I, a useless prince, started with the Xiang Yu template.

Amid cheers.

Chu Yun dismounted and stepped onto the high platform.

"Your subject, Chu Yun."

"Ordered to lead a northern expedition to defend Jing'an."

"We have fulfilled our lord's command and returned victorious!"

Emperor Qian lowered his head and gazed at his son, who had undergone a complete transformation.

The young man's features were cold and stern, his ruthlessness restrained, and he was no longer the frivolous and carefree person he once was.

He reached out and personally helped Chu Yun up.

"Good boy."

"You fought brilliantly in this battle."

"You have not disgraced the royal family."

"You have brought me and the entire Great Qian Dynasty immense prestige."

"You have rendered meritorious service to the nation and to the people."

The words fell.

Emperor Qian's expression turned solemn, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"I hereby issue this decree!"

"The Sixth Prince, Chu Yun, is exceptionally brave and resourceful, outwitting powerful enemies and achieving unparalleled feats!"

"Now, by special decree, Chu Yun is hereby granted the title of King of Qin!"

A single sentence caused an instant of deathly silence in the entire room.

Immediately afterwards, the entire audience erupted in uproar!

The Great Qian Dynasty lasted for over two hundred years.

There is an ironclad rule, engraved in the ancestral regulations of the imperial court.

To prevent regional princes from seizing power and princes from causing chaos.

The Great Qian Dynasty would never lightly bestow the title of king upon a prince.

All princes, upon reaching adulthood, were required to remain in the capital.

No one may leave the capital without an imperial edict.

He never received a fiefdom or a royal title throughout his life.

All the princes, no matter how talented or favored, remained princes until their deaths.

For two hundred years, no prince has been able to be granted the title of Prince while still alive.

Being granted the title of king signifies having a fiefdom, the right to govern, and the authority to command a private army.

This signifies breaking free from the constraints of the capital and possessing one's own independent power.

Everyone vies for the position of crown prince, but they are trapped in the capital, pulling at and scheming against each other.

It's because there's no way out, no territory to claim.

But now.

Emperor Qian directly broke the ancestral rules that had been in place for two hundred years.

Chu Yun is exceptionally appointed as the King of Qin!

The officials' brains were buzzing.

This is a genuine title of prince!

The prince's status is second only to the emperor!

Even if Chu Yun fails to win the crown prince position in the future, he can still possess a fiefdom and dominate a region.

Similarly, after being granted the title of king, Chu Yun still retained his eligibility to compete for the crown prince position.

They possessed both the right to compete for the throne and the real power of a vassal king.

Emperor Qian's gaze was majestic as he surveyed the entire audience.

He knew exactly what being crowned a king meant.

He also knew that this imperial edict would shake the entire Daqian court.

But he doesn't care.

Those who have made contributions should be richly rewarded.

If someone is capable, they should be exempt from the usual requirements.

Today, he will tell the whole world.

He was the son of Emperor Qian.

Those who possess courage and ability, and achieve unparalleled feats, deserve supreme glory.

Chu Yun: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Emperor Qian was increasingly pleased with his calm and composed demeanor.

Remain calm in the face of honor or disgrace; this demonstrates a mature mindset.

Compared to the other frivolous and flamboyant princes, Chu Yun was already far superior.

The civil and military officials were the first to react, bowing in unison with their sleeves fluttering.

"Long live the King of Qin! Long live the King! Long live the King!"

Along both sides of the official road, tens of thousands of people followed closely behind, regardless of age or gender, all of them spontaneously bowing in respect.

The shouts were like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, covering the sky and the earth.

"Long live the King of Qin!"

Everyone's face was filled with fervor, and their eyes with reverence.

This cry of "King of Qin" was uttered willingly by the people.

No one would dispute a title earned on the battlefield with their life on it.

.......

The side of the crowd.

The five princes stood at the end of the court officials.

The five men looked increasingly grim.

They were all ashen-faced, with gloomy eyes.

The eldest prince, Chu Xiong, stared intently at the tall figure on the high platform.

His fists were clenched so tightly inside his sleeves that they turned white.

My heart felt bitter and sour, and I was also filled with an uncontrollable anger.

On what grounds?

Why is it that the good-for-nothing that everyone used to look down on is now climbing over everyone's head?

As the eldest son of the legitimate wife, he worked diligently for many years, winning over court officials and befriending prominent families.

Even now, he is only a prince.

The sixth one is doing well.

He won a battle and was immediately granted the title of king.

The second prince said grimly, "They've really hidden it well."

"After enduring so many years of hardship, was it all for this moment to make a name for yourself?"

The Third Prince looked sour and muttered a complaint under his breath.

"King Qin... this title is far too weighty."

The fourth prince's face remained indifferent, but his heart was in turmoil.

Originally, the contest for the crown prince position was a close contest in terms of strength.

Now, a King of Qin has suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He holds military merits, the hearts of the people, and the Emperor's favor.

He even broke with ancestral tradition by bestowing the title of king.

Who will be able to keep him in check in the future?

The fifth prince turned pale and felt a growing panic in his heart.

He used to dare to make fun of Lao Liu at will.

Now, I don't even have the courage to look the other person in the eye.

Each of the five harbored their own thoughts, experiencing a mixture of jealousy, resentment, apprehension, and frustration.

Not a single person genuinely wished Chu Yun well.

.........

In the prince's palace.

The courtyard is spacious, with bluestone paving the way.

Chuntao and Xiahe, dressed in blue cloth maid dresses, stood with their hands on their hips in the center of the courtyard.

The two were methodically directing the servants in the mansion to get to work.

Sweep the courtyard, wipe the pillars, arrange the tables and chairs in the hall, and replace the curtains in the courtyard.

Servants came and went, sweeping, watering, moving things, and tidying up the furnishings. Their footsteps never stopped.

The old housekeeper was also extremely busy, running around non-stop.

He would instruct the servants to straighten the tables in the main hall, check the pruning of the flowers and trees in the courtyard, and order the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks. He dared not slack off in the slightest.

The entire prince's residence, inside and out, was cleaned up and looked brand new.

Chun Tao looked at the busy servants, breathed a sigh of relief, and her face was filled with undisguised joy.

"It's almost all packed up. His Highness is finally coming back."

Xia He nodded.

"Your Highness has made a tremendous contribution on this trip to the northern frontier."

"In my opinion, His Majesty will surely bestow upon you a great reward, and from now on, no one will dare to underestimate Your Highness's status."

Chuntao sighed softly, her tone filled with emotion.

"Who in the capital didn't talk about His Highness before?"

"Now I realize that Your Highness is not mediocre at all; you have clearly been hiding your true abilities all along."

"He never competes or fights in ordinary times, but when he does make a move, it's a great achievement that shocks the court and the public. He's truly amazing."

Xia He echoed in agreement.

"Yes, we've been following His Highness for so long, and we never realized he had such abilities."

The two chatted back and forth, full of anticipation, waiting for Chu Yun's triumphant return.

Just then.

A gatekeeper rushed into the courtyard, his face flushed and panting heavily.

"Great news! Fantastic news!"

"At the triumphant celebration outside the city, His Majesty personally issued the decree!"

"Our Highness has been granted the title of Prince of Qin! Breaking ancestral rules, this is an extraordinary act of bestowing a title!"

One sentence, like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The entire prince's residence fell silent instantly.

All the servants stopped what they were doing and stood there stunned.

Immediately, the entire hall erupted in a roar of excitement.

"He's been made a king? His Highness has been made the King of Qin?"

"My goodness! Our Highness has risen to the top in one fell swoop, his status far surpassing that of the other princes!"

"From this day forward, this is no longer an ordinary prince's residence, but a prince's mansion!"

The servants were shocked, then their faces lit up with ecstasy.

The higher the master's status, the more the servants benefit, and their status and face change completely.

......

Not long after.

The sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps could be heard outside the mansion.

Chu Yun rode back, reined in his horse, and landed steadily in front of the mansion gate.

Though his armor was covered in dust, he still stood tall and exuded an awe-inspiring presence.

Chuntao and Xiahe were the first to react and quickly ran forward to meet her.

The steward and a group of servants followed closely behind, bowing deeply in unison.

"Welcome back to His Highness Prince Qin in triumph!"

The two women looked up at Chu Yun, whose aura was becoming increasingly powerful, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.

"Your Highness, you are amazing!"

"His victory in the Northern Frontier shook the world, and now, His Majesty has bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Qin, drawing worldwide attention!"

"Those who used to look down on Your Highness and mock Your Highness probably don't even have the courage to raise their heads now."

Chu Yun smiled faintly and raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up.

"No need for formalities."

His gaze fell on Chun Tao and Xia He, and he casually asked, "While I was away, was everything alright? Nothing went wrong, did it?"

Chuntao nodded quickly, her eyes crinkling with joy.

"Your Highness, rest assured, everything in the manor is stable and in good order."

"The steward managed things well, and the servants each performed their duties diligently; there was never the slightest mistake."

Xia He followed up softly.

"Your Highness must be weary from your journey and the hardships of battle."

"We have already prepared warm bath water and clean clothes, and the kitchen has also prepared exquisite meals."

"Your Highness, please come into the residence and rest to relieve your fatigue."

Chu Yun nodded slightly and strode into the mansion.

......