The elusive smoke from the Boshan incense burner wafted through the hall, mingling with a faint scent of submerged water.
Although the bluish smoke seemed far from Xiao Jingheng, who sat on the dragon throne,
it appeared as if a layer of blue mist had veiled his face.
Upon hearing what Prince Rui said, he fell silent for a long time,
tapping his fingertips lightly on the dragon case, producing a clear and crisp sound, as if contemplating something with great conflict.
Prince Rui consistently nodded and showed deference, stealing glances at Xiao Jingheng's expression in his heart,
secretly hoping that under Xiao Jingheng's rage, he would directly demand the lives of the Ning family father and son.
But in the end, all he received was Xiao Jingheng's casual remark,
"That's enough."
"Enough?" Prince Rui's face was filled with disbelief. "But, Your Highness..."
"I know what you want to say." Xiao Jingheng waved his hand to interrupt Prince Rui's words. "However, what you just heard was merely from the mouths of others, and it does not represent the attitude of the Ning family father and son.
All I see is the unwavering loyalty of the Ning family father and son to the court. Since they have already handed over their military power and voluntarily retired, if I continue to make things difficult for them, it is likely to invite criticism from the previous dynasty and the scorn of the people. Let them go."
"But are you not planning to investigate their embezzlement and lawlessness?" Prince Rui's tone became noticeably agitated.
Xiao Jingheng, however, remained calm and said, "The Ning family also made significant donations during the snow disaster in the capital. Moreover, how many officials from the previous dynasty had clean hands in their pockets?"
With a glance at Prince Rui, he continued, "You are my sibling, and this world belongs to our Xiao family. But can you guarantee that all the silver in your residence can stand the test of scrutiny?"
Faced with Xiao Jingheng's questioning, Prince Rui's momentum visibly weakened, and he lowered his gaze, avoiding Xiao Jingheng's piercing gaze.
Seeing his silence, Xiao Jingheng added, "In all matters, when there is profit to be gained, there will be people willing to sacrifice everything and serve with unwavering loyalty. This has been the case throughout the ages. If we were to delve deeper, it would inevitably cause a chain reaction."
"But..."
"Enough, I have made up my mind about this matter. There is no need to speak further."
Xiao Jingheng tapped his right hand on the dragon case, indicating that he had concluded today's conversation. If Prince Rui continued, it would only be self-defeating.
So he could only bow and return begrudgingly.
But how could he be content?
Instead, the more Xiao Jingheng favored the Ning family, the more unjust his deceased mother felt for sacrificing herself.
*
In the fifth year of Qiyuan, on the fifth day of the first month,
General Dingyuan Ning Bochuan and General of Valiant Cavalry Ning Xiuqi retired from the court and requested permission to relocate and settle in the Qin Mountains area.
The emperor granted their request, awarding General Dingyuan a thousand taels of gold and General of Valiant Cavalry five hundred taels, while retaining their official positions.
Furthermore, the title of General Dingyuan was elevated to Duke, and the title would be hereditary and irreplaceable.
To talk about other rewards would be unnecessary, but to raise Ning Bochuan's title from Duke to Duke, with hereditary and irreplaceable status, was truly an unparalleled honor that had no precedent.
It should be noted that in the Qi Dynasty, hereditary and irreplaceable titles were rarely bestowed, even to princes.
Typically, the titles of princes were also hereditary. However, hereditary titles would be gradually diminished with each generation.
In the Qi Dynasty, the hereditary titles were strictly adhered to. For example, if a prince held the title of a duke, his child would inherit the title of a marquis, and his grandchild would become a count.
Successive generations would continue to hold lower titles unless they made significant contributions to the country. Even if they were close relatives of the emperor, they would eventually become commoners if they failed to contribute.
However, hereditary succession was different. It meant that the titles would not be changed or abolished.
With this imperial decree, Ning Bochuan could enjoy his ducal title for a lifetime, and it would be passed down unchanged to Ning Xiuqi. In the future, Ning Xiuqi's eldest son would also inherit this title.
In other words, as long as the Ning family did not anger the heavens, their descendants would enjoy the privileges of a duke for generations to come. This truly ensured the lasting glory of the Ning family.
