Chapter 150: The Governor's Daughter

As the Qi of Fortune poured into his body, Su Yang could feel a tingling, warm sensation spreading through him.

His entire body was enveloped by a cluster of purple fortune, appearing sacred and inviolable, causing the many provincial scholars present to feel an involuntary urge to bow in worship.

On the attribute panel, the entry for "Grand Scholar" was gradually erased, replaced by "Minor Master"!

Finally, "Minor Master" was likewise gradually erased, transforming into "Grand Master"...!

In the end, his literary path fortune stabilized at the realm of the Grand Master. In the future, as these Four Axioms of Hengqu continued to spread, he would steadily receive a continuous stream of Confucian literary fortune. Relying on the lingering resonance of the Four Axioms of Hengqu, Su Yang would certainly be able to step into the realm of the Third-Rank University Scholar!

Within the territory of the Great Zhao, passing the provincial examination elevated one to a Grand Scholar. Those who failed to pass the metropolitan examination would generally serve in county government offices as county magistrates or assistant magistrates.

The prefects, vice-prefects, and other officials within Su Prefecture generally possessed the literary fortune of a Minor Master or a Grand Master.

Third-Rank, Second-Rank, and First-Rank University Scholars, meanwhile, served in Jiang Prefecture as regional inspectors, commissioners of education, administration commissioners, and surveillance commissioners.

Of course, this was only a rough conversion based on literary fortune.

In some regions, martial artists were appointed to official posts.

For instance, within Jiang Prefecture, the strongest martial artist should be at the realm of the Superior Minor Grandmaster, though some major prefectures had Inferior Grandmasters holding down the fort, much like Jiang Prefecture itself.

Therefore, theoretically speaking, once Su Yang entered the literary fortune realm of a Third-Rank University Scholar, he would be comparable to a martial artist of the Inferior Minor Grandmaster level.

University Scholar Edicts!

They could materialize into sabers and swords to fend off enemies. With a casual wave of a Third-Rank University Scholar's edict, one could summon rainwater to resolve a county's drought or ride the wind in flight.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea!

The purple fortune surrounding Su Yang gradually dissipated, and his literary fortune had fully entered the realm of the Grand Master.

"Su Yang, congratulations on entering the realm of the Grand Master!" Bai Xingzhou spoke up first.

"Congratulations, Brother Su, on entering the realm of the Grand Master!"

"Congratulations, Brother Su!"

"Congratulations indeed... Brother Su is truly worthy of being the Sub-Provincial Champion of our cohort, actually managing to manifest the Confucian fortune of letters and leap straight into the realm of the Grand Master. It is truly enviable!"

At the banquet, numerous provincial scholars and students vied to offer their congratulations to Su Yang.

Su Yang felt a profound sense of shock within his heart.

During the remainder of the banquet, Su Yang could distinctly feel the heightened enthusiasm and flattery directed at him by the various provincial scholars.

Bai Xingzhou quietly leaned over and asked, "Su Yang, do you play Go?"

"I know a little!"

"As it happens, I have been unable to find anyone to play with recently. Tomorrow, come to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion to find me, and let us have a proper match...!"

Overjoyed, Su Yang readily accepted the invitation.

The banquet continued.

Unable to hold back, Su Yang opened his attribute panel.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Value: 108,600
Literary Fortune: Grand Master
Humanitarian Merit: 53
Soul Fragments: 25
Realm: Second-Rank
Dharmic Artifacts: [Hanguang Flying Sword (Meritorious Dharmic Artifact)], [Brocade Pouch of Hundred Treasures], [Blazing Sun Broadsword], [Buddhist Minor Golden Bell]
Techniques: [Incense Department+], [Qi-Observing Technique], [Third-Rank Heart-Controlling Worm], [Root-Measuring Technique], [Heaven-Masking Law]
Secret Manuals: [Nine Demonic Ox Strengths], [Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears], [Flying Sword Tempering Technique], [Blazing Flame Slash]
Data: [Sacred Book of Gynecology+]
Lifespan: 883+
Family Progress: You have successfully obtained the identity of a provincial scholar, providing an extra layer of security for the expansion of your family. However, merely occupying the seven barren counties to the west of Su Prefecture is far from enough; you need to step foot into a major metropolis like Su Prefecture.
Layout industries within Su Prefecture to obtain 100,000 Incense Points [Second-Rank Heart-Controlling Worm]

Upon acquiring the status of a provincial scholar, the previous family progress mission had vanished, netting him 100,000 incense points. Now, a new family progress objective had appeared: marching into Su Prefecture.

