novelburst
Chapter 534 - 394 Admiral
Chapter 534 - 394 Admiral
Chapter 534: Chapter 394 Admiral
The Palace Supervisor.
At the door, two rows of eunuchs were waiting, each dressed in the plainest of grey robes.
Everyone had already found out that the new Admiral had not yet received his official robe. When the time came, seeing you dressed up brightly and beautifully, envy might arise in his heart, and before you knew it, he would use it as an opportunity to assert his authority.
The spring breeze of March was no longer cold, yet the heavy weight of waiting chilled the heart.
With the arrival of a new official, inevitably someone would be made into a sacrificial chicken, perhaps because their appearance was disagreeable, or perhaps because they stepped in with the right foot first, and then they would be beaten to death, fallen into a well.
This was like drawing lots by chance, and the one chosen would die.
...
Mental fear was more torturous than physical punishment!
The sun was already high in the sky.
No matter how much the waiting eunuchs cursed in their hearts, not a hint of impatience showed on their faces. Instead, they glanced left and right at their colleagues, ready to report anyone who dared show discontent.
If a colleague died, there would be no need for oneself to draw lots!
The Hour of the Sheep.
The sound of footsteps approached, and the eunuchs looked towards the source.
About a dozen figures were heading towards the Palace Supervisor, the one leading them was none other than the new Admiral, Eunuch Zhou Yi. The others were not unfamiliar either, including Eunuch Wen from the Library, Eunuch Shen from the Kitchen, and Eunuch Yu in charge of castrations…
The old men of the Palace Supervisor were one or two generations older than the eunuchs at the door.
Usually, these old eunuchs didn’t stand out, nor did they vie for power. Consecutive Admirals would not favor them, preferring instead to promote their young protégés.
Zhou Yi spoke softly to Eunuch Wen, constantly calling him “sir,” which made the old eunuch cackle with delight.
Not even glancing at the eunuchs on either side, he led a group of old fellows straight into the Palace Supervisor.
The layout of the hall had not changed in two years; directly in front was the seat of the previous godfather figure, Eunuch Xu, who had been succeeded by Eunuch Zheng. Recently implicated in corruption, he had been demoted to guard the mausoleum of the former emperor!
Zhou Yi stood ten paces in front of the chair, and, according to old habits, he should now bow deeply with his butt sticking out, assuming the posture of kneeling.
While uttering auspicious words, he quickened his pace, looking as if he had slid forward ten or so steps in a kneel to express his reverence and loyalty to his godfather figure.
“What a pity, godfather didn’t live to see my moment of glory!”
Zhou Yi walked slowly forward and gently sat down in the chair. Perhaps it was the exquisite craftsmanship, or perhaps it was psychological, but he felt a profound sense of comfort and pleasure from within.
After living through two dynasties, he had become someone of note in the palace!
“Gentlemen, seniors, please take a seat. When I was serving in the Palace Supervisor, I was under your care. Today, with the Emperor’s trust, I take charge of this department and still need your support.”
“Thank you, Admiral!”
Eunuch Wen and the others were veterans in the palace and naturally understood the rules. They wouldn’t let a few words of flattery make them forget their place.
As they took their seats left and right, their faces showed smiles; the chairs of the Palace Supervisor were more comfortable than those in the Library and the Kitchen!
Seeing this scene, Zhou Yi marveled at the complexity of human nature.
In the past, while eating in the Kitchen or studying in the Library, he had genuinely praised Eunuch Wen and Shen, with sincerity, only to receive no response.
Now, without any sincerity, but rather mutual exploitation, everyone seemed harmonious!
“Eunuch Wen, thank you for your guidance in those days.”
Zhou Yi began, “Your intercession with Eunuch Xu to take me in, allowed me to have the protection of a godfather and live in peace in the palace!”
“I had noticed the Admiral’s extraordinary potential long ago; it was just a matter of lending a hand,” Eunuch Wen replied, his tone shifting to a sigh. “Later, I took a liking to another junior, but to my dismay, that rascal had ill intentions. Using my name, he harmed others, and just the other day, I expelled him from my tutelage!”
Zhou Yi inquired, “Could it be Little Gui?”
“Indeed.”
“Little Gui offered silver to Eunuch Zhu in an attempt to frame the Admiral and send you to the Cold Palace, but recently he got his comeuppance. His True Qi reversed, causing all his channels to break, and he died!” Eunuch Wen explained.
