CH 146

Fang Yun walked into the room. Even though Yang Yuhuan knew that the rain wouldn't affect him, she still changed his clothes and brewed some hot tea for him.

"Sit down, let's have tea and enjoy the rain together," Fang Yun said.

"Okay." The two of them sat in the living room, sipping tea and watching the summer rain in the courtyard, as well as the frolicking little fox, while sharing intimate conversations.

The rain had halted people's steps outside, but it brought those who seized the opportunity even closer.

"How's your zither practice going?" Fang Yun asked, putting down his teacup.

"Madam Lai has been praising me so much that I'm a bit embarrassed," Yang Yuhuan said with a smile on her face and a hint of pride in her eyes.

"You're my sister Yuhuan, you're definitely not inferior to others. I also know a thing or two about the zither. In a few days, I'll write it down for you to learn," Fang Yun said, not wanting to waste the books and sheet music in the miraculous book world.

"That would distract you from your studies. I can just learn from Madam Lai," Yang Yuhuan said.

"It's no trouble, it's just a matter of a few hours. I bought some out-of-print sheet music when I was at the bookstore. Although I didn't bring them to Yu Hai Mansion, I remember them. I'll write them down for you to play."

"Okay." Yang Yuhuan was delighted and her determination to play the zither for Fang Yun became even stronger.

As they were talking, they noticed that the maid in the courtyard suddenly stopped and looked at the front door through the thin rain.

"Maybe someone is coming," Yang Yuhuan got up.

Sure enough, someone knocked on the door immediately. The doorman went to open the door and saw many people standing outside, one of whom was Prefect Dong, whom they had seen at the banquet before. Prefect Dong had a strange look in his eyes, a mix of joy and worry.

The others' attire looked very familiar to Fang Yun. They were the same people who were present when the Empress Dowager conferred Yang Yuhuan as the Eighth Rank Anren.

Fang Yun didn't want Yang Yuhuan to get wet in the rain, so he asked her to stay in the living room. He quickly walked to the door and said respectfully, "Student Fang Yun pays his respects to Prefect Dong."

Prefect Dong smiled and said, "You don't need to call yourself a student when you see me in the future."

The people behind Prefect Dong immediately bowed and said loudly, "Congratulations, Lord Fang, congratulations, Lord Fang."

Fang Yun guessed the purpose of their visit and smiled, "It's raining, let's talk inside. Come in, everyone."

Seeing Fang Yun being so polite, everyone thanked him and followed him into the living room, putting down their umbrellas and shaking off the rain from their clothes.

Soon, Prefect Dong took out a bright yellow scroll with a dragon embroidered on it from a waterproof cloth bag.

Even though it was the first time Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan had seen it, they immediately associated it with the imperial edict.

Yang Yuhuan, as the Eighth Rank Anren, knelt on one knee to receive the edict, while those without a literary position could only kneel fully. Fang Yun didn't even need to kneel, he just slightly bowed.

"The Emperor's edict says: Fang Yun, with the status of a Talented Scholar, wrote the 'Inscription of the Humble House' to assist the saint in killing the rebels, rowed the dragon boat to enhance the national prestige, won the first place in the Book Mountain, and shone brilliantly in the literary contest between the two countries, defeating all the students of the Jing Kingdom. He is truly the pillar of the nation, the model of students, the example of scholars, and the leader of literati. He is specially conferred as the Sixth Rank County Earl, and one of his sons is granted the title of Township Gentleman."

Not to mention the surrounding literati, even Prefect Dong, who was reading the imperial edict, was stunned. He knew beforehand that Fang Yun was to be conferred as the Sixth Rank County Earl. But because of the law, he hadn't seen the original text of the imperial edict. The sixteen words "the pillar of the nation, the model of students, the example of scholars, and the leader of literati" were four praises, which was astonishing.

