Chapter 409: Promotion and Enfeoffment

"Tian Niu Zhu Ha, attend the imperial decree."

Grand Eunuch Hong's voice was deep and full of vigor.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha's expression sharpened.

All this trouble was merely for this one imperial edict from the Yu Kingdom.

Humans have a saying: The sovereign's word is never jest.

Yet in truth, many edicts, imperial orders, and verbal commands are later retracted.

Only by receiving this edict could its status be fully secured, allowing it to continue living in comfort.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha stepped forward.

As the rightful god of the Jiang River, it need not kneel even before the Emperor—nor before the imperial decree.

Grand Eunuch Hong smiled warmly at Tian Niu Zhu Ha: "No wonder you're a celestial marvel—you truly are extraordinary."

Tian Niu Zhu Ha was once one of the Three Pillars of the Purple Gold Palace.

If it chose to ally with the Yu Kingdom, it would be as valuable a propaganda asset as the former Marquis of Wei.

Not to mention that Tian Niu Zhu Ha had just accomplished a great deed.

Then Grand Eunuch Hong spoke:

"By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the Emperor, this decree reads: Tian Niu Zhu Ha is virtuous and has rendered unparalleled service in suppressing bandits and halting floods. It is hereby appointed God of the Chijiang River, to rule over ten thousand li of its waters."

With that,

Grand Eunuch Hong handed the decree to Tian Niu Zhu Ha with a smile.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha responded politely: "Thank Your Majesty. Thank you, Grand Eunuch Hong."

Grand Eunuch Hong's smile widened further:

"Congratulations, Lord Zhu Ha. From now on, the ten thousand li of the Chijiang River shall rest under your care."

"It is my duty—I shall spare no effort."

Had its appearance not been so vastly different, one might have mistaken Tian Niu Zhu Ha for a seasoned official steeped in courtcraft.

With the decree read,

Zhou Dinghai was about to step forward

to speak at length with this powerful old eunuch—when Grand Eunuch Hong took another imperial edict from a young attendant's hands.

This sight startled everyone.

Even Wang Vice Minister, who had traveled with them all this way, was taken aback.

Two edicts?

Grand Eunuch Hong smiled warmly at Li Rui: "Li Da Ren, receive the decree!"

Li Rui was startled.

He moved to kneel.

But Grand Eunuch Hong stopped him: "Li Da Ren, His Majesty decreed that you rank as Upper Third Class—you need not kneel henceforth."

Hearing this,

Li Rui simply straightened his posture.

The Yu Kingdom had established this rule to encourage martial cultivators: those of Upper Third Class need not kneel before the Emperor.

Even Third Class officials did not enjoy such privilege.

Of course,

it was because forcing all martial cultivators to kneel would carry too great a cost.

Thus, the founding Emperor had long ago established this regulation.

As others stared in astonishment,

Grand Eunuch Hong's voice rang out again: "By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the Emperor, this decree reads: General Zhenshan is loyal, virtuous, and benevolent, having achieved extraordinary feats. He is hereby promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingyuan, granted a fief of one thousand households. So decreed!"

Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. Marquis of Pingyuan!

Everyone gasped in shock.

If memory served, Li Rui was the first person in three hundred years to be granted a marquis title!

Li Rui opened his mouth but said nothing.

Well then.

This confirmed beyond doubt that he was the Emperor's favored man.

Though he had already broken through the Soul Transformation barrier, publicly he still claimed to be in the phase of nurturing, not yet having fully transcended.

Yet before he even broke through, his promotion had already arrived.

Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.

Upper Third Class!

Li Rui had leapt two ranks at once.

The Right Vice Censor-in-Chief was a post within the Censorate. In the Yu Kingdom's hierarchy, Left outranked Right: there was only one Left Censor-in-Chief, dedicated solely to Censorate affairs, while there were several Right Censor-in-Chiefs, mostly holding concurrent posts.

These Right posts were elevated in rank merely to grant authority for handling sensitive matters, with the Censorate title serving as a nominal honor to facilitate their duties.

Many Provincial Governors held the concurrent title of Right Censor-in-Chief.

But what truly stunned him was the Marquis of Pingyuan.

The previous viscountcy could still be dismissed as ceremonial, but the Marquis of Pingyuan was a genuine, prestigious title.

