“They’re all hopelessly untalented. Up until now, not a single one has reached the Grandmaster realm,” Oliver Sheng shook his head.
Sawyer Shangguan didn’t dare to argue, nor did he dare to say anything.
The truth was, martial arts cultivation required years of effort, and progress was difficult.
Unless one was an unparalleled prodigy, advancing to each new realm required a significant amount of time and accumulation.
Trailing half a step behind, Xiao Chuyi couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
At twenty years old, she had already reached the Prenatal Realm, which was quite impressive.
Arriving outside the palace gates, they left their horses and walked into the imperial palace.
At this moment, many courtiers had also arrived at the palace to attend the morning court.
Upon seeing Oliver Sheng and his companions, Qian Cheng quickly walked over. “General Sheng, Deputy Minister Chen.”
“Minister Qian!” Oliver Sheng and Riley Chen greeted with clasped fists.
“Such spirit, youthful vigor, and noble bearing,” Qian Cheng remarked, looking at Oliver Sheng.
Just then, another courtier approached.
“Old Qian, this must be General Sheng. Indeed, he exudes youthful vigor and noble bearing,” Gavin Wang said with a smile.
“Haha, Old Wang, you’re right. This is General Sheng!”
“General Sheng, this is Minister Wang from the Ministry of War,” Qian Cheng introduced.
“Greetings, Minister Wang,” Oliver Sheng greeted with a smile.
Now, he was beginning to interact with the important ministers of Great Wei.
“Haha, General Sheng, let’s go. We’ll head to the morning court together,” Gavin Wang said with a laugh.
“Alright, I’ll trouble you gentlemen to lead the way,” Oliver Sheng replied.
Along the way, many courtiers, upon seeing the unfamiliar face of Oliver Sheng, could basically guess his identity.
Many offered friendly smiles.
Oliver Sheng responded with smiles of his own. After all, when someone smiles at you, you can’t respond with a slap.
They arrived at Chaotian Hall, the place for the morning court.
“General Sheng, go ahead. You should stand at the front,” Qian Cheng instructed Oliver Sheng.
Currently, most of the military generals were out leading troops in battle. Apart from a few generals guarding the capital, there were very few military officials in the court.
“General Sheng, you should stand in front of those generals,” Qian Cheng said.
Those generals also offered friendly smiles to Oliver Sheng.
Leading the army to reclaim River West County, Oliver Sheng had brought honor to the military. Moreover, he was about to be conferred the title of Marquis, with military merits and rank surpassing theirs.
Following Qian Cheng’s instructions, Oliver Sheng walked to the front of the generals. He was unfamiliar with the court and had no idea where to stand, so he relied entirely on Qian Cheng, the Minister of Rites.
This must have been instructed by the Empress as well!
“General Sheng!”
“General Sheng!”
The generals greeted Oliver Sheng one after another.
“Mm!” Oliver Sheng nodded and smiled in response, as he didn’t know any of them.
Sawyer Shangguan and Xiao Chuyi stood behind the generals. Both were only Sixth Rank Assistant Generals in the Prenatal Realm and were able to attend the court because of their battle achievements and Oliver Sheng’s influence.
The court was mostly filled with civil officials, led by Left Minister Quentin Fu. Quentin Fu looked over with a smiling nod.
The saying goes, when you are successful, everyone around you is a good person.
This was the most accurate portrayal!
At this moment, who in the court would dare to harbor any dissatisfaction or hostility towards Oliver Sheng?
Even if there were any, they would have to hide it and maintain a smiling face.
A Grandmaster Marquis of supreme status would suppress any dissenting voices.
Oliver Sheng glanced around. Chaotian Hall was built with grandeur and solemnity. Every pillar in the hall was adorned with golden dragon patterns, and the Nine-Dragon Throne symbolized imperial power.
Once all the courtiers had arrived, Empress Hazel Han slowly walked out from behind Chaotian Hall.
Dressed in a red dragon robe and wearing a phoenix hairpin, her stunning beauty combined with the dragon robe exuded unmatched elegance and dominance.
Following behind her, Old Eunuch Wei announced in a high-pitched voice.
“His Majesty arrives!!”
“Long live His Majesty!” The courtiers bowed and saluted.
“Rise, my beloved secretaries,” the Empress said as she sat on the dragon throne.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Then Old Eunuch Wei announced in his high-pitched voice, “If there are matters to report, present them now. If not, the court is adjourned.”
It seemed to be a routine for every court session.
Just like a teacher calling for the start of class and the class monitor shouting for everyone to stand.
“Your Majesty, General Oliver Sheng led the army to strike down the Barbarians, reclaiming our Great Wei’s territory and enhancing our nation’s prestige…” Qian Cheng was the first to step forward, delivering a lengthy speech that praised Oliver Sheng to the heavens.
