Su Guanying arched her eyebrows and looked at Shi Mingcheng, her eyes full of scrutiny.

Shi Mingcheng spoke calmly: "The Imperial City Inspection Mansion does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Military Affairs Hall, nor under the Political Affairs Hall. Why is that? The Department of Penalty assumes its responsibilities directly under the Son of Heaven! This is the national policy of Great Qi. Governor Su suggests that the South Border should not set a precedent, and I deeply agree. The Son of Heaven trusts and loves Marquis Wu’an; this is known across the world. It’s most appropriate to let Marquis Wu’an take charge of this Department of Penalty."

"Military Governor Shi speaks well!" Su Guanying suddenly smiled and clapped her hands in praise: "The South Border is newly settled, and peace and order have often troubled me, unable to be sustained long. This establishment of the Department of Penalty is something I have no doubts about. If Marquis Wu’an, with his unparalleled genius and extraordinary intelligence, is willing to bear this responsibility, I can truly rest easy!"

Then both of them looked at Jiang Wang with friendly expressions, full of encouragement.

Jiang Wang vaguely sensed something was amiss.

Why is it that during their debate, Su Guanying and Shi Mingcheng have suddenly yielded such a massive piece of power to him, or rather thrust it upon his head?

Although the ancient saying "When the sandpiper and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits" exists, what kind of fisherman is his Jiang Qingyang?

Neither Su Guanying nor Shi Mingcheng is anyone who could be easily suppressed by him in the water.

Furthermore, even if he were the fisherman, he often returned with empty rods, unconcerned about loss and gain.

He came to South Xia to avoid trouble, not to vie for power and profit!

Yet now he keeps getting rewards, one after another.

It’s not him snatching food from a tiger’s mouth; it’s the tiger constantly bringing food to him, feeding it to his mouth.

What kind of quiet cultivation is this?

If this continues, he’d be qualified to contend for the Governor of Nanxia!

If he accepts today, with Su Guanying governing, Shi Mingcheng in charge of military affairs, and him overseeing penalties, he could indeed stand on equal footing with the two of them.

With so many benefits being thrown at him, is there really nothing to be contributed?

He could not fathom the reasons in his heart, nor did he understand the thoughts of Shi Mingcheng and Su Guanying. But Jiang Wang had already decisively stood up and respectfully addressed the two figures of great influence: "I am not a Legalist disciple, unfamiliar with penal law, and have not studied the Canon of Law. I have no grand ambitions nor a desire for authority. Particularly, I’m not interested in managing the Department of Penalty. Taking a position without merit would only harm the populace. Since the matter concerns the peace of millions of people, the governance of South Xia, I ask you to reconsider. I shall no longer intrude."

Not giving the two a chance to speak, he turned alone and stepped down from the high platform. With his hand on his longsword, he focused on patrolling the examination site.

Su Guanying and Shi Mingcheng, for them, to leave him speechless was certainly not difficult, and to persuade him, they probably had many methods... as he had already witnessed in the Governor’s Mansion earlier.

Therefore, he simply gave them no opportunity to speak, demonstrating his determination not to vie for punitive power.

On the high platform, Su Guanying and Shi Mingcheng exchanged glances, both slightly surprised.

To control the entire punitive authority of the South Border, what immense power is this? What huge forces could be assembled by leveraging it? How great a benefit could be gained by this high rank on the Official Way?

It’s no exaggeration to say that there isn’t a single official in the entire Great Qi who isn’t envious of it.

Today, Marquis Wu’an can indeed be said to have achieved success and fame, but he has always held a nominal position without real power; the high position on the surface is still just a third-grade gold melon samurai. Such a great opportunity to hold real power, and he doesn’t seize it?

Before Jiang Wang came to South Xia this time, they had little contact with him. Their understanding of this newly risen military meritorious marquis was mostly heard from others, and the image of an unparalleled genius in people’s mouths often carried a touch of legendary color, inevitably distorting reality.

Neither had expected Jiang Wang to refuse.

They thought, as before at the Nanxia Governor’s Mansion, it would be after a few rounds of decline and concession before he consented.

Could he really have been this resolute?

Does Marquis Wu’an have such confidence, able to advance beyond the peak without relying on the Official Way at all?

In their eyes, they saw the same message—they both needed to re-evaluate this young marquis.

So neither spoke up again.

...

For Jiang Wang, this choice was not difficult.

It was merely a matter of asking himself one question—

What path are you, Jiang Wang, really taking?

Once asked, the answer became clear.

If he took punitive power today, would he strive for Governor of Nanxia tomorrow? And the day after, would he vie for the Prime Minister’s authority?

The further he walked down the Official Way, the deeper he got involved.

Since the inception of the Official Way, the human torrents have indeed been surging, and countless have seized the opportunity to become enlightened. But how many could take the final step?

Becoming a renowned minister or general is no easier than cultivating.

Achieving success in life, leaving a name for posterity, few have managed it throughout history. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

What may be a broad and easy road for others is not a suitable path for Jiang Wang.

Agreeing to oversee the Nanxia civil service examinations was because he really wanted to do something real and believed he could do it well. Beyond that, he did not want to entangle himself, binding himself to the Nanxia officialdom.

His path was not within the Official Way; his path was beneath his own feet. He had long since set his sights on a goal and would not change for any scenery along the way.

So no matter what Shi Mingcheng and Su Guanying’s intentions were.

He neither understood nor sought to understand.

Taking a clear stance and leaving, focusing solely on this examination itself.

Speaking of which, among the participants in the final civil examination on the Tiger Platform this time, there were quite a few familiar faces to Jiang Wang.

Those he had captured, those he had defeated, those he had fought against... During his many campaigns across the various prefectures of South Xia, he encountered a fair number of Summer Country individuals.

Of course, there was Gu Yong.

From the list, there was also Chu Shuo, the Huyang Pass commander who had left a deep impression on Jiang Wang and caused considerable trouble to the Qi Army on the eastern front, and his nephew Chu Yulong.