Halfway through the palace banquet, the Emperor above raised his hand, and the music abruptly ceased.

Everyone knew this was the time for bestowing rewards and punishments.

Indeed, the Emperor’s voice rang out: "As everyone knows, our Tianqi fought a war with Northern Flame only four years ago. In just a few short years, despite Tianqi’s empty treasury and insufficient national power,

we again went to war with the Southern Frontier and achieved a great victory. To attain such a feat is inseparable from the commanders’ extraordinary strategies and the soldiers’ heroic fighting. Not only that, in this war, We also saw many heroic women!"

"Duke of Wei, Marquis Wuyang!"

"Your subject is here!" Wei Xiyong and Ji Kui stepped forward and said loudly.

"You two have managed your armies well. Duke of Wei is granted the additional title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and one hundred bolts of silk. Marquis Wuyang is given command of the thirty thousand Imperial City Guards, and rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and one hundred bolts of silk."

"Thank you, Emperor, may Your Majesty live for a thousand thousand years!"

The Grand Tutor was one of the Three Grand Ministers. The Duke of Wei’s family was already esteemed for its integrity, and now it was as stable as a mountain.

The Imperial City Guards, besides the Imperial Forest Army, could be said to be the Emperor’s personal guards. Entrusting the Imperial City Guards to Marquis Wuyang showed the Emperor’s trust in him.

"Prince Jing Jun Mo, Imperial Academy Chancellor Ji Huaiyan of the Eastern Palace, and Vanguard Commander Wei Yuanling, step forward to receive your titles!"

"This son is here!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Prince Jing Jun Mo is additionally appointed as a Grand Secretary of the Military Bureau. Imperial Academy Chancellor Ji Huaiyan of the Eastern Palace is appointed as Chief Secretary. Vanguard Commander Wei Yuanling is appointed as a military advisor under the Duke of Wei."

"Thank you, Emperor! May Your Majesty live for a thousand thousand years!"

Jun Mo hadn’t expected that winning a battle would lead to more responsibilities.

Ji Huaiyan and Wei Yuanling, however, were both beaming with joy.

Chief Secretary was a subordinate official to the Prime Minister. Ji Huaiyan was resourceful, and at this position, he would most likely become the next Prime Minister.

And Wei Yuanling serving as a military advisor under his own father meant more opportunities to go to the battlefield and achieve meritorious deeds.

This was entirely to allow them to fully utilize their talents in their respective fields.

Su Li felt that this was knowing how to use people well. With such an enlightened ruler in Tianqi, there was no need to worry about the nation not being strong.

Lost in thought, she heard her name being called from above.

"Su Li, Lan Yan, step forward to receive your titles!"

Su Li rose and, along with Lan Yan, stepped forward to curtsy. "Your subject is here!"

"Princess Changning Su Li, you were foremost in donating provisions to alleviate Tianqi’s urgent needs, and later in curing strange poisons and saving thousands of soldiers and warhorses.

Your strategic planning truly makes you a female Zhuge Liang, worthy of the title ’Changning’! You are hereby promoted to a First-Rank Princess Consort, equal in status to a princess, and rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and one hundred bolts of silk!"

"Lan Yan, daughter of Lan Canghai, though a woman, you grew up in the border city, protecting your home and nation. You are valiant and skilled in battle, truly a heroine no less capable than a man! Lan Yan is hereby appointed as the Vice Commandant of the Twelve Provinces!"

"Thank you, Emperor! May Your Majesty live for a thousand thousand years!"

Su Li returned to her seat.

"Wow! Li’er, you’re amazing! A First-Rank Princess Consort, equal in status to a princess! This is an honor no daughter of a minister has ever received!"

"That’s right, Li’er, congratulations!"

Su Li was about to reply when she heard the bestowal of awards continuing from above.

"Wei Yuanyao, Qu Zhirou, Yu Banxia, step forward to receive your titles!"

Wei Yuanyao and the others widened their mouths in surprise, thinking they had misheard.

"Cousin, Sister Qu, hurry!"

Qu Zhirou rose and helped Wei Yuanyao step forward.

"Your subject is here!"

"Your subject’s wife is here!"

"We heard that you three also contributed much to this war, donating more silver than some high-ranking court officials. Miss Qu even donated her dowry. This will not do! As such a paragon of womanhood, how can We let her marry without a dowry?"

