Qin Xiao and the others were currently residing in the royal palace.

Unlike the imposing architectural style of Great Ning, the buildings here were more magnificent and extravagantly luxurious.

Even the study was ridiculously extravagant, with glittering jewels everywhere and display shelves filled with numerous rare and precious trinkets.

Qin Xiao sat in the main seat, looking at the people below him.

Although Chu Jiubian had mentioned in his letter methods for governing the Sai Kingdom, Qin Xiao still asked everyone: “The situation here is unique. What do you all think is the best method for managing this country?”

Down below, all of those present, including Hu Fang and Cheng Shuo, were military officers. Thus, their suggestions all revolved around “deploying troops to maintain order” and using military force to “deter” any potential threats. Even the best suggestion was simply to build a government office and deploy more soldiers and commanders.

Other than him, the only civil official present was Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, who was responsible for transporting their provisions.

This had actually been on his mind ever since Qin Xiao led his army into the Western Regions.

He actually did have an idea, so he stepped forward and bowed, then said: “My Lord, this official has a solution.”

“Speak.”

“The Imperial Court must establish a government office here, but it should also exercise some control over those religious establishments. It would be even better if they could be brought under the direct control of the Imperial Court.”

Religion could, to a certain extent, influence and even control people’s thoughts.

If the Imperial Court was able to control this aspect, the people in this region would be easier to manage.

Qin Xiao nodded his head.

This was exactly as Chu Jiubian had stated in his letter.

The Sai Kingdom royal family had never been able to control those religious forces, and it would be fair to say that they were practically rivals in power. Currently, Great Ning’s Imperial court was facing immense difficulties in attempting to control the local religious forces – difficulties that mirrored what would happen if it tried to exert its authority over the ancestral lands of the four great noble families.

Cheng Shuo’s first thought was that he meant to use force to bring them under their control, so he said: “Since this involves gods and buddhas, we shouldn’t force them, should we?”

There was the living immortal, Chu Jiubian, in the capital, and the High Priest had emerged in the Northern Desert. Not just Cheng Shuo, but everyone present felt some apprehensiveness toward the supernatural, and they all genuinely believed that such deities existed. 

Therefore, their current concerns were genuine.

If this place was truly protected by gods and buddhas, then they should avoid acting rashly, lest they incur the wrath of those deities.

Wang Pengyi was actually a little worried about this as well, and said: “I’m not talking about using force. The religious forces should still operate independently, but cooperate with the court. Since this is all for the sake of the common people, peaceful coexistence is a perfectly acceptable outcome.”

What he really wanted to say was: “How about we invite Chu Jiubian over?” After all, it would be easier for another god to talk to the local gods.

But considering the intelligence of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, they would have surely thought of this already. Since they hadn’t gone through with the idea, perhaps there were some unknown difficulties, or perhaps they were waiting for Qin Xiao to return to the capital before Chu Jiubian set out to come here.

One of them should certainly stay behind in the capital.

Therefore, Wang Pengyi found it inconvenient to bring up this matter.

But others disagreed with his assessment.

“How can that be? We’ve already conquered the territory – there’s no room for independent rule anymore!”

“Indeed. If we went ahead with this method, what would happen to the dignity of our Great Ning?

“No, no, Minister Wang’s method is definitely not feasible.”

The military officials all shook their heads, and Wang Pengyi had no intention of arguing with them further.

When a scholar encountered a soldier, reason was of no avail.

Qin Xiao listened to everyone’s opinions. Then, recalling the contents of Chu Jiubian’s letter, he tapped the table with his finger.

He waited until they had all quieted down before speaking: “The county-level administrative system needs to be put in place. Asking Minister Wang to oversee this matter.”

“Yes,” Wang Pengyi replied.

Qin Xiao then instructed the rest: “Before dawn on the ninth day of the month, everyone should go to the foot of the sacred mountain.”

The sacred mountain was not far from the royal palace. One could even see the mountaintop from the palace roof.

None of them knew what he intended to do, but they all agreed without hesitation.

“Alright. If there is nothing else, you may go,” said Qin Xiao.

Everyone left one after another, except for Cheng Shuo.

Qin Xiao looked up at him and asked: “Is there anything else?”

“I do indeed have a matter to discuss.” Cheng Shuo glanced around to make sure that there were no listening ears, then approached Qin Xiao and stopped just across the table from him. He chuckled sheepishly: “My Lord, when you ordered me to lie in ambush on the Daxing Plains, didn’t you give me a repeating crossbow?”

