Chapter 263

Quan De'an said: "The Emperor has just established the Divine Strategy Office, currently recruiting talents. After you go to the Gardens Bureau, you can then leave the palace under the pretense of purchasing, first contact Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng, get them to join the Divine Strategy Office; with their abilities it's not hard to get in. This is their current residence; memorize it well, then destroy the note."

Hu Xiaotian never expected Quan De'an to turn his calculations against his own friends; he felt very wary.

Quan De'an said: "You needn't worry that I will harm them; everything the Zajia does today is merely for the future stability of Dakang. You only need to carry out the tasks I assign you, and later you will surely have inexhaustible benefits."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Quan, does that mean I have to spend my whole life as a petty eunuch in the palace?"

Quan De'an smiled calmly: "When Dakang's realm is secure, that will be the day you achieve success and retire. Xiaotian, you're so clever; you will surely understand the principle of mutual benefit."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Quan, I have remembered your words."

Quan De'an said: "You must keep this firmly in mind; under no circumstances are you to have any contact with the Hu family."

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Quan De'an also said: "Shi Xuedong will go with you to the Gardens Bureau, but he won't have a chance to leave the palace; you must have someone close by your side." Quan De'an said: "This reassignment will involve a dozen or so people; if you want to pick anyone, just give the list to Zhang Fuquan, and he'll arrange it for you."

This reshuffling of the inner palace involved many aspects; after the newly entered eunuchs completed a one-month probation, adjustments were made according to each office's actual situation. Hu Xiaotian and Shi Xuedong were both transferred to the Gardens Bureau. According to Hu Xiaotian's suggestion, Zhang Fuquan also transferred Xiao Zhuozi, Xiao Dengzi, and a few others to him.

Hu Xiaotian naturally became the leader of these people. Upon arriving at the Gardens Bureau, he was directly entrusted with the important task of purchasing outside the palace. Going out to purchase not only means having more freedom than ordinary eunuchs, but more importantly, purchasing itself is a lucrative post. The seal-holding eunuch of the Gardens Bureau, Liu Yuzhang, is a muddled old man; reportedly he is the oldest among the twenty-four government offices, now sixty-seven. He has lost all his teeth, because he once attended to the Emperor's special status, so in this palace reshuffle he also obtained a lucrative post.

On Hu Xiaotian's first day at the Gardens Bureau, Liu Yuzhang had him come over to meet.

Facing his direct superior, Hu Xiaotian still showed considerable respect, saying respectfully: "Xiaotian pays his respects, Eunuch Liu." Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Thank you for your favor, Eunuch Liu; I will wholeheartedly serve you and never disappoint your expectations."

Liu Yuzhang said: "No need to be so formal; our Gardens Bureau usually has no major affairs, but all the vegetables and fruits in the palace need us to personally purchase and oversee them. Another matter is the palace gardens; you will mainly accompany me outside to purchase. The Zajia is getting old. In many matters he inevitably makes mistakes; you are clever and sensible. From now on, help me more."

Hu Xiaotian said respectfully: "Eunuch, you can rest assured."

After arriving at the Gardens Bureau, Hu Xiaotian finally bid farewell to the large dormitory where dozens shared a room. Liu Yuzhang, beside his own room, assigned Hu Xiaotian a half-room, less than five square meters. Though small, it was finally his own private space; closing the door, he could freely let his manhood out to see the daylight. Speaking of which, it's been days since he dared to openly indulge himself.

Whether it was Quan De'an who had greeted him in advance or Hu Xiaotian simply found favor in Liu Yuzhang's eyes, the Senior Eunuch took a liking to him. Three days after Hu Xiaotian arrived at the Gardens Bureau, it was announced that he had become one of the eunuchs tasked with purchasing outside the palace, and he was taken out of the palace to procure goods.

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian, as soon as he arrived at the Gardens Bureau, followed Liu Yuzhang outside to purchase vegetables, Shi Xuedong was extremely envious and kept pestering to go with Hu Xiaotian out of the palace to have a look.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Dong, it's not that I refuse you; it's just that today is my first time leaving the palace, and whether it's blessing or disaster is still uncertain. Our status differs from others': they entered the palace voluntarily, whereas we are here because of our fathers, bearing their punishment, entering to atone for guilt. Although I am leaving the palace, I dare not stray from Eunuch Liu's side, nor can I wander about leisurely. In short, I promise you: when I later get the chance to go out and purchase independently, I will definitely bring you along."

Shi Xuedong also understood his reasoning, sighing with some disappointment: "To be frank, brother, if you ever get the chance to see my father, please tell him I'm safe. Since entering the palace, I've suddenly realized that I've always been a good-for-naught, making my parents worry themselves sick; I just want to face them and say sorry."

Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said: "There will definitely be a chance; I'm going out only to purchase, nothing else."

