Wayfarer

Chapter 740: Minister of Rites Tang Zhengqi

In Hongyue's capital, within a hall that served as an office for the Department of Rites and Rituals, Tang—now Tang Zhengqi—was seated before a table and reading an edict of appointment. His brows furrowed.

An official beside him said, "Don't be upset, Sir Tang. Although you were awarded the most merit for this mission, you're still an outsider, after all."

"How am I an outsider? I brought that old geezer's head back to Hongyue! Even if I'm not appointed as the Minister of Rites, I should at least be a secretary or assistant minister or something of that sort! All my effort went to waste!" Tang fumed.

"They said that you were simply lucky to get the position you did. The previous Minister of Rites became a zombie and was killed, so..." the official trailed off.

"And so what if I was lucky? Doesn't my merit count for anything? I was going to be promoted to Right Assistant Minister of Rites, but the promotion was delayed because of the excursion to the black coffin hidden realm. I earned great merit there—but instead of being promoted further, I even lost my slated promotion! Isn't that unfair?!"

"Her Majesty herself decided to appoint a member of her clan to that position, so there's little you can do. Both the Left and Right Assistant Ministers are her relatives, so you shouldn't expect to be promoted unless one of them dies. Be happy in your current role," the official said.

"So the minister and both assistant ministers have to die first? When are they going to die, then?" Tang fumed.

Just then, an enraged voice roared, "Who wants us to die?"

A group of officials strode into the hall. The three officials in the lead had murderous expressions on their faces.

"Minister, Assistant Ministers! What are you doing here?" Tang exclaimed. "You must have misheard me. I was praying that you would live for a millennium!"

The three officials glared at Tang. "Deputy Official of Rites, assemble a delegation. You'll be accompanying us to greet a particularly distinguished guest."

"Where, and what guest? What level of formality is required?" Tang asked.

"The highest formality. As for your other questions, those are not matters that concern you."

"Understood!" Tang replied.

He quickly made his preparations and informed his subordinates about the upcoming trip.

The Minister of Rites and two Assistant Ministers stood in the hall and watched Tang running about with smirks on their faces.

"Brother, that Tang Zhengqi was cursing us behind our backs. We'll have to take care of him," one of the Assistant Ministers whispered.

"Does he really think he can compete with us just because of what little merit he earned? How laughable. No matter how hard he works, he's nothing but a servant. This upcoming mission is particularly important, and all fourth- and higher-grade officials in the Department of Rites and Rituals must attend. We're forced to bring everyone with us as a show of courtesy and respect. Once we return, though—we'll make Tang Zhengqi suffer." The Minister of Rites smirked, as did his two assistants.

Before long, Tang had gotten everything in order. He flew out of Hongyue's capital alongside a group of other officials, heading straight to the Southern Sea. They flew for several days before reaching an island cloaked with fog.

"The Minister of Rites of the divine empire of Hongyue, and all prominent officials of the Department of Rites, seek an audience on the Immortal Emperor and Immortal Empress' orders," the Minister of Rites began formally.

The officials waited patiently, but there was no response to their declaration.

Everyone glanced at the Minister of Rites and his two Assistant Ministers in confusion. The three leading officials eyed each other in worry.

"Tang Zhengqi, bring a delegation to the island to meet with the honored personage there," the Minister of Rites commanded.

Tang Zhengqi looked perplexed. "Sir, who's on the island? How should I receive this guest?"

"Don't worry about his identity. Just do as you're told," the Minister of Rites replied.

"Why don't you go yourselves?"

"Are you talking back to me? I ordered you to go. I don't want to hear your nonsense," the Minister of Rites said coldly.

"Understood!" Tang replied, though his frustration was evident.

It was clear that there was some danger inherent to the island, and whoever was present there had to be treated with utmost caution.

As he passed through the fog and stepped foot on the island,Tang immediately knelt.

"I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this island under the command of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue," Tang began as he kowtowed.

It was safest to treat this situation with utmost formality until and unless he was told otherwise. His subordinates emulated him and knelt down.

Even so, nothing but silence came from the depths of the island. Thick fog clouded its depths; Tang couldn't see if anyone or anything was present.

Tang stood up, took a step forward, and knelt down again. "I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this island under the command of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue."

Tang's subordinates stiffened. Was he going to kneel with every step? Surely this was overdoing things. Such a level of respect would be ludicrous even for an Immortal Emperor of another divine empire. Wasn't Tang going to damage the reputation of Hongyue this way?

Of course, they could hardly contradict their superior. Once again, they emulated his behavior.

Tang couldn't care less about damaging the reputation of Hongyue. He was just a spy, after all, and he prioritized his life over all else.

He continued to head deeper into the island, kneeling with every step. The Minister of Rites and his subordinates watched him with twitching faces, all under the impression that Tang was making a fool of himself and wasting their time. The Minister of Rites urged him forward, but Tang ignored him and continued at a glacial pace.

