With the Great Sage to settle the accounts, what's wrong with me skimming a little?

Su Yuan had just returned to the Heavenly Court and had not even caught his breath

when he received a message from Venus Star Lord, inviting him to his residence for a chat.

After a moment's thought, he rummaged through the storage pouch he carried and picked out several little trinkets he had gathered in the Western Buddhist Realm.

A bracelet of bodhi seeds with a gentle sheen, several incense cakes stamped with Sanskrit mantras,

and a wooden carving of a little novice monk, crudely carved yet naturally exuding an air of serenity.

They were not particularly valuable, but their exotic flavor made them rare curiosities seldom seen in the Heavenly Court.

He wrapped the items in a plain piece of brocade and carried them in his hand,

then rose on a streak of light and headed straight for Venus Star Lord's residence.

From afar, he could already see that the residence's entrance had returned to its former bustle.

A long line had even formed beyond the side street. Several luxurious carriages pulled by divine dragon-scaled heavenly steeds waited quietly, clearly belonging to those hoping to seek an audience with the old Star Lord, whose power was soon to rise greatly.

Su Yuan descended from the clouds, and the immortal official guarding the gate already recognized him.

The moment he saw Su Yuan, his face broke into a familiar smile. He stepped forward two paces and lowered his voice.

"Lord Su is back? Please, come in. The Star Lord instructed us that when you arrived, you were to go directly to the study."

As he spoke, he turned and led the way, ushering Su Yuan in through the main gate with practiced ease. This immediately drew sidelong glances from the immortal officials waiting in line outside.

Su Yuan acted as though he had noticed nothing and quickly crossed the courtyard toward the study in the inner residence.

Inside the study, Venus Star Lord was seated across from Immortal Xu Jingyang before an exquisite chessboard, locked in a fierce and evenly matched game.

Xu Jingyang held a black piece between his fingers without looking up. His voice carried a smile, and he was clearly in a good mood with rewards and promotions about to be handed out.

"Oh, the little diplomat is back? Where's that wild monkey? Don't try to fool the two of us. I know he slipped off to the west with you to watch the excitement."

Su Yuan immediately forced a bitter smile and cupped his hands.

"Your Reverence sees all. You know the Great Sage's temperament. If he wants to go somewhere, could someone of my meager cultivation possibly stop him? He said the Heavenly Court was too stifling and went off wandering somewhere again."

Venus Star Lord placed a white piece and spoke slowly.

"There have been rumors from the General Office. His Majesty is quite pleased that Sun Wukong was successfully brought into the fold. I hear that not only will the title of 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven' be made substantive, but he may also be permitted to establish his own office and command. That authority would be no small matter."

Su Yuan was instantly delighted.

"That's a good thing! The Great Sage has always been close to us. The greater his authority..."

"Foolish!"

Venus Star Lord rebuked him lightly.

"There is only so much authority in the Heavenly Court. Every extra bite you take means someone else goes hungry. Who would willingly share the fat already at their lips? His Majesty's dharma body has yet to return from the chaos, but this news has already spread throughout the heavens. How do you think it got out?"

Su Yuan understood at once.

"Someone is deliberately spreading the word! They want to raise the Great Sage up first and make him a target for everyone! Before the rewards have even been bestowed, he has already drawn the hostility of many high-ranking figures. What a despicable scheme!"

Venus Star Lord nodded, his gaze settling on Su Yuan.

"How the Great Sage is rewarded is His Majesty's decision alone. There is no use dwelling on it. As for you, is there anywhere you would like to go?"

Su Yuan froze, then answered instinctively.

"Didn't I just get rid of the deputy director of the Infrastructure Office? My seniority should be about sufficient by now. What does Master think?"

He felt that becoming deputy director of the Infrastructure Office would be a fine posting. The office was lucrative, he had deep roots there, and he would be free to work as he pleased.

Xu Jingyang looked at him as though he hated iron for not becoming steel.