Fang Yun was also a bit stunned. He knew that the number and level of praises in the imperial edict for courtiers were strictly limited. Two praises were already rare, three praises were for high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks. If there were four praises, it would be extraordinarily significant, because the highest level was only five praises, which was the treatment for important ministers after their death. Living courtiers could not possibly achieve five praises.

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This time, the four praises were not only numerous in number but also high in level, because "the leader of literati" was already the limit. The next step would be "the leader of the world". The emperor was not qualified to say this, only after getting the affirmation of the Holy Academy could he praise in this way.

"The leader of the world" was the highest honor below the Semi-Saint, while "the leader of a hundred generations" was the treatment of the Semi-Saint and Sub-Sage, and "the teacher of all generations" and "the leader of all generations" could only praise Confucius.

Fang Yun was indeed stunned when he heard that he was praised as "the leader of literati", but when he heard the end, he felt a bit of a mixed feeling of laughter and tears. Praising a Sixth Rank County Earl as the leader of literati was simply an insult to these four words, because at least a Grand Academician could possibly receive the praise of the leader of literati.

The Sixth Rank County Earl in Jing Kingdom was equivalent to a sixth-rank official, because there was no hereditary succession, it couldn't be passed on to descendants, this conferment was really stingy.

"The Left Chancellor is really good at this!" Fang Yun was very clear in his heart, because the Sixth Rank County Earl did not have the right to private soldiers, but once he became the Fifth Rank State Earl, he would have the same rights as an Imperial Scholar, and could get four private soldier quotas, regardless of whether they were human or Demon Barbarian, which was extremely useful. This "leader of literati" was very likely the result of the Empress Dowager's efforts, and the Sixth Rank County Earl was the bottom line of the Left Chancellor.However, overall, this reward was extraordinary, because even Li Wenying and the Left Chancellor had never received the praise of being a "Role Model of Scholars". If scholars were to choose between being a "Role Model of Scholars" and a sixth-rank county earl, everyone would choose "Role Model of Scholars".

In the Holy Origin Mainland, the imperial edict was not just words, it also possessed the power of a nation's destiny!

Once the title "Role Model of Scholars" was announced, it would form a powerful force, this was the so-called "Golden Words and Jade Phrases".

With this title of "Role Model of Scholars", no scholar in Jing Kingdom could attack Fang Yun's character in any way in the future.

From then on, people in Jing Kingdom could criticize his poetry and prose, but without absolute evidence, anyone who knew he was the "Role Model of Scholars" and dared to question his character would immediately be suppressed by the destiny of Jing Kingdom, either stripped of their official position or directly declared a criminal.

The most terrifying thing about the "Role Model of Scholars" was the "One Word Conviction". Anyone with a lower official or literary rank than Fang Yun, if they made a mistake, Fang Yun could reprimand them, causing them to be suppressed by the nation's destiny and thus attracting the attention of Jing Kingdom's court. Unless there was a high official with the power of the nation's destiny to support them, they would inevitably be strictly investigated. If evidence of their crime was found and Fang Yun reprimanded them again, even the king could not pardon them. This showed the power of this title.

The praise of the imperial edict as the "Role Model of Scholars" could be said to be the highest honor that scholars from all nations could pursue, because it was almost impossible to get anything higher.

Fang Yun guessed that this was a form of protection from the Empress Dowager for him. The Left Chancellor would never agree to this, so it must have been the result of the Empress Dowager's insistence.

Fang Yun had previously held grudges against the Empress Dowager, as the previous rewards were too light. However, now Fang Yun was grateful in his heart, as this reward was enough to offset the previous injustices.

However, this "Role Model of Scholars" of Jing Kingdom would not affect non-Jing Kingdom people, and it had no power outside the territory of Jing Kingdom.

Not only were the scholars present shocked by the "Role Model of Scholars", even people like Fang Dan and Yang Yuhuan were wide-eyed. Even they knew the power of the imperial edict's praise of "Role Model of Scholars", because this term often appeared in dramas, as famous as the Monk's Magic Sword.

"Earl Fang, please accept this." Prefect Dong respectfully handed the imperial edict to Fang Yun.

