Ma Shunde congratulated Liu Zhan and Bianxuan, then turned to Su Ziji.
An even warmer smile appeared on his utterly earnest face, as if he were facing not Prince Dai, with whom he had no friendship, but his own provider and true master.
"Your Highness Prince Dai, during this period, you have toiled tirelessly in service of His Majesty. His Majesty has seen it all and remembers it in his heart. He has specially sent this servant to offer his regards—attendants, carry the rewards inside."
The ones carrying them were not eunuchs but guards, holding trays covered in yellow silk. Ma Shunde yanked away the silk, revealing, in the hazy morning light, rows upon rows of gold ingots packed like dumplings, their glitter dazzling the eye. Now that the imperial decree had been proclaimed, the nearby servants all stared wide-eyed!
Su Ziji, however, was not surprised in the least.
"This grandson subject has merely done his duty, yet has received His Majesty's reward. I am truly ashamed!"
"Please, Eunuch Ma, return to the palace and inform His Majesty that this subject will certainly work even harder and never fail the imperial grace!" Su Ziji thanked him once more and spoke with earnest sincerity.
"Of course, of course," Ma Shunde readily agreed.
Su Ziji suddenly smiled. He casually picked up a gold ingot, which looked to weigh ten taels, weighed it in his hand, and asked as if offhandedly, "Eunuch Ma, I would like to ask—this is Palace Reserve Gold?"
He stressed the words "would like to ask," making them especially clear.
Ma Shunde felt it was nothing important and smiled. "Yes. This servant recalls that it was pure gold minted by the Ministry of Revenue in the eighteenth year of Chengshou, ten taels each, three thousand pieces."
"You see, it