Adhere to the gentleman's principles

Chapter 108 Entering the Palace and Being Conferred

The carriage started moving, and Zhao Junning, Li Ziyan, Xu Wenhe, Yuanxing, Huilin Muchen, and Qin Wang Xiao Xuantang set out together.

Two days later, they were outside Pingliang City. Li Ziyan held Zhao Junning's hand and asked, "What's wrong? You looked very nervous along the way?"

Zhao Junning forced a smile, "I'll tell you at night." Li Ziyan nodded, "Okay." Then Zhao Junning lifted the car curtain and said, "I haven't been back to Pingliang for a long time. It looks more prosperous now than before."

Li Ziyan replied: "Yes, after all, this is the capital of the Great Wei." Zhao Junning nodded.

"Madam, Master, we are here." The carriage stopped and the flying boat said. Li Ziyan and Zhao Junning walked out of the carriage and looked at the new mansion. Standing at the door were Meng Xiangning, Zhao Nian and Huo Zhong, "Mom and Dad!"

Zhao Nian and Meng Xiangning were very happy to see Zhao Junning and Li Ziyan get off the carriage. Meng Xiangning walked towards Zhao Junning and looked him up and down, "Ning'er, were you injured in the battle in Lucheng?"

Zhao Junning shook his head: "No, fortunately my mother gave me the token, so I was able to move to the reinforcements in time and quickly beat Beimeng back."

Meng Xiangning finally put her mind at ease after hearing this. Li Ziyan bowed and said, "Thank you for your help, mother-in-law. Otherwise, I'm afraid..." Zhao Nian said, "Alas, son-in-law, you can't be modest. Although your military skills are still immature, it's already amazing that you can make the Seventh Prince of Northern Mongolia panic."

Then he turned sideways and said, "Zi Yan, this is Admiral Huo Zhong. Huo is a colleague of your father and I." Li Zi Yan stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Hello, Uncle Huo."

Huo Zhong smiled and said, "You don't need to be so polite, young marquis." Then Zhao Nian said, "This mansion is what Jun Ning requested in the letter. I asked the butler to find it. Let's see how it works."

Zhao Junning looked around the mansion: "I can trust my father and mother to do their work. This mansion is just right for me." After entering the mansion, the servant Meng Xiangning had made arrangements in advance. They were the same few people that Zhao Junning used to use and the few people that she brought to Liangzhou.

In the hall, everyone sat down, and Xu Wenhe walked towards Meng Xiangning: "Aunt Meng, where is my father? Isn't he coming today when Zi Yan and Jun Ning come back?"

Meng Xiangning said, "Your father should be here soon!" Xu Wenhe trembled and smiled, then bowed to Meng Xiangning. Huo Zhong looked at Li Ziyan and asked, "My dear nephew, how do you feel now that you have officially entered the officialdom?"

Li Ziyan smiled and said: "I just do my best. It's called reflection, but it's more of a plan. The officialdom is complicated and I can only take care of myself so as not to be drowned by it." Huo Zhong nodded.

At night, Zhao Junning was in a daze in the room. Li Ziyan came in with soup and saw Zhao Junning thinking under the candlelight. He put down the plate and sat down and looked at Zhao Junning: "Junning, what's wrong with you?"

Zhao Junning came back to her senses and smiled at Li Ziyan, saying, "Tomorrow you will go to the palace to listen to the imperial decree and receive your title. I am happy for you." Li Ziyan said, "You can't even lie. Did you look happy just now?"

Zhao Junning sighed and said, "Yes, it's quite obvious." Then he looked at Li Ziyan and said, "Ziyan, if you don't want to be an official anymore, let's resign and go home."

Li Ziyan was a little confused after hearing what Zhao Junning said: "What's wrong with you today? If I quit my job, I will be idle, right? Do you really want me to be a gigolo?"

Zhao Junning said, "I'm just worried..." Li Ziyan smoothed Zhao Junning's frown, "Why are you worried about me? My dear wife, don't worry. I will never be as reckless as I was when I was defending Lucheng. Once I step into this officialdom, I will go all the way. In the past year we have been running around, I have seen countless people displaced, their families destroyed, and people killed. The older generation paved the way for us, and we must repair this road for the next generation."

Zhao Junning thought about it and nodded: "I was inconsiderate. My husband is very capable, how could I forget him!" Li Ziyan was so overwhelmed by this simple compliment from Zhao Junning that he almost went to heaven.

The next morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the atmosphere in the palace was solemn and dignified. The eunuch's voice reading the imperial edict resounded throughout the palace: "The Emperor of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven decrees that Li Aiqing's meritorious service in defending the city is a blessing to the country! I know that he is a pillar of the country and an indispensable talent for the court. I hereby promote him to the second rank and transfer him to the Ministry of Works as the Minister of Works. I hope you can continue to perform your duties faithfully and serve the country and the people. I decree this!"

