Sheng Fu

Chapter 1081: All the talents have arrived
Chiba no Niwa can set up her own government office and receive a government salary.

Yuwen Jun had not expected that Qianling would put on such a grand show for him today.

Although it was somewhat childish, it was enough to prove that Qianling took this matter very seriously.

Then, the housekeeper clapped her hands slightly, and the maids began to serve the dishes.

As everyone took their seats, Qianling looked at the middle-aged man at the head of the group. He was not particularly handsome, had no beard, and wore a dark official robe with faint purple patterns.

"In your opinion, what do you think of this person's spirit and energy?" Qianling asked softly.

This man was named Chang Ning. He was not well-known. In his youth, he studied at Bailu Academy. He originally intended to enter officialdom, but unfortunately, he came from a poor family and had no connections. In addition, he did not receive guidance from any famous teachers at Bailu Academy.

Therefore, he had no connection with officialdom.

Later, he traveled to various places in the north and south, broadening his horizons. He then returned to the capital, intending to seek an official position, but he repeatedly encountered setbacks. In desperation, he had no choice but to work as an accountant for a merchant for a period of time.

Entering the Garden of a Thousand Leaves was purely by chance.

One day, Chang Ning was fishing in the suburbs of the capital when he was suddenly inspired to write a poem on a huge rock.

Watching the Tide

Half a lifetime of trials and tribulations, half a lifetime of upheaval, my talent and passion have been stirred but have nowhere to rest

I have lofty ambitions that soar to the clouds, but I only wish to grasp a long fishing rod and search underwater.

The myriad forms of life underwater are just like the myriad affairs of the human world.

I don't seek lofty ambitions in the future; I'm full of vigor and high spirits right now.

Later, when Princess Qianling went on an outing, she accidentally saw the poem left by Changning. She found it interesting, but not that she thought the poem was particularly talented. She just thought that Changning's handwriting was nice.

Then, on a whim, he sent someone to find Chang Ning and asked Chang Ning to write a memorial based on the current political situation. After reading it, Qian Ling was deeply moved and felt that Chang Ning was not appreciated for his talents. So he simply let Chang Ning stay in the Thousand Leaves Garden.

Although the influence of the Chiba Garden in the imperial court is negligible, it is backed by His Majesty the Emperor. If luck is on its side, it may be possible to display its talents.

Even if there is no opportunity to show off one's talents, it is still very good to be able to receive a salary in the Chiba Garden. Of course, someone like Chang Ning would not be willing to receive a salary for nothing.

Now, Chang Ning finally got to see the legendary Yuwen Jun on a grand occasion.

Unfortunately, for Yuwen Jun, today's scene was just a minor spectacle.

Yuwen Jun glanced at Chang Ning with interest. His eyes were clear and deep. Although he had no beard, there was a hint of vicissitude on his face. Clearly, he had been frustrated for many years, but his spirit had not withered.

He had been to the lower classes and also had dealings with high-ranking officials and dignitaries.

Based solely on experience, Changning is impeccable.

Yuwen Jun smiled calmly and said, "He's a talented person."

Upon hearing this, Qianling immediately looked at Changning and said meaningfully, "Changning, Young Master Yuwen praised you as a talented person. When you go to the Demon Realm, don't disappoint me."

Upon hearing this, Chang Ning quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness and Young Master."

Yuwen Jun glanced at Chang Ning again. This man remained calm in the face of honor or disgrace, and his demeanor was dignified.

It is truly remarkable that someone who has been frustrated and unsuccessful for many years can suddenly receive such appreciation and still maintain such composure.

Yuwen Jun had seen many people who were frustrated and unsuccessful, and the ecstasy they felt after being appreciated. But clearly, Chang Ning did not show any obvious emotional fluctuation.

Perhaps the undercurrents in one's heart have already become boundless and turbulent.

Apart from Chang Ning, Yuwen Jun also looked at the other people at the banquet with great interest.

Most people were composed and had firm eyes, except for one or two who showed a slight sense of fear.

Generally speaking, although the people under Princess Qianling's command did not come from very good backgrounds, most of them had real talent and ability.

They may not be considered exceptionally talented, but they all possess a skill or expertise.

This team, as it stands, can be considered a small court. As for the quality of its personnel, we'll have to wait and see after it's put to the test in real combat.

However, Princess Qianling is still young and does not have a deep understanding of many things. The fact that she has assembled such a team with her own vision and wisdom is enough to prove that Qianling has a high talent for politics.

……

The next day, in the capital of the Demon Realm.

Inside the Longde Hall.

With her "weak" body, Guangli sat on the high throne.

Inside the main hall, a group of civil and military officials stood in order.

The lineage of the Golden Lion, the lineage of the Elegant Bamboo, the lineage of the Heavenly Tiger, and six Soul Masters.

The main hall is solemn and magnificent, orderly and steady, with a majestic and imposing atmosphere.

The previous ruler of the Demon Realm always made decisions unilaterally and almost never held morning court sessions. In the capital, there was never a grand gathering of civil and military officials.

Under the reforms of the Soul Masters, the Demon Realm also had its own morning court, completing the first step from barbarism to civilization.

