When the north wind blew in the wind, the last breath of autumn gradually faded away, and the Xi Kingdom ushered in the first winter after the unification of the Central Plains.

Emperor Guangen and his ministers were busy, because the annual 'Laci' was coming again.

The higher the position, the higher the reward, and there are also small officials or people with outstanding merits who can receive additional rewards.

As a result of the unification of the five countries, it took a month and a half just to compile the list of officials in each city. It was also necessary to send special inspectors to verify the deeds, so by the time the specific reward list was handed over to Emperor Guangen, it was already in the 11th month of the lunar calendar.

But when Emperor Guangen got the list and the number of rewards, his whole person almost bounced—wow, it sounds cool when this country is big, but this 'gift' trip will cost one-fifth of the money and food of the national treasury.

But if you look closely at the performance of these officials, they can indeed afford such a reward, so of course they gritted their teeth and wanted to approve it.

He also deliberately looked at Liu Ming and Liu Xianchen's reward items.

Liu Ming got 30 horses, 50,000 yuan, 100 catties of beef, and 100 buckets of rice. Liu Xianchen got five sheep, ten jars of rice wine, 10,000 yuan of money, and 50 buckets of rice.

As a great contributor to assisting him in conquering the Mao Kingdom and the Gong Kingdom, Emperor Guangen felt that Liu Ming's reward was too small, so he asked the calculator: "How did you determine Lord Liu's merits?" ”

When the three calculators heard this, they immediately broke out in a cold sweat, and they hurriedly prostrated on the ground and said, "It's Lord Liu who has a life, so we don't have to calculate too much." Just give him what he deserves in his current position. ”

"I see, you can stand down."

Emperor Guang'en looked at the content of the reward and fell into deep thought.

Liu Ming is now the provincial governor of Zheng Erpin, and such a reward does correspond to his official position. But Emperor Guangen wanted to give him some additional rewards. In recognition of his achievements in recent years.

So Emperor Guangen's queen Shen Xizhen came over to discuss.

"Queen, I want to reward Liu Ming with something more, do you have any opinions?"

Shen Xizhen also nodded and said, "Well, indeed, it is rare for a hero like him to meet one in a hundred years, and he deserves more rewards." ”

"He shouldn't care too much about material things, so there's no need to add anything to money. Let's think about something else. Shen Xizhen said.

"Mm-hmm, you've had more contact with him than I do, do you know what he likes?" Emperor Guangen asked.

Emperor Guangen's words woke up the dreamer. Shen Xizhen's eyes suddenly lit up, and she walked up to him and said, "The concubine remembers that he likes lotus flowers very much, and he has collected a lot of lotus paintings in his study, or we will give him the lotus island on the border between the Yuan Mao Kingdom and the Qiu Kingdom." ”

"Lotus Island?" Emperor Guangen's eyes also lit up. Only then did I realize that there was indeed such a small island. The island is not large. About more than 80 zhang wide, more than 100 zhang long, shaped like a magnified goose egg, need to hold the boat to go, there are not many mountains on the island, but a small pond is connected, the pond is full of lotus flowers, hence the name.

Thinking of this, Emperor Guangen nodded approvingly: "This place is just right for him." With his love for lotus flowers, he must have gone there to plant lotus flowers when he was old in the future. ”

"Yes. This place is sure to be very much to his liking. Shen Xizhen also said with a smile.

So Emperor Guangen immediately issued an order to give Lotus Island to Liu Ming.

Liu Ming, who received the gift letter and the related title deed, was taken aback, and then overjoyed.

He had heard of that place for a long time, but he never dared to think about it, he didn't expect the emperor to give him to himself, it was really like suddenly getting a treasure that he couldn't think of, and his joy was irrepressible, and he hurriedly wrote a letter to Emperor Guangen and Shen Xizhen, thanking them for their reward.

They were even happier than he was when they learned that he liked the island very much.

When the two returned to Kunyi Palace after finishing their political affairs, they were told that the mother of the third prince sent someone to bring them two large baskets full of zongzi.

Shen Xizhen saw that there were nearly two hundred.

"It was wrapped by the mother of the third prince, and she said that she would let you taste it, and if you like it, she will return it next time."

Emperor Guangen and Shen Xizhen smiled sweetly.

Since the Dong family was ordered by Emperor Guang'en to restore their identity, they often cook things for them to eat, sometimes all kinds of dim sum, sometimes side dishes, sometimes zongzi, sometimes glutinous rice dumplings, in short, I want to do my best to make delicious food and send it in.

But she herself has never dared to come to see them, for fear that they will not like them, or that they will remember those unpleasant pasts.

"Your Majesty, you don't know that my mother still refuses to give us the things she makes for you to eat first, so she has to send the finished ones in for you before they make them for us, and only make a little bit." Chu Ziyao shook his head and said, but there was a very relieved expression on his face.

"It's rare that she is so hearted, so let's go into the palace for dinner tomorrow night, Gongli recently invited a Sichuan-style chef and a Cantonese chef, they will cook a lot of special dishes, you all come and try it, remember, you must bring your mother along." Shen Xizhen said.

Chu Ziyao was overjoyed when he heard this, and felt that it was too rare for the family to get together so harmoniously, so he hurriedly said, "It must be." ”

After saying that, his eyes turned red.

It was a blessing to his mother!

Not everyone who has made a mistake and been degraded can be treated like her.

Chu Ziyao left the palace full of joy, eager to tell his mother the good news.

Dong Shi, who heard the news, hung his head a little embarrassed.

"Is it appropriate for me to go? I...... I really don't have the face to meet them. ”

"Mother, you have thought too much, and since they are willing to restore your identity, they have already shown that they have forgiven you, so why not let go of the past and start over naturally?" Chu Ziyao comforted.

"Yes, mother, whether they are or us, they are all people who have experienced life and death, and they will naturally cherish what they have now, so you can go with confidence, if there is anything we are watching from the side." Jiang Weibai also comforted.

Seeing that everyone was so heartfelt to her, Dong nodded.

The next night, Dong deliberately dressed up solemnly and entered the palace with Chu Ziyao and Jiang Weibai.

Emperor Guang'en and Shen Xizhen warmly entertained them, and took the initiative to talk to her, as if they had completely forgotten about what had happened in the past.

Dong's heart was very moved, and he was about to cry several times.

But she held back.

She seemed to see her best life and the best Xi Kingdom, and she believed that everyone's future would be better, so she smiled sweetly. (To be continued......)