novelburst
Chapter 537 - 397 Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold
Chapter 537 - 397 Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold
Chapter 537: Chapter 397 Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold
Zhou Yi’s eighteen godsons, a few serve as Palace Supervision Officials.
Most of them are on duty in important palaces, watching who contacts His Majesty as well as what His Majesty does every day.
And since the godsons rank among the lower-middle eunuchs, they can access the lowest levels, which also allows them to hear various rumors, such as which eunuch likes silver, which one has accumulated a lot of silver.
The messages from those in charge of the Palace Supervision are the most important, and the other eleven divisions are not left out.
In the first year of the Orthodox era, on the thirtieth day of the twelfth month.
New Year’s Eve.
...
Zhou Yi was no longer spending it alone; instead, he sat at the head of a large dining table, with nine godsons on either side of him, taking turns offering lucky sayings and flattering him.
The godsons were each one more cunning than the last, or rather, it was rare to find anyone in the palace who wasn’t cunning.
From day-to-day observations of Zhou Yi’s joys, sorrows, and mood swings, they had discovered the preferences and dislikes of their godfather, particularly his distaste for hearing phrases like “live as long as the southern mountains” or “may you enjoy an eternal lifespan.”
Therefore, when the godsons flattered him, they all praised Zhou Yi for his immense divine skills, boundless mana, and unparalleled divine powers…
“Good, good, good!”
Zhou Yi clapped continuously, the lively scene even surpassing the New Year celebrations he remembered.
The table was laden with delicious food, and they drank tribute imperial wine. Just this one table of food and drink was more than what an ordinary family could earn through half a lifetime of hard work.
As the wine went around three times and the dishes their five flavors, the atmosphere became increasingly enthusiastic.
Zhou Yi had such profound True Qi that any alcohol entering his stomach evaporated into nothingness in an instant; even dining with his godsons, he did not dare let himself feel the slightest bit drunk.
Should he say something wrong while intoxicated, and word get out, he could be committing an offense worthy of beheading!
Xiaoqu was the first among the godsons, sitting on his right. After toasting Zhou Yi, he whispered, “A few days ago, I learned from little Lu from the same quarters that Eunuch Zhu embezzled at least five hundred thousand taels!”
Excitement flashed in Zhou Yi’s eyes, “Is that true?”
“It’s no less than that.”
Xiaoqu said, “Little Lu is in charge of turning the night incense and personally saw under Eunuch Zhu’s mattress, covered with gold bricks. The tables, chairs, and stools he uses, although looking ordinary, are actually gold painted with red lacquer!”
“Hiss!”
Zhou Yi drew in a breath of cold air. He had thought that sleeping on gold bricks was just a palace rumor, never expecting Eunuch Zhu to have actually done it.
Thinking back on Eunuch Zhu’s body, fat as a pig, he probably got that way from the silver he’d embezzled!
Xiaoqu asked, “Godfather, shall we report this to His Majesty and raid that Eunuch Zhu?”
Zhou Yi shook his head slightly. Eunuch Zhu had served two dynasties without falling, and by exploiting his position as a Palace Supervision Official and dealing in all kinds of pills, he must have formed close ties with the other officials and the Inner Palace.
“We’re too inexperienced to bring down Eunuch Zhu; he might just turn and bite us!”
“Godfather, let’s do it.”
“Let’s report Eunuch Zhu!”
“That fat pig dared to disrespect you, godfather, then we’ll head straight to the Qianqing Palace…”
The other seventeen godsons cried out indignantly, expressing their loyalty to Zhou Yi as if they wouldn’t share the sky with Eunuch Zhu.
“You’re all my good godsons, but we must not be hasty.”
Zhou Yi’s eyes flicked around, and then he said, “We just need to let the news out. When the rumor reaches His Majesty’s ears, he will naturally take care of Eunuch Zhu!”
Xiaoqu expressed concern, “I fear that won’t be easy.”
Once news spreads out of the Palace Court, even before reaching His Majesty’s ears, Eunuch Zhu will be aware of it. He will certainly find a way to cut off the spread and might even trace it back to Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi said, “If the palace is full of Eunuch Zhu’s spies, then we won’t spread the news from within, but from outside…”
Xiaoqu’s eyes lit up, “You mean spread it among the common folk until it catches the attention of the Martial Law Office’s secret agents, who will then report it to His Majesty?”
“Exactly, just like that.”