To prevent the Sai Kingdom Army from launching a surprise attack on the supply camp, Qin Xiao had sent Cheng Shuo to lie in wait for them.

And rather than telling him to rejoin them afterward, Qin Xiao instructed him to proceed ahead to the Daxing Plains, closer to the border of the Sai Kingdom, and prepare an ambush. Just in case, Qin Xiao had handed over to him the repeating crossbow Qin Chuan had given him.

This repeating crossbow had a long range, could fire multiple arrows in quick succession, and was compact in size. For Cheng Shuo, who was accustomed to close-quarters combat, this crossbow perfectly compensated for his weaknesses in long-range skirmishes.

He had killed many enemies with this repeating crossbow on the plains, and even wounded one of Moba Zanpu’s legs, making full use of the weapon’s capabilities.

Seeing Cheng Shuo’s expression now, Qin Xiao knew exactly what was on his mind.

He said with amusement: “There is currently only one of these. Once we produce more, this lord will give you a new one.”

“Excellent!” Cheng Shuo clapped his hands together, then said somewhat awkwardly: “Could I borrow this crossbow again for further study? My heart truly itches for it.”

As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward the bookshelf behind Qin Xiao. There was a box sitting on it, which contained the crossbow and bolts.

This person, just like Qin Chuan, had a passion for weapons.

When Qin Jingzhao still lived, he would give any rare bladed weapons or bows and arrows he acquired to Cheng Shuo.

And naturally, if Cheng Shuo obtained anything good, he would always send it to the Qin family.

Qin Xiao’s first set of writing implements was a gift from his grandfather, Grand Commandant Qin, and his second set had been a gift from Cheng Shuo.

After Qin Xiao’s parents passed away, the relationship between him and Cheng Shuo grew more distant. Bringing him on the campaign this time was partly for the purpose of mending their relationship, as well as giving Cheng Shuo an opportunity to earn merit.

Noticing how Cheng Shuo’s mind was entirely focused on the crossbow, Qin Xiao smiled and said: “Go ahead, but don’t damage it.”

“Sure thing, I guarantee that I won’t damage it,” Cheng Shuo said, happily rushing over to retrieve the weapon.

Qin Xiao looked back down at the memorials on the table.

They contained reports from subordinates who had investigated various villages and cities in the Sai Kingdom, covering everything from local customs and traditions to the private opinions of the common people regarding the Great Ning Dynasty.

All of this information would be of help to the officials who remained here to manage affairs.

As he was reading, he suddenly heard something whoosh through the air.

Qin Xiao’s eyes narrowed sharply. He instantly jumped to his feet, dodging the arrow shooting toward him from behind.

But as he dodged one arrow, another one followed on its tail and pierced directly into Qin Xiao’s chest.

Following the dull sound of flesh and bone rending, the strong scent of blood filled the air.

A large patch of blood spread across Qin Xiao’s chest, and the force of the impact pushed him back two steps.

This crossbow was capable of firing six arrows in rapid succession, and at a very high speed.

And since the person wielding it was an experienced commander who could anticipate his movements, despite Qin Xiao’s  incredible skill, he couldn’t possibly move faster than a crossbow bolt.

Outside the study, Hu Fang had already reached the courtyard gate when his ears suddenly pricked up. His expression twisted, and he turned to hasten back into the courtyard.

Those around him were startled, and quickly followed suit.

Wang Pengyi wasn’t as quick as these martial arts practitioners, but he followed the others as fast as he could.

Inside the study, Qin Xiao had just dodged the fourth arrow when he managed to reach his spear.

Taking it in his hand, he hurled it with all his might.

The opponent didn’t pause, and sent the fifth and sixth arrows shooting toward Qin Xiao’s face in rapid succession.

At almost the same time, Hu Fang and several others burst into the study.

Before he could even get a clear look at the scene in front of him, Hu Fang took a few steps forward, pulled out the spear that Qin Xiao had embedded into a wall, and engaged Cheng Shuo in battle.

Based on their abilities, Hu Fang was the superior fighter.

However, Hu Fang was fifty years old, while Cheng Shuo was about ten years younger than him. Fortunately, getting his hands on Qin Xiao’s spear gave him the upper hand.

The others quickly gathered around Qin Xiao to hold him up. When Wang Pengyi entered the room and saw the crossbow bolt sticking out of Qin Xiao’s chest, his expression changed drastically and he immediately ran out to call in the accompanying military doctor.

