Chapter 614: The Utmost Grace and Honor

Before attending the morning court, Li Fei had carefully calculated the merits he had established:

Holding Chongcheng and sparing tens of thousands of commoners from slaughter—this merit was beyond doubt.

Afterward, he received the Son of Heaven's dragon Qi, fought off over a hundred Imperial Camp cavalry, and thwarted the plan of True Person Qingxu.

At that time, only the Golden Mountain Prefecture remained to be fully incorporated into True Person Qingxu's grand array, and within Golden Mountain Prefecture, only the two key nodes of Badong City and Chongcheng had not been breached.

If just one more were breached, True Person Qingxu's grand array would be further completed, the Son of Heaven's dragon Qi obtained by Yunshu would be further weakened, and Yunshu would then be unable to hold on.

Not only would this State Preceptor's life be in jeopardy, but Golden Mountain Prefecture would also be completely lost, and True Person Qingxu would successfully establish a Daoist state!

If viewed from this perspective, the merit Li Fei established was indeed an unparalleled feat!

But in reality, Yunshu did not bet everything on Li Fei at the time; the imperial court's true backup plan was the Buddhist school.

Just after Li Fei had defeated those hundred-plus Imperial Camp cavalry, the life-bound magic treasure of that Buddha from Pudu Temple arrived in Ming Province and directly shattered True Person Qingxu's magic array!

If viewed from this perspective, even if Li Fei had failed to successfully harness the Son of Heaven's dragon Qi and failed to hold Chongcheng.

The enemy also needed time for the blood sacrifice.

Before Chongcheng could be completely blood-sacrificed, the Buddhist reinforcements would have arrived.

Therefore, there existed an important variable in the middle:

How long could Yunshu hold on?

There was a high probability that even if Li Fei had failed, Yunshu could still have held on until the Buddhist school arrived.

But there was also a certain possibility that once Chongcheng began to be blood-sacrificed, the two True Persons would have begun to be affected, and ultimately Yunshu would not have held on until the Buddhist reinforcements arrived.

This variable directly determined the magnitude of Li Fei's merit!

And even Yunshu himself could not actually say for sure how long he could hold on.

This did not depend solely on his personal performance, but also on the performance of True Person Qingxu.

It depended on the strength of the resistance from Taiyu, and on the stability of the Son of Heaven's dragon Qi provided by Lanling City.

Under these circumstances, to say that Li Fei played a decisive role in this incident, turning the tide and making himself indispensable.

Still lacked persuasiveness.

But to say that even without him, the final result of victory would have remained the same.

That was not necessarily true either.

Therefore, the final magnitude of Li Fei's merit and the kind of reward he could receive depended on how State Preceptor Yunshu reported it to the Emperor.

And even more so on how the Emperor wanted to reward Li Fei.

And now, the result was out:

The Emperor recognized Li Fei's unparalleled merit!

Directly conferring the title of Marquis—even if it was a lifetime Marquis title that could not be inherited, it was already a heavy reward that exceeded everyone's imagination!

A Marquis under twenty years old; let alone in the history of the Great Lan Dynasty, looking across the thousands of years of human history, there had been no such precedent in any dynasty.

Thus, Li Fei had once again set a record that would go down in history!

The officials in the hall only then reacted one after another from their shock.

Regarding the merit Li Fei had established, the vast majority was already known from the previous publicity.

What truly astonished people were two points:

First, Li Fei fought off over a hundred Imperial Camp cavalry?!

How could a Dao Foundation realm martial artist fight off an Imperial Camp force of over a hundred?

This battle record completely overturned the worldview of many experts in the hall!

But quite a few people also noticed the four characters "Obeying Heaven and Acting in Accordance with Fate" mentioned in the imperial decree.

These people had a certain understanding of Qi and fortune, and that night they had seen with their own eyes that purple-gold giant dragon flying toward the southwest.

So those four characters "Obeying Heaven and Acting in Accordance with Fate" made them associate many things, and their gazes toward Li Fei became even more astonished:

This person really was a child of miracles.

The second point that astonished people was "obstructing True Person Qingyu, causing his flying sword to be damaged."