Li Ziyan knelt down to receive the imperial edict and cried out in gratitude: "I thank Your Majesty for your grace. Long live the emperor!" He was extremely excited, and this honor made him feel a great sense of responsibility.

Xiao Xuanjing sat on the dragon throne, looked at Li Ziyan with a smile, nodded with satisfaction and said: "My dear Li, please stand up quickly." Li Ziyan stood up and stood respectfully aside.

At this moment, his eyes inadvertently met with Xu Gong's. Xu Gong showed a gratified smile on his face and nodded gently, expressing his recognition and encouragement to Li Ziyan. Li Ziyan felt warm in his heart when he saw this, and then walked towards the civil servants and stood in the queue.

Xiao Xuanjing looked around at everyone and asked, "My dear ministers, do you have anything important to report to me?" Qin Zhuoyuan, who was standing behind the prince, saw that no one spoke, so he coughed softly to remind everyone of his presence.

When Xiao Zhengchu heard the voice, he turned his head slightly to look at Qin Zhuoyuan, nodded in response, took a step forward, bowed and said, "Father, I have something to report."

Xiao Xuanjing was slightly stunned when he heard this. He looked at his beloved son and asked in confusion, "What's so urgent? Do you need to tell me now?"

When Xiao Zhengchu heard his father's question, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "My father, urgent news from the border! Those bandits from Handan and Northern Mongolia are attacking again. Although General Yuan and General Li have fought hard to hold on to the other four border passes, I'm afraid the Liangzhou checkpoint is about to collapse and could be breached at any time!"

After hearing this, Xiao Xuanjing's face became very solemn, his brows knitted tightly, and he shouted angrily: "Why are you reporting this to me now? What were you doing before!"

In fact, this was exactly what Xiao Zhengchu and Qin Zhuoyuan wanted to see, so Xiao Zhengchu quickly explained: "I just learned the news and haven't had time to report it to you, father. Please forgive me. But I have already sent my Tiger Roar Army to reinforce Liangzhou. I believe they will be able to withstand the enemy's attack!"

Xiao Xuanjing felt relieved when he heard this and he slowly let out a sigh of relief. Li Ziyan, who was standing beside him, fell into deep thought and thought to himself, "Is Liangzhou once again caught in the flames of war? How did the Seventh Prince recover his strength so quickly?"

Xu Gong turned his head subconsciously, and his eyes happened to meet Li Ziyan's. After the two looked at each other, Xiao Xuanjing frowned and asked in a low voice: "My dear ministers, who is willing to step forward and go to Liangzhou to fight against the foreign enemies?"

At this moment, the extremely stupid Xiao Zhengshu suddenly stood up and said loudly: "Father, I think that only General Zhao can take on this important task at this time! He will definitely quell the unrest in Liangzhou now. As long as he takes action, no matter how many foreign enemies invade, they will be repelled! Back then, General Zhao was a great hero in protecting the country! I think there is no one else to choose except General Zhao."

When Li Ziyan heard this, he showed a trace of doubt on his face and turned his eyes to Xiao Zhengshu. Qin Zhuoyuan, who was standing aside, was obviously shocked by Xiao Zhengshu's words. He was not sure whether Xiao Xuanjing would agree to such an arrangement, but from Xiao Xuanjing's expression, it seemed that he had considered it.

At this moment, Li Ziyan stepped forward and said loudly: "Your Majesty, although General Zhao has not fought on the battlefield for a long time, his reputation is still there. However, now that the war is urgent, it is not wise to rashly send General Zhao to fight. The risks involved cannot be ignored!"

Everyone was silent for a moment. Xu Gong did not speak, but just watched everything quietly. Xiao Zhengchu cast his eyes on Li Ziyan, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and said with a smile: "Minister Li, no, now I should call you the young marquis. I naturally understand that General Zhao Nian is your father-in-law, and it is natural for you to care about your father-in-law's safety. But the country is facing such a huge crisis. As a member of the royal family, the young marquis should focus on state affairs."

Li Ziyan was such a smart man that he saw through the mystery at a glance - this must be Xiao Zhengchu's idea! Let Xiao Zhengshu choose today to propose it. Even if Xiao Xuanjing rejected the proposal, it would not be him, Xiao Zhengchu, who would be scolded or punished. Thinking of this, Li Ziyan knelt down without hesitation and said to the emperor earnestly: "Your Majesty, please understand! I absolutely do not have such thoughts.

But has your Majesty ever thought that two great generals have been sent to the border area, and these two generals, like my father and my father-in-law, have high status and outstanding military talents. If my father-in-law goes to the battlefield again, the enemy will know that our Wei is weak and needs three great generals to resist their invasion. In this way, not only will it fail to undermine the morale of the enemy, but it will boost their self-confidence and make them covet our territory even more. In the long run, the war will continue to escalate, the people will live in dire straits, and the society will be in turmoil. By then, the domestic situation will be in chaos, with internal and external troubles intertwined, and the situation will become extremely complicated and difficult! ”