The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 505 The Head of the Marquis
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

His daughter is already running around everywhere, and he's become a father again.

Just a month ago, Princess Zhao Ran gave birth to her second son.

Perhaps this little guy was raised too well in the womb, with a very big head, which caused his mother to suffer severe bleeding after giving birth.

If it weren't for the midwife and imperial physician sent by the Empress, Gan Mingfu would have almost become a widower.

The chaos and turmoil of that night still haunts him to this day.

He also resolved never to let his wife have children again.

Anyway, now that I have a daughter and a son, I can make a perfect family.

The important task of continuing the Gan family line should be left to the younger brother and sister-in-law.

Thinking about this, I can't help but exclaim in admiration:
The youngest daughter of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, who was skilled in horse breeding, indeed inherited her mother's fertility.

Because her mother had a history of giving birth to twins, this sister-in-law also became pregnant with twin boys only six months after entering the family.

My twin nephews are not even two years old yet, and last month another letter came from Shangdu.

They said she was pregnant again.

She was diagnosed by the imperial physician; it turned out to be twins!
Zhao Ran, who was forced to undergo two postpartum confinement periods due to severe postpartum hemorrhage, was filled with envy:

My sister-in-law had no trouble giving birth to her first two children, and she said that she had no pregnancy symptoms when she got pregnant again, that she had a good appetite, and that she was in great health.

She almost lost half her life giving birth to her second child.

People are truly incomparable!
As for the prince consort's firm statement that he would not have a third child, she agreed.

My own life is more important.

No matter how noble one's status, childbirth is a perilous ordeal for all women.

Her daughter was born a princess, and her son could inherit the title of marquis from his husband; the allocation was just right.

This person is easily satisfied and has little ambition.

The couple lived a very harmonious life.

For Gan Minglan, the eldest sister-in-law, it was commendable that her two younger siblings were willing to add to the Gan family's ranks.

All she could do was keep sending gifts to her two younger siblings and several nieces and nephews she had never met.

Regardless of whether it's a holiday or not, whenever she comes across something good, she'll have it sent to Shangdu and Bashu if she manages to gather enough for several cartloads.

For boys, she loved to give them all sorts of little ponies, toy soldiers, and miniature wooden weapons.

The Gan family's one-year-old twins are absolutely fascinated by these things.

Princess Yaohua, Zhao Ransheng's daughter, was like a little bird, her first words being:
"My little white fox was a gift from Gugu, this box of sparkly gems was a gift from Gugu, and these beautiful flowery dresses were also a gift from Gugu."

They keep saying "gugu" all the time.

Even though they had never met, the little girl was incredibly fond of her aunt, who provided her with all her snacks, toys, clothes, and shoes.

The little girl doesn't know yet.

This time, her aunt also bought two particularly beautiful long-haired Persian cats from a foreigner.

She also included one of the white-haired, blue-eyed, and extremely docile cats in her brother's full-moon gift and sent it to her along with the other cats.

Gan Minglan truly embodied the ultimate in her love for her children and nephews.

Of course, the family members from Shangdu and Bashu have never forgotten this family.

Anyway, in the private coffers of the three kids in the family, the gifts from their two uncles and aunts are more and more exquisite and valuable than the last.

Especially Yuanyuan.

She was the darling of the Gan family. Every three to five months, Gan's parents would write to ask if their beloved granddaughter had grown taller, if she was keeping up with school, and what new talents she had learned.
Whenever a particular velvet flower became popular in the city, or a fun toy came out, he would buy it for her and save it up, giving it to her as a gift every six months.

Most importantly, he also saved a considerable amount of money as a dowry for the young girl.

On the contrary, there are more boys among the grandchildren, and the elderly couple do not show much concern for their two grandsons.

He repeatedly told Gan Minglan that boys should be made to suffer more so that they can be successful when they grow up.

My aunt is a skilled seamstress, and she makes several sets of clothes for her brothers every year.

The eldest princess's maternal aunt was even more generous.

The gold and jade headdresses made in the palace were given to young girls in different styles every year.

The level of dedication they put in goes without saying.

Emperor Qianwu also took the concept of "love me, love my dog" to the extreme.

The daughter and granddaughter adored their elder sister-in-law and aunt, who had made great contributions to the court and the country, so naturally they deserved a generous reward.

When the final autumn grain yield was tallied and reported to the imperial court, the stability of high-yield, high-quality varieties was once again confirmed.

The blind and deaf civil officials dared not keep crickets anymore.

Just before the end of the year, the imperial edict was delivered to Kansai.

Gan Minglan set up an incense table at the General's Mansion in Zhenxi and knelt to receive the imperial edict.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

I have heard that the control over the borders is the most important asset of a nation. The pacification of the surrounding areas is the Great Wall of the state. You, General Gan Minglan, the General Who Guards the West, possess both military prowess and strategic brilliance, and with a loyal and courageous heart, have expanded the territory by thousands of miles with your golden spear and brought peace to more than ten prefectures with your jade-like strategies.

In the past, when the Western Regions were in turmoil and barbarian cavalry invaded our Central Plains, you wielded your spear across the desert, defeating the many with few, and restored our homeland to its former glory.

He also showed compassion for the common people, personally cultivating the fields, nurturing crops in the parched land, and bringing sweet rain to the drought-stricken areas, resulting in abundant rice and wheat granaries and the end of famine.

The Zhangye trade route was expanded, and the Anxi border market was built to attract rare and exotic goods from all over the world, bringing together goods from all corners of the land. As a result, the treasury was filled, and the people's livelihood became prosperous.

Your achievements reach the heavens above and benefit the common people below.

Now, you are hereby granted the title of General of the State, First Rank, and still hold supreme command of the Guanzhong Military Forces; you are promoted to the rank of Marquis Zhaoyi, ranking first among the marquises; you are granted an iron certificate of immunity from death, which will not be questioned except for treason; your title will be hereditary for three generations without demotion, and your descendants will forever enjoy the grace of the state.

"You shall diligently cultivate your virtue, be ever more loyal and diligent, uphold the majesty of peace and prosperity, and secure the eternal rule of the emperor. Do not disobey my command!"

It's here! Five years after the founding of the Yongtai Dynasty, the most prestigious imperial edict for promotion and ennoblement has arrived.

Gan Minglan touched her forehead to the ground three times, received the imperial edict with both hands, and responded loudly:
"Your subject, Gan Minglan, upon hearing the imperial edict, kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's boundless grace! I swear by the golden seal of Marquis Zhaoyi: in this life, I will surely expand our territory ten thousand miles further, ensure the smooth flow of trade along the Silk Road, and send silver to the capital every year, thus securing our prosperous and peaceful nation forever."

She was indeed quite excited.

There haven't been many battles in the Kansai region in recent years; everyone has been focused on developing agriculture and animal husbandry, and the economic development has only yielded relatively significant results in the last few years.

Logically speaking.

These are not the normal promotion channels for military officers.

But her contributions have not been forgotten!

The title of Grand General Who Protects the Nation is an unprecedented official position, representing the pinnacle of military power.

She'd be interested in titles like marquis.

It can be passed down through three generations.

As long as she doesn't rebel in her lifetime, the iron scroll granting her immunity from death is truly invincible!
Zuo Wenkang was even more excited than Gan Minglan, and his feelings were tinged with a complex mix.

His wife, who is like a fairy, is not even thirty years old yet. If she rises any higher, she will have to become a pillar of the state or be granted the title of king.

In his past life, he longed for the position of royal consort, but could not obtain it. Was he going to achieve it in this life?

I'm really looking forward to it!