The reason why "Under Heaven" listed Li Fei directly on the overall Wind and Cloud Ranking, and in the high position of third, was mainly because of the battle record of "forcing back True Person Qingyu."

At the time, no specific battle details were leaked, and even "Under Heaven" could only confirm that Li Fei and True Person Qingyu had engaged in a fight, but could not confirm more details.

Even so, being able to survive under the sword of a True Person of the Great Luo Sect with astonishing killing power was already a very remarkable battle record, enough to rank third on the overall Wind and Cloud Ranking.

But just now, the imperial decree said "caused the flying sword to be damaged."

Surviving under a sword and causing the opponent's life-bound flying sword to be damaged were two completely different levels of difficulty!

For Li Fei to be able to damage True Person Qingyu's flying sword, what kind of terrifying combat power must that be?

Could Zhu Fenghua, who ranked first on the overall Wind and Cloud Ranking, do it?

For a moment, everyone's gaze toward Li Fei was very complex.

Too dazzling, too unbelievable!

In the back, Lu Wenxing was trembling with excitement!

He knew he had made the right bet.

Having drifted in the officialdom for many years, Lu Wenxing understood a principle more clearly than many others:

For the vast majority of people who are not that talented, choice is more important than effort!

Lu Wenxing was currently a 5th-tier combat power in the Dao Foundation realm, having incorporated four types of implants.

The time he spent on "Returning to One" was very long, and the first type of implant he incorporated had already entered the "aging period"; he could not wait until he incorporated a fifth type of implant.

This was also the problem most commonly encountered by the vast majority of Dao Foundation realm martial artists.

Lu Wenxing knew his talent for martial arts ended there, so he put all his thoughts into his official career.

Choosing Li Fei was the most significant decision he had made in his official career.

Now it was proven to be the most correct decision!

A Marquis under twenty years old—this was truly a beautiful dream that no posture could conjure up.

Below the imperial dais, Ye Ze was still continuing to read the imperial decree:

"A reward of one million in gold.

Bestowed one mansion.

May enter the Royal Library to choose one secret manual.

Permitted to carry a sword to court!"

With this, the rewards for Li Fei were concluded.

Hearing these rewards, each more enviable than the last, many people's eyes went wide.

A reward of one million in gold was fine; the "Green-Faced Ghost King's" business in Datong Prefecture and Xingcheng currently had a net annual income of over one million.

Li Fei was no longer short of money, at least not short of "small change."

The bestowed mansion was definitely in the inner city, and the location would not be bad, nor would the area be small.

The value of such a mansion itself would not be less than one million, and what was more valuable was that it was an imperial-bestowed mansion, something money could not buy!

As for entering the Royal Library to choose a secret manual, Lu Wenxing and others had previously received such rewards, only the floors they could enter were different.

The Royal Library had twelve floors in total; the vast majority of people could only choose secret manuals below the seventh floor, while Li Fei could choose from any!

The final point, "permitted to carry a sword to court," was what truly let the officials see the Emperor's favoritism toward Li Fei!

A nineteen-year-old Marquis—it was impossible to confer a higher title, so "carrying a sword to court" belonged to special imperial grace.

Looking across the entire court, there were fewer than ten people with this honor!

In the front, the First Imperial Prince turned his head and glanced at Li Fei, his eyes gloomy.

He also practiced martial arts, was also a martial artist, and was a favored Imperial Prince.

But he did not have the qualification to carry a sword to court.

If Li Fei had been nothing but a lowly ant in his eyes before, now this ant had turned into a flood dragon capable of baring its fangs and brandishing its claws at him!

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the great grace—"

Li Fei's resonant voice rang out in the great hall.

He had appeared very calm since the start of the court session, and only when the conferral of the Marquis title began did he finally show some emotion.

"Hahaha."

The Emperor laughed heartily, but said:

"Do not be in such a hurry to thank me."

"Hm?"

These words made everyone startle.

Could there be more?!

The Emperor spoke, letting Ye Ze continue.

This time it was the reward for State Preceptor Yunshu:

"State Preceptor Yunshu, a great pillar of the state"

As everyone expected, the State Preceptor's status was already there; he was already the Pavilion Master of the Righteous Law Pavilion, overseeing the entire world's Righteous Law Academies, commanding over a hundred thousand sorcerers; in terms of official rank, there was truly no higher to go.

