Lady Beigong and Beigong Tuanyuan also wanted to return to Bingzhou.
After consulting the Beigong family’s opinions and confirming they had no objections to this match, Zhao Hanzhang issued an imperial decree to bestow marriage upon Zhao Erlang and Beigong Tuanyuan.
Beigong Tuanyuan needed to return home to prepare her dowry.
She wanted to bring her female soldiers and companions when she married. The Emperor had already promised her she could transfer from the Bingzhou army to the Yongzhou army.
Even after becoming a married woman, she could continue serving as a female colonel.
Knowing she aspired to become a female general, Zhao Erlang quietly told her about several horse bandits beyond the frontier. When the time came, she could go suppress them while he provided support. After establishing military merit, she could be promoted to lieutenant general.
Beigong Tuanyuan liked him very much, feeling that serving under him would be much freer than under her father’s command, with more opportunities to achieve merit.
The two had endless conversations every day.
Shi Lei occasionally observed this, feeling quite envious. Unfortunately, he had been a slave in the first half of his life, drifting for half his existence, marrying late and having children even later. Though the same age as Beigong Chun, Beigong’s daughter was ready to marry while his eldest son had only just learned to walk.
Otherwise, if he had a daughter, how could he not compete? Or if his son were ten years older, he would also compete for Beigong Tuanyuan.
Beigong Chun’s daughter—he dreamed of having such a daughter-in-law.
Zhao Hanzhang was also saying, “It feels like a dream. Beigong Chun’s daughter has actually become my sister-in-law. Erlang is truly remarkable.”
Fu Tinghan, seeing how adorable she was, couldn’t help laughing aloud. “Erlang has always been remarkable. This is their destiny, and destiny is wonderfully mysterious.”
Zhao Erlang puffed out his chest with pride.
Zhao Hanzhang tapped his head. “Don’t be too arrogant. Tuanyuan is a bit smarter than you. In the future, when matters arise, listen more to her and Master Xie’s advice, understand?”
Zhao Erlang responded, “Yes,” then asked eagerly, “Elder Sister, do you think General Beigong has any special techniques? Now that I’ve become his son-in-law, will he teach me his secrets?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “You can write and ask him. Speaking of which, as a son-in-law, you should maintain regular contact with your father-in-law to nurture the relationship.”
Beigong Chun had already learned through telegraph that Zhao Hanzhang was bestowing the marriage. Before the bestowal, she had Lady Beigong contact him via telegraph.
The speed was very fast—within a quarter-hour the marriage was settled, much faster than exchanging letters back and forth.
Beigong Chun was satisfied with Zhao Erlang.
After all, he had taught him spearmanship for a period, they had sparred, and fought on battlefields together. Zhao Erlang had no issues except being somewhat weak in literary matters.
When choosing a son-in-law, he valued character above all else.
When he sent Beigong Tuanyuan to the capital, he had already harbored this intention. Now that his wish was fulfilled, he was naturally delighted, responding warmly to Zhao Erlang’s correspondence.
This worried Linghu Sheng somewhat. Huang An also advised, “General, although we’re forming a marriage alliance with the Prince of Qin, we still shouldn’t become too close. His Majesty has no heir yet.”
Beigong Chun replied, “His Majesty is not one to be suspicious or petty, and Erlang is not one for scheming.”
Huang An said, “His Majesty certainly is not, and the Prince of Qin has a pure heart. But what if someone harbors ill intentions and spreads rumors to cause trouble?”
Beigong Chun frowned. Though unhappy, he still took the words to heart.
For this reason, he reduced by half the personal guards he had intended to send with his daughter, only letting her take his most capable personnel.
When Lady Beigong and Beigong Tuanyuan returned from Luoyang, they didn’t come alone—over twenty carts followed them. Ten contained betrothal gifts, while the other ten-plus carried mining equipment, accompanied by officials and craftsmen from the Ministry of Works.
What Youzhou had, Bingzhou also received.
Beigong Chun listened dumbfounded as Beigong Tuanyuan described the items in the Bureau of Technical Investigation, then recounted the entire deliberation process.
“Father, when we left the palace, His Majesty said personally that you guard the frontier for the nation. All the governors returned to the capital for the ceremony or to report on their duties, but only you had no time to return. She felt deeply pained.”
“Although Father couldn’t return to the capital, His Majesty kept you in her thoughts. Bingzhou and Youzhou have similar conditions, with agriculture inferior to the Central Plains. So what Youzhou has, Father should also receive a share.”
Beigong Chun’s eyes immediately reddened. Suppressing tears, he said to Huang An, “Ziping, did you hear? His Majesty remembers me.”
Huang An had fought alongside him for half a lifetime and understood him better than anyone. He nodded repeatedly. “I heard, General. We must devote ourselves utterly to His Majesty.”
Huiniang, seeing this, reached out to grasp his hand, looking at him with comfort.
Beigong Chun let Huang An and Beigong Tuanyuan settle the people and items properly.
After they all left, he pulled Huiniang’s hand emotionally. “Since I came from Xiliang to the Central Plains, only His Majesty has been willing to treat me thus, even exceeding what the Prince of Xiliang did.”
Even under Zhang Gui’s command, because Beigong Chun had a rigid personality and wasn’t good with words, Zhang Gui would occasionally forget his achievements and capabilities.
If he didn’t speak up to fight for himself, naturally no one would remember him.
After arriving in the Central Plains, it goes without saying—the Prince of Donghai, the Emperor, Wang Yan and others fought amongst themselves for power. He was just a chess piece moved about and discarded, unable to even secure provisions for his brothers.
When Zhao Hanzhang granted major rewards to meritorious officials, he was watching over Daiguo. He never expected that despite his absence, he could still receive first place in military merit.
Even more unexpected was that Shi Lei secured benefits for Youzhou, yet without him saying a word, Zhao Hanzhang also remembered him and remembered Bingzhou.
This feeling of constantly being kept in mind by one’s superior—Beigong Chun had only experienced it with Zhao Hanzhang.
He gripped Huiniang’s hand tightly, saying in a low voice, “You must teach Tuanyuan to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor, loyal to the court. Our Beigong family will guard His Majesty for generations and must never do anything to harm His Majesty.”
Huiniang solemnly agreed, “I will teach her.”
Moved by emotion, when the Zhao family came to discuss the wedding, Beigong Chun was very agreeable, immediately setting the earliest possible date for the marriage—the eighth day of the sixth month.
After settling affairs now, they would depart for Luoyang to hold the wedding in four months.
Beigong Chun said, “Divide the fields and people under my name—give her half to take with her. Zhao Erlang isn’t clever at managing finances. Tuanyuan is somewhat stronger than him, but they both practice martial arts and maintain troops, which requires great expenditure.”
Though Huiniang had Beigong Tuanyuan, she had borne no children these past two years. She had already abandoned hope of bearing a son and had no objections to this. “Very well. Dividing it now means when your adopted sons marry in the future, we can divide the remaining wealth without needing to call her back to receive her share.”
Beigong Chun had the same thought. Moreover, he had his own idea. He said softly, “The court has new laws allowing daughters to inherit family titles. In the future, I’ll have Tuanyuan inherit my title. If she’s capable and has two children, one can eventually inherit my title.”
Huiniang was surprised. “How is that possible? The Prince of Qin is imperial clan. The Emperor won’t agree, will she?”
Beigong Chun was quite confident. “His Majesty has a broad heart. She may not refuse. Regardless of gender—grandson or granddaughter—either can inherit.”
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