"Enough," Qi Aotian waved his sleeve in response to the situation. At the same time, he leaned lazily against the back of the dragon throne, his deep gaze filled with thoughts unseen by others.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace," Hu Jiangling quickly exchanged a glance with General Pujun, understanding the meaning conveyed by the Prime Minister's expression. He then looked at Qi Aotian sitting on the throne and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not blaming us."

"Your Majesty, Yuan Zhigang was originally just a small vanguard. Why not bestow the title of Deputy General, to show that as long as there are capable individuals, our dynasty will not investigate their background and will promote them? It will also demonstrate that our Emperor is a wise ruler," Hu Jiangling, seeing that the Emperor did not express any dissatisfaction, hurriedly resolved the trouble caused by his future son-in-law.

"Well..." General Pujun, seeing the Prime Minister's suggestion, hesitated to refute it as it was not what she had originally thought. Just as she was about to speak up, she was surprised to hear him speak at this moment. It was like a bucket of cold water poured over her.

"Since my younger brother also thinks it is feasible, then let it be," Qi Aotian was also very dissatisfied with General Pujun's behavior today. It seemed as if she had been challenging his authority all along.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace," Yuan Zhigang didn't want to accept rewards for empty fame. He just didn't want General Pujun to take risks for him anymore, so he quickly knelt down to receive the bestowed title.

Qi Aotian pressed his temple and the eunuch serving by his side immediately understood. "Present your memorial, or leave the court." With a call from the eunuch, the civil and military officials all knelt down. They shouted in unison, "Long live our Emperor, long live, long live!"

After returning to her residence, General Pujun did not speak a word. She was puzzled by Yuan Zhigang's acceptance of the bestowed title. She glanced at Yuan Zhigang, who was standing behind her, narrowed her phoenix-like eyes, and emanated a dangerous aura.

"General, Zhigang is not an ungrateful person. I was just a small vanguard, and now I have been promoted to Deputy General in front of His Majesty. I am extremely grateful," Yuan Zhigang saw General Pujun narrowing her eyes and knew he had to explain.

"Do you not want to go back to your hometown and marry your childhood sweetheart who is still waiting for you?" General Pujun expressed her dissatisfaction with him.

"I do, but I cannot let the General take risks for me," Yuan Zhigang remembered the request of Meiqing's father when he left his hometown. "If you can't become a general, don't think about marrying my daughter." Although he didn't achieve his wish after this feat, as long as he didn't give up, he would have a chance. Yuan Zhigang silently thought to himself.

General Pujun also knew that she had overstepped her bounds in the court, but it was thanks to Yuan Zhigang's strategy in this battle that they achieved victory. Otherwise, this battle would have cost countless lives. Shouldn't those who have made contributions receive their due rewards?

"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. You can go back to the military camp and celebrate with your comrades," General Pujun knew that continuing to talk about it would only make her more upset. It was better to let him go back and have fun with his brothers in arms.

"Yes, I take my leave, General," Yuan Zhigang saw that General Pujun no longer pursued the matter and left calmly.

After seeing him leave, General Pujun remembered another thing that had bothered her in court today. It was the order to marry the daughter of the Prime Minister. She felt a headache coming on. But when she thought about the person who initiated this, her "master," General Pujun thought about the day he asked her to marry him. He didn't care about her attitude, as if he was provoking the authority of the Emperor.

While General Pujun's mind was filled with thoughts, a sudden pain surged in her heart. "He's getting married," these four words struck her mind heavily. Why do I feel heartache?

"Linan," she called her servant.

"I want to go out for a while and won't return home in the next few days. Make all the arrangements before the third day of next month to welcome the General's wife," General Pujun instructed, showing no expression as if this joyous event had nothing to do with her.

"I understand, Milady," Linan replied efficiently.

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General Pujun nodded and looked at the old man who had been serving her by her side. He had already grown all white hair. "I remember someone brought a ginseng root from Changbai Mountain last time. Since I see that you are weak, you might as well use it. It's useless to leave it lying around." General Pujun finished speaking and left without looking back.

Linan watched her mistress leave, her eyes filled with hidden tears. Although General Pujun's words were not pleasant to hear, she understood the concern behind them.

Linan stood in place and remembered the scene when she first saw General Pujun. She was already old in the army and not suitable for the battlefield. She could have returned to her hometown to live out her years, but she gave up that thought because she had no children. She chose to stay in the army and contribute her last effort to the court.

