Chapter 260

Arriving at the side gate, I found that I was not the only one waiting there; seven eunuchs had already been waiting there. One of them, Hu Xiaotian, I actually recognized. He was Shi Xuedong, the beloved son of Minister of Personnel Shi Bu Chui. Speaking of which, Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong were sworn brothers who had pledged allegiance through eight bows. Back then, when they had sworn brotherhood in name only, and Hu Xiaotian went to take up his post at Qingyun, Shi Xuedong had personally seen him off at the ten-li pavilion, giving him two yellow maps, the purpose of which was nothing more than to trap him. Nowadays, both of their families have suffered misfortune, and the two of them meet as eunuchs in the imperial palace, their eyes meeting, evoking a feeling of being fellow wanderers in the same plight. Under this feeling, naturally, they smiled at each other and let bygones be bygones.

In front of so many people, the two merely exchanged glances, neither daring to speak or greet. A group of people followed Zhang Fuqian, walking briskly along the road between two palace walls. The Bureau of Imperial Cuisine is responsible for managing the Emperor's and the palace's food and drink, banquets. It also has many personnel, as many of the old, weak, sick, and disabled had previously resigned, leaving fewer than half of the eunuchs in the Bureau of Imperial Cuisine. This still includes the Seal Keeper and Superintendent of the Grand Office of Sacrifices, the Director General, the Manager, the Registrar, the Clerk, the Scribe, the Supervisor of Works, and the supervisors of various cattle and sheep sheds, as well as the purchasing officers of various departments. These people hold positions, most of them idle posts responsible for management and command; the truly heavy labor is not assigned to them.

Zhang Fuqian is in charge of the cattle and sheep shed, which is, bluntly speaking, a slaughterhouse. Livestock slaughter is not permitted within the imperial palace; animals are usually slaughtered and cleaned at a designated location before being sent into the palace, then delivered by little eunuchs to the kitchen for standby use.

Zhang Fuqian summoned these new eunuchs to do hard labor, bringing them to the courtyard of the Imperial Kitchen, pointing to two carts full of slaughtered cattle and sheep, and said: "You few, carry all of these into the cattle and sheep shed."

The cattle and sheep shed is where Zhang Fuqian is responsible, where he oversees the division and washing of slaughtered cattle and sheep, then, according to the Imperial Kitchen's requirements, sorts the meat and sends it to the counter. At first hearing, this work seems to require no skill, but actually doing it turns out to be a severe test of physical strength.

Although many eunuchs came to do the work, the truly heavy physical labor was all assigned to these eight newcomers. Wherever there is a sequence, old-timers bullying newcomers is common. After Zhang Fuqian gave his instructions, he immediately left, as he still had other matters to arrange.

After Zhang Fuqian left, a pockmarked eunuch stopped his work, pointed at Hu Xiaotian and his seven companions, and said: "Hurry up, hurry up; if you delay today's lunch, I'll chop off all your heads." His words were arrogant, overbearing, and domineering; bullying newcomers by old-timers is commonly seen in any environment.

The eight new eunuchs remained silent, including Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong, these two former... Upon arrival, unfamiliar with the environment, how could they not bow their heads under others' eaves, especially since their families have suffered misfortune? With a somewhat outdated mindset of a fallen phoenix not being as good as a chicken, there was no point in quarreling with these eunuchs.

Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong naturally formed a pair; both had quick minds, and of course understood to pick lighter tasks. Together they lifted a fat sheep weighing about fifty catties and carried it into the cattle and sheep shed.

Shi Xuedong finally spotted an opportunity, lowered his voice, and said: "Brother, how did you also come here?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No choice, imperial edicts are hard to defy."

The two carried the sheep as they walked inward, speaking softly. Shi Xuedong asked: "Have you been castrated?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Isn't that nonsense? Who would let you into the palace if you weren't cleanly cut?" Yet he secretly rejoiced, for Shi Xuedong certainly did not have his good fortune; passing this hurdle was something Shi Xuedong could hardly escape.

Shi Xuedong sighed gloomily: "Just think, I, Shi Xuedong, was once so suave and debonair, now reduced to this state—truly, life is worse than death. A cutting pain, regret for a lifetime!"

Hu Xiaotian thought: You bastard, you used to bully men and dominate women, commit all kinds of evil; now this fate is also considered karmic retribution. Compared to you, that's what a good person really is. Although I inwardly despise Shi Xuedong's character, it's hard to come across an old acquaintance in the palace, and he just happens to be my sworn brother; in the future, being companions would also be good for mutual support. Hu Xiaotian advised: "Better to live poorly than die well. Anyway, you've already enjoyed your share of debauchery and pleasure; for us brothers, the most important thing is still to preserve our lives."

Shi Xuedong deeply agreed, nodded, and was about to speak when, unexpectedly, someone behind him whipped his back hard with a leather whip, striking him to the core, making his hands tremble and the fat sheep fall to the ground. It was that pockmarked eunuch who rushed over from the side, whipped down, and cursed: "Blind slave, one look tells you you're lazy gluttons, actually loafing and chatting here—don't you believe I'll chop off your heads?"

