370: Guo Feng was granted the title of king and given a noble title, ranking above everyone else!

“Your subject is here!”

Guo Feng and Ming Hao immediately stepped forward, cupped their hands, and showed respectful expressions.

Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin said, “Guo Feng, at the tender age of eighteen, with a cultivation of Nine-Rank Fourth Layer, you possess Immortal Rank aptitude. Furthermore, you have rendered meritorious service to the Empire. Therefore, I hereby confer upon you the title of ‘Wind King’, grant you a Third-Class Duke peerage, bestow upon you the Tianyan Lion Army military token, and appoint you as Wind Rider Grand General. By imperial decree!”

“What? A one-character King title?”

“An eighteen-year-old Third-Class Duke? The Sixth Grand Duke?”

“The Tianyan Lion Army military token?”

Those present were all shocked upon hearing this.

A one-character King title was last bestowed by the previous Emperor, hundreds of years ago.

Moreover, a Third-Class Duke at eighteen.

How exaggerated!

And to even receive the military token of the Empire’s first army—the Tianyan Lion Army?

This immense wealth was even more astonishing than being an Emperor-Consort!

An Emperor-Consort was merely a symbolic title.

But Guo Feng, as both a Duke and a Grand General, possessed absolute real power!

One must know that Marquis Shenwei was merely a Marquis!

“Ah, this…”

Guo Feng was also stunned for a moment. Although he knew the Empress would certainly not treat him poorly.

But!

This was too much!

However, he immediately bowed and thanked her, “Your subject thanks the Empress for her profound kindness. Your subject will certainly do his utmost to share the Empress’s burdens and achieve her grand enterprise!”

From beginning to end, he still addressed her as Empress.

Not Your Majesty!

But the Empress did not insist!

The Empress smiled and said, “I have high hopes for you. I hope you will continue to strive, reach the Quasi-Immortal Rank as soon as possible, and protect the Empire, protect the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes!”

Guo Feng nodded hurriedly, “I will certainly live up to your expectations!”

After he finished speaking, he stepped back.

At this moment, Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin looked at Ming Hao again: “Ming Hao, not yet a hundred years old, yet already at Nine-Rank Fifth Layer, your strength is extraordinary, and your talent is outstanding. In the Emperor-Consort competition, you performed brilliantly. I hereby confer upon you the title of ‘Marquis Ming Hao’, grant you a Third-Class Marquis peerage, and appoint you as the Right General of the Tianyan Lion Army. By imperial decree!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Although Ming Hao was somewhat disappointed, at his age, such a conferment was already quite good.

Moreover, once the Empress issued an imperial decree, he had to accept it even if he didn’t want to.

He immediately knelt on one knee and quickly expressed his gratitude.

“Alright, both of you are future pillars of the Empire. I hope that by commanding the Tianyan Lion Army, you will fight for the Empire, conquer and kill, and establish unparalleled achievements!”

The Empress nodded and added, “Since you two will lead the Tianyan Lion Army, three days from now, with Marquis Shenwei as the Left General, you will proceed to Guo Wang City to conquer the rebel Guo Kang.”

She then looked at Marquis Shenwei Qiong Wu: “Marquis Shenwei, they are both young, please bear with them more.”

“Yes!”

Marquis Shenwei Qiong Wu immediately cupped his fists.

Guo Feng was startled. This was completely different from what he had imagined.

How did he suddenly become a Grand General and now had to go conquer Guo Wang City?

Brother!

I am a spy from Huaxia!

Sitting in such a high position clearly meant she didn't want him to go back!

This Empress, what a skillful method!

However, he still cupped his hands: “By the Empress’s command, your subject accepts the order. I will certainly apprehend Duke Guo Guo Kang and bring him back to the Imperial Capital for the Empress to deal with as she sees fit!”

“Your subject, likewise!”

Ming Hao, however, was somewhat excited.

This was a great opportunity to achieve merit and establish a career!

In the future, among the several Grand Dukes, there might well be a place for him!

“Good, Wind King, Marquis Shenwei, Marquis Ming Hao, I await your good news in the Imperial Capital!”

The Empress exuded a sense of being in control of everything.

She added, “Wind King, Marquis Ming Hao, your fiefdoms will be decided when you return and rewards are distributed based on your merits.”

