Shipin Dalizheng

This golden bead, the size of a fingertip, is worth at most one tael, equivalent to ten taels of silver. If this is considered a reward, the emperor is too stingy.

He Daban symbolically dusted off the nonexistent dust on Rong Tang's clothes with a whisk, then burst into a cacophony of cries, "Oh my, my little uncle, this is no ordinary golden bead, it's a Dai Viet Dragon Pearl, only the princes are qualified to possess it. His Majesty has given you one, treating you as a royal nephew. This is the first honor since the founding of the Dai Viet Dynasty."

Rong Tang held the bead up to the light and saw that it was engraved with mysterious and complex ancient runes.

"He Daban, should Xiaotang keep this golden bead as a memorial or carry it with him? Can it save his life in a critical moment? Does it have the same effect as the Death-Immune Medal?"

He Daban burst into laughter. "Young Master, where do you get so many ridiculous ideas? Anyway, with this golden pearl, as long as you don't rebel, you will at least have more face. Okay, young master, come back to the capital with me to express your gratitude!"

Looking closely, there was a hole on the golden bead. Rong Tang took off the card that Zhao Ling gave him and put it through the hole and hung it around his neck.

Seeing that he had hung up all the odds and ends in a string, He Daban seemed to be particularly afraid of being beaten. He couldn't guess the reason for a moment, so he urged him to leave.

While Rong Tang had someone bring the horses over, he asked Chuncao to bring some local specialties to the eunuchs and guards who came with him, which were nothing more than homemade wine and sugar.

He specially took two jars for He Daban. "This is homemade pear paste candy. It is very effective in preventing winter coughs. He Daban, take two jars."

He Daban wanted to refuse, but when he picked up the jar, it felt very heavy.

"Ugh! Young Master is so kind, it would be disrespectful to refuse."

The route to enter the capital to express gratitude was through the South Gate, which was the main north-south road in the capital. People walking on this road were much richer and more powerful than those walking on other gates. Therefore, before Rong Tang entered the palace, the news that the Jian'an Earl's Mansion had received the emperor's favor was known to the whole city.

The place where Emperor Xuanning met Rong Tang was the Zichen Hall, which was the emperor's bedroom. It also meant that in some ways he regarded Rong Tang as his son or nephew rather than a subject. Naturally, Concubine Rong also came to express her gratitude.

Rong Tang kowtowed and thanked him. Just as he was about to stand up, Emperor Xuanning shouted majestically, "Marquis Jian'an, do you admit your guilt?"

Rong Tang knelt down again with a thump, and stole a glance at Concubine Rong Xian. Concubine Rong Xian sighed softly, covering her lips with her hands, "You have been hiding things from His Majesty. He knows everything, and yet you still refuse to confess. I beg His Majesty to forgive you."

Rong Shirou was visibly panicking. He fumbled around here and there, trying to find a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. In a moment of carelessness, he dropped a small gold medal, which was picked up by the sharp-eyed He Daban and handed back to him.

Rong Tang was busy stuffing the badge into his sleeves, but he didn't pay attention and dropped another badge. The pattern of this badge looked very familiar, but it was made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had not yet been handed over to Rong Tang.

Emperor Xuanning pointed at the two plaques and said, "He Daban, bring them here for me to see."

The first side you look at is an identity badge, made of gold instead of cardboard. It is engraved with five Dai Viet characters, Chatak Rongtang, and followed by the ancient characters of Southern Xinjiang. Emperor Xuan Ning could not recognize it, but he could guess that it was Chatak Rongtang of Southern Xinjiang.

"What is this?"

Rong Tang was not too panicked. "This is Xiao Tang's identity badge! Chatak Rong Tang."

"Aren't you Rong Tang?"

Rong Tang: "Xiao Tang is of course Rong Tang, but before Xiao Tang became Rong Tang, he was Chatak Rong Tang for fourteen years. Chatak is the surname of his adoptive father."

Emperor Xuanning: “…”

(Nothing wrong, but why does it feel weird?)

"Wait a minute, this Chatak, is that your adoptive father's last name?"

"what!"

Emperor Xuanning stood up and turned around twice. "He Daban, what the hell is the surname Chatak? Do we in Dayue have three-character surnames?"

He Daban said, "Two-character surnames are not uncommon, but I've never heard of three-character surnames. However, there are quite a few in the Western Regions and Mobei, and Southern Xinjiang... Southern Xinjiang..."

