The doors to the ancestral hall were wide open. Pei Zi Yun and the distant relatives of the Pei family were waiting in front of the hall.
A white-faced eunuch stepped forward, accompanied by an imperial bodyguard. He looked at the incense burner table in front of the ancestral hall and nodded, not lacking in manners.
"Receive the edict!" The eunuch held the imperial edict with both hands and walked forward to stand in front of the incense burner table.
"Long live the Emperor." Pei Zi Yun, Pei Qian Shi and the rest of the Pei clan all knelt down.
"The Edict states: Ying Prefecture's High Scholar, Yun's father, has cultivated and ploughed the land. He is filial and does not forget his parents. His bow is still there, and should be engraved in the ground. He bestows upon you the title of Scholar. His mother, Lady Qian, has worked hard to raise you, and has endured many hardships. Thus, he bestows upon you the title of Ruren."
"Receive the decree!" the eunuch said.
"Thank you, long live the Emperor!" Pei Zi Yun and the rest of the people bowed again.
The guard stepped forward, holding a silver tray with both hands. On the tray was a set of seventh-ranked children's clothing. Although it was only seventh-ranked, the children's crown was made of pearls, jade, and treasured pearls.
Pei Qian Shi's body trembled as she stepped forward to receive the reward.
Pei Zi Yun stepped forward and received the Imperial Edict. When the Imperial Edict landed in Pei Zi Yun's hands, he took a closer look and saw that it was made of red silk with gold threads embroidered on it. At the beginning of the scroll was the word "Imperial Edict", and at the end of the scroll was a seal that read "Imperial Edict".
Pei Zi Yun's Yin Master had already been formed. At this point, Pei Zi Yun could feel a powerful energy coursing through him. This energy wasn't from the Imperial Decree, as it was from the faint red Qi surrounding the Imperial Decree. Instead, it was from the source of the Imperial Decree.
"Please wait a moment, eunuch." Pei Zi Yun said. He was different from the ministers who were on official business. These eunuchs would return to their original status after receiving the Emperor's decree. They would no longer be angels.
"Master Top Scorer, please go ahead." The eunuch replied.
Pei Zi Yun returned to the Ancestral Hall and placed the Imperial Decree in front of the altar. Placing it in the Ancestral Hall was just a formality. This kind of Imperial Decree could be kept in the family of the person, and be passed down from generation to generation. After a while, it would be kept as a treasure.
As soon as he placed it on the ground, the faint sound of a dragon's roar could be heard. Pei Zi Yun's vision changed. All he could see was a patch of greyish black, with a hint of white Qi. The structure below looked familiar, it was the ancestral hall, just much bigger.
The faint sound of a dragon's roar could be heard, and a clear white aura with a bit of red could be seen hanging down.
Within the ancestral hall, Father Pei bowed and transformed into his official robes. His body glowed, and the walls of the ancestral hall rose up. There was a plaque in front of the door.
"This is the true meaning of bringing honor to our ancestors."
"When the imperial court bestows a title, even if it's a martyr or a loyal guard, there's actually no difference between them and Scholar Lin. The only difference is the amount of Imperial Qi bestowed upon them."
"The Perfected Sovereigns conferred by the sect are far above them."
Pei Zi Yun shook his head and sighed. He quickly walked out and invited the eunuchs into the banquet. He personally poured wine for them. Pei Qian Shi was both sad and happy. She was grateful for the Emperor's benevolence and happy for her son. Even though she didn't drink, she still drank a few cups of wine.
"Eunuch, please come in and speak." Pei Zi Yun approached the eunuch and spoke softly.
Hearing these words, the eunuch laughed, "Since Top Scorer Pei has invited me, how can I refuse?"
Pei Zi Yun led the eunuch into a side room and retrieved three hundred taels of silver from his robes. He then laughed, "Eunuch, you've traveled a long way and must be tired. Here's three hundred taels of silver from Jing Rong Money House. I hope eunuch will accept it. It's just a little money for your tea."
The eunuch glanced at the banknotes and saw that they were all from Jing Rong Money House. Each banknote was worth a hundred taels of silver. His face beamed with joy, "Master Top Scorer is very considerate. You really understand my feelings. I shall not decline and accept it."
