From street beggar to high-ranking official

Chapter 72 Hat Size

On the tenth day of the eighth lunar month, it is auspicious for travel, moving, and bathing. Consort Wu and the prince moved to Wentiao Palace, where there was a banquet with lanterns and guests. The Empress, Empress Dowager and other imperial concubines also presented gifts.

The longevity lock, the warm jade elephant pendant, and the unicorn pine cone lamp—the gold lock symbolizes the gathering of auspicious omens from all over the world, wishing the prince a peaceful and prosperous future, and also carrying the auspicious meaning of the benevolent beast unicorn bringing a child.

Leaving aside the many other treasures, Lu Li only heard from a junior officer in the Imperial Household Department that the treasures given as gifts were worth ten thousand taels of silver.

On August 13th, Yan Ziqing, Minister of Rites, submitted a memorial to the throne, stating that Zhang Kai, the magistrate of Pei County, had died for his country during a locust plague, and requested His Majesty to issue an edict to commend Zhang Kai's family, so as to commemorate the virtues and integrity of an official who serves the people.

Emperor Yongxi asked in surprise about the cause of death, wondering if it was caused by locusts biting him.

Yan Ziqing reported with great interest: "Magistrate Zhang was not bitten to death by locusts, but died from swallowing a large number of locusts. That day, Magistrate Zhang personally led a group of county officials to the farmland to catch the locusts and save the seedlings. When the attempt to save them failed, he went mad and swallowed all the locusts he caught. The people present were all moved by this and wept bitterly."

Some upright officials praised him, while some ministers submitted memorials advising against it, arguing that the magistrate's suicide was outrageous and that he should not be excessively rewarded with honors, lest future officials follow suit and deliberately risk their lives for empty fame.

The imperial court was not a place where all officials spoke with one voice, but rather a place where Emperor Yongxi ruled with his own words.

Emperor Yongxi posthumously granted him the title of Prefect, bestowed upon him court robes, and allowed him to be buried with a higher-ranking ceremony; he also bestowed upon him the posthumous title of Huimin, meaning to show compassion for the people and to mourn his martyrdom; he conferred official titles upon his family and granted his descendants the privilege of receiving official rank... One of his sons entered the Imperial Academy.

Lu Li ordered Xiao Chuanzi to stay with three or five junior eunuchs to guard the inner palace of Jingyang Palace. Inside Jingyang Palace, Yan Zheng, a junior eunuch from the Inner Palace, was carrying out civil engineering and waterworks.

Xiao Chuanzi stayed inside the palace, resting on a large reclining chair, with two eunuchs taking turns serving him on either side.

He wasn't worried about the eunuchs cutting corners, because this embezzlement involved not only the Directorate of Ceremonial and the eunuchs, but also a portion of the Jingyang Palace's funds.

The imperial edict was presented, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs drafted the decree, the Directorate of Palace Attendants carried it out, and the Jingyang Palace was overseen by the supervisor.

The Directorate of Palace Attendants was not a powerless department like the Directorate of Palace Attendants. To complete a project, it required the approval of the Chief Eunuch of Jingyang Palace, or rather, Eunuch Lu. Without a share of the money and a fee for his hard work, the Directorate of Palace Attendants' projects would never be completed.

The construction and travel arrangements within the palace were uniformly arranged according to the auspicious and inauspicious days of the imperial calendar. These arrangements were uniformly made by officials of the Imperial Observatory based on celestial changes and the phases of the sun, moon, and stars. If the arrangements were delayed, the blame placed on the Directorate of Palace Attendants could be as large as desired.

Of course, the funds for the construction of the royal palace were all funded by the imperial treasury, but the lion's share was embezzled by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Directorate of Palace Attendants. Jingyang Palace only earned a meager living.

"Eunuch Chuan, when do you think the position of Director of the Imperial Palace will be awarded to you?" asked a young eunuch while fanning himself with a fan.

That night, it wasn't just Eunuch Zhao, an eighth-rank eunuch, who died; incidents also occurred in other areas, and the investigation of spies also...

