Under Emperor Wu's directive, Xu Ming's resignation from the imperial marriage quickly spread throughout Wudu and even the entire Wu Kingdom.
At first, many citizens were shocked to hear that Xu Ming had dared to reject the imperial decree.
The emperor was offering his most beloved daughter to you, and yet you refused? Some felt Xu Ming was arrogant, ungrateful, and even overly proud of his talents.
Yet others admired Xu Ming for his stance. His refusal of the marriage demonstrated that he was not swayed by power or wealth and embodied the unyielding spirit of a true scholar. To these people, Xu Ming's image soared.
Still, most believed Xu Ming would surely face punishment.
But then his letter of resignation was made public.
This letter, with its eloquence and heartfelt sincerity, moved many scholars to stand by Xu Ming's side.
After all, what of being an imperial consort? What of having the most powerful father-in-law in the Wu Kingdom?
As a man, one should carve out their own achievements, not live as a gilded bird in a cage!
The sons of Wu are meant to fight and strive on the battlefield, not cower in comfort behind the scenes.
Xu Ming's letter resonated with many ambitious men who refused to live off others, sparking a shared sense of purpose.
If the emperor had chosen to punish Xu Ming, they were even prepared to petition together in his defense.
In the end, not only did Emperor Wu refrain from punishing Xu Ming, but he also rewarded him:
100 taels of gold, ten bolts of Shu silk, a rare Ferghana horse from the Northern Wastes, and the title of Wenwu Qing (Minister of Letters and Arms), a fifth-rank position.
This title, created specifically for Xu Ming, carried no real authority, serving more as an honorary role.
But the inclusion of both "literary" (wen) and "martial" (wu) in the title was a clear statement—Xu Ming had standing in both the civil and military realms.
This was unprecedented in the history of Wu.
Emperor Wu's magnanimity won widespread praise among the populace. Many believed that Xu Ming's letter and the emperor's understanding of his intent might be recorded in the annals of history as a shining example of mutual respect between sovereign and subject.
In truth, Emperor Wu granted Xu Ming this nominal position to prepare him for the upcoming challenge of the Rootless Secret Realm.
Had Xu Ming been given a role with real responsibilities, either in civil or military affairs, it would have been a distraction.
For now, Xu Ming's sole focus should be on improving his cultivation.
In less than two years, the Rootless Secret Realm would open for the final time—a grand event for the most talented individuals across the land.
For Xu Ming, this was not just an extraordinary opportunity but also a matter of national pride. If Xu Ming, representing the Wu Kingdom, were to falter, it would be the kingdom's reputation that suffered.
Xu Ming fully understood Emperor Wu's intentions.
Thus, during his most recent audience with the emperor to express his gratitude, Xu Ming also shared his desire to travel and temper himself in the outside world, promising to return in a year and a half.
Emperor Wu readily approved.
Xu Ming, having reached the Heroic Spirit Realm, indeed needed to broaden his horizons.
Unlike cultivators, warriors could not simply meditate in seclusion to improve their realm.
For cultivators, as long as they stayed true to their path and maintained an unshaken heart, their cultivation could progress steadily in isolation.
But warriors were different. Warriors honed themselves through countless battles, pushing their limits and gaining insight into their martial path through life-and-death struggles.
This was something no renowned teacher could ever provide for Xu Ming.
Otherwise, why would every member of the Blood Asura Battalion, aside from their battles, also be given numerous monthly missions, many of which were grueling and life-threatening?
This was precisely the reason.
Upon learning of Xu Ming's intention to travel, Chen Suya, his mother, did not say much.
As a mother, Chen Suya felt immense pride and joy for her son. She was well aware of her own limitations and often doubted whether Xu Ming was truly her child—he was simply too extraordinary.
But Chen Suya knew the only thing she could do for him was to support his decisions and allow him to soar to great heights.
When her son returned, there would always be a home waiting for him in this courtyard in Wudu. His mother would always be there for him.
As for Xu Ming's elder brother, Xu Pangda, who had achieved third place in the imperial examination, Emperor Wu asked him what position he desired.
Xu Pangda expressed his wish to leave Wudu and observe life among the common people.
Emperor Wu smiled and said, "Very well," assigning Xu Pangda to be the magistrate of Baihe County in Chongyun Prefecture.
To ordinary folks, Baihe County was just a simple county. But politically, it carried profound significance.
Baihe County had produced three former prime ministers of the Wu Kingdom. Each of their careers had begun in Baihe. Moreover, it was the hometown of the current Prime Minister, Fang Ling.
Thus, Emperor Wu's decision to appoint Xu Pangda as the magistrate of Baihe County was widely interpreted as a signal of his intent to cultivate and promote him.
Once Xu Pangda gained sufficient administrative experience and an understanding of the common people's lives, he would likely serve in other positions for a few years. During this time, Emperor Wu would undoubtedly monitor him closely and test his abilities.
If Xu Pangda passed these tests and proved himself a worthy talent, he would be recalled to Wudu. At that point, his rise to prominence would truly begin.
In court, many officials marveled at the Xu family's fortune, wondering what kind of luck they must have had to produce such outstanding sons.
While some attributed Emperor Wu's favor toward Xu Pangda to his younger brother Xu Ming's influence, those privy to the truth knew better.
It was, in fact, a comment made by the esteemed Zhang Laoshi (Old Man) to Xiao Mochi during a casual conversation:
"This young man's future contributions to the Wu Kingdom will rival, if not surpass, yours and mine."
This remark, passed along by Tingfeng Pavilion, eventually reached Emperor Wu's ears.
In the future, when Xu Ming returned to the capital after achieving great merits for the Wu Kingdom, accepting his rewards and marrying the princess, and Xu Pangda was recalled to Wudu to assume a critical post, what kind of storm would these two brothers stir in the court?
As for whether their power might grow too great and pose a threat to the throne—perhaps even lead to a coup—Emperor Wu had no such concerns.
For one, Zhang Laoshi had vouched for the brothers' character.
Moreover, unless the monarch of the Wu Kingdom were to act recklessly and exhaust the dynasty's mandate, the nation's fortune would not shift from the imperial bloodline.
And there was also the Azure Dragon Seal, which could only be activated by the royal bloodline. Without its recognition, the kingdom's defensive power would decrease by at least a quarter.
If Emperor Wu were to worry about anything, it would be whether the Xu family and the Qin family might overstep their bounds, forming factions and tarnishing the reputations of Xu Ming and Xu Pangda, all while plunging the court into chaos.
However, Emperor Wu had already prepared countermeasures. When the day came to truly entrust Xu Ming and Xu Pangda with significant responsibilities, if their families failed to exercise restraint, they would have to face the consequences of their actions.
As for the past camaraderie between the Xu family and the late emperor—that was in the past. The laws of their ancestors had already been amended under Emperor Wu's reign.
What did the late emperor's friendship with Duke Xu and Duke Qin count for? Anyone who obstructed the progress of Wu would be swept aside by the current Emperor Wu!
And just as the buzz around Xu Ming's Resignation Letter for the Imperial Marriage had not yet faded, a new announcement from the court quickly stole the spotlight.
Prime Minister Fang Ling submitted a memorial to resign from his position, wishing to retire to his hometown and enjoy his remaining years in peace.
Xu Ming didn't know much about this Prime Minister Fang, other than the fact that not long ago, Fang had visited the Xu residence and spoke with him for two hours.
Xu Ming knew that Fang Ling was the only prime minister in the history of the Wu Kingdom to hold the position as an ordinary mortal.
All previous prime ministers had been Confucian cultivators, and even when they retired, it was usually because they had overdrawn their life force and wished to preserve what remained—perhaps to live for a few hundred more years—or to see if they could break through their current limits and extend their lifespan by millennia.
After all, everyone has their personal ambitions, and wanting to live longer is natural and understandable.
Of course, there were exceptions—those too deeply entrenched in court affairs to extricate themselves.
But Fang Ling was an ordinary man, free from concerns about the depletion of his life force.
Moreover, Fang Ling had an impeccable reputation in the Wu Kingdom, earning the nickname Fang Ironface, a testament to his unyielding integrity.
At sixty years old, Fang Ling was certainly advanced in age, but most mortal officials in the Wu Kingdom typically retired at seventy. This meant Fang Ling still had a decade of service left.
Thus, his resignation baffled many in Wudu.
When Fang Ling first submitted his memorial, Emperor Wu naturally rejected it, urging him to stay.
Fang Ling insisted.
Emperor Wu refused again.
Fang Ling persisted.
Emperor Wu rejected once more.
After three rounds of resignation and refusal, Emperor Wu finally relented on the fourth.
The emperor granted Fang Ling a retirement package of a thousand taels of gold, a hundred maidservants, fifty bolts of fine silk, and a hundred acres of fertile land as a token of appreciation for his service.
