When the prince is reborn, he will only hit me if he doesn't hit the wall!

As the bells and drums rang, the dragon throne hung high in the center of the magnificent Longxiao Hall. At this moment, the emperor was wearing a robe embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons, a shawl on his shoulders, and a belt inlaid with pearls and gems around his waist. His face was stern and he didn't smile, but his gaze revealed an awe-inspiring majesty.

It was completely different from the friendly and amiable person he was just on the street.

Civil and military officials stood on both sides of the hall.

He Xuehuai was the only one standing in the middle of the hall.

He Xuehuai knelt down and bowed to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I, He Xue Huai, pay my respects to you. I wish you a long life and good fortune."

The emperor's expression eased slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "What crime has Lord Xue committed?"

"I followed my father in the battle against Nanyuan twelve years ago and lost three cities. My father died on the battlefield... I should have taken responsibility for my father and regained the territory, but I accidentally entered the enemy's territory...

He wanted to die for his country to show his loyalty, but he was unwilling to die in an unclear way in an enemy country.

At that time, I followed my father into battle for the first time, and my armor covered half of my face, so few enemies recognized me.

So he entered the military camp in Nanyuan as a horse slave, slept on firewood and tasted gall, lying in wait for more than ten years.

Finally, he gained the trust of Deputy General Nanyuan in the enemy country and was recommended to the position of vanguard.

More than ten years have passed, and General Nanyuan is no longer the same as he was back then.

Now he finally got the chance and managed to contact General Lin, an old friend of his father, to join forces inside and outside to capture the Nanyuan army.

I know very well that it was because of me and my father that we lost the city. If I do not atone for this sin, I will not be able to live on in this life!

Today I have returned victoriously. In addition to taking the blame for my father, more importantly, I want to repay His Majesty's grace!"

He Xuehuai's speech was generous and sincere, echoing in the Longxiao Palace. He took something out of his sleeve, bowed his head, raised his hands above his head, and said solemnly:

"This is the military token of the former He family army. My father entrusted it to me before he died. Now that we have returned to the court, we would like to present it to Your Majesty."

This was a show of loyalty. When He Xuehuai first returned to Beixuan, the He family army was already only old, weak, sick and disabled, and there was no need to be afraid of them. This military token was his only thing.

After today's move, He Xuehuai can really be said to be "at your disposal" and "with nothing else".

He did not mention a word about treason. The former Duke of Zhenguo had never done it, and he had never done it either. This was the only bottom line he adhered to.

If it were the emperor, he would definitely convict me of this...

He Xuehuai, in a place where the emperor couldn't see, had deep eyes and gritted his teeth secretly.

The emperor stared at He Xuehuai who was kneeling and bowing. His index finger kept rubbing the jade ring on his thumb, which was his usual action of being lost in thought. It seemed that he was considering whether the words of the person who was doing the deed were true or false.

The entire hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The current emperor did not express his position clearly, and the civil and military officials did not dare to act rashly to speak for He Xuehuai. They all closed their eyes and bowed their heads to avoid him.

A voice suddenly sounded from the hall:

"Father, today is the welcoming banquet for the general. Father has personally welcomed him in front of all the people of Kyoto. It is not appropriate to judge his merits and demerits today.

It would be better to take the He family's military talisman and see what the effect is."

Others don't know, but Qin Yuechuan, who has experienced a lifetime, naturally knows the attitude of his father in his previous life, although he was confined to the palace at that time. But he also knew a thing or two about the rumors in the court.

Later, He Xuehuai somehow regained the emperor's trust and was highly valued, and was ordered to rebuild the He family army.

Later, he was transferred to quell the flood, and the details are unknown. But when he came back, he heard that He Xuehuai seemed to be making a fuss about recognizing his relatives, and it seemed that he had found the orphan of the He family...

Qin Yuechuan ignored it at the time. He was not very clear about it and had no intention of investigating such boring rumors.

It was probably a misunderstanding. The commotion was so big that in the end, the direct descendant of the He family disappeared without a trace.

He guessed that the emperor was probably hesitant in his heart at the moment as he was confronting the power of Nanyuan Kingdom.

