A look of curiosity immediately appeared on Yue Fuguang's face. "Has Your Majesty found out who is responsible?"
The crowd watched the forced look of curiosity on her small face. They couldn't tell if it was just their imagination, but they suddenly felt that the Junior Preceptor's expression at this moment was even faker than when she used to spin tales to trick them.
Could it be that she was so disappointed in them that she didn't even want to bother acting anymore?
Yue Fuguang: Is it possible that this is just my real acting? Eye roll JPG
Emperor Mingxi let out a long sigh and nodded, saying, "Wei Ping and the others have indeed found some clues. All signs indicate that Prince Qi did it."
"Didn't Prince Qi commit suicide? Was this a dying order he left behind?"
Emperor Mingxi: What kind of sane person leaves their last words to an assassin before dying!
Wei Ping smiled and added, "Junior Preceptor, according to the confession of the captured assassin, their master's name is Qi Xie. But based on his description of the man's appearance, I drew a portrait, and unexpectedly, it turned out to be the deceased Prince Qi. Later, Lord Cai and I found some evidence in Prince Qi's manor, all of which indicates that the one who took poison to commit suicide was his body double, not Prince Qi himself."
Yue Fuguang nodded. "I see! Then has Lord Wei found Prince Qi's hiding place?"
Wei Ping shook his head apologetically. "Not yet! But please rest assured, Junior Preceptor, I will definitely bring Prince Qi to justice.
During this time, we will also increase your protection. What happened last night will certainly not happen again."
Emperor Mingxi also chimed in, "Apart from telling you who the mastermind behind yesterday's assassination is, the other reason I called you here is to let you go to the Kexing Institute to select a group of personal bodyguards.
There is no limit to the number; you can take away anyone you fancy."
With a grand wave of his hand, Emperor Mingxi was generously assigning people to Yue Fuguang to put her mind at ease.
"The Kexing Institute, what is that place? A place where Your Majesty trains guards?"
This was truly the first time Yue Fuguang had heard that the imperial court had such a government office.
Xie Zhiyan explained, "Didn't the Junior Preceptor once ask me about the people of the martial arts world, and even mentioned wanting to hire some martial artists?"
Yue Fuguang nodded. She did have such a plan; after all, this involved a few of her missions.
Xie Zhiyan continued, "This Kexing Institute is a government office that recruits martial artists who wish to serve the imperial court. The people inside are all martial artists with excellent skills.
This office has a long history. For example, General Wei Shouyi's father originated from the martial arts world and came out of the Kexing Institute. He later went to the battlefield and established illustrious military merits, which led to the Wei family of today."
Wei Shouyi immediately chimed in, "Rest assured, Junior Preceptor, the martial artists who can enter the Kexing Institute are not lacking in either character or martial arts skills.
The families of these people also live in residences arranged by the government offices in the capital, so you can be completely at ease."
What he didn't say was that those who were qualified to be brought before the Junior Preceptor for her to choose from had been screened over and over again. They had already started preparing these candidates when the Junior Preceptor was assassinated for the first time.
Emperor Mingxi also said, "These people receive salaries from the imperial court, so there is still a difference between them and true wandering martial artists."
Learning civil and martial arts to sell to the imperial family was not just an empty saying. Truly far-sighted martial artists still hoped to integrate into the imperial court, obtain an official position, and in the future, bring honors to their wives and children and glory to their ancestors.
Otherwise, wouldn't the life and death of even the most prestigious great hero still depend on a single word from the imperial court?
The martial arts world was not just about fighting and killing; it was also about the ways of the world and human relationships.
Yue Fuguang revealed a smile and said, "Since that's the case, then shouldn't I carefully select a few more useful people?"
Since they were giving her manpower, she wouldn't hold back!
As for whether there were any hidden spies of the Emperor or others among them, she wasn't worried at all. In fact, she was more afraid that the Emperor wouldn't know what she was doing.
Having someone help pass on messages would actually save her the trouble of dropping bombshells and watching the drama unfold in the imperial court.
Suddenly thinking of something, Yue Fuguang asked, "Your Majesty, do these people all have proper official titles?"
Since they were able to enter the Kexing Institute, it meant they wanted to be civil servants. They were all ambitious people with aspirations.
If they followed her and remained commoners, wouldn't that go against their wishes? It would make them somewhat less willing to be commanded.
Emperor Mingxi smiled and nodded. "The lowest official rank is an upper seventh rank, and there is no limit to this number. I will also give you five lower sixth ranks, three upper sixth ranks, and one lower fifth rank.
As for who to give these official ranks to, you can decide for yourself. Once you have finalized the list, just submit it to the Ministry of Personnel."
Yue Fuguang nodded inwardly. The Emperor wasn't bad. It seemed he was wealthy and generous, even letting her choose the person for a lower fifth rank position herself. He was quite considerate.
Emperor Mingxi: One cannot catch the little immortal lord without sparing some official ranks. If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't elevated her status yet, giving an upper fifth rank or a lower fourth rank wouldn't be impossible, as long as this person didn't always think about running away!
As soon as the Emperor offered the lower fifth rank position, many people present also had faces full of envy. Although military officials were naturally considered a rank lower than civil officials, given the current development of the Great Yan Dynasty, there would sooner or later be a war with their neighboring countries. The Great Yan Dynasty, blessed with the descent of an immortal lord, would certainly no longer be satisfied with the current state of division among several countries.
The current Great Yan was slowly undergoing changes. Not only would it not perish as it did in the original history, but it would even embark on the path of hegemony to unify the five countries.
With the imperial court, or rather, the Little Immortal Lord acting as their backer on the battlefield, military merits were much easier to earn than before.
Didn't you see that those with foresight had all sent their descendants to serve under Wei Shouyi, keeping Yu Boming of the Yu family company?
They called it gaining experience, but wasn't it just an indirect way of clinging to the Little Immortal Lord's coattails?
They looked at the current monarch, Emperor Mingxi, and the future heir, Xie Zhiyan. These two would certainly not let slip this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to unify the world.
Even if those two wanted to give up, the bloodthirsty warmongers in the Ministry of War would definitely push them down this path.
Yue Fuguang: And me. If they don't take this path and it affects my ability to earn points, I wouldn't mind swapping them out for someone more obedient to sit on the throne.
Emperor Mingxi and Xie Zhiyan suddenly felt a chill down their spines, a fleeting sensation of being targeted by some ferocious beast flashing across their minds.
Ji Hongming ignored the myriad of thoughts swirling in his colleagues' heads. Seeing His Majesty mention the Ministry of Personnel, he tactfully took a step forward and said, "If Lord Junior Preceptor needs it, this humble official can send a secretary to accompany you to select the personnel."
The Crown Prince also said, "I shall accompany Lord Junior Preceptor as well."
Wei Shouyi added, "This general will also go."
With a simple, honest smile, he said to Yue Fuguang, "Lord Junior Preceptor, I, Old Wei, am familiar with that place. I know exactly who has real skills."
Yue Fuguang replied with a polite smile, "That would be wonderful. I'll have to rely on General Wei to help me pick out some good men later."
The group took their leave of Emperor Mingxi and excitedly headed toward the Guest Courtyard.
Passing by several government offices along the way and seeing the busy figures inside, Yue Fuguang could actually smell the distinct, heavy scent of overworked corporate slaves wafting off them.
Thinking about having to attend court and go to school at the tender age of nine, it was indeed a bit tougher compared to peers of the same age!
But for the sake of points, it seemed it wasn't unbearable.
With this kind of mindset, Yue Fuguang didn't even need anyone's coaxing; a simple shift in thought, and the prospect of points was enough for self-comfort!
After all, a penniless person had no right to slack off and lie flat!
The laziness of the past few days was instantly cured after taking a look at the points balance!