“Furthermore.”

She continued, “Wind King, the Grand Manager and Eighth Chief Eunuch deserved to die for their crimes. The Eighth Chief Eunuch, in particular, deceived the monarch and deserved to have his entire clan exterminated. I specially appoint you as an Imperial Commissioner, holding my imperial decree, to confiscate the residences of Grand Manager Hu Lie and Eighth Chief Eunuch Hu Xu, and to apprehend their family members. By imperial decree.”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing this, Guo Feng was overjoyed.

This was a lucrative assignment!

Didn’t you see how much money Duke Wei earned when he confiscated Ao Bai’s assets in The Deer and the Cauldron?

This was clearly another reward from the Empress!

Damn it!

The Empress gave too much!

Combined, the entire Huaxia could not provide this much!

“Alright, everyone except the Wind King may withdraw.”

The Empress then waved her hand and issued the command.

Everyone quickly bowed and withdrew.

In a moment, only the Empress and Guo Feng remained in the entire hall.

The Empress looked at Guo Feng, rose, and walked step by step to stand before him.

After a moment’s pause.

She finally spoke, “Regarding the Emperor-Consort, do you have anything you wish to ask or say?”

“The Empress is wise.”

Guo Feng cupped his hands, “Wang Shengzhi, as a mascot, can divert some of the attention from me. At the same time, under the system of rewards and punishments, the remnants of the Grand Manager and Eighth Chief Eunuch will be dealt with.”

“And then you grant me real power, allowing me to work for you and achieve great merits.”

“Within three years, when I reach the Nine-Rank Ninth Layer Limit, Wang Shengzhi will naturally resign as Quasi-Emperor-Consort.”

He looked at the Empress, “This means I will no longer be the nominal Emperor-Consort, but the true Emperor-Consort, correct?”

“You are quite confident.”

The Empress chuckled, “However, it is just as you thought. Quasi-Emperor-Consort, nominal Emperor-Consort, these are all empty titles. Now that the commotion is big, I am killing a chicken to warn the monkeys. Didn’t you see, the Imperial Relative originally came to exert pressure, but in the end, he didn’t say a single word.”

She paused, looking at Guo Feng, “Even when I conferred upon you the title of Wind King and granted you a Third-Class Duke peerage, he didn’t say a word, which shows how deeply I have provoked him this time.”

“That is true.”

Guo Feng also understood that the Empress did all this not just for him, Guo Feng.

Rather, it was to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys, to test the Imperial Relative, to build a new loyal faction, and to remove the major hidden danger posed by the Grand Manager’s faction.

This was killing four birds with one stone.

The Empress’s thoughts and methods had indeed far surpassed Guo Feng’s understanding.

However, the most crucial point was the powerful strength the Empress revealed this time!

She controlled a Tenth Rank Phantom Spirits!

And there was also a suspected Tenth Rank expert behind her!

All of this was warning the Imperial Relative that he might be the next chicken!

Guo Feng added, “However, the Imperial Relative’s silence this time might not be fear, but rather a sign that he might retaliate fiercely.”

“That won’t be my primary concern then.”

The Empress chuckled.

Guo Feng’s mouth twitched: “What if I can’t defeat him?”

“Don’t worry.”

The Empress waved her hand, “You are a Third-Class Duke, a one-character King, and a Wind Rider Grand General. As long as you don’t give him an opportunity, he wouldn’t dare to kill you casually.”

She paused, a playful look on her face, “Of course, if he kills you without cause, I will certainly avenge you.”

“I understand.”

Guo Feng couldn’t help but smile. This Empress, as expected, deliberately gave Guo Feng power and status, and also made him a shield!

It was a tactic to divert trouble elsewhere!

However, as the Empress, her actions were completely reasonable.

Guo Feng himself couldn’t find any fault!

After all, he had received the power and status!

Immense wealth also awaited him!

The Empress’s actions could be considered an open transaction.

The Empress then, with a sharp glint in her eyes, asked, “Guo Feng, I have given you so much. In the future, if the Yan Yang Empire and the Land of Sin… no, the Huaxia Continent go to war, whose side will you be on?”

At her question.

Guo Feng instantly felt immense pressure bearing down on him.

It seemed as if a slight misstep would lead to disaster.