This was much simpler. As long as he casually opened a shop anywhere within Su Prefecture, it would count as completing the family progress, granting him another 100,000 incense points—truly like finding something for nothing.

Had he not promised to accompany the regional inspector tomorrow, Su Yang would have genuinely wanted to rush straight back to Yanggu County, complete the family progress, and claim those 100,000 incense points.

Three rounds of drinks later.

The various provincial scholars took their leave and returned home, and Su Yang also made his way back to the inn.

Inside the Regional Inspector's Mansion!

"My Lord!"

Several martial artists dressed in official yamen runner uniforms stood before Bai Xingzhou, every single one of them at the realm of the Inferior Minor Grandmaster.

"Take these four maxims of encouragement immediately and deliver them to various places. Send one copy to the capital, and ensure they are spread far and wide across every region as quickly as possible," Bai Xingzhou instructed.

Today, he was lending a hand to that Su Yang; who knew, perhaps in the future, it would turn out to be helping himself.

Never had he imagined that Su Yang possessed such remarkable literary talent.

Moreover, there was a chance the young man might even become the Song family's son-in-law, though this fellow had gotten married rather early, which might spell trouble down the line...!

He had even single-handedly challenged two households.

Never mind. Since that girl Tiantian had her eyes on a married man, she could let her teacher worry about it.

As long as it was within his jurisdiction, he would take good care of Su Yang as best as he could, which would at least fulfill his debt of gratitude.

Early the next morning.

Su Yang hastily opened his attribute panel; under literary fortune, it still read Grand Master.

Sigh.

Perhaps he was still being a bit too impatient.

After returning to the inn last night, he had experimented with the Grand Master's edict. It had indeed summoned a fierce gale, far more powerful than the gentle breeze of the Grand Scholar level, though it still could not be sustained for long.

It seemed that only the Confucian literary fortune of the University Scholar realm would truly suffice.

After dressing neatly, he hurried toward the Regional Inspector's Mansion. The gatekeepers and servants had received word long ago and promptly escorted Su Yang inside.

Along the way, maids and servants were an endless stream.

In his past life, Su Yang had visited the Forbidden City, and this Regional Inspector's Mansion was comparable in scale to an imperial palace, though it lacked an inner court and was instead referred to as the rear residential quarters.

Still, upon reflection, it made complete sense.

Great Zhao was different from the dynasties of his past life; a single prefecture under Su Prefecture encompassed eighty or ninety counties, whereas a province in his past life's dynasties only had seven or eight—a tenfold difference.

This single Jiang Prefecture covered an area equivalent to four-fifths of an entire dynasty from his previous life.

For the Regional Inspector's Mansion to be constructed in such a magnificent style was entirely normal.

Just how grand must the imperial palace of Great Zhao be?

Perhaps during the upcoming metropolitan examination, there would be a chance. If one passed as a metropolitan scholar, there would be a palace examination held right within the Golden Throne Hall, and at that time, he would surely get to witness the true grandeur of Great Zhao's imperial palace.

The maids here were exceptionally radiant and delicate. Some of the maids of higher status, such as personal maids and senior maids, were even dressed in silks and satins, truly dazzling to the eyes.

Among them, Inferior Minor Grandmaster martial artists could be spotted quite frequently.

Led by the estate manager, the numerous maids and servants treated Su Yang with utmost politeness all the way to the back courtyard, guiding him into a garden. "His Lordship is still busy. Please wait here for a moment, Young Master Su, while I go and announce your arrival!"

"Thank you for your trouble!"

Su Yang nodded and seated himself in the garden, which resembled an imperial pleasure garden, waiting quietly.

Inside the garden.

A young woman dressed in a emerald-green long dress had slipped away from her attendants to wander about the garden. Her figure was slender and graceful, her eyes brimming with spiritual intelligence, and her fair skin was as white as snow.

From afar, she caught sight of Su Yang sitting quietly by the lake.

A trace of bewilderment flashed in her eyes—when had such a person appeared in the household?

And why was he sitting there with such rigid, upright posture?

Involuntarily, a mischievous urge to tease this fellow welled up in her heart!