Chapter 281

Commandant!

Everyone in the Anning Guard felt a shock in their hearts.

Scholar Liu of the Hanlin Academy handed the brocade scroll to Li Rui with a smile: "Lord Li, please rise quickly."

Li Rui took the imperial edict.

Unlike the previous two scrolls, this one was made of five-colored silk, featuring red, yellow, blue, white, and brown; the entire length was embroidered with cloud patterns, and the four characters "Imperial Edict from Heaven" were crafted at the top right.

This was a privilege reserved only for officials of the fifth rank and above.

Why else would it be said that only those above the fifth rank are considered true officials? One could see the clues from the format of this edict.

Below the fifth rank, only pure white silk could be used, and it was called a "decree," while above the fifth rank, it was a "system," representing an essential difference.

From this moment on.

Li Rui could truly be considered an official.

"Lord Li, congratulations."

Scholar Liu said, cupping his hands.

A fifth-rank official was already worth befriending for a scholar like him.

Li Rui was a military officer and couldn't help him directly, but one never knew if his own children or grandchildren might need help in the future.

That was the good thing about the Hanlin Academy.

Extensive connections.

Li Rui and Cao Wei stood up.

"Lord Liu, the meal is already prepared; let's eat and chat."

The two of them led Scholar Liu toward the General's Mansion.

A scholar from the Hanlin Academy reading an imperial edict was also called a "Fortune Official"; inviting a Fortune Official to eat some food and watch a dance wasn't excessive, right?

Scholar Liu was long accustomed to such scenes.

He followed Li Rui and the other into the mansion with a cheerful expression.

As soon as they sat down, beautiful maids stepped forward to pour wine, bringing waves of fragrance.

Scholar Liu squinted his eyes comfortably; unlike a martial artist, he was just an ordinary civil official with no martial arts skills. Now over sixty, he didn't have many years left to live, so naturally, he believed one should enjoy life while they could.

Simply put, he indulged in both wine and women.

"Lord Li, I happened to run into Lord Jiang when I left the capital, and he asked me to bring you his regards."

Scholar Liu mentioned Jiang Linxian.

Naturally, it was to get closer to him.

He had heard that besides being a Commandant of the Anning Guard, Li Rui was also an instructor at the Marquis of Annan's mansion, which, in a sense, was even more prestigious than his status as a Commandant.

Building more rapport was never a mistake.

"Is Lord Jiang doing well?"

Scholar Liu's smile grew wider: "Lord Jiang has entered the Earth Immortal realm; I heard rumors that he will likely become the Vice Gu Jianzheng of the Imperial Observatory. His future is boundless."

Speaking of Jiang Linxian, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

If the previous Jiang Linxian was only famous in one region, he was now renowned throughout the Yu Kingdom.

In the future, he might become an incredible figure like the Gu Jianzheng or the Imperial Preceptor.

'It's still better to practice martial arts.'

It was just a pity he didn't have the aptitude.

Vice Gu Jianzheng!

Hearing these two words, Li Rui and Cao Wei both raised their eyebrows.

This position was extraordinary.

Excluding the Master of the Questioning Immortal Tower, every Gu Jianzheng of the Imperial Observatory had risen from the position of Vice Gu Jianzheng. According to convention, there was a ninety percent chance Jiang Linxian would become the next Gu Jianzheng.

And not to mention the potential.

The Vice Gu Jianzheng himself was a third-rank high official, and he held the power to oversee all hidden sects and demonic beasts in the world, which was a cut above half of the Vice Ministers in the Six Ministries.

The key was that, like the Gu Jianzheng, the Vice Gu Jianzheng could meet the Emperor.

This was the most crucial point.

Speaking of Jiang Linxian, the group sighed with emotion.

After three rounds of drinks.

Scholar Liu was only a low-rank martial artist and couldn't hold his liquor, so he soon fell into a drunken stupor.

At Li Rui's signal.

Three beauties invited from the Music Bureau helped the old Lord Liu to a side room in the General's Mansion to serve him and change his clothes.

Men are boys until they die, after all.

Cao Wei stood with his hands behind his back:

"Jiang Linxian."

He had fought openly and secretly with Jiang Linxian for years, but looking back now, he found himself ridiculous.

With just a flick of a finger, the other party could have crushed him.

He looked at Li Rui beside him.

'It's better not to offend him.'

He always felt that Li Rui didn't seem as simple as he appeared.

When he first arrived in Qinghe, he was just an ordinary, tiny grain manager.

How many years had it been?

He had already climbed to the same height as himself; it would be strange if he were simple.

Li Rui, carrying a bit of wine, cupped his hands toward Cao Wei: "Brother Cao, I shall take my leave first."

