After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

…………

"You damn lackey! What, what did you say?!"

Sweat dripped from Han Chang's forehead.

Bang!

He kicked out with a fierce kick, hitting Huang Zhongcai squarely in the side of the face!

Huang Zhongcai felt a sharp pain on the side of his face, his teeth loosened, and his mouth immediately tasted metallic and sweet. With a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood, which spilled onto the ground.

Han Chang stuck out his finger, pointed it at the servant's face, and cursed:

"Your Majesty is on the verge of death! And yet you still spout nonsense here, trying to sow discord among my brothers in the imperial family, and between me and the Fourth Prince Hongli! You even use Ortai's name to dream of being a loyal subject who has served the emperor! Do you think I can't see through you?!"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Huang Zhongcai kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, his forehead bruised and swollen, and he stammered incoherently:

"This servant wouldn't dare, this servant wouldn't dare... This servant was only feeling wronged on behalf of Your Highness... I felt indignant on behalf of Your Highness... That's why I was blinded by greed... Blinded by greed..."

"Hmph!" Han Chang grabbed Huang Zhongcai's head, his eyes bloodshot, revealing a deep-seated hatred.

"I dare not covet the throne in the slightest. I will relay every word you have said to Father Emperor and Hongli, and hand you over to them for judgment."

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Huang Zhongcai was immediately terrified and burst into tears:

"This servant, this servant is willing, willing, willing to die for Your Highness... His Majesty is indeed on the verge of death, unconscious. The foundation of the nation is not yet established, and the court will face a great upheaval in an instant. Your Highness, all of you are truly worried! This servant... this servant... is only acting out of good intentions... Your Highness..."

Huang Zhongcai crawled on his knees a few steps as if tearing out his heart. After a few breaths, he gritted his teeth:

"Your Highness... Your Highness... My life is in Your Highness's hands. If Your Highness thinks highly of me, I am willing to be Your Highness's foot soldier... willing to be Your Highness's blade..."

Bang!

Han Chang kicked the other man again.

With a livid face, he waved his hand and said:

"You dog slave, shut up! If you utter another word, I'll cut off your head!"

Han Chang roared:

"I, alone on horseback, will now return to the capital to see my father, the Emperor!"

Huang Zhongcai was terrified and exclaimed, "Then, then, then here..."

Han Chang snorted coldly and said:

"Are the commander of the Imperial Guard and the general of the Green Standard Army dead? Let them continue to surround them. After I return to the capital, Father Emperor and the officials of the court will send people over."

That's all.

He ignored Huang Zhongcai, picked up his pen quickly and wrote a letter on the table, giving instructions on some military affairs. After affixing his seal, he put down his pen.

He flicked his sleeves and strode forward, showing that he really had no intention of bringing troops or even anyone with him.

Seeing this scene with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Huang Zhongcai was speechless with astonishment, but he couldn't help but feel a great sense of relief, and his legs, which were kneeling on the ground, were a little weak.

With a thud, Han Chang strode out of the military tent.

As soon as the curtain was lifted.

Then they saw a middle-aged man dressed in civilian clothes, with a beard and hair that were connected, and a face that exuded an air of authority even without anger, standing outside the military tent.

Han Chang's face showed great surprise, and he said in a sharp voice:

"Ortai!"

Ortai did not bow to Prince Duan before him, but instead pulled out a bright yellow imperial edict from his robes. Han Chang's expression changed, and he heard Ortai say:

"Prince Duan, receive the imperial decree."

Han Chang immediately kowtowed and said, "Your subject obeys the imperial decree."

Ortai, with a solemn and dignified expression, slowly unfurled the imperial edict and said in a low voice:

"Hongchang, listen to my decree. I am fine and have woken up. Huang Zhongcai's trip was in vain. You continue to do your job well. I have sent Ortai to assist you. You are the master, and he is the assistant. Completely destroy the Heavenly Principle Sect for me and bring back Zhu Enbai and the officials of the Southern Dynasty."

"Now that Huang Zhongcai has come, let's not let him be idle. I hereby appoint him as the Governor-General in charge of the Miaofeng Mountain matter, concurrently serving as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. The Imperial Guard, the Green Standard Army in your area, the counties surrounding Miaofeng Mountain, and the Green Standard Army in Miyun will all be under his command."

"If you and Ortai have any errands to run, you can hand them all over to this servant. If he doesn't do them well, you can cut off his head."

Ortai drawled, "So be it."

Han Chang looked stunned. He neither accepted the imperial decree nor expressed his gratitude, seemingly stunned by the rapid change in circumstances.

