There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 483 Grand Conferment of Titles to Meritorious Officials

"Protect the Emperor—!!!"

Even Wu Gonggong's shrill voice changed tone.

In the blink of an eye, just as the spark was about to touch the fuse...

"Hissing!"

"Whistle—!"

Two loud, impassioned neighs, like thunder at dawn, suddenly came from outside the palace!

With a loud crash as the palace doors were smashed open, two agile figures, one in white and one in red, rushed in as fast as lightning!

It's Li Wanbai and Hongying!

Li Wanbai charged ahead, seemingly disgusted by the mad and filthy aura emanating from Meng Tianzi. It raised its large front hoof and, with perfect precision and utter disdain, kicked Meng Tianzi's twisted, fat face hard!

"Ow!"

Meng Tianzi was kicked so hard that he saw stars, his head snapped back, the tinder he was holding flew out of his mouth, and he fell backward.

Almost simultaneously, the red shadow came hurtling in, as if it had calculated the angle perfectly. It jerked its hind legs up, its body assuming a graceful and elegant tilting posture.

A clear, warm jet of water, like a precise fire extinguisher, hit the fuse on Meng Tianzi's chest, where faint sparks were rising.

"laugh--!"

A wisp of smoke rose, and the deadly spark, right before everyone's eyes, was completely extinguished by a bucket of horse urine.

The hall was deathly silent.

Everyone stared in disbelief at this scene.

Meng Tianzi was kicked to the ground, a clear hoofprint on his face, and a dynamite pack soaked in urine strapped to his chest, looking utterly disheveled.

Li Wanbai proudly snorted and tossed the two magnificent horses, as if to say...

So filthy

Red Shadow calmly lowered its hind hooves, walked to Liang Yuying's side, affectionately rubbed against her uninjured arm, then disgustedly rubbed its hooves on the ground as if it had just sprayed something dirty.

"Pfft... Hahahaha!"

Li Shuchen was the first to burst out laughing, slapping his thigh and doubled over with laughter.

"Red Shadow, well done! That fire-extinguishing method was brilliant! Wanbai, that kick you gave me was so satisfying! You truly deserve to be my invincible thunderbolt horse!"

The emperor opened his mouth, staring at the wet, dripping explosive charge, then at the two horses that seemed to have done something utterly insignificant. His shock transformed into an indescribable, complex expression, and finally, he shook his head helplessly.

The empress covered her mouth with her sleeve, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Even the usually aloof Ye Bingli had a faint smile flash across her eyes.

Meng Tianzi collapsed to the ground, his face burning with pain, his chest cold and damp, and a strange, indescribable smell lingering in his nostrils.

He stared blankly at the extinguished fuse, then at the two horses perched high above him, seemingly looking down at him like trash, and finally heard Li Shuchen's unrestrained laughter.

Finally, that string called madness snapped completely.

His eyes rolled back, and he... fainted from anger.

"Drag...drag them away, quickly drag them away, wash them clean before closing them," the emperor said wearily and amusedly, rubbing his forehead and waving his hand.

His gaze then swept over the meritorious officials in the hall, and he slowly spoke, his voice regaining its imperial majesty and composure.

"Thanks to the loyalty, courage, and decisiveness of my esteemed ministers, you turned the tide, protected me, quelled the rebellion, and exposed the treacherous villains. I will surely reward you handsomely."

Liang Yuying

"I am here"

Liang Yuying knelt on one knee, the movement aggravating her wound, her brows furrowing slightly, yet her posture remained upright.

"You protected me in the face of danger, suffering serious injuries but refusing to retreat. You also had the foresight to uncover treacherous officials earlier and secretly investigated them. Your merit is immeasurable. I hereby promote you to the rank of First-Rank Protector-General, in charge of the defense of the capital region, and bestow upon you a certificate of merit and double salary."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! I will do my utmost to protect the capital and serve Your Majesty faithfully!" Liang Yuying kowtowed, her voice firm.

Cheng Zhi'an

"I am here"

Cheng Zhi'an stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"You are meticulous and thorough, painstakingly unraveling the old files of the Hanlin Academy and decisively raiding the residence of the traitor to obtain crucial evidence. Your contributions to the nation are immense. The position of Prime Minister is vacant, and I observe that you possess both talent and virtue, making you capable of shouldering this great responsibility. Effective immediately, you will assume the position of Prime Minister. I expect you to diligently assist in governing and purify the court."

Cheng Zhian took a deep breath, did not refuse, and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, I accept the imperial decree and express my gratitude. I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations and devote myself wholeheartedly to the cause!"

"Duke Xu, Xu Shaobao"

Duke Xu and his son stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"

"You two are loyal to the country, and upon hearing the news, you promptly led troops to rescue the emperor, thus quelling the rebellion. You are hereby awarded the title of Duke of Xu: ten thousand taels of gold, one bushel of pearls from the East Sea, and one hundred bolts of Shu brocade. Xu Shaobao is promoted to the rank of Second-Rank General of the State, granted the title of Attendant to the Emperor, and the title of Duke of Xu is to be inherited for three generations without reduction in rank."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the father and son exclaimed, their voices booming with excitement.

The emperor's gaze swept over Li Shuchen, Gu Ziying, Princess Changning, Ye Bingli, and the others, his eyes filled with gentleness and approval.

"You women, whether you are quick-witted and resourceful, calm in the face of danger, or provide crucial assistance, have all rendered meritorious service to the court and are each entitled to a reward, which will be bestowed by the Empress later."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The girls quickly bowed as well.

Li Shuchen quietly nudged Gu Ziying beside him, winked, and whispered...

"Did you hear that? We'll get a reward too! I wonder if it'll be gold or land..."

Gu Ziying gently pinched her, signaling her to be more dignified in front of the emperor, but she couldn't help but smile herself.

Princess Changning raised her chin, seemingly indifferent, but her eyes shone with light.

Ye Bingli remained aloof, only nodding slightly.

Several days later

Phoenix Palace

The Empress sat at the head of the table, looking at the young ladies standing respectfully below, her eyes filled with kindness and admiration.

"Thanks to your cleverness and courage in handling this treason case, His Majesty has rewarded the court officials. I also have some personal gifts to add to your joy."

Her gaze first fell on Li Shuchen, and she smiled.

"Miss Li, I've heard that your floral essential oils are in high demand, and your two flower farms are almost out of stock. I also have three hundred acres of fine farmland south of the capital, and the estate is well-maintained. I'll bestow it upon you. Manage it well and produce more fragrant oils so that all the women of our Purple Star Dynasty can enjoy its fragrance."

Li Shuchen's eyes lit up instantly, like a dog seeing a bone, and he quickly bowed.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty! This...this is truly a timely help! No, it's the icing on the cake! I will certainly plant more flowers and press more oil...no, I mean, produce more essential oils, and never let Your Majesty's land go to waste!"

His mind was already racing with calculations: three hundred acres! Adding that to what he already had, the scale would double! Money, oh money!

The Empress smiled and then looked at Princess Changning: "Changning, you are proud and don't care for those worldly things like gold and silver. This is newly brewed Huangfeng wine. There are only ten jars in total. His Majesty kept five jars, and I will give you three."

Princess Changning accepted the three small, exquisitely crafted jars of yellow wine, their seals perfectly intact. Her fingertips brushed against the cool surfaces of the jars, her face still bearing that haughty, "What haven't I seen?" expression, but her eyes curved slightly.

"Empress Xie's maternal aunt"

When it was Gu Ziying's turn, the Empress's gaze softened even more.