Chapter 536: Chapter 396: Eighteen Foster Sons
Qianqing Palace.
This is the realm where the emperors of the Daqing dynasty handled political affairs and reviewed morials to the throne.
The front Diligent Administration Hall serves for court assemblies, known to the public as the Golden Throne Hall, which sounds like the most important palace in the world.
But that’s not the case; those in the know all agree it’s the Qianqing Palace.
Small etings for big issues, big etings for small ones.
The Diligent Administration Hall is for big etings dealing with small matters, while the major reforms of the National Dynasty are all decided in close circles by the emperor within the Qianqing Palace.
...
At noon.
Eunuch Yuan enters the palace to report that the palace steward, Eunuch Yi, has co to request an audience.
“Let him in,”
The Orthodox Emperor closes the morial, rubs his temples to ease the fatigue.
Ever since he took over the throne from the previous emperor, fearing he wouldn’t live up to the ancestors of the Zhao family lineage, he dared not slack off on any state affairs, working diligently from dawn till dusk, only resting after midnight.
The previous emperor was frail, holding court once a fortnight, while the Orthodox Emperor did so daily after his accession.
etings would last from early morning till noon, with the court officials standing for almost half a day; so of the older and weaker officials have even submitted petitions asking for retirent due to exhaustion.
If this continues, so might suddenly die in the Diligent Administration Hall.
“This servant Zhou Yi, greets Your Majesty!”
Zhou Yi’s voice starts from the entrance of the hall, and as his words fall, he slides smoothly in front of the Orthodox Emperor, performs three prostrations and nine kowtows, chanting, “Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”
The Orthodox Emperor nods slightly and says with a smile, “Rise.”
Before his accession, the Orthodox Emperor always scoffed at the so-called “long live” greetings, seeing them as flattery from his subjects.
Now seated on the dragon chair, however, he finds the phrase ever so pleasing to the ear!
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhou Yi dares not straighten completely nor directly look up, as staring directly at the emperor is a grave disrespect according to Imperial Court laws.
The Orthodox Emperor praises, “I was right to entrust you with the position of palace steward, you really have changed the place for the better in just a few days, and even uncovered such a big corruption case.”
Zhou Yi is always ready to use the Breath Listening Technique, paying attention to the emperor’s tone when he speaks, detecting even the slightest variation with acute sensitivity.
When speaking of his previous achievents, the tone was steady, but when ntioning the word “corruption,” it noticeably intensified, making it clear that today’s summons was focused on combating corruption, specifically concerning gold and silver!
When the emperor speaks, in order to keep his subjects guessing, he tends to deliberately maintain a calm front to also convey a sense of majesty.
However, one inevitably has emotions and preferences that silently affect his tone of speech. Ordinary ears can hardly distinguish this, but Zhou Yi, with his profound skill and the use of the Breath Listening Technique, is able to perceive it.
“Having Your Majesty’s trust, it is my duty to serve until the end!”
Zhou Yi prostrates himself and says solemnly, “This servant may be insignificant, but while serving as a palace steward, I have seen much corruption and have even taken silver myself.”
“However, I have always abhorred such actions. Only now, with Your Majesty’s trust and support, can I purify the filth!”
Zhou Yi admits to having taken silver, a self-confession of his wrongdoings, to gain the emperor’s trust. After all, the emperor is not blind—how could he be unaware of the corruption amongst the palace eunuchs?
Moreover, how can a leader trust you without holding sothing against you?
Furthermore, attributing all credits to the emperor’s trust, I am rely soone who has achieved a little under Your Majesty’s wise leadership!
“Very good, very good!”
The Orthodox Emperor praises repeatedly, finding Zhou Yi increasingly pleasing to the eye: “Now that the stewardship of the palace is yours, I can rest easy. Do well, and in the future, I will promote you to chief steward.”
Zhou Yi’s ears twitch, clearly catching the quickened heartbeat of Eunuch Yuan compared to before.
Internally cursing the emperor for stirring things up, but also feeling a bit greedy, he fervently knocks his head on the floor and says, “This servant will dedicate my heart and strength to guard Your Majesty’s safety completely!”
