The government was sending out wives, and I ended up with a princess from the previous dynasty!

Huo Zhitian returned to his general's mansion.

The second son, Huo Yaojin, had been waiting at the mansion.

Upon seeing his elder brother return, he immediately asked, "Has His Majesty punished him?"

Huo Zhitian shook his head: "No."

Huo Yaojin's biggest fear was that the emperor would take the opportunity to reduce the Huo family's military power, so he immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

However, he was also puzzled that the Emperor did not blame the Thousand Rock Army for such a crushing defeat.

Just as the two were wondering, an old man walked in, followed by several young eunuchs, carrying some medicine for healing.

"General Huo, His Majesty, having heard that General Huo Yaojin was injured, has bestowed upon him a healing elixir."

Huo Zhitian and Huo Yaojin hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

"His Majesty's mind is as deep as the ocean, truly unfathomable!"

Huo Zhitian's eyes gleamed.

"Could it be because of the Holy Maiden?" Huo Yaojin asked.

"Hard to say……"

……

A mansion in the southern suburbs of Pingyang City.

This is the Holy Maiden's Residence of the Longwu Dynasty.

"Outrageous! This time, that bitch Shen Li actually won!" Murong Nishang's face was gloomy. "Issue that this manor will be closed to all visitors. I am going into seclusion!"

"Yes!"

……

On the Longwu Dynasty side, all eyes were on Sifang City.

All sorts of spies are on their way to Sifang City.

Meanwhile, the construction of Sifang City was still in full swing!

Twenty thousand prisoners, over one hundred thousand Zhenbei soldiers, and the city's residents were all recruited to build the city wall.

Of course, ordinary people who come to work are paid.

This matter will be handled by Lan Biyin.

As for Jia Daoshi and Shen Li, they had already returned to Yuecheng.

Shen Li is still injured and needs to rest.

Inside the city lord's mansion, a brazier was lit, making the room warm and cozy.

The cold snap outside has receded, the weather has become clear and sunny.

Shen Li was wearing a white undergarment and asked Jia Daoshi to help her change her dressing.

It's unclear when it started, but Shen Li had already abandoned any preconceived notions about the boundaries between men and women when it came to Jia Daoshi.

After changing the dressing, Shen Li got dressed and lay lazily on the couch.

"How is the construction of Sifang City going?"

"General Lan has been overseeing the construction to speed up the progress. The outer wall has been completed, and now they are reinforcing and thickening it from the inside. It may take another seven days to restore it to its previous size." Jia Daoshi calculated the time in his mind.

Fortunately, there were enough people to do the work; otherwise, it would have been impossible to finish in such a short time.

"Teacher, thanks to you this time. When we get back, I will definitely ask His Majesty for a reward for you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Anyway, we'll go back once Sifang City is rebuilt."

Shen Li said, "Although we got back Sifang City, it's impossible to get the remaining half of the treasure map, which is a bit of a pity."

Indeed, now that the Longwu Dynasty has suffered such a great loss, it is certainly unwilling to hand over the treasure map.

……

Square City.

The spies sent by Hong Siyang arrived first.

The spy disguised himself as an ordinary citizen, first wandered around the area around Sifang City, and then quietly entered the city.

After finding out more about the situation, they hurried back to Pingyang City.

"What? The Four Directions City has been rebuilt? And they even used a completely new material? It can bind rubble together, making it even stronger than stone?"

Zhan Yunqian looked incredulous.

“That’s right, they call this kind of thing cement,” Hong Siyang said.

"Outrageous! You sent someone over there and got this kind of thing? I'd like to see it for myself!" Zhan Yunqian pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "I never expected that Ji Wuxin, this woman, would have such a trick up her sleeve!"

"In that case, how will Ji Wuxin respond to my next move?" Zhan Yunqian's face showed a thoughtful expression.

"Your Majesty, what's the plan?" Hong Siyang asked with a suspicious look.

"come here……"

……

The weather became dry after the cold wave.

