Ninth Prince's Manor.
Eunuch Su led several young eunuchs in through the main gate.
The young eunuchs behind him carried sandalwood boxes, each containing an imperial edict.
"Ninth Prince, receive the edict."
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Su. I shall go pay my respects at the incense table."
Fang Heng instructed the manor servants to set up the incense table.
Everyone in the manor, more than a hundred people in all, had their eyes fixed on the imperial edict inside the sandalwood box.
Everyone knew that this was an edict conferring the title of Prince of a Commandery.
From this day onward, their master would be a Prince of a Commandery.
When one man attained the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascended to heaven.
As servants, they too could hold their heads high.
A moment later.
The incense table had been arranged.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decreed:
I, having received Heaven's mandate, rule over all lands. My grace reaches the four seas, and my virtue shelters all living beings.
Here is a worthy member of the imperial clan, with outstanding merit, loyal service to the state, and both virtue and talent. He is fit to be a pillar of the realm and an example to the common people.
I hereby issue this gracious edict, conferring upon the Ninth Prince, Fang Heng, the title of Prince of Dongdai Commandery. His fief shall be the Daishan Secret Realm, with an allotment of ten thousand households.
I grant him a golden investiture book, a treasured seal, honor guards, and carriages and horses to display his dignity. All rites due a Prince of a Commandery shall be observed according to established regulations, without overstepping.
I grant an annual stipend of ten thousand taels of silver, one thousand shi of rice, and various silks and brocades for daily use.
You shall faithfully observe a subject's duty, remain loyal to your sovereign and love your country, diligently attend to governance, and soothe the people. Do not disappoint My high expectations.
Respect this!"
"Your son receives the edict."
Fang Heng accepted the edict and performed a grand bow in the direction of the imperial palace.
His mother's pillow talk really was useful.
The fief of the Daishan Secret Realm had finally been formally granted.
After Eunuch Su finished reading the edict, he paused before continuing.
"Your Highness, His Majesty also has an oral decree."
"The Ninth Prince is appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Agriculture under the Imperial Household Department, tasked with overseeing the cultivation of Sacred Emperor Rice. His future performance shall be observed!"
"Your son receives the decree!"
Fang Heng accepted the decree, though surprise and confusion showed on his face.
The Ministry of Agriculture?
Was there such a department in the Imperial Household Department?
"Eunuch Su, what is this Ministry of Agriculture?"
"Among the seven divisions and three academies of the Imperial Household Department, there was no Ministry of Agriculture."
Eunuch Su nodded slightly and spoke with a smile.
"Your Highness, the Ministry of Agriculture was established by His Majesty today. It is a department specially created to cultivate Sacred Emperor Rice."
"Your Highness has been appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Agriculture. This shows how deeply His Majesty trusts you."
"What about the Seed Selection Department?"
"His Majesty's intention is for the Ministry of Agriculture to handle cultivation, while the Seed Selection Department handles sales. The two shall not interfere with one another."
After Eunuch Su's explanation, Fang Heng understood his imperial father's intentions.
Production and sales were separated.
They would check and balance each other, ensuring that neither side could grow too powerful.
Such was the art of an emperor.
However, during the early stages of Sacred Emperor Rice cultivation, as its inventor, he still held considerable authority.
While serving as Vice Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, it would not be difficult for him to meddle in the Seed Selection Department.
But after he was promoted, the subsequent Vice Directors of the Ministry of Agriculture would lack his prestige and would no longer be able to command the Seed Selection Department.
Besides that...
Destiny Points +500!
His Destiny Points had increased again upon advancing from Subordinate Fifth Rank to Principal Fifth Rank.
But after being granted a princely title and witnessing the emergence of Sacred Emperor Rice,
Fang Heng's horizons had risen. Five hundred Destiny Points were hardly worth mentioning.
"Your Highness, according to imperial rules, every Prince of a Commandery is entitled to enter the Imperial Secret Vault and choose one treasure."
"When does Your Highness intend to enter the Imperial Secret Vault?"
"Right now!"
"Ever since I was young, I have been full of curiosity about the Imperial Secret Vault!"
There was a trace of excitement in Fang Heng's voice.
