His words were not fully spoken, but the meaning was already clear.
Since the commander-in-chief and the general had yielded the credit, he should not let the soldiers under them feel disheartened.
Especially those who had fought the Northern Di in Liangzhou with real swords and spears, the Ninth Prince, having gained an advantage, naturally had to offer some rewards.
"General Su, rest assured. After you and General Xiao have discussed it, send the list directly to the Ministry of War. Those who deserve promotion will be promoted, and those who are due a pension will receive it. We will certainly commend them properly."
"Your Highness is wise!"
General Su spoke these words with genuine sincerity.
"However, the matter of building the bridge still needs to be expedited. I must go and see for myself how Liangzhou City has recovered and if it is proceeding according to my original plan!"
He spoke shamelessly, as if he were trying to climb a ladder.
However, now that the crisis in Liangzhou City and for General Xiao had been resolved, there was no longer such urgency for the bridge. Nevertheless, he maintained a calm demeanor and replied, "Yes!"
More than ten days later, the urgent and even more urgent memorial finally reached Dongdu City.
The news of the complete annihilation of the Northern Di army quickly spread to the palace and the ears of the powerful and influential. Everyone praised the Ninth Prince to the heavens, as if he were possessed by a god of war.
Few people associated the achievement with Xiao Jishu and his nephew, let alone General Su.
In the Han Zhang Palace, Consort Wei was exceedingly proud.
When Eunuch Wang brought in the Emperor's rewards, box after box, she felt a sense of glory that she had not experienced in a long time.
Only when the palace was filled to overflowing and the corridors were also full did Eunuch Wang say,
"Your Ladyship, His Majesty's rewards have all been delivered. This old servant congratulates His Highness the Ninth Prince. I am sure that when His Highness returns, he will receive further commendations."
"Eunuch Wang is too kind. Yunli also fought for our Great Jin. This achievement is also due to His Majesty's boundless fortune and protection."
Eunuch Wang smiled. At such a time, no amount of flattery was too much. He chose a few pleasant words, which made Consort Wei beam with joy.
Soon, they heard the voice of Consort Zhen from outside. It seemed that the well-informed consorts in the harem had all come to join the excitement.
"Congratulations, Your Ladyship, congratulations, Your Ladyship! With such military achievements, His Highness the Ninth Prince is truly a god of war for our Great Jin!"
"Indeed! It is truly a testament to Your Ladyship's ability to bear children. We hope Your Ladyship will take good care of us sisters in the future."
They spoke one after another, each sentence praising Consort Wei, congratulating the Ninth Prince, and even extolling the virtues of the Wei family.
They were eager to praise them to the skies.
Consort Wei's smile never left her face.
For a time, the lively scene in Han Zhang Palace made Consort Shu, Consort Xian, who had come to visit the Imperial Grandson, as well as the Empress and Princess Ke, who was by her side, feel somewhat embarrassed.
Especially Princess Ke!
With the hundred-day celebration for the Imperial Grandson fast approaching, and everyone's attention focused on their Chang Le Palace, who would have thought that the news of the great victory would arrive so quickly, stealing all the thunder from Chang Le Palace?
The expressions of the people present were not very pleasant!
The Empress worried that by the time the victorious Ninth Prince returned to Dongdu City, he might even be granted the title of Prince, making him even more difficult to deal with than before.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a headache and lost the mood to exchange pleasantries with them.
Consort Xian, as always, remained silent.
In the harem, she neither had the position of Empress, nor the Imperial Grandson in hand like the Empress. She was not as fortunate as Consort Wei in having a good son, nor was her family as glorious. She even received less favor than Consort Shu, who had recently entered the palace.
In such an awkward situation, it was naturally best to remain silent.
On the contrary, Consort Shu, perhaps due to some rivalry with the Wei family, displayed a look of disdain.
"Consort Wei is currently in high spirits, but one wonders if this honor can be maintained!"
The jealousy in her words made Consort Xian frown.
Did she not fear incurring the Wei family's resentment by speaking such words at this time?
The Empress, however, was unfazed. Instead, she took her words to heart and pretended to say to Consort Shu,
"We are all sisters, Consort Shu. It is best not to speak rashly!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Feigning submission and goodwill, the Empress was happy to play along, and Consort Shu was also happy to act. In dealing with Consort Wei, the two of them were now on the same boat.
After a brief chat, the Empress announced that she needed to rest.
Consort Xian and Consort Shu were not foolish. They understood that the Empress and Princess Ke wanted to have a private conversation, so they excused themselves.
After they left, Princess Ke's composure finally broke.
As the attending palace maids withdrew, she hurriedly said,
"Mother, if my Ninth Brother returns successfully, won't that be a heaven-defying achievement? Was not Uncle Ding Wang the god of war praised by everyone back then? If he... this daughter-in-law truly cannot imagine."
Some words did not need to be said; those who understood would understand.
After Ding Wang fought against the Southern Yue, his influence and prestige were unimaginable.
If he had rallied the people at that time, perhaps the one sitting on the throne today would not have been Emperor Qi.
Thinking of such terrifying public sentiment, the Empress also felt uneasy. However, with the current momentum, if they acted rashly, they would suffer more losses than gains if caught.
Therefore, suppressing her worries, she said to Princess Ke,
"You focus on preparing Yong Cong's hundred-day celebration. I will find a way to handle the rest."
Seeing the Empress's calm demeanor, Princess Ke's fear slowly subsided.
Their alliance with the Wei family, supporting the Ninth Prince, had reached a point of no return. If they could not suppress him, then they would be the ones to be trampled upon in the future.
No one wanted to be a defeated general, so they were all putting in their full effort.
After comforting Princess Ke, the Empress then sent someone to inquire about Princess Qianling of Zhongzhou.
She had not missed the Emperor's expression last time. Although it was only for a moment, after many years of marriage, she could understand his thoughts at a glance.
Since a seed of worry had been planted in his heart, she would help to deepen that seed of suspicion.
Meanwhile, Emperor Qi, as the Empress had predicted, began to harbor suspicions about his son.
"With military achievements, a powerful maternal clan, and a high status among the princes, isn't this just like my seventeenth brother back then?"
Emperor Qi thought to himself.
He involuntarily recalled many past events.
If it were not for his mother's life-saving assistance in helping him seize the position of Crown Prince, he would merely be an insignificant imperial brother in a fiefdom today, and would never have achieved his current majestic presence.
People are like this; what they gain, they cannot give back.
Thinking of these things, the scales in his heart gradually tilted.