Hearing this, Zhou Quan felt a bit heartbroken. He wiped his tears and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you don't need to worry. The Great Tugu Kingdom has already retreated."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyun let out a long sigh of relief and closed his eyes wearily. "It's good that they've retreated. I can finally get some good sleep."
Seeing Xiao Jingyun asleep, Zhou Quan was overjoyed and quickly sent someone to spread the news.
Soon, the news of the Crown Prince's awakening spread throughout the city. Both the commoners and officials were ecstatic. This was another piece of great news for the Great Cang Kingdom.
Even Princess Zhaoning couldn't help but excitedly rush to see her brother.
She pulled Zhou Quan and kept asking, "Which divine physician did you invite? They are so skilled."
Zhou Quan was beaming with joy and said with a smile, "Your Highness the Princess. This divine physician, you actually know him. He is Mr. Chen Xiaobei."
"Ah, really? Chen Xiaobei is so capable?"
Zhou Quan nodded. "Yes, yes. The ideas that Chen Xiaobei came up with are simply miraculous."
Princess Zhaoning turned and ran without another word, leading her entourage straight to Liu Xiangnan's mansion.
Without waiting for an announcement, she burst in. As soon as she entered the courtyard and stood inside, she shouted, "Chen Xiaobei, Chen Xiaobei."
Hearing that the Princess had arrived, Liu Xiangnan quickly went out to greet her. Seeing him, Princess Zhaoning regained some composure. "Uncle Liu, you carry on with your business. I am here to find Brother Xiaobei."
As she spoke, Chen Xiaobei emerged from the house. Upon seeing Princess Zhaoning, he quickly stepped forward to bow. "Your Highness the Princess, what commands do you have for me to come seeking me in such a hurry?"
Princess Zhaoning stepped forward and took Chen Xiaobei's hand, hopping and jumping with excitement. "Brother Xiaobei, thank you. I heard you saved my brother, I am truly so grateful."
Looking at the lively Princess Zhaoning, Chen Xiaobei was speechless for a moment. But then he saw Liu Xiangnan's darkened expression not far away. Chen Xiaobei quickly took a step back, avoiding Princess Zhaoning's grasp, and clasped his hands in a bow. "Your Highness the Princess exaggerates. It is my duty as a subject to share the worries of the Emperor."
"By the way, Brother Xiaobei, my father once said that whoever cures my brother would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold. Has he given you the reward?" Princess Zhaoning's mind worked fast.
Chen Xiaobei's inner thought was of course not. But he couldn't say it so directly, so he vaguely replied, "Alas, Your Highness the Princess, what reward or not. As long as His Highness the Crown Prince is safe and sound, that is enough."
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhaoning's eyes widened. "How can that be? How can the Emperor not keep his word? You wait here, I will go and get the reward for you."
Watching Princess Zhaoning leave in a hurry, Chen Xiaobei shook his head helplessly. Even Liu Xiangnan beside him sighed, "Alas, Princess, when will you learn to act like a lady?"
Princess Zhaoning ran all the way to the Imperial Study in the palace.
Upon meeting, Princess Zhaoning got straight to the point. "Reporting to Father Emperor, Jingfeng has something she does not understand and seeks your counsel."
Xiao An looked at her with surprise. When had this unruly daughter become so respectful? He smiled and gestured. "Oh, tell me what it is. As long as I know, I will tell you."
"Father Emperor, I remember you once said that whoever cures my brother's poison would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, is that correct?"
Xiao An nodded. "Yes, you are right, there was such a thing."
"Then now Chen Xiaobei has cured my brother's poison, and my brother has also awakened. Why have you not yet given him the reward?"
Upon hearing Princess Zhaoning's words, Xiao An was speechless for a moment, but he quickly smiled again.
"So, you've come to ask for the reward for Chen Xiaobei."
Xiao Jingfeng was clearly prepared. She chuckled, "Father Emperor, I am not doing this for Chen Xiaobei. Jingfeng is considering you, Father Emperor. If you do not give him the reward, then you will be a person of your word, and who will believe you in the future?"
Hearing this, Xiao An burst into laughter. "Yes, that's right, that's the logic."
Actually, Xiao An was mainly in a good mood because his son's poison had been cured, so he was naturally more amiable towards Xiao Jingfeng.
"Since Father Emperor agrees with Jingfeng's words, then please Father Emperor give me the reward quickly. I will personally deliver it to Brother Xiaobei." Princess Zhaoning seemed insistent.
Xiao An chuckled and turned to look at Xiaoshunzi beside him.
"This matter is simple enough. Xiaoshunzi, go and make the arrangements."
Xiaoshunzi bowed and retreated. Before long, he returned with a few pieces of paper.
Silver was in the form of banknotes, and gold was naturally in gold certificates.
Xiaoshunzi presented the gold certificate to Princess Zhaoning and said respectfully, "Your Highness the Princess, this is a gold certificate for ten thousand taels. Due to the large sum, to redeem it, you can only go to our General Treasury. Other places may not be able to cash it."
Princess Zhaoning didn't care about that and ran off with the gold certificate.
Watching Princess Zhaoning leave, Xiao An sighed deeply. "Alas, when will Jingfeng grow up?"
Xiaoshunzi, seeing this, quickly chimed in, "Your Majesty, do not worry. When the Princess gets married, she will naturally understand proper etiquette."
Upon hearing Xiaoshunzi say this, Xiao An's expression faltered.
What did he want to say? But after thinking for a moment, he shook his head slightly. "Forget it, forget it!"
With that, he turned and left.
Seeing him leave like that, Bai Han seemed a bit surprised. He gently nudged Xiaoshunzi. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
Xiaoshunzi chuckled. "Your Majesty must be considering the Princess's marriage."
"That's a good thing! Why does Your Majesty look unhappy?" Bai Han was a bit confused.
Xiaoshunzi looked at him and smiled slightly. "Guard Bai, you must have forgotten. When we were on Phoenix Mountain, His Majesty issued an order that whoever contributed the most would marry the Princess. But think about it, it was Chen Xiaobei who offered the strategy to repel the enemy and went to the Great Tugu Kingdom, and it is Chen Xiaobei again who saved the Crown Prince now."
Xiaoshunzi paused here, as if hesitating, and quickly followed.
Bai Han pondered for a moment and patted his head. "Oh, I'm so stupid. The one who contributed the most is Chen Xiaobei."
But Chen Xiaobei is already married! If the Emperor keeps his promise and marries Princess Zhaoning to him, then the Princess can only be a concubine.
This concerns the dignity of the royal family. But if the Princess is not married, then the Emperor will be a person of his word. So, no matter what he does, the Emperor is troubled. No wonder Xiaoshunzi looked worried when he mentioned the Princess's marriage just now.
But then again, this is a pit the Emperor dug for himself, and no one else can help him.
Xiaoshunzi guessed correctly. Xiao An was indeed worried upon remembering this matter.
Seeing him frowning, Xiaoshunzi stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, seeing you so worried, you must have some troubles. Perhaps you should discuss it with the ministers."