They lost a vanguard over there, but gained a general over here. Putting aside the "old crime of treason", it would be a good thing if He Xuehuai could be won over.

But his loyalty remains to be seen.

In fact, Qin Yuechuan had felt something strange since he looked into his eyes on the street. The first impression He Xuehuai gave him was that he was inexplicably disturbed.

As if they were once enemies.

But in the current situation, I can take advantage of the situation and do him a favor.

Holding back the strangeness in his heart, Qin Yuechuan took the initiative to offer a way out, and the emperor naturally accepted it: "What Chuan'er said makes sense.

I will first accept the military token you presented to me.

Today is your welcoming party, it is really inappropriate to discuss such things as crimes and punishments that would damage the friendship between you and me as king and subject.

Congratulations, my dear minister, I order you to inherit your father's title. From now on, you will be the Duke of Zhenguo. I will still keep the original mansion, and the old house can also satisfy your homesickness for many years."

It is both a gift and a deterrent.

The rise and fall, honor and disgrace all depend on the heaven.

Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all blessings from heaven.

He Xuehuai let out a long sigh and kowtowed heavily to express his gratitude.

When he stood up, he realized that the person who had just spoken for him was that "familiar" person.

He Xuehuai nodded to show his gratitude.

"The banquet has not yet begun. The Duke of Zhenguo and the other ministers may go to my imperial garden to have a look."

"Thank you Lord Ron"

*

Qin Lingruo sent people to the palace gate to welcome Xu Xinyue early in the morning.

This was the first time that the Third Prince had entrusted her with a task so solemnly. Besides, Qin Lingruo really wanted to meet Xu Xinyue as soon as possible.

What kind of soft and gentle thing could subdue the steel-like Third Brother?

Qin Lingruo was bored and leaning against the small pavilion in the center of Jianxin Lake, drinking tea and listening to music.

"Princess, Miss Xu is here!"

Qin Lingruo stood up, eyes full of stars: "Where is it? Please come over here!"

Soon, a graceful figure was seen walking towards them from afar.

No, there are two, there is another person. I guess the other one is the "beauty" entrusted to him by her second brother.

Only when they came closer did Qin Lingruo take a closer look: one of them was wearing a moon-white dress with a gradient of green and blue, looking fresh and tender, pure and bright. The other was wearing a snow-green dress with a goose-yellow shawl, looking bright and beautiful, radiant.

They were all outstanding beauties, before she could even ask.

The two of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully:

"Your servant Xia Xueyao, may the princess be well."

"My humble daughter Xu Xinyue, may the princess be blessed with good health."

But why was that girl in the snow-blue dress... worshipping in the direction of the pavilion's pillar?

Qin Lingruo glanced at the red lacquered wooden pillar, then glanced at the similar red dress on herself, and immediately understood why her royal brother had emphasized her "poor eyesight".

After all, it was her brother the Emperor who entrusted her with the task.

If my future "sister-in-law" has eye disease, it's not her fault, it's because I chose the wrong clothes.

Well, it’s the clothes’ fault.

Qin Lingruo thought so, and consciously moved to the red pillar where she was worshipping, and helped her stand up: "Miss Xia, there is no need to be so polite, Miss Xu, please stand up as well."

Xu Xinyue and Xia Xueyao were somewhat surprised that Princess Xihe was so friendly and humble. According to rumors, she was a "little bully" who could do anything.

"I heard that at the poetry and prose meeting that day, you guys humiliated He Yunyin and Hu Qiuzhu. I'm really curious. There are all kinds of rumors. Now that you're here, you must tell me in detail."

Qin Lingruo dismissed the attendants and the actors, peeled an orange, and listened to Xu Xinyue and the others recounting the details of what had happened that day with great joy, as if she were listening to a story in a teahouse.

Qin Lingruo said it was interesting and enjoyable.

She just liked to laugh at He Yunyin's jokes, because the real story was much more interesting than the rumors.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take you to the deer park. There, a doe has just given birth to a new fawn, which is very cute.

Normally my father wouldn't let me go, saying that the cubs would be jumpy and he was afraid they would be bumped into.

Today I was allowed half a day to go and have a look, you are so lucky."