After Dai Quan finished reading the imperial decree, Jia She finally managed to put on a strained smile.
He took out a five-hundred tael silver note, then thought for a moment and secretly put it back.
He replaced it with a two-hundred tael silver note and passed it over, laughing and making small talk: "It's been a while since the Eunuch has been here. Come on, come on, let's go have some drinks at my place!"
Dai Quan said with a smile: "It's not that I haven't come, it's that you haven't gone out, Duke Jia En."
"To receive a reward from you today and see you being so courteous, I can't believe my own eyes!"
"Let's drink another time, I still have the Emperor's task."
"I also have a message from the Emperor for you, listen carefully."
He then straightened his expression.
Mimicking the Emperor's tone, he said: "Now that my son is flourishing, don't hide in the courtyard all day. Remember, you are my Duke Jia En!"
The Duke Jia En who once beat up all the nobles in the capital, how could he be a good-for-nothing?
"Yes, my son has stepped forward, even if I want to hide, the people from back then wouldn't let me!"
Jia She sighed, slowly straightening his body.
His body, which had seemed to be hollowed out by wine and women, now burst with a captivating power.
Li Xuan, who was standing in the distance, narrowed his eyes.
He used to be a rank seven official, but even after ten years of neglect, he was still rank eight.
His foundation was indeed strong, worthy of being the son of the Duke of Rong!
And his ability to conceal himself, it actually fooled even me.
"Alright, please stay."
Dai Quan clasped his hands and prepared to leave with a smile.
Jia She persuaded: "Even if you don't drink, our relationship, I can't let you leave without a cup of tea?"
"Second Brother, bring out the good tea you've been hiding!"
"It's not out of politeness," Dai Quan declined repeatedly, "There are two others in the neighboring manor."
"Why else would the Emperor say not to let you hide anymore."
"Three Earls, you can't hide even if you want to!"
Jia She: "These young brats are so strong?"
For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel lucky or scared.
The Jia family was rising again, would the people from back then let them off...
Watching Dai Quan leave, Li Xuan was a bit curious.
Looking at Jia She's sudden burst of cultivation and his familiar demeanor with Dai Quan, he was clearly no simple figure back then.
What happened back then that required him to be so self-degrading?
As for why Dai Quan was delivering the imperial decree instead of Xia Shou Zhong.
With the Emperor wielding the power of the two suns, His Majesty was walking on eggshells, even after ten years of reigning, he couldn't outsmart the Emperor.
Not to mention, only the Emperor could appoint the officials of rank three or above who could participate in the small court meeting.
Conferring titles, only those approved by the Emperor would count.
His Majesty was watching his power being untouched, he was about to cry from envy!
He gave Qing Wen beside him a wink.
This clever little girl immediately ran to the neighboring manor to gather information.
After a while, she came back running, excitedly saying:
"Sir, Hu Ge and Gong Ge over there are also Earls."
"But Hu Ge is a First-Rank Earl, while Gong Ge is a Second-Rank Earl!"
"Do you know their specific achievements?" Li Xuan asked.
"I didn't understand anyway, I heard it from the servants over there, they said Hu Ge captured a lot of Jiannu nobles, while Gong Ge charged into the Turkic army and beheaded the Turkic King."
Before Qing Wen could finish, Xiang Ling was startled after hearing this.
"Fourth Master, I remember you said that these brothers can't beat you, so are you the kind of person they sing about in the plays, taking the enemy's head from amidst a million troops, like taking something out of a pocket?"
Li Xuan patted her head.
Smiling: "Be confident, I'm really super strong."
Xiang Ling nodded confidently: "Master, I believe you!"
Qing Wen was a bit unconvinced.
She rolled her big eyes, ignoring the difference between master and servant, and said: "If you are so powerful, why don't you go to the battlefield, why do you have to be a lousy Jin Yi Wei?"
"Jin Yi Wei has an existing Hundred Households, if you go to the army, you can only start from being a common soldier, and even if you achieve merit, it may not be yours, where do you think I should go?"
Qing Wen: "..."
"Stop thinking about it, what does it have to do with you?"
"I guess there will be another celebration at the manor, that's the real deal!"
Li Xuan chuckled, and walked towards the small courtyard with his hands behind his back.
...
The following days, life returned to its usual routine.
After a few days, the official document for rewarding merit was issued, Li Xuan was promoted one level, becoming the Deputy Chief of the North Town Guard of Jin Yi Wei, rank five.
【Ding, Host has been promoted from rank six Jin Yi Wei Hundred Households to rank five Jin Yi Wei Deputy Chief, promotion level 1. 】
【Task 2】：The Glory of the Li Family of the Capital (4) → The Glory of the Li Family of the Capital (5)
【Reward】：High position and power, safety is paramount.
5. 100 rank seven guards, can be materialized at any time.
(PS1: Reward characters are all die-hard loyalists, they refresh at 0:00 every day, maintaining a full complement of 100)
(PS2: The reward is guards, they are only for protection, they can cause damage during protection, but they cannot cause damage when acting as assassins or the like)
500 guards, unfortunately, not a single one can be used.
Living in the Duke of Rong's manor, if I summon guards, wouldn't that be looking down on the manor's security force?
So, I'll keep them in the system for now.
Summoning allows you to choose between male and female, but they are all generic faces, even creating a Tang Dynasty poet isn't possible, what's the use of summoning now!
The day of Jia Rong and Jia Lian's wedding soon arrived.
As dusk approached, the sunlight slanted.
Under the gentle setting sun, Jia Lian and Jia Rong, who emerged from the manor, were bathed in a layer of golden light.
They rode on tall steeds.
Their already handsome faces were even more handsome, adding a touch of holiness.
Because he was closer to the Duke of Rong's manor, and because Jia Lian had strongly invited him, Li Xuan followed him to the Wang family to greet the bride.
Looking at the grand welcoming procession behind him, Li Xuan asked Bao Yu, who was grinning foolishly beside him: "It's not your wedding today, why are you so happy, be careful that Lian Er Ge gets jealous."
Before the big-faced Bao Yu could speak, Jia Lian, who heard this in front, turned back and said with a smile:
"Because our Bao Yu likes people with good looks the most."
"Don't look at them calling her Feng Ge, Feng Ge, it's because Feng Ya Tou is bold and has a manly spirit."
"But if you talk about looks, you can tell from Bao Yu's happy expression."
No.
You're talking about your new wife like this to me, is that okay?
"Exactly, exactly," Jia Bao Yu clapped his hands, "Sister Feng is a true fairy-like beauty, not comparable to ordinary mortals."
He smiled at the Phoenix Egg in his house.
Seeing that Li Xuan still didn't understand, Jia Lian winked: "Don't worry, good brother, your elder brother won't betray you!"
Li Xuan: "..."
So, what are you going to do to me today?
They were both in the Western City, not too far apart, and while they were talking, the welcoming procession arrived at the Wang family.
Whether it was because the Wang family wasn't up to par, or because they didn't want to make things difficult for Jia Lian.
There were no difficulties in the door-stopping game or any other activities.
They quickly received the bride.