He Too Would Assert His Might; Jealousy Worsened Their Illness, and the Death Knell Had Already Tolled!

The Court Deliberation Hall.

Emperor Jingde acted on his own authority, swearing to defend the ancestral laws!

At the same time, he offered the reward of a dukedom!

The senior ministers of the Central Court were awash in thoughts.

Across the resplendent annals of history, how many heroes had shed their blood and laid down their lives for a noble title? Yet a nineteen-year-old could earn a dukedom through his achievements!

This was supreme glory, an irresistible temptation!

However, the Retired Emperor's expression gradually chilled, and he said gravely:

"He rendered unparalleled service, yet he must resign?"

As soon as those words fell, before Emperor Jingde even needed to speak, the minister of rites rebutted him on the spot:

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, dukes at the height of their power have had to stay away from court. If Jia Huan accepts this reward, he must resign and leave the Central Court."

The Retired Emperor's anger flared almost instantly, and he thundered:

"Jia Huan is not only a renowned general with illustrious military achievements, but also an outstanding member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Stripping him of his authority would be an enormous loss to the state!"

Emperor Jingde slapped the table and rose, meeting him head-on:

"No member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has ever been granted a noble title. This is an ancestral precept!"

"He must resign before he can be invested as a duke!"

"Here is what we shall do. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard throughout the realm submits a joint memorial, unanimously agreeing that Pacification Commissioner Jia may be made a marquis, the Central Court shall heed public opinion. The court will proclaim throughout the realm that Jia Huan is both a court pacification commissioner and a marquis of Great Qian!"

"Does anyone object?"

His fierce