Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Twelve-Character Trial! Immune to Hundred Poisons!

Xiao He respectfully looked at the Seventh Prince: "Your Seventh Highness, weren’t you and the Fifth Prince supposed to arrive together in two days?"

"What, Grand Tutor Xiao, is there something you can’t let me know?" The Seventh Prince smiled.

"This old minister did not mean that..." Xiao He explained anxiously.

"Heh, Grand Tutor Xiao, no need to be so nervous," the Seventh Prince seated himself at the desk and began leafing through the books atop it, "Fifth Brother will indeed arrive in two days, but I was bored, so I came ahead of time."

"Grand Tutor Xiao, how far has the Mountain Scripture interpretation progressed?"

The candlelight flickered over the Seventh Prince’s face, his question sounding casual.

"Reporting to Your Highness, we have reached page three hundred seventy-eight."

"Not bad. If Father and Eldest Brother find out, they will surely be delighted." The Seventh Prince absentmindedly leafed through the pages, as if he could truly understand them. "By the way, I have heard Grand Tutor Xiao discovered two promising youths with notable talent in the Mountain Scripture."

Xiao He, being the principal interpreter of the Mountain Scripture in Xirong County, naturally searched for talents gifted in Ancient Shell Script, just like Feng Yuan and others from Baiyuan County.

"Reporting to Your Highness, there are indeed two individuals. They have topped the provincial examination rankings in the county these past two years and happen to possess notable talent in the Mountain Scripture." Xiao He replied respectfully.

"Top scorers in the examination..." The Seventh Prince mused, "What official rank do they hold?"

"According to the Great Qin Dynasty’s examination rules, top scorers may directly be appointed as Senior Ninth Grade."

"Senior Ninth Grade? They haven’t been promoted?" asked the Seventh Prince.

"No, as both have been assisting this old minister in interpreting the Mountain Scripture, they have not performed any public merit, and thus cannot be elevated in rank."

The Mountain Scripture interpretation is kept secret; outsiders are unaware of it, so it does not count as official achievement.

The Seventh Prince nodded slightly, then asked again: "I heard that in Baiyuan County under Xirong, the County Magistrate, County Magistrate’s assistant, and Librarian jointly recommended a sixteen-year-old youth as a Standard Ninth-Grade Clerk. Is this true?"

Xiao He’s heart tensed; he could hear the implication—The Seventh Prince suspected a problem in the recommendation.

"Reporting, Your Highness, yes, it is true. The youth’s name is Chu Ming. He possesses exceedingly high talent in the Mountain Scripture, and the recommendation passed through this old minister."

The Seventh Prince maintained a calm expression: "Exceedingly high talent in the Mountain Scripture? Higher than the two top scorers you mentioned, Grand Tutor Xiao?"

He gently closed the Mountain Scripture. "The interpretation of the Mountain Scripture is of great importance. If the two are top scorers, their learning must not be weak..."

"In our Great Qin Dynasty, we employ only the truly talented, but nepotism cannot be tolerated either. Grand Tutor Xiao, why have I also heard that this Chu Ming has connections to the Blood Evil Sect?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Xiao He felt his heart sink suddenly; the Seventh Prince’s early arrival at Xirong County surely meant more than it seemed.

"Your Highness..." Xiao He organized his words, then respectfully said, "Chu Ming was originally the illegitimate son of a merchant family in Baiyuan County, abandoned over a year ago. That merchant had ties to the Blood Evil Sect, hence the Inspectorate suspects this child might also have such connections."

"Is that so." The Seventh Prince’s eyes flickered; he laughed softly, "Grand Tutor Xiao actually explains away an illegitimate son—seems this Chu Ming holds no small importance in Shen Yu’s heart."

"Your Highness..." Xiao He’s face changed dramatically, his aged visage turning ghastly pale at once, and he hastily knelt: "This old minister... Shen Yu..."

He had not expected the Seventh Prince to know so much.

"Grand Tutor Xiao, there’s no need," the Seventh Prince still wore a gentle smile, helping Xiao He up, "I merely heard about it."

Heard about it?

Although lifted up, Xiao He’s expression grew even more grim.

How could it just be hearsay? This prince had almost certainly investigated Shen Yu’s efforts to plead for Chu Ming in detail.

The candle flame danced; the autumn night breeze was slightly chilly.

