Xiao He remained indifferent, yet a hint of guilt lingered between his brows.

He walked to the hall, gestured for Shen Yu to sit down, and then spoke: "Chen Yi, Wang Wenmo, Chu Ming, you are all talents in deciphering the Mountain Scripture in Xirong County."

"Today, I’ve called you here for one matter," Xiao He said, taking out the pre-prepared Ancient Armor Script, "Here are twelve Ancient Armor Scripts and some radicals."

Twelve?!

Shen Yu’s eyes instantly focused, looking at Xiao He in shock and doubt.

Weren’t there supposed to be ten?

Xiao He ignored the question and continued: "You have half a time period to identify seven of these characters, and you’ll be promoted to Junior Eighth-Grade."

Junior Eighth-Grade?!

Chen Yi and Wang Wenmo were instantly overjoyed upon hearing this; they hadn’t known they would be deciphering Ancient Armor Scripts today, nor that they could be promoted.

Listening, Shen Yu’s face tensed, repeatedly wanting to inquire but holding back due to Xiao He’s gaze.

He couldn’t understand how the promise of recognizing ten characters had suddenly turned into a test for promotion.

Chu Ming slightly furrowed his brows; the test differed considerably from what Shen Yu had described. He wondered what the County Magistrate was planning.

"Start now." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Xiao He handed three pages to Chu Ming and the others, then walked expressionlessly out of the inner hall.

The matter of recognizing the ’Imperial’ character and being promoted to Senior Eighth-Grade was something he hadn’t intended to disclose, as he figured none of the three would likely identify it.

Seeing this, Shen Yu immediately followed him outside.

After a few steps, Shen Yu couldn’t help but speak: "Old Xiao, what are you planning?"

The questioning tone was clear in his voice.

Xiao He paused his steps, turned back to glance at the inner hall, and with a low and serious voice, pointed towards the pavilion ahead: "Over there."

Suppressing his anger, Shen Yu walked to the pavilion, his face tense: "Old Xiao, I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. You’re my close friend, Shen Yu, and Chu Ming is too. If anything happens to that boy, I, Shen Yu..."

He thought Xiao He’s last-minute change of the test contents was to shirk helping.

Xiao He sat down somewhat helplessly: "Old Shen, things have changed; it’s bad but might also be good."

"Good?" Shen Yu scowled, glaring: "What good? You called Chen Yi and Wang Wenmo, turned the test from ten characters to twelve, and even talked about promotion."

"You wish to promote others, I, Shen Yu, have no say, nor the right to interfere. But you promised, today’s test was set for Chu Ming; how could you change it at the whim?"

Shen Yu questioned urgently and angrily.

Xiao He sighed, admitting the abrupt change was indeed his doing, but it was unavoidable, unexpectedly the Seventh Prince would arrive early and get involved.

He took out a page from his chest, saying: "If Chu Ming shows exceptional talent by identifying seven characters, not only will he be promoted to Junior Eighth-Grade, I’ll personally investigate his ties with the Chu Family and the Blood Evil Sect."

"If Chu Ming recognizes this character, he’ll be elevated to Senior Eighth-Grade Imperial Scholar..."

"Show me the character!"

Shen Yu grabbed the page before Xiao He could finish speaking.

The page contained precisely twelve Ancient Armor Scripts, abstract and complex in form.

Among these twelve characters, he could barely recognize seven, two of which he wasn’t even sure about.

"Old Xiao!" Shen Yu’s anger flared: "You’re clearly not intending to help. Even I, Shen Yu, can only recognize seven or eight, Chu Ming has been studying the Mountain Scripture for less than a month, how could he recognize seven?"

Fuming, he raised the page, pointing at the most complex Ancient Armor Script: "Especially this character, roughly a hundred strokes, complex and convoluted. What’s the meaning of selecting it?"

Xiao He glanced at the character, a subtle change in expression; it was the ’Imperial’ character chosen by the Seventh Prince.

"This character..." He wanted to explain.

"Don’t say you didn’t select it!"

"..." Xiao He showed a difficult expression.

"What’s that expression? In Xirong County, who else can dictate you, Lord County Governor?!"

Xiao He remained silent.

"Hmm?" Shen Yu’s eyes lit up, suddenly realizing what’s amiss. He recalled Xiao He mentioning the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince arriving in Xirong County in a few days.

"Grand Tutor Xiao."

In the delicate atmosphere, a voice sounded in the pavilion.

Upon hearing it, Shen Yu’s expression changed drastically, swiftly turning his head.

He saw a person dressed in golden robes steadily walking in.

"Your Seventh Highness." Xiao He urgently pulled Shen Yu for a bow.

Shen Yu hesitated for a moment, then, considering Chu Ming’s matter, bent down.

The Seventh Prince looked at them calmly, his brows slightly curious: "Shen Yu, even during your time in prison, you didn’t bow down. Today, it’s indeed..."

"That young man named Chu Ming is truly remarkable."

The Seventh Prince recognized that Shen Yu, a man of strange temperament, bowed for that young man called Chu Ming.

"Your Highness..." Shen Yu’s lips moved a few times, mustering the courage to speak: "Chu Ming has no ties with the Blood Evil Sect, I beg Your Highness to intervene for him."

"Your Highness?" The Seventh Prince chuckled softly: "It’s been a long time since I’ve heard Mr. Shen call me that."

"Your Highness, Chu Ming’s gift in Mountain Scripture exceeds even mine..."

"A high gift does not directly relate to motives of treason." The Seventh Prince calmly stated: "With motives of treason, the higher the gift, the greater the danger."

Xiao He’s expression changed upon hearing, but he dared not interrupt.

Shen Yu was even more incensed, nearly bursting into curses, but eventually held back.

He looked at Xiao He, then the Seventh Prince, like an elderly man struck down, powerless, kneeling:

"If Your Highness holds a grudge against me for the past, I, Shen Yu, will bear it alone. Even if Your Highness seeks my life, I wouldn’t flinch. I only ask Your Highness to grant fair judgment for Chu Ming."

The breeze brushed, lifted Shen Yu’s white hair high, and raised the Seventh Prince’s golden robe, mocking like.

Xiao He knelt immediately: "Your Highness, Shen Yu meant no offense..."

To think Shen Yu incurred a death sentence back then without bowing, yet now for Chu Ming, he actually knelt...

The Seventh Prince gazed at the two kneeling old ministers, his eyes gleamed.

He had arrived in Xirong County ahead of schedule, not just due to boredom on the way, but to win over the old minister Xiao He.

"Grand Tutor Xiao, rise."

The Seventh Prince helped Xiao He up and focused on the kneeling Shen Yu, maintaining his indifferent tone: "Grand Tutor Xiao has already mentioned, as long as Chu Ming identifies seven characters, the treason case will be re-investigated."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief seeing the Seventh Prince hadn’t intended to harm Shen Yu.

"Shen Yu, thank Your Highness quickly."

Shen Yu remained kneeling, forehead touching the ground, silent, clearly dissatisfied with the Seventh Prince’s words.

The Seventh Prince’s statements, hardly said anything, still intending to investigate Chu Ming.

Moreover, Shen Yu feared, due to his past insults towards the Seventh Prince, he held resentment, seizing the chance to trouble him and Chu Ming.

Seeing the old man refusing to rise, the Seventh Prince looked beside at the concerned Xiao He, his lips forming a faint smile.

He actually had little interest in Chu Ming; the reason for increasing the test’s difficulty and suggesting promotion rewards was to bestow favors on the former Grand Tutor, now County Magistrate of Xirong, Xiao He.

Thus, he could truly bring Xiao He over to his side.