Shi Xuedong covered his wounded back, angry but dare not speak.

That pockmarked eunuch raised his whip again to lash Hu Xiaotian, but encountered Hu Xiaotian's cold gaze; for some reason, a chill rose from his heart, he hesitated for a moment, and Hu Xiaotian had already lifted the fat sheep and walked away. This whip ultimately did not fall; the pockmarked eunuch cursed: "Don't let there be a next time; if I see you loafing again, I'll hang you two newcomers up and beat you."

The new eunuchs soon discovered that once Zhang Fuqian appeared, that group of old-timers would pretend to move things, but once Zhang Fuqian left, they would immediately go find a shady spot to rest. Having stayed in the palace for a long time, these eunuchs had long become old hands; they would seize every opportunity to slack off and slip away.

Like Shi Xuedong, who was used to being pampered and privileged, had never done such rough work before, and quickly became so tired he couldn't straighten his waist. The pockmarked eunuch walked over again, apparently seeking his misfortune. Shi Xuedong panted: "Don't force me, I really can't carry it anymore..." In fact, it wasn't just him; of the eight new eunuchs, seven had already collapsed from exhaustion.

Only Hu Xiaotian was an exception; this fellow carried half a slaughtered fat cow on his shoulders, strode toward the cattle and sheep shed with great vigor, showing no sign of fatigue at all, leaving the surrounding eunuchs staring wide-eyed. This fellow obviously possessed innate divine strength; not to mention he had already carried back and forth this many times, just this half-fat cow alone weighed five hundred catties or so, yet he could lift it alone, and seemingly without effort. Strength commands respect; people naturally feel awe toward the strong. Hu Xiaotian's performance today had already intimidated many of the surrounding eunuchs; although Hu Xiaotian showed no martial prowess, his sheer strength alone was quite outstanding, and no one dared to easily offend such a person.

Hu Xiaotian himself understood the reason: although he previously had some strength, he was not nearly this strong; it should be the power transmitted by Quan De'an that took effect, not only greatly increasing his strength, but also making him work this long without producing any fatigue.

After working for over an hour, finally all the cattle and sheep were moved. Hu Xiaotian came to the water basin, washed his face, lifted his head, and saw someone smiling at him, extending a towel. It was indeed Zhang Fuqian, the overseer of the cattle and sheep shed.

Hu Xiaotian took the towel, wiped his face, and said softly: "Thank you, Grandfather Zhang."

Zhang Fuqian whispered: "Rest assured, I will look after you more in the future." Having said that, he turned and left.

In Hu Xiaotian's memory, he had no prior contact with this person; the only reasonable explanation is that Quan De'an had previously greeted him, otherwise Zhang Fuqian would not have chosen him and brought him directly to the Bureau of Imperial Cuisine, bypassing the verification procedure. It seems Quan De'an's influence in the palace is indeed considerable. I will need to be cautious in my future actions; I don't know how many of his spies have been planted around me.

There is one point that leaves Hu Xiaotian quite puzzled: since Quan De'an has such great ability, why didn't he directly assign me to serve beside the Emperor, instead of sending me here to do hard labor? Could it be that he wants to test me this way first?

After toiling hard in the cattle and sheep shed for a day, the several new eunuchs were all exhausted, having eaten dinner, finally it was time to rest. In the Dakang imperial palace, low-ranking eunuchs often reside in the supervisor's quarters in the southwest corner of the palace; all on-duty eunuchs live in the inner quarters of their respective posts. Moreover, many eunuchs, after finishing a day's work, will regularly leave the palace to reside in the large row of bungalows north of the palace, returning at dawn each day when the sky is still dark to resume work.

Although Hu Xiaotian and his group of new eunuchs are of low status, because they have to rise early every day to work, they reside inside the palace; the Bureau of Imperial Cuisine's western wall has a row of side rooms, which is where they spend the night.

The room layouts are mostly similar: along the north wall is a bunk bed; when night falls, after a day's work, the little eunuchs sleep here collectively, each room requiring twenty people to lie down. Although the rooms are not small and the bunk is long, when twenty people actually lie down, there is hardly any space left to turn over.

Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong and their eight companions were the last to return; the eight people were evenly distributed among four rooms, Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong happened to be in the same pair. Shi Xuedong did not have Hu Xiaotian's good fortune—he was not castrated, yet had received ten years of power transmission from a high master; this fellow rubbed his shoulders while complaining bitterly: "Everyone says it's better to live poorly than die well, but if one really has to live like this, it's better to be dead."

Hu Xiaotian said: "All beginnings are difficult; everything needs an adaptation period. Elder brother, you used to live comfortably, couldn't endure hardship; after a few days, once you adapt, it will be fine."

Shi Xuedong saw a few eunuchs not far away whispering and glancing at them from time to time with ill intent, and said softly: "Xiaotian, I feel something is off; those eunuchs' gazes toward us seem unfriendly; could they be plotting how to deal with us?"

Hu Xiaotian had indeed already noticed those people's movements, and said softly: "Certainly." (To be continued...)

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