Chapter 437: The Eighteen‑Year‑Old Supreme Pillar, Opening an Office Equal to the Three Ministers

Sss—

In the hall, the Minister of the Treasury, Physician Deng Xiaoru, heard the words; his Adam's apple rolled violently, a gasp of cold air with a slight tremor of his teeth struck a muffled thud in his chest, and he exclaimed in his mind, "Supreme Pillar?!"

It really is a Supreme Pillar?!

Although he had some prior expectation, when he actually heard it, he was still extraordinarily shocked......

After all, before the establishment of the Supreme Pillar, only those eight had been ennobled.....

Even after Grand Chancellor Da Zhongzai took power and the staff expanded, none of them were anything but decades‑long, deeply experienced old ministers.

Physician Si Mu, Su Rang, felt his finger joints turn pale as he gripped the tablet; the wooden tablet's edge bruised his palm, yet he didn't notice.

His head, which had been slightly lowered, jerked up; his eyes bulged round, his jaw opened as if about to dislocate, and he even forgot to breathe smoothly.

"A Supreme Pillar at eighteen?!" The thought hammered his heart like a heavy mallet, stirring a storm of shock.

Eighteen years old, the Duke of Wei is only eighteen now!

Physician Si Yue, Yin Shou, froze in place; his broad, shoulder‑spanning court robes no longer rose and fell with his breath, only the hand hanging at his side trembled slightly.

His eyes widened, his gaze fixed straight on Chen Yan's silhouette; his lips moved unconsciously, a fragmented mutter nearly bursting from his throat: "Before Master Chen, the youngest Supreme Pillar was Grand Duke Da Zongbo, right?"

As soon as the words fell, he furrowed his brows sharply again, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the jade belt at his waist, his mind rummaging through dusty memories: "How old was he back then?"

Speaking, his peripheral glance shifted to the foremost Marquis Mo Chen Yi.

Su Rang, hearing Yin Shou's mutter, let his tightly drawn shoulders relax slightly, yet his eyes remained lowered, his fingertips tracing the pattern on the hem of his court robe; his voice was so light it seemed afraid to disturb the memory: "I recall it being forty‑one?"

When the words left his mouth, he paused subconsciously, as if confirming the number's accuracy.

Beside him, Su Rang immediately took over, his brows tightly furrowed, his hand gripping the tablet pressing harder, his tone decisive: "It is forty‑one!"

"Even if Grand Duke Da Zongbo was ennobled as Supreme Pillar, he was already past his forties......"

He then let out a long sigh, his gaze sweeping over Chen Yan's upright figure on the steps, full of emotion: "And now Master Chen is only eighteen!"

At such an age, ordinary noble youths are still in the study, chewing on military texts, delving into strategy.....

Yet Master Chen has, through solid battlefield achievements, risen to a height that others could never reach in a lifetime!

He is even at least twenty‑something years younger than the former Marquis Mo Chen Yi!

Deputy Imperial Censor Chang Sun Lan stood near the front of the civil officials' line; his fingers, twirling three long strands of beard under his jaw, suddenly paused, his previously steady expression broken by an unhidden emotion, a wave of feeling rising from his heart: "So young, yet so truly deserving Supreme Pillar?!"

These are not the scions of noble families who inherit titles because of their fathers' merits.

Of course, his father's mediocrity had no merit to grant him a title.....

It is the Master Chen who truly earned it through his own deeds!

Everything he has obtained now, aside from the title, is self‑earned, even the title itself was seized.....

One cannot help but admire!

People have always said "heroes emerge in youth"; today we truly see it!

Pei Xilou, his hand hidden beneath his court robe, quietly clenched; his fingertips brushed the fabric's hidden pattern, his very fingertips tingling with excitement, his brows and eyes brimming with uncontainable joy.

"My brother‑in‑law is now riding side by side with his father?!" When that thought struck his heart, his breathing even quickened a few beats.

One must know his father hails from the Pei Clan, a top‑tier powerhouse of Guanzhong, having served in the court for decades, also a confidant of the Grand Preceptor; with his brother‑in‑law's boost and multiple endorsements, he rose to the rank of Supreme Pillar.....

Pei Xun stood at the front, his purple court robe making his complexion even rosier; the corner of his mouth, usually pressed, now lifted uncontrollably, even the fine lines at his eyes filled with mirth.

His gaze fell on Chen Yan's sharply defined profile; seeing his own son‑in‑law upright and composed, his hand gripping the jade belt tightened involuntarily, his finger joints tingling with unrestrained lightness.

"Hahaha!"

"At this late age, truly good foresight, what a blessing!"

"To have found such a worthy son‑in‑law!"

Ecstatic joy surged in Pei Xun's heart, nearly bursting from his throat.

What does a Supreme Pillar at eighteen signify?

It means that, being young and vigorous, he still has ample time to forge achievements and amass political surplus.....

Youth becomes his greatest advantage!

Having sufficient time for cultivation!

And the Pei Clan now boasts two Supreme Pillars!

Their daughter's original choice continues to increase in value.....

Yuwen Heng's fingertips unconsciously brushed the python robe's jade belt; his lower lip formed a faint line as he pressed it lightly, and his once straight back seemed to arch a bit more.