"The Human Emperor and the Spirit Emperor have sent a letter of state, requesting that resources be extracted from the ravaged lands of my Demon Realm, and that trade relations be established among the three races, with profits shared among them. I wonder what your opinions are?" Guangli asked softly to the crowd.

At this moment, Guangli's face was as pale as snow, as if her time was running out and she was about to die.

Seeing their queen so weak, the people had different thoughts, but a few hoped that their queen could recover soon and lead the demon realm to a brighter future.

Zun Hong exchanged glances with the people beside him and said, "Since we are mining resources in a desolate place, it is certainly feasible. The Demon Realm is currently impoverished and weak, and needs trade to fill the empty treasury."

Guangli nodded slightly, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

At this moment, an elderly man with white hair stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is absolutely unacceptable. If the human and spirit races enter the demon realm, it will inevitably damage the reputation of the demon realm's inhabitants."

"Secondly, the three races have different customs, so some friction and discord are bound to occur."

The old man was from the Azure Winged Ape-Bear Clan, and held a high position in the Demon Realm. In the previous major battles that took place in the Demon Realm, the Azure Winged Ape-Bear Clan also suffered heavy losses.

This makes some sense. The demon race is relatively weak, and when the human and spirit races arrive, they will inevitably look down on or disrespect the demon race to some extent.

Our humble abode is not suitable for welcoming guests.

Upon hearing this, Guangli pretended to be nonchalant, but in reality, she really wanted to yell, "Are you senile?!"

Then, the clan chief of Xiushenzhu stepped forward, gave a cold snort to the white-haired old man, and then respectfully said to Guangli, "This matter can be accomplished."

"Now that the demon race, the human race, and the spirit race have signed an alliance, a major event is needed to celebrate this momentous occasion and strengthen the friendship among the three races. As for the mining of resources, many useless things within the demon realm become useful things when they reach the realms of the spirit race and the human race. Similarly, the human race and the spirit race can exchange corresponding resources with my demon realm."

"This is a win-win situation."

"As for what Mr. Xiong just said, it was really alarmist."

"Our Demon Realm is already severely weakened and urgently needs to establish relations with foreign races to expand the national treasury and stabilize the national situation." "This is a major event that benefits the country and its people, and we hope Your Majesty will grant your permission."

The two senior leaders agreed, but one elder disagreed.

Guangli could accept this situation. Then, she looked at the leader of the soul arts and asked, "In your opinion, what should we do?"

This person is named Li Yan. He now holds a pivotal position in the Demon Realm and is deeply trusted by all the civil and military officials. Many reforms in the Demon Realm originated from Li Yan and his group.

Li Yan bowed slightly, then pondered and said, "What Lord Xiong said makes sense."

"In my opinion, since it is about resource extraction, it must be primarily for trade, not military purposes."

"And the profits are shared among the three parties, which is relatively fair."

"In my opinion, we should have the Grand Secretary Zun Hong negotiate with the human and spirit races to jointly control the overall situation. This would not only restrain the lower-level demon laborers, but also the spirit and human races."

"Sending the chief minister to participate in this grand event is enough to prove the sincerity of the Demon Realm."

"It is likely that the Spirit Race and the Human Race will not see this sincerity clearly, and therefore they will strictly restrain their subordinates to avoid friction with the lower-level demon beasts. This matter is a significant event that strengthens the alliance of the three races, and it is likely that all three parties are aware of this."

"In my opinion, this is feasible."

Upon hearing this, Guangli nodded in deep agreement. At this point, the hall fell silent, and all the ministers tacitly agreed.

“In that case, I would like to trouble the Grand Secretary to personally go to the ruined land, merge with the human and spirit races, and jointly govern.” Guangli said softly to Zun Hong.

Upon hearing this, Zun Hong immediately replied in a resounding voice, "As you command."

At this moment, Li Yan continued, "The arrival of both races in the Demon Realm is an honor for the Demon Realm in the current situation. In my opinion, it would be advisable for the Prime Minister and all officials to go to the Black Mountain area to welcome the human and spirit races, thus demonstrating the great sincerity of our Demon Realm."

"If there is a real opportunity to establish a systematic trade relationship, it would be a great help to the Demon Realm, and at the same time, it would lay a solid foundation for future exchanges."

"It's even possible that a shared academy for all three races could be built."

"With the exchange of civilizations among the three races and the support of trade, over time, this can help the Demon Realm quickly recover its national strength, and even allow the flame of civilization to burn throughout the Demon Realm."

"The past is gone, new policies are in place, we must seize the moment and usher in a new era of prosperity."

"The demon race is indeed fierce, but they lack the elegance and literary talent to write beautiful prose. Therefore, in the long years to come, they will still have to humbly learn from the spirit race and the human race. Only in this way can the demon realm enjoy lasting peace and stability."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on everyone's faces varied.

One of the Heavenly Tiger members questioned with slight displeasure, "Are we really going to give both races such a big face? I'm afraid that's inappropriate. If we do that, what will become of the prestige of our Demon Realm?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan patiently explained, "Now that the three races are working together, their customs are different. We should simplify things to promote cultural exchange and trade prosperity."

