Side by Side Marquis

Gu Chengyin finished his account. Holding the red sandalwood box in both hands, he took a step forward, bowed, and said, Your Highness, inside this box is the first token of sincerity offered by Shangguan Yuan. It contains crucial evidence. Please examine it, Your Highness.

However, Luo Zhao did not speak immediately, nor did she even look at the box.

Time slipped away in silence, every second feeling exceptionally long.

Standing to the side, Shangguan Yunying could not help but hold her breath, looking at Luo Zhao with some concern.

She was terrified that Her Highness would blame Gu Chengyin for acting on his own and setting his sights too high.

After all, their initial plan had only been to pick off a few minor targets.

Eventually, a smile bloomed on Luo Zhao's face, little by little.

It was not her usual cold, aloof smile, nor the oppressive sneer she wore in the royal court.

Instead, it was a hearty smile from the depths of her heart, filled with endless emotion, admiration, and even the exhilaration of feeling that heaven was on her side.

She shook her head gently, as if letting out a sigh that had crossed a long period of waiting.

I have waited for this sincerity for far, far too long.

Her gaze fell on Gu Chengyin's face, her eyes complex and hard to read.

I thought of many people who might deliver this sincerity to me, but I never expected...

She paused, every word carrying the weight of a thousand pounds.

...that in the end, it would be you who brought it.

This statement was an affirmation, a sigh of emotion, and a complex, indescribable evaluation.

Having said that, she stopped looking at Gu Chengyin and turned to Shangguan Yunying, her tone returning to its usual calm decisiveness.

Yunying.

This humble servant is here! Shangguan Yunying quickly responded.

Draft a decree.

Shangguan Yunying was stunned for a moment. Draft a decree? Now?

Not daring to ask further, she immediately walked briskly to the desk on the side, unrolled a specially made bright yellow silk scroll, ground the imperial ink, picked up a slender purple-hair brush, and looked up at Luo Zhao.

Luo Zhao slowly stood up from the vanity. Her plain white nightgown flowed like water with her movements.

She walked to the center of the bedchamber. The morning light filtered through the lattice window, plating her with a faint halo.

With her back to Gu Chengyin, facing the rising sun outside the window, her voice was clear and majestic, echoing distinctly in the quiet bedchamber.

When I was trapped in Beihe City, I made a promise.

Word by word, she repeated the soul-stirring vow, as if to awaken that determination and spirit once more.

With a ten-day limit, I shall descend upon the Divine Capital.

Whoever achieves this great feat, regardless of their background or past...

I promise to make them a Marquis and appoint them as Prime Minister!

She turned slightly, her gaze falling on Gu Chengyin, carrying the scrutiny and reward of a sovereign.

Gu Chengyin.

Your subject is here, Gu Chengyin bowed and replied.

You led the Golden Feather Guard, escorting me north through the encirclement and pursuit of hundreds of thousands of rebels in Luoshui Commandery. You broke the deadlock in seven days, achieving a flawless and swift victory.

This is an unparalleled merit!

Furthermore, yesterday, you convinced Shangguan Yuan for me, obtaining crucial evidence to help me cleanse the court, eliminate the parasites, and pave a smooth path forward.

This is the talent of a pillar of the state!

Luo Zhao's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

To appoint a Prime Minister requires seniority, timing, and court discussions. But to confer the title of Marquis, I can decide with a single word!

She turned to Shangguan Yunying at the desk and said deeply.

Transmit my decree!

Shangguan Yunying held her brush, waiting with rapt attention.

Gu Chengyin has shown great merit in escorting me north. He possesses both wisdom and courage, outstanding abilities, and commendable loyalty. Furthermore, he has the ambition to cleanse the political landscape and the ability to stabilize the realm. He has deeply earned my trust and has not disappointed my expectations.

He is hereby specially titled as...

Luo Zhao paused, her gaze once again falling deeply on Gu Chengyin, as if to firmly imprint his expression at this moment into her mind.

Then, her red lips parted slightly, and she uttered a title that would shock countless people into silence.

Marquis Bingjian.

Shangguan Yunying's wrist jerked violently, and a drop of thick ink almost fell onto the pristine white silk! She forcefully steadied her mind, though her heart was already turning over like a stormy sea!

Since the founding of the Great Luo Dynasty, no one could be made a Marquis without military merit, and most Marquis titles were County Marquises or Village Marquises, named after places.

Using the word Bingjian, meaning shoulder-to-shoulder, as a title was unprecedented! What did this title mean?

To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with whom? The depth of its meaning and the weight of such favor were simply unbelievable!

Gu Chengyin was also shocked in his heart and looked up at Luo Zhao.

The morning light filled the hall, illuminating Luo Zhao's figure like a deity.

Luo Zhao's voice returned to calmness. Gu Chengyin, I hope you will not fail this title, nor fail my expectations.

With the decree issued, the dust settled.

As the Crown Princess, although Luo Zhao's power was not as great as the Emperor's, she still possessed many privileges.

The special decree to confer noble titles was personally confirmed by Emperor Luo and written into the Crown Prince Etiquette System.

It was one of the most attractive powers in her hands and the one that best reflected imperial favor.

However, since Luo Zhao had been established as the Crown Princess, she had never used this power.

Whether it was her most trusted Shangguan Yunying or Chen Busha, who had traveled thousands of miles to rescue her.

She had not easily bestowed this reward. It was not out of stinginess, but because she deeply knew that this power was precious and could not be granted lightly.

It was not until she was trapped in Beihe City, driven into a desperate situation, that she made the promise of conferring titles and prime ministerships out of indignation and resolve.

This was both to boost morale and to establish her own determination to burn her bridges and fight to the death.

In the end, this long-awaited favor fell upon Gu Chengyin.

Shangguan Yunying quickly calmed her emotions and neatly transcribed the decree dictated by Luo Zhao onto the bright yellow silk. The wording was rigorous and standard, highlighting the honor and achievements of the Marquis.

After finishing writing, she held it up with both hands. Luo Zhao took it, briefly examined it, and then took out the Crown Princess's golden seal from a brocade box on the side. Dipping it fully in cinnabar, she firmly stamped it at the end of the silk.

The seal is set, the decree is complete.

Luo Zhao handed the silk to Shangguan Yunying. Yunying, personally oversee this. Immediately hand it over to the Ministry of Personnel to be stamped and filed for the record, and promulgate it according to the regulations without delay.

Yes, Your Highness!

Shangguan Yunying accepted the order and carefully put away the silk scroll. She knew exactly what it would mean once this decree was officially issued.

She cast a complex and hard-to-read glance at Gu Chengyin, then quickly backed out of the bedchamber to make the arrangements.

Inside the hall, only Luo Zhao and Gu Chengyin remained once more.

The aftermath of the title conferment still rippled in the air, but Luo Zhao had already turned her attention back to official business.

She walked to the desk and looked at the red sandalwood box.

When the lid was lifted, inside lay a thick stack of documents, along with several sealed letters.

On the very top rested a folded piece of plain stationery.

Luo Zhao picked up the plain stationery and unfolded it.

On it was Shangguan Yuan's own handwriting. The handwriting was slightly messy but vigorous enough to pierce the paper, clearly written in one go under extreme concentration.

The content was not detailed evidence, but more like a guiding index.

Luo Zhao's gaze quickly swept over the names and related matters on it, as well as the heart-stopping name it ultimately pointed to.

A moment later, she slowly closed the stationery, shook her head gently, and felt somewhat surprised.

I never expected... the one Shangguan Yuan singled out.

Would actually be him.