Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Because You’re the Emperor’s Favorite Toy

“Breaking news! Breaking news! The Demon-Suppressing City’s thirty-thousand Dragon Leopard Cavalry have breached the border city of the Ten Thousand Directions Demon Nation!”

“Thirty thousand Dragon Leopard Cavalry, twenty thousand demons slain! Half the capital of Ten Thousand Directions has been razed!”

“Our Wu Kingdom’s Xuenuo, her Life-Bonded Flying Sword Qingming sharpened, entered the Observe-the-Sea stage, ranked eighth on the Azurecloud List!”

“The Book of Zhou! The Book of Zhou! The imperial examination system has been reformed! Any child, regardless of background, can participate in the exam!”

“No matter the social class, whether legitimate or illegitimate, all may take part in the examination! Talent alone shall be recognized!”

On the streets of Wudu, “newsboys” selling the Book of Zhou ran about tirelessly, their faces glowing with pride and satisfaction.

Finally, Mochi merely smiled, raised his wine flask, and took a sip. “Not bad.”

Mochi exhaled. “I’m not afraid of ten thousand things, but what if… where is the Ten-Thousand-Ancient Spiritual Root?”

Aside from the good news from Demon-Suppressing City, Xuenuo also made the common folk of Wu Kingdom feel honored by association.

Mochi just smiled and didn’t refute.

“I’m not used to visiting Qinglou.” Mochi shook his head.

Who cares about fierce competition?

If you can’t keep up with others, that doesn’t mean you’re right, does it?

“That’s the end of that discussion.”

Su Zihong leaned against the railing, arms spread wide, and glanced at Mochi. “What do you mean ‘not used to visiting Qinglou’? You’ve never even been there in your life!”

Su Zihong continued, “The Ten Thousand Directions Demon Nation, the White Fox Demon Nation, the Heavenly Avian Demon Nation, and the Ten Thousand Serpents Nation seem to be summoning something. This thing requires five types of saintly bodies, one of which is Zhu Cici’s innate Literary Courage.”

The most discussed topic, and the one most closely related to himself, was still the reform of the imperial examination.

“Hmph.” Mochi’s hand holding the wine flask paused slightly, his breathing stopping for a moment.

“Zihong,” Mochi looked up and said with a smile, “this is my country.”

Qingwan ranked ninth on the Azurecloud List, and Xuenuo ranked eighth!

The Azurecloud List includes both humans and demons!

In this vast world, our Wu Kingdom occupies two spots in the top ten. How could anyone not be pleased?!

Aside from the great victory at Demon-Suppressing City and Xuenuo’s eighth place on the Azurecloud List, which are reasons enough to celebrate with a drink…

Saliva landed on the head of a passerby, who touched his head angrily and looked up, only to see Su Zihong’s jade belt and had to walk away grumbling.

“What a load of crap!” Su Zihong snatched Mochi’s wine flask. “Back when you were at White Deer Academy, wasn’t she already interested in you? She even invited you to Qi Kingdom, and you?! What about me?! What kind of pressure am I under?!”

I’ve gone solo, no wife, no children, no weaknesses, so they fear me!

Su Zihong turned around and leaned on the railing like Mochi. “There’s been some progress regarding that dead dog Houdu assassinating Zhu Cici recently.”

“She shouldn’t give up everything for me.” Mochi stroked the red dragon carved on the railing. “Moreover, what I’m doing now is too hard to achieve a good ending.”

Su Zihong shook his head. “Don’t know yet, still investigating.”

Because they knew!

Mochi turned his head, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “And Zihong, do you know why those old fossils in the Imperial Court are so afraid of me?”

Su Zihong gave Mochi a dirty look. “Because you’re a Gentleman from White Deer Academy, because you’re the Emperor’s favorite toy.”

“You… sigh…” Su Zihong pointed at Mochi, his trembling finger eventually dropping, unsure of what else to say.

“Then don’t talk about it anymore.” Mochi laughed as he reclaimed his wine flask and clinked it against Su Zihong’s. “Today is a grand day, all good news.”

Reforming the imperial examination is absolutely the greatest joy for those with lofty ambitions but without the qualifications to take the test.

On the top floor of Drunken Flower Tower, a man named Su Zihong walked over with a bottle of wine.

But for those who already have the qualifications to take the exam, they feel somewhat melancholic.

At the railing, Mochi wore a simple Confucian blue robe, holding a bottle of wine, leaning against the railing, looking at the bustling Wudu.

“Not entirely.” Mochi shook his head.

They could already foresee how many people would participate in next year’s Child Examination.

Su Zihong cursed and spat down at the floor below.

The Wu Kingdom doesn’t hold grudges overnight!

Otherwise, are we Wu Kingdom men lacking in spirit?

In the future, passing the imperial examination will be much, much harder.

The officials of the reform faction in the Wu Kingdom’s court were happily drinking continuously.

I can crush them all!

“Forget it, forget it! Stop talking about you! Since childhood, you’ve been unbearably stubborn! Damn it!”

Mochi continued, “My sister is the current Empress, my father guards the Northern Wilderness, my mother passed away long ago.”

Mochi looked calmly down at the street below, his eyes narrowing. “Write a letter to the Ten Thousand Sword Sect and the Heavenly Profound Gate.”

Mochi thought for a moment. “You mentioned five types of saintly bodies. What are the other four?”

Su Zihong replied dryly, “Xuenuo is Jiang Luoyu’s direct disciple, Qingwan is Wang Xuan’s direct disciple. Who dares to touch them?”

“There’s another matter.” Su Zihong added.

“Hmm.” Mochi nodded.

The future literary path of the Wu Kingdom will surely flourish!

Besides, if you can’t keep up, that’s your problem. It’s none of our business; we’ve already succeeded.

“You’re the leader of the reform faction, yet here you are drinking alone while your faction gathers in a Qinglou.”

Whether it’s teahouses, taverns, or even Qinglous, everyone cheered and pounded the tables in approval!

How dare the Ten Thousand Directions Demon Nation attempt an assassination in Wudu! Naturally, we must retaliate with thunderous force!

Mochi frowned. “What kind of thing would make the Ten Thousand Directions Demon Nation risk retaliation from both Wu Kingdom and Qi Kingdom…”

“You.” Su Zihong sighed. “I heard she’s engaged.”

“Su Zihong,” Mochi said, “the bone of Innate Sword Bone, the heart of Innate Saint Body, the eyes of Ten-Thousand Path Dual Pupil, the root of Ten-Thousand-Ancient Spiritual Root. The Ten-Thousand Path Dual Pupil is in the Northern Wilderness, we Wu Kingdom have the Innate Sword Bone and the Innate Saint Body.”

“Fine, fine, fine! This is your country!” Su Zihong angrily said. “So if she wants to come to Wu Kingdom, why did you reject her?”

Mochi nodded. “How so?”

“Can’t you just say everything at once?” Mochi asked exasperatedly.

Su Zihong moved closer to Mochi, gazing together at the streets of Wudu, lowering his voice.

“There’s news from the Celestial Destiny City. One hundred fifty years ago, Prince Shan Wang’s descendants—two of them survived—in Wu Kingdom.”