The Orthodox Emperor says, “Achievents must be rewarded. I gift you a waist token, allowing you to co see in Qianqing Palace any ti.”
“Thank Your Majesty!”
Zhou Yi is overwheld with gratitude. Such a reward exceeds a promotion; holding a high-ranking position without power is no comparison to being able to approach His Majesty at any ti.
“Step back.”
The Orthodox Emperor waved his hand and suddenly said, “Rember to put the illicit silver into the inner treasury!”
“This servant understands.”
Zhou Yi nodded repeatedly, knowing the inner treasury was His Majesty’s private property, different from the public funds of the Ministry of Revenue Treasury. Even His Majesty needed a reason to spend money from the latter.
Leaving the Qianqing Palace.
Zhou Yi straightened his previously bent body and began to walk with a swiftness that carried the sound of wind.
Turning a corner, he encountered a young eunuch standing guard, about thirteen or fourteen years old, likely a recent addition to the palace, assigned to guard duty outside the Qianqing Palace. His martial talent was above average.
“Greetings, Eunuch Zhou!”
The young eunuch seed to recognize Zhou Yi and imdiately knelt with a thud, kowtowing vigorously until his forehead began to bleed.
Zhou Yi instantly recognized that the blood was drawn forth by True Qi, but the dedication shown was clearly the result of prior preparation. Pleased, he waved his hand.
“Get up, I find you sowhat unfamiliar. What is your na?”
The young eunuch’s face brightened with joy, knowing just getting to speak ant the relation was already half improved. He replied with a fawning smile, “I’m called Little Quzi, Eunuch Zhou is a top figure in the palace, rely a grandson to you.”
“A grandson, interesting indeed!”
Zhou Yi said, “I find you quite agreeable. Today I will elevate your status. Would you be willing?”
“Greetings, Godfather!”
With a sharp mind, Little Quzi was overjoyed at the ntion of moving up in rank and knelt again, kowtowing three more tis with loud thuds.
“You’re a good lad,” Zhou Yi said. “From now on, serve your duties well. Whoever enters this Qianqing Palace, whatever they say, rember it all and report daily to the Value Hall supervisor.”
Having adopted a godson, one couldn’t imdiately offer benefits; the godson must first prove his worth!
As long as Little Quzi did his job well, reporting daily on the people and incidents in the Qianqing Palace, he would be branded by Zhou Yi, bound together in shared glory or disaster.
“Rest assured, Godfather, I will certainly be thorough,” Little Quzi said.
“Hehehe!”
Zhou Yi chuckled smugly. Nine years in the palace, and he, too, had beco an important figure capable of taking on godsons.
He returned to the Value Hall supervisory office.
Wen Dianbu brought a stack of official docunts, all matters that needed to be dealt with today, involving recruitnt, guard duty, procurent, and more.
Zhou Yi, who had not been in charge for very long, found it difficult to manage the details.
He thus followed Wen Dianbu’s advice. All official docunts had another signature, that of the primary person responsible for the matter. Should any problems arise later, that person would be the first to be punished.
In this way, Zhou Yi simply needed to mark a circle to indicate approval.
“This thod cannot last forever. The aftermath of the recent purge still lingers, and people below still work properly. But as ti goes by, corruption will return, and I will beco ‘blind’ despite having eyes!”
“Corruption is irrelevant, but if it reaches His Majesty’s ears, it could impact his opinion of ,” Zhou Yi mused. He racked his brains but couldn’t find a solution to this problem. Perhaps there was no solution, as human nature is inherently greedy, and no one could possibly solve corruption.
“If I can’t solve the issue of corruption, then I must know who is being corrupt and to what extent,” Zhou Yi thought. “Periodically cull a group, give the lion’s share to His Majesty, take so silver for my own expenses… in this way, I can avoid being corrupt myself…”
With this thought, Zhou Yi had a plan.
Adopt more godsons!
Which significant eunuch in the palace didn’t have a bunch of godsons offering tribute? Zhou Yi now had the status to do the sa.
In the following half year.
Zhou Yi took on seventeen in total, making “Eighteen Godsons” including Little Quzi!
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