The guards rushed in as well, and with great effort, they were able to pin Cheng Shuo firmly to the ground.

From beginning to end, Cheng Shuo didn’t speak a single word. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was contorted in rage.

Qin Xiao covered the wound on his chest with one hand. His expression was calm almost to the point of indifference.

Without asking anyone to support him, he paced slowly over to Cheng Shuo and looked down at him from above.

“I never thought it would be you.”

Qin Xiao’s voice was completely devoid of emotion, as if he was simply stating an objective fact.

Cheng Shuo’s face was pressed against the ground. He strained to glare up at him, but could only glimpse the hem of the man’s robes.

Unlike Qin Xiao, Hu Feng was not so calm. Shaking with fury, he cursed: “You damn son of a bitch! How dare you betray the Qin family! Go to hell!”

These former members of the Qin Family Army had all received benefits from the Qin family.

Even though they had now been assigned to military camps in different locations, they still remembered the kindness of Grand Commandant Qin, and held deep affection for Qin Xiao, whom they had basically watched grow up.

He had been on his guard along the way, but Hu Fang had never suspected the former members of the Qin Family Army, nor could he have imagined that it would be Cheng Shuo who attacked Qin Xiao.

It must be known that Qin Xiao had shown Cheng Shuo exceptional care throughout the journey, giving him the best opportunities to distinguish himself and entrusting him with the most important tasks.

Helping to conquer half of the Western Regions was a tremendous achievement, and upon his return to the capital, Cheng Shuo would be granted at least a third-rank title, or perhaps even second-rank.

And if Qin Xiao was a little more assertive, he might even elevate him to nobility.

He already held a high position at the age of thirty-eight, and if he assisted Bai Lihong with stabilizing the political situation later on, his future would be boundless.

It was impossible for Cheng Shuo to not understand something so obvious.

Therefore, his actions toward Qin Xiao truly defied belief, and nobody had seen it coming.

Despite the curses being hurled his way by Hu Fang, Cheng Shuo remained silent.

“Speak up! Who fucking ordered you to hurt Ning-wang!” Hu Fang stomped down hard on the other’s back.

Cheng Shuo gritted his teeth, letting out a muffled groan.

Qin Xiao watched on coldly.

Despite the throbbing pain of the wound on his chest, which caused him to break out in a cold sweat, and despite the strong taste of blood flooding his mouth and difficulty breathing, his tone remained level: “Take him away for interrogation. Torture is permitted.”

*

*

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Chu Jiubian was awake before dawn.

The previous morning, news had arrived from the Northwest that all of the necessary people had been notified, and that they would all be at the foot of the sacred mountain before dawn on the ninth day.

The letter was written by Qin Xiao himself, but the handwriting was somewhat delicate, lacking the strong, forceful strokes of his previous writing.

Chu Jiubian selectively ignored this aberration and tried not to think about it.

But the nagging suspicion continued to resurface in his mind, bothering him incessantly.

After finishing his breakfast, Chu Jiubian walked out of the palace hall.

Xiao Yinzi draped a fur cloak over his shoulders and walked quietly at his side.

Chu Jiubian stood beneath a pavilion, calculating the time as he gazed out at the slowly brightening sky.

The sun came up earlier in the capital city than in the Northwest, and by now, everyone should have already gathered at the foot of that sacred mountain in the Sai Kingdom.

“System,” he said, “Prepare the special effects.”

[Okay, Host. Preparations complete.]

He had put together the visual effects days ago, and all the System needed to do was project them to the designated location.

But after some thought, Chu Jiubian feared that something might go wrong, and wanted to see it himself so that he could feel at ease.

Thus, he asked the System: “Am I able to watch the special effects?”

[Host, we have already rehearsed and modified 36 versions of the special effects inside the Divine Realm. You have also viewed the finished version over 10 times.]

“But I still need to see if it achieves the desired result, don’t I? Otherwise, wouldn’t this just be a waste of my Faith Points?” Chu Jiubian wore an unconcerned expression even as he haggled with the System in his mind. “If you keep being like this, I won’t dare to buy any more expensive and impractical features from you again.”

The System kept silent for a moment, as if it was analyzing his words.

Approximately thirty seconds later, it spoke again: [Ten points. No haggling.]

Chu Jiubian said: “Can the perspective be adjusted according to my preferences?”

[Only within the vicinity of the special effects.]

After a moment’s thought, Chu Jiubian gave a decisive nod: “Deal.”

