From street beggar to high-ranking official

August 11th.

Lu Li stared calmly at the eunuch guarding the gate of Yanxi Palace in the distance. Xiao Luozi had privately approached Lu Li to ask for a ceasefire. After thinking it over carefully, Lu Li accepted the money from the other party and pretended to agree.

The two then continued their schemes and plots against each other.

After receiving guidance from his godfather, Lu Li figured out many things. For Lu Li, there was only one way to completely get rid of Xiao Luozi.

This caused him to completely lose favor with Eunuch Zhao.

Murder should only be a last resort. Lu Li could not fathom Zhao Gonggong's thoughts. He could guess that Zhao Gonggong deliberately wanted him to confront Xiao Luozi, but he could not confirm how far Zhao Gonggong would allow him to go.

During this time, