Chapter 49: Predicted Rewards
Translator: Claire.KK
“The emperor arrives!” Eunuch Xu’s voice, which sounded like a duck, rose in the hall, then everyone stood up immediately and extended their respects.

Although tonight’s imperial banquet was held for the Crown Prince, General Leng Yufeng and Childe Huan Moche, the emperor had been watching the performances of song and dance but hadn’t mentioned a word of praise since he came here. Even the seductive dancing girls danced beautifully, the atmosphere in the hall became a little awkward.

Just when the crowd couldn’t bear the atmosphere, the emperor sitting on the top finally said mercifully “General Leng and Childe Huan have rendered great service this time. What kind of rewards would you want?”

If it were an ordinary man that the emperor personally rewarded, he would be happy beyond words. But on the contrary, Leng Yufeng and Huan Moche didn’t have any sense of joy. Both of them knew that if it were not for the Crown Prince, they wouldn’t have entered the palace

“My majesty, it should be all credited to Crown Prince that we could safely ship food to the Fengzhou City. Our Crown Prince spared no pains on the way and even risked his life to protect the food’s security. If my majesty would reward us according to our deserts, Crown Prince should be rewarded firstly!” Leng Yufeng stood up, watched Crown Prince and said. It looked like that there was full of esteem in General Leng’s eyes, but Huan Moche knew that his good friend was definitely not a busybody and what hidden in Leng Yufeng’s eyes was his obscure love for Crown Prince.

In order to win Crown Prince’s favor, Hun Moche was not willing to be left behind and he also stood up, with a warm smile hanging on his face. However, Leng Yufeng still caught the provocation in his good friend’s charming eyes. Well, the others would often be bewitched by Huan Mo Che’s gentle temperament, but they didn’t notice the cunning in his eyes.

“What General Leng said is right. The Crown Prince did not only risk his life to guard the food, but also help the local people in Fengzhou City find ways to make their livings. He taught them to hunt and bought some seeds from other counties for them. The local people will harvest their own crops in less than two months!” Watching the Crown Prince sitting there, Huan Moche filled his charming eyes with joy and affection, which didn’t like the usual false blandness but were very sincere. Unfortunately, the others didn’t recognize that, nor did Shang Wuxin notice that.

People had heard some rumors about the reforms in Fengzhou City and knew that the Crown Prince changed the lives of the local people, some of whom even carved a plague for him and hung it on the gate of the city, which stirred the mainland. However, hearing Childe Huan narrated that in this way, people still couldn’t help admiring the Crown Prince or being afraid of him.

Both Leng Yu Yufeng and Huan Moche were big shots in the Shang State. As they praised the Crown Prince, many girls looked at him, thinking that the Eldest Princess just said that the Crown Prince was not married, then they all pondered that if they could marry him, even not as the Principle Consort, they would become an Imperial Consort or at least a Consort when Crown Prince took over the throne in the future.

Shang Wuxin turned her eyes to the two persons beneath her who tried their best to show themselves, and they happened to look at her at the same time. Shang Wuxin felt her heart miss a beat but still remained expressionless and averted her eyes to Emperor Shang sitting on the top.

And at the moment, Emperor Shang was staring at Crown Prince beneath him. As always, it was difficult to understand the look in Emperor Shang’s eyes. But everyone knew that there was no satisfaction and care for Crown Prince in his eyes. Nevertheless, a glimmer of smile still flashed in Crown Prince’s eyes, and he let Emperor Shang notice his smile on purpose. As expected, Emperor Shang was stunned for an instant and he withdrew his eyes from Crown Prince uneasily.

“My majesty, Crown Prince have made much contribution for the prosperous and contented lives of the local people in Fengzhou City. My majesty should reward him for what he has done.” The man who stood out and spook for Crown Prince should be the Minister Bai who had been remaining neutral. He wore his official robe and kneeled down, and his righteousness was showed without reservation.