He slowly placed one hand behind his back; beneath the wide robe sleeve, his finger joints tightened suddenly, and when his gaze fell on Chen Yan, it carried a subtle, barely perceptible tenderness.

"If A Tang knew, A Yan would be so proud of the honor he has earned!" As that thought rose in his mind, a flash of wistfulness crossed his eyes, then was replaced by warmth, filling him with countless emotions.

Now this child truly, by battlefield merit and his own ability, stands atop the court; if she, beneath the spring, were aware, she would laugh uncontrollably......

Yuwen Heng wishes to see A Tang's smiling face once more!

Her every frown and smile from those years remains deeply etched in his mind!

Wei Jianshen stood at the front, the tablet in his hand resting diagonally on his forearm, his gaze probing Chen Yan like a lantern, bearing a hint of playful scrutiny.

A faint, half‑present smile curled his lips, interest hidden in the wrinkles at his eyes; even his usually somewhat stern demeanor softened a bit, and he sighed lightly in his heart: "Master Chen, what a Master Chen!"

Unlike others, Wei Jianshen harbors no jealousy toward Pei Xun.

Last month, the Grand Preceptor personally consulted him about the marriage of the Wei family's concubine to Master Chen.....

Though not equal to the primary wife, she is still the first concubine!

The Wei family will soon become one household with Master Chen, sharing a portion of the spoils, and can also use the opportunity to bring back her brother, who has guarded the Yubi for years.....

Yu Tinggui clasped both hands on the tablet, gave a slight shake of his head, murmuring softly: "This truly has no precedent; perhaps none will follow in the future?!"

Others wishing to replicate it lack the ability, and even if they were equally young and capable, they lack the opportunity and platform.....

One must know that the Duke of Wei's ascent to this high position hinged most importantly on the Grand Preceptor's favor and reliance!

Otherwise, no matter how capable, he could not earn the Grand Preceptor's full trust, to safely delegate authority, and thus unleash his talents.....

The inner attendant finished reading the Bestowal of the Senior Pillar, gently pinched the unopened latter half of the imperial edict with his fingertips, cleared his throat, and the barely audible murmurs in the hall instantly fell silent.

The officials below, whose nerves had just relaxed, suddenly tensed; Deng Xiaoru instinctively straightened his back, Su Rang's hand gripping the tablet tightened a bit more, and everyone's eyes were filled with astonishment, their hearts simultaneously burst with a cry:

"There's more?!"

"There's actually more....?!"

Chang Sunlan, standing in the middle row, felt his Adam's apple bob up and down, his gaze fixed on the bright‑yellow edict in the inner attendant's hand; a bold speculation suddenly surged in his mind, his breathing quickened: "Could it be…?!"

The inner attendant cleared his throat, his voice now bearing more cadence: "……I deem his loyalty, bravery, and excellence outstanding, his achievements far surpass his peers, thus bestow an additional grace—grant Weiguogong Chen Yan the authority to establish a bureau, rank equivalent to the Three Offices, permit him to appoint his own officials, ceremonial rank equal to the Three Dukes, to display this extraordinary honor!"

Yin Shou jolted his body; had Su Rang not promptly nudged him with his elbow, he would have nearly lost composure on the spot.

He stared wide‑eyed at the edict in the inner attendant's hand, his mind struck as if by a thunderclap, the words echoing repeatedly: "Is it really a bureau grant?!"

"It truly is the authority to establish a bureau, rank equivalent to the Three Offices?!"

This is an honor that lets one stand shoulder to shoulder with the Three Dukes—an achievement that countless people spend a lifetime never even brushing a fraction of, and now it has been bestowed upon the eighteen‑year‑old Duke of Wei…

"Pei Xun, that old fellow, really has great luck!" Shang Ting, standing at the front, glanced at Pei Xun beside him, gave a slight shake of his head, and couldn't help feeling a surge of admiration in his heart.

A figure destined to be remembered through the ages, and he has already taken him as a son‑in‑law early on—what a remarkable destiny!

Liu Chaoming's hand hanging at his side clenched into a fist so tightly that even the gaps between his fingers pressed into his flesh, yet he felt no pain at all.

His previously calm complexion now flushed scarlet, his eyes filled with annoyance, his gaze fixed on Chen Yan's profile, his jaw clenched with a grinding sound, even the muscles beside his cheek twitching slightly.

"We should have struck first back then!" The thought lodged in his heart like a thorn, making him regret to the point his gut turned almost green.

His own daughter, ever since the poetry gathering, has been moving at a snail's pace, step after step.

He wasn't resolute either; he should have taken the gamble, and even if he seized, he must have snatched such a talent with limitless prospects for the Liu clan!

"The authority to establish a bureau…"

"I finally obtained the authority to establish a bureau!"

Chen Yan still stood as upright as a green pine, his face unruffled, yet only he knew that the hot blood in his chest had already surged like a tide.

"Senior Pillar, rank equivalent to the Three Offices, and the like—Chen doesn't care, they're all empty titles!"

To him, the most attractive thing is the ability to set up his own officials, to legitimately claim the authority to establish a bureau for his own faction!