In Anguo, the fifth rank or above is the dividing line for official positions.
Officials who could enter the palace to attend court had to be at least of the fifth rank, such as Zhu Xinning's position as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat.
Therefore, when Bai Qingyuan was setting the official rank for Jing Zhe's president, he did everything he could to keep his rank below the fifth grade, just so that he wouldn't have to go to court and cause him trouble.
However, despite all his calculations, he never expected that although Jing Zhe had become a fifth-rank official, he would still receive special treatment from Emperor An, who allowed him to attend court. He was so angry at the time that he almost vomited blood.
Officials who could attend court were divided into three ranks. The fifth rank was just the entry level. Only those of the third rank and above were considered true core officials, who could glean secrets and important matters of the court and become the object of contention among various factions.
The most elite officials are those of the second rank or above. These officials have long transcended factions because they themselves represent the various factions, such as Bai Qingyuan and Yu Sheng.
Although Bai Qingyuan wanted to "help" Jing Zhe get promoted so that he would be eligible to marry Murong Xi, he ultimately had his own selfish motives. He promoted Jing Zhe to the third rank, giving him two promotions and allowing him to skip four stages. As a civil official, this was unprecedented in the history of Anguo.
His position as a third-rank official was just outside the core ranks, leaving him somewhere in between, neither high nor low. This was what Bai Qingyuan deliberately used to annoy Jing Zhe, and he even gloated about it afterward.
"Thank you very much, Grand Tutor Bai!"
After Bai Qingyuan finished speaking, Jing Zhe quickly cupped his hands, his face full of gratitude: "What merit or ability do I have to be promoted two ranks? Grand Tutor Bai values me so much, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of Grand Tutor Bai and his entire family and ancestors for eighteen generations!"
"..."
You can't hit a smiling face. Although Bai Qingyuan didn't think Jing Zhe's obedience was a compliment, he was still satisfied with Jing Zhe's attitude: Hehe, look at you, so naive! A mere third-rank official, how happy are you?
At this moment, he even had many doubts: How could I have been bullied by such a guy so many times?
After expressing his gratitude, Jing Zhe shook his head and said, "However, I'm afraid I'm not worthy of Grand Tutor Bai's kindness! A promotion of two ranks is simply unbelievable to me!"
Seeing that Jing Zhe was about to refuse, how could Bai Qingyuan agree?
At that moment, he didn't think much of it and really thought that Jing Zhe had been scared out of his wits when he came back from outside.
You don't even want a promotion? Are you trying to eat shit?
So he hurriedly said, "President Jing, there's no need to be so modest! This time, President Jing went out and won the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader in Jinxi, which laid a good foundation for cooperation between the imperial court and the major sects, and took the first step. Moreover, President Jing defeated the Western Frontier Heavy Cavalry in Liangzhou, not only saving the people of Liangzhou from war, but also showing other countries the strength of Anguo! Such merits, what's a promotion of two ranks?"
Bai Qingyuan spoke with such emotion that even Murong Xi, who was unaware of the connection between the two, began to suspect that Bai Qingyuan and Jing Zhe were actually old acquaintances with a close relationship.
It wasn't until she saw the wicked smile creep onto Jing Zhe's lips that Murong Xi realized their relationship was definitely not as harmonious as it seemed! Because Jing Zhe's expression just now was clearly the kind he'd only have when he was doing something naughty!
Jing Zhe's wicked smile lasted only a moment. After Bai Qingyuan finished speaking, a trace of fear appeared on his face: "Is what Grand Tutor Bai said true? Can this humble official really do it?"
"Of course!"
Seeing Jing Zhe's naiveté, Bai Qingyuan began to look down on him: "Don't even mention two levels, what's wrong with being a little higher?"
"Thank you for your affirmation, Grand Tutor Bai!"
Jing Zhe turned slightly to the side and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyuan. As he looked down, he happened to see Murong Xi staring intently at him. Jing Zhe quickly winked at her.
The power of eye contact to speak is evident at this moment, but it remains to be seen how much Murong Xi can glean in such a short time.
Murong Xi pursed her lips, but after Jing Zhe turned away, she still whispered a few words in Chu Xia's ear. Chu Xia looked blank after hearing them, but still nodded.
"Oh? From the third rank?"
At this moment, Emperor An finally stopped watching the show and stopped thinking, because he knew Jing Zhe's methods and just needed to continue with his performance: "Grand Tutor Bai, isn't this a bit too much?"
"Your Majesty, it's not high at all! As I've said before, Jing Zhe's achievements are even greater than when General Jinghong defended Liangzhou and was granted the rank of Second Grade. Promoting Chief Jing to the rank of Third Grade is not high!"
The feeling of having everything under his control was so wonderful that Bai Qingyuan felt victory was in sight.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, a strange phenomenon occurred.
"Third rank is too low!"
Bai Qingyuan turned around and saw that the speaker was the Holy Maiden beside Empress Yueyao.
Then he smiled and said, "Holy Maiden Yueyao, you may not know the official ranks in our An Kingdom. The third rank is not low!"
"Yes, for ordinary officials, the third rank is not low."
Chu Xia changed the subject abruptly: "But compared to our Empress, what does being a third-rank official mean?"
"In early summer, actually... a third-rank position... would be acceptable..."
Murong Xi glanced at Jing Zhe briefly, then quickly lowered her head, her voice soft and sweet.
What a drama queen!
Seeing this scene, Jing Zhe was deeply moved.
But Bai Qingyuan perceived this scene in a different light.
Empress Yueyao clearly had a special affection for Jing Zhe. Even when Jing Zhe was only a fifth-rank official, she still wanted to arrange a marriage alliance with him. Therefore, she would not refuse when Jing Zhe was promoted to a third-rank official.
As for the Holy Maiden Yueyao, she was dissatisfied with the third-rank official position, which is understandable. To marry the Empress, one must be a member of the royal family. It would be one thing if she wasn't a member of the royal family, but to give her a lowly third-rank official position is just fooling her.
"The Empress is right, actually from the third rank—"
"No! A third-rank official is not qualified for a marriage alliance!"
Before Bai Qingyuan could finish speaking, Chu Xia decisively cut off the railway.
"Forehead…"
The Holy Maiden of Yueyao was far more difficult to talk to than the Empress, but Bai Qingyuan did not underestimate her because of this, because he knew that the Holy Maiden of Yueyao's status in Yueyao Kingdom was much higher than his status in An Kingdom!
Then she smiled and asked, "So, what official rank do you think would qualify someone for a marriage alliance with the Empress?"
"Well..."
Chu Xia nodded slightly, looking deep in thought, but in reality, she was asking Murong Xi for help.
Murong Xi was also unsure, so she looked at Jing Zhe. Jing Zhe remained silent and extended two fingers behind his back. Murong Xi immediately understood and, without saying a word, coughed twice.
Chu Xia, being a woman who had lived with Murong Xi for over twenty years, understood immediately upon hearing this.
"If you want to marry our Empress, only officials of the second rank or above are qualified, unless you are a member of the royal family!"
"A second-rank official?!"
Bai Qingyuan shouted, his face turning green.
————
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