"Thank you for the imperial grace." Fang Yun took the imperial edict with both hands, and then the imperial edict turned into a stream of light and entered his forehead.

Fang Yun was startled, signaled Prefect Dong, and immediately entered the Palace of Literature in his mind.

He saw the imperial edict rolled up, floating below the statue of Fang Yun, and there was nothing else magical about it.

Fang Yun opened it and looked, it looked no different from the outside, but this imperial edict possessed the power of Golden Words and Jade Phrases.

"With the Empress Dowager like this, there is still hope for Jing Kingdom."

Fang Yun sighed lightly and left the Palace of Literature.

At this time, all of Prefect Dong's subordinates were driven by Prefect Dong to the corridor outside the door, fearing that they would attack Fang Yun while he was in the Palace of Literature.

"Thank you, Prefect Dong." Fang Yun said.

"Lord Fang, you're welcome." Prefect Dong smiled.

Fang Yun nodded, from the moment he received the imperial edict, he held the title of a sixth-rank county earl.

Then, Prefect Dong's subordinates came in and handed a copper seal of the county earl's title to Fang Yun. This seal was only half the size of a fist, very delicate.

This official seal had no power in normal times, because the title was just a title and not an actual official position, it had no real power. But at special times, it could temporarily become a sixth-rank official, giving this official seal the power of a real official seal.

Next, Prefect Dong announced the Empress Dowager's decree, raising Yang Yuhuan's status from eighth rank to seventh rank as a peaceful person.

After the enfeoffment ceremony was over, Fang Yun let Fang Dan lead Prefect Dong's subordinates to rest in the side room, while he entertained Prefect Dong in the living room.

"Prefect Dong, why didn't I receive any advance notice?" Fang Yun asked.

Prefect Dong took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said, "Not just you, even the governors of each state didn't receive any news. After the news of your literary duel with the ten people from Qing Nation spread yesterday, the whole country was shocked. All the shops on the street of the Academy in the capital actually had a collective discount sale, whether it was books, stationery, or desk toys, all the shopkeepers were selling things at cost."

"Is it that exaggerated?" Fang Yun couldn't believe it.

"The more exaggerated part is yet to come. Today, not only the shops on the street of the Academy had a collective discount, many shops in the capital, whether they were restaurants or brothels, many businesses were offering discounts. I don't know how many people are thanking you."

Fang Yun was happy but remained sober, saying, "Is there any inside story here?"

Prefect Dong laughed and said, "You're indeed half a chancellor, Fang. Of course, there are the manipulations of the prominent families behind this. They couldn't participate before because the Miscellaneous School and the Vertical and Horizontal School were too powerful. If they resist too fiercely now, what if Jing Kingdom is divided by Qing Nation and Wu Nation in a few years? Won't they be held accountable after the fall? Now that you have won, they are also happy, naturally they want to celebrate in this way and express their gratitude to you.""Before anything else, how did I become 'Fang Half-Chancellor'?" Fang Yun asked curiously.

"You're not from the officialdom, so naturally, you wouldn't know. Generally speaking, only the Left Chancellor, Right Chancellor, Auxiliary Chancellor, Literary Chancellor, and the Great Scholar have the qualifications to be titled 'Literary Leader'. If an official outside of these four chancellors obtains this title, then once there's a vacancy in the chancellor positions, he would certainly be eligible to become one of the four chancellors. That's why the 'Literary Leader' is also referred to as 'Half-Chancellor'."

"But my official rank is too low, even with this title, it's impossible for me to fill a chancellor position, right?"

"That's true, but there's no problem in calling you Fang Half-Chancellor. From now on, you can become one of the leaders of the literary circle in our Jing Kingdom..." Prefect Dong was especially happy for Fang Yun, so much so that he started to joke.

"You still haven't answered my previous question." Fang Yun said with a smile as he poured tea for Prefect Dong.

...(To be continued.)

PS: The third update will be in the late night.