He Daban opened his eyes wide, "Young Master Rong, are you really from Southern Xinjiang?"

"Yes!"

Rong Tang's innocent big eyes rolled around, "Xiao Tang said it as soon as he got here! Uncle Dad doesn't remember."

Emperor Xuan Ning remembered that when he first met this kid, he was pretending to be stupid. "Uncle, uncle" really means uncle in the southern Xinjiang dialect.

"But isn't this Chatak one of the nine tribes of Southern Xinjiang? Is your adoptive father a member of the royal family?"

Rong Tang lowered his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "What's the point of being royal? They've all been wiped out. I'm just a stray dog. Xiaotang avenged them, and that's considered repaying the kindness of raising me. I don't have any worries anymore. Fortunately, I still have my aunt, uncle, cousin, and relatives here. I have nothing to worry about. I just need to settle down and live my life in Shangjing. This status and brand is just a reminder."

Emperor Xuan Ning continued to go around in circles, which made a lot of sense, but what was wrong?

He Daban was shocked, "Oh, young uncle, it turns out you have been a prince for more than ten years!"

Rong Tang covered his face and said sadly, "Don't mention He Daban anymore. It hurts my heart."

Emperor Xuanning shook his head and looked at another bronze token. It was engraved with the words "Daiyue Annanbo". Wait, wait, why is it Annanbo? He had just been promoted to Jian'anbo!

For a moment, Emperor Xuanning thought that the Imperial Household Department had engraved a typo on the token.

"what is this?"

Rong Tang's eyes flashed, and he moved his knees slightly as he slowly approached Concubine Rong.

Emperor Xuanning's eyes were stern, "Why don't you speak quickly!"

Rong Tang shuddered and immediately confessed, "The other eight tribes in Southern Xinjiang killed my father and mother. Xiao Tang was so angry that I passed by the Southern Dynasty's imperial capital and used the Chatak treasure map to exchange for tens of thousands of troops from the Southern Dynasty emperor to go to Southern Xinjiang to avenge my father and mother and my people. The Southern Dynasty emperor was afraid that others would say that they had robbed money without reason, so he conferred a nominal title on me... Ah... Don't hit Xiao Tang..."

Emperor Xuanning was so angry that he lost his temper. He picked up something and threw it at Rong Tang, "You are so good, Rong Tang, you are so good, Prince of Southern Xinjiang, you are so good, Earl of Annan, you have deceived me so badly..."

Rong Tang crawled quickly while making excuses, "No, Xiao Tang didn't lie to my uncle on purpose. I told him as soon as I got here. At that time, my father was pressing me hard, and I was going to fight him off and he would kill me. Besides, my uncle didn't mean to ask any more questions. Xiao Tang thought that my uncle might not care about these things... Oh, aunt, help, He Daban, help..."

Concubine Rong was initially frightened to the point of blanching, but then seeing the emperor mad and about to strike his nephew, she cast aside her fear and pleaded for Rong Tang, as they were blood relatives. "Your Majesty, Xiao Tang's adoption by the Southern Xinjiang royal family was not his choice. Even if he was adopted by someone overseas, he is still our Da Yue bloodline. This doesn't mean he's guilty! This is the only drop of blood left in our Rong family, and it took so much effort to return him to the ancestral line. Your Majesty, please have mercy on him and don't let him get hurt."

At this time, Rong Tang crawled several times and saw Emperor Xuan Ning smashing several cups. He had nothing to hold on to, so he simply rolled over and took He Daban's whisk and stuffed it into his hand.

"My uncle is really angry, so let him hit me. Don't let him get sick from anger."

Seeing this slippery bastard who was afraid of getting beaten and moved forward again, Emperor Xuan Ning's anger had somehow subsided. Thinking about it carefully, Rong Tang's mistake seemed to be quite big, but considering his situation at the time, it was reasonable for him to do so.

What comforted him the most were these few words. He had no ties in the South anymore, and from then on he focused on the Northern Dynasty, taking root there and living next to his aunt, uncle, cousin, and relatives. This meant that the Southern Dynasty was just a passing point for him, while the Northern Dynasty was his home.

He Daban was very perceptive and could tell that the emperor was no longer so angry. He smiled and took his whisk and said, "Don't tire your Majesty's hands. I will carry out the execution for you."