The cement poured for the Sifangcheng site dried very quickly.

Lan Biyin began to station a large number of troops around the area.

After making some arrangements, Shen Li led her troops back to Yanzhou.

They also brought back prisoners from the Longwu Dynasty.

Many of these prisoners still held military ranks and were elite soldiers.

These people are very useful to keep around.

Now, it's a good time to take them back and use them as laborers.

Empress Ji Wuxin knew that Shen Li had returned to the capital in triumph and went out of the city early to greet him.

For the past few days, Ji Wuxin, along with all the civil and military officials, has been waiting for Shen Li in Yanzhou City.

Winning a battle in the first month of the lunar calendar is certainly a good omen!

Ji Wuxin was very happy, and so were all the officials in the court.

The Prince of Zhenbei performed as consistently as ever.

Ji Wuxin was still wearing a black phoenix robe, followed by Princess Taiping Ji Bingyan, the Ninth Prince Wu Qingye, and the Fifth Prince Wu Quan. The roads on both sides were filled with people.

As for the eldest prince, he was still stationed in the city of Juebi at this time.

With gongs and drums banging, it was quite a lively scene!

Shen Li dismounted and bowed, saying, "This humble general has lived up to his mission and has captured Sifang City, thus upholding the prestige of our Great Jing Kingdom!"

Ji Wuxin smiled and stepped forward to take Shen Li's hand: "Well done, Prince Zhenbei! You have not disappointed me! I have prepared a banquet to celebrate your victory!"

Ji Wuxin held Shen Li's hand and led her into the city lord's mansion.

Sure enough, a banquet had been prepared in the city lord's mansion. Ji Wuxin sat at the head of the table, and Shen Li sat to her lower right.

The great victory at the start of the year, especially the defeat of the Thousand Rock Army led by the Holy Maiden of Longwu Kingdom, is undoubtedly very exciting news!

"The Prince of Zhenbei has rendered a great service this time. I intend to grant him Yuecheng and Sifangcheng as his permanent fiefdom! My beloved ministers, do you have any objections?"

An old man with white hair and a white beard stood up and stepped forward, laughing, "The Prince of Zhenbei has performed such an unparalleled feat. It is only right and reasonable for His Majesty to bestow Sifang City and Yue City upon him."

"Back when the late emperor was in power, General Ming Heying swept through the Southern Barbarians and returned victorious. The late emperor also bestowed the Southern Barbarian City upon the General!"

This white-haired old man was named Xuan Lianyin, and he was the Minister of Personnel in the Great Jing Dynasty.

At the same time, a very young man also got up and came out. This young man had very fair skin, unsteady steps, and his court robes fluttered on his body like a thin bamboo pole.

"Your Majesty, Ah Li has returned victorious and deserves a reward."

At this moment, Jia Daoshi was sitting at the table behind Shen Li. He was quite surprised to hear the young man call Shen Li by her name directly, even calling her "A Li".

Sitting next to Jia Daoshi, Rouya whispered, "This guy is called Ming Gui. He is the third son of General Ming Heying and the Minister of Rites."

Jia Daoshi nodded. So he was the son of General Ming Heying, which meant he was a second-generation official.

The way this guy was looking at Shen Li was a bit unusual; he must be interested in her.

Speaking of which, this general has quite an appetite. His eldest son wants to marry Princess Taiping, Ji Bingyan. Could it be that his third son also wants to marry the Prince of Zhenbei?

However, after hearing Ming Gui's words, Shen Li's face showed disdain.

Ji Wuxin was quite pleased: "Very well! In that case, I will bestow Moon City and Four Directions City upon the Prince of Zhenbei!"

"Furthermore, all the soldiers who went on this expedition must be commended!"

"As Your Majesty commands! Your Majesty's words are a blessing to the entire world!"

All the ministers were very pleased.

Shen Li turned to look at Jia Daoshi. Actually, she had originally wanted to ask for a reward for Jia Daoshi, but he refused.