"Wei Yuanyao is granted the title of Third-Rank Virtuous Lady. Qu Zhirou is rewarded with one hundred taels of gold, and her dowry will be prepared by the Ministry of Rites!"

"Thank you, Emperor, may Your Majesty live for a thousand thousand years!"

Wei Yuanyao beamed with joy, not expecting to earn a noble title for herself.

Qu Zhirou was also beaming with happiness.

Ever since her engagement to Ji Huaiyan, some people had said her family background was a high climb.

Now with the Emperor’s praise, such words would surely not be heard in the future. After all, which young lady’s dowry was prepared by the imperial court? This was a precedent in Tianqi.

The Emperor looked around at everyone in the hall. He intended to generously reward these few individuals, to show those officials who had money in their pockets but were reluctant to spend it that they were inferior even to a young woman!

He also wanted them to understand that he, the Emperor, saw everything!

"Yu Banxia, We heard you are full of talent, especially possessing unique insights into weaponry. The formula for the poisonous smoke bomb was provided by you. We specially permit you free access to the Ministry of War from now on."

Yu Banxia was momentarily stunned. Her insights were merely theoretical. Who had such a big mouth to report this to the Emperor?!

Soon, her confusion was resolved.

"Ji Huainan!"

Yu Banxia turned her head and saw a pale-faced, beardless, serious, young and handsome man step forward.

"Your subject is here!"

"We see you have a deep understanding of weaponry. Placing you in the Military Bureau is a waste of your talent. Go to the Ministry of War, as Vice Minister of the Ministry of War."

"Thank you, Emperor!" Ji Huainan bowed in gratitude.

The Emperor looked at Yu Banxia and said, "Miss Yu, if Vice Minister Ji hadn’t reported that the formula was yours, you would have been overlooked. Perhaps Tianqi would have lacked many divine weapons. In the future, if you have any good ideas, you can go to the Ministry of War to find Vice Minister Ji. We hope you two will work together to elevate Tianqi’s military strength to a higher level!"

Yu Banxia gritted her teeth. So it was him!

She had planned to just lie flat and be a slacker. That dream of being a strong woman had long been shattered. What was this now?

Ji Huainan turned his head and glanced at Yu Banxia.

He didn’t seem to have offended her, did he? He even reported her contributions, so why did she look at him with such hostile eyes?

Su Li chuckled. The Emperor truly knew how to use people wisely, making the best use of their talents.

However, the Emperor’s arrangement was also good.

Yu Banxia had many ideas, and Ji Huainan had strong executive ability. They perfectly complemented each other.

Then the Emperor rewarded some other officials. After the rewards were announced, came the punishments.

"General Lan!"

Lan Canghai quickly stepped forward.

The Lan sisters looked at their father worriedly. The Crown Prince patted Lan Yu’s hand, signaling her to relax.

"You led over a hundred thousand soldiers to guard the Southern Twelve Provinces, yet Shuiyong City was massacred. This is your dereliction of duty." The Emperor’s voice resonated throughout the hall, and the atmosphere instantly became solemn.

"Yes! This subject admits his guilt!" Lan Canghai said in a deep voice.

After a long pause, the Emperor’s voice came: "Considering your decades of diligent service guarding the border city, and your hard work, and also understanding that the Twelve Provinces are indeed too vast and you couldn’t arrive in time. You also achieved great merits in the subsequent war in the Southern Frontier, so We will punish you lightly."

"You are hereby commanded to first surrender your military authority and reflect on your mistakes in the capital for half a year. After half a year, you shall return to Lan’an."

Lan Canghai exhaled a breath and loudly expressed his gratitude.

After all, tens of thousands of lives were lost. The Emperor only reclaiming his military authority was truly a blessing.

Su Li secretly sighed at the Emperor’s brilliance. Regarding the Shuiyong City incident, no matter what, it was General Lan’s dereliction of duty.

If no action were taken, many issues might arise.

On the surface, Lan Canghai’s military authority was reclaimed, but at the beginning, Lan Yan was appointed as the Vice Commandant of the Twelve Provinces. This meant the military authority was still with the Lan family.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that Lan Canghai would sooner or later be reinstated.

After all, the eldest daughter of the Lan family was the Crown Princess, and she had honorably given birth to the Eldest Imperial Grandson.

After the awards were given, the hall quickly returned to its lively state.

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