From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 335: Chapter 336: Holy Decree

By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims...

With a series of commendations, Ancient Wen Heng was promoted three ranks at once, instantly becoming a Standard Fifth Rank Imperial College Doctor.

The officials still biding their time for seniority in the Hanlin Academy were speechless. ’This isn’t fair.’

Even Gong Zhengping was a little surprised. He had known Ancient Wen Heng would advance this time, but he hadn’t expected the leap to be quite so large.

’He didn’t think that presenting some minor mathematical tricks was enough to warrant a three-rank promotion. There must be another reason he wasn’t aware of.’

Sensing the probing gazes around him, Ancient Wen Heng respectfully accepted the Holy Decree. As he did, he slipped a sachet into the delivering eunuch’s hand.

The eunuch tucked the sachet into his robes, beaming. "Congratulations, Mr. Gu. My boy must have caused you some trouble recently."

Ancient Wen Heng looked puzzled. "Oh? I’m not sure to whom you are referring, Eunuch..."

"Little Yunzi. He’s a godson I adopted some years ago. Thanks to your guidance, Mr. Gu, he’s finally found a path for himself."

Ancient Wen Heng immediately understood. "That’s a testament to your own cleverness, Eunuch Yun. A boy like that, who learns whatever he’s taught, is sure to have a limitless future."

"May your auspicious words come true. I won’t disturb you any longer. I must return to the palace to report on my duty."

After seeing the eunuch out, Ancient Wen Heng turned to find everyone cupping their hands and offering endless congratulations.

Fortunately, these officials were all mindful of their reputations. No matter how displeased they were, they said nothing unpleasant to his face, simply offering their congratulations before taking their leave.

Even the Grand Scholars, Gong Zhengping and Zhang Daji, came over to pat his shoulder and offer a few words of encouragement before they, too, departed.

Perhaps because Ning Yuchen was still new to the official world, he couldn’t quite conceal the expression on his face.

His tone was so sour it could set one’s teeth on edge. "Mr. Gu, you truly are one to lie low before making a stunning debut. A three-rank promotion for such a minor trick... It seems you’ve been doing plenty of bootlicking in the palace."

Ancient Wen Heng smiled, his expression unchanged. "Lord Ning, you are the runner-up personally appointed by the Holy Emperor. You should try to be more open-minded instead of fixating on such trivial matters. If you have the spare time to worry about and watch others, you’d be better off mending your own fences. Everyone has had more than a few laughs at your family’s expense recently."

’So what if he’s envious and jealous? A higher rank holds all the power, and I’m a full four ranks above him now. There’s no need to weigh my words as carefully as I used to.’

’Ning Yuchen knew his blind old mother had been spreading gossip, but she was old and confused. Why couldn’t these people show a shred of tolerance?’

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless. ’Heh, heh!’

’And what did Ancient Wen Heng mean just now? Was he mocking me for being petty?’

But the thought of Gu Wenheng’s new rank made him shoot the man a hateful glare before storming off with a flick of his sleeves.

"Don’t stoop to his level," He Nan said, a hint of envy in his eyes. He wasn’t jealous, though. He believed he would also climb the ladder, one step at a time.

"I have no intention of stooping to his level. He’s just always making a scene in front of me, and it gets rather annoying."

He Nan said, "I thought you’d get a one-rank promotion at most. I never expected such a huge surprise. I bet everyone is even more sour now."

"It doesn’t matter," Ancient Wen Heng said. "But I don’t quite understand it myself. The promotion is far more than my contribution warranted. To be honest, I’m a little uneasy about it."

He Nan shot him a look. "You’re just being modest after hitting the jackpot. If Ning Yuchen heard you, he’d probably lose sleep over it."

However, while Ancient Wen Heng’s appointment as a fifth-rank official shocked some people, those in truly high positions paid it little mind.

The real chasm was at the fourth rank, a ceiling many officials never broke through. And while this reward was a bit excessive, the Holy Emperor’s mood had rarely been better, so no one was willing to stick their neck out over such a minor position.

And just like that, Ancient Wen Heng smoothly received his first promotion and raise.

The only difference was that the flower-viewing parties Jin Qianqian was invited to were now a tier higher, which paradoxically left her with much more leisure time than before.

As she was reviewing the account books for the recent period, she noted that in addition to the profits from the soap workshop, Ancient Wen Heng had just received another thick stack of silver notes from Bai Jinglie—a full 50,000 taels.

"These mirrors are incredible money-makers. It’s only been a short while, and we’ve already gotten this much in dividends," Jin Qianqian said, admitting she was a little jealous. Her own soap workshop was busy day in and day out, yet it only brought in over ten thousand taels a month, while this was just a fraction of the mirror’s earnings.

"Right now, people are just drawn to the novelty," said Ancient Wenheng. "Once the mirrors become more common, the dividends won’t be this high."

"Do you think your three-rank promotion was because of this?" Jin Qianqian asked.

"No," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "I asked Prince Bai. These silver notes were only delivered in the last two days. Besides, the National Treasury is full, so the Holy Emperor didn’t seem particularly impressed by the sum."

"It’s true. When something becomes abundant, people no longer find it precious.

"Now that Prince Bai is married, he should be leaving to take up his post soon, right?"

Ancient Wen Heng affirmed with a hum. "He’s set to depart on the eighth of this month. The situation there can’t be delayed any further."

"Then should we go and see him off?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head slightly. "We already discussed it last time we met. Prince Bai said he will be very busy, so he asked us to forgo the farewell. I’ve already had a gift sent over, so you don’t need to worry about it."

"Will his new wife be going with him?" Jin Qianqian asked curiously.

Ancient Wen Heng happened to know the answer. "Yes. If he doesn’t take her with him, Old Madam Bai might not be able to protect her in the Marquis Mansion."

"But if they just up and leave, aren’t they handing the entire Marquis Mansion back to Ms. Kuang?"

Ancient Wen Heng looked at her in surprise. "You move in those circles often. Haven’t you heard the news?"

"I’ve heard a few things," she said. "That Old Madam Bai has been reorganizing the household. They say she rooted out a few major parasites and recovered some family assets."

"That’s just the official story," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Prince Bai told me it was all the work of his *dear* stepmother. She tried to transfer all the mansion’s funds into her personal dowry."

"Old Madam Bai didn’t fall for it. She immediately produced Ms. Kuang’s indenture contract from when she was sold to the mansion and, in front of the entire household, demanded to know where this so-called dowry of hers came from."

"She even pointed out, right in front of the Marquis, that several of the items were either from her own dowry or the late Marchioness’s. It utterly humiliated Kuang Yunqiao on the spot."

"This Marchioness certainly has some nerve," Jin Qianqian remarked. "To be elevated from a mere concubine and still dare to cause such trouble... She must be relying solely on the Marquis Wu’an’s favor, right?

"It’s a shame I didn’t get to meet her at the last banquet. I’m quite curious now—is she some kind of peerless beauty?"