Chapter 115: Xia Imperial Duke


    Ji Congyun was long gone, but the tform remained deathly silent.


    <em>Did Great Xia really be a grade-8 state just like that?</em>


    The crowd felt light on their feet as if they were in a dream.


    Xia Yu stared at Fang Chen in a daze. He had made up his mind to lead Great Xia to ovee its bottleneck and be a grade-8 state, so that it could stand on par with Chillwater. Yet, his great ambitions were fulfilled by someone else before he could be the emperor?


    The officials of the imperial court were trembling with excitement, but theyposed themselves to maintain the poise of a powerful state. From time to time, they would eye the Longdu, Guhe, and Yizhous envoys.


    The three envoys felt like they were sitting on needles. Every now and then, they would nce at Fang Chen with fear in their eyes.


    In contrast to the silent tform, the civilians below celebrated this joyous asion. Great Xia had be the weakest state in the region since its tragic defeat five years ago.


    Even Guhe, a state specialized in mining, would climb over their heads every now and then. Their schrs and martial artists walked on their streets with an air of superiority.


    Yet, Great Xia turned the tables on them within a single day.


    Not only did Fang Chen thoroughly crush Chillwaters Nightmare Knights, but he disyed exceptional means as a martial artist too. He even forced one of Chillwaters leading figures to acknowledge Great Xia as a grade-8 state and relinquish three of their vassal states to them.


    Great Xia had never achieved such feats even at its peak!


    How could Great Xias civilians not be excited? From this day onward, they would be Longdu, Guhe, and Yizhous superior state. Gone were the days where they had to endure their scorn!


    The crowd looked at Fang Chen with eyes filled with respect, be it the ordinary popce, martial artists, schrs, or the Great Xia Shadow Guards.


    Its our Great Xias blessing to have someone like War God Fang!


    Great Xias emperor had a beaming smile too. War God Fang, I hereby confer you as transcendent-grade Xia Imperial Duke, and this position will be inherited by your descendants. On top of that, Ill bestow you with 10,000 golden taels and 2,000 fine pearls!


    <em>Transcendent-grade Xia Imperial Duke?</em>


    The officials of the imperial court were shaken by that announcement.


    Since the founding of Great Xia, there hadnt been a person who was conferred a transcendent-grade nobility. The founding emperor of Great Xia had famously dered that anyone who made Great Xia a grade-8 state would be conferred the title of Imperial Duke Xia. This was not a military position, but it equaled the emperor in terms of standing.


    For centuries, countless outstanding individuals had contributed to Great Xia in all kinds of ways to raise its national prowess, but none had seeded in making Great Xia a grade-8 state.


    It was simply too difficult a feat to pull off.


    Yet, Fang Chen managed to pull it off.


    So, the emperor fulfilled the founding emperors promise and conferred a transcendent-grade nobility to him, and this position could be passed down through his lineage. With this, the Fang n had be the most prestigious family in Great Xia aside from the imperial family.


    Tao Mingsheng warmly congratted Fang Chen with a smile alongside the other officials, but unease and terror were reflected in the depths of his eyes.


    Xia Yu was also taken aback by his fathers deration.


    Five years ago, Fang Chen became Great Xias youngest grade-1 general, putting him on the same pedestal as Prime Minister Li Guozhu. That was a rank higher than even the Ministers of the Six Bureaus!


    He was far beyond the reach of his peers in the capital, and most thought that they would never surpass his aplishment.


    But Fang Chens defeat in the Three Realms Mountain resulted in him being stripped of his position, and he was ordered to remain at home to reflect on himself. The Fang Faction that had formed around him naturally dissolved.


    Many thought that Fang Chen would live his life out like that after losing his official position, going blind, and having his ki sea crippled. Yet


    After five short years of silence, Fang Chen finally raised a ripple. The ripple slowly grew bigger and bigger until it was so thunderous that it dizzied others.


