The princess regretted it.

Chapter 283 Celebration Banquet

Zhang Chengde sat in his seat, his head slightly lowered, the glimmer in his eyes hidden in the shadows. No one knew what he was thinking at the moment, and no one cared. Everyone's attention was focused on the Zhong and Mu families.

The Second Prince's reaction was unremarkable. He sat quietly at the table, watching the bustling scene unfold before him. He showed no emotion at the fact that Zhong Chuzhou and Mu Zixuan had been rewarded for their meritorious service. In his eyes, it was simply the honor they had earned through their own abilities, and there was nothing wrong with it. However, a discerning eye could detect a subtle flicker of envy in his eyes.

He raised his head slightly and drank the wine in the glass. Thinking about his days of struggling in the palace, he secretly thought in his heart, how wonderful it would be if he could be like them, galloping on the battlefield, making achievements, and living a free and easy life.

In contrast to the Second Prince's calmness, the Third Prince, Changsun Wuwang, was in turmoil, his mind racing. His narrow eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze darted back and forth between his father, Jin An, Prime Minister Mu, and the Duke of Huguo, attempting to decipher the profound meaning in their every move, every expression, and every smile.

He was a meticulous thinker, far more thoughtful and farsighted than the Second Prince. At that moment, he recalled the previous rift between him and Jin'an, and couldn't help but feel a surge of regret. Now that the situation was becoming clearer, he saw the power behind Jin'an as a towering mountain, indestructible. Befriending him would undoubtedly lay a solid foundation for his future.

He took a deep breath and secretly made up his mind to find an opportunity to repair his relationship with Jin An, turn around this situation that seemed to be off track, and increase his chances of succession.

As everyone pondered their own thoughts, the Emperor's eldest grandson, Hongze, sat at the head of the table, calmly observing the reactions of the crowd below. He cleared his throat and continued, "All the meritorious officers of the Zhenbei Army listed in Marquis Mu's submission will be rewarded. They have defended our territory and protected our people with their flesh and blood, and their contributions are invaluable. I hope everyone will remember the names of each and every soldier. Today is the day they will be honored." With this, he raised his hand slightly, motioning for Eunuch Fuquan to present the already prepared edict of reward.

Eunuch Fuquan held the imperial edict respectfully in both hands, took small steps, and walked carefully to the center of the hall. Then he knelt down and raised the imperial edict above his head.

The emperor spoke again, calling out the names one by one: "Zhan Yu, deputy general under Mu En, fought bravely and repeatedly broke through the enemy's defenses. He was awarded the title of General Mingwei and a reward of 1,000 taels of silver and 100 pieces of silk. Chen Hu, who led his brothers in numerous surprise attacks on the enemy's rear, causing great disarray in the enemy's army, turned the tide at a critical moment and stabilized the situation. He was awarded the title of General of Cavalry and a reward of 1,000 taels of silver and 100 pieces of silk. Zhao Yunfei, who was promoted to captain of a hundred households, was awarded 500 taels of silver and 50 pieces of silk..."

The emperor's voice echoed in the hall, and every word was resounding, like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's heart, making the soldiers present excited, and making the ministers in the court once again deeply feel the emperor's grace.

"The soldiers on the border have been rewarded according to their merits. Next, I will also reward the meritorious officials of the Jin Dynasty who did not fight on the battlefield but made contributions to ensure the victory of this battle." The emperor adjusted his sitting posture and spoke slowly.

"Although Minister of Revenue Lin Song did not personally participate in the battlefield, he managed the rear, ensuring the timely and sufficient provision of fodder and equipment, ensuring the army had no worries. He was promoted to the first rank of Guanglu Dafu and given a hundred pieces of brocade. His daughter, Lin Qian, is intelligent, kind, and gentle. Effective immediately, she is promoted to a noble lady and given the name "Xian," and is to reside in Youlan Palace."

After the emperor finished speaking, Lin Song, dressed in court robes, walked to the center, knelt down, and shouted, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Long live Your Majesty!" amid the silent sighs of the crowd.