The System seemed to be surprised that he would spend ten points just to view the special effects.

It lagged for a second before saying: [The special effects will be deployed in ten seconds at the break of dawn.]

[Countdown commencing. 10, 9, 8…..]

A screen the size of a 60-inch television had already unfolded in front of Chu Jiubian.

Xiao Yinzi beside him, as well as the other palace servants in the courtyard, were unable to see it. They only thought that their young master was blankly staring into space.

Chu Jiubian stared at the screen, and with a single thought, the image switched to numerous angles.

He saw the snow-capped sacred mountain, the magnificent temples built on nearby peaks, and the faintly visible towns in the distance.

Looking down, he saw hundreds of people packed together at the foot of the mountain.

These people were wearing traditional local clothing, and the fur coats and tall boots looked very warm. 

But most of the common people were wearing dark, coarse garments in either deep blue or black, while several rows of religious leaders dressed in crimson monastic garb stood at the very front of the crowd.

All of these men were bald, with prayer beads around their necks and rosaries in their hands. Their expressions were haughty and aloof, as if they considered nothing and no one worthy of their attention.

Shoulders hunched, the common people eyed the soldiers of the Great Ning Army who had formed a distant ring around them, feeling a certain degree of resentment in their hearts.

“I wonder why these Great Ning people called us out in such freezing weather.”

“Shh, we’re citizens of Great Ning now. Be careful, or that official might cut out your tongue.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong. Why would he cut my tongue out?”

“Haven’t you heard, ah? That Lord Ning-wang subjected someone to the punishment of lingchi! He even wiped out the Sai Kingdom’s royal family without leaving a single survivor, calling it ‘pulling up the roots.’”

“He’s that terrifying?” One of the commoners shuddered, adding, “But we have the Buddhist Masters standing in front of us, so there’s no reason to be afraid.”

Everyone turned to look at the crimson-clad religious leaders at the front.

These Buddhist Masters, with their calm and composed demeanors, possessed an air of unflappability even in the face of adversity, which greatly reassured the common people.

“That’s right, we have the blessings of the gods, and we still have our faith leaders. Surely Ning-wang wouldn’t dare to kill us indiscriminately, lest his soul be damned!”

As they listened to the whispers of the crowd, the Buddhist Masters’ expressions grew even colder and more aloof.

No matter what the Great Ning Army intended to do, and no matter whether they used threats or coercion, they would not change their stance.

Even now that this half of the Western Regions had been conquered, it was still necessary for these Buddhist Masters to remain in control. How could the people of Great Ning ever understand how to govern this land properly?

Voices from that far away couldn’t be heard in the video, but Chu Jiubian was only checking to make sure enough people had arrived, as well as taking a quick look at Qin Xiao’s condition.

There were enough commoners and Buddhist Masters present by now, and with these people as witnesses, his plans would proceed more smoothly.

Chu Jiubian kept switching the camera angle, and finally spotted a tall, imposing figure.

The man was dressed in all black, with a thick fur cloak draped over his shoulders. Such garb made his facial features seem sharper and more defined, and emphasized the paleness of his complexion, which was almost completely devoid of color.

Chu Jiubian’s fingertips trembled slightly.

The person in the image seemed to sense something, and his sharp eyes suddenly turned in the direction of the camera.

In that instant, Chu Jiubian felt his heart rate quicken by half a beat.

At the same time, the sun rose behind the mountains, and the first rays of sunlight fell upon the snow-capped peak, casting over it a shimmering glow.

Qin Xiao squinted his eyes, momentarily distracted.

Bathed in sunlight, the golden mountain was like something out of a dream.

Just then, he saw something emerge from the shadows.

He gradually realized what it was, and his pupils constricted sharply.

That was an actual giant golden dragon!

Slowly emerging from the interplay of light and shadow, it stopped only when it reached the summit of the sacred mountain. It circled the peak and let out a roar that seemed to ring out from the distant past, its lingering echo sending chills down one’s spine.

Those at the foot of the sacred mountain stood in stunned awe, and even the Great Ning soldiers on the scene stared in astonishment.

“Good heavens! That’s a dragon!” Someone shouted abruptly, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

“It’s a dragon! It’s really a dragon!”

“A divine dragon has descended! A divine dragon, ah! The heavens are watching over our land!”

These elders and respected figures who were highly esteemed among the common people knelt down one after another and bowed their heads in reverence.

