Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint-Chapter 1417 - 251: Martial Champion of the Realm, Imperial Bestowed Top Scholar Plaque, The Path of Cultivation
National Master Mansion.
"Ah Ning!!" Seeing Jiang Ning appear, Liu Wanwan couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning smiled.
"What is it you’re wearing..." Liu Wanwan’s breath hitched.
"The Zhuangyuan Robe!" Jiang Ning smiled faintly again.
Upon hearing these three affirmative words, Liu Wanwan’s pupils slightly contracted.
"Brother Li! Brother Li!! You must come out, come out quickly and look at Ah Ning!!"
Within hardly two breaths, a towering figure rushed out from inside the house.
The comer was precisely Jiang Li.
Stopping in front of Jiang Ning, his breathing became a bit more rapid involuntarily.
"Ah, brother, is this..."
"The Zhuangyuan Robe!" Jiang Ning smiled.
"Ah, brother has truly become the Martial Champion!!" Jiang Li’s eyes widened as big as saucers, like a pair of brass bells.
"Easy as pie!" Jiang Ning said with a smile.
"You rascal!!" Jiang Li laughed heartily, pounding Jiang Ning’s chest a couple of times with force, making a thumping sound.
"How about we have a few drinks with your big brother later?" Jiang Li added.
"Naturally, I’ll accompany you to the end!" Jiang Ning said with a smile.
"If our parents were alive to see Ah Ning today, I don’t know how happy they’d be!!" Jiang Li suddenly showed a look of deep emotion.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled without picking up the topic.
"Alright! Let’s not talk about this!" Jiang Li’s expression became spirited: "Ah Ning, rest well first, and your sister-in-law and I will soon have lunch ready! We’ll have a good drink later!"
"Why doesn’t big brother wait for a moment longer?" Jiang Ning suddenly said.
"Wait for what?" Jiang Li showed a puzzled expression.
"Big brother, lend your ear to the outside sounds!" Jiang Ning said.
Hearing these words, Jiang Li immediately pricked up his ears, listening towards the National Master Mansion.
Subsequently, his eyes gradually widened.
"The sound of gongs and drums, what is that???"
"Someone from the palace has come!" Jiang Ning said: "They should be coming to deliver my Zhuangyuan attire and plaque!"
Hearing this, Jiang Li’s eyes instantly brightened.
"The imperial Zhuangyuan plaque?"
"Mm!" Jiang Ning nodded.
Hearing this, Jiang Li immediately grinned, showing all his teeth.
"From now on, we are the legitimate family of the Zhuangyuan! Ah Ning is the Martial Champion of the eighty-third year of Changning!"
Moments later.
Jiang Ning and his party arrived at the front yard of the National Master Mansion.
Jiang Ning in front, Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan behind.
Jiang Yiming followed behind.
Jiang Yuanyuan was led closely by Qinghe behind.
Hearing the sound of gongs and drums outside, Jiang Ning came to the door and subsequently pushed open the gate of the National Master Mansion.
As the gate of the National Master Mansion opened wide, outside stood a ceremonial guard from the Ministry of Rites, already lined up in a solemn formation.
The leader was dressed in a red official robe, with a jade belt around the waist.
Upon seeing Jiang Ning appear, this man’s pupils shook, and then he quickly adjusted his demeanor.
Next, he stepped forward three steps and cupped his hands, saying: "Congratulations to Zhuangyuan Jiang for overwhelming the competition and capturing the top prize! I am Zhou Qian, Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, specially sent by the Holy Emperor to deliver to Zhuangyuan Jiang the imperial-crafted Zhuangyuan robe, gold-lacquered waist token, and the imperial plaque!"
"So, it’s Lord Zhou!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands: "Thank you, Lord Zhou."
"Zhuangyuan Jiang is too courteous!" Zhou Qian cupped his hands and replied with a smile.
As the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, although he holds the dignified position of a Standard Third Grade officer,
he understood the extraordinary significance of the Martial Champion before him.
This is the first celestial talent of Great Xia in over eight hundred years of its founding.
This specific instruction from the Holy Emperor was to treat him with utmost respect and courtesy.
And at the time of departure, the Holy Emperor reminded him again that the Martial Champion is a Second Grade Great Grandmaster.
Upon hearing this, he was greatly astonished.
Under thirty years of age, stepping into the realm of Second Grade Great Grandmaster.
The probability of being enfeoffed as a king in the future was ten out of ten.
When he learned the age of the newly elected champion, he was truly amazed.
Meeting Jiang Ning this time, the description matched reality, and the surge of emotion within his heart was indescribable.
So young, with such prowess, the potential is truly terrifying.
Understanding everything very clearly, he, though being a Fourth Grade official of the court, did not dare to be disrespectful.
The next moment.
Zhou Qian stepped aside, gesturing towards Jiang Ning.
"Zhuangyuan Jiang, please look, this is the Zhuangyuan robe prepared long ago by the Department of Silk Weaving."
Jiang Ning looked over, and saw the attendant behind holding a red-lacquered tray.
On the tray was neatly folded the red Zhuangyuan robe, embroidered with golden threads depicting a grand roc soaring high in the sky, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
"This is the imperial personally inscribed Zhuangyuan plaque!" Zhou Qian added, pointing with his palm to the side.
Jiang Ning looked over, and saw four strong men carrying a twelve-foot-long camphorwood plaque, with black words gilded in gold: "Martial Champion of the World" inscribed personally by Emperor Ning, a vermillion seal blood-red beneath.
The right bottom of the plaque bore a small script: Martial Champion of the eighty-third year of Changning.
Then, he took out a gilded waist token from the tray and presented it with both hands.
"Zhuangyuan Jiang, this is your waist token. At the third quarter of the hour from three to five o’clock tomorrow morning, I will personally prepare a carriage and escort the Zhuangyuan into the palace. By protocol, the newly appointed Zhuangyuan must wear this robe and token to enter the hall through the Meridian Gate to express gratitude."
"Many thanks to Assistant Minister Zhou!" Jiang Ning accepted the Zhuangyuan waist token and expressed his gratitude.
"Zhuangyuan, there’s no need for such courtesy, it is my duty!" Zhou Qian replied.
"Lord Zhou has traveled far and worked hard, why not come inside and have some tea? It’s almost lunchtime, and the family feast is ready." Jiang Ning said.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian looked at the plaque above.
The three characters of National Master Mansion appeared before his eyes.
He immediately shook his head: "Thank you for your kind offer, Zhuangyuan! But the affairs of these two days are so pressing, it’s impossible to delay even a quarter-hour. Another day, when there’s time, I will properly invite Zhuangyuan!"
"Alright! Since Lord Zhou is busy, I’ll not delay you any longer!" Jiang Ning said.
...
Moments later.
The ceremonial entourage of the Ministry of Rites departed, leaving only the tray with the Zhuangyuan robe and a golden nanmu-carved Zhuangyuan plaque in the hall.
