Chapter 417

Three days later, Great Ming Palace.

In the Golden Throne Hall, sandalwood incense curled, and Tang Emperor Li Yuan sat on the dragon throne, conducting the final examination for the students who had entered the palace examination.

"Governing the country and pacifying the world, every word is a gem." Li Yuan raised his head and looked at the scholars standing below, his gaze locking onto the young man at the very front. "Chen E of Haizhou, your talent is outstanding, and your answers were fluent. I appoint you as the first in the first grade of the Renxu imperial examination, granted the title of Top Graduate!"

Chen Chen Guangrui knelt on the ground, holding his hands high above his head.

"Subject Chen E, kowtows to thank Your Majesty, long live!"

An hour later, the results of the palace examination were announced, and the entire Chang'an City boiled over.

On Zhu Que Avenue, the street-clearing drums were beaten.

Two teams of the Imperial Guard cleared the way, and Chen Chen Guangrui wore a black gauze cap with double wings, dressed in a bright red Top Graduate's ceremonial robe, with a large red silk flower pinned to his chest, riding on a tall, date-red horse.

The spring breeze is proud, the horse's hooves are fast; in one day, one can see all the flowers of Chang'an. This was the portrayal of Chen Chen Guangrui's mood at this moment.

Both sides of Zhu Que Avenue were crowded with onlookers.

The Great Tang had just been established, and the people were full of curiosity and enthusiasm for this first new Top Graduate.

Cheers and congratulations rang through the clouds, and many young girls who were not yet betrothed boldly threw the sachets and silk handkerchiefs in their hands toward Chen Chen Guangrui on the horse's back.

Su Chen wore green robes, blending into the crowded crowd.

He held a string of candied haws in his hand, his gaze calmly watching Chen Chen Guangrui riding past.

Suddenly, Su Chen raised his head, Hunyuan magic power circulating in his eyes, opening his Dharma Eye.

His vision pierced through the Golden Dragon of Human Luck above Chang'an City and looked into the depths of the clouds outside Chang'an City.

Above the clouds, two divine generals wearing golden armor and surrounded by Buddha light were hiding in the clouds, looking down at Chang'an City below.

They were exactly the Golden-Headed Head Jiedi and Silver-Headed Head Jiedi among the Five Directions Head Jiedi of the Fomen.

Because of the threat of human luck, they did not dare to enter the city easily and only dared to spy from outside Chang'an City.

"The biological father of Jin Jin Chanzi's tenth reincarnation, his fate is set." The Golden-Headed Head Jiedi crossed his arms, his tone relaxed.

"Watch closely. The World-Honored One has a decree, and the Great Bodhisattva Venerable Guanyin is personally sitting in Nanzhan Nanjian Buzhou; this great plan for the journey to the West must not allow any mistakes." The Silver-Headed Head Jiedi stared fixedly at Chen Chen Guangrui below.

Su Chen withdrew his gaze and took a bite of the candied haws.

The Fomen was indeed cautious; even for a mortal ranking first in the imperial examination and riding through the streets, they had to send two Head Jiedi to watch from the sky.

Unfortunately, under the cover of the Heavenly Secret Treasure and the Chaos Bell, these two Head Jiedi could not discover Su Chen, who had already secretly tampered with things.

The street-parading team continued forward, turned two streets, and arrived in front of a three-story-high colorful building.

The colorful building was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and a stunningly beautiful woman wearing a bright red wedding dress and pearl jewelry was standing in front of the railing, holding a red embroidered ball in her hands.

This woman was the daughter of the current Prime Minister Yin, Yin Yin Wenjiao.

Today, she was throwing the embroidered ball from this colorful building to choose a husband.

The street-parading team happened to arrive below the colorful building.

Chen Chen Guangrui looked up and happened to meet the eyes of Yin Yin Wenjiao on the colorful building.

Su Chen stood behind the crowd, his Dharma Eye opening once again.

He clearly saw that the moment Chen Chen Guangrui and Yin Yin Wenjiao looked at each other, a red line was born in the void.

One end of that red line was tied to the center of Chen Chen Guangrui's eyebrows, and the other end was connected to Yin Yin Wenjiao.

This was the Dao of Karma.

A powerful being had forcibly moved the karma line of mortals, forcibly tying these two people together.

Yin Yin Wenjiao loosened her hands, and the red embroidered ball fell from the three-story-high colorful building.

The crowd below instantly exploded, with countless hands reaching into mid-air, wanting to snatch the position of the Prime Minister's son-in-law.

But the embroidered ball strangely turned a corner in mid-air, avoiding everyone's hands, and hit Chen Chen Guangrui's black gauze cap squarely, then fell into his arms.