"Shallow! Little Su, you are far too shallow. First, if you keep circling around that tiny patch of land in the Infrastructure Office, what great prospects can you possibly have? Major projects in the Heavenly Court are dwindling, and civil engineering is on its last legs. The Infrastructure Office will become a lean post in the future. Do you intend to muddle through there for the rest of your life?"

He paused, tapping the table with a finger as his tone became more solemn.

"Second, to prevent factions from forming, the Heavenly Court favors outside appointments for promotions to important immortal posts! You have operated in the Infrastructure Office for years, and everyone above and below is one of your old subordinates. If they put you in the deputy director's seat too, what exactly do you intend to do?"

Venus Star Lord spoke gently.

"Jingyang is entirely right. Little Su, you must take a longer view. Remaining in a single department will ultimately leave your record too thin. Only by gaining experience in different offices and becoming familiar with the affairs of every side can you take on greater responsibilities in the future. Being trapped in one corner is not how one cultivates a pillar of the realm."

Su Yuan shuddered. A thin layer of cold sweat instantly formed on his back, and he immediately understood that his master was using Xu Jingyang's words to guide him.

He hurriedly abandoned his crooked idea of continuing to "rely on projects and live off projects," sat upright, and replied respectfully.

"This disciple is dull-witted! Thank you, Master and Your Reverence, for your guidance! This disciple failed to consider matters thoroughly. I will follow Master's arrangements in all things!"

Venus Star Lord nodded slightly.

"Emperor Wenchang mentioned you to me again the other day. He praised your writing as sharp, your work as resourceful, and your skill at cultivating connections. In your master's view, the Ministry of Rites may be a good choice."

"The Ministry of Rites?"

Su Yuan was mildly surprised. It differed somewhat from the powerful department he had expected.

"Indeed."

Venus Star Lord lightly tapped the chessboard with his fingertips.

"The Ministry of Rites oversees moral instruction, ceremonial codes, receiving guests, major assemblies, ideology, and more. It may seem refined and prestigious, but it is actually vital, and it complements the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You are skilled with documents and good at social dealings, so you would be able to make full use of your strengths there. You would not need to be trapped in tedious routine matters. You would interact more with immortals from every side, and even outstanding figures from the lower realms. That would greatly benefit your future. And besides..."

His voice paused slightly as he gave Su Yuan a meaningful look.

"The Peach Immortality Grand Gathering is nearly upon us. Much of its preparation, reception, and banquet arrangements will be handled jointly by the Ministry of Rites and other departments. It is precisely the time when manpower is needed, and also when it is easiest to stand out and achieve results."

The moment Su Yuan heard the words "Peaches of Immortality Banquet," his eyes lit up, and his slight disappointment vanished in an instant.

The Peaches of Immortality Banquet!

The orchard full of Peaches of Immortality, the golden elixirs in Lord Lao's furnace, the jade nectar and fine wine of the Jade Pool—

when the Great Sage caused havoc in Heaven, they could just write it all off as battle losses.

With the Great Sage there to settle the accounts, what was wrong with me skimming a little?

He immediately rose and gave a deep bow.

"Master's foresight is profound. This disciple is convinced! This disciple is willing to go to the Ministry of Rites and will certainly not disappoint Master's cultivation!"

Venus Star Lord stroked his beard and smiled. "By precedent, the director of the Ministry of Rites' West Ox Continent Affairs Office must possess peak Primordial Immortal cultivation. You are still somewhat short of that. Go serve as deputy director first and act as the head of the office. Secure the position in advance."

Su Yuan immediately declared his resolve.

"This disciple understands! I will certainly cultivate diligently and advance courageously, reach the required standard as soon as possible, and not disappoint Master's expectations!"

He then asked with concern, "And what about Master this time...?"

Venus Star Lord and Xu Jingyang exchanged a glance, then both placed their chess pieces into the chess box, ending the unfinished game.

Venus Star Lord's expression was calm, yet it naturally carried an air of majesty.

"With His Majesty's return, merit will be rewarded and the central administration adjusted. It is time for your master to formally take another step forward."