The eunuch stretched out his hands and received the banknotes before stuffing them into his robes.
The eunuch received the banknotes and looked around. His voice was slightly shrill as he whispered, "Master Top Scorer's gift is very valuable. I wonder what you want to ask me about?"
Pei Zi Yun replied softly, "This humble subject is afraid. I wonder why the Emperor has bestowed such an honor upon me. I would like to know the reason, and would like eunuch to enlighten me."
"Haha, master Top Scorer, I was wondering what you wanted to know. So it's this. Don't worry master Top Scorer, this is what you deserve …." The eunuch laughed as he spoke. Seeing Pei Zi Yun's puzzled face, he whispered, "This matter isn't about the Emperor, it's about the Crown Prince."
"Master Top Scorer, on your way to the capital city, did you save a woman?" The eunuch asked as he looked around cautiously.
"Did that happen? What does that have to do with anything?" Pei Zi Yun asked, somewhat surprised. Could it be that the woman he saved was a member of the royal family?
The eunuch replied, "The Crown Prince was overjoyed to have a grandson. The Emperor was overjoyed. His grace spread throughout the lands. Since master Top Scorer was recommended by the Crown Prince, it must have something to do with this."
The eunuch looked at Pei Zi Yun and felt envious. Although the Imperial Concubine wasn't the Crown Prince's concubine, she was the mother of the Crown Prince's only son.
"What? The Crown Prince is overjoyed to have a grandson?" Pei Zi Yun was shocked. This news hadn't spread far and wide. According to the original owner's memories, the Crown Prince didn't have a son. King Lu dared to fight for the throne and even usurped it.
Whether the Crown Prince had a son or not was a matter of fate. Could it be that the woman he had saved on his way to the capital city had given birth to a son for the Crown Prince?
Pei Zi Yun looked at the eunuch and understood that this eunuch must have been envious of him. No wonder he was so polite. However, he knew the history of the Crown Prince.
'At first, I only knew of Xie Cheng Dong. Then I knew of King Lu. Now I know that the Crown Prince has a son. Now that the Crown Prince has a son, there's a high chance that he will inherit the throne. '
'Since I've offended King Lu, I have no choice but to be his enemy. '
'But if King Lu were to ascend the throne, I would have to face the combined forces of the Daoist sects and the other Daoist sects. Perhaps there's a chance now! '
'Can the Crown Prince be trusted? Can he ascend the throne? 'At that moment, Pei Zi Yun's mind was racing.
"Master Top Scorer, master Top Scorer?" The eunuch looked at Pei Zi Yun's shocked face and hurriedly called out to him.
"It's just that I heard something big and was a little stunned. I hope eunuch will forgive me." Pei Zi Yun snapped out of his daze and smiled.
The eunuch was just as kind, "Master Top Scorer, it looks like the rumors are true. You've done a great deed for the Crown Prince and the empire. Since you've entered the Daoist sects, the rewards have been given to your parents. However, this is nothing. You'll be blessed in the future."
The eunuch's tone was filled with envy. He had saved the Crown Prince's grandson and had done a great deed for the Crown Prince. As long as the Crown Prince was able to ascend the throne, he would be blessed in the future. If the Crown Prince was able to ascend the throne, he would be blessed by the second generation Emperor.
"Servants, serve this eunuch some tea." Pei Zi Yun instructed.
The eunuch then thought of something and said, "Master Top Scorer, tea is a small matter. It's just that I've long heard of Master Top Scorer's literary reputation. I would like to invite you to compose a poem for me, so that I can carry it around with me.
Hearing these words, Pei Zi Yun paused for sometime. Initially, there was still a chance for him to reconcile with King Lu. However, now that there was no chance for him to do so, he decided to befriend this eunuch and ask him to do him a favor in the future. Pei Zi Yun then asked, "Which poem would eunuch like to write?"
A servant served tea, which the eunuch received. Hearing Pei Zi Yun's reply, he laughed out, "Haha, master Top Scorer is really straightforward. You think highly of us, unlike the other officials. When I was in the palace, I loved it when master Top Scorer served me wine. I would like to ask master Top Scorer to be fair, and I would be eternally grateful."
"Would eunuch please wait for a moment. Bring me a brush, ink, paper and inkstone!" Pei Zi Yun instructed.
Before long, someone brought the brush, ink, paper and inkstone over. Pei Zi Yun spread out the paper and placed a paperweight on it.
The eunuch stepped forward, "I shall grind the ink for master Top Scorer."
As he spoke, he picked up the ink and started grinding it.
After some time, the ink was ready. Pei Zi Yun took out a brush and dipped it into the ink before writing, "Don't you see, the waters of the Yellow River flow from the heavens to the sea, never to return."
"Good poem, good words. Master Top Scorer's words have a different meaning to them." The eunuch complimented.
Pei Zi Yun didn't speak, as he continued writing. His strokes were swift and powerful, like a flying dragon or a flying phoenix. He continued writing until he reached the last line, "Hu 'er shall exchange it for good wine. Together, we shall share the sorrow of eternity!"
Pei Zi Yun kept his brush as the eunuch clapped his hands, "What a great poem. Now that I've received master Top Scorer's calligraphy, I shall return to the palace full of envy!"
Pei Zi Yun didn't speak. The eunuch received the poem and seemed very satisfied. He then approached Pei Zi Yun and whispered, "Since master Top Scorer has agreed to my request, I shall not be stingy. Let me tell master Top Scorer a rumor. It's said that the Crown Prince has a son, and King Lu is enraged. Master Top Scorer, please be careful."
When Pei Zi Yun heard this, his face fell. The eunuch straightened his back and shouted, "Many thanks master Top Scorer for the tea. I cannot stay any longer. I have to return to the capital to report to the Emperor. Master Top Scorer shall take his leave."
"I still don't know eunuch's name." Pei Zi Yun hurriedly asked.
"My surname is Liu. Master Top Scorer, you can call me Eunuch Liu." The eunuch bade farewell, as Pei Zi Yun walked him out. His guards stood by his side as they left, disappearing into the distance.
Pei Zi Yun turned around and retracted his gaze. He then took several steps before sighing.
Eunuch Liu had sounded the alarm earlier. If King Lu wanted to take revenge, how could he avoid it?
Snail Village couldn't stay any longer. Nobody knew how magnanimous King Lu was.
Just as Pei Zi Yun was thinking about this, the Village Chief led the villagers to congratulate him, "This is worthy of celebration. Master Top Scorer is truly a man of fortune. The Pei family has brought honor to their ancestors. This is the first time in hundreds of years that Snail Village has had such a joyous occasion."
The Village Chief came forward to congratulate him, and Pei Zi Yun responded to him. Since the Imperial Edict had been announced, there would be many people coming to congratulate him in the next few days.
"Old Madam Pei, your family has produced a good son. Not only is his name spread far and wide, he even helped you and your family fight for official positions. How enviable." A middle-aged woman spoke to Pei Qian Shi.
Pei Zi Yun looked at the smile on Pei Qian Shi's face and felt his heart tighten. However, his face didn't show it, "Mother, today is a joyous occasion. We have to make preparations and host a banquet for everyone."
"I'll leave that to you." Pei Qian Shi smiled as she spoke. The Pei family had brought honor to their ancestors, and they would die without regrets.
"Yes, mother. I shall make the arrangements now. When this is over, you should return to the prefecture. I have to travel outside as well. If you stay home alone, you'll be lonely." Pei Zi Yun said.
"Good, good, good." Pei Qian Shi's face was full of smiles as she replied.
In the next few days, he would send his mother and Liao Qing Ye to Fu Mansion. With his master taking care of them, they would be safer, but it was hard to say.
In the past, when he was fighting against Holy Jail Sect, his master was able to protect them. But what about King Lu?
Not to mention Fu Mansion, even the entire Free Cloud Sect might not be able to protect them. However, there was no other way. At least it was safer than staying in the village. Besides, he couldn't stay in the village.
As this thought flashed past his mind, Pei Zi Yun suppressed it and sighed, "Ai, a storm is brewing!"
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