"Minister Wen, is there some wondrous method to increase the national fortune?" Emperor Ye Huan charged into the Eternal Bright Palace, with Hou An close behind, carrying a pair of "Dragon Boots."
"Your Majesty, it is not about increasing the national fortune, but reducing its depletion." Within the Eternal Bright Palace, an old man with white hair and a youthful face bowed slightly.
This old man was none other than Minister of Literature Yan Baichuan, one of the Four Prime Ministers of Great Xuan and the master of Wenchang Pavilion, who oversaw literary fortune.
Ye Huan hurriedly took Minister Wen's hand and sat down with him, asking, "Please explain everything in detail, Minister Wen."
Minister Wen smiled faintly. "This begins with that Unclaimed Literary Heart. Your Majesty, do you still remember the person mentioned in the Gazette Report that day? His name was Chen Luo."
Ye Huan nodded. "According to the Gazette Report, a Demon Race spy was captured and a Literary Heart was found. This person rendered tremendous service. I have already issued an edict to Grand Hall, granting him a title and rewards. He should at least receive the title of County Male."
Minister Wen took a document from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Huan. "I'm afraid that title will have to be raised again."
Ye Huan took the document from Minister Wen in confusion, but did not rush to open it. Instead, he looked at Minister Wen. "What do you mean, Minister Wen?"
Minister Wen did not keep him in suspense and said directly, "Wan'an County is where Wei Yan's disciple serves. Worried about his disciple, Wei Yan personally went to preside over the Heart of Literature Choosing Master Ceremony. After arriving in Wan'an, Wei Yan unexpectedly discovered that Chen Luo had written a True Intent Essay, condensing a Book Spirit capable of Ghost Eater, which was called Zhong Kui."
"Two hours ago, Wei Yan sent a letter through the Qingniao Division and transmitted that True Intent Essay to me. I gathered a hundred ordinary people and had them recite the essay. To my surprise, more than a dozen of them actually caused Wandering Spirits and little ghosts to dare not approach."
"As for the remaining people, the problem does not lie with the essay. It should simply be because the time has been too short. If they recite it every day, they ought to achieve the same effect."
"Your Majesty, if our dynasty's fortune amounted to ten parts, two of those parts would be consumed protecting the people from the suffering of the Ghost Calamity. If this essay spread throughout the world and everyone recited it, would that not save two parts of the dynasty's fortune?"
Ye Huan was overjoyed. "Is this really true?" As he spoke, he hurriedly opened the document and quickly read it from beginning to end. Then he gently closed his eyes and sensed the result.
After a moment, Ye Huan opened his eyes. "The national fortune truly did fluctuate faintly. This method is indeed viable." He then continued, "But, Minister Wen, no more than ten million of Great Xuan's people understand Elegant Script, while our dynasty still has hundreds of millions of common folk. Is there any way to make them understand this method as well?"
Minister Wen spoke with confidence. "Your Majesty, please examine this essay carefully. Wei Yan told me privately in his letter that the era and characters in it were all fabricated by Chen Luo. However, the end of the essay mentioned a method: a master painter could transfer the scene of Zhong Kui Devouring Ghosts into a painting to ward off ghosts and evil spirits."
"I have an old friend whose skill with brush and ink is extraordinary. Why not ask him to follow the example of Wu Daozi in this essay and paint a Zhong Kui Devouring Ghosts Painting? If it truly has miraculous effects, we can then spread it throughout the world."
"What Minister Wen said suits my intentions perfectly. This matter shall be entrusted to Wenchang Pavilion. It's just that..." Ye Huan stroked his chin. "Have you investigated Chen Luo's family background?"
Minister Wen took another dossier from his sleeve and placed it before Ye Huan. "Your Majesty is wise. Chen Luo's grandfather was from Suzhou. He followed the late emperor on a southern expedition, but after an old illness resurfaced, he settled in Wan'an County of Qingzhou. His father, Chen Buqi, once ranked twenty-third in the Imperial Examination during the nineteenth year of Xin Yuan. He later resigned without accepting office, traveling frequently along the frontier under the alias Yang Ziyun. Six years ago, when the Barbarian Minor King invaded the border, Chen Buqi went to the aid of Zisang City and sacrificed his life facing danger. Now, only Chen Luo and his elder sister Chen Xuan remain in the family."
