Chapter 1415 - Chapter 1415: Return

Chapter 1415: Return

Editor: Atlas Studios

Today, Wei Xu went to court and told Xiao Zhonghua and the civil and military officials about the mission, including finding and executing the culprit, Xiahou Yi, who had caused Emperor Jing Xuan’s stroke, destroying his sea army, and bringing the news that the Island Master of Thousand Mountain Island, Xiahou Yunlin, was about to visit the Great Zhou.

Actually, when the Su family’s navy returned triumphantly, they had already brought back the information written by Wei Ting. However, when they really heard it from Wei Xu again, those soul-stirring scenes seemed to appear in front of everyone’s eyes.

The entire Imperial Court was shocked.

Xiao Zhonghua rewarded them according to their merits, and all the Su family navy received a generous salary.

Wei Xu was first conferred the title of Duke of Wei, and his eldest son, Wei Chen, was the heir of Duke Wei.

Wei Qing and Wei Liulang were not interested in official positions and only wanted to be free people, so Xiao Zhonghua rewarded them with 1,000 taels of gold each.

To the Great Zhou, whose treasury was not too full, such a reward was already the limit of what Xiao Zhonghua could afford.

Wei Ting entered the Court of Judicial Review and served as the junior minister.

Xiao Zhonghua intended to let Su Mo enter the Ministry of War so that he could take over Su Yuan’s position as the Minister of War in the future.

However, Su Mo was more willing to stay in the military camp to train. As such, Xiao Zhonghua conferred him the general of the auxiliary country.

As for Su Xuan, the Old Marquis had discussed with Xiao Zhonghua that there was no need to announce his contributions to the public and let him focus on his studies.

Therefore, the civil and military officials did not know that Su Xuan had also gone to Thousand Mountain Island.

Xiao Zhonghua thought that he was about to give his sister to this kid. What could he do if he didn’t praise him?

The Old Marquis used his old age as an excuse to let his son, Su Yuan, inherit the position of the Marquis of Zhenbei. Su Mo naturally became the heir.

In addition, Xiao Zhonghua also conferred third-grade generals on Wei Sanlang, Wei Silang, and Wei Wulang.

A few women of the Wei family also conferred the title of Madam.

Xiao Zhonghua’s reward for the Su family was expected. After all, the Su family and the Qin family had long been supporters of Emperor Jing Xuan. However, the Wei family had once been King Nanyang’s trusted aide. Many people looked at Xiao Zhonghua in a different light.

After the court assembly, Xiao Zhonghua was surrounded by a few old ministers.

“Crown Prince, is this your idea or His Majesty’s?”

Pavilion Elder Wang asked.

Xiao Zhonghua said, “It’s both Father’s and mine.”

Pavilion Elder Wang exchanged glances with the other two Pavilion Elders.

Pavilion Elder Yang asked, “Crown Prince, can you let us see His Majesty?”

Xiao Zhonghua said neither servile nor overbearing, “Father’s dragon body had not been at peace and can’t be disturbed. If you have anything to say to me, just say it. Or do you think that it’s against the ancestral system for me to supervise the country on behalf of Father? Am I inadequate to command all the officials?”

Elder Yang hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed. “I wouldn’t dare!”

“Crown Prince, forgive me for being blunt, the Wei family’s contributions are great…”

Xiao Zhonghua’s eyes turned cold. Before the other party could finish, he interrupted him.

“Elder Wan, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t spout nonsense. The Wei family is loyal and righteous. They sacrificed their lives for our Great Zhou. It’s all thanks to the Wei family’s efforts that the few elders can live comfortably in the capital and enjoy wealth. Why? Do you want to burn the bridge after crossing the river?”

Pavilion Elder Wan was speechless.

Xiao Zhonghua looked at them sternly. “Remember, I won’t kill loyal ministers!”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.

The three elders were shocked.

In the past, Emperor Jing Xuan was still amenable, but this crown prince was not like his father at all.

The reward had been completed, but the matter with the Wei family was not over.