Zhou Yi had only thought of a general approach, far less mature than what Xiaoqu had articulated, and he praised, “Xiaoqu, you truly are worthy of being my number one godson. Keep up the good work, and when I get old, you’ll take over this position!”
“I thank you, godfather.”
Xiaoqu kowtowed, his gratitude wash over him. He naturally felt the envious stares of his brothers, but he didn’t care; as long as he pleased his godfather, everything else was not a problem.
Zhou Yi instructed, “Then do as Xiaoqu suggested. Find a way to spread it outside the palace. It must spread far and wide to catch the Martial Law Office’s attention!”
Another godson said, “Godfather, when I was outside the palace, I loved to listen to nursery rhymes and ditties. If we compose some verses about Eunuch Zhu, perhaps they will spread widely.”
“Makes sense.”
Zhou Yi nodded slightly and took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, “I’ll leave this matter to you. Compose more ditties and spread them as far and wide as possible!”
The adoptive son kowtowed eagerly, “You can count on me, godfather.”
Seeing this, the other adoptive sons offered their own ideas, suggesting various ways to spread the news about Eunuch Zhu.
Until midnight.
Three melodious bell tolls resonated throughout the palace to celebrate the New Year.
Eighteen adoptive sons knelt before Zhou Yi, reciting in unison the congratulatory words they had prepared well in advance.
“We wish godfather, boundless mana, widespread divine skills…”
Zhou Yi sat upright in the Taishi Chair, listening to the fireworks and firecrackers outside the hall, and to the congratulations of his adoptive sons, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily towards the sky.
“Keh keh keh keh!”
…
The second year of the Orthodox era.
February.
Suddenly, a few folk rhymes began to spread throughout the capital.
Unknown in origin, but catchy and easy to sing, they quickly became popular in the streets and alleys.
Jobless children in groups made a ruckus on the streets, singing one after another.
“Zhu Buzhu, with a bed of white jade in the Golden Cavern… The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, lacking a white jade bed, invites Lord Zhu over…”
The spy agents of the Zhenfu Division were spread throughout Daqing, with the capital under especially heavy surveillance.
Upon hearing the folk rhymes, and fearing they signaled the prelude to a revolt by an evil cult, the agents immediately investigated, analyzing the meaning of the rhymes, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was not about a revolt, but rather a depiction of Eunuch Zhu’s extravagance in the palace.
The Zhenfu Division and the Inner Palace Division served as the left and right hands of His Majesty, yet they were not subordinate to each other and were inherently antagonistic. As soon as the head of the command received the spy reports, he sent them straight to Qianqing Palace.
…
That day.
Zhou Yi received a summons from the Orthodox Emperor to discuss matters at the Qianqing Palace.
“Without investigating Eunuch Zhu, His Majesty first summons me; surely, the emperor has discovered the source of the folk rhyme. However, I had anticipated this and had no intention of hiding it, as I want to take my revenge with my own hands!”
He made his way to the Qianqing Palace, and after entering, he performed the ritual of thrice knocking and nine kowtows.
Above.
The Orthodox Emperor’s expression was somber; apparently not hearing Zhou Yi’s kowtows, he continued reviewing memorials at a steady pace.
For a full hour.
Zhou Yi did not use his True Qi to support himself, so after a long time kneeling, his complexion turned pale, and his frame trembled.
The Orthodox Emperor said in a cold voice, “Stand up.”
Zhou Yi responded with another kowtow, “Your servant wouldn’t dare!”
“Hmph, is there anything you wouldn’t dare do?”
The Orthodox Emperor rebuked him, “Court secrets spread among the common people, making the entire capital laugh at me!”
Zhou Yi had anticipated this and replied solemnly, “Your servant has long known of Eunuch Zhu’s corruption, but given Eunuch Zhu’s deep-rooted influence, even princes and princesses have to show him respect…”
Hearing this, the Orthodox Emperor narrowed his eyes, his dissatisfaction with Eunuch Zhu growing.
Zhou Yi continued, “With normal methods, your servant is powerless to topple Eunuch Zhu, hence I had to resort to this strategy in order to eliminate this great corruption from our National Dynasty!”
The Orthodox Emperor snorted, “So, I suffer humiliation, and you still expect my praise?”
“Your Majesty, I implore for forgiveness!”
As the emperor’s tone softened, Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief, turning his almost certain expectation into complete certainty.
“Your servant also harbored selfish motives, once I had given Eunuch Zhu silver with no intention of him actually carrying out the task…”