Not and in a short while, some other officials also stood out. However, they all usually maintained neutrality, and more importantly, these officials used to be in important positions, from which it could be seen that the Crown Prince was very competent at gaining support from others.

“What does Crown Prince want as rewards?” Emperor Shang, sitting there in a domineering manner, let the officials stand up and asked.

Her hands in her sleeves moved slightly, and then Shang Wuxin stood up genteelly; her every movement was very graceful. She looked at the Emperor Shang sitting above him and said, “I have already established my own house and been 15 years old, but I haven’t had my own soldiers. I found that the 3000 soldiers in Fengzhou City are not bad, why not father grant them to me?”

All the princes who had their own mansion all possessed their own soldiers, and each of them owned about 3000 soldiers and also had many private soldiers. But as Crown Prince hadn’t been favored by Emperor Shang, even he had his own mansion early, he didn’t have any soldiers. The moment Crown Prince mentioned it, people all remembered.

Emperor Shang picked up the wine cup and took a sip of the wine, but didn’t answer Crown Prince’s question.

The group of Consorts and Princes became happy instantly. They weren’t afraid of the Crown Prince at all before, but these days, they realized that the Crown Prince became a threat to them. Nevertheless, seeing the Emperor’s attitudes, they all gloated, thinking that no matter how competent the Crown Prince would be, Emperor Shang wouldn’t care him. But unexpectedly, while the Consorts and Princes were still in good mood, they heard Emperor Shang’s voice.

“Indeed, Crown Prince is not young. As you have contributed a lot this time, I agree to grant the 3000 soldiers to Crown Prince!” This decision had been made as the Emperor Shang’s voice rose.

“Yeah, Crown Prince is not still young. I remember that when the Eldest Prince was at this age, he has already married!” The Imperial Consort Qin smiled and said, “Now, as the Crown Prince has already been fifteen years old, according to our customs, it’s time for Crown Prince to get married. In my opinion, Crown Prince should get married!”

The Eldest Prince, Shang Chenzhao, looking at his mother, felt annoyed; then he looked at his cousin, Wanwan. He knew that his mother wanted Wanwan to marry Crown Prince, so, Wanwan could control Crown Prince. But the Eldest Prince thought that his mother should know his affection for Wanwan; although he always indulged himself in flirting with other different women, he really liked Wanwan.

“I agreed with Imperial Consort Qin!” The Consort Xin seconded immediately. Although her fingers had drooped, she still insisted to attend this imperial banquet. At the moment, there was only one thing left in Consort Xin’s mind—to bring the Crown Prince down. She wanted to revenge.

Shang Wuxin had been tired of these women’s annoying strategies. She was willing to listen to them and reply to some questions at the very beginning, but for the moment, she thought that she had run out of her patience. She had already got what she wanted in the banquet, so, she had no interest in staying here any longer.

Shang Wuxin picked up a peanut from the table and directly threw it to Leng Yufeng sitting next to her. But Leng Yufeng was so alert that she couldn’t hit him. When the peanut was about to hit Leng Yufeng’s arm, Leng Yufeng moved his body slightly and then the peanut was knocked down by Huan Moche beside Leng.

Both Leng Yufeng and Huan Moche looked at Crown Prince but didn’t understand what the Crown Prince wanted to do.

Shang Wuxin took a look at Leng Yufeng. The impatience in her eyes was too clear. As Shang Wuxin glanced at Leng Yufeng’s injured back, then not only did Leng Yufeng understand what Shang planned to do, but also Huan Moche got it.

Huan Moche’s charming eyes were full of joy and love, he had never expected that the cool Crown Prince would sometimes be naughty.

While looking at Crown Prince’s poker face, Leng Yufeng didn’t know why he could see Crown Prince’s grievance and boredom from the delicate face, which softened Leng Yufeng’s heart surprisingly.

“General Leng, what happened to you?” Crown Prince’s panic voice rose in the hall.