Cao Wei cupped his hands in return.

Just as he walked out of the General's Mansion, lines of small text appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations to the host for completing the primary plot of "From General to Prime Minister" — Promotion.】

【Promotion and ennoblement, a joyous life. Congratulations on your promotion to the fifth rank. The fifth rank is the official beginning of the political arena; you are about to come into contact with true power. Please continue to work hard!】

【Task "Promotion" completed, rewards are being calculated.】

【Task rating: C.】

【Obtained 20 achievement points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 10】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Superb Comprehension, Wisdom Eye, Great Dream Immortal Traveler, Demon-Subduing Victory】

【Cultivation Arts: Longchun Gong, Dragon Roaming the Nine Heavens Map, Dragon-Elephant True Origin Strength】

【Achievement: 60/100】

【Detected that the host completed all primary plots of "From General to Prime Minister" at only ten years old. Performance is excellent; the next reward will be enhanced. Please achieve the goal as soon as possible to unlock the reward!】

Looking at the small text on the panel.

Li Rui's mouth curled up slightly.

Good things really do come in pairs; he was promoted and completed all the primary tasks of "From General to Prime Minister."

He was already looking forward to what the doubled reward would be.

Scholar Liu stayed in Qinghe for three days, eating, drinking, and sleeping well, before returning to the capital in high spirits.

Li Rui even gave him a demonic beast cub.

Just as a... local specialty?

In any case, Scholar Liu left very satisfied.

"My goodness, the Commandant's Mansion is too big."

Yang Yong, Wang Zhao, Liang He, and Liu Tiezhu widened their eyes, their drool almost falling out.

Luxurious.

If Li Rui's previous residence was big, then the Commandant's Mansion was both big and expensive.

Within the residence, pavilions and towers were fully equipped.

Li Rui had been here a few times before and was accustomed to it.

But for the four of them, it was an eye-opener.

Who has a small stream in their residence!

"Don't fight me for it, I want this room with the pavilion!"

"I've long heard Old Zhang the storyteller bragging; today I'll try it out too."

Yang Yong returned to his youth, scrambling to live in the room with the pavilion.

The advantage of being older was reflected here.

The three young men were truly afraid that if they used force, they would send Old Man Yang to the afterlife.

They had to choose other rooms with regret.

As for Li Rui.

Naturally, he lived in the room that originally belonged to Jiang Linxian.

He even thoughtfully prepared the secret room; perhaps Jiang Linxian opening the secret room without avoiding Li Rui that day was because he had already anticipated today's scene.

Li Rui's original residence was not transferred to anyone else but was left vacant.

Who told him he had too many secrets.

As a chief official of the Anning Guard, no one would stop him from having a residence.

"Old Li is finally doing well." Li Rui grinned.

Who would have thought that one day he could live in the Commandant's Mansion.

"Xiao Zhao, go to Old Ma's place and buy some beef; today we're eating shabu-shabu beef!"

Half an hour later.

White smoke rose in the Commandant's Mansion, and the meat broth in the copper pot was bubbling.

A thin slice of fresh beef was wrapped around the tip of the chopsticks.

Three seconds.

Hmm, good beef only needs three seconds.

Li Rui dipped it in the special spicy sauce and chewed it in his mouth.

This is the taste.

When he was a groom at the Zhu family, he secretly swore that if he ever made it, he would definitely go to Old Ma's place to buy beef; all the old folks in Qinghe knew his meat was good.

Please... collect... the... book... 6... 9...!

Shabu-shabu, yes, must have shabu-shabu.

For Li Rui, whose palate had become refined, the taste was actually just so-so.

It was much like the monk who became an emperor and still missed that bowl of leftover cabbage and tofu soup.

Comfortable!

Qingzhou, One Hundred Thousand Marshes.

Qingzhou was the largest state in the Yu Kingdom, but in terms of population, it didn't rank at the top.

Simply because the One Hundred Thousand Marshes were in Qingzhou.

The boundless marshes occupied seventy percent of Qingzhou's land; this was a world of poisonous insects, fugitives, and demonic beasts.

Deep in the One Hundred Thousand Marshes.

A gloomy cave.

The cave was extremely large, over twenty zhang high, and a magnificent palace stood within it.

"Immortal Venerable, should we still invite him?"

An old man stood respectfully beside Qu Chengfeng.

"No need."

Qu Chengfeng waved his hand lightly.

Jiang Linxian was now the Vice Gu Jianzheng of the Imperial Observatory; if the Ghost Ming Sect dared to touch Jiang Linxian, it would likely bring about immense trouble.

Moreover, he no longer needed to.

"You really are a banished immortal."

Qu Chengfeng's mouth curled up slightly: "I want to see whose person you really are, the Divine Profound Palace? Or Bai Yujing?"

The old man stood to the side.

Not saying a word.

If people in the martial arts world saw this, their jaws would drop, because this old man had a rather fierce nickname: Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu.

Qu Chengfeng turned to look at the Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu:

"By the way, how are things in the south?"

The Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu said lightly: "That old guy from the Qi family has already agreed to take action, and the eight demon lords have also agreed to join forces."

Qu Chengfeng showed a hint of a smile upon hearing this.

"Good, well done."

Then he looked at the Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu: "By the way, is there any progress on the thing I'm looking for?"

"There are already clues; there is news from the Witch Kingdom."

"Very good."

Qu Chengfeng nodded with satisfaction: "Alright, I should go back too."

After saying this.

His figure gradually became illusory and finally disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this scene, shock flashed in the Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu's eyes.

'Is this the means of an immortal?'

Being a grain manager only required watching the warehouse, but being a Commandant required considering more.

For example.

Whether to go to County Magistrate Jia's house for a drink today or to Commissioner Yan's house to recite poetry.

Difficult, difficult, difficult.

Besides the matters within Qinghe, Li Rui also had to take care of external affairs.

For instance, the situation of sects in Yunzhou and even a wider range.

Of course.

Li Rui handled it with ease.

That's how older people are; having suffered enough, they won't suffer again.

Many experiences are universal.

As for practicing martial arts, it was step-by-step; having reached the Sea-Observing Realm, expecting to break through one realm a year was truly despising the heroes of the world. Food must be eaten one bite at a time, and skills must be practiced day by day, otherwise, something will go wrong.

"Lord Jia, no need to see me off."

"Oh, by the way, I happen to have a few maids from the Witch Kingdom here; I'll send them to your mansion another day."

Li Rui laughed heartily.

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Jia Qi was delighted.

"Then this younger brother will respectfully accept."

Unlike the previous County Magistrate Zhuang Renhe, Jia Qi was older, and his martial arts realm was terrible; he had no intention of making progress at all.

As for why such a person could be sent to such an important place as Qinghe.

It stemmed from two points.

First, Qinghe is very important, so many people are eyeing it, and it finally fell to Jia Qi.

Second, having too many ambitious officials in Qinghe isn't necessarily a good thing; someone is needed to sit in charge. Of course, this is the high-EQ way of saying it; the low-EQ way is that he's a drag.

Qinghe is adjacent to the Witch Kingdom and is in a turbulent time.

Blindly advancing won't work; one must be able to stabilize.

Don't look at Jia Qi indulging in wine and women all day; when it comes to the critical moment of exercising veto power, he is not ambiguous at all.

For this reason.

Cao Wei had scolded Jia Qi in Li Rui's ear many times.

Li Rui: "No need to see me off, no need."

Saying this.

He got into the carriage.

Wang Zhao didn't even need a whip, just said "go."

The Red Dragon Horse trotted toward the Anning Guard.

Being a fifth-rank official, he couldn't rely on his feet for everything like before; although martial artists have enough stamina, wouldn't it invite ridicule from others?

This wasn't a question of whether he wanted face or not.

It was that an official must have the bearing of an official, otherwise, it's hard to convince the public.

He couldn't just go and beat them up one by one.

Originally, Li Rui wanted to ask Tang Hai to be the groom, but Wang Zhao heard it and volunteered.

Li Rui couldn't refuse, so he went along with Wang Zhao's wishes.

This was also good.

Everyone knew that the groom of an official is an extremely important position, knowing many secrets, and many people even specifically curry favor with the groom.

Back home.

Li Rui's wine fumes had mostly dissipated.

He practiced his breathing and martial arts as usual, and then traveled to the Dream Cloud Terrace.

"Head Li, there's a pretty boy from Yunzhou looking for you."

Tan Hu ran into the Commandant's Mansion hall.

Li Rui: "Yunzhou?"

"Yes, he said he came from the Marquis's Mansion."

There was only one Marquis in the entire Yunzhou, and that was Marquis Yuan of Annan.

"Please invite him in."

A moment later.

He saw Tan Hu leading a pretty boy into the hall.

'Xu Chuan?'

Li Rui didn't expect the person who came to be Xu Chuan, a guest who was chosen by Marquis Yuan in Qinghe along with him.

"Brother Xu, why are you here?"

Li Rui laughed and went up to greet him.

Xu Chuan looked at Li Rui, smiling and cupping his hands:

"Brother Li, I was entrusted by the Marquis to specifically deliver a gift for becoming a master."

(End of chapter)