The princess regretted it.

Chapter 281 Seeking Reward in the Court

Wu Anshuo felt a mixture of joy and sorrow after hearing the emperor's words. Rewarding someone for his meritorious service was an opportunity to glorify his family and restore its prestige, so naturally he was happy. There was nothing much to say about his joy.

But this sadness was something to behold, like a thick haze that instantly enveloped his heart. Because both father and son were injured and had difficulty moving.

His son, Changfeng, was in better shape. Although he could walk normally, his leg injury caused him to limp, and he had become a cripple. The imperial court always valued the appearance and good posture of officials, and it was impossible for a cripple to be appointed to an official position. Changfeng's career path was likely to be full of thorns, and his future was worrying.

He himself was even more sad. The serious injury on his back made him need help even for daily tasks such as getting up and going to the bathroom. The marquis who was once majestic and powerful on the battlefield had now ended up in such a situation, as if he had fallen from the clouds into the mud. The huge gap made him full of sadness.

Before Wu Anshuo entered the palace, he had already carefully planned everything. He and Changfeng's injuries were still uncertain whether they could be healed. If they couldn't recover, their path to officialdom would undoubtedly be a major challenge in a court that prioritized the physical fitness of officials, and his many ambitions might be difficult to realize.

In such a situation, he knew that the most urgent thing to consider was how to maintain the title and foundation of the Marquisate so that it could continue and not decline in this turbulent situation.

Fortunately, Changfeng already had a son. Although he was a bastard, his birth still brought a glimmer of hope to the Marquisate. He secretly thought that if the child showed extraordinary talent in the future and was a promising talent, then according to ancestral rules, it would not be impossible to make his mother a co-wife. This would not only consolidate the child's status, but also provide a guarantee for the future of the Marquisate.

Regardless, he was determined to do his utmost to pave a smooth path forward for the Wu family's descendants. Furthermore, he had originally considered that since Changfeng's leg injury might prevent him from holding a high-ranking position, a sinecure in the Hanlin Academy would be a good option. After all, the Hanlin Academy was a gathering place for scholars, and serving there would allow Changfeng to access a wide range of government information while also preserving the Wu family's place in the court. If the opportunity arose in the future, perhaps he could find a way to revitalize the family.

So when the emperor asked what reward they wanted, he looked at the emperor with a face full of shame and emotion. His eyes were slightly red, and he said to the emperor with a slightly choked voice: "Your Majesty is wise. My father and I have only fulfilled our duties. We dare not ask for rewards. But now I have become like this," he raised his hand and gently pointed at his weak body, "Every movement is like a heavy burden on my shoulders. I don't know if there is any miracle doctor who can help me. I have been in the army for half my life, and my loyalty has never changed. I still want to serve the emperor, and I still want to plead for the people and guard the border. I just hate that this body is not obedient. But I..." At this point, he was already in tears, and the tears burst out uncontrollably. He cried loudly, and his grief-stricken appearance made people feel unbearable.

Upon seeing this, the emperor calmly winked at Fuquan. Eunuch Fuquan had followed the emperor for many years and they already had a tacit understanding. He hurried forward and handed a handkerchief to Wu Anshuo with both hands.

Wu Anshuo took the handkerchief with a touched look on his face and said to Eunuch Fuquan, "Thank you, Eunuch Fu." Then he picked up the handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from his face, with a bit of humility and gratitude in his action.

The emperor observed his every move and spoke slowly, "I know you and your son have suffered this time. I will have the Imperial Hospital do its best to treat you and your son."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wu Anshuo hurriedly thanked him loudly. He believed that with the emperor's words, his and his son's injuries should be cured. After hearing the emperor's words, Wu Changfeng also kowtowed in gratitude, his forehead touching the ground, his attitude extremely pious.

Wu Anshuo then seemed to muster up immense courage and tentatively spoke again, "Your Majesty, Feng'er is young, and his talents are well known throughout the capital. He is well-read, intelligent, and has a bright future. His leg injury hasn't fully healed yet, and his mobility is limited, but I truly cannot bear to see him waste his talents. I dare to ask Your Majesty for a favor. Could you please allow him to take a sinecure in the Hanlin Academy? There, he can continue his studies, contribute to the court, and slowly recuperate, ready to serve Your Majesty in the future."

Wu Anshuo's previous tragic drama was actually intended to cleverly appeal to the emperor's sympathy, so that making such a request would be easier to achieve.

As for other rewards, he estimated that His Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, would naturally spare no expense to maintain the royal dignity and demonstrate favor to meritorious officials. Rewards of gold, silver, jewelry, silks, and satins would surely be plentiful. However, this position in the Hanlin Academy was the key to the future of the Wu family. He had to fight for his son and his family.

As he finished speaking, Wu Changfeng's face flushed red with embarrassment. He felt a surge of heat from his neck rapidly rising to his cheeks, burning intensely. He felt the embarrassment of having his secrets exposed in public grip him tightly. He felt as if everyone in the hall was looking at him, a thorn in his back, making him feel uneasy. He didn't dare look up at the emperor sitting above, fearing that he would meet his majestic gaze, nor did he dare look up at the people around him, fearing that they would catch a look of mockery or all-knowing insight.

Everyone present was shrewd, so how could they not be aware of Wu Anshuo's scheme? Mu Xiang and the Duke of Huguo exchanged a silent glance, their gazes filled with a thousand words, each beautifully concealed beneath a calm expression. The Duke of Huguo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile before quickly averting his gaze.

The emperor, sitting on the throne, gave Wu Anshuo a meaningful look. His gaze was deep, and he calmly surveyed Wu Anshuo and his son. He thought to himself, "He's quite calculating. First, he's trying to gain my sympathy through his plight, and then he's using this opportunity to ask for an official position for his son. His thinking is quite meticulous. And it's only an idle position, which seems so lowly. If I don't grant it, and word gets out, wouldn't it make me seem heartless and disloyal? This would discourage my meritorious officials and the people in the court. Who would be willing to work for me and this country in the future? Therefore, I must not only agree to his request, but also give him another reward."

The Emperor was quite displeased at being so blatantly plotted against. However, he needed to stabilize the Wu family father and son first, as they were still useful. Furthermore, the current focus was on the mastermind behind the grain robbery plan; that was the person he wanted to deal with with all his might.