The arrogant Buddhist Masters, with their crimson robes flapping in the wind, forgot the scriptures they were reciting and stared in shock and alarm at the colossal dragon that was almost half as large as the mountain.

Sunlight cast a brilliant golden glow across the snow-capped peak, which blended in seamlessly with the long, winding mountain range in a dazzling spectacle.

But nobody dared to blink. They all stared intently, fearful of missing a single thrilling moment and regretting it for the rest of their lives.

After the golden dragon circled the peak twice, an ethereal voice suddenly echoed from the sky: “This god bestows his blessings and protection upon Great Ning!”

The voice was cool and illusory, and exuded an intangible sense of pressure, like a young deity looking down upon the mortal world from on high.

With such an auspicious sign appearing atop the sacred mountain, not just the common people, but even the Buddhist Masters were willing to bow their heads in reverence, their eyes filled with piety and fervor.

Immediately after Great Ning conquered the Western Regions, a god bestowed his blessings upon the region from their sacred mountain. What did this signify?

Naturally, this indicated that Great Ning would enjoy a period of prosperity, ah!

First there was the Grand Tutor, Chu Jiubian, who was rumored to be the incarnation of the Sacred Star god. Then came the High Priest in the Northern Desert who bestowed knowledge through dreams, and now there was a golden dragon upon the sacred mountain, bringing with it heavenly blessings.

All of this pointed to one conclusion – the ruler of Great Ning was truly ordained by heaven!

These Buddhist Masters, who so arrogantly considered themselves to be “the closest to the gods,” had looked down on those rumors from Great Ning about the incarnation of a deity, believing it to be a mere political tactic used to deceive the public.

Now, they were completely convinced that those rumors were based in fact.

Great Ning was truly blessed by the gods.

With such a large ship available, only a fool would hesitate to buy a ticket and jump onboard.

The common people were unaware of such intricacies. They only knew that Great Ning was blessed with good fortune and godly protection – and this god had even manifested himself!

Being a resident of Great Ning would truly be a wonderful thing.

Even those Buddhist Masters who possessed certain means to exert their control over the public lost their air of superiority and willingly submitted to this divine miracle. And subsequently, to the Great Ning Imperial Court.

As long as the Imperial Court didn’t completely revoke their power and cut off their benefits, they would wholeheartedly support Great Ning’s rule.

Of course, in the wake of this incident, even if Great Ning decided to withdraw such privileges, they wouldn’t dare speak up.

And it wasn’t just the people of the Sai Kingdom who were affected. Even the Great Ning soldiers nearby had gone weak-legged and almost collapsed to their knees.

Fortunately, Qin Xiao had declared beforehand that anyone who made a misstep at this crucial moment would be fined a portion of their salary and bonuses.

Therefore, despite their fear and shock, they all managed to keep from kneeling down in reverence. This gave them the appearance of being worldly and knowledgeable, and set them apart from the rest. 

Seeing all of this, the people of the Western Regions couldn’t help but wonder if citizens of Great Ning witnessed such miracles regularly. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they be more amazed?

If that was the case, then by joining Great Ning, would they also be able to see such miracles in the future?

Qin Xiao stood at the rear of the crowd, watching this scene from a distance.

So this was the method used by the Sacred Star God?

But the voice that spoke just now didn’t belong to Chu Jiubian.

Without blinking once, he watched as the golden dragon swam through the air toward the rising sun, then vanished into its brilliant light.

The special effects ended, and the screen shut off.

Chu Jiubian blinked his eyes, but it seemed as if he could still see that person’s pale face, as well as the profound melancholy in his eyes.

*

*

On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, Chu Jiubian received a letter from the Northwest.

Qin Xiao reported that a plan had been established for the continued management of the Sai Kingdom, and that Wang Pengyi and Hu Fang would stay behind to handle the follow-up matters.

When he had people at his disposal after the Imperial Examinations, he would also send them to take over affairs there.

The Great Ning Army had already set off in preparation to return to the capital. Qin Xiao and twenty guards had departed ahead of them, and hoped to arrive in the capital before the end of the month.

The handwriting still had flair, the brushstrokes sharp and powerful, but the force behind the writing was still lighter than in previous letters.

Chu Jiubian stared at it fixedly for some time before finally placing it into the System’s inventory.

The next morning, all of the examination papers were delivered to Chu Jiubian from various prefectures.

In the main room of Yangxin Hall.

