When the first golden ray of sunlight pierced through the thin morning mist, spilling onto the blue tiles of Xu Qing's estate, his eyes were already open.

Last night, he had slept deeply. There were no dreams of those towering piles of account books, none of the Yongchang Marquis's sinister gaze, nor any of the blades and shadows lurking in the darkness. He had simply sunk into a profound, undisturbed slumber.

Outside the window, early-rising birds chirped and twittered among the branches. The cool autumn breeze slipped through the window lattice, carrying with it a crispness unique to deep fall.

Xu Qing slowly sat up from his bed. He took a deep breath of the morning air, feeling as though the stagnant haze that had clogged his chest for five years had been completely washed away by this single breath of freshness.

He threw off the covers and got up.

Without calling for a servant to attend to him, he walked personally to the bronze basin, soaked a towel in cold water, and carefully wiped his face. The icy water stung his skin, shocking him into full alertness.

After washing up, he walked to the clothes rack and took down the set of green official robes—starched crisp and spotless, not a speck of dust clinging to them.

Just before putting them on, his movements paused slightly.

He reached his hand into the inner layer of his undergarment. His fingertips touched something warm and slightly cool, a hard object.

It was the jade pendant of the Cloud Hidden Sect that Su Ming had left him last night.

Through the thin fabric, Xu Qing gently traced the outline of the pendant, confirming that it was still securely placed against his skin.

This jade pendant was not just a life-saving trump card; it was also the last remaining link between him and Su Ming in this lifetime. As long as this pendant was here, he knew that somewhere in this world, beyond the clouds he could never reach, his brother was still walking his own path.

This knowledge gave Xu Qing an unprecedented sense of peace.

He changed into his official robes, donned his black gauze cap, tidied his appearance, and pushed open the door.

Sunlight poured onto him without reservation.

Xu Qing stepped out of his estate. Outside, a sedan chair was already waiting. But today, he waved his hand, signaling the bearers to withdraw. He decided to walk to the imperial city.

The capital's streets in the early morning were already stirring.

Shops on both sides were taking down their shutters one by one. Small breakfast stalls billowed steam into the air. The air mingled the aroma of steamed meat buns, the sweetness of soy milk, and the greetings of people exchanging pleasantries.

It was a painting filled with the smoky, vibrant scenes of everyday life—the first such picture Xu Qing had taken the time to appreciate in five years.

"Lord Xu!"

Someone in the crowd recognized him and suddenly called out loudly.

That shout was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

The once-bustling street, after a brief silence, erupted into chaos!

"It's Vice Minister Xu! It's the Xu who's above corruption, the one who brought down that treasonous old dog!"

"Lord Xu, thank you for seeking justice for our children who died in the Northern Frontier!"

An elderly woman selling steamed buns, her eyes red-rimmed, rushed out from behind her stall. Ignoring the mud on the ground, she dropped to her knees with a thud in front of Xu Qing, holding up two steaming-hot meat buns.

"Lord Xu, my eldest son died at Wind Crossing Ferry. I kowtow to you! You are a Living Bodhisattva!"

As she spoke, she was about to slam her forehead heavily against the bluestone slab.

Not just the old woman, but the surrounding citizens—peddlers, laborers, and scholar-officials alike—all stopped in their tracks at that moment. Some knelt and kowtowed, others bowed deeply, their eyes filled with the purest, most sincere gratitude and reverence.

Xu Qing's reflexes were sharp. He caught the old woman's arm, steadying her firmly as he helped her up.

He did not disdain the flour and grease stains on her hands, nor did he put on any lofty, condescending official airs.

He looked at the commoners bowing to him all around, took a deep breath, clasped his hands together, and solemnly returned the gesture.

"Good people, please rise quickly. You flatter me."

Xu Qing's voice was not loud, but it reached every ear clearly.

"I am an official who eats from the sovereign's bounty and bears the nation's responsibilities. Rooting out traitors is simply my duty. The ones who truly bled and sacrificed for the country are the soldiers garrisoning the Northern Frontier. This realm is His Majesty's realm, but it is also yours. As long as I hold office in this court, I will never allow anyone to drink the blood of our soldiers again!"

His words were neither boastful nor falsely humble—they were spoken with dignity and conviction.

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

Xu Qing clasped his hands once more in thanks, then strode forward with steady steps, continuing toward the imperial city.

His spine was straight, each step firm and certain. He knew that from this moment on, he was no longer a revenge-seeker hiding in the shadows, walking on thin ice. He would stand tall and upright as the pillar of this Great Xing dynasty.

In the imperial city, at the Hall of Golden Chimes.

The morning court bell tolled.

Today, the atmosphere in the Hall of Golden Chimes was completely different from before. The downfall of the Yongchang Marquis's faction had given the entire court a fresh start. Though a lingering air of post-purge severity still hung in the air, it was overshadowed by a newfound vitality of breaking the old and establishing the new.

The Great Xing Emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the ranks of officials lined up below, finally resting on Xu Qing at the forefront of the procession.

The Emperor was in an excellent mood, though it was also deeply conflicted.

He had used Xu Qing's blade to successfully reclaim military power and secure his throne. But he also knew that Xu Qing's popularity among the people and within the court had reached a peak. Such a minister must be promoted, but also kept in check.

"Left Vice Minister of Revenue, Xu Qing, step forward to receive your appointment," the Emperor's authoritative voice echoed through the hall.

Xu Qing calmly stepped out from the ranks, knelt, and kowtowed. "Your humble servant is here."

"In the case of the Yongchang Marquis, your investigation was thorough and factual, you defied the powerful, and you rid the state of a traitor. You are truly a pillar of the nation," the Emperor's voice softened slightly, carrying a hint of obvious approval. "I promised that if you succeeded, there would be a heavy reward."

The Emperor leaned forward slightly, his gaze like a torch fixed on Xu Qing. "Minister Xu, what reward do you desire?"

Xu Qing kept his head bowed, his expression calm, his voice without any fluctuation:

"Your Majesty, your servant eats from the sovereign's bounty, so it is my duty to share the sovereign's worries. Rooting out a national traitor is simply my duty. I dare not claim merit that belongs to Heaven."

"I have no other requests. I only wish for the Great Xing to be peaceful and clear, for the soldiers of the Northern Frontier to never suffer from cold or hunger, and for the people of this realm to live and work in peace and contentment. That is enough to satisfy me."

A perfect, unassailable answer.

A glint of approval—and relief—flickered in the Emperor's eyes.

"Excellent! Truly 'peaceful and clear'!" The Emperor burst into laughter. "Minister Xu, your loyalty to the state warms my heart!"

"Proclaim my decree! Left Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Qing, with unwavering loyalty and meritorious service to the state, is hereby promoted to Minister of Revenue, bestowed the rank of Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, and granted the privilege of riding a horse within the Forbidden City!"

"Furthermore, a golden plaque inscribed with 'Upright and Honest' shall be bestowed and hung at the entrance of the Xu residence, to honor his virtue!"