In the year 333 of the Tianyuan Calendar, the State of Shu Yun, a vassal of the Tianyuan Empire, launched a Western Expedition War after its borders were harassed by the armies of the Hu Nation, swiftly conquering the Hu capital. Ultimately, the Hu ruler was forced to cede territory, with half of the entire Hu Nation’s lands falling under the dominion of Shu Yun…
This war stunned the entire Eastern Continent. What puzzled most people was the astonishing silence maintained by the mighty Tianyuan Empire throughout the entire campaign…
The States of Jiang, Tian Lan, and Chen, located west of the Tiangang Mountain Range, watched with deepening anxiety…
Though these states were larger than Shu Yun, they were situated near the fringes of the great desert, sparsely populated, and their national strength could not compare with Shu Yun’s. For years, the mere threat of the Tianyuan Empire had kept Shu Yun in check, maintaining a period of uneasy peace. But now, with Shu Yun’s war against the Hu Nation, the Empire’s utter lack of response forced these minor states to reconsider the imperial stance and anxiously contemplate whether Shu Yun might soon turn its sights toward them…
Following this victory, the name Xiao Geng immediately became known across the Eastern Continent. With an army of only fifty thousand, he had forced the Hu armies into continuous retreat, leaving them utterly incapable of mounting a defense—truly living up to his lineage as the son of a renowned general…
Yet, the greater buzz surrounded the newly emerged Iron Army General, Ye Jingyu. With barely more than ten thousand men, he had utterly annihilated the Hu Nation’s most elite fighting force, the Mastiff Lion Battle Regiment. It was precisely the annihilation of the Mastiff Lion Regiment that provided Xiao Geng with his greatest operational advantage…
After the war, the ruler of Shu Yun, Luo Xiaofeng, personally bestowed honors upon the two young generals…
Xiao Geng was promoted to Grand General. As a commander ruling over a vast territory, there was effectively no higher military rank to attain, but his noble title was elevated from Count to Marquis…
A Marquis commanding an army was unprecedented in the history of Shu Yun…
This elevation clearly demonstrated Luo Xiaofeng’s profound trust in Xiao Geng. For a small state like Shu Yun, even though the ruler was styled a King, his actual power was far inferior to that of a Prince of the Tianyuan Empire, being comparable only to a Great Duke. Thus, Marquis represented the apex of nobility, a rank beyond which further advancement was impossible—any higher would place him on par with the sovereign himself.
How could he possibly continue leading armies into battle? If he achieved further merit, how could such achievements even be rewarded?
Consider the Marquis of White Cloud, Qin Yan, who was directly ennobled as a Marquis but held no actual military or governmental authority. Beyond his elevated status, his practical influence was less than that of an average court official…
Only a subject deeply trusted by His Majesty, like Xiao Geng, could become the first Marquis to be granted substantial military authority once more…
Of course, Ye Jingyu’s achievement in eliminating the Mastiff Lion Battle Regiment was no less significant than Xiao Geng’s, but since it was his sole major feat thus far, a direct elevation to Marquis was impossible. He was ultimately granted the title of Chivalrous and Valiant Baron…
King, Duke, Marquis, Count, Baron…
Although the lowest of the noble ranks, he was a nobleman nonetheless, and importantly, one bearing a bestowed epithet…
This carried a distinctly different implication. Typically, only those achieving the rank of Count or higher were granted such grand titles. The fact that Ye Jingyu, still a mere Baron, was bestowed with the sacred epithet of 'Chivalrous and Valiant,' signaled that the ruler reserved even higher honors for him—at least Earl or Marquis—awaiting only the accumulation of further military glory…
This, too, demonstrated His Majesty the King’s expectations of him…
This war against the Hu Nation belonged to the younger generation. Xiao Geng and Ye Jingyu instantly became heroes in the eyes of the people of Shu Yun…
The residence of the Grand General of State was currently a scene of bustling activity. High officials and nobles from Yun Jing flocked there to celebrate Ye Jingyu’s promotion. Some came in person; others sent gifts. No one dared to underestimate this young man who held such high expectations from His Majesty…
Ye Jingyu, clad in a robe of white silk, personally stood at the main gate, greeting the stream of arriving guests. Having been in Yun Jing for only a few months, he possessed no established foundation; these people were allies he absolutely could not afford to offend. Moreover, Ye Jingyu understood that building his own faction would be impossible without their goodwill…
The Elder Young Master, Second Young Master, and the other Young Masters did not come personally, though they dispatched envoys bearing congratulatory gifts. For a commoner to rise to the rank of Baron and yet receive offerings from the Young Masters—Ye Jingyu was likely the first in Shu Yun’s history to achieve this…
Ye Jingyu was unsurprised by the gifts from the Elder Young Master and the others. While his sudden prominence had thoroughly disrupted their established order, he was, superficially, the State of Shu Yun’s great benefactor. As the Young Masters of Shu Yun, likely contenders for the next throne, they had no choice but to show respect to worthy men…
At least, superficial courtesies had to be observed, didn’t they?
Of course, the Third Young Master, despite his closeness with Ye Jingyu, possessed too high a status to attend in person; it would be inappropriate both formally and socially. Luo Ling’er, though deeply wishing to meet Ye Jingyu, could not leave the palace without the express command of Luo Xiaofeng…
Due to these factors, though many people arrived to celebrate that day, not a single one was an acquaintance of Ye Jingyu…
Fortunately, the Third Young Master had foreseen this and sent his personal attendant, Xiao Muzi, to act as a guide, introducing this person and that, thereby saving Ye Jingyu from an awkward situation…
Just then, down the other end of the street, the sound of galloping hooves echoed. Ye Jingyu, standing at the entrance with his facial muscles growing stiff, turned his head to see a luxurious carriage drawn by eight fine steeds approaching…
“Eunuch Mu, whose carriage is that?” Ye Jingyu asked the attendant beside him, Xiao Muzi…
“Judging by its specifications, it must belong to a noble, perhaps a very high-ranking one. Yet, it bears no family crest. I am truly uncertain, Young Master Ye. But since it is heading this way, you will soon know, won’t you?” Xiao Muzi’s face, fine and tenderly fair, also showed a flicker of confusion…
At that moment, the carriage arrived before the gates of the General of State’s residence. The driver leaped down, retrieved a portable step-stool meant for esteemed personages, placed it gently on the ground, and then respectfully called toward the carriage’s interior: “Little Marquis, we have arrived…”
Little Marquis? Ye Jingyu blinked. He was only a Baron; which Marquis would personally send an escort?
While he was still lost in thought, the carriage’s curtain was drawn aside, and Qin Yunxiao, clad in a white brocade robe embroidered with scattered white clouds, emerged from within the carriage…
Following closely behind him was a lovely maiden, Qin Yuting, wearing a light celadon gauze skirt, her face as delicate as a pear blossom…
Upon seeing the pair, the rigid expression on Ye Jingyu’s face instantly transformed into one of utter astonishment…
In truth, he would hardly be surprised by anyone else arriving in Yun Jing, but for them to appear—how could he possibly comprehend this?