Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 161 The Unrestricted Scholar Ma!
Rongyuan Infant Home.

Chen Shunan did not disturb the couple in charge, and quietly entered the courtyard to observe the surroundings.

In the courtyard, a dozen or so strong young men were practicing standing meditation and honing their qi and blood under the guidance of an instructor hired by the Li family.

Scattered on the ground are stone locks of various sizes, and sandbags are hanging from the plum blossom stakes around the perimeter. The weapon rack is fully equipped with basic weapons such as knives, spears, swords, and halberds.

Not far away, there were even several fine horses galloping around the training ground, which was decorated with red bullseye targets.

These teenagers, after a period of nourishing food and martial arts training, are not considered physically strong.
But his spirit and energy have undergone a complete transformation from his usual weak and monstrous appearance.

A strong young man bent over, held a 500-pound stone lock in his arms, as steady as Mount Tai, and threw it over ten feet away.

A fair-skinned young girl, with her bow drawn and arrow nocked, glanced to the side and the arrow, like a white rainbow streaking across the sun, struck the bullseye of the target dozens of paces away.

"Big Brother Biao is incredibly strong! Is this what they call innate superhuman strength? Looks like he's almost at the level of mastering internal energy and becoming a mid-level martial artist, right?"

"Sister Xiaohua is so talented! Even hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces is no better than this. She's a true archer!"

Rongyuan Infant Home still has some hidden gems.

For example, Niu Dabiao and Du Xiaohua.

Chen Shunan did not disturb the group of teenagers practicing martial arts. He walked a few steps quickly and arrived at the Bamboo Hut Schoolhouse.

The sound of reading aloud drifted out weakly.

Scholar Ma, holding a ruler and dressed in coarse cloth clothes that were exceptionally clean, was blowing his nose, glaring, and cursing loudly.

"Utterly foolish, a piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved!"

"If you can't even remember the simplest 'Thousand Character Classic,' how can you expect to pass the imperial examinations and become a student?"

"A Record of Praising Chen Shun'an's Meritorious Deeds in Repairing Houses and Caring for Orphans? What kind of article is this? It's utter nonsense! At such a young age, it's full of flattery and sycophancy. It's simply... simply... simply infuriating to Ma!!"

As soon as Chen Shunan stepped outside the hall, he heard Ma Xiucai spouting classical Chinese phrases and making a sharp critique of a certain mischievous boy's record of merits written for him.

He couldn't help but shrink back, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

As Ma Xiucai was cursing, he seemed to notice something, looked up, and saw Chen Shunan's embarrassed look.

As he walked out of the schoolhouse, Ma Xiucai's expression softened. He dusted off his shoulders and bowed solemnly to Chen Shunan.

Chen Shunan was somewhat flattered and quickly helped Ma Xiucai up.

“Scholar Ma, why go to such lengths? I, Chen, am not worthy of such praise.”

“I bow to you to acknowledge your merits in repairing houses, caring for orphans, and teaching these orphans martial arts and calligraphy. If you cannot accept this, then no one in the world can.”

"Scholar Ma, you flatter me. I am not some selfless philanthropist. I also have my own demands and plans."

"A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions. Even sages have desires, let alone ordinary people?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shunan shook his head, not mentioning it again, and instead asked,
"Scholar Ma, how many students can understand your teachings and aspire to pass the imperial examinations?"

Chen Shunan did indeed have his own selfish motives.

Now that he knew the secrets of the imperial examination system in the Holy Dynasty, he wanted to use the orphans in Rongyuan Orphanage as a testing ground to see if anyone could also take the imperial examination and enter officialdom, thus taking the exam for him.

Support your trusted confidants, advance into the imperial court, and see what kind of people those officials at the end of the imperial examination system really are.

To everyone's surprise, upon hearing this, Scholar Ma wore an expression of utter disappointment and said,
"Not a single one!"

"They're all blockheads, stubborn and inflexible!"

Chen Shunan felt a little embarrassed and coughed.

