From street beggar to high-ranking official

Chapter 73 Rules and Etiquette

"You've got some pretty good information, buddy," Eunuch Chen praised casually. "Is that so? Did you hear about it from the Directorate of Ceremonial?"

"Godfather, you are wise. In that case, wouldn't you be nominally under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Ceremonial?" Lu asked curiously.

For example, the Zangwu Pavilion and the library, guarded by eunuchs, were not under the jurisdiction of the Twelve Supervisors of the Inner Palace, and the original Martial Arts Academy was the same. This kind of treatment allowed you to stay away from the deep waters of the inner palace, making it a good place to protect yourself.

Lu Li didn't know what his godfather was thinking. After returning to the palace, Lu Li spent money to ask the old eunuch in the side hall if the old eunuch dared to say what the Zhou family head dared not say. Later, he learned that his godfather had once been a famous figure.

Although he did not hold the rank of a second-grade admiral, he relied on an imperial edict from the late emperor to seek out the auspicious omen of a three-legged toad and plunder the wealth of officials and gentry.

The emperor assigned eunuchs to the inner palace, but the outer court had no say in the matter. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs could only obey the imperial decree. Therefore, even newly arrived eunuchs could take on such lucrative positions.

The search for the three-legged golden toad was a pretense; the real purpose was to steal the wealth of a prominent family.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li wondered how the Zhou family head could be connected with his godfather. It was no wonder that his godfather could gather information from official gazettes, access the secret networks of powerful families, and contact the imperial harem.

Perhaps this was a transaction. The powerful families gained access to the inner palace, and Eunuch Chen successfully completed the late emperor's mission, not only plundering gold and silver to fill the imperial treasury, but also bringing back a three-legged toad.

That golden toad was related to the Zhou family of Bashu.

"His Majesty is trying to completely control the harem." Whenever the emperor was mentioned, Eunuch Chen would respectfully bow, and Lu Li would naturally follow behind. Therefore, all the young eunuchs in the martial arts training ground stared wide-eyed as the two senior eunuchs suddenly began to kneel and kowtow.

Whether His Majesty hears or sees it or not, you must kowtow and flatter him at all times. If you say it often enough, it will become a habit, a natural instinct, so as not to give others any reason to criticize you or offend His Majesty. Perhaps one day your loyalty will reach His Majesty's ears.

"Is it related to the thieves entering the palace?" After the three kowtows and nine prostrations, Lu asked carefully. The word "plague god" was forbidden in the palace, and those eunuchs and palace maids who had spread the word about the plague god had long been expelled from the palace.

"More or less," Eunuch Chen replied evasively. "You've kept the official gazette safe. Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

Lu, the official, hurriedly took out the Thousand Character Classic: "Your son asks his godfather, what does it mean that a woman admires chastity and a man emulates talent and virtue? Knowing one's faults, one must correct them; acquiring skills, one must not forget them?"

Eunuch Chen glanced at it and explained that women aspire to chastity and virtue; men should emulate virtuous role models, correct their mistakes when they are wrong, and firmly remember the skills they have learned.

This is an example of intertextuality; men and women do not necessarily use the same words.

Lu Li understood the last two sentences, but he had doubts about the first two.

The position you sit in determines your perspective, and your status determines the words you speak. Now that I am the head eunuch of Jingyang Palace, I have not only seen couples being paired up, but I have also heard about palace maids framing each other, such as deliberately arranging hard work during menstruation or preparing food for the Great Cold.

As for the eunuchs... Lu Li did it too.

This does not include pairing up.

"You little rascal, you're probably wondering because you see that the men and women in the palace don't match the 'chaste' and 'talented' described in the books, aren't you?" Eunuch Chen guessed Lu Li's doubts without much thought.

Reading reveals conflicts and contradictions between the classics of the ancients and reality. As long as you study diligently, you will soon have your own understanding. But unfortunately, Lu Li is not a reincarnation of the God of Literature... but he might be the God of War.

Lu bowed and said, "Father, you are wise. I am ignorant and have indeed had this doubt."

How much of the Four Books and Five Classics have you read?

"I have read through the Analects and Mencius, but I have only skimmed through the Book of Poetry and the Book of Documents. I have not yet read the Book of Changes and the Spring and Autumn Annals."

"He's learning a bit slowly. A true genius would have already passed the imperial examination and entered officialdom by now," Eunuch Chen commented. Even with his own literary talent, he couldn't achieve such genius, but it was quite useful for disciplining his godson.

Lu Li was extremely respectful, and he scolded himself for answering, saying that he came from a farming family and that his ability to learn both literature and martial arts was thanks to his godfather. Eunuch Chen listened to the empty flattery but did not expose it, and then smiled and pointed out a few things to Lu Li.

"Your perspective is dictated by your position; your words reflect your status. Don't let fleeting clouds obscure your view, for you stand at the highest level." Eunuch Chen chuckled. "What's written in this book are principles for the world to see; they're laid bare."

The rules. But we're trying to make a living within these palace walls; we can't just stick to rigid rules.

Eunuch Chen's words were eerie: "It's just like when I was ordered to find that three-legged golden toad back then."

He didn't elaborate, but looked at Lu Li meaningfully, "The matter is settled, the golden toad has been found, and His Majesty's treasury is full. Everyone is happy. Can the books teach you the intricacies of this?"

Terrified, Lu hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Father, spare my life! I was just confused for a moment!"

Eunuch Chen picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and continued, "You must continue reading the Four Books and Five Classics. The books of sages and worthies are meant to be used, not just read. But before you can use them, you must know how to read them. The purpose of reading is to understand loyalty, filial piety, integrity, shame, propriety, righteousness, wisdom, and trustworthiness. But even if you understand them, you must be able to apply them."

"Those who practice martial arts will be attacked by fire and their minds will be clouded by blood and qi. Even if the 'You Ting Nei Jing Jue' has mental techniques to assist them, the books of sages and worthies also have their effects. After reading the nine classics, read the 'Da Qian Lu' and 'Li Zhi' to thoroughly understand the patriarchal rules and regulations, and then spend a lifetime studying the 'Zhou Yi'."

Lu Li listened attentively. With his own limited knowledge, it might take him a few more years to fully comprehend such a principle. He saw that his godfather did not punish or scold him for his secret investigation, but instead became even more loyal and respectful.

"If we find out that our adopted son is investigating our family's secrets, we'll gouge his eyes out before we question him!"

After respectfully bidding farewell to his godfather, Lu Li used his Ghost Shadow Stalking technique to walk like a ghost along the palace carriage path. In fact, he still had a question in his mind that he hadn't asked.

If the writings of the ancients contradict reality, Lu Li may understand or accept it, but what if they conflict with each other?

The principle that "the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners" and "rites do not apply to commoners, and punishments do not apply to high-ranking officials"...

Lu Li's mind was in turmoil. Suddenly, he remembered his godfather's recent admonition: "Reading is good; you should learn from reading."

With that thought in mind, he didn't even notice when Consort Xian's carriage passed by.

This was the first time Lu Li had encountered a nobleman who did not bow in the palace. The rules and etiquette of the palace seemed to instinctively pull at Lu Li's body, and a ghostly figure swayed weakly in place.

In the past, Lu Li would have knelt down and kowtowed from afar upon seeing the procession, but now, perhaps due to his complicated thoughts or his confidence in his superior lightness skills, he had no heart for the gods and simply stood upright, watching the procession pass by and disappear into the distance.

"This tastes good."