    Transcendent-grade Xia Imperial Duke! How noble that position was! Even Xia Yu, despite being the crown prince, would have to bow to Fang Chen as a junior from this day onward


    Young miss War God Fang has been conferred as an imperial duke! On top of that, hes conferred with the Xia character! Fang Qingyaos maid eximed with a reddened face.


    Mm! Fang Qingyao nodded in excitement.


    She was apanied by famous merchants in the capital, including Li Maocai.


    Li Maocai was excited by the news too, knowing he could reap benefits from having once gifted Fang Chen a valuable weapon.


    Thanks to Imperial Duke Fang, itll be much safer for us to do business now!


    Of course, Longdu, Guhe, and Yizhou are now our vassal states! Lets see if they dare harm any more of our merchants!


    But what if they dont ept it


    Imperial Duke Fang will destroy them!


    Fang Chen looked at the emperor. Secondster, he sped his fist and replied, Im grateful for your conferment, Your Majesty.


    <em>Just like that?</em>


    Fang Chens impassive startled the officials, who were just joyously congratting him.


    The emperor squeezed out a smile and said, Theres no need to stand on ceremony, Imperial Duke Fang. Ill have a ceremonial court robe delivered to your Fang Manor, so


    Theres no need for a court robe. Im content with being a carefree duke, Fang Chen replied with a smile. The imperial court doesnt suit me.


    The emperor was taken aback. Li Guozhu and the others also looked at Fang Chen with perplexed frowns. The Fang Chen they knew five years ago wasnt like that.


    Back then, Fang Chens voice was the loudest in the imperial court. Even the emperor would have to carefully consider his words before replying. Yet, the same Fang Chen was giving such a cid response despite being granted such great power and prestige?


    <em>Is he feigning disinterest to get more out of this? Or is he truly not interested?</em> The crowd wondered.


    Speaking of which Fang Chen smiled at the emperor. I dont think that Xiao Shence is suited to continue being the Valiant Defendersmander. Your Majesty, what do you think?


    A wave of shock crashed on the crowd. They struggled to keep up with Fang Chens tempo. <em>Why is he suddenly making a move on Xiao Shence? Thats His Majestys aide!</em>


    While Prime Minister Li Guozhu and his faction often impeached Xiao Shence, highlighting his ipetence in keeping his subordinates in line, they would never dare im that he was not fit to be the Valiant Defendersmander.


    Xiao Shence was the emperors aide, after all. Anyone who tried to take him down would inevitably draw the emperors ire and might even be suspected of harboring rebellious thoughts.


    Yet, Fang Chen said those words out loud. The atmosphere on the tform turned tense.


    Many emotions flickered across Xiao Shences face. Before the emperor could speak, he sped his fist toward Fang Chen and said, Imperial Duke Fang, I brought my men into the Fang Manor back then because


    Liu Tian colluded with Vice Minister Qin under Xiao Shences nose and indirectly caused the death of countless Great Xias civilians. Liu Tian has escaped, but I believe Xiao Shence ought to take responsibility for his ipetence. Your Majesty, what do you think?


    The crowd was dumbstruck.


    <em>Hes dealing with Xiao Shence over this, and not because Xiao Shence brought his men into the Fang Manor to arrest the Fang n?</em>


    The emperors smile slowly faded. Imperial Duke Fang, who would you suggest I rece Commander Xiao with?


    Xiao Shences face paled. The officials of the imperial court stared at Fang Chen as they wondered what he was thinking.


    Your Majesty, what do you think about Huang Sihai? Fang Chen smiled.


    <em>Huang Sihai? The man who used to be one of Fang Chens Four Dragon Generals?</em>


    The crowd frowned.


    <strong>Starves trivia about Xia Imperial Duke</strong>


    In ancient China, when a person is conferred a high noble, they are often conferred with a character too. This character usually signifies certain traits or have historical meaning.


    The character Fang Chen was bestowed with, Xia, is the imperial familys family name.


    Thats a huge thing, as anyone else using the imperial familys family name for anything could have been easily executed for sacrilege. This conferment is almost saying that The imperial family considers Fang Chen one of our own


    As for transcendent-grade, it means that, officially, his standing is even higher than the Prime Minister.