The young emperor sat in the main seat, reading the “Complete Guide to Basic Knowledge for Children” that Xiansheng had given him. It contained many interesting facts, such as the earth being round and that humans had evolved from monkeys. The child had been completely engrossed in it for the past few days.

Meanwhile, Chu Jiubian was reviewing the exam papers of candidates from various regions.

There were a total of 199 submissions, which the examiners had already reviewed and selected.

In order to avoid misjudging them, these people had set aside some of the more difficult papers and sent them to the capital for Chu Jiubian to review personally.

However, Chu Jiubian had been extremely busy lately, and with the New Year approaching, the vassal kings were also about to arrive.

Nanjiang’s Main Stronghold was capable of managing affairs there, so Nanjiang-wang’s entire family of four were coming to the capital.

The Situ siblings, traveling alongside their parents, conducted business throughout their journey.

Situ Zhaoling’s business acumen had kicked in at last, and everywhere she went, she found ways to advertise Nanjiang silk. As a result, even before her arrival in the Central Plains, the reputation of Nanjiang silk had already spread throughout the south.

The other vassal kings were also on their way.

Even Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu, who had previously been captured by the enemy, had no more worries after the conclusion of the war and had thus set off for the capital. 

Anhuai-wang Bai Liming, whose fiefdom was located in Henan, would be arriving the day after next. This person had previously considered taking advantage of the flooding in Hexi Prefecture to fish in troubled waters, but Qin Xiao hadn’t given him a chance.

Due to all of this, Chu Jiubian simply did not have the time to review the exam papers right away. He could only place them into the System’s inventory and find time to look at a few of them whenever he could.

Therefore, the next round of examinations would have to be scheduled for after the New Year.

The most important matters at hand were the arrival of the vassal kings in the capital, as well as…..

Chu Jiubian raised his eyes toward the Northwest.

In a few days, Qin Xiao would return.

In the original story, Qin Xiao had returned to the capital grievously wounded, to the point that he was almost unable to be saved. However, the news circulating in the capital at present was that Qin Xiao was returning victorious and in excellent health.

He was even in such good physical condition that he was able to return ahead of the main army.

In the message Chu Jiubian had received, Qin Xiao had made no mention of an injury, and simply stated that he was “safe and sound.”

But Chu Jiubian still felt uneasy.

The plot had changed considerably from its original state, but when it came to Qin Xiao’s campaign in the Northwest, there were no changes at all other than the fact that it had happened a year ahead of time.

Could it be that because of this one-year head start, neither Dingbei-wang nor Moba Zanpu had enough time to prepare, which had allowed Qin Xiao to escape harm?

Or perhaps Qin Xiao had been injured, but not so seriously?

With this in mind, Chu Jiubian had to face the fact that each letter had been written in increasingly shaky handwriting, which confirmed that Qin Xiao was indeed injured.

And that injury was likely getting worse.

“Xiansheng.”

The child’s voice rang out, causing Chu Jiubian to snap out of his thoughts and look up: “What is it?”

Bai Lihong cupped his chubby little face in his hands and asked: “Is Xiansheng worried about Jiujiu?”

Chu Jiubian hesitated briefly before saying: “I’m not.”

“Then why did Xiansheng sigh?”

Had he sighed?

Unwilling to argue with the child, Chu Jiubian said: “Continue your reading.”

The child blinked his big, round eyes. Since Chu Jiubian didn’t want to talk, he obediently ceased questioning him, and would only occasionally shoot him a worried look.

Chu Jiubian was a little bit flustered, and stared at the densely-written words on an exam paper without comprehending any of it.

Given the current situation in the capital, as the Grand Tutor assisting in governance, he possessed authority.

The young emperor trusted him and relied upon him, and the Qin family naturally had his back, which afforded him influence.

The Imperial Examinations had reached the final stage, and many talents had already emerged. This put many capable people in his hands.

With authority, influence, and people at his disposal, as well as money to spend, it seemed that he no longer needed Qin Xiao at all.

If Qin Xiao was destined to be a villain, and they were ultimately going to end up on completely opposite sides, now was the best time to eliminate him.

However, such authority and influence had been handed over to him by Qin Xiao.

Although Chu Jiubian could admit that he wasn’t a good person, he…..

He closed his eyes and put such things out of his mind. Any further considerations could wait until Qin Xiao returned.

Two days passed.

It was the fifteenth day of the twelfth month.

On this day, Anhuai-wang Bai Liming, accompanied by his advisor Jiang Yongshou, arrived in the capital and paid his respects to the emperor.

---

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Chapter 67 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 69