439: Chapter 449 A New Day

When the first rays of golden sunlight pierced through the thin morning mist and fell upon the green tiles of Xu Qing's residence, Xu Qing had already opened his eyes.

Last night, he had slept extremely soundly. He didn't dream of those mountain-like piles of account books, nor of Marquis Yongchang's sinister gaze, nor of the flashes of blades and shadows of swords hidden in the darkness.

He had simply fallen into a deep sleep, devoid of any distracting thoughts.

Outside the window, early-rising birds chirped on the branches, and a cool autumn breeze drifted through the window lattice, bringing a touch of refreshing air characteristic of late autumn.

Xu Qing slowly sat up from his bed and took a deep breath of the morning air. He felt as if the stagnant air that had accumulated in his chest for five years had been thoroughly cleansed by this single breath of freshness.

He pulled back the covers and got out of bed.

Without calling for servants to attend to him, he walked to the copper basin himself and carefully wiped his face with a towel soaked in cold water. The icy water stimulated his skin, making him fully awake.

After finishing his morning ablutions, he walked to the clothes rack and took down the set of green official robes that had been ironed crisp and were free of even a speck of dust.

Before putting on the official robes, his movements paused slightly.

He reached out and felt the inside of his inner garment. His fingertips touched a piece of warm yet slightly cool hardness.

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

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

This jade pendant was not just a life-saving trump card; it was the final connection between him and Su Ming in this lifetime. As long as this jade pendant remained, he knew that in some corner of this world, high above the clouds where he could not reach, his brother was still walking his own path.

This realization gave Xu Qing an unprecedented sense of peace.

He changed into his official robes, put on his black gauze hat, tidied his appearance, and pushed open the door.

Sunlight poured over him without reservation.

Xu Qing stepped out of the residence. Outside the gate, a sedan chair had already been prepared. However, today he waved his hand, signaling the bearers to withdraw, deciding to walk to the Imperial City instead.

The streets of the capital in the early morning were already beginning to awaken.

Shops on both sides were removing their door panels one after another, and steam rose from the breakfast stalls. The air was a mix of the aroma of meat buns, the sweetness of soy milk, and the sounds of people greeting each other.

It was a scene filled with the vibrant atmosphere of daily life—a picture that Xu Qing, for the first time in five years, was in the mood to appreciate carefully.

"Lord Xu!"

Someone in the crowd recognized him and suddenly shouted at the top of their lungs.

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

After a brief silence, the originally bustling street instantly boiled over!

"It's Vice Minister Xu! It's 'Clear Sky Xu' who brought down that old traitor who conspired with the enemy!"

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

An old woman selling buns rushed out from behind her stall with red-rimmed eyes. Ignoring the mud on the ground, she knelt directly before Xu Qing with a 'thud,' holding up two steaming meat buns in her hands.

"Lord Xu, my eldest son died at Fengling Ferry. This old woman kowtows to you! You are a living Bodhisattva!"

As she spoke, the old woman was about to knock her head heavily against the bluestone pavement.

Not just the old woman, but the surrounding commoners—whether they were porters, vendors, or scholars—all stopped in their tracks at this moment. Some knelt and kowtowed, while others bowed deeply, their eyes filled with the most simple and sincere gratitude and reverence.

Xu Qing was quick to react, catching the old woman's arms and steadily helping her up.

He did not mind the flour and oil stains on the old woman's hands, nor did he put on any haughty official airs.

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

"Please rise quickly, neighbors. You are over-honoring this official."

Xu Qing's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"I eat the Emperor's bounty and bear the responsibility of the nation. Eradicating treacherous subjects is my duty. Those who truly shed blood and sacrificed for the country are the soldiers guarding the Northern Border. This world belongs to His Majesty, and it also belongs to all of you. As long as I am in this court for a day, I will never tolerate anyone drinking the blood of our soldiers again!"

He spoke these words neither humbly nor arrogantly, neither claiming credit for himself nor making hypocritical excuses.

A burst of enthusiastic cheering erupted from the crowd.

Xu Qing cupped his hands again to thank everyone, then took steady strides and continued toward the Imperial City.

His back was straight, and every step was exceptionally firm. He knew that from this moment on, he was no longer that avenger who needed to hide in the shadows walking on thin ice; he would be a pillar of the Daxing Dynasty, upright and honorable.

The Imperial City, Golden Throne Hall.

The morning court bell rang.

Today, the atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall was entirely different from before. The downfall of Marquis Yongchang's faction had refreshed the entire court. Although a hint of the chilling air from the purge remained, there was more of a vibrant energy of breaking the old to establish the new.

The Son of Heaven of Great Xing sat high upon the dragon throne, looking at the rows of officials below. His gaze finally landed on Xu Qing at the very front of the queue.

The Emperor was in a good mood, but it was also extremely complex.

He had used Xu Qing as a blade to successfully reclaim military power and stabilize his throne. But he also knew clearly that the prestige Xu Qing had accumulated among the people and in the court had reached a peak. Such a minister must be heavily utilized, but also must be kept in check.

"Xu Qing, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, step forward to receive your honors." The Emperor's majestic voice echoed in the hall.

Xu Qing stepped out calmly and knelt: "Your subject is here."

"In the case of Marquis Yongchang, you investigated thoroughly, feared not the powerful, and eliminated traitors for the country. You are truly a pillar of the nation." The Emperor's voice softened slightly, carrying a clear hint of admiration. "I once promised that if you accomplished this task, there would be a great reward."

The Emperor leaned forward slightly, staring at Xu Qing with piercing eyes: "Beloved Minister Xu, what reward do you desire?"

Xu Qing remained with his head bowed, his expression calm and his voice steady:

"In response to Your Majesty, I eat the Emperor's bounty and should naturally share the Emperor's burdens. Eradicating national traitors is my duty; I do not dare to claim credit for Heaven's work."

"I have no other requests, only that our Daxing enjoys peace and prosperity, that the soldiers of the Northern Border suffer no more hunger or cold, and that the people of the world live and work in peace. If so, I shall be content."

It was a perfect, flawless answer.

A flash of approval and relief crossed the Emperor's eyes.

"Good! A fine 'peace and prosperity'!" The Emperor laughed aloud. "Minister Xu is loyal and devoted to the state; I am deeply gratified!"

"Issue the decree! Xu Qing, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is loyal to the core and has performed great service for the state. Effective immediately, he is promoted to Minister of Revenue, granted the title of Junior Protector of the Crown Prince, and bestowed the privilege of riding a horse within the Forbidden City!"

"Furthermore, bestow a golden plaque inscribed with 'Pure, Upright, Incorruptible, and Wise' to be hung above the gate of the Xu residence to honor his virtue!"