Outside, a voice calling his name rang out. Hu Xiaotian hurried out the door and saw that Liu Yuzhang was already prepared; besides him, another young eunuch followed, named Wang Desheng, nineteen years old. Though young, he was already a veteran of the Gardens Bureau. Previously he had always followed Liu Yuzhang in purchasing, but after Hu Xiaotian arrived, Liu Yuzhang reassigned Wang Desheng to manage the gardens. Internally, the Gardens Bureau is divided into three sections: one handles the purchase of vegetables and fruits, another is responsible for the palace's horticulture and potted landscapes, and the third oversees the palace's medicinal storehouse.

Upon reaching the door, Liu Yuzhang suddenly changed his mind and said to Wang Desheng: "Little Dezi, you don't need to go today; stay here and organize the recent accounts. For the next two days, leave it to Little Beard."

Hu Xiaotian found this title somewhat laughable; he could be called Little Tian or Little Hu, but being called Little Beard is just strange—who has ever seen a eunuch with a beard?

Wang Desheng nodded and instructed Hu Xiaotian: "Little Beard, when you go with Eunuch Liu, you must attend carefully, pay close attention; if you fail at this task, I will certainly not spare you." As he spoke, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes. Hu Xiaotian, adept at reading expressions, noted that Wang Desheng's back was turned to Liu Yuzhang while saying this. Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, could this fellow be resenting me because I snatched his lucrative post? Still smiling, he said: "Eunuch Wang, rest assured, I will dutifully serve Eunuch Liu."

Liu Yuzhang stood in the sunlight, smiling narrowly at them. Although Hu Xiaotian had not been there long, he already knew Liu Yuzhang's hearing was poor, and might not have heard clearly what Wang Desheng had just said.

Following Liu Yuzhang to outside the Gardens Bureau, they walked along the inner palace path, passing five checkpoints before reaching the carriage boarding point, where a carriage was already waiting. Hu Xiaotian respectfully helped Liu Yuzhang into the carriage, then climbed in himself. The coachman drove the carriage slowly forward. Although Hu Xiaotian was full of anticipation for the outside scenery, beside Liu Yuzhang he dared not show too much eagerness.

Liu Yuzhang's right hand lightly stroked the jade thumb ring on his left hand; that jade thumb ring was clearly a rare treasure. Hu Xiaotian had heard before that eunuchs are generally greedy for wealth; he didn't know if Liu Yuzhang was the same, but just from this jade thumb ring, he must have amassed considerable private riches. In the palace, the Imperial Kitchen Bureau and the Gardens Bureau are among the most lucrative posts, especially the eunuchs in charge of them, who daily manage the palace's food and vegetables; the expenses of tens of thousands, accumulated year after year, all pass through their hands—no small sum. Even a tiny leak would be enough to support an ordinary person for a lifetime of hard work.

Liu Yuzhang said unhurriedly: "Just now, was Little Dezi threatening you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No, he was just reminding me to take good care of you, Eunuch."

Liu Yuzhang let out a grating laugh: "Old now, my legs aren't nimble; Little Beard, actually the Zajia has seen you before."

Hu Xiaotian's heart jumped; he thought, "How could I have no impression of you?" But the Senior Eunuch shouldn't need to lie to himself; he lowered his head and said: "Eunuch Liu, I, your subordinate, simply don't recall."

Liu Yuzhang sighed: "If anything, it was several years ago that I visited your home."

Hu Xiaotian secretly shuddered; Liu Yuzhang's words surely referred to the Secretariat, but he didn't know whether his father had ever offended him back then. If there had been a grudge, falling into his hands now would be terrible misfortune, for eunuchs often bear grudges due to physical defects and seek revenge. Yet after reconsidering, it seemed unlikely. Quan De'an is old and scheming; sending him into the palace surely had some motive, and he would not have placed him in the hands of an enemy.

Liu Yuzhang said: "Back then, you didn't know anyone..." He sighed: "Your father once did a favor for the Zajia, and kindness is remembered for a thousand years; although the Zajia lacks ability, they are not the type to repay kindness with betrayal. When your father met misfortune, the Zajia, hampered by low status, couldn't help. Later I heard that, to save your Hu family, you willingly underwent castration and entered the palace, bearing your father's punishment—truly a fine child. So I made inquiries and learned you were suffering in the cattle and sheep shed of the Imperial Kitchen Bureau, and thus transferred you to my staff. Rest assured; with the Zajia protecting you, no one in the Gardens Bureau will dare to bully you."

Hu Xiaotian's heart involuntarily stirred with emotion; although Liu Yuzhang didn't say what good deeds his father had done for him, at this moment everyone tries to distance themselves from the Hu family, let alone repay kindness—just not to add insult to injury is already commendable. Hu Xiaotian said respectfully: "Thank you, Eunuch Liu."

Two updates delivered, seeking Monthly Ticket; if we can break three thousand today, another First Update will follow!