Is it possible that they are not simply too dull-witted?

Rather, it's because the Four Books and Five Classics you taught were too obscure and beyond the scope of the curriculum.

Moreover, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Chen Shunan is indeed the blockhead that Ma Xiucai described.

After all, even Chen Shun'an today has many questions about the Taoist scriptures and martial arts strategies that Ma Xiucai talked about.

Not to mention these illiterate orphans from humble backgrounds.

"Those who wish to enter officialdom through the civil service examination in the Holy Dynasty are truly one in ten thousand, and must possess some special talent."

Chen Shunan looked regretful.

"However, there was a baby girl who was quite strange. She cried incessantly on ordinary days, but as soon as she heard Mr. Ma teaching and reciting scriptures, she would stop crying and become well-behaved, lying in the bamboo basket. She would even forget to eat and sleep and not feel hungry or thirsty."

As Ma Xiucai was speaking, he walked back to the school.

Then, surprisingly, they brought out a baby girl still in swaddling clothes.

With her red lips and white teeth, and eyes like precious pearls, as if two black pearls were floating in white mercury, she could make anyone feel tenderness at first glance.

It was that baby girl who was abandoned in the closet that day, whose parents were originally loyal and virtuous, but whose family was destroyed by the Fragrant Heart Cleansing Ointment.

Chen Shunan was somewhat amused and exasperated, saying, "Could this baby girl be some kind of divine reincarnation who has broken free from the mysteries of the womb? She can even understand your teachings and chanting?"

"How do we know? Maybe he's the reincarnation of the God of Literature!"

Scholar Ma had no children of his own and had been living with his ugly wife for many years. Now, he treated this baby girl with the same tenderness and affection as if she were his own.

"correct."

As if remembering something, Scholar Ma placed the baby girl back in the school. His brows furrowed, and he appeared deep in thought. He took out a guarantee from his robes and said...
“Brother Shun’an, you might as well give me some advice. A few days ago, for some unknown reason, Magistrate Wang suddenly recommended me to serve as the ‘Qianning Envoy’ in the Four Translation Bureau, in charge of all reception, accommodation, daily life and translation during the visit of the Qianning Kingdom to the Emperor.”

He even said he would recommend me to study at the Yueshan Taoist Academy so that I could become his advisor someday.

Chen Shunan was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Isn't this a good thing? No, how does Magistrate Wang value you so much?"

Chen Shunan never expected such a coincidence. He became the manager of Wohujing.

Ma Xiucai also became the 'Qianning Envoy'.

Although he was a lowly envoy who wielded power like a chicken feather, at the crucial moment of the Qianning Mission's visit to the Emperor, he truly acted like he was stepping on an electric shock circuit—shaking around again.

It's even more effective than the words of many officials in the capital!

"It's a long story."

Scholar Ma looked around, and seeing that no one was nearby, took out a translated imperial edict and lowered his voice, saying...

“Two months ago, I altered the imperial edict. For some reason, Magistrate Wang also went through it and read my translation. He praised it highly, saying it was amazing, and that's why he vouched for me and promoted me.”

Chen Shunan took the imperial edict and quickly realized something was wrong.

The imperial edict translated by Ma Xiucai surprisingly contained a message from the ruler of Qianning Kingdom advising the emperor to order the destruction of the Fragrant Heart Cleansing Ointment.

Chen Shunan stared at Ma Xiucai in astonishment, as if he had seen a ghost, and said,
"How dare you tamper with the imperial records? Do you know that the Fragrant Heart Cleansing Balm and Hibiscus Ointment were smuggled from the Qianning Kingdom!"

"I didn't know before, but I do now!"

Scholar Ma slapped his thigh, wringing his hands and stamping his feet, his face full of regret.

"My classmate Shen Mochuan discovered that I had altered the imperial edict and tried to retrieve it! But it was too late; the translated edict had already been sent to the palace and presented to the emperor!"

Scholar Ma looked utterly dejected and said,

"Ma is doomed. And his death will be utterly pointless, a self-inflicted wound! He might even become a tool for some people with ulterior motives..."