But Fang Ling declined all of it.
Instead, he asked only for a branch from the banyan tree in front of the palace's main hall, to make a ruler.
Emperor Wu did not understand the significance of the request but granted it nonetheless.
Three days before Fang Ling's departure, the Directorate of National Assets arrived to inventory his household belongings.
When a prime minister steps down, the prime minister's residence must be returned to the state, requiring an inventory check. This process also served another purpose—to determine if the official had engaged in corruption during their tenure.
Under normal circumstances, for a high-ranking official who voluntarily resigned, even if there were signs of corruption, emperors throughout history would often turn a blind eye. The Directorate of National Assets would likewise be instructed to overlook minor discrepancies.
After all, if you were truly corrupt to a damning degree, action would have been taken long ago, and your door would have been broken down by the Directorate.
This process was more of a formality—a way to give the official a dignified exit and preserve their legacy.
But this time, the director overseeing the inventory was stunned.
In Fang Ling's residence, there were no valuable paintings, no priceless antiques, and no exorbitantly expensive elixirs.
In the study, there was only a landscape painting gifted by a friend, a desk, a brush, and an inkstone.
In the master bedroom (the lady of the house's quarters), the jewelry and cosmetics were all of the cheapest kind found in the marketplace, and there were fewer than five sets of clothing.
The household staff was maintained at the minimum level required by Wu Kingdom law. With Fang Ling having only one wife and three grandchildren (his two sons had joined sects and left the kingdom), many rooms in the residence were empty, unoccupied, and eerily quiet.
The Director of the Directorate of National Assets felt something was off. Regardless of the circumstances, high-ranking officials like this would typically have some "extra income." Thus, the director ordered his team to dig deep and search thoroughly.
But all they unearthed was layer upon layer of soil.
In the end, finding nothing suspicious, the director had the ground refilled and the floors restored before leaving the prime minister's residence.
When he stepped outside, he saw nothing but an old man, holding the hand of his grandson, smiling kindly like a simple farmer.
The director bowed deeply.
The old man returned the gesture.
---
The day before Fang Ling's departure, Emperor Wu invited him to the palace for a banquet.
The feast had only two attendees: the emperor and Fang Ling.
Even the empress, the court ladies, and Wei Xun, the chief eunuch, were all dismissed.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty," Fang Ling said, bowing deeply.
Emperor Wu hurriedly stepped forward and helped him up. "Prime Minister, there is no need for such formality. Please rise."
Fang Ling shook his head lightly. "Your Majesty, I am no longer the prime minister."
Emperor Wu's voice was earnest. "In my heart, you will always be the prime minister of Wu."
Fang Ling simply smiled and said nothing more.
Emperor Wu guided him to a chair. "Prime Minister, these dishes were personally prepared by the empress. Tonight, we feast to bid you farewell!"
With that, the emperor raised his cup.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Fang Ling said, raising his own cup and draining it in one gulp. Smacking his lips, he remarked, "This wine is truly excellent."
The emperor chuckled. "If you like it, I will have it sent to you every month."
Fang Ling set his cup down and said with a smile, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty, but I must decline. A jar of this wine could be exchanged for much grain. Drinking it would make me uneasy."
The emperor was momentarily speechless.
Fang Ling continued to smile as he looked at the emperor. "Your Majesty, did you summon me here just to share a meal?"
The emperor poured Fang Ling another cup of wine. "The late emperor said you have the sharpest eye for people and have never been wrong. There's something I wish to ask your opinion on."
"Please, speak freely, Your Majesty."
Setting down the wine jug, the emperor looked Fang Ling directly in the eye. "After Xiao Mochi, who should be prime minister?"
Fang Ling answered without hesitation. "Chen Xuan."
"And after Chen Xuan?"
"Fei Yi."
"And after Fei Yi?"
This time, Fang Ling closed his eyes and thought for a long while before answering, "Xu Pangda."
"And after Xu Pangda?"
Fang Ling thought even longer this time, but eventually shook his head and said nothing.
The emperor asked, "What does the Prime Minister think of Xu Ming?"
Fang Ling smiled. "Last month, I visited the Xu residence and spoke with the top scholar for two hours. I urge Your Majesty to consider carefully."
The emperor's heart skipped a beat. "Do you mean to say Xu Ming lacks talent in governance?"
Fang Ling shook his head again. "The position of prime minister would be the greatest waste of the top scholar's talents."