My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

After settling the Li family in, Du Ruomei stayed behind to accompany them while Du Tianhao and the others returned to the family hall.

"Tianfeng, the imperial court has agreed to appoint you as the garrison commander of Ganquan County, but Ganquan County is always on the border, so you need to be careful."

Du Tianyuan, serving as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was already aware of the court's decision.

Li Xuancang personally recommended Du Tianfeng to serve as the garrison commander of Ganquan County, and neither the emperor nor his ministers could object.

Du Tianfeng looked serious; he knew that serving as the garrison commander of Ganquan County came with enormous risks.

"The family has decided to concentrate resources to help you break through to the Profound Realm."

Before Du Tianfeng returned to the clan, everyone had already discussed and agreed to mobilize the entire clan to support Du Tianfeng's breakthrough.

Only when Du Tianfeng breaks through to the Profound Realm can they feel at ease having him stationed in Ganquan County.

Du Tianfeng's eyes lit up at the family's decision. He clenched his fist, determined to reach the Profound Realm.

"I will definitely do my best."

Du Tianfeng has been at the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm for many years and has accumulated a wealth of experience. As long as he has sufficient resources, he is very confident that he can break through to the next level.

"The family will send someone to help you."

This is the advantage of having powerful backers.

The Du family can send some disciples to Ganquan County to help Du Tianfeng stabilize the situation as soon as possible.

"Xuan Cang left two armies in Ganquan County, which is enough to ensure the safety of Ganquan County."

Li Xuancang left the Ganquan Camp and the Tiger Army to Du Tianfeng, which ensured the normal operation of Ganquan County.

Everyone was delighted. Li Xuancang had laid a solid foundation, and Du Tianfeng only needed to take office.

After discussing Du Tianfeng's matter, the group talked about Li Xuancang and Du Ruomei.

"During this time, let Ruomei get closer to Marquis Wu'an's parents. Once Marquis Wu'an comes to the capital, we will hold their wedding."

The Du family has discovered that many people are trying to interfere and covet the position of the Marquis's wife. The Du family wants to act decisively and make everything a fait accompli.

"The master is right."

Everyone agreed that this was a major event for the Du family.

At the same time, in Yuanling County, a remote border region, which had been almost abandoned by the imperial court.

Pei Hongwen had just finished his official duties and was finally able to relax.

"I'll be returning to Beijing to report on my work in another month. I hope nothing unexpected happens."

Two years have passed, and I have finally made it back to Beijing to report on my work.

In the past two years, Pei Hongwen has devoted himself wholeheartedly to his work and has finally achieved some success.

As long as no one interferes, he can be transferred away from Yuanlin County to other places.

Pei Hongwen's biggest worry was the Marquis of Anzhou's residence. If the Marquis of Anzhou secretly sabotaged him, it would be difficult for him to leave Yuanlin County smoothly.

"We still need to be on guard."

Pei Hongwen dared not be careless and used the connections that the Pei family had accumulated in the past to ensure that his transfer was foolproof.

"Ugh!"

Thinking of this, Pei Hongwen's face was filled with regret.

If he had firmly chosen Li Xuancang back then, the Pei family wouldn't be in this situation.

"Yesterday's dust at the bottom of the valley, today's pillar of the state. The boy of yesteryear has been ennobled and risen to the highest position in the court. Truly, the ways of the world are ironic."

Even now, Pei Hongwen still finds it hard to believe.

Two years ago, he was just a young man trying to climb the social ladder by visiting the Pei family. Now he is a high-ranking official, the Marquis of Wu'an, who lives and dies with the nation. Who could have imagined that this day would come?

"Li Xuancang is an upright and honest man who will not deliberately make things difficult for me. I only need to be wary of the Marquis of Anzhou's residence."

He trusted Li Xuancang's character more than the Marquis of Anzhou's family, his former in-laws.

At the same time, under the direction of Old Master Pei, the Pei family members were constantly trying to contact people who had been on good terms with the Pei family in the past, but they were not very successful.

