“Bringing glory to our ancestors?”

Aunt was momentarily taken aback, thinking to herself that it would be at least a month before Nian’er could achieve such an honor through the imperial examinations. Only when she saw her nephew’s smug expression did she realize he was boasting.

Aunt rolled her beautiful eyes and said with a pout, “Oh my, has our big boy received a promotion and noble title?”

The sarcasm in her voice was evident from the first word.

“I heard from the neighbors that only scholars can hold positions in the imperial court. No matter how much you get promoted, you’re still just a night watchman.”

Although Aunt had gradually let go of her grudges and wasn’t as resentful as before, when it came to the topic of “which nephew is more accomplished,” she felt she had to stand her ground.

Unlike her husband Xu Pingzhi, who saw both his son and nephew as part of the Xu family and treated them equally after raising them for twenty years, Aunt couldn’t stand Xu Qi An’s show of pride. He would occasionally flaunt his achievements in front of her, not showing any respect for her as his aunt.

So, Second Young Master must be more accomplished than First Young Master. Only then could Aunt hold her head high in front of her nephew.

“Aunt doesn’t believe me?” Xu Qi An glanced at her sideways.

“Of course I believe you, it’s just a promotion,” Aunt said dismissively.

Recently, Second Uncle Xu had also been promoted, transferred from the outer city to the inner city with a fixed patrol area. That area was full of wealthy households who would pay the Imperial Guards responsible for their safety to maintain good relations and ensure peace in their homes.

As a result, Second Uncle had a lot of extra money lately. Even after having fifty taels of silver confiscated, he still had money to spend at the courtesans’ quarters.

Of course, Second Uncle Xu never actively went to the courtesans’ quarters, as the girls there were far inferior to his wife. Whenever he stayed overnight there, it was always due to social obligations with colleagues.

In contrast, First Young Master Xu and Second Young Master Xu, having reached the age of Shen Gongbao and still unmarried, would actively visit the courtesans’ quarters to relieve stress.

“It’s not a promotion, it’s a noble title!” Xu Qi An said firmly.

“Pfft…” Aunt burst into laughter, her body shaking alluringly.

“Come on, don’t lie,” Second Uncle waved his hand and said irritably, “Back in the day, when I was fighting at Shanhai Pass, I killed enemies from south to north and north to south, bathed in blood, and even that wasn’t enough for a noble title.”

From south to north and north to south, don’t your arms get tired, Second Uncle?… Xu Qi An thought sarcastically.

Xu Xinnian shook his head, “Conferring a noble title is a significant matter. The last time Great Feng bestowed a title was during the Battle of Shanhai Pass twenty years ago. Now that there’s peace throughout the land, where would you get the military achievements for a title?”

“Noble titles aren’t just for military achievements,” Xu Qi An patted the little one’s head, “Right, Ling Yin?”

The little one ignored him, her small mouth pressed against the edge of the bowl, slurping her porridge.

“Alright, alright, I know exactly what you’re capable of,” Aunt smirked. “If you’re not taking the day off, you should hurry to the yamen. It’s almost past the morning roll call. Don’t make your Second Uncle late either.”

“As for bringing glory to the family, Big Brother, you don’t need to worry about that. After this year’s spring imperial examinations, our Xu family will have produced a jinshi scholar. We’ll hold a banquet at home then and invite the clan members for a feast.”

The spring examinations hadn’t even started yet, but Aunt was already proud.

Damn it, this is the kind of beginning I wanted. Second Uncle is biased, Aunt is harsh, my cousin is a scholar but always puts me down, one sister looks down on me, and the other steals my food… Then, the war god returns, forcefully receives a title, and sends uncle and aunt’s family to live in a doghouse… As Xu Qi An thought about it, he felt quite satisfied.

Second Uncle Xu picked up his helmet again and nodded, “It’s getting late, I need to go for roll call.”

He automatically ignored the matter of the noble title, treating it as just a joke from his nephew.

If the Xu family could produce a nobleman, it would truly be a blessing from their ancestors. Even if Second Young Master topped the imperial examinations and became a jinshi scholar, he still couldn’t compare to First Young Master.

Just then, Xu Pingzhi saw Old Zhang, the doorkeeper, running towards them in a panic, as if he was being chased by a tiger.

“Master… master… master…” Old Zhang stuttered excitedly, “There’s an imperial edict!”

“An imperial what?” Xu Pingzhi didn’t hear clearly.

“An imperial edict!”

“What edict?” Second Young Master Xu didn’t hear clearly.

“An imperial edict, conferring a noble title.”

Xu Qi An glanced at his aunt, whose gaze had become blank, and pushed his uncle towards the door, “The Emperor’s edict has arrived.”

Yesterday, after the case of Imperial Consort Fu was concluded, Wei Yuan had told him that the cabinet had already drafted the edict for conferring the title, and it was set for today.

As Xu Pingzhi walked from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard, it felt like he had traversed half a lifetime. His feelings were complex at the moment – nervous, excited, hesitant, fearful… He had experienced similar feelings once before, on his wedding night.

From a distance, he saw a eunuch in a python robe standing in the courtyard, with a row of armored guards flanking both sides.

The eunuch was holding a yellow silk edict embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon.

Thump thump thump…

Xu Pingzhi could hear his own heart pounding like a drum.

Seeing the main person arrive, the eunuch slowly unfolded the imperial edict and announced in a loud voice, “Constable Xu Qi An, receive the imperial edict.”

Second Uncle was the first to kneel, then pulled Xu Qi An down to kneel with him.

Second Uncle Xu glared at his nephew; in the presence of an imperial edict, this kid was still reluctant to kneel.

“Constable Xu Qi An is present.”

The eunuch nodded and proclaimed in a loud voice, “By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: We consider that governing in peace requires civil administration, while quelling rebellion requires military might. Thus, generals and military leaders are indeed the pillars of the court and the backbone of the nation… Xu Qi An has solved numerous challenging cases and slain two hundred rebels in Yun Province…”

Upon hearing “slain two hundred rebels,” Xu Qi An was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, “Didn’t I slay thousands of enemies? How did it become just two hundred?”

Then he suddenly realized he had exaggerated his achievements so much that he had started to believe it himself.

“…Therefore, We hereby confer upon Xu Qi An the title of Viscount of Changle County, grant him thirty qing of good farmland, and bestow five hundred taels of gold. This is the imperial will.”

“I thank His Majesty for his great kindness,” Xu Qi An shouted the ceremonial phrase and stood up to receive the edict.

“Congratulations, Lord Xu… oh, I mean Viscount Xu,” the eunuch in the python robe said with a smile.

“Many thanks, Your Excellency,” Xu Qi An replied, while discreetly passing a silver note worth one hundred taels to the eunuch.

After the eunuch in the python robe left with his guards, Second Uncle snatched the imperial edict and examined it repeatedly. Despite barely being able to read, he scrutinized it carefully.

As he read, Second Uncle’s eyes began to redden.

“A noble title, a noble title… Our Xu family has produced a viscount.”

He clutched the edict and ran back to the inner courtyard, shouting, “Wife, quickly write to the Xu clan members! Our family has produced a viscount! We must hold a grand feast, for three days and three nights! Hahahahaha…”

Xu Qi An picked up the box of gold and land deeds bestowed by Emperor Yuanjing and sneaked back to his room.

Second Uncle was too foolish; the gold was far more important than the edict.

…

After storing the gold in the Book of Revelation fragment, Xu Qi An returned to the inner courtyard to find Second Uncle and Second Young Master fighting over the imperial edict. Father and son were almost coming to blows.

Second Young Master Xu said discontentedly, “Anyone would think the imperial edict was for you, Father.”

Second Uncle Xu: “Get lost!”

Second Young Master Xu said angrily, “I just want to see how the imperial edict is written.”

Second Uncle Xu: “Get lost!”

Second Young Master Xu shouted, “Father, let me take a look at the edict!”

Second Uncle Xu: “Get lost!”

Bah, uncouth brute… Second Young Master Xu stormed off to his study room to read.

What’s so great about being a viscount? He was determined to top the imperial examinations and become the zhuangyuan scholar. Otherwise, his elder brother would steal all the family’s glory.

“Is… is it really true? A noble title?” Aunt stared at the imperial edict in her husband’s arms with her big Maybelline eyes, as if she was living in a dream.

She was completely unprepared for this.

“Of course it’s true, it has the imperial seal on it. His Majesty even bestowed five hundred taels of gold and thirty qing of good farmland,” Xu Pingzhi said loudly, as if afraid others wouldn’t believe him.

Five hundred taels of gold, thirty qing of good farmland… Aunt’s eyes flashed with a golden light.

“Big Brother, is this real? Aunt feels like she’s in a dream,” Aunt grabbed Xu Qi An’s hand.

Xu Qi An shook her off and said coldly, “Madam, don’t try to get familiar with me. Address me as Lord Viscount.”

Xu Lingyue looked at her elder brother with admiration.

After snubbing his aunt, Xu Qi An reached into his robe, took out the land deed, and slapped it on the table, saying, “I’ve kept the gold for myself. As for these thirty qing of good farmland, Aunt, since I’m not married yet… I’ll trouble Lingyue to manage it for her elder brother.”

Aunt’s outstretched hand froze midway. Unable to do anything about Xu Qi An, she stomped her foot in anger and said, “Xu Pingzhi…”

Unable to deal with her nephew, Aunt could only unleash her frustration on her husband.

Second Uncle Xu snorted, “Xiao Qi An was just joking with you. How could Lingyue understand these matters?”

Xu Lingyue said softly, “Father, I’ve studied for a few years and understand arithmetic.”

Besides, managing farmland usually involved sending trusted servants to do the legwork outside, while the master only needed to keep the accounts.

Suddenly, Aunt felt a sense of crisis.

Her previous imaginary enemies were the wives of First Young Master and Second Young Master, but now she realized that Xu Lingyue, that little minx, had turned against her and wanted to compete with her, the mother, for power.

“Mother, why are you looking at me like that?” Xu Lingyue felt her mother’s gaze was uncomfortably intense.

“I’m not looking at you, I’m looking at an ungrateful wretch.”

“…” Xu Lingyue was speechless.

…

Speaking of the Star-Gazing Tower, the impression it left on the people of the capital and even throughout Great Feng could be summed up in one word: tall!

In the eyes of the jianghu world, besides being towering and cloud-piercing, the Star-Gazing Tower was also a forbidden place in Great Feng, because it housed the dynasty’s only Tier 1 expert.

Few people would think about what lay beneath the Star-Gazing Tower.

Thud thud thud…

In the dark underground, an iron door slowly rose, revealing a winding stone staircase that led deeper below. Every ten steps, an oil lamp on the wall cast a dim light.

Tap tap tap… In the still air, clear footsteps could be heard.

As the footsteps grew clearer, a dark figure emerged from below, ascending the stairs.

The figure had loose hair covering their face and wore a simple hemp robe. They were barefoot, and the occasional swell of their chest as they walked revealed it was a woman.

And a well-endowed woman at that.

“I’m still a bit short of reaching Tier 4 Array Master. Why has Teacher awakened me…” the dark figure muttered to herself.

She looked up. At the top of the stairs, beyond the door, countless rays of light poured in like a tide – the long-absent sunlight.

Stepping through the iron door, the dark figure stood in the silent hall, closed her eyes, spread her arms, and embraced the sunlight.

She hadn’t been out in the world for five years, constantly suppressed by her teacher, the Supervisor, at the bottom of the Star-Gazing Tower.

The woman with disheveled hair passed through the corridor on the first floor and climbed the stairs. As she reached the second floor, thump thump thump… footsteps came from above. A white-robed mage carrying a tray of bottles and jars came down.

They came face to face.

The white-robed mage’s body suddenly stiffened, and his face gradually turned pale, as if he had seen something terrifying.

After about three or four seconds, the white-robed mage turned and fled in panic.

Out of kindness, the disheveled woman quickly reminded him, “Junior Brother, slow down, be careful not to slip.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the white-robed mage’s feet suddenly slipped. He tumbled down, colliding with the woman, and they both rolled down the stairs together.

Bang bang…

The bottles and jars on the tray shattered, releasing a multicolored dust cloud.

“Help, help…” The white-robed mage’s face flushed, gradually turning blue-black. Clutching his throat, he struggled to say:

“This, this is, Senior Brother Song Qing’s, po-poison…”

The woman, holding her own throat, said with difficulty, “Senior Sister didn’t bring the antidote.”

“The antidote is right there…” The white-robed mage seemed unable to move, his eyes fixed on a broken porcelain bottle, staring at the medicinal powder on the ground.

With the woman’s help, the white-robed mage took the antidote and crawled downstairs to the first-floor hall. He shouted to the white-robed mages who were brewing and refining medicines:

“Senior Sister Zhong has come out of seclusion!!!”

Clang… The porcelain bottles, spoons, and other utensils in the hands of the white-robed mages fell to the ground.

They stiffly turned their necks, their faces blank as they looked over.

The disheveled woman continued to climb the stairs. As she passed the seventh floor, the alchemy room on that floor suddenly exploded with a “boom.” The floor and walls shook, shedding dust.

“Why did it explode? Why did it explode?!” Song Qing’s angry roar could be heard.

The woman ignored it and continued climbing. She finally reached the top of the Star-Gazing Tower, the Eight Trigrams Platform.

The Supervisor, with his white hair and beard, looking like an immortal, sat cross-legged behind a table, holding a wine cup and staring blankly into the distance.

“Teacher,” the woman called respectfully, her gaze falling on the wine and delicacies on the table.

“Zhong Li, the opportunity for you to advance to Tier 4 has arrived,” the Supervisor said slowly.

The woman’s body trembled slightly, and she raised her head a little, revealing a snow-white, pointed chin.

…

The non-imperial noble titles in Great Feng were divided into five ranks: Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. Each rank was further divided into five grades (levels).

Xu Qi An’s full title was “Third Grade Viscount of Changle County.”

This was a title that was neither too high nor too low, without much real power, but it did come with an additional monthly stipend.

However, the significance of a noble title lay not in its power, but in the honor and social status it symbolized.

Did topping the imperial exams and holding a position in the imperial court make one a noble? No, such power was only temporary. The true symbol of permanently rising above commoners and joining the noble class was a hereditary title.

Of course, Xu Qi An’s title wasn’t hereditary, but as long as he lived, the Xu family would be nobility, no longer commoners.

In the future, if the Viscount of Changle County were to marry a commoner woman as his principal wife, the Remonstrance Officials would submit memorials criticizing him. The entire court would say: “Are the princesses not good enough? Are the commandery princesses not beautiful enough? How could he marry a commoner woman as his wife?”

In short, for the first time in hundreds of years, the Xu family had produced a viscount, completely shedding their commoner status and joining the ranks of nobility.

For Xu Pingzhi, the head of the family, this was probably the most glorious moment of his life. That day, he took Xu Qi An to pay respects at the family ancestral graves.

Upon returning, he planned to send out invitations far and wide, hold a grand banquet, and invite relatives and friends to come to the mansion to drink and celebrate.

But Aunt felt it was inappropriate, saying, “The spring imperial examinations begin the day after tomorrow. This would affect Second Young Master’s studies.”

Indeed, the spring examinations were in two days – a crucial opportunity for advancement. Holding a grand banquet at home would certainly affect Second Young Master’s studies. Xu Pingzhi felt his wife had a point, so he had Second Young Master Xu move to the old residence in the outer city to study in peace, while the banquet would proceed as planned.

Xu Ling Yin thought this was great.

Second Young Master Xu cursed as he left the scene, taking a servant and a maid with him as he hurried back to the old residence.

After returning from paying respects at the ancestral graves, Xu Qi An generously allocated seventy taels of silver for tomorrow’s banquet expenses.

Seventy taels was already a considerable sum – equivalent to three years of savings for an ordinary well-off family if they didn’t eat or drink; two years’ worth of visits to brothels; or Xu Qi An’s current annual salary.

“It’s been so long since I’ve visited Master Hengyuan’s health center. I should send some money to help the widows, orphans, and lonely…”

Xu Qi An rummaged through his square cabinet and took out five mace of silver, planning to go and cheaply obtain Hengyuan’s body cultivation technique.

Suddenly, as he sat on the edge of the bed, the low and ethereal voice of Monk Shenshu echoed in his mind: “Leave the capital.”

Leave the capital?!

What does this mean… Xu Qi An’s expression turned serious. Monk Shenshu never actively communicated with him, silently sleeping within his body.

Now he was telling him to leave the capital.

Is something going to happen in the capital, or is something going to happen to me?

As various thoughts flashed through his mind, he saw a gray world before his eyes. The gray mist, like a thin fog, dispersed to reveal a dilapidated temple. At the temple gate sat the handsome Master Shenshu.

This mysterious monk sat with his hands clasped in meditation. His brown eyes gazed kindly at Xu Qi An as his ethereal voice repeated: “Leave the capital.”