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Chapter 288. Chang Yingxue (2)

Chang Jingzhong did not immediately put Chang Yingxue in the spotlight, but instead placed her in a corner of the archives of the Directorate of Ceremonial, making her an inconspicuous little eunuch who sorted out documents.

The place is filled with dust, and the smell of old paper and ink is almost suffocating, but it is also the best window to peek into the secrets of the palace.

Jiang Jianxin clung to her, feeling her growing weariness and the precise calculations of someone walking a tightrope.

Chang Yingxue was very clever. When she delivered documents, she would "coincidentally" offer a perfectly timed, "unintentional" mention of the local customs and scenery of a certain eunuch when he was in a bad mood.

In return, the other party softened their expression and said, "The little brat does have some sense."

When she checked the accounts, she could keenly detect the slightest ink alterations or discrepancies in the numbers, but she never made a fuss. She would just silently record them and report them to Chang Jingzhong in a low voice when no one was around, making them another bargaining chip in his hands, either for blackmail or for transactions.

She even began to pay attention to the preferences and taboos of the various palace masters and powerful eunuchs, piecing together information from snippets of conversations between their personal attendants.

"The Imperial Concubine of Yongshou Palace seems to have lost her appetite for sweets lately, and the small kitchen has removed more pastries than usual."

"Deputy Chief Steward Zhang recently acquired an ancient painting from a previous dynasty, which he greatly admires and has hung in the side hall of the duty room."

"The old eunuch who guards the side gate of the North Garden seems to be a heavy drinker; you can often smell alcohol on him at night."

These trivial pieces of information, reported by her with humble and obedient manner, were incorporated into Chang Jingzhong's vast information network.

Jiang Jianxin could sense that Chang Jingzhong's gaze towards her was gradually shifting from scrutiny and criticism to genuine respect.

Chang Jingzhong's ambition and Chang Yingxue's "talent" coexisted like vines and withered trees in the dark corners of the palace, growing rapidly.

As he acquired more and more secrets, and the intelligence provided by his "adopted son" became increasingly accurate and deadly, his status began to rise at an astonishing rate.

Chang Yingxue, this poisoned blade hidden in its sheath, is no longer content with spying and passing on information.

She began to actively weave her web, using seemingly insignificant fragments of information to create a weapon that could be deadly.

The turning point arrived in a cruel way. A close eunuch in the Eastern Palace who was responsible for taking care of the young crown prince suddenly fell ill and died.

The empty space instantly attracted countless eyes and ears.

This seemingly trivial task is actually the closest step to the core of future power. It is extremely risky, and any mistake could lead to utter ruin. However, if one gains the Crown Prince's trust, it is a shortcut to immense power.

In a silent competition, Chang Yingxue, with a "clean" background, "calm" demeanor, and strong recommendation from Chang Jingzhong, unexpectedly won this coveted position.

The moment Jiang Jianxin stepped into the East Palace, he was attached to her and could feel the tremor in the depths of her soul and a kind of cold excitement.

When faced with the frail and timid young prince, Chang Yingxue put Chang Jingzhong's teachings to the extreme.

Her posture was so humble that she seemed to touch the dust, her movements so gentle that they were unbelievable, and her words so considerate that it was as if she had devoted her whole heart and soul to this child.

Chang Yingxue remembered every subtle like and dislike of the Crown Prince, could sense his discomfort before he even frowned, could tell him novel stories when he was bored, and could soothe him with a strange and calming whisper when he was afraid.

She not only took care of his daily life, but also subtly began to cultivate the prince's dependence on her.

The late emperor was worried about the crown prince and was very impressed with this quiet and humble eunuch who took meticulous care of the crown prince. Chang Jingzhong spoke up at the right time, emphasizing Chang Yingxue's "loyalty" and "talent".

Opportunities followed one after another.

In his later years, the late emperor's energy waned, and he increasingly relied on the Directorate of Ceremonial to govern the country.

Based on the subtle information about the relationship between court officials and the harem that Chang Yingxue observed from the perspective of the Eastern Palace, Chang Jingzhong accurately "guessed the emperor's intentions" several times, solved thorny problems for the late emperor, and became increasingly favored.

Chang Yingxue's status rose accordingly, and she was personally appointed by the late emperor to assist in handling some simple reports sent to the Eastern Palace.

She seized this fleeting opportunity.

When dealing with simple reports, Chang Yingxue demonstrated a clear and organized approach, and his prudent and experienced way of reviewing and revising suggestions far surpassed what an ordinary eunuch could do.

More importantly, she indirectly influenced some of the late emperor's decisions through the crown prince.

While playing with the crown prince, she would "unintentionally" remark on the "integrity" of a certain official or the "severity" of a disaster in a certain place, so that the crown prince would remember it and then have the young crown prince mention it to the late emperor.

The late emperor cherished the Crown Prince's kindness and often adopted his advice.

Chang Jingzhong orchestrated events in the outer court, while Chang Yingxue exerted influence in the inner court. The master and apprentice worked together from the inside out, and their power expanded at an unimaginable speed.

Chang Jingzhong was soon promoted to Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, while Chang Yingxue, although nominally still a close attendant of the Crown Prince, had in fact been deeply involved in the approval of imperial edicts, and her opinions often influenced the final decisions of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

With the late emperor's passing and the young emperor's ascension to the throne, everything fell into place naturally.

Chang Jingzhong suddenly died at this moment, and all his political legacy and the vast intelligence network fell into the hands of his adopted son.

Chang Yingxue naturally took over as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot.

The new emperor was young and inexperienced, and was extremely dependent on the eunuch who had been with him since childhood.

Chang Ying'en, under the guise of "protecting the emperor," confined the young emperor to the inner palace, isolating him from outside officials. All memorials had to be approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial, but in reality, she made all the decisions.

The agents of the Eastern Depot swarmed like ants to carrion, monitoring all officials and deciding their lives and deaths with a single word.

She wore a python robe and a three-peaked crown, and her residence outside the palace was extravagantly luxurious.

The promotion, demotion, appointment, and removal of officials in the Six Ministries of the court all had to be handled by her protégés and former subordinates. The emperor called her "Changbanban," while the court officials privately revered her as "Nine Thousand Years Old" in fear.

Her power was immense, far surpassing that of any eunuch in history.

Jiang Jianxin was attached to her body, witnessing this almost insane ascent.

She could feel the coldness and loneliness of that pinnacle of power, the trembling from countless nightmares that kept her awake, and the deep-seated suspicion towards everyone, including the growing emperor.

The title of the Nine Thousand Years Old resounded throughout the heavens, and the sword hanging over his head would eventually fall.

Double update tomorrow too