"This collar is so crisp."

Lu Yuan looked at his clothes in the mirror, rather satisfied.

’When you think about it, the Ming Dynasty can truly be considered the aesthetic peak of the Chinese Race.’

’Not to mention things like the Jinyi Guard and their Brocade Spring Sabers.’

’The same goes for this Official’s Robe.’

The Official’s Robe Lu Yuan wore was cyan.

Lu Yuan’s rank was Senior Seventh Grade.

As mentioned before, this Divine Ling Empire was almost identical to the Ming Dynasty of Earth.

The rank of an Upper County Magistrate was Junior Sixth Grade.

The magistrate of a Middle County was Senior Seventh Grade.

The magistrate of a Lower County was Junior Seventh Grade.

Taiping City was neither large nor small. It wasn’t considered an upper county, but it wasn’t a lower one, either.

A Senior Seventh Grade official was a rare thing indeed.

Especially considering Lu Yuan’s age; to become a Seventh Grade official with his very first appointment.

It was like passing the provincial examinations outright.

But if you look back through history, how many people passed the provincial examinations in their early twenties and went on to become an official?

Lu Yuan’s case was truly quite rare.

It was just that...

If someone had properly entered the official world in their twenties by passing the examinations, their future prospects would be boundless.

However, that wasn’t Lu Yuan’s path, so there was a huge difference between him and those who had truly earned their post through the examinations in their twenties.

But it didn’t matter.

Lu Yuan never intended to climb the ladder anyway.

’I’m perfectly content with being the parental official of Taiping City for the rest of my life.’

Speaking of which, Song Chi’s father-in-law, the Governor, was remarkably efficient.

The trial was finished in just over a month, and the case was reported to the Ministry of Personnel and the Central Secretariat.

Lu Yuan’s official post had been appointed after the Governor reported to the Central Secretariat.

As for the Liu Family’s matter, it wasn’t over yet.

This involved an Inspector General, after all. It wasn’t a case that could be finalized with a single provincial trial.

Even with irrefutable evidence, it still had to be reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel and the Central Secretariat.

And even that wasn’t enough.

It then had to be reviewed again by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Justice, and the Imperial Examination Hall.

With such a long series of procedures, one couldn’t expect it to be over in less than a year or two.

But that was just for the final sentencing.

In any case, the Liu Family was completely finished. They couldn’t make a comeback, so there was no need to worry anymore.

As for whether the Liu Family might try to pull some strings behind the scenes during this year or two...

With other Emperors, that sort of thing might be possible.

With Old Zhu, it was almost impossible.

The next time they heard news of the Liu Family, it would be either exile or execution.

The women of the household all gathered around Lu Yuan, helping him straighten his robes and hat.

They made sure everything was perfect, absolutely neat and proper.

Although a Seventh Grade County Magistrate wasn’t a high-ranking official...

...an official was still an official.

And a commoner was a commoner.

The Zhao Family was powerful in Taiping City, weren’t they?

What was Aunt Zhao called before?

The local empress of Taiping City.

But at the end of the day, a "local" empress was still just "local."

Even if Taiping City were truly named after the Zhaos, called Zhao Ning City, Aunt Zhao would still have to get out of her carriage to greet the County Magistrate.

And during the New Year, it would be Aunt Zhao visiting the County Magistrate, not the other way around.

It was a truly glorious affair.

Now that he was an official, Lu Yuan also gained the "official fortune" of the Empire. Future Wandering Evils would find it even harder to harm him.

Of course.

They couldn’t harm him before, either.

But there was a bit of a difference between now and then.

Previously, Wandering Evils couldn’t harm Lu Yuan because of his Holy Body. No matter what they did, Lu Yuan would be fine.

But then again...

Lu Yuan wasn’t afraid of those evil spirits killing or injuring him.

Lu Yuan was afraid of those gloomy, creepy things.

But now, with the protection of the Empire’s fortune, those little Xingzi and minor evil spirits would have to flee the moment they saw him, even from a great distance.

They wouldn’t dare show their faces in front of Lu Yuan at all.

As for Da Xingzi and major evil spirits...

’I’ve got a Holy Body and Celestial Master on my side!’

’If you dare get cocky with me, I’ll wreck you!’

...

"Madam, is the young master ready?"

Outside the East Wing, the old steward stood at the door, hurrying them along.

But Zhao Qiao’Er clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"What’s the rush!

Doesn’t he need to be properly tidied up?!"

The old steward outside quickly replied:

"People have arrived from the Provincial City. The Governor sent men with a congratulatory message.

They are waiting... it wouldn’t be good if we miss the auspicious hour."

Hearing this, Zhao Qiao’Er finally looked over at Lu Yuan.

’He had a point. Everything had to be done at an auspicious time.’

Lu Yuan, for his part, adjusted his collar again.

Then he pulled Su Liyan and Song Meiqin up from where they were crouching on the floor, straightening his pant legs, and said:

"Alright, that’s enough. It’ll get rumpled again after I take a few steps anyway."

...

Finally, at the entrance to the Government Office.

Lu Yuan arrived at the main gate of the Government Office, welcomed by a crowd of people lining the path.

A lot of people had come today.

The road was lined with officials sent from the Provincial City and local Shopkeepers.

There were also some common folk who had come to watch the excitement.

What followed were just procedures, speeches, and such—rather tedious and not much to talk about.

The whole affair took more than half an hour. Just as it was about to end...

The sound of horse hooves echoed from the distance, followed by a shout.

Lu Yuan focused his gaze.

Heh.

Gu Gaoxu had arrived.

Lu Yuan hadn’t even said anything upon seeing Gu Gaoxu.

Gu Gaoxu leaped off his horse and started complaining as he walked toward Lu Yuan:

"You! You really don’t treat me like a brother.

You were about to become an official, so why didn’t you send someone to tell me so I could come congratulate you?"

Lu Yuan looked at Gu Gaoxu, amused, and said with a laugh:

"Well, aren’t you here now?"

But Gu Gaoxu just raised an eyebrow and said directly:

"I only heard about it from someone else! I had to rush over here, so I didn’t even have time to prepare a gift for you!"

Looking at Gu Gaoxu, Lu Yuan just grinned broadly.