The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

The rewards were so generous that they were astonishing. In particular, the title of Duke, which was "hereditary and perpetual," and the "iron certificate of merit" were almost the highest honors and talismans that a subject could obtain.

Gao Tianci strode forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a booming voice, "Your subject, Gao Tianci, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! I will do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's boundless kindness!" He raised his head, his face filled with barely suppressed elation and pride. His gaze swept over the crowd, finally lingering on Su Che's face for a moment, full of provocation.

Lin Chu smiled and nodded, offering a few words of gentle encouragement.

Su Che lowered his eyes, looking at the amber liquid in his glass, a faint mockery playing on his lips. Suppressing the rebellion? Formulating strategies? Garrisoning the city? Which one wasn't Su Che's doing? Which one wasn't accomplished through the blood and sweat of Zhao Jianing, Pang Xiaopan, and others? Now, it's all become Gao Tianci's "extraordinary strategic achievements."

That's fine, the more you take, the harder you'll fall in the future.

The rewards continued, and more than a dozen people were promoted and given generous rewards. Most of them were officials who were close to the Gao family or who "chose the right side" at the last minute.

Finally, the chief eunuch's voice rose again as he read the last and most important part:

"...Su Che, the former chief strategist of the Crown Prince's Palace."

All eyes in the hall instantly focused on Su Che.

Su Che put down his wine cup, calmly straightened his sleeves, stood up, walked to the center of the imperial steps, and bowed in greeting.

"Su Che was a learned scholar, a great advisor, who never abandoned me when I was in humble circumstances, offered many brilliant strategies when the country was in trouble, and made great contributions when the dynasty was established."

The eunuch read aloud the words of praise from the imperial edict, but his tone was calm and revealed little emotion.

"I am grateful for his merits and hereby bestow upon him the title of 'Marquis of Anning,' which shall be hereditary for three generations before being granted. I also bestow upon him a jade belt, ten bushels of pearls, a mansion in the capital, and permission to wear a sword and shoes in the palace, and to pay homage without naming his name."

After the imperial edict was read, an eerie silence fell over the hall.

Marquis of Anning?

The hereditary system only began to descend after three generations?

It sounds like the title is quite high, the treatment is special, one can wear a sword and shoes in the palace, one can be praised without being named, and the rewards are quite generous.

However, compared to Gao Tianci's title of "Duke of Zhenguo, hereditary and perpetual, with the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and a certificate of merit," and his real military power as "General of Tiger Might," Su Che's title of "Marquis of Anning" has a strong sense of empty pretense.

He held no real official position, no concrete power, only a marquisate that sounded like a consolation prize, and a bunch of flashy but impractical privileges and wealth.

It's like putting an eagle that once soared through the sky into an exquisite gold-threaded birdcage, and then telling everyone: Look how good I am to him, I gave him the most beautiful cage.

Many officials revealed knowing or meaningful expressions. Some who were originally jealous of Su Che's favor now had gloating in their eyes. Some clear-headed veteran officials sighed inwardly, hesitant to speak.

Gao Tianci's smugness was almost overflowing, and he tried hard to purse his lips to keep from laughing out loud.

Zhao Jianing's knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped the sword hilt. Pang Xiaopan's face paled even more; she looked at Lin Chu on the throne in disbelief, then anxiously at Su Che.

Su Che, however, seemed completely oblivious to the cold implications behind this reward.

He slowly knelt down, touching his forehead to the ground, his voice steady and clear, even carrying a perfectly timed, flattered tremor:

"Your subject, Su Che, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Your Majesty's generous gifts are too much for me to bear. I only wish Your Majesty's empire lasting prosperity and longevity. Your subject kowtows in gratitude for Heaven's grace!"

He kowtowed, his posture extremely respectful.

Lin Chu looked down at him from above, watching his kneeling back, so obedient, so composed, as if genuinely grateful for this "vast imperial grace".

But for some reason, the pride she felt for successfully stripping Su Che of his real power and appeasing him with a mere title suddenly dissipated, replaced by a strange emptiness and... unease.

He was far too compliant.

The compliance is abnormal.

This wasn't the Su Che she knew. The Su Che she knew could be humble, but deep down he was proud; he could be submissive, but his eyes were clear and resolute. Not like this now, like a bottomless well, where even the largest stone thrown in wouldn't cause a ripple.

"Su... my dear minister, rise." Lin Chu suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and tried to make his voice sound gentle and kind. "I will remember your merits. Rest well in the future. If you have any needs, please feel free to ask me."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Su Che stood up and returned to his seat, still keeping his eyes down, as if the reward that had just been given to him, which concerned his future, was just a trivial matter.

The banquet continued, the music grew louder, the singing and dancing became more elaborate, and toasts were exchanged, seemingly restoring the previous liveliness.

But beneath the magnificent surface, undercurrents were already surging.

Officials would occasionally come over to toast "Marquis Anning," their words flattering, but their eyes probing. Su Che accepted all the toasts, taking only a small sip, responding politely but distantly.

Surrounded by a group of people, Gao Tianci was flushed from drinking, his voice almost drowning out the music. He deliberately steered the conversation towards Su Che several times, his words laced with sarcasm, but Su Che always brushed it off with a few light words, neither engaging nor getting angry, leaving Gao Tianci feeling frustrated, like punching cotton.

Lin Chu's gaze kept drifting towards Su Che. Looking at his calm profile, at him occasionally nodding to the officials who came over to offer a toast, at him pouring himself a drink... the more he looked, the more chaotic his heart became.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Su Che felt that was about enough.

He rose again, walked to the foot of the imperial steps, and bowed to Lin Chu: "Your Majesty, my old ailment seems to have relapsed, and I am not able to hold my liquor. I fear I may be disrespectful before Your Majesty. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to take my leave and return to my residence to rest."

Lin Chu was being toasted by several elders of the clan. Hearing this, he turned his head and saw that Su Che's face was indeed a few shades paler than usual. His doubts were overshadowed by his worries. Perhaps he really was unwell.

"In that case, my dear minister, you should go back and rest early. Shall I have the imperial physician accompany you back to your residence to examine you?"

"I dare not trouble the Imperial Medical Bureau. I have common medicines at my residence, and I will be fine after a night's rest. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Su Che politely declined.

"Well... alright. Go back and rest well, my dear minister." Lin Chu nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Su Che bowed again, then turned around and, under the watchful eyes of countless people, walked steadily towards the outside of the hall.

As he passed through the palace gate, his eyes met those of Zhao Jianing, who was in the shadows.

Zhao Jianing nodded almost imperceptibly.

Su Che stepped out of the Phoenix Terrace Palace, leaving the noise and light behind. The cool night breeze of early spring brushed against his face, invigorating him.

Looking up, the night sky was as dark as ink, dotted with countless stars.

Marquis of Anning?

Oh.

He pulled his sleeves tighter, and the cold smile on his lips was no longer concealed.

This capital city, this imperial court, this so-called glory and wealth...

Soon, there will be no more "peace".

He needed to meet with Zhao Jianing and Pang Xiaopan privately as soon as possible.

Time is running out.