From street beggar to high-ranking official

Servants show no mercy to each other, plotting against each other in secret, and hurling insults and bad luck at each other when they meet. But one cannot do such things with noble people.

Even if they are irreconcilable enemies, they still maintain sufficient politeness when facing each other, at most exchanging sarcastic remarks.

But as the system gradually shifted down to the servants, the situation changed.

On this day, in a small courtyard, the eunuchs and palace maids rushed in and soon grabbed a pair of eunuchs and maids who were having sex and took them to the Inner Palace Attendants' Office.

Without a doubt, both of these eunuchs and palace maids who were paired up came from Jingren Palace.

Lu Li was, after all, an eunuch in the Palace Attendant's Office. Although it was a relatively insignificant office, he had a significant advantage because he was a regular resident of the Forbidden City, especially in matters like night patrols.

One of the duties of the Palace Attendant is to guard the Forbidden City. So what if you have the Jingren Palace behind you? We can still torment you within the rules and regulations!

However, within Jingren Palace, discussions arose regarding Lu Li. One eunuch almost bluntly stated that Consort Ning hadn't even broken off all pretense of civility yet, but the dogs below were already barking incessantly.

Lu Li didn't care about such infamy; he simply silently recorded the eunuch's name in the register.

We're not angry!!!

Most of those attached to Jingren Palace were eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department, and of course, palace maids from the Forestry and Garden Bureau as well.

Both sides acted within the rules and deliberately tripped each other up, so the decorations of Wendiao Palace and Jingyang Palace were mostly drab or secondhand, and even the flowers and plants looked dehydrated and wilted.

Lu Li naturally couldn't stand it. He could tolerate such utensils once or twice, but Consort Xian's utensils were all brand new and top-of-the-line, and even the flowers and potted plants were thriving.

So he declared that all eunuchs and palace maids from Jingren Palace should be kept in extra care when patrolling the imperial city at night, and that no philanderers should be allowed to have sex at night.

Many eunuchs in the palace were shocked that Lu Li was not afraid of the authority of the second-rank supervisor of the Imperial Household Department. However, some discerning people could see that Lu Li, who seemed ruthless, was actually terrified. Except for necessary official business, he almost always stayed in Wen Diao Palace and did not come out.

Only with Consort Ning's protection does she dare to be so arrogant. It truly proves what a certain eunuch in the Imperial Household Department said: she is nothing more than a dog hiding in a cage, no different from a canary kept in a birdcage.

It is obvious who it refers to.

Lu Li's murderous intent surged, and even Consort Wu's original temper was awakened: "Little Lu, tie that rebellious dog of a servant up and bring her to me. Whatever happened, I'll get you out!"

Lu Li naturally accepted the order, but before he could prepare to plot against people, the imperial decree from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs arrived.

Zhou Shouren, a fifth-rank eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, was dismissed from all his concurrent posts and sent to the Directorate of the Palace Administration and the Incense Purification Office for further service.

This imperial edict came directly from the patriarch of all eunuchs, Eunuch Lü, who was also the most powerful and prestigious eunuch in the palace and had controlled the Inner Palace Office for twenty-four years.

However, Eunuch Lü rarely issued decrees directly from the Directorate of Ceremonial, and he rarely even showed his face.

Everyone originally thought that Eunuch Lü had gradually retired, but they never expected that he would actually make a move now.

Upon receiving the imperial decree from the Directorate of Ceremonial, Eunuch Zhou packed his belongings and went to the Incense Purification Department that very day.

Jingxiang Sizhifang.

The Incense Purification Office was the lowest-ranking place within the Imperial Palace. Not only was it stinking, but probably only a lapdog would dare to approach it. Even those who did odd jobs and were on duty in the Incense Purification Office were all assigned to shared sleeping quarters.

Although Eunuch Zhou was dismissed from his post, some of the past favors he had shown him still remained.

At least in the eyes of some junior eunuchs, Eunuch Zhou had only temporarily lost power, and as long as he remained the Director of Ceremonial Affairs of the Imperial Household Department, he would eventually be able to return to the Imperial Household Department.

Therefore, many eyes and ears turned their attention to the previously unnoticed Jingxiang Division.

That night.

Following the rules, Eunuch Zhou extinguished the lamps. Even though the Jingxiang Division was empty, he showed no change in expression and sat quietly in the darkness.

Outside the door and through the window, shadows flickered, and even some ghostly figures seemed to be trying to invade.

"Guests are always welcome. Since you're here, why not have a seat?" Eunuch Zhou said calmly.

The ghostly figure clinging to the wall disappeared, and then, with a creaking sound of a door opening, Lu Li walked into the empty room.

"Long time no see, Eunuch Zhou." Lu Li wasn't using his disguise at this moment. In Jingyang Palace and Wentiao Hall, Lu Li even looked somewhat familiar, but now, in private, he had no intention of continuing to hide his true appearance.

"Eunuch Lu's skills still need improvement," Eunuch Zhou chuckled. "This is our first meeting; that's not how you use classical allusions."

"It doesn't matter, the gesture is enough. Besides, we don't intend to be overly polite to Eunuch Zhou." Lu Li was just puzzled: "Eunuch Zhou is a veteran who has lived in the deep palace for a long time, how could he make such a mistake?"

The principle of avoiding the taboo of superiors, a lesson taught in the martial arts academy, was something that Lu Li did not believe Zhou Gonggong was unaware of.

"A person who doesn't dare to cause trouble is a mediocre person." Eunuch Zhou said casually, "Eunuch Lu has only been in the palace for a short time, so he may not understand what I mean, but sometimes you can't be given important responsibilities unless you push yourself to the brink."

Lu Li roughly understood. Just like Xiao Chuanzi and others' "pledge of allegiance," Zhou Gonggong's veiled criticism of Consort Wu and himself was, in effect, also a pledge of allegiance in a certain sense.

To make a living in the palace, you're bound to offend some people in the competition. This is due to the palace system. There are only so many official positions available, so if you want to advance, you can only rely on fighting and grabbing.

If Xiao Chuanzi's pledge of allegiance was for himself, then Eunuch Zhou's pledge of allegiance must have been for Consort Xian.

"Does Eunuch Zhou really think that Consort Xian would speak up for you?" Lu Li asked.

"Eunuch Lu is so clever; he truly deserves to be called the smartest dog in Jingyang Palace." Eunuch Zhou openly mocked, completely unconcerned about the murderous intent on Lu Li's face.

But what Eunuch Zhou said stunned Lu Li.

"We never expected that Consort Xian would be willing to ask."

"Then aren't you just courting death?" Lu Li was extremely surprised. Perhaps the Director of Ceremonial Affairs was willing to save his adopted son, but the Imperial Household Department had the imperial decree. If the Director of Ceremonial Affairs did anything out of line, it would be blatantly going against Eunuch Lü.

"We never expected Eunuch Lü to make a move!"

Since the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs doesn't get involved, all the rumors and gossip will just be a passing breeze. Thinking about it this way, perhaps Eunuch Zhou really can keep targeting Consort Wu.

But why did the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs suddenly intervene at this time?

It should be noted that on the night of the thief's attack, Lu Li did not see any eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial appear in public.

Suddenly, Lu Li felt a chill and realized a key point.

"All life, death, honor, and disgrace in the palace originate from Your Majesty." Eunuch Zhou bowed towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace.