Peace Order
Chapter 226 - 112: Finally Meeting an Old Friend

Chapter 226: Chapter 112: Finally Meeting an Old Friend

The one who came to issue the Imperial Decree was a familiar face.

Dressed in a round-necked robe, his face bore a smile, wrinkled by the corners of his eyes, exuding an amiable manner.

It was the Chief Eunuch from the Ritual Office.

Li Guanyi was at the Xue Family’s residence, dressed in casual attire and took the initiative to go out to greet him, saying with a smile,

"I did not expect it to be you, sir."

The Ritual Eunuch laughed and said, "Captain Li has served the country with loyalty, praised by all in the court. I have taken on the task of delivering the Imperial Decree. His Majesty has commanded that since Captain Li was injured in service to the country and has merits, you may receive it seated."

Behind him, a few eunuchs held trays covered with bright yellow silk.

The Ritual Eunuch unfolded the scroll in his hand and began to read the Imperial Decree, filled with ceremonial words, praising Li Guanyi’s bravery and loyalty, condemning treacherous ministers, and finally came to the main point, saying, "Raise Imperial Guard Spear Soldier Li Guanyi to the rank of Yiwei."

The Yiwei is a special position, signifying a close confidant of the royal family.

In Chen Country, only those of the second grade great-grandsons, third grade grandsons, and fourth grade sons could receive this position.

In some people’s eyes, this position was more valuable than any gold and silver reward.

Li Guanyi, however, felt that the Emperor was giving him an empty promise to placate him.

The Ritual Eunuch continued, "Promote from Ninth Grade under the Imperial Guard to Eighth Grade upper, leading the Imperial Army Dragon Martial Army as a military advisor."

"Exceptionally grant one White Jade Buckle."

"Award one fuschia battle robe, one top-grade precious sword, and a hundred pieces of gold."

With each declaration, an eunuch stepped forward, lifting the silk cloth on the tray to reveal an excellently made battle robe embroidered with Cloud Patterns; a White Jade Buckle, wearable only by those above the third grade—granted because Li Guanyi already owned a Rhino Horn Belt.

There was also a heavy sword placed horizontally on the tray, with beveled patterns, its edge as frosty as snow.

However, none of this pleased Li Guanyi as much as the hundred pieces of gold.

After the Ritual Eunuch finished reading the Imperial Decree, he closed the bright yellow scroll and handed it to Li Guanyi, saying, "Captain Li, from a Ninth Grade Imperial Guard Spear Soldier, you have leapt to an Eighth Grade upper military advisor, jumping three ranks—congratulations, congratulations."

In the system of the Imperial Guard, advancing one more rank would make one a Left and Right Middle Captain.

And beyond that, the next rank up is an Imperial Guard Commander.

That position heads noble offspring of honorable families, a noble general.

Commanding a certain number of imperial guards, holding substantial military power, and with his subordinates being Eighth Grade Yiwei representing different influential connections, he could be described as naturally privileged and highly influential, with regional high officials giving him great deference.

Currently, Li Guanyi had jumped three levels in one go within the prestigious Imperial Guard, which even surprised the Ritual Eunuch, who passed the Imperial Decree to him, laughing and saying, "His Majesty has heard of the military advisor’s injury and allows you to visit the Court’s Book Collection Pavilion tomorrow."

"There are many masters there, possessing collections of rare and unique absolute skills, which might help with your injury."

This truly surprised Li Guanyi.

The Chen Kingdom Royal Family’s Book Collection Pavilion?

He handed a piece of gold to the Ritual Eunuch, who nodded with a smile, then took his leave. Li Guanyi escorted the eunuch out the main gate, where the latter patted Li Guanyi’s wrist and a Qi Mechanism circulated, feeling the hidden Red Dragon Power within Li Guanyi.

The Ritual Eunuch climbed into the carriage, which headed towards the Imperial Palace.

He sat in the carriage, recalling the burst of Red Dragon Power just then, thinking about the injury indeed. This time Yue Qianfeng made a rampage through the Forbidden Palace, Qilin Palace also suffered damage. If not for the Qilin’s enduring strength, burning Hou Zhongyu to a crisp with Qilin Fire, the loss would have been great enough to turn Chen Country into a laughingstock to the world.

The royal guards entered the Qilin Palace, discovering the secret room left behind by Hou Zhongyu.

Seeing the shattered medicine cauldron inside, they speculated that Hou Zhongyu must have endured the Qilin Fire for a long time before dying. Such vitality probably meant he had consumed the Immortality Elixir.

The Emperor, upon hearing this, was furious.

He nearly executed all those royal guards.

The Ritual Eunuch sighed, suddenly recalling that day the youth personally delivered the Qilin Formation Diagram, and during the incident at the Qilin Palace, it was Li Guanyi who was on duty. A slight notion arose in his heart, faintly sensing some connection.

No evidence needed, just intuition; he wondered whether to inform the Emperor. The Ritual Eunuch opened the carriage curtain, looking at the young Captain across from him; he suddenly remembered the probe outside Noble Consort Xue’s palace that day.

That day it was confirmed this youth was not the son of the Taiping Duke.

Even if he wasn’t the son of the Taiping Duke, at that moment he still felt a twinge of compassion.

The fire of that year had still burned in his heart up to this spot.

I can’t protect your offspring, so let me protect the young people of Chen Country instead—even if he is the nephew of Noble Consort Xue, even if he is innocent, reporting this would surely provoke the Emperor to investigate fiercely.

Thus, the Ritual Eunuch let go of the carriage curtain.

"Consider it me growing old, then."

He whispered with a smile, his fingers clutching the gold piece. Just now, the youth had eagerly stuffed the gold piece into his hand, yet his fingers clenched tightly, only relaxing after several breaths. This materialistic tendency also reminded him of that Divine General from humble origins.

He closed his eyes, deciding not to tell anyone else about this.

...

Li Guanyi changed into his new battle robe, his waist belted with the White Jade Buckle. He adorned a top-grade precious sword in a gemstone-decorated scabbard; the heavy sword, priceless in the Martial World, represented the epitome of forging skills and had the potential to be transformed into a treasured weapon with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.