Standing at the forefront of the generals, Oliver Sheng felt his face flush with embarrassment. The praise was so excessive that he felt a bit shy.
“Today, I request Your Majesty to confer titles upon the meritorious soldiers of Great Wei, to announce it to the world, so that all brave warriors and the millions of soldiers at the borders will take it as an example, strive to kill the enemy, enhance our nation’s prestige, and serve Great Wei!” Qian Cheng’s voice echoed through Chaotian Hall.
“What do you all think?” The Empress asked the courtiers.
“We have no objections!” The courtiers responded in unison.
Could they have any objections? Conferring titles upon Oliver Sheng and others was just a matter of the Emperor’s word. They had no reason to oppose it.
In such a situation, anyone who dared to object would be a fool and unworthy of standing there.
“Very well, General Sheng, step forward to receive your title!” The Empress declared loudly.
Oliver Sheng immediately stepped forward.
Old Eunuch Wei produced the prepared imperial edict: “By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Loyal and virtuous Oliver Sheng…”
Another lengthy speech of praise followed!
“Today, General Oliver Sheng is conferred the title of Champion Marquis, Second Rank Grand General of the West, granted the Kylin Marquis Robe, a golden jade belt, a marquis’ residence, ten thousand taels of gold, and a thousand households of land, to demonstrate the Emperor’s boundless grace. So decreed!”
Though he had been prepared, Oliver Sheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. To be conferred as a marquis and a general, reaching the pinnacle of nobility—what man hadn’t dreamed of such glory?
Old Eunuch Wei handed down the imperial edict: “General Sheng, receive the decree!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Oliver Sheng accepted the edict.
At the same time, several palace maids brought over a set of marquis’ attire and a golden jade belt on jade trays.
With a wave of his hand, Oliver Sheng stored them in his spatial ring. It wasn’t appropriate to change into the Kylin Marquis Robe right then and there.
Countless courtiers looked at Oliver Sheng with envy. This was the conferral of the Champion Marquis title, along with the Kylin Marquis Robe.
This signified that Oliver Sheng was now among the top-tier marquises, with an incredibly noble status.
Even the highest-ranking ministers in Great Wei couldn’t be conferred a marquis title.
In Great Wei, titles were conferred based on military merit.
Then, Old Eunuch Wei produced another imperial edict.
“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees:…”
“Xiao Batian is conferred the title of Viscount of Ruyang County, Grand General of the West!”
“Sawyer Shangguan is conferred the title of Viscount of Wu County, General of the Broken Barbarians!”
“Wesley Hu is conferred the title of Viscount of Yuan County, General of the Broken Barbarians!”
“Cameron Guo is conferred the title of Viscount of Guo County, General of the Broken Barbarians.”
“Felix Wu is conferred the title of Viscount of River West County, General of the Broken Barbarians!”
“Harrison Zhou is conferred the title of Viscount of He County, General of the Broken Barbarians!”
“Lin Jiang is conferred the title of Viscount of Suiyuan County, General of the Broken Barbarians!”
All seven of Oliver Sheng’s subordinate generals were conferred the title of Viscount and appointed as Imperial Generals.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Xiao Chuyi and Sawyer Shangguan stepped forward to express their gratitude.
When Sawyer Shangguan received the edict, his hands were trembling.
Now that he had been conferred the title of Viscount, he could completely break free from the Shangguan family. He never expected to be conferred a viscount title.
Currently, titles in Great Wei were extremely precious.
The head of the Shangguan family, who served as the Deputy Minister of the Supreme Court, looked at Sawyer Shangguan with a complex expression.
He was pleased that someone from the Shangguan family had been conferred a title, but also felt regret that it wasn’t a direct descendant of the family.
Xiao Chuyi, on the other hand, showed little expression. Being conferred a viscount title was just a step; her dream was to be conferred a marquis, like her father and grandfather.
Oliver Sheng accepted the edicts on behalf of Wesley Hu, Cameron Guo, and the others.
“I hope General Sheng will guard our Great Wei’s borders and protect the peace of our people,” Empress Hazel Han said.
“I will not fail Your Majesty’s expectations!” Oliver Sheng replied.
The Empress nodded. Perhaps next time, he would be conferred the title of Martial King.
“Do any of you have other matters to report?” After the conferral, Empress Hazel Han began to handle state affairs.
“Your Majesty, I have important matters to report…”
A courtier stepped forward to present his report, but these matters had nothing to do with Oliver Sheng and his companions.
After the court session, the news of Oliver Sheng being conferred the title of Champion Marquis and granted the Kylin Marquis Robe quickly spread throughout Luo Capital and soon across the entire Great Wei.
The conferral of a marquis title had to be announced to the world, so that the people of the thirty-six provinces would know that Great Wei had a new marquis.
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