Chapter 1038: The Emperor Is Hard to Serve

In the Han Palace, at the Palace Lodging Bureau, before the main hall, several eunuchs stood with heads bowed and hands folded, waiting respectfully and carefully in the corridor, enduring the assault of the cold wind. Outside, all was bleak and desolate, but inside it was as warm as spring—the food table was laden with fruits, snacks, wine, and dishes, everything one could want. Zhang Dejun, the Commissioner of the Palace City, whose authority had grown ever more formidable in the eyes of outsiders, was at this moment attending to someone with the utmost deference and warmth—an old eunuch.

In the entire Han Palace, the only ones qualified to receive such lowly service from Zhang Dejun were the Emperor and the noble ladies of the palace. Of course, in the more than ten years since, apart from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, no one else—not even the Empress—had received such attentions from him.

And this old eunuch's special status lay in the fact that he was Zhang Dejun's adoptive father, who had provided Zhang Dejun protection when the latter entered the palace as a youth. He had been fortunate enough to become a palace eunuch by the Empress Dowager's side, and then even more fortunate to be recommended to serve by the Emperor's side.

Over all these years, Zhang Dejun had been highly regarded by the Emperor, entrusted with important duties, and his authority had gradually grown. As his adoptive father, he naturally rose with the tide, living a comfortable life in the Han Palace. In charge of the Palace Lodging Bureau, his real power and standing in palace affairs were by no means low.

"You're busy with official duties, no need to take time out to come see me!" Looking at Zhang Dejun, who was pouring wine for him, Father Zhang wore a smile on his face but said, "If His Majesty should summon you, and you were delayed, that would be bad!"

"It's been a long while since Father and I last had a chat; it's only right that I come to pay a visit! The weather grows colder by the day—you must take extra care and look after your health!" Zhang Dejun said with a light laugh, taking a box from his bosom and sliding open the lid to reveal what was inside. "I've brought you an old ginseng, to nourish your body!"

This old ginseng had a form and spirit that showed at a glance it was a rare and precious treasure of great age. Father Zhang was slightly surprised and said, "This is a supreme article—how did you come by it?"

Detecting a hint of worry in Father Zhang's tone, Zhang Dejun remained composed and reassured him: "Father need not worry. This was tribute from the Jurchen, bestowed upon me by His Majesty. I am young and strong, and have no need of such a thing—better that you enjoy it!"

Hearing Zhang Dejun's explanation, Father Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. He placed the old ginseng on the table, bowed to it respectfully, and said, "Such a rare treasure—how could I presume to enjoy it!"

Of course, he did not refuse Zhang Dejun's kindness and still put it away, though judging by his manner, he would likely keep it carefully preserved.

"The luckiest thing in my life was recognizing you as my adopted son!" The father and son drank together, and as emotions ran high, Father Zhang could not help but make an affectionate remark to Zhang Dejun: "In the future, you'll see me to my grave—I'll have no worries about my final affairs!"

"Father speaks too gravely. If not for your protection and care back then, how could I have come this far!" Zhang Dejun's manner was very warm as he gently soothed him: "By the way, I intend to adopt one or two orphans from among the common folk, to continue the Zhang family's line!"

Hearing Zhang Dejun say this, a flash of excitement crossed Father Zhang's face, but it quickly reined itself in. He shook his head very firmly and said, "No!"

At this reaction, Zhang Dejun was slightly taken aback. For eunuchs like them—men without roots—apart from pursuing wealth and power, what they cared about most was perhaps the matter of continuing the family line. He had originally thought this idea of his would delight Father Zhang, but he had not expected such a resolute refusal.

"Why?"

Looking at Zhang Dejun, Father Zhang said, "We who are servants are able to serve in the palace precisely because we have no roots. Without roots, we have no other thoughts—we serve our master with single-minded devotion. You are now in charge of the Palace City Office, conspicuous both inside and outside the palace—a post that invites jealousy. Since ancient times, eunuchs adopting sons has always invited criticism and easily breeds disaster..."

Hearing Father Zhang's words, Zhang Dejun's brow furrowed slightly. He thought it over seriously and said, "I have been taught! But if I find an opportunity, render meritorious service, and beg His Majesty's favor, then I need not fear others' criticism!"

At this, Father Zhang also nodded. As long as one did not fall out of favor with the Emperor, none of it was a major problem. Thus, a hint of expectation crept into his gaze.

While the father and son were conversing harmoniously, a eunuch, covered in frost and cold, hurried inside. He bowed to the two of them, then leaned close to Zhang Dejun's ear and reported something, and Zhang Dejun's expression changed noticeably.

Seeing this, Father Zhang immediately said, "If there are urgent matters, feel free to go about your business!"

"Nothing of great importance!" Zhang Dejun smiled at Father Zhang, but rose and bowed nonetheless: "Father, please sit at ease. I shall take my leave!"

"When did this happen?" On the road back to the Palace City Office, Zhang Dejun asked his subordinate.

The man replied, "Just now. His Majesty suddenly gave the order to detain the man at the office and have you personally examine him. I dared not delay and came at once to report!"

"Where is the man?"

"Temporarily locked up in the office!"

"Quick, back to the office!" Zhang Dejun's expression was somewhat grave.

What had happened in the palace was nothing to the state, but to certain people, it was a matter of life, death, honor, and disgrace. Sun the Yan army, the head eunuch by the Emperor's side, had been ordered taken into custody and charged.

For the eunuchs of the palace, especially those of a certain standing, this was a major event. It was the same for Zhang Dejun. Ever since he had been assigned to oversee the Palace City Office—from serving before the imperial presence to commanding an entire bureau—although his power and position had advanced a step, Zhang Dejun had always felt a sense of crisis, a nagging unease in his heart.

