"This humble general, Yu Tianheng, pays his respects to Your Majesty!" He walked forward with steady steps, his armor making a slight rustling sound with each movement, each step taken with perfect posture.
His gaze swept over the faces on the steps, some filled with awe and others with complex emotions, but he kept his eyes lowered, concealing all his sharpness beneath his military uniform.
"His achievements overshadowed his master's, and he became arrogant because of the emperor's favor..." These eight words, like poisoned needles, had long been piercing his heart countless times.
Great military achievements are both an honor and a sword of Damocles hanging over one's head.
The threat from the Spirit Hall still exists; to put on airs in front of the emperor now would only invite trouble.
Therefore, we should still give them the face they deserve.
He walked at a leisurely pace over a distance of several meters, stopping only three steps away from Xue Qinghe, and bowed again. Sunlight fell on his armor, which was stained with the patina of gunpowder, and the reflected light carried a restrained gentleness.
Seeing Yu Tianheng's attitude, Xue Qinghe showed no impatience, but instead wore a gentle smile. He quickly descended the steps and helped Yu Tianheng up with both hands. "General Yu, please rise," the emperor said, his hand landing on Yu Tianheng's shoulder with an undeniable force. "You have rendered a great service in quelling the rebellion and restoring the unity of Heaven Dou!"
His eyes were full of approval, and his voice was clear and resonant. "I will remember this merit and reward you handsomely. However, this is not the imperial court. We will discuss the specifics when we return to the city." With that, Xue Qinghe, without further ado, took Yu Tianheng's arm and walked side by side toward the city gate. Upon seeing this, the civil and military officials bowed and stepped aside, watching the two figures disappear into the depths of the city road.
The following morning, a solemn atmosphere filled the main hall of the Heaven Dou City Imperial Palace. After a night of discussion, the reward plan had been finalized.
The emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below, and slowly spoke, "Those who have rendered meritorious service in quelling this rebellion should be rewarded accordingly!"
Ordinary soldiers Gold Soul Coin each, and will also be allocated fertile land according to their merits in battle. The families of soldiers who died in battle will be supported by the national treasury for three years.
Generals of all ranks were granted noble titles based on their military achievements, ranging from baron to Earl, and all received fiefs and stipends.
The decrees of reward were issued in an orderly manner, and expressions of gratitude could be heard from below the steps from time to time.
Once everything was arranged, the hall gradually quieted down, and all eyes fell on Yu Tianheng, who stood at the head of the military officers.
After the rewards for all the soldiers and generals were read out, all eyes in the hall turned to Yu Tianheng, and even the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Xue Qinghe sat upright on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrests. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly raised his voice, which resounded throughout the hall like a great bell. " Yu Tianheng, hear the investiture!"
Yu Tianheng stepped forward steadily. "Your subordinate is here!"
"You led the army to quell the rebellion of four kings and one kingdom, turning the tide at a time of great crisis for the empire. Your achievements are unparalleled throughout history!" The emperor's tone carried an unquestionable majesty. "Today, I issue an extraordinary decree—to confer upon Yu Tianheng the title of a prince of a different surname, with the honorific title 'Divine Warrior'!"
"Boom!"
The imperial decree struck like a thunderbolt, instantly causing an uproar among the civil and military officials in the court. Many lost all color in their faces, staring wide-eyed at Yu Tianheng below the steps, filled with disbelief and horror.
It is important to understand that there is a world of difference between a king and a duke! In the nobility system of the Heaven Dou Empire, kings have always belonged only to members of the royal family and are a symbol of bloodline and power; no matter how high the merits of a non-royal subject, reaching the rank of duke is already the highest that can be achieved, which is the pinnacle that countless people cannot reach even in their entire lives.
Flipping through the centuries-old history of the empire, the number of those who could be enfeoffed as kings of different surnames can be counted on one hand, and each one was a legend who once saved the empire from the brink of collapse.
At this moment, Yu Tianheng was bestowed the title of " Divine Martial King," and the weight behind this honor shook the hearts of all the civil and military officials.
This was not only because the emperor held Yu Tianheng in the highest regard, but also because his achievements in quelling the internal strife and restoring the empire to unity truly deserved this unprecedented honor—after all, his merits were already greater than the heavens.
Yu Tianheng's movements of expressing his gratitude were as steady as ever, but his hands, which were hanging in his sleeves, tightened slightly. He knew that this crown of a nobleman was both an honor and a heavy responsibility and test.
After a brief moment of shock, a slightly hurried "Greetings, Your Highness the Divine Martial King " rang out first in the hall. Looking in the direction of the voice, one could see the Marquis of Zhennan, who had always been on good terms with the Yu family. He bowed respectfully with his hands clasped in front of him.
With the first person taking the lead, the other officials seemed to wake from a dream, and they all suppressed their astonishment and turned to Yu Tianheng.
Whether they were elderly civil officials with graying hair standing in the ranks, or generals who had just been granted titles in the military ranks, they all bowed and paid their respects in order of rank.
"Greetings, Your Highness Divine Martial King!"
"Greetings, Your Highness Divine Martial King!"
The greetings, delivered in unison, echoed within the majestic hall, carrying an indescribable complexity—awe, envy, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, scrutiny.
But at this moment, all emotions were overshadowed by the title " Divine Martial King," signifying that the status of this non-royal king of the Heaven Dou Empire had been formally established in the court.
Yu Tianheng calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, gave a slight nod in return, and said in a low but clear voice, "You are too kind, sirs." His simple response was neither lacking in the demeanor of a king nor showing any arrogance, and he handled the situation perfectly.
Xue Qinghe sat upright on the dragon throne, watching the officials bow and pay their respects to Yu Tianheng. A faint smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes remained completely calm. The shock and awe shown by the entire court did not arouse any dissatisfaction in him—after all, he was not the real Xue Qinghe.
Beneath that gentle, imperial exterior lies Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall. The pride inherited from the Angel God is etched into her very bones. She never feels inferior to anyone, not even the newly ennobled Yu Tianheng before her.
But she did value Yu Tianheng. Those seemingly calm eyes held a scrutiny of a chess piece, and even more so, an appreciation for a strong person. This man was both brave and resourceful, and commanded hundreds of thousands of elite troops, making him an excellent asset to help her overthrow the Heaven Dou and complete the great cause of the Spirit Hall.
As the commotion in the hall subsided, Xue Qinghe gestured for Yu Tianheng to rise, his tone perfectly amiable. " Divine Martial King, there's no need for such formalities." He paused, his gaze falling on Yu Tianheng, his tone subtly deepening, "Do you know that my exceptional bestowal of the title of prince upon you is not only in recognition of your merits, but also in my hope that you will continue to serve the empire?"
"As long as you remain loyal to me and share my burdens, I will never mistreat you, no matter how much wealth and glory you attain in the future."
These words, which sounded like an ordinary imperial promise, carried an unquestionable certainty in Qian Renxue's ears.
What she wanted was never a general who only knew how to fight, but a sharp blade that could help her clear away obstacles—and now, that blade was sharp enough, she didn't mind feeding it first.