought of her daughter.

She let out a long sigh, her head beginning to ache.

With her slender fingers, she propped up her forehead, then slid them to her temples and gently pressed a few times.

Noticing this, Jing Yi understood what was on her mind and asked, “Is Mother Consort worried about Xuan’er’s situation?”

Consort Xiao nodded.

“That girl has been confined by me for many days now. She barely eats and has become quite thin. I am truly worried, yet I am even more worried that she might tell your father emperor about our schemes. Then in the end, everything would be for nothing.”

She sighed again!

“What does Mother Consort intend to do?”

Consort Xiao looked troubled. She rose and walked a few steps, a hint of deeper meaning rising in her eyes.

“Xuan’er has reached marriageable age. Rather than keeping her confined in the palace, it would be better to let her go. Last year, the third son of the King of Huyi sent an envoy with a formal proposal of marriage. However, at that time, there was a large-scale corruption scandal in the Bizhou area, so the matter was postponed. This delay was followed by Prince Qujiang’s marriage proposal, so it has been dragged out until now.”

The implication was quite clear.

Jing Yi was slightly shocked. “Why has Mother Consort never mentioned this?”

“That proposal was delivered directly to your father emperor’s desk by a foreign envoy. Only a few inner court officials knew about it and mentioned it to me in passing. I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time.”

“So Mother Consort now intends to bring this up with Father Emperor and marry Xuan’er to Huyi?”

“Although the people of Huyi are mostly barbarians, Huyi is after all a prosperous place. The third son of the King of Huyi is said to be talented in appearance, excelling in both literary and martial arts, and is highly valued by the King of Huyi. Perhaps he will become the new king in the future, and Xuan’er would then be the queen.”

Every move in this game was driven by self-interest.

Jing Yi questioned, “Is this feasible?”

“As long as your father emperor agrees, everything is feasible. But whether it’s Xuan’er’s marriage or yours, everything should wait a bit longer before being discussed, to avoid troubling your father emperor and causing unexpected complications.”

“Mm.”

The two fell silent.

In Consort Xiao’s mind, she had already formulated a precise plan.

…

The next day!

The Emperor decreed that Prince Rong had both faults and merits, thus would receive neither reward nor punishment.

As for Marquis Kang, he would be rewarded!

The imperial edicts sent from the capital were divided into two copies.

One was delivered to Jingrong’s hands in Shanhuai County, the other to Marquis Kang in Jingzhou, along with that golden threaded armor.

Consequently, Marquis Kang was absolutely overjoyed.

Clutching the golden threaded armor, his eyes brimmed with tears, and he finally couldn’t help but burst into loud sobs.

A treasure he had yearned for half his lifetime had finally come into his possession—naturally his emotions were uncontrollable.

He held it while eating.

He held it while sleeping.

He even had to hold it when going to the privy.

He even ordered someone to craft a brocade box from gold, placed the golden threaded armor inside it, and secured the outside with six locks.

Everyone was speechless with exasperation.

As for Jingrong, the moment he received the imperial edict, he stuffed it directly into the bottom of a trunk.

After this ordeal, Jingrong became even more cautious than before, practically inseparable from Ji Yunshu—he nearly had his eyes glued to her every day.

Lest this woman be abducted by someone.

It truly exemplified the saying:

Holding her in his hands, he feared she’d fall; keeping her in his mouth, he feared she’d melt.

Yet Ji Yunshu had been sullen and unhappy for two days.

Jingrong tried to comfort her: “This prince has already sent people to Gaoshan Stronghold. If the jade is still there, even if Gaoshan Stronghold has burned to ruins, even if the jade has melted, I will find it for you.”

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him.

“Are you stupid? How could jade melt? At most, its surface color would change.”

“…”

Jingrong was both annoyed and speechless.

“Is the jade Wei Yi gave you really that important?”

“It belonged to his father.”

Jingrong was shocked and said with distaste, “Ji Yunshu, are you out of your mind? You’re so anxious over his father’s jade? Does that jade contain some major secret, or is it a treasure map?”

You’re the one who’s out of your mind!

Ji Yunshu glared at him.

“That was the only memorable item Wei Yi’s father left him, and he gave it to me. Now I’ve lost it—how am I supposed to explain this to him?”

Jingrong wore a face full of jealousy, but still swallowed his bellyful of vinegar.

His voice softened: “Alright, as long as that thing still exists, it will be found for you. Don’t worry.”

At this moment—

Jingrong’s guard hurried into the courtyard, shouting happily, “Your Highness, Mister Ji, we found it, we found it! That jade has been found!”

Ji Yunshu rose abruptly and went outside.

The guard carefully held the jade and handed it to her.

While saying, “Mister Ji, take a look—is this the piece?”

Ji Yunshu examined it in her hands and nodded happily.

“This is it.”

“That’s good then.” The guard frantically wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Where was it found?”

“The head of Gaoshan Stronghold returned it. When he heard that Mister Ji had lost a piece of jade, he brought it out, saying his men had found it in the fire.”

“In the fire?”

“Yes.”

How strange!

Since this jade was found in the fire, how could it be completely undamaged, without even the slightest flaw?

Could it be a mystical jade?

Oh my, she’d struck treasure!