After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

The King of Wei was stunned.

He stood in the center of the cell, his expression shifting from anger to astonishment, and from astonishment to disbelief.

Imprisoned for fifteen days?

The Emperor wants to imprison him in the Ministry of Justice's prison?

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: this time, he had probably crossed the line with his elder brother.

This time, the Emperor was issuing a warning.

Thinking about it more deeply...

How dare a lowly eunuch strangle a Prefect of the Capital in front of him?

Even if Cao Mo is guilty, he should be punished by the Ministry of Justice in a public and lawful manner, not by a eunuch acting on his own.

Unless, of course, it was tacitly approved by the Emperor.

A chill ran down the back of the King of Wei.

He looked up and met Li Fan's calm, still eyes, and suddenly he understood everything.

This eunuch is not Consort Xie's dog.

He is the Emperor's sword.

"I...understand."

He slowly sat back down on the wooden stool, looking like a wilted eggplant, all his former haughty arrogance gone.

Chen Tie stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.

He watched with his own eyes as this eunuch strangled a third-rank official, the Prefect of Jingzhao, and then watched as he used an imperial edict to frighten a prince into cowering like a quail.

This eunuch Gao is incredibly audacious!

What's even more frightening is that he wasn't acting recklessly.

Every step has a backup plan, and every strike hits the vital points.

Chen Tie's palms were sweaty, his heart was pounding like a drum, but an inexplicable feeling welled up in his eyes...

Awe!

"It's good that Your Highness understands."

Li Fan ignored the King of Wei and turned to leave.

He now understands his position better than anyone else. He is no longer just Consort Xie's person, but more like a knife used by the Chu Emperor to cut down the powerful clans of Guanzhong.

Therefore, before he dealt a severe blow to the powerful clans of Guanzhong, he could strangle a prefect of the capital without any consequences.

As for the future, well, let's focus on living well now!

Chen Tie snapped out of his daze and quickly followed.

Li Fan stood on the steps, took a deep breath of the outside air, turned around, and looked at Chen Tie.

"Chen Tie, how are you doing in the Imperial Guard?"

Chen Tie was taken aback.

He had expected the eunuch to ask this question suddenly.

But he hesitated for a moment, then honestly replied, "Yes, Father-in-law, it's very good."

"Good?"

Li Fan smiled, a smile with an indescribable quality:

"How many taels of silver do you earn a month? What are your chances of promotion? How many captains are above you, keeping you in check?"

"Tell me the truth, if I spend my whole life in the Imperial Guards, is it possible to even become a squad leader?"

Chen Tie opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Because every word Li Fan said was true.

The Imperial Guards may seem glamorous, but only the lower-ranking soldiers know the true extent of their lives.

With meager pay and no hope of promotion, and all those above him being from wealthy families, soldiers from humble backgrounds could never hope to rise above their station.

"It shouldn't be possible..."

Seeing his sudden change in expression, Li Fan continued:

"My master is now the head of the Eastern Depot, and he will be going to take up his post in the Eastern Depot in a couple of days. He needs a few trustworthy people around him."

"We want to take you with us. If you come with us, we'll make you the team leader right away."

Team leader.

Lower Ninth Rank.

A real official position.

Chen Tie's breathing suddenly became rapid.

His greatest wish in life was to become an official.

Even being the lowest-ranking official is a hundred times better than being a common soldier.

Unfortunately, he came from a poor family and had no connections. He served in the Imperial Guard for five years but never even became a squad leader.

Right now, all he has to do is nod, and he'll be the team leader.

Can……

He glanced at Li Fan, and a wave of hesitation washed over him.

This eunuch Gao is acting far too recklessly.

Strangling the prefect and threatening a prince—which of these wouldn't lead to execution?

Following someone like that, you might die any day now.

Moreover, he was a eunuch.

Chen Tie had heard people say since he was a child that eunuchs were like rootless duckweed, and what future could one have by following a eunuch?

Li Fan seemed to see through his thoughts and said calmly:

"In this life, you may only have one chance to defy fate. If you miss it, your life will be like this."

"You chose to spend your life as a low-ranking soldier in the Imperial Guard, only to be kicked out of the army at forty and still not be able to find a wife..."

"Should we still come with us, venture out, and try our luck for wealth and prosperity?"

"We have Consort Xie standing behind us. As long as Consort Xie remains powerful, we will rise to great heights."

"Now that I've said that, you should think it over carefully."

After saying that, he turned and left.

They didn't urge me, didn't try to keep me, and didn't even look back.

Chen Tie stood there, his hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

It felt like two people were fighting in his head. One was saying, "Follow Li Fan, and he'll lead you up the ladder."

Another person said that he was a eunuch, and there was no future in following a eunuch.

But then I thought, does being a eunuch guarantee a better future?

Chen Tie suddenly raised his head and strode after him.

"Father-in-law!"

Li Fan stopped walking without turning around.

Chen Tie walked behind him, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice:

"Your subordinate is willing to follow Commander Gao and serve you faithfully!"

Li Fan turned around, looked at Chen Tie kneeling on the ground, and smiled slightly.

He reached out and helped Chen Tie up.

"Okay, today is the most important choice you've ever made in your life."

"Wealth and honor are right before my eyes."

Chen Tie raised his head, his gaze firm: "Understood."

Li Fan patted him on the shoulder and said:

"After we get back, find a few people you're close to and who you think are reliable, and then our family will take you all over."

Tell them that they will not be treated badly if they stay with our family.

Chen Tie clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming:

"Yes, Commander Gao!"

Chen Tie was the first.

There will be a second, and a third.

The Eastern Depot is now just an empty shell; he needs to polish this rusted knife back to its former glory.

Only when the grinding is sharp can the meat be cut.

"Grandpa Gao!"

Two people walked towards us.

Ahead stood a burly, tall middle-aged man, Zhang Xuan, with a slender woman following half a step behind him.

High ponytail, dark blue outfit, leather belt around the waist, and deerskin boots.

His wheat-colored skin glowed with a healthy sheen in the afternoon sun. He had sharp eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and a high nose bridge, giving him a dashing and capable air.

Zhang Miaozhen.

Li Fan's gaze swept over her, then quickly returned to her, and he greeted her with a smile:

"General Zhang, congratulations! Your name has been cleared and you have been reinstated. This is a double blessing."

Zhang Xuan quickly walked a few steps to Li Fan, then suddenly clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

"Eunuch Gao! If it weren't for your help this time, even if I, Zhang Xuan, had a hundred mouths, I wouldn't be able to explain myself. I would have become Liu Zhengsheng's scapegoat and died in the Ministry of Justice prison long ago."

"I, Zhang Xuan, will forever remember your kindness! I will never forget it in this lifetime!"

Li Fan reached out to support him, his smile gentle:

"General Zhang, you flatter me. I was merely following orders. If you want to thank someone, thank the Imperial Concubine."