Zhou Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly as he discerned multiple implications in a single sentence.
First and foremost was Eunuch Zhu, the Head Eunuch and the overseer, who was also Zhou Yi’s godfather. Due to the incident with Xiao Guizi, it was inevitable that they would become mortal enemies in the future.
Next, the death of Xiao Guizi signified Eunuch Wen’s pledge of loyalty or perhaps carried a hint of threat.
These old fellows had cultivated numerous divine skills and wonderful techniques and, although their True Qi might not be as profound as Zhou Yi’s, they were not so easily killed.
After all, it was the imperial palace; one simply couldn’t engage in fisticuffs, tearing down the study today and the kitchen tomorrow, for that would disgrace His Majesty. The end result would be both parties suffering!
Moreover, not a single person in the palace could be trusted!
No sooner had Zhou Yi reconciled with Xiao Guizi than his backer, Eunuch Xu, fell from power, and Xiao Guizi took the opportunity to set him up.
“This might be Eunuch Wen’s way of hinting that when I act, I should remove all roots to prevent future troubles. Only when a person is truly dead, can one be free from further harm!”
“For instance, those fellows outside, who I’ve snubbed today, may very well kick me when I’m down if I lose favor one day. Of course, this includes these old fellows in the hall too…”
Another layer of realization dawned on him, and he understood why the overseer had always disliked the old fellows and instead promoted his godsons.
Although the godsons were young and possibly incompetent in their duties, they could at least muster up some loyalty; the old-timers in the palace had seen through everything and never hesitated to strike mercilessly when needed!
Zhou Yi’s mind raced, instantly making all sorts of conjectures—an essential skill for surviving the palace politics. Those slow in thought had long since perished.
With these thoughts in mind, he asked with a smile.
“Elder, your purging of the household suggests the integrity of a scholar. Which position would you fancy?”
The real show had begun.
Eunuch Wen’s murky eyes glinted as he spoke slowly, “I’ve been teaching for over twenty years, and my handwriting is quite decent. Why not take up the post of a record-keeper?”
The other old eunuchs, expressionless, pricked their ears to listen to Zhou Yi speak.
“Very well, very suitable!”
Zhou Yi called out to the outside, “Eunuch Miao, come in. I have questions to ask of you.”
Eunuch Miao, waiting quietly outside, did not dare show any resistance; defying orders was a grave offense that could lead to immediate death.
Bowing low as he entered the hall and approaching within ten steps of Zhou Yi, his knees nearly touched the ground as he appeared to slide-kneel forward, thumping his head on the floor in prostration.
“This servant pays respects to the overseer, wishing you fortune as infinite as the waters of the Eastern Sea, and longevity as enduring as the pines of the Southern Mountains!”
This wretch dared to curse me with a short life! Indeed, he deserves to die!
Zhou Yi asked with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Eunuch Miao, I’ve heard that you’ve embezzled quite a bit of silver, haven’t you?”
“That is slander!”
Eunuch Miao hastily defended himself, “I live a life as pure as Clear Wind, never having committed any embezzlement. Overseer, you must seek justice for me.”
“I won’t wrong any good person.”
Zhou Yi continued, “To prove Eunuch Miao’s innocence, I’ll have someone search your residence. If no embezzlement is found, the accuser will be executed on the spot!”
“Ah…”
Eunuch Miao’s face turned ashen, fully aware that he was doomed if a search was conducted.
As eunuchs are physically incomplete and unable to engage in sexual activities, lacking one of the three vices—money, power, sex—their greed for the first two far exceeds that of average people, to compensate for what they lack.
The hoarded gold, silver, and jewels, a small portion stashed in houses outside the palace, with the majority hidden in their quarters for easy access and enjoyment.
Some eunuchs, who loved gold and silver as if their lives depended on it, would cast the ill-gotten wealth into bricks and lay them on their beds, requiring that they sleep atop gold in order to fall asleep.
Zhou Yi said coldly, “What is it? Eunuch Miao, are you afraid to have your residence searched?”
Eunuch Miao, knowing he couldn’t escape, begged for mercy repeatedly as he kowtowed.
“I let lard cloud my judgment and indeed embezzled some gold and silver, willing to offer it all to you, Overseer…”