He knew all too well how his current position had been won: ten years of hard, careful service by the Emperor's side without any major misstep, which had earned him that trust. Yet, having left the Emperor's side—though still entrusted with confidential matters—he was ultimately somewhat distanced. What he feared was that, with time, his standing in the Emperor's heart would diminish.

Because of this, Zhang Dejun had always kept a close eye on the eunuchs by the Emperor's side. In the early years, several men in succession had not been used smoothly by Emperor Liu, and at the time Zhang Dejun had felt quite gratified and pleased—after all, he was still the one who could serve the Emperor and satisfy him.

Later, one Sun Yanxi rose to the top, and for a time this put pressure on Zhang Dejun. That fellow was somewhat older than him, looked mediocre, but was deep and scheming, somewhat sinister, and knew how to flatter Emperor Liu and make him comfortable. For a time, he had even vied with Zhang Dejun, making moves and remarks to replace his influence by the Emperor's side.

For a long period, Zhang Dejun had been quite wary of that Sun Yanxi, highly vigilant. But later, Sun Yanxi overplayed his own hand—during the northern campaign, he returned to the Eastern Capital to recuperate due to illness, and no longer being by the Emperor's side, gradually revealed his true colors. He never became cautious again, and for supervising the construction of the Zhaolie Temple, he was directly taken into custody, charged, and executed.

And Sun the Yan army, who had served before the imperial presence for several years, was an old eunuch of deep seniority, rich in experience, and skilled at handling people. Crucially, he had a good relationship with Zhang Dejun. Yet now he had suddenly been taken into custody by Emperor Liu's order. Zhang Dejun simply could not imagine what offense that old eunuch Sun the Yan army could have committed to anger the Emperor.

Most crucially, under normal circumstances, when a eunuch committed an offense, there were bureaus within the palace to handle it. Why would he be specially sent to the Palace City Office for Zhang Dejun to interrogate? After years of development, the Wude Office and the Palace City Office had formed a division: the Wude Office was in charge of surveillance over the prefectures and circuits of the realm, while the Palace City Office was in charge of intelligence in the imperial palace and Kaifeng. There was some overlap between them, but by and large that was the division.

And unlike the Wude Office, the Palace City Office's main powers were surveillance and espionage—it had no authority to arrest, interrogate, or imprison. Yet this time, Emperor Liu had ordered the Palace City Office to interrogate Sun the Yan army. Zhang Dejun certainly did not think this was meant to increase his authority. He thought a great deal along the way but could not sort out a clear thread. When he returned to the office and climbed the steps, he even tripped and nearly fell.

In a quiet side chamber of the Palace City Office, Zhang Dejun took his seat, dismissed the others, and conducted the interrogation alone. Studying Sun the Yan army, who had been stripped of his palace robes, he knit his brows and asked, "What happened? Why is His Majesty angered to this extent?"

At the question, Sun the Yan army's old face wore a look of grievance as well. He sighed worriedly and said, "I have committed the crime of a loose tongue!"

With that, Sun the Yan army explained the situation of recent days. The problem had originated that day in Guangzheng Hall, when Sun the Yan army had taken the initiative to rebuke Dou Yi aloud. From that point on, Emperor Liu had taken a dislike to the old eunuch. Once a thorn had lodged in the Emperor's heart, such an outcome was hardly surprising.

"How could I have imagined that merely speaking up for His Majesty in a moment of indignation would provoke His Majesty's wrath and bring this calamity upon me! Today, I merely struck and scolded that dull-witted servant girl, and for that I was detained here by His Majesty on charges of arrogance and overbearing conduct!" Sun the Yan army lamented.

Hearing this, Zhang Dejun could not help but say, "You are an old hand, having served His Majesty for so long—how could you commit such a taboo? If it were in private, one might weigh one's words, but in Guangzheng Hall, how could people like us presume to speak out of turn?"

"Regret is too late!" Sun the Yan army said.

His expression shifting for a moment, Zhang Dejun calmed his emotions, stared at Sun the Yan army, and said, "His Majesty has ordered me to interrogate you. What do you think I should do?"

At the question, Sun the Yan army immediately said, "At this point, I ask for nothing else—only to preserve my life and grow old peacefully in the palace! Commissioner Zhang, in view of our past friendship, I beg you to save me!"

"Alas, you overestimate me. I am but a servant myself—how could I sway His Majesty's will? If His Majesty wishes to find you guilty, what can I do?" Zhang Dejun said with a bitter smile.

Hearing this, Sun the Yan army grew panicked and actually knelt directly, saying, "I beg you, you must think of some way for me!"

Under normal circumstances, Zhang Dejun could gauge the Emperor's thoughts quite accurately. But this time, perhaps because it touched on matters connected to himself, Zhang Dejun was extremely hesitant. While Sun the Yan army begged for help, he even entertained murderous thoughts—to fabricate capital crimes for Sun the Yan army and deal with him severely to cater to the Emperor's wishes.

But perhaps out of softheartedness, or perhaps for some other reason, he decided to handle the matter by the book and conduct a normal investigation and interrogation. Sun the Yan army had no major problems after all, and in the end, when reporting to the Emperor, the conclusion he could reach was something like this: mistreating subordinate eunuchs and palace women, and excessive gift-giving and social exchanges during festivals.

In the final outcome, Sun the Yan army was demoted to the Side Palace to oversee part of its affairs. Then the head eunuch by the Emperor's side was replaced by another man, named Yan Tuo—an old retainer who had grown up in the Prince of Beiping's residence in Jinyang back in those days. Most crucially, this man did not get along with Zhang Dejun.

Throughout the entire process, the Emperor had not shown much toward Zhang Dejun, but afterward, Zhang Dejun felt a strong sense of lingering fear.