Xiao He felt uneasy within, bowed and saluted: "Your Highness, I dare not conceal anything. The Inspectorate suspects Chu Ming is linked to the Blood Evil Sect. Shen Yu saw his talent and came to beseech me."

"Though Shen Yu can sometimes act rudely, this old minister believes he would not falsify matters as crucial as the Mountain Scripture interpretation."

"This old minister knows the importance of interpreting the Mountain Scripture, so I set up exam questions..."

"..."

Xiao He explained to the Seventh Prince how he had set ten Ancient Armor Script characters to test Chu Ming’s talent.

The Seventh Prince listened, pondered for a moment, then said, "Grand Tutor Xiao, why not let the two top scorers participate as well?"

"Your Highness..." Xiao He guessed what the Seventh Prince intended.

"The three of them all have notable talents in the Mountain Scripture. This prince feels we cannot let talent be wasted," the Seventh Prince said, opening the Mountain Scripture to the most recent page, glancing at the deciphered text besides, and inquired, "Grand Tutor Xiao, this page’s characters—you just deciphered them, correct?"

"Replying to Your Highness, this old minister has only just deciphered them."

The Seventh Prince nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping the lines, as though comparing and selecting.

After a few breaths, he pointed to two spots and said, "Please add these two characters to the test, Grand Tutor Xiao."

Characters?

"Imperial Book, those two words."

Imperial Book?

"Is Your Highness intending...?"

Imperial Book is an Eighth-Grade official title in the Great Qin Dynasty, mainly overseeing the compiling and classification of books, supervising county and provincial exams, etc. The Seventh Prince nodded, "If one has learning, how can one remain in the Ninth Grade? As it happens, I have a few available appointments by personal nomination."

"Grand Tutor Xiao, you originally chose ten Ancient Armor Script characters? Now add the two for Imperial Book. If any of the three can recognize eight—imperial book included—they shall be granted Standard Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar."

"Should that Chu Ming succeed, I shall personally visit the Inspectorate, review the case records, and clear his name."

Xiao He heard this, but his brow furrowed: "Your Highness, the Imperial Book characters in Ancient Armor Script are exceedingly complex—especially ’Imperial,’ which has nearly a hundred strokes. It took this old minister over half a month to deduce. They..."

"Grand Tutor Xiao needed half a month..." The Seventh Prince glanced at the Ancient Armor Script for ’Imperial,’ found it indeed quite intricate, and smiled, "Then let it be: recognizing seven characters earns the Imperial Secretariat; recognizing ’Imperial’ specifically earns Imperial Book."

The Imperial Secretariat’s duties are similar, but a step below Imperial Book, and is Junior Eighth-Grade.

...

Tiger Armor Army camp, before Chu Ming’s departure for Xirong County City.

"Chu Ming, when you arrive at Xirong County City, be sure to tread carefully and remain vigilant. Your strength is still lacking; once you break through to the Refining Organ Realm, you’ll have no fear of poisons."

Commander of the Tiger Armor Army, Xiang Yue, produced two items: a silver needle, and a pair of red gloves.

"This needle, called Silver Spirit Needle, has been soaked in hundreds of poisons, sharp and deceptive. It can be used as a hidden weapon, but also has another purpose—as a tool for testing toxins. Any poisonous substance touching this needle will turn its body black."

A Martial Artist below the Refining Organ Realm can resist common poisons, but if struck by a potent toxin, their life is still endangered.

Only on reaching the Refining Organ Realm can one disregard most worldly poisons.

Chu Ming was about to leave the Tiger Armor Army for Xirong County City, so Xiang Yue—unconvinced of his safety—brought out the needle.

"Thank you, Master."

Chu Ming respectfully received the Silver Spirit Needle.

A poison-soaked needle? Tool for testing toxins?

He had already nurtured two organs and two viscera, granting near-immunity to most poisons. With the Sword Gourd Spirit for minute observation, no toxin could escape his eyes.

But as a hidden weapon, the needle seemed quite apt.

"Mm." Xiang Yue then handed Chu Ming the crimson gloves. "These gloves are crafted from the scales and hide of the mutated Red Qilin beast. Red Qilin Gloves are even more valuable than the Star Silkworm Armor you gave Fang Xiao—keep them well."

The Star Silkworm Armor can withstand the full-force blow of a Martial Artist at Refining Organ Realm Perfection, while a Martial Artist at early Refining Organ Realm equipped with Red Qilin Gloves can break through Star Silkworm Armor—thus their worth is evident.