"Secondly, the official letters from His Majesty the Human Emperor and His Majesty the Spirit Emperor have entered the Demon Realm. Clearly, the two rulers also attach great importance to the Demon Realm. Now that the Demon Realm is in dire need of reconstruction, we must act in accordance with the trend and never go against it."

Upon hearing this, the Tianhu member was speechless.

Unfortunately, the Demon Realm can no longer withstand the ravages of war.

Guangli pretended to be deep in thought, and after a long while, she slowly said, "That makes sense. The Demon Realm is weak now, and when it is weak, it should act accordingly."

"This matter is of paramount importance to the nation, and it is only reasonable for the Demon Realm to adopt a humble stance."

"Face is not always important. What is important is that the creatures of the demon realm have laws to follow, things to do, houses to live in, and food to eat."

"Everyone, go and make preparations. When the Spirit Race and the Human Race arrive, we will go together to the Black Mountain to welcome our distinguished guests."

His Majesty made the decision, and everyone bowed and said, "As you command."

The somewhat heavy and solemn voice lingered in the Longde Hall for a long time.

……

Three days later, in the morning.

Within the human capital, gongs and drums resounded, firecrackers crackled, and crowds lined the streets to welcome the arrival of the spirit race envoy, Gu Cheng, who led his delegation into the capital's main gate amidst the support of the people.

The news that the two races had joined forces to mine resources in the demon realm had spread throughout their respective territories, marking the first major event since the alliance of the three races began.

Both ethnic groups were enthusiastic about the matter, but their opinions differed.

However, in general, it was nothing more than sorting out internal affairs and strengthening friendships, since it was difficult to mine resources that could be called rare and precious materials in the broken mountains and rivers of that demon realm.

Gu Cheng rode a top-grade war deer at the forefront, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting to the people on both sides of the street to show his friendliness. This lively scene was quite novel to Gu Cheng; so this was what it felt like to be a high-ranking official.

Before they knew it, the Spirit Clan delegation arrived at the main gate of the palace.

Outside the main gate, Princess Qianling and her entourage of civil and military officials had been waiting for a long time. Although she had met Gu Cheng once before, seeing him again stirred a slight ripple in her heart.

Gu Cheng, a powerful expert of the Wuji realm, possessed a handsome face and a youthful spirit that shone brightly in his azure eyes. It was no wonder that the young Princess Qianling would be captivated by such a man.

In fact, ever since Gu Cheng entered the city, countless human women have felt a subconscious attraction to him upon seeing his handsome face. However, they felt that Gu Cheng was above them all, and that they, as women standing on the ground, could only dream of him.

"Qianling greets Senior Gu Cheng! Senior, you are a man of great bearing. Meeting you today has truly broadened my horizons." Princess Qianling bowed slightly to Gu Cheng, who was gracefully approaching.

In terms of rank, Gu Cheng is below Qian Ling, but Gu Cheng is also the second sect master of Yi Xi Sect and a Wuji powerhouse.

This trip to the Demon Realm was almost entirely due to Gu Cheng's ability to maintain order, hence Qian Ling's extremely thoughtful gesture.

Seeing this, Gu Cheng quickly came to Qian Ling's side and helped her up, smiling gently, "Your Highness, please don't flatter me. It is truly an honor for me to have the opportunity to go to the Demon Realm with Your Highness."

As he spoke, Gu Cheng also gazed intently at Qian Ling's face. In terms of looks alone, she and Yuwen Jun were a perfect match. He wondered what the state of their relationship had become.

Inside Mengdu Prefecture, Gu Cheng heard many rumors about Yuwen Jun. Although they were all just baseless gossip, Gu Cheng did not believe that they were unfounded, nor did he believe that Yuwen Jun would only be devoted to Jing Peiyao.

It's understandable that men sometimes lose control and inadvertently indulge their feelings.

"Please come in, senior. My father has prepared a banquet at Jinhua Palace. Now that you're here, you must be sure to feast on our lavish meals," Qianling said, bowing slightly to Gu Cheng.

“Alright, Your Highness, don’t be modest. Let’s go to Jinhua Palace together.” Gu Cheng deliberately walked side by side with Qian Ling.

Subsequently, the large delegation entered the palace.

Gu Cheng also took a look at the surrounding architectural layout with great interest. It was indeed grand and magnificent, resplendent in gold and green, and had a majestic imperial presence.

"Where is Yuwen Jun? Why is he nowhere to be seen?" Gu Cheng asked in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Qianling replied with a hint of disdain, "He's at Jinhua Palace right now. Perhaps he feels it's beneath his status to stand at the city gate to welcome the delegation."

Gu Cheng smiled knowingly, sensing a hint of resentment in Qian Ling's words.

A young lady wouldn't harbor resentment towards a man for no reason; it seems Yuwen Jun's good fortune is indeed fraught with difficulties.

"It's alright, he is who he is. This time, it's you and me going to the Demon Realm together," Gu Cheng comforted softly.

As we walked, the sounds of ceremonial music gradually rose and then blossomed.

Inside Jinhua Palace, the banquet began with singing and dancing, creating an atmosphere of grand celebration.