After ten kingdoms spoke in one voice and his merit was proclaimed under heaven, everyone gained a clearer understanding of Fang Yun's achievements, and more people realized just how immense his contributions had been.
The people of Jing Kingdom did not know about ten kingdoms speaking in one voice or merit being proclaimed under heaven. Once the proclamation ended, the Empress Dowager offered a toast, and everyone began eating. After several more rounds of toasts, they would move on to the next stage: appraising the poems all the Metropolitan Graduates had written during the Palace Examination.
From time to time, however, someone glanced at the deathly pale young Metropolitan Graduate beside the Left Prime Minister, because before long, that young man would have no choice but to toast Fang Yun.
Ignoring everyone else, Fang Yun lowered his head and ate. He had only taken a few bites when a message arrived. Looking down, he found that it was actually from Zong Wude.
"Thanks! I knew you wouldn't wipe me out to the last! You're a true brother, loyal through and through!"
Fang Yun was bewildered. Since the written words conveyed no tone, he could not tell whether Zong Wude was joking or had misunderstood something.
Just as Fang Yun was about to reply, more messages arrived one after another.
"Hahaha, luckily they'd already finished proclaiming my merits. Otherwise, if you'd interrupted mine, you lot would be laughing at me just like Zong Wude." Li Fanming sent this message from Qi Kingdom.
"You were a step too late. If you'd appeared while they were proclaiming Zong Wude's merits, it would have been perfect." Yan Yukong's words brimmed with regret.
At that moment, Fang Yun was not the only one looking down and fiddling with his official seal. Many of the scholars