Huang Zhongcai, however, was overjoyed, his blood boiling at that moment!

Your Majesty... is going to make good use of me!

Ortai looked at Prince Duan kneeling on the ground, respectfully closed the imperial edict, and presented it to him with both hands, saying in a gentle tone:

"Your Highness, rest assured. His Majesty is in good health. All the Heavenly Principle Sect traitors in the capital have been wiped out. Once Your Highness has also eliminated all the traitors here, His Majesty will be free of a great worry."

"Is Father Emperor alright?" Han Chang looked up blankly.

Ortai nodded: "Your Majesty is in good health."

"That's good, that's good..."

Han Chang nodded, accepted the imperial edict, and kowtowed, saying:

"Your subject receives the imperial decree."

Huang Zhongcai immediately followed suit and knelt down, saying:

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

After getting up, Han Chang arranged for someone to take Ortai to rest.

"Lord Ortai, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest well for the night. I will hand over military affairs with Governor Huang later. Tomorrow, Governor Huang will come with you to report on the overall situation at Miaofeng Mountain."

Ortai led about ten men, one man on two horses, to catch up with Huang Zhongcai. By the time they reached this place, they were indeed extremely exhausted.

He stroked his beard and smiled at Prince Duan:

"With the foundation of the nation still uncertain, Prince Duan will inevitably have to work harder."

A simple sentence, yet it contains a great deal of meaning.

Han Chang shook his head and said, "I don't care about these things; I only want to serve my father, the Emperor, to the death."

Ortai nodded with emotion:

"His Majesty is aware of Prince Duan's intentions."

Han Chang lowered his head and remained silent.

Ortai turned and left.

Han Changchao nodded to Huang Zhongcai and invited him into the military tent for a detailed discussion. The newly appointed temporary governor, whose forehead was bruised, hurriedly nodded excitedly.

In front of the camp map.

Huang Zhongcai glanced at it, then immediately bowed his head and flattered:

"Your Highness's military tactics are upright and magnanimous, perfectly in line with the principles of warfare. For me to say before Your Highness that I should follow the established rules is truly an overstatement of my own importance. However, I am of limited knowledge and cannot think of any other words to express my admiration and respect for Your Highness..."

Swish!

At this time.

The tents were opened from the outside.

A young man dressed as a guard entered the tent and nodded to Han Chang.

Huang Zhongcai raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled.

"He means,"

Han Chang quietly looked at Governor Huang before him and said softly:

This time, there's absolutely no one outside.

"Hmm?" Huang Zhongcai raised an eyebrow. In the dimly lit tent, he watched the Prince Duan's eyes gradually change, and a chill suddenly ran through him.

Governor Huang forced a smile and asked in confusion, "Prince Duan... Prince Duan?"

Han Changdao:

"Governor Huang, I will inform Father Emperor, Hongli, and Fuhui about your persuasion to marry me today."

Huang Zhongcai felt a sudden chill in his heart, his legs went weak, and he hurriedly knelt down, saying:

"Your Highness, it was His Majesty who sent me here, and those words were also spoken by Lord Ortai..."

"Shhh."

Han Chang put a finger to his lips, signaling the other person to be quiet.

"Governor Huang, even tigers don't eat their cubs. Father Emperor is not Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He wouldn't distrust his own son so much, nor would he do anything like sending someone to test him. You must remember this."

Huang Zhongcai's pupils suddenly contracted.

"I told Father Emperor about this because I wanted him to know that I am his loyal and upright subject. Only in this way can my wife and I survive."

"As for telling Hongli and Fuhui..."

Han Chang placed his palm on Huang Zhongcai's bald forehead.

"It's because the throne will definitely go to one of them, and at the same time, it's to tell them that I can also be their loyal and upright minister. Also..."

He stared at Huang Zhongcai.

I want you dead.

"No matter who succeeds to the throne, you're dead."

Huang Zhongcai felt a sudden chill run through his entire body, starting from the top of his head.

"Your Highness... Your Highness... This humble servant..."

This time, his eyes widened, filled with genuine terror, and he stammered incoherently:

"This servant deserves to die... but... but..."

Han Chang looked at him quietly, his eyes indifferent.

Huang Zhongcai knelt on the ground, looking into the other person's eyes. His rapid breathing and chilly body gradually calmed down. In just one breath, he understood the other person's eyes.

thump.

He kowtowed sharply, gritting his teeth and solemnly saying, "Your servant Huang Zhongcai!"

"I am willing to serve Prince Duan as his vanguard, I am willing to die for Your Highness!"