It's no secret that the Qianning Kingdom smuggled hibiscus oil.

Many officials are probably already aware of this.

Strangely, from top to bottom, including officials like Magistrate Wang of the Fourth Translation Bureau, everyone seemed to have overlooked the altered content of the imperial edict.

They allowed him to be sent to the palace so that he could see the emperor.

Ma Xiucai wasn't stupid; he guessed that his rash action might have produced some unforeseen consequences.

Chen Shunan listened for a while, his thoughts racing, and then said...

"So, Scholar Ma, what are your intentions now?"

"I do not know."

Scholar Ma shook his head and said, "The title of Qianning Envoy has already been bestowed upon me, and I can't take it off."

"However, I will absolutely not go on that recommendation to study at Yueshan Taoist Academy and become a staff member of Magistrate Wang."

At this point, a barely perceptible hint of disgust flashed across Ma Xiucai's eyes, and he said coldly,

"Political positions are obtained through bribery. Magistrate Wang sells official posts and accepts bribes in his daily life. He is a corrupt official! Before my father passed away, he warned me to be an honest and upright person. How could I possibly go along with such corruption!"

"I wouldn't even be an official who donates money, let alone be his advisor!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shunan nodded, already having made up his mind, and said...
"This 'Qianning envoy' is probably just a scapegoat. Qianning's visit to the emperor is clearly a plot, and it's possible that the two countries will become completely hostile in the future, or even go to war."

Therefore, this 'Qianning Envoy' was the primary candidate to be used for the flag-raising ceremony.

Chen Shunan's words were sharp, frank, and to the point.

Upon hearing this, Scholar Ma turned deathly pale.

Ma Xiucai was not afraid of death, but he feared that his death would be meaningless and as insignificant as a feather.

However, Chen Shunan also had some doubts in his heart.

Since Ma Xiucai had been discarded, why did Magistrate Wang still recommend him to study at Yueshan Taoist Temple and recruit him as a staff member?
Shouldn't we cut ties and clarify our relationship in time?
Why are you taking the blame upon yourself?
At this moment, Ma Xiucai could not help but feel grief and said, "It is fine to use me as a sacrifice, but all my knowledge and skills, which I have acquired over the years, have no place to be used. It is a pity and a lament."

"It even dragged my wife down with me. She suffered with me her whole life, and in the end, she was implicated as well."

“It’s not that bad, there might still be a chance,” Chen Shunan suddenly said.

Scholar Ma wiped away his tears and looked on in bewilderment.

Chen Shunan said in a deep voice: "The importance of being an envoy is greater than that of being an official. You, the Qianning envoy, are a hot potato precisely because no one dares to harm or make things difficult for you before the Qianning delegation enters the capital and the two countries completely turn against each other."

“You mean…” Ma Xiucai seemed to understand.

Chen Shunan nodded and said, "It's nothing more than a fox borrowing the tiger's power, taking a chicken feather as an imperial edict! Before the Grand Canal freezes over this year, Brother Ma can act with impunity and run rampant in the capital!"

The Qianning Mission will arrive in the capital no later than the end of this year, before the Grand Canal freezes over.

It will most likely stop at Bannojin Ferry in Wuqing County and disembark.

During this period, Ma Xiucai was practically immune to death; anyone who dared to stop him would die along with him!

……

Leaving Rongyuan Orphanage.

Chen Shunan took Niu Dabiao and Du Xiaohua away.

Now that Wohujing is in dire need of reconstruction and there is a vacancy, he can conveniently place his trusted confidants there.

Before leaving, Manager Zhou Daquan was still a little worried, rubbing his hands together and asking in a low voice,
“Mr. Chen, these two children are not well-known. Sending them to work in your esteemed Inoue is hardly a favor, and it won’t sound good if word gets out.”

Chen Shunan waved and laughed, completely unconcerned.

"Nepotism? I'm promoting the virtuous without regard to kinship!"

(End of this chapter)