They were not people who liked to claim merit for contributions. Wei Xu and his sons and daughters-in-law did not care if they were rewarded or not.

What they really cared about was something else.

The identities of the three children.

Dahu, Erhu, and Xiaohu could no longer be hidden. They had to live openly under the sun.

However, they were King Nanyang’s bloodline after all, so the Wei family prepared for the worst.

“Just say it. If they can accept it, it would be for the best. If they can’t, rebel. This is Old Qin’s intention.”

In the wing of the Flying Immortal Tower, the Old Marquis said solemnly to Wei Xu.

He had always maintained a correspondence with Qin Canglan. He also informed Qin Canglan of the children’s movements in time by sending a pigeon.

The situation in the north had been decided. The reason why Qin Canglan did not return to the capital was because he was waiting for news from the capital.

If they wanted to rebel, he would immediately lead his troops back to the capital.

He, Qin Canglan, had served the country and the people his entire life. He had no qualms about the world and the Imperial Court, but the Imperial Court could not let him down.

Moreover, an emperor who could not even tolerate a child a few years old was not worthy of being his monarch! He was not worthy of being the king of the commoners!

The next day, Wei Xu entered the palace to meet Xiao Zhonghua and revealed the true identities of the three children.

Xiao Zhonghua smiled. “I’ve actually known the identities of Dahu, Erhu, and Xiaohu for a long time. They’re so similar to Uncle Nanyang. How can they not be of my Xiao family’s bloodline?”

He said “the bloodline of my Xiao family”, not the descendant of a traitor.

“Whether Duke Wei believes it or not, I’ve already drafted this imperial edict before you went to Thousand Mountains Island. It announces the identities of the three children and also announces that Wei Yan is a consort of Nanyang County. However, I’ll have to trouble Duke Wei to take the imperial edict back and fill in the names of the children.”

He could not just write Dahu, Erhu, and Xiaohu.

Wei Xu took the imperial edict as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

Xiao Zhonghua was the crown prince they had chosen. His initial goal was not to be very loyal to Xiao Zhonghua, but among the brothers, Xiao Zhonghua was relatively suitable.

From the looks of it, their decision back then was right.

Xiao Zhonghua might really become a different monarch.

Wei Xu brought the imperial edict back to the Wei family.

Wei Ting filled in the names of the three children: Wei Zong, Wei Yu, and Wei Hong.

In return, Wei Qing gave Xiao Zhonghua a new policy.

Xiao Zhonghua finished reading overnight and was so excited that he did not sleep the entire night. The next morning, he went to the Wei family with thick dark circles under his eyes and came to Wei Qing’s courtyard.

Li Wan brought Wei Xiyue away.

Xiao Zhonghua said to Wei Qing excitedly, “With Teacher’s good plan, there’s no need to worry about the Great Zhou not prospering!”

Wei Qing said, “The new policy is not so easy to implement. The Imperial Court has been accumulating malpractices for a long time. In order to eliminate the cancer, other than having a swift and decisive method to deal with it, we also need a suitable gentle strategy. What’s even more difficult is that there might not be any improvement in a year or two. It will take ten, twenty years, or even the efforts of several generations of dynasties.”

Xiao Zhonghua cupped his hands and bowed three times to Wei Qing. “Sir… please help me!”

At the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Estate, the Old Marquis chose the most vigorous pigeon and tied the note to its feet. He patted its wings. “Alright, go call Old Qin back!”

Far away on the Heavenly Mountain of Shattered North Pass, Qin Canglan sat on the snow and ate a hard steamed bun while reading the Old Marquis’s message.

A smile appeared on his dry lips, and blood seeped out of the wound.

He didn’t care about the pain. He swallowed the last mouthful of steamed bun in the snow and stood up. He looked at the black army and said domineeringly,

“Soldiers, we shall return to the court!”

On the other side, Wei Xiaobao also came to the Great Zhou with Yun Shuang and her new thrower—Alliance Master Jiang.

Wei Xiaobao lay in Jiang Guanchao’s arms and crossed her feet proudly. “Aba, Aba.”