A number of eunuchs and palace maids were arrested and imprisoned, leaving many areas vacant.

Inside the palace, Xiao Chuanzi's godfather, Lu Li, took over the position of the deceased seventh-rank eunuch. Similarly, two eighth-rank official positions became vacant.

Therefore, there were quite a few rumors circulating within the Palace Guard. Some said that Commander Xie planned to promote Eunuch Lu again, and that one of the eighth-rank official positions would be given to Eunuch Lu. Others said that a certain fourth-rank eunuch planned to promote his son Yu. Still others said that Commander Xie planned to clean up the Palace Guard, and that the two eighth-rank official positions were just the beginning.

Rumors were circulating, and the information the eunuchs had gathered was almost entirely different. So they went directly to find the person in question... the adopted son.

I heard that Xiao Chuanzi is the most favored adopted son under Eunuch Lu. Even important matters such as supervising Jingyang Palace are entrusted to Xiao Chuanzi, which shows how much he is favored.

"Tsk tsk, not even at the level of a connoisseur yet, and already fantasizing like this?" Xiao Chuanzi sighed. This feeling of being served is really nice, it's just a pity that we're missing a pot of tea.

He recalled his godfather's posture and imitated it. This unfathomable air made the two young eunuchs almost certain that Eunuch Chuan knew the inside story.

We need to hurry up and pay our respects to this true Buddha, otherwise, when he gets promoted, we might not even be able to step into his doorstep.

So the two eunuchs served him even more attentively.

"Alright, we're going to take a nap. Keep a close eye on things, make sure there's no improper construction." — Xiao Chuanzi

He gave the order.

The two eunuchs took their leave.

Xiao Chuanzi lay on the large chair, his eyes half-closed, breathing softly, seemingly asleep. Only after the two eunuchs had completely disappeared did he open his eyes and sit up straight: "Heh heh, one from the Seal of Imperial Seals, one from the Imperial Horse Stables, do they really think that currying favor with me will get them a higher position in Jingyang Palace?"

He harbored dark thoughts and then began to engage in underhanded tactics within the palace.

For example, the original plum blossom floor tiles were facing the wrong direction, the rain chain hanging from the eaves was tilted to the ground, and the vases were placed at an angle.

These are not trivial matters worth noting. Even if Consort Wu were to come in person, she might not be able to notice these nooks and crannies. But as long as these locations are noted, they will be enough to give these two eunuchs a hard time during the inspection.

A hat, which can be big or small, is thus placed on the hat just right. As for what is written on the hat, it can be negligence of the supervisor, oversight of the work, or concealment and deception of the Lord!

The first two are at most punishments like hard labor or caning, but the last one could mean direct exile.

"Godfather's method is indeed novel. As long as you make a mistake, no matter what the mistake is, it can be turned into the crime that our family wants." Xiao Chuanzi admired Lu Li more and more. Even though he was much older, some things were just innate.

A teacher should be respected not for his age, but for his wisdom and experience!

My godfather's words were truly profound; we must serve him well and learn from them.

Xiao Chuanzi was unaware that Lu Li's actions were actually quite innovative. Back when Lu Li used the rule of avoiding the names of the respected elders to secretly harm the little eunuch whose name he could no longer remember in the martial arts school, Eunuch Ji listed a large number of reasons that no one could refute, each one reasonable and convincing, as if the little eunuch was born to die and that no god or Buddha could save him.

After finishing these tasks, Xiao Chuanzi secretly memorized the locations. He had already spoken to the eunuchs of the Inner Palace, so they wouldn't interfere.

Even if a eunuch was crushed to death by a beam or drowned in a well, as long as he could get the verification done by paying less silver, the eunuchs of the Inner Palace would pretend not to see it!

Inside the martial arts academy, Lu Li was serving his godfather, Eunuch Chen. A new batch of eunuchs had entered the palace. As Lu Li had previously learned, many of the eunuchs who entered the palace this time were older, and some even had thick calluses on their hands and a dull expression that came from years spent working in the fields.

"Godfather, I heard that the Martial Arts Academy is going to change its name to the Inner Academy?" Lu Li asked.