At the corner of his clothes, several barely noticeable patches stood out conspicuously in the sunlight; they were marks left by time and testaments to his frugal lifestyle.

It's obvious at a glance that this court robe has been worn and washed countless times, yet it is still carefully cared for by its owner, who is reluctant to discard it.

All the ministers understood that although it would cost a sum of money to change the court robes every year, it was not an unbearable expense for them, given their generous salaries.

Moreover, since the Ministry of Revenue adopted the new cloth-making method provided by Prince Jinrui Zhao, the production cost of court robes has been greatly reduced, and the price has also dropped significantly.

Even so, Xu Guzhi never bought himself a new set of court robes, preferring to wear his old clothes and remain in the court.

This spirit of selflessness, dedication to public service, and frugality deeply touched everyone present.

This convinced everyone that Feng Qingyun's praise for him was heartfelt and well-deserved.

Upon hearing this praise, the emperor, who was sitting on the dragon throne, gradually softened his originally stern and cold expression, and a smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his eyes.

He subtly observed Xu Guzhi, his eyes filled with admiration and consideration.

The Emperor secretly thought to himself: After this court assembly ends, I will definitely issue an edict to bestow two brand-new court robes upon Xu Guzhi.

Using the finest silks and the most exquisite embroidery, delicate patterns symbolizing honor and status were embroidered on him, making him even more dignified and demonstrating the court's high regard and reward for him.

With Xu Guzhi's ability and character, he has worked diligently and achieved remarkable political results in Linyuan County over the years.

Remarkable achievements have been made in improving people's livelihoods, developing the economy, and maintaining public order.

If he can maintain this enthusiasm and sense of responsibility, or even go further, we might consider promoting him and entrusting him with more important responsibilities.

It is a waste of talent for an official with both virtue and ability to be limited to governing only one prefecture.

He should be given a broader scope to realize his ambitions, play a greater role in the stability of the court and the well-being of the people, and become a role model for everyone in the court.

Just moments before, Xu Guzhi was so shocked by what had happened that his face turned ashen, his heart pounding violently in his chest as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

However, when Feng Qingyun's clear, innocent yet sincere praise pierced through the gloom like a ray of warm sunshine and fell directly into his ears...

Xu Guzhi was taken aback at first, and then a blush crept uncontrollably up his cheeks, spreading from his ears all the way to his neck.

He had never expected that his actions would receive such high praise, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Subconsciously, she raised her hand and gently touched the tip of her nose, trying to use this small movement to cover up her embarrassment and panic.

But the upturned corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed, revealing the joy in his heart.

Over the years, in Linyuan County, he worked tirelessly day and night, traveling far and wide to improve people's livelihoods.

They racked their brains to develop the economy, and every effort and every drop of sweat transformed into an indescribable sense of accomplishment deep within their hearts.

This recognition was brought up in front of the entire court and the emperor, in front of everyone. How could he not be excited by this honor?

Xu Guzhi felt a warm current slowly rising from the bottom of his heart, quickly spreading throughout his body, filling every cell with this sudden joy.

At the same time, he secretly encouraged himself, determined to face the future with even greater enthusiasm and unwavering resolve.

Only by striving for greater well-being for the people and dedicating more effort to the court can we live up to the unreserved praise from King Jinrui Zhao and the unseen child.

He felt the envious gazes from his colleagues, and their eyes fell on him like spotlights.

Xu Guzhi smiled modestly, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, revealing a gentle curve, and then nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

After all, they were in the solemn and majestic Golden Palace at this moment, and every word and action was under scrutiny. The slightest mistake could cause unnecessary trouble.

Therefore, he tried his best to control his excitement and made very small movements, for fear that he might overstep the rules if he was not careful.

His fingers unconsciously clenched together slightly, the tips turning white—a small manifestation of his inner tension and excitement.

Even though he tried to remain calm, his emotions still inadvertently showed through.

Nevertheless, he quickly composed himself, took a deep breath, and gradually calmed down.

He listened intently to what was to come, his eyes filled with anticipation and focus.

As if waiting for an even more exciting story to begin, he is ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities.

(Wishing all the lovely ladies in the South a happy Lunar New Year! Are you all on holiday? I've been tidying up my room lately and suddenly realized that working is better.)