"Grandpa, these families are all refusing to see us. We are at our wits' end."

Over the years, the Pei family has experienced the fickleness of human relationships, and instead of feeling angry, they feel deep worry.

The Pei family has fallen into ruin, and now they are struggling to survive with only Pei Hongwen serving as the prefect.

If Pei Hongwen cannot be persuaded to leave Yuanlin County, the Pei family will find it difficult to survive.

Old Master Pei has aged considerably over the years, his hair has turned completely white, and his energy and spirit are not what they used to be.

However, his eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable.

After listening to what his clansmen had to say, Old Master Pei's cloudy eyes shifted, and he already had his answer.

"It's impossible for everyone to stay home and refuse to see anyone; someone must be causing trouble."

Upon hearing these words from Old Master Pei, the Pei family members instantly flew into a rage, unleashing boundless hatred.

"Grandfather, this must have been done by the Marquis of Anzhou's residence."

It's obvious without even thinking that this must be the work of the Marquis of Anzhou in secret.

Over the years, the Marquis of Anzhou's mansion has gone to great lengths to deal with the Pei family.

"Grandfather, the Marquis of Anzhou's household has pledged allegiance to Prince Ning and is highly valued by him. How should we deal with this?"

After their anger subsided, everyone was at a loss.

The Marquis of Anzhou's mansion has shown signs of a resurgence in recent years. The Marquis of Anzhou has broken through to the late stage of the Gangqi Realm and is highly valued by Prince Ning.

The Pei family, however, was in decline and had no power to contend with them.

If the Marquis of Anzhou's mansion interferes, Pei Hongwen's hopes of leaving Yuanling County are slim.

Everyone turned to look at Old Master Pei, hoping he could lead the Pei family through the crisis.

Old Master Pei's expression was complex, filled with a deep sense of powerlessness and exhaustion.

With the Pei family in decline, how could they possibly contend with the Marquis of Anzhou's mansion?

Just then, a figure entered the lobby.

"snort!"

Upon seeing the newcomers, the Pei family members' expressions turned cold. They snorted coldly, and some even had hatred in their eyes.

"Grandpa."

Pei Qingyuan bowed to Old Master Pei, and then bowed to the many clansmen.

The tribesmen looked at him coldly and ignored him completely.

In their view, if Pei Qingyuan hadn't acted out of line, the Pei family wouldn't have fallen to this state.

Pei Qingyuan is the culprit who caused the decline of the Pei family. Everyone only hates her and no longer feels any kinship with her.

Although she had grown accustomed to her clansmen's attitude, each time it still caused Pei Qingyuan excruciating pain.

Suppressing her grief, she said, "Grandfather, I have already asked the great scholar Zhang of the academy to intercede for Father. If nothing unexpected happens, Father will not need to go to Yuanlin County."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, and then looked at him with disdain.

"That's easy for you to say. Do you know that the Marquis of Anzhou's mansion is making things difficult for them at every turn? They have the Prince of Ning behind them. What can a great scholar from the academy do if he intervenes?"

One of the clansmen could no longer contain himself and launched into a tirade of angry curses at Pei Qingyuan.

"If you hadn't broken the rules back then, the Pei family wouldn't have had this good marriage. Without your ideal husband's help, how could the Pei family have fallen into such a predicament?"

Hearing the angry curses of her clansmen and feeling their hatred for her, Pei Qingyuan's eyes reddened, and she felt infinitely wronged.

She harbored no resentment towards her people, only hatred for herself for having been blinded by greed and making such a grave mistake.

"Alright, what time is it? Are you still going to argue like this?"

Old Master Pei's aged voice rang out, stopping the crowd.

Pei Qingyuan composed herself, her heart filled with barely suppressed hatred.

With the Marquis of Anzhou's residence and Lin Jingyan involved, if they interfere, even the intervention of a great scholar will be futile.

Pei Qingyuan originally wanted to share this good news with her clansmen, but she didn't expect to hear even worse news.