This series of actions left everyone, including Ye Wenyu himself, at a loss.
The eunuch delivering the imperial decree finished speaking and, seeing that Ye Wenyu was dumbfounded and unresponsive, couldn't help but remind him, "Deputy Commander Ye, shouldn't you quickly accept the decree and express your gratitude?"
"Your subject, Ye Wenyu, thanks Your Majesty for the great grace." Ye Wenyu immediately collected himself, knocked his forehead on the ground in obeisance, accepted the decree, and expressed his gratitude.
Even after returning to his seat, Ye Wenyu remained in a bewildered state.
Logically speaking, officers from the frontier border, even if they receive rewards, would still typically hold positions at the frontier because after receiving their rewards, they would need to return to their armies.
However, being appointed as the Left Deputy Commander of the Eastern Guard Army, that's a position at the capital, and moreover, it carries the rank of a Fourth Rank Tiger Wing General! Fresh chapters posted on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚✦𝕟𝕖𝕥
Does this mean he is to remain in the capital?
Ye Wenyu had witnessed much over the years, but he truly couldn't make sense of this matter.
Not only was he himself baffled, but even others couldn't understand what the old Emperor intended with this move.
Only Sikong Mo maintained a composed demeanor, as if he understood everything, with a slight smirk on his lips and an expression of profound mystery.
There were others who received rewards afterward, but there were not as many twists and turns, and everything went very smoothly.
After the awards were completed, the old Emperor exchanged some polite words again.
Subsequently, the topic shifted to Sikong Mo.
At the same time, it was time for the main topic to arrive. "The rewards for all meritorious heroes have been completed, but for this Nanchang battle, perhaps the greatest merit belongs to the War King. However, this reward indeed troubles me greatly!"
With the topic shifting to himself, Sikong Mo naturally couldn't remain silent.
Immediately, Sikong Mo stood up. Unlike others, due to his different status, he did not leave his position to respond, "The responsibility of safeguarding the frontier border has been the duty of the Sikong family and is an honor for our War Prince Residence. Your Majesty need not grant a reward."
"Alas..." The old Emperor's objective was not yet achieved, so he naturally wouldn't give up hastily, "The duty of guarding the frontier was the promise made to Dongyue by the ancestors of the War Prince Residence, but now that all meritorious heroes have been rewarded, how can we alone omit the War King? If the people knew, wouldn't they think that I am so stingy, asking the War Prince Residence to serve Dongyue without even begrudging a reward?"
The old Emperor spoke with a jesting tone, so the ministers around him dared not show disrespect and laughed along.
However, Sikong Mo merely curved his lips slightly.
"As for this reward..." The old Emperor pretended to ponder for a moment, then continued, "The War King is already a dignified Prince and the chief commander at the frontier, and in the past, the rewards have been mostly gold and silver. Presumably, the storerooms of the Royal Residence are already filled to the brim, and the War King lacks none of these. After much thought..."
Sikong Mo stood up once more, walked to the middle of the great hall, and for the first time, relinquished his privilege as the War King, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, "My subject indeed lacks one thing, but it's unknown whether Your Majesty would be willing to part with it?"
Sikong Mo's earnestness caused a tightening in the old Emperor's heart.
Since the founding of Dongyue, the War Prince Residence has held a special privilege that the War Prince can freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace and be exempted from the ritual of kneeling before the Emperor.
Sikong Mo, known for his pride, had never knelt before, even as a young child when he inherited the War Prince Residence.
Now, he was willing to bend his knee, but for him to do so, what he seeks must be...
A deep, profound worry arose in the old Emperor's heart.