After time travel, share a space with your modern family.

Chapter 177: Rewards for Ruan Mumu and Qiao Tinghao

“Your Majesty, what I lack most is money. I don’t want any reward, but if it’s convenient for Your Majesty, could you please settle the account for the military supplies I advanced for this war?” Ruan Mumu said with a smile to Emperor Kang Sheng.

"Pfft..." Liu Shengxu chuckled softly when he heard Ruan Mumu's words, then burst into laughter.

He couldn't help but think: This is probably the first person in the world who dares to come directly to the emperor to demand a debt. His audacity is truly unparalleled.

Emperor Kang Sheng couldn't help but glare at his son a few times when he saw him like this.

Liu Shengxu quickly covered his mouth and apologized repeatedly, "Father, I'm so sorry, this girl doesn't know any manners..."

He didn't want to laugh, but he just couldn't help it.

Hearing Ruan Mumu's words, Qiao Tinghao, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but twitch his lips. He quickly lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see the expression on his face.

When Eunuch Liu heard Ruan Mumu's words, his expression turned quite ugly.

Liu Shengxu naturally noticed the change in Emperor Kang Sheng's expression, from embarrassment to indignation.

To defuse the awkward situation, Liu Shengxu looked at Ruan Mumu and said with a smile, "Hey you little money-grubber, are you really that short of money? If you really are, I can give you half of what I have in my mansion."

Ruan Mumu nodded first, then shook her head and said, "Young Master Liu... Oh! No, I should call you Third Prince. Your Highness, I cannot accept undeserved rewards. I only advanced too much money, so I'm just making up for what I can. Your private property is yours, and I feel embarrassed to take it!"

Of course, she also saw the fascinating expression on Emperor Kang Sheng's face, but who would turn down money?

She didn't intentionally want to displease Emperor Kang Sheng; rather, she felt that the more money the better.

However, a gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in a proper way.

She couldn't take Liu Shengxu's belongings for no reason.

After they had made such a great contribution, Emperor Kang Sheng would certainly not do anything to her. After all, it was Emperor Kang Sheng himself who asked her for a reward, and there was nothing wrong with her telling the truth.

"Girl, you're really bold! Daring to ask the Emperor for a debt, you're truly unprecedented!" Liu Shengxu said softly as he approached Ruan Mumu.

"Will your dad pay the bill?" Ruan Mumu asked softly as well.

"Probably! It might just be done in a different way..." Liu Shengxu's face showed a somewhat strange expression.

As a son, he naturally understands what his parents are like, but he can't openly criticize them, so Liu Shengxu changed his approach.

Ruan Mumu naturally understood the meaning behind his words: money was out of the question; all Kang Shengdi could give her was an empty title.

“Girl, you know that the harvest has been bad these past few years, with constant disasters, and the national treasury is already empty…” Emperor Kang Sheng sighed heavily at this point, and then said, “I hereby bestow upon you the title of Princess of Xiyang, and your hometown of Xiyang County will become your fief. What do you think of this?”

Emperor Kang Sheng began to plead poverty. He then secretly observed the changes in Ruan Mumu's expression.

Although Ruan Mumu looked like a little girl, he didn't dare to underestimate her. After all, a girl of such a young age not only went to the battlefield but also had the ability to pay so much money and resources. She was no ordinary child.

Qiao Tinghao was also observing Kang Shengdi's expression. Seeing that he looked helpless, he knew that there was no way to change the situation.

Qiao Tinghao knew that emperors valued their reputation and could not let Emperor Kang Sheng lose face, so he quickly knelt down with Ruan Mumu, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Ruan Mumu had already anticipated that Emperor Kang Sheng would renege on his debts, so she showed no displeasure or dissatisfaction.

Fortunately, she had secretly taken the money from the Western Rong emperor's private treasury beforehand; otherwise, she would have suffered huge losses during this war with the Western Rong, and her modern family would have been implicated as well.

The indifferent expressions of Ruan Mumu and Qiao Tinghao made Liu Shengxu anxious.

Ignoring Emperor Kang Sheng's somewhat uncomfortable expression, he loudly proclaimed, "Father, this time the girl not only provided military supplies and provisions for the army, but also provided a lot of food and winter clothing for many ordinary people."

These things can't be bought with money. In these years of famine and disaster, food is especially hard to come by. Luckily, the girl has connections.

Giving her just a title isn't enough; you should at least give her some tangible reward.

"Then I will reward you with another five thousand taels of gold from my private treasury, along with some cloth and precious jewelry. Will that satisfy you, Xu'er?" Emperor Kang Sheng asked Liu Shengxu.

He seemed to sense a light in his son's eyes, a light that his son only showed when he looked at Ruan Mumu.

He had also been young once, so he naturally understood the hope in his son's eyes.

"I will leave everything to Father Emperor's decision." Liu Shengxu finally nodded in satisfaction after hearing Emperor Kang Sheng's words.

As soon as Liu Shengxu finished speaking, he thought of Ruan Mumu's mother, that gentle woman. When he lived in the Ruan family, that aunt treated him like family.

Now that this girl has made such a great contribution, shouldn't we also try to get her an imperial title?

“Father, my daughter’s father died in battle. And Lady Ruan has raised such an outstanding daughter for Bei Sheng. Shouldn’t we bestow upon Lady Ruan the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree?” Liu Shengxu asked Emperor Kang Sheng.

"Xu'er is right. Ruan Mumu has made outstanding contributions in this campaign against the Western Rong. Therefore, Lady Ruan is hereby granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady," Emperor Kang Sheng announced loudly.

"Father is wise!" Liu Shengxu immediately knelt down and shouted loudly.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Ruan Mumu and Qiao Tinghao immediately knelt down to express their gratitude.

Before they could even stand up, Emperor Kang Sheng spoke again: "General Qiao shall be appointed as a third-rank General of the Cavalry and continue to garrison Xiyang County. He shall be granted permission to build a general's residence in Xiyang County."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." Qiao Tinghao and Ruan Mumu kowtowed in gratitude at the same time.

Kang Sheng Garden made everyone stand up.

Liu Shengxu turned his head and saw that Ruan Mumu and Qiao Tinghao were moving in unison. Seeing them looking like a perfect couple, he felt a pang of jealousy again.

"Xu'er, you have made great contributions in successfully conquering the Western Rong this time. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon you the title of War King." Emperor Kang Sheng said to Liu Shengxu with a loving smile on his face.

Liu Shengxu knelt down to express his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

"Congratulations, Prince Zhan! Congratulations, Prince Zhan!" Ruan Mumu clasped her hands in a fist and bowed, smiling as she congratulated Liu Shengxu.

Liu Shengxu clasped his hands in greeting and smiled at Ruan Mumu, saying, "Greetings, Princess Xiyang!"

The three of them burst into laughter.

"Xu'er, where is your second brother? In the letter he sent back, he said he hadn't seen you. What's going on?" Emperor Kang Sheng suddenly asked.