Aside from a handful of surviving founding marquises, such titles had nearly vanished from the world.

Li Rui was the only one in centuries.

Clearly, he was held in the highest imperial favor.

In a certain sense, some Second Class ministers held less weight in the Emperor's eyes than Li Rui.

Zhou Dinghai cast a meaningful glance at Li Rui.

All were seasoned officials.

Those present could all sense the unusual undercurrents.

Li Rui took the decree from Grand Eunuch Hong:

"Thank Your Majesty for this great grace."

With that,

he rose to his feet.

A line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations, Host. You have completed the Intermediate Plot Achievement: Promotion and Enfeoffment.】

【Promotion and enfeoffment are among life's greatest honors; when both occur together, it is the height of fortune. Congratulations on receiving such distinguished glory—your official career shall now shine brightly.】

【Completing Achievement: Promotion and Enfeoffment. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Achievement rating: B.】

【Obtained 30 Achievement Points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 25】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Dream Wanderer Immortal, Demon-Slaying Triumph, Dao Seed】

【Cultivation Technique: Ten Thousand Ages Evergreen Art】

【Item: Spirit-Ascending Book】

【Achievements: 50/100】

【Detected: Host completed all Intermediate Plot Achievements at age 25. Outstanding performance. Next reward will be enhanced. Please hasten to complete achievements to unlock rewards!】

Li Rui stared at the small text on the panel.

A faint smile curled his lips.

Two rewards had coincided.

He began to look forward to what the next reward might be.

At that moment,

Grand Eunuch Hong's voice sounded in his ear: "Li Da Ren, congratulations. My sincerest felicitations."

Those whom this fearsome Grand Eunuch treated with such deference invariably rose to become towering figures in court.

Afterwards,

Zhou Dinghai hosted a banquet at his residence.

Grand Eunuch Hong and Wang Vice Minister were treated with great hospitality.

Wang Vice Minister sat beside Li Rui.

"Li Da Ren, even in the capital I saw you were no ordinary man—and so it proved."

His eyes brimmed with wonder.

When they first met in the capital, he was the Ministry of Rites' official overseeing the imperial examinations; had it not been for Nie Siming, Li Rui would not have even qualified to enter the martial examination grounds.

Yet now, years later,

Li Rui stood on equal footing with him.

Even in status and power, he surpassed him.

How could he not marvel?

Li Rui had clearly become a pillar of the Yu Kingdom's future—and the Emperor's trusted minister.

Moreover, unlike him, Li Rui was not only a third-rank official but also a top-tier powerhouse, and his future prospects far surpassed his.

"We're all familiar faces, Minister Wang, no need to flatter me."

Li Rui chuckled.

Besides Minister Wang, Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong were also present; the envoy delegation to Wu State had never expected to reunite like this.

The banquet ended.

Li Rui was about to leave.

But a young eunuch from Hong Eunuch's side called out to him.

"Master Li, Hong Eunuch requests you join him in the back courtyard."

Li Rui had anticipated this, so he had been waiting near the entrance all along.

Hearing the young eunuch's words, he followed him to the back courtyard of the Provincial Military Commander's residence.

As he stepped inside,

he saw the Grand Director of the Office of Ceremonial already waiting by the courtyard's railing.

Hong Eunuch smiled as he spotted Li Rui: "Master Li, you've come."

"Hong Eunuch."

Li Rui bowed slightly.

Hong Eunuch gestured for Li Rui to sit.

The two sat across from each other at a stone table, and Hong Eunuch finally spoke: "Master Li, His Majesty, besides the imperial edict, has also instructed this servant to deliver a personal note to you."

Saying this,

Hong Eunuch pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve.

Li Rui's eyebrows lifted slightly.

He took the note and read it.

The familiar handwriting of the Holy Emperor.

It mentioned one thing: beyond his appointments as Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and Marquis of Qingyuan, Li Rui had also been promoted to Commander of Zhen Shan within the Shadow Guards.

He was among the fastest-rising officers in the Shadow Guards.

Hong Eunuch smiled warmly at Li Rui:

"Master Li, His Majesty says that from now on, you are fully in charge of all matters concerning Qingwei Sect."

(End of Chapter)