Ye Huan's expression grew solemn. "A descendant of loyal and martyred heroes. He must be heavily rewarded... Hou An!"
Hou An hurried forward.
Ye Huan continued, "Draft an edict. Chen Luo first rendered service by finding the Literary Heart, then protected the nation by writing a wondrous text. Grant him the title of Earl of Wan'an..."
Hou An recorded it, then said, "Your Majesty, this Earl of Wan'an... does that mean Wan'an County is to be granted as his actual fief? According to ancestral regulations, if a subject receives an actual fief, he may not remain elsewhere. Should another edict be issued ordering him to relocate?"
Ye Huan glanced at Minister Wen, who shook his head. "This old man is not in a position to say more."
Ye Huan hesitated for a moment. "We already need to paint the Zhong Kui Devouring Ghosts Painting. Besides, that boy will have to come to the capital to give thanks, and anyone capable of writing such a wondrous text must surely be a great talent. Issue another edict ordering the Ministry of Works Construction Supervision to select a prosperous location in the capital and build the Earl of Wan'an a residence according to the standards for an earl..."
Hou An hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, there are no vacant plots left in the prosperous parts of the capital. If the location is too remote, it will also fail to display Your Majesty's generous grace. This servant does have a suggestion, one perfectly suited to the Earl of Wan'an."
"Oh? Where?"
"Qing'an Ward—the Abandoned Prime Minister's Mansion!"
Chen Luo had a dream.
He dreamed that Chen Xuan was getting married, and as her younger brother, he had to carry her onto the bridal sedan!
He suddenly jolted awake!
He had the vague feeling that someone had taken some treasure from him.
His mood was a little sour.
Chen Luo opened his eyes, and a forest of flowers filled his vision.
That was right. Chen Luo now had to go through two steps to sleep. First, he had to fall asleep in the outside world and enter the Dream Flower Forest. Then he had to fall asleep again within the forest. This staged sleeping process was rather like being so exhausted that one could barely keep one's eyes open, yet after getting into bed, still having enough energy to scroll through Douyin for another two hours.
Fortunately, he did not suffer from insomnia!
Chen Luo opened his eyes again, and the face of a man appeared before him.
"Young Master, you're awake..."
What the—who is this?!
Chen Luo's consciousness sent a punch flying. The man merely tilted his head to the side and dodged the attack, looking aggrieved. "Young Master, why did you attack me?"
Only then did Chen Luo realize that this man was Ji Zhong. The two of them had reached an agreement the previous day, and Ji Zhong was staying by Chen Luo's side in the capacity of a guard.
"Brother Ji, it would be best if you didn't appear beside me when I'm sleeping." Chen Luo's expression turned solemn.
"Why? As Young Master's guard, I ought to be by your side at all times!"
"I have a habit of killing people in my dreams!"
"No, you don't. I watched you for three hours, and you sleep very peacefully. You only mutter in your dreams from time to time."
"What did I say..."
"You said, 'Even if I die, I won't carry...'"
Chen Luo: (((;;)))
Chen Luo could not be bothered to waste more words on Ji Zhong. He rose from the bed and asked in confusion, "Where's Xiao Huan?"
Ji Zhong replied, "Quite a few servants came today. Xiao Huan is accompanying Miss Chen Xuan and Uncle Ping in arranging things in the front courtyard."
Chen Luo nodded. It seemed the servants of the residence had finally returned.
"Are the plain and boring days of a rich second-generation heir finally about to begin?" Chen Luo secretly gloated as he walked out of the room, with Ji Zhong hurriedly following behind.
Chen Luo frowned. "I say, Ji Zhong, your body has only just begun to recover. Why don't you go back to your room and rest? I'm not in any danger right now."
"No need. Young Master, didn't you say you were going to continue writing The Smiling, Proud Wanderer today?"
"Well... I'll wash my face and have some breakfast first."
Ji Zhong suddenly grabbed Chen Luo's hand. Chen Luo was startled. "Brother Ji, you..."
"Young Master, don't waste time walking. I'll take you there faster!"
"One strand of Righteous Qi, a thousand miles of refreshing wind... Let's go!"
"Damn it, the rear courtyard isn't even that big. Did you really have to use Flash Step to pass through the wall?!"
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