As for cultivation resources or other rewards, Yunshu was truly not lacking.

Or rather, the things he wanted, the imperial court could not provide for the time being.

Therefore, the reward for Yunshu could only be in honor:

"Confer upon Yunshu the title of Duke of An, to be inherited in perpetuity!"

Ye Ze said at the end.

It was yet another reward that exceeded everyone's expectations!

The rewards given by the Emperor this time were truly generous!

The noble titles for those in the Great Lan Dynasty who are not of the imperial clan are: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron.

According to ancestral custom, the Great Lan Dynasty has no princes of different surnames, nor is it possible to confer such titles.

Therefore, the title of Duke is already the highest honor a subject can attain!

Hereditary and perpetual means this highest honor can be passed down through generations; this is true glory shared with the nation!

The appearance of every hereditary and perpetual noble title signifies the birth of a great family.

Before the current Son of Heaven ascended the throne, the Great Lan Dynasty had only one hereditary and perpetual Duke.

In the forty-seven years since his ascension, he has conferred two such dukedoms.

One is the "God of War," Wen Ren-zheng.

Nineteen years ago, in that battle outside Lanling City, Wen Ren-zheng led the Heavenly Lan Iron Cavalry to crush the coalition of over one hundred thousand troops from the seven Western nations, saving the Great Lan Dynasty; after the war, he was ranked first in merit and conferred the title of Duke of Zhenguo by the Son of Heaven.

However, the title of Duke of Zhenguo is hereditary but with a reduction in rank each generation.

Now there is an additional Duke of Anguo, and it is hereditary and perpetual!

Many people thought the title of Duke of Anguo would be reserved for the Chief Councilor Ye Ze-an, after all, there was the political achievement of the Mingxin Reform, but this reform had not yet reached the point of being set in stone.

Yet, no one expected that the Imperial Preceptor Yun Shu would take this honor of Duke of Anguo a step ahead.

And he even received it as hereditary and perpetual!

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace."

Yun Shu bowed calmly to express his gratitude.

The Emperor looked at Yun Shu, whose appearance had aged by several decades, and spoke:

"I have one more word to bestow upon the Imperial Preceptor; the Imperial Preceptor's aspirations are engraved in my heart. I hope that we, monarch and subject, can continue to sharpen our resolve and advance together to realize our grand vision!"

Yun Shu bowed deeply:

"Your subject shall exhaust his efforts until his dying day!"

"Duke of Anguo, please rise and take your seat alongside the Chief Councilor."

The Emperor said, then looked at Li Fei, who was standing in the center of the great hall:

"Li Fei, come forward!"

Upon hearing this, Li Fei took large strides forward.

The positions occupied during the morning court session are particular; simply put, the higher the status, the further forward the position.

Below the cinnabar steps, there were four people closest on the left and right sides:

Ye Ze-an, Wen Ren-zheng, Yun Shu, and the Crown Prince.

Only after them were the First Imperial Prince, the Third Imperial Prince, and the remaining imperial clansmen and high-ranking officials.

Of course, if the Prince of Li attended court, his position would also be the furthest forward, and he would have a seat.

Li Fei arrived at a spot about thirty paces from the cinnabar steps and stood, his position only behind the First Imperial Prince and the others.

"Come forward again."

Above the cinnabar steps, the Emperor continued.

These words caused the First Imperial Prince's expression to change.

Li Fei, hearing this, continued forward, arriving at a distance of less than ten paces from the cinnabar steps.

This was already the furthest forward position, on the same line as Ye Ze-an and Wen Ren-zheng!

When he first attended the morning court, Li Fei could only watch the backs of Ye Ze-an, Wen Ren-zheng, and the others from behind.

Now, it was the officials behind him watching his back.

"Li Fei, I heard that today happens to be your nineteenth birthday."

The Emperor looked at Li Fei and said with a smile.

Li Fei was startled; he looked up at the Emperor, somewhat unexpected.

"The rewards from just now were all things you deserved; I have also prepared a gift for you."

The Emperor smiled.

These words caused the officials to be shocked once again.

So that was where the earlier remark, "Don't be in such a hurry to thank me," had landed.

So, there really was another reward!