Chapter 158: Chapter 158: An Awkward Situation, Three Dilemmas in One Position

"I wonder what Lord Xiao, Lord Baili, and the other esteemed lords think?"

The Fifth Prince looked at Xiao He and Baili Xinghua, then glanced at the gathered ministers.

What do they think?

Who would dare have an opinion?

Even County Magistrate Xiao and County Governor Baili wouldn’t dare say anything, right?

Indeed, the two expressed no objection, bowing one after another to indicate their compliance with the Fifth Prince’s intentions.

The Fifth Prince nodded slightly and suddenly turned to look at An Hengying, the always silent head of the Xirong County Governor’s Office: "Lord An, do you have any objections?"

An Hengying maintained an extremely calm expression, bowing: "I would not dare, Your Highness."

The Fifth Prince stared at An Hengying for a moment before turning back to Chu Ming: "In that case, Chu Ming, from today onwards, you are appointed to the position of Chief Clerk’s Office of Xirong County."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Ming bowed in salute.

He’s been promoted yet again?!

Upon hearing the Fifth Prince’s announcement, the expressions of the more than fifty officials present were quite remarkable.

Five or six days ago, Chu Ming was still a minor ninth-grade official from Baiyuan County, burdened with the crime of treason.

Thanks to Shen Yu and the relationship with County Magistrate Xiao He, not only was the accusation cleared, but he was also promoted two ranks to the position of Standard Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar.

In just four or five days, this mere sixteen-year-old has been promoted two more ranks, ascending to the position of Chief Clerk’s Office.

Senior Seventh Grade, which is the same rank as a County Magistrate.

Everyone recalled the recent rumors about Chu Ming. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Promoted to seventh grade in one year, sixth grade in two years, fourth grade in ten years...

This isn’t even a year; it hasn’t been a month yet, just three to five days for him to rise to seventh grade.

Moreover, it’s not just Junior Seventh Grade, but the Chief Clerk’s Office with more power and scope than the Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar.

Though the Chief Clerk’s Office isn’t an easy position to fill, it’s still astonishing.

Such a rapid rise in officialdom might be hard to find even within the entire Great Qin Dynasty, right?

Compared to the varied thoughts of the crowd, the emotions of Shen Yu and Xiao He were extremely complex at this moment.

Chu Ming’s continuous promotions were once due to the covert support of the Seventh Prince, another due to the public appointment by the Fifth Prince.

Amid the rivalry of the two princes, Chu Ming became a pawn.

Given this development, the Seventh Prince would surely harbor resentment towards Chu Ming, and the Fifth Prince wasn’t truly valuing Chu Ming’s talents...

Sigh...

Inwardly sighing, they found themselves helpless.

Such is the competition between princes, where ministers like them inadvertently become sacrifices.

As for the position of Chief Clerk’s Office, they felt it wasn’t as cushy as that of an Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar since it’s genuinely hot to handle.

And as for the Seventh Prince, aside from a flicker of anger when the words ’Chief Clerk’s Office’ first appeared, remained calm thereafter.

It was a kind of calm detached from any emotion, or one might say indifference, including his gaze toward Chu Ming.

Seeing this, Xiao He and Shen Yu felt even more helpless.

The Seventh Prince had already harbored resentment against Chu Ming.

The reason is simple: Chu Ming today had embarrassed this prince, and with the support of the Fifth Prince, his status changed.

No matter how prodigious his talent seemed.

No matter that the true intent behind it was the Fifth Prince’s design.

Meanwhile, Xiang Yue of the Tiger Armor Army and Huo Buyan seemed indifferent, drinking and eating as if what transpired had nothing to do with them.

Indeed, except for Xiang Yue and Fang Xiao, who knew of Chu Ming’s other identity when the Fifth Prince appointed him to the Seventh-Grade Chief Clerk’s Office?

Jiang Zhan, interspersed with low whispers of wonder to Fang Xiao several times: "Old Fang, you’re not simple, and neither is your young lord."

"I heard, when Chu Ming left our Tiger Armor Army camp, he was already promoted to an Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar just a day after reaching the county city."

"In just five days, tonight he has once again been recognized by the Fifth Prince and appointed to the Seventh-Grade Chief Clerk’s Office. The crucial thing is he’s only sixteen... even more dazzling than I was at sixteen."

Fang Xiao listened but did not say much.

The brilliance of the young lord was much more than that.

After appointing Chu Ming, the Fifth Prince intentionally or unintentionally glanced at the Seventh Prince, noticing the unaffected demeanor, and chuckled softly: "I wonder if there’ll be a second person tonight to receive recognition from Lord Xiao and my seventh younger brother."

With these words, the Fifth Prince began to move, continuing the commendations.

In a short time, all fifty or more people had been appraised, and apart from Baili Xinghua and Chu Ming, none received further recognition.

As for the poetry recitations in the side hall or outside the Commandery Mansion, they were not within the scope of tonight’s appraisals and would be arranged later.

Perhaps someone did well, but the lantern banquet tonight wasn’t about genuine poetry recitation—no matter how good it was, it wouldn’t matter.

In the end, Baili Xinghua once again won the golden lamp representing talent, and Chu Ming’s official rank was elevated to Senior Seventh-Grade Chief Clerk’s Office.

As the banquet ended, it was already the hour of the pig, around nine or ten o’clock.

The two princes had long left, and the gathered officials dispersed.

By the lakeside pavilion under the moonlight.

The jade-like plate hung in the sky, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Shen Yu and Xiao He were slightly tipsy, neither being martial artists who could use their Qi and Blood Power to expel the effects of alcohol.

Chu Ming’s cheeks had a touch of rouge, something he intentionally applied.

He first took up a teapot, pouring tea for Xiao He, then filling Shen Yu’s cup once more.

Shen Yu picked up his cup and drank it all in one go, his demeanor appeared unhappy.

Xiao He remained silent, staring at the clear tea that reflected the full moon, seemingly deep in thought.

Chu Ming refilled Shen Yu’s cup; this was already the seventh cup Shen Yu had consumed.

"Chu Ming, please take a seat."

As Xiao He began to speak, Shen Yu grabbed Chu Ming to sit down.

The lake glistened, the night breeze brushing over the osmanthus trees by the lakeside, creating a beautiful scene as if women were dancing, carrying with them a faint scent of osmanthus blossoms.

Beneath the pavilion, two elders with graying temples wore expressions full of worry.

"Chu Ming, my brother, I haven’t had too much to drink, nor am I a man of many words, but there are some things I want to analyze with you." Shen Yu took another sip of tea.

Xiao He had long known of Shen Yu’s regard for Chu Ming as a dear friend, aware that Shen Yu addressed himself as a brother in front of Chu Ming.

"Please go ahead, Brother Shen." Chu Ming had an inkling of what the two elders wished to discuss.

"Old Xiao, you’re more knowledgeable than I am, you should speak first." Shen Yu looked at Xiao He.

With hands that seemed aged, Xiao He caressed his teacup, first sighing before addressing Chu Ming:

"With your talent, you should be able to see that tonight’s lantern poetry was actually a contest between the Fifth and Seventh Princes, right?"

Chu Ming remained silent, silently acknowledging.

Xiao He continued: "And you’ve been drawn into the rivalry between the two princes."

"The Seventh Prince has grown cold towards you, and the Fifth Prince was merely using you—your current situation is rather awkward."

"That’s only the first issue..."

With another sigh, Xiao He continued: "The position in the Xirong County’s Chief Clerk’s Office has been vacant for five years, and County Governor Baili had been covering it for the five years. Your appointment effectively diverted some of Governor Baili’s authority."

"Even though Governor Baili is an honest and kind official and won’t be troubled by this, there would certainly be some discomfort internally."

"To outsiders, it’s already evident you and Governor Baili have crossed swords."

"That’s the second issue."

Xiao He gently turned his teacup, continuing: "And now, the third issue."

"The responsibilities of the Chief Clerk’s Office involve managing agricultural and mining development, with the salt mines of Jingyan County falling under your jurisdiction."

The salt mines of Jingyan County?

Chu Ming appeared thoughtful.

Jingyan County, a neighboring county to Baiyuan, possesses several salt mines and is renowned for producing Jingyan salt.

Jingyan salt is a crucial commodity for Xirong County. The salt produced there is shipped to various counties within the Great Qin Dynasty, and even beyond its borders, enjoying significant fame.