Chapter 39: The Letter of Appointment

Roughly half an hour later, Chu Fengge's attendant, Xu San, stepped out from the main hall. After a swift scan of the crowd gathered, he bellowed, "Ma Qin, are you present?"

"I am!" Ma Qin promptly stepped forward and responded.

"Your promotion exam results are out," Xu San announced, "Sir Chu awaits you in the hall. He wishes to have a word with you in private."

"Yes."

Ma Qin drew in a deep breath, ascended the steps again, and entered the Exorcism Bureau's main hall.

Although he'd already mentally prepared for the worst outcome concerning the exam results, the thought of an imminent private meeting with Master Chu under the watchful eyes of the crowd left him with an inevitable sense of pressure. His heartstrings tightened.

Exorcism Bureau's fifth-rank official, Chu Fengge, remained lounging on his governor's chair, his legs crossed lazily.

His handsome face was etched with chiseled eyebrows, rosy cheeks, and lips. He looked as if he'd been plucked from a painting.

"Sit," Chu Fengge instructed in a placid tone.

Upon hearing the command, Ma Qin cautiously settled into a seat at the side of the grand hall, perching on the edge with only half his rear against the chair. His body leaned slightly forward, and his spine was as straight as a rod.

"How do you feel about your performance?" After a moment of silence, Chu Fengge began with a slow, measured tone.

Ma Qin was taken aback by this question from Chu Fengge.

Nonetheless, he bowed his head and answered earnestly, "In terms of talent, wit, and courage, I am far inferior to Gu Xu. I believe that he is more suitable for this position than I am."

A soft chuckle escaped from Chu Fengge.

His beautiful, peach blossom eyes narrowed into crescent moons, exuding a charm that was both noble and enticing.

"Congratulations, Ma Qin," Chu Fengge announced Ma Qin's fate with a tranquil tone, "Starting today, you are the ninth-rank Exorcism Bureau official in Yishui County."

What?

Me?

A ninth-rank official?

Ma Qin was struck dumb in place, finding it difficult to believe his ears.

It was evident to everyone that Gu Xu had outperformed him significantly in the assessments.

Why, then, was he the one to land the job?

"Master... Master Chu, there... There isn't a... a mistake, is there?" Ma Qin stuttered.

"This is the decision of our Bureau's Chief" Chu Fengge responded, "There can't be any mistake."

With that, he lightly waved his sleeve.

A letter of appointment levitated from the table and drifted into Ma Qin's hands.

The letter of appointment, also known as a "Gao Shen," served as proof of an official appointment within the Great Qi Dynasty.

Ma Qin took the letter in both hands and scrutinized its contents.

The black ink on the white paper assured him that he was not dreaming.

He stood there, motionless, in a daze, as though he'd been struck by lightning.

Only after a long while did he come back to his senses, overwhelmed with gratitude. He bowed deeply, expressing his thanks to Chu Fengge and the Bureau's chief in the capital city.

"Perform well in the future," Chu Fengge offered a casual word of encouragement, "Don't let our Bureau's chief expectations of you go in vain."

"And… What about Gu Xu?" Driven by curiosity, Ma Qin mustered up the courage to ask after some hesitation.

He couldn't believe that someone as gifted as Gu Xu would fail the exam.

"That's none of your business," Chu Fengge retorted coldly, "Also, fetch Gu Xu for me."

…

Moments later, Ma Qin stepped out of the main hall, holding his letter of appointment, under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

His earlier stress had completely dissipated, and his mind was blank.

His steps were light and swift, as if he were treading on soft, fluffy clouds.

His previous plan of fleeing back to Qingzhou Prefecture in the middle of the night… well, he had completely forgotten about it.

"Starting today, I am also an official appointed by the Great Qi's court," he couldn't help but smile, "The fortune teller who called himself 'Zhang Half-Immortal' was off the mark!"

He looked around and spotted Gu Xu sitting quietly on the edge of the courtyard, by a flower bed. Gu Xu was doodling in a small booklet with a piece of charcoal.

Wearing a smile, Ma Qin headed directly towards him.

"Brother Gu, Master Chu is waiting for you in the main hall. He wishes to discuss your exam results," he informed Gu Xu.

Gu Xu opened his eyes. They were tranquil like a winter lake.

"Congratulations, Sir Ma!" He gave Ma Qin a salute. His voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuations, "I look forward to working together in Yishui County. I hope to learn from you."

"How did you know?" Ma Qin was surprised.

In the Great Qi Dynasty, only officials could be addressed as "Sir."

But so far, aside from Chu Fengge and Ma Qin himself, no one had seen his letter of appointment.

So, how had Gu Xu managed to guess that he'd been successful in obtaining the post in the Yishui County Exorcism Bureau?

All he heard was Gu Xu's faint smile, "Sir Ma, you look quite pleased with yourself."

Upon seeing the young man's serene smile, Ma Qin suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.

He had always felt that Gu Xu was more deserving of this position. The high levels of the Exorcism Bureau likely chose him because he had seniority.

Hierarchy by seniority is not an uncommon occurrence in the government of the Great Qi.

So Ma Qin patted Gu Xu's shoulder, comforting him, "Brother Gu, don't worry about this setback. You're still young, and you're talented. There will be many more opportunities in the future."

Gu Xu raised his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you for your kind words, Sir Ma."

.....

Afterward, Gu Xu calmly stepped into the Exorcism Bureau's main hall, adjusted his attire, and gracefully took his seat in front of Chu Fengge.

Respectful yet dignified.

"You seem to be taking this quite well," Chu Fengge said, a meaningful smile on his face.

"Heaven made me, thus I must be of use" Gu Xu replied nonchalantly.

The phrase might have sounded a bit arrogant.

But for someone like Chu Fengge, who was both narcissistic and a fan of refined eloquence, it was a delightful comment.

Speaking a person's language, speaking a ghost's language - Gu Xu was always very good at this.[1]

Indeed, hearing Gu Xu's reply, Chu Fengge seemed calm, but inside, he made a mental note of this exceptionally impressive phrase. He planned to have his subordinates help him come up with similar lines when he returned to the capital.

"Your appointment letter was personally written by the Bureau Chief and bears the Emperor's jade seal," Chu Fengge continued. "Take a look at it."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a piece of white paper appeared in Gu Xu's hands.

The characters on the paper floated like clouds, strong like a startled dragon, elegant and vigorous, revealing a unique style.

It seemed as if a celestial being had written it, inspiring admiration.

The content of the appointment letter is as follows:

"Decree: The people are the foundation of the country, and if the people are at peace, the country will prosper. However, ghosts and demons are running rampant, causing trouble. In order to stabilize the root, we must eradicate these evils. How can we ensure the people's safety without seeking the loyal and virtuous?

Gu Xu of Yishui County in Qingzhou Prefecture is a role model in both character and conduct. His knowledge is vast, and all are impressed. He has served in remote areas, devoted to the state. He is focused on rectifying things in peace, and resolves difficulties in action.

Having such a talent can bring peace to a corner of the world.

According to the law of the emperor, I promote you to the position of Exorcism Bureau Official in Yishui County, with the official rank of eight."

.....

Footnotes:

(1) is a Chinese idiom that essentially means to speak according to the listener's preference, or to adjust one's words based on the audience. It suggests that Gu Xu is very skilled at tailoring his language and demeanor to the situation at hand. He knows how to communicate effectively with different people by understanding and aligning with their perspectives, rather like the English saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".