These rewards clearly showed how highly Xiao Jingheng valued the Ning family. In the past, the Qi Dynasty had focused more on literature than martial arts, but now the court was also rewarding military commanders who had made significant contributions to the country. This boosted the morale of the troops and gave them more motivation to serve the Qi Dynasty in the future.
Of course, Ning Bochuan's status in the previous dynasty and Noble Consort Chen's position in the imperial harem were unparalleled.
Noble Consort Chen was due to give birth at the end of February. Since the Lantern Festival, Xiao Jingheng had been accompanying her almost every day.
He took care of her in every possible way, even more so than when the former empress was pregnant.
Under the favor of Noble Consort Chen, even the peerless beauty, Song Zhao, who had always been held in high regard by Xiao Jingheng, seemed dim in comparison.
Xiao Jingheng had already planned a southern expedition before the new year.
It was supposed to begin in early spring, but so far there had been no movement.
Everyone knew that he was waiting for the safe birth of Noble Consort Chen's child.
Only Noble Consort Chen pretended not to understand and asked Xiao Jingheng, "Your Majesty, didn't you say you were going on a southern expedition? Spring has arrived, why haven't you left yet?"
At that moment, Xiao Jingheng was sitting opposite Noble Consort Chen, reading military books. When he heard her words, he immediately closed the book, placed it on the table, and made a motion as if he was getting up.
"If you're concerned about it, then I'll set off tomorrow," he said.
"Oh! Your Majesty~" Noble Consort Chen pouted and pulled Xiao Jingheng's hand. She lightly caressed his hand with her fingertips and coquettishly said, "If Your Majesty leaves like this, you won't be able to see our child being born!"
"Hahaha~" Xiao Jingheng laughed openly. He gently flicked Noble Consort Chen's delicate and upturned nose with his finger and said, "My dear, you've become more mischievous because of my doting. You know very well that I haven't left because I'm thinking of you. Yet, you still ask knowingly, just so you can hear me say it out loud. Does it make you feel relieved when you hear it from my own mouth?"
"I am not a worm in Your Majesty's belly. If you don't say it, how would I know what Your Majesty is thinking?" Noble Consort Chen held Xiao Jingheng's hand and placed it gently on her pregnant belly. "Your Majesty, do you think our child will be a boy or a girl?"
Xiao Jingheng countered, "Why can't it be a symbol of prosperity and harmony, like a dragon and a phoenix?"
"Noble Consort Chen murmured, 'Dragon and phoenix symbolize harmony and auspiciousness... However, within the imperial family, if the phoenix is in front and the dragon is behind, it is considered as 'phoenix suppressing dragon,' which is highly inauspicious and detrimental to the fortune of the nation.'
'Since when did Wan'er start believing in such things?' Xiao Jingheng, with his arm around her shoulder, spoke gently. 'Our child will be blessed and free from any taboos.'
Upon hearing these words, Noble Consort Chen felt a warm sensation welling up from the depths of her heart. She knew that the fortune of the nation was of utmost importance to Xiao Jingheng. Otherwise, when Xiao's concubine gave birth to Chenghuan, he would not have been so ruthless as to abandon the child due to his defects.
But now, if she were to bear a child, Xiao Jingheng seemed to care nothing about these superstitious matters, which was a clear indication of his sincere affection towards her.
At this moment, Noble Consort Chen nestled in Xiao Jingheng's embrace, and a mist of tears gradually veiled her phoenix-like eyes.
She thought:
In fact, the order of precedence, whether she was in the front or not, was truly insignificant to her.
All along, all she wanted was Xiao Jingheng's genuine love and affection.
Now that she had obtained it, and her parents and brothers had all returned to their hometown to enjoy their twilight years, it was also the supreme honor bestowed upon her maternal family by her husband.
Noble Consort Chen felt that her life had reached its fulfillment.
As for the phoenix position that she had always pursued, at this moment, she could finally let go of that obsession.
Deep down, all she hoped for was the safe birth of her child, so that she could accompany Xiao Jingheng by his side, year after year, in a harmonious and blissful union.
That would be perfect.
