The Xuan Emperor said with a smile, "You did well. What guilt is there in it?"

"You are the commander of this emperor's own guard and you live as poorly as this. The oversight is this emperor's."

"You take no bribes and you keep this emperor safe, and that is loyalty. Your parents are bedridden year after year and you wait on them at their bedside, and that is filial duty."

"Nie Liang, attend the edict!"

Nie Liang gave a start and said hurriedly, "Your subject receives the edict!"

The Xuan Emperor spoke slowly. "Nie Liang has discharged his duty scrupulously and is abundant in loyalty and filial devotion. He is granted five hundred taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver... his annual salary is raised to five thousand taels."

"Further, his younger brother has waited on their parents and is of high and unblemished character. He is appointed Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, to take up the post on a day to be chosen. Respect this!"

Nie Liang flushed red with feeling, and his eyes reddened too. He knocked his head to the floor in thanks at once.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this boundless grace!"

And the man he was most grateful to at that moment was not the Xuan Emperor. It was Ning Chen.

That move of Ning Chen's had been a masterly one.

First, his brother had failed the examinations again and again, and it had been a sickness in his heart.

Now his brother had an office and an income.

Second, the hardship at home was solved.

Third, His Majesty had seen his loyalty.

Ning Chen. How am I ever to repay you?

And at that moment Ning Chen was at the Fallen Phoenix Court, making up a story for the Ninth Princess.

The Ninth Princess was listening with great relish.

"Why would Lady White fall in love with Sun Wukong? He's a monkey."

Ning Chen said with a smile, "Because Lady White is a demon herself. She's a great white snake." (TL Note: Ning Chen is welding two different Chinese classics…