Finally, after he had proceeded deeper and deeper into the island over the course of two hours, the fog on the island suddenly roiled. Then, it turned from white to blood-red, shocking everyone present.

"I, Tang Zhengqi, seek an audience with the honored personage on this island under the command of the Minister of Rites of Hongyue." He kowtowed once more.

A fearsome aura emanated from the depths of the island, causing everyone to recoil in fear.

A weathered voice could be heard from within the fog. "Lou Yujing's subordinate? Why isn't he here himself?"

The Minister of Rites' eyes brightened. "Senior, the divine empire of Hongyue is suffering from calamity, and the Immortal Emperor cannot extricate himself. I have been tasked to request your aid in his stead. This is a letter the Immortal Emperor penned himself."

The Minister of Rites' letter was sucked into the bloody fog.

"Lou Yujing is growing more and more audacious. Does he really think he can summon me with the likes of you? What does he treat me as? That pompous fool!" The elderly figure's tone was icy.

The bloody fog suddenly transformed into blood-colored spears that were pointed at all the cultivators present. They reared back in shock, stunned and fearful.

"I'm the Minister of Rites of Hongyue! You can't kill me!"

"Do you want to be enemies with Hongyue?"

"Don't kill me!"

The cultivators turned tail and ran, but the blood-colored spears were far too fast for them. They pierced through the cultivators' foreheads, killing body and soul in one fell swoop.

Their bodies burst apart in sprays of blood that were devoured by the bloody fog on the island.

All the high-ranking officials present had perished—all save Tang and his subordinates, who were kneeling on the ground. The reason they had survived wasn't because of superlative skill; the spears simply hadn't pointed their way.

Tang's subordinates shuddered in fear. How could they have looked down on what Tang was doing? Tang was the only cultivator present who had been prepared for a situation like this!

To be honest, the only reason Tang hadn't fled was because he had been stunned by the elderly figure's fearsome aura. That he would kill the entire delegation over nothing more than a perceived slight was beyond even Tang's expectations.

He didn't dare move. He remained where he was, patiently waiting for the elderly figure to make his next move.

The bloody fog roiled as the elderly figure finally appeared in sight: an ancient old man with a wizened face.

He wore red robes and had blood-red hair. His eyes were cold, indifferent, and proud. He glanced at the group of cultivators kneeling on the ground.

"Who are you? Why such respect?" the red-robed elder demanded.

"I am Tang Zhengqi, Deputy Official of Hongyue's Department of Rites. I was unaware of your identity, sir, and knew only that you were a distinguished personage. I believed that only utmost respect would be appropriate under such circumstances. Please forgive me if I've made a mistake." Tang was a consummate bootlicker, and that skill served him well here.

The elder seemed very pleased with Tang's explanation. "Well said. I do not suffer fools."

"Thank you for your praise, Elder!" Tang replied immediately.

"Tell Lou Yujing to wait. I'll find him in three days' time," the elder continued.

"Three days!" Tang exclaimed. "I apologize, Elder, but I won't be able to make it back that quickly..."

The elder ignored Tang. With a wave of his arm, a strong wind blew the cultivators into the air.

The cultivators yelped in surprise. The wind was bringing them rapidly back to Hongyue. They could sense that they were moving at incredible speed.

It took them only half a day before they were deposited back in Hongyue's capital in a heap.

Lou Yujing and Tu Jiuniang, who were in the capital, raised their brows in surprise as they sensed the return of the delegation.

"They're already back?" Lou Yujing exclaimed.

He maneuvered the delegation into the hall in which he was currently located. They fell to the ground dizzily.

Guards and officials rushed toward them, only to be shooed away by Tu Jiuniang.

"What happened to you?" Lou Yujing demanded.

The cultivators slowly came to their senses. They recounted everything that had happened.

"Husband, I told you we should have sought out the saint ourselves. It seems as if he's rather mad at us now." Tu Jiuniang smiled wryly.

"You know how he is. He's prideful and ornery, and looks down on everyone. I have no interest in kowtowing to him."

"But—" Tu Jiuniang grimaced.

"What's the matter? Do you miss those relatives of yours?"

"Not quite. I warned them not to be disrespectful and to show utmost respect, but they didn't listen to me." Tu Jiuniang sighed.

"So be it. We'll have to replace the officials in the Department of Rites, then. You can pick your favorite candidates," Lou Yujing said.

Tu Jiuniang nodded with some exasperation. She turned to Tang and asked, "Did the saint say anything else?"

"He said that he favored my attitude, and that I had a good eye," Tang replied.

Tu Jiuniang frowned.

Before long, Tang and his subordinates emerged from the hall.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Minister Tang. You're the head of the Department of Rites now!" One of his subordinates began to flatter him immediately.

"Haha, it was all luck," Tang replied. "The empress is wise."

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