When Zhang Chengde heard the reward, he clenched his teeth, and the viciousness in his eyes shot towards the man who was kneeling in the hall with a smug look on his face. The wine glass in his hand was about to be crushed! His heart was blocked with pain.

He thought to himself, "So Lin Song had gone to such great lengths to prepare food and fodder, all for the sake of this logistical achievement." Now that his plan had come to fruition, he was enjoying such glory. This was truly a slap in the face of the Grand Tutor's Mansion. And now, he had even sent his daughter to the Emperor. Was he hoping to replace her? He thought inwardly, "Do you think you can enjoy wealth and glory just like this? Just wait and see! We'll see how long you can hold on to your pride."

Jin An glanced at Zhang Chengde casually, observing his reaction closely. He lowered his head and chuckled softly, then turned his head to whisper a few words to Han Shuang beside him. Han Shuang looked up at Jin An and then quietly withdrew.

"Marquis Jinwu Wu Anshuo and his son Wu Changfeng have made great contributions in transporting grain this time. In particular, they were seriously injured when encountering bandits who robbed the grain, but they still fought hard to protect the grain. Their spirit is commendable and their contributions are invaluable. Marquis Jinwu is appointed as the General Zhenyuan and granted an additional 300 acres of land to commend his merits. Wu Changfeng is young and promising, so he is allowed to enter the Hanlin Academy and serve as a Shujishi. If he can pass the imperial examination next year, I will immediately promote him to the position of editor. I hope that you two will keep up the good work and make new contributions to the court." The emperor's deep and powerful voice sounded slowly again.

Upon hearing this, Wu Changfeng quickly put down his wine glass, stood up from his seat, limped to the center, knelt, and respectfully kowtowed in thanks: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! I will serve the court with my whole life!"

Although Wu Changfeng was still somewhat unwilling to accept the position of Shujishi, facing the emperor's kindness and power, he could only bury his emotions deep in his heart for the time being, secretly encouraging himself, determined to stand out in the imperial examination next year and not let others look down on him.

With the announcement of this round of rewards, the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly complex and subtle. Various factions, whether joyful or anxious, calculating or plotting, all intertwined and collided within this grand feast. Each reward from the emperor was clearly spelled out, employing both kindness and authority, leaving everyone feeling both the emperor's immense grace and the irreversible power of his authority.

After the emperor finished his announcement, he smiled and raised the wine glass on the table, and said in a loud voice: "My dear ministers, today is a day of great joy for our dynasty. The border has returned victoriously, and the meritorious officials have been rewarded. It is indeed a grand event for the country. Please drink this cup with me to celebrate this peaceful and prosperous era. I pray that our Great Jin Dynasty will be forever stable and the people will live and work in peace and contentment!" After that, he was the first to drink the wine in the glass, and his eyes swept across the audience, his eyes full of expectations for the future and confidence in controlling the overall situation.

Upon seeing this, the ministers stood up, raised their wine glasses respectfully with both hands, and shouted in unison: "Long live the emperor!" Then, they drank it all in one gulp.

As the musicians unleashed their signature skills, the pre-tuned instruments blazed forth simultaneously. The melodious music, like the gurgling sound of clear mountain water, streamed down from the mist-shrouded peaks, flowing into every corner of the hall. The soothing and beautiful melody dispelled the hall's somewhat solemn atmosphere, bringing a sense of relaxation and contentment.

The dancers entered the stage gracefully to the sound of music. Each one of them was of exquisite beauty, their makeup intricate and delicate, like fairies descended from heaven. Their gossamer gowns, as thin as cicada wings, fluttered in the breeze, and as they danced, their figures were as light and agile as willows in the wind, flowing freely and elegantly. The ribbons traced graceful arcs in the air, echoing their steps. The scene was dreamlike, like a fairyland on earth, captivating the audience, who were immersed in the joyful atmosphere of singing and dancing.