Unexpectedly, disaster befell her. A defeat in battle caused her to lose an arm, and she could no longer stay in the army. Her disability made her even more disheartened. Just when she had lost interest in everything, her master appeared in front of her. "Old man, it's troublesome for you to stay here like this. How about this, my household happens to lack someone to manage things. You can come and help me with the arrangements." Only after she entered the General's residence did she realize that her master wanted her to manage the personnel there.

"It's been eight years, time flies," Linan muttered to herself as she handled the tasks assigned by her mistress. "He finally has someone to accompany him."

"Father, I won't get married," a gentle and charming female voice firmly stated.

"Nonsense, in matters of marriage, parents have the final say. You will marry who I choose," an angry voice came from an old man.

"Father, don't get angry. Take care of your health!" A middle-aged woman comforted her husband while using her eyes to signal their daughter to listen to her father's words.

"Daughter doesn't want to marry any General. Daughter wants to wait for cousin..." The woman's voice carried a crying tone, but her attitude was resolute. However, before she could finish her words, the old man was once again enraged by his beloved daughter.

"You must marry! You and Zhiwen can only have a cousin relationship. Don't say another word," the old man sternly reprimanded his daughter.

"Father, you know that Hongling and Zhiwen have been childhood friends. It's natural to have a good relationship," the woman couldn't bear to see her daughter in tears, and she was also afraid that her husband would find out the truth. So she kept a close eye on them, fearing that anything unexpected would happen.

"You won't marry? Do you want our entire family of hundreds of people to die for you?" The old man saw his daughter's stubbornness and decided to reveal the truth. "The marriage is decreed by the Emperor. If you don't marry, you are defying the imperial edict. Do you want to see so many people accompany you to death?" The old man finished speaking angrily and looked at his wife and daughter, who were frozen in place.

"The Emperor's decree?" Hongling repeated her father's words in despair, looking at him hopefully, hoping it wasn't true. "But... Father, I already..."

"Daughter, just listen to your father. Do you want to see everyone in the household die?" The woman quickly interrupted Hongling's unfinished words, repeatedly reminding her that if she uttered those words, the whole family would die.

Hongling looked at her mother, who loved her dearly, and burst into tears. Her father, who usually cherished her like a treasure, was now angrily staring at her, holding back the words she couldn't say. The only words she managed to say were, "I... I'll marry," and she deeply regretted her surrender, hating herself for betraying her cousin.

It turned out this place was the Prime Minister's residence. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but why did it turn out like this? She couldn't understand. Meanwhile, in the Grand Marshal's residence, the scene was completely different.

"Hehe," Yang Yan entered the residence with a smile on his face. He walked steadily into his youngest daughter's chamber, intending to tell her the good news.

"Father, I could hear your laughter from afar. What could make you so happy today?" Her voice was as melodious as a singing nightingale, carrying a hint of charm that made the listener feel weak.

"Hehe," Yang Yan looked at his most beloved daughter, with eyebrows like crescent moons and eyes like stars. Her delicate nose and rosy cherry lips were captivating. Her graceful figure was that of an extraordinary beauty. He couldn't believe that he could escape this peach blossom trap. Thinking of this, Yang Yan burst into laughter.

"Mei'niang, I have brought you the best news," Yang Yan looked at his daughter, who seemed puzzled.

"Today, the Emperor has decreed a marriage, granting you to Prince Wen. Haha!!" Yang Yan finished speaking and burst into laughter again. It seemed as if he could see his wish coming true in the near future.

"Father, you're so biased. Why can my sister become the Empress, but I can only be a Wangfei?" Mei'niang thought it was good news, but it turned out to be this. Mei'niang was dissatisfied with her already betrothed fiancé. She resented his uselessness, unable to even seize the throne. She regretted not surpassing her sister and missing the opportunity to be the mother of the nation.

"Darling daughter, I won't treat you unfairly," Yang Yan saw his daughter's dissatisfaction with Qi Aotian and quickly reassured her. He didn't want his daughter's stubbornness to ruin his plans.

Mei'niang saw a hint of sternness in her father's eyes and immediately understood the implications. Thinking that without the future position, being a Wangfei was not bad either. Maybe in the future... Hehe, a calculating smile appeared on Mei'niang's beautiful face.

"The matter of your daughter's lifelong marriage is up to her father." Mei'niang smiled coquettishly.

"Good, good, good, hahaha..." Yang Yan was delighted to see his daughter's agreement. Father and daughter exchanged a glance and laughed heartily, each plotting for their own desires.