The whole scene was quiet for a moment, and then a mountain-shaking, sea-roaring sound of congratulations erupted.

"The Top Graduate caught the embroidered ball!"

"Double happiness! A match made in heaven!"

More than a dozen retainers rushed out of the colorful building, grabbed Chen Chen Guangrui's horse reins without a word, and surrounded him into the Prime Minister's mansion not far away.

Su Chen bit off the last candied haw on the stick and threw the bamboo stick into a bamboo basket by the side of the road.

"It seems the Fomen's methods haven't changed much because of my appearance." Su Chen turned around and walked toward the inn against the cheering crowd.

The next day, the Prime Minister's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and a great banquet was held.

The Prime Minister was recruiting a son-in-law, and it was the new Top Graduate, so even Tang Emperor Li Yuan sent people to deliver gifts.

The second day after the grand wedding, early morning.

Chen Chen Guangrui sat in the study assigned to him by the Prime Minister's mansion.

He was wearing a brand-new green official uniform, and an imperial decree that had just been issued was placed on his desk.

Tang Emperor Li Yuan issued a decree ordering the new Top Graduate Chen E to take up his post as the Magistrate of Jiangzhou and depart that very day.

Chen Chen Guangrui looked at the imperial decree, his face glowing with health, and his joy was beyond words.

He had studied hard for twenty years, and today he had finally fulfilled his wish, able to take up his post as a local official and display his ambitions.

But amidst his joy, Chen Chen Guangrui suddenly remembered the words the Daoist Master Yichen had said to him that night at Pingkang Inn half a month ago.

"In this imperial examination, you will definitely rank first."

"But there is a life-and-death calamity in your fate, ten deaths and no life."

Thinking of this, Chen Chen Guangrui could not help but feel worried; the journey from Chang'an to Jiangzhou was long, with high mountains and long rivers, would the life-and-death calamity the Daoist Master Yichen spoke of happen on the road?

Chen Chen Guangrui stood up abruptly, his hands fumbling over his body.

He pulled out the neatly folded yellow paper talisman from the inside of his inner garment.

Seeing that the talisman was intact, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He found a needle and thread, took off his outer robe, and carefully sewed the talisman into the inner lining of his innermost garment.

After sewing it, he put on his clothes and patted his chest hard, and his wildly beating heart finally calmed down a little.

Chen Chen Guangrui felt that he must meet this master, thank him in person, and if he could ask for a specific method to resolve the calamity, that would be even better.

Thinking of this, Chen Chen Guangrui did not even eat breakfast, hurriedly left the Prime Minister's mansion, hired a sedan chair, and headed straight for Pingkang Inn.

The inn was still lively, with the scholars who had failed the examination packing their bags to return home.

Chen Chen Guangrui rushed into the main hall and went straight to the counter.

"Innkeeper! Is Daoist Master Yichen in Room 3 of the Human category?" Chen Chen Guangrui asked eagerly.

The innkeeper was fiddling with an abacus, looked up, recognized this new Top Graduate, and quickly apologized with a smile.

"Master Top Graduate, you are late. Daoist Master Yichen checked out and left yesterday morning."

"Left?" Chen Chen Guangrui was as if struck by lightning, his hands pressing hard on the counter. "Do you know where he went?"

The innkeeper shook his head: "The Daoist wanders the four corners of the world, his whereabouts are uncertain, how would I dare to ask more?"

Chen Chen Guangrui let go of his hands and took two steps back.

He walked out of the inn in a daze, standing on Zhu Que Avenue, looking at the bustling crowd.

However, he quickly adjusted his mindset; after all, the master had already pointed out the path to life and given him a protective talisman, so he naturally could not ask for too much.

Chen Chen Guangrui straightened his clothes and hat, faced the gate of Pingkang Inn, crossed his hands, and bowed to the end.

"Chen Guangrui will never forget the Daoist's kindness in pointing the way."

One day later, outside Mingde Gate of Chang'an City.

A team of carriages and horses slowly drove out of the city gate, with Chen Chen Guangrui riding a horse at the very front, followed by a gorgeous carriage inside which sat his new wife, Yin Yin Wenjiao.

The road to Jiangzhou was long, and the outcome of this trip was uncertain; Chen Chen Guangrui touched his chest, feeling slightly relieved.

Just as the motorcade drove out of the city gate.

At the top of the highest building in Chang'an City, the Star-Gazing Tower.

Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back in green robes, the strong wind blowing his robes until they rustled.

He looked down from a high position, watching the tiny motorcade drive south along the official road.

Above the firmament, the Golden-Headed Head Jiedi and Silver-Headed Head Jiedi were also driving their clouds, following not far or near above the motorcade.