The Imperial Secret Vault was the shared asset of the entire Great Qian imperial clan and was controlled by the Son of Heaven.
Aside from serving as the imperial family's foundation, its most important duty was to reward meritorious members of the imperial clan.
A Prince of a Commandery could choose one treasure.
An Heir Prince could choose two treasures.
A Prince of the First Rank could choose three treasures.
Led by Eunuch Su, Fang Heng arrived deep within the imperial palace.
Security here was extremely tight.
In plain sight, more than a hundred Yinglong Guards stood watch.
In the shadows, who knew how many imperial experts were watching for the slightest stir of wind or grass.
Fang Heng looked ahead and saw a squad of Hidden Dragon Guards at the entrance.
The Yinglong Guards wore silver scale armor that glimmered with cold light. Xiuchun Blades hung at their waists, and their bearing was deep and solemn.
The fainthearted would have their legs turn weak with fear at the sight alone.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Greetings, Eunuch!"
"This servant has brought His Highness to the Imperial Secret Vault to select a treasure."
"Open the gate."
The Yinglong Guards had long since received news that the Ninth Prince had been granted a princely title, so they naturally knew he would come to the Imperial Secret Vault.
The two leading Yinglong Guards took out two incomplete jade pendants and pressed them into the recesses on the palace gate.
The two incomplete jade pendants fit together perfectly, forming one whole pendant.
With a hum, a soft white radiance burst forth from the Secret Vault's gate.
Fang Heng could clearly see the formation on the vault gate dissolving amid that gentle white light.
Immediately afterward, a series of clacking sounds, like turning gears, came from within the gate.
A glint of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
Eunuch Su explained from the side.
"Your Highness, the Secret Vault gate has two layers of protection."
"The first is the formation on the gate. Back then, it was arranged by Daoist masters invited by His Majesty the Founding Emperor."
"The second is that the Secret Vault gate itself is a mechanism treasure, exquisitely intricate within, refined by Daoist Puppet Masters."
Fang Heng nodded slightly at Eunuch Su's words.
"It looks like a method of the Mohist School."
"Daoist Puppet Masters absorbed the Mohist School's inheritance. You are within me, and I am within you—who can truly tell them apart?"
Clack! Clack!
The Secret Vault gate slowly opened.
Fang Heng followed Eunuch Su into the Secret Vault.
The Imperial Secret Vault occupied an enormous area.
At a glance, both its length and width exceeded three hundred zhang.
Countless luminous pearls were embedded throughout the vault, illuminating the entire place as bright as day.
Besides providing light, these luminous pearls were themselves nodes of a formation.
If anyone invaded, the formation could activate in an instant and slay the intruder.
"Your Highness, take your time choosing. This old servant shall wait here."
After Eunuch Su made a welcoming gesture, Fang Heng began wandering through the Secret Vault alone.
It was rare for him to enter the vault, yet Fang Heng did not wander about like a headless fly.
He had a clear goal.
His goal was to choose a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root with extraordinary potential.
He possessed the Azure Emperor Scion fate, which allowed him to enlighten vegetation. Naturally, he had to make proper use of it.
Fang Heng headed straight into the area where Heaven and Earth Spirit Roots were stored.
At this sight, a dim light flickered in Eunuch Su's eyes.
"Just as His Majesty said, the Ninth Prince chose a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root."
Thinking of Fang Heng's actions in the Seed Selection Department, Eunuch Su found it easy enough to understand.
Fang Heng had produced Sacred Emperor Rice in just over a month, which showed his attainments as a Spirit Farmer.
It was hardly strange for him to choose a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root.
Target: Cold Jade Ice Lotus Potential: Ninth Rank Enlightenment: One point per day, achievable in one month
Target: Ghost Cry Vine Potential: Eighth Rank Enlightenment: One point per day, achievable in twenty days
Target: Golden Scale Tree Potential: Tenth Rank Enlightenment: One point per day, achievable in forty days
Target: Glazed Flat Peach Potential: Twelfth Rank Enlightenment: One point per day, achievable in one hundred days
Twelfth rank!
The moment Fang Heng saw the Glazed Flat Peach with twelfth-rank potential, his eyes lit up instantly.
Before you continue