From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 372

The drums were deafening and the firecrackers were blasting.

Under the waving dragon flags, tens of thousands of soldiers from the Five Army Camps knelt down and paid homage to the Holy Emperor.

This magnificent military might shocked all the civil and military officials. After going to the Central Plains, the Five Army Camps seemed to have been reborn and became a real elite.

Even Yang Guozhong and others couldn't help but change color. Looking at the uniform military posture, they felt mixed emotions.

In terms of leading troops to fight, Zhou Yuan was indeed talented enough and had made impressive achievements.

Rewarding generals was the emperor's highlight.

Empress Zhaojing, wearing a dragon robe, stepped down from the dragon chariot and strode towards the Five Army Camps, surrounded by the imperial guards.

Then the imperial guards stopped, with only seven or eight inner guards following behind.

"Comrades, you have been on the expedition for four months, and have gone through hard battles and fought bravely. You have wiped out bandits, saved the people, recovered the Central Plains, promoted the righteousness of the court, and boosted the prestige of the Jin Dynasty. I am very pleased with your hard work and great contributions. Please stand up and speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The soldiers of the five military camps stood up together, each of them standing straight like a pine tree, with a solemn expression, suppressing the earth-shaking excitement in their hearts.

Empress Zhaojing walked up to Zhou Yuan and said loudly: "Zhou Yuan, the Earl of Zhongwu, the Grand Commander of the Five Military Camps, and the Grand Marshal of Suppressing Bandits, is good at fighting and should be the first to be awarded!"

Zhou Yuan said solemnly: "Thanks to your majesty's grace, fortunately, the prosperity of the Great Jin Dynasty, I can follow the will of heaven and recover the Central Plains."

Empress Zhaojing opened her mouth, tears in her eyes, and whispered: "Little Junior Brother, you have lost a lot of weight in the past four months. You have worked hard."

Zhou Yuan lowered his head and smiled: "Then I will eat more tonight and try to grow meat back."

"Naughty."

Empress Zhaojing smiled lightly and went to appease other generals.

Liu Fang, Li He and others were so excited that they almost shed tears to be able to say a few words to your majesty and get a few words of praise.

The glory of the military generals is at this moment!

Then there are various ceremonies such as offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. The more lively the better, and the louder the better.

After an hour, Zhou Yuan led the five military camps to tour the city, and went back and forth until dusk, when the army returned to the camp to rest. Of course, a celebration banquet would definitely be arranged.

Their rewards would come soon, and then it would be time to go home to visit their families.

And Zhou Yuan couldn't go home directly. Such a big thing naturally required a rigorous and complete report.

Entering the palace and arriving at the Imperial Study, all the cabinet ministers were there.

The first assistant Yang Guozhong, the second assistant Deng Bochi, cabinet ministers Xu Shigong, Zeng Cheng, Wang Lun (Duo), and the Minister of War Wu Qingrong.

This time they did not sing against Zhou Yuan, but saluted to show respect.

This is the respect brought by real achievements, a great achievement that transcends party disputes.

Empress Zhaojing changed into her daily clothes and also arrived at the Imperial Study.

After everyone saluted, they all sat down.

Although Empress Zhaojing's expression was calm, there was still excitement and joy in her eyes that could not be concealed.

She said softly: "Lord Zhongwu, tell me in detail about the war in the Central Plains. Restore the war for me and the ministers. The internal security records will be sorted out and reviewed by the cabinet and circulated."

Zhou Yuan nodded, and then started talking about the refugees he met on the road, and talked about several key battles in the past few months.

Of course, Li Yu'an's identity cannot be exposed. He only said that there is a genius in the Five Army Camp who can make pig skin masks, and his craftsmanship is enough to make fakes look real.

He talked nonstop for an hour, and the cabinet ministers were also very interested. They asked many questions, and Zhou Yuan answered them one by one.

It was dark, and the time was almost up.

Empress Zhaojing smiled and said: "Let's stop here today. After the morning court tomorrow, we have to prepare a celebration banquet. Then you can chat freely."

Everyone stood up and bowed to say goodbye.

Zhou Yuan left the imperial study and met Xiaozhuang without any surprise.

This female warrior, who was over 1.9 meters tall, also smiled rarely, narrowed her eyes and said, "Okay, Zhou Yuan, you made His Majesty very happy this time. He asked me to keep you. Let's go to Ziwei Palace."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Master Xiaozhuang, I haven't seen you for a long time. Judging from your momentum, I'm afraid your cultivation has become much more advanced."

Xiaozhuang waved his hand and said, "Don't use these words to trick me. With your understanding of martial arts, I can't see any profound cultivation at all."

"But considering your good attitude, I can tell you that since receiving the victory report, His Majesty has been in a much happier mood, his appetite has increased, and he sleeps well at night. This has never happened in many years."

"Anyone in this state will be very tolerant."

Seeing the table full of wine and food in the bedroom, Zhou Yuan couldn't help swallowing and nodded, "I can see that the senior sister is going to treat me."

Xiaozhuang smiled and said, "You have worked hard and made great contributions. It's time to enjoy yourself.I'm leaving."

Zhou Yuan pondered Xiaozhuang's words, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and he couldn't help laughing.

After a while, the eldest sister changed into ordinary home clothes, took off the heavy decorations, and just casually tied her hair and sat down.

She looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile and said softly: "You are useless. Look how greedy you are. If you want to eat, just pick up the chopsticks. No need to be polite."

"Thank you, eldest sister!"

Zhou Yuan responded, picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

While eating, he said: "The food in the army is not good. I eat dry food every day, and my mouth is blistered. I haven't seen such good things for several months."

"Hmm... It smells so good!"

Empress Zhao Jing poured him a full glass of wine and chuckled: "Come, have a taste. "

Zhou Yuan was stunned, and didn't care that it was the emperor who poured the wine. He just picked up the cup and drank it in one gulp.

The hot and spicy taste went into his throat, and it went all the way to his stomach, and his whole body was hot.

He glared and said, "Good wine! It's strong!"

Empress Zhao Jing smiled and said, "This is the best tribute wine treasured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It has been hidden for decades, and there is not much left. Only you have this good fortune."

Zhou Yuan laughed and said, "It's still the eldest sister who loves me."

Empress Zhao Jing shook her head and sighed, "What's the point of doing this? I'm just worrying about the dragon throne. How can it compare to you risking your life on the battlefield."

"I have traveled thousands of miles to fight against hundreds of thousands of people with tens of thousands of people. If I win, it's good to be like this now. If I lose, how can I explain to my sister Jianjia?"

"Before receiving your report, I was always worried, but now I'm finally fine. "

At the end, her tone was full of relief.

Zhou Yuan understood her pressure, so he poured her a glass of wine and said with a smile: "Big sister, what we do is difficult, and it is normal to encounter setbacks."

"We should get used to such challenges and have a firm will and an optimistic attitude. If we always lament how hard it is and how difficult it is, we will eventually fall into the quagmire of being content with small gains and being proud of small achievements, and lose our true goals."

"In my opinion, we won this time, and celebrate well, that's enough."

"Next time things come, we still have the confidence to win and eventually achieve our goals."

These words stunned Empress Zhao Jing.

She stared at Zhou Yuan in a daze, nodded slowly and said: "Well said, little junior brother, it's me who is obsessed."

"The more complicated the matter, the simpler the mentality to face it, maybe it will be easier to deal with it."

Zhou Yuan raised his glass and blinked his eyes and said: "Don't just talk, let's drink first. "

"Good!"

Empress Zhao Jing clinked glasses with him and said with a smile: "Congratulations on our victory this time. I will drink with you tonight!"

The two drank it all in one gulp, and the conversation slowly opened up.

Zhou Yuan talked about some details in the Central Plains, such as the handwriting imitating master in the inner court, the extravagant style of the Yun family, and Chenxi's experience.

Empress Zhao Jing was also sometimes curious and sometimes angry. The two drank one cup after another and were a little drunk.

"To be honest, little junior brother, I am not bragging to you. My alcohol tolerance is definitely the best among women. I can't say that I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, but at least I can drink a hundred cups without getting drunk."

"During this period, I often drink with Qinshui and Bishui. The two of them together are not my opponents."

"You'd better not compete with Senior Sister today, otherwise Senior Sister will get you drunk."

Zhou Yuan swallowed his saliva and whispered: "Senior Sister, I understand everything you said, but your wine has spilled and your clothes are wet. "

"It's wet, so it's wet."

Empress Zhaojing waved her hand and said, "It's summer, you won't catch a cold, and your elder sister has deep internal strength, so she hasn't been sick for a long time."

No... elder sister, your white clothes are so transparent after getting wet.

The snow-white clothes are transparent, and the goose yellow bellyband is looming. Because it is soaked, it sticks to the skin, accumulating deep ravines.

Zhou Yuan said, "Are you drunk, elder sister?"

Empress Zhaojing slapped the table and said, "Nonsense! Your elder sister can accompany you to fight until dawn!"

She took another sip and took off her hairpin.

So, her black hair fell like a waterfall.

At this moment, she was indescribably beautiful with a blurred look in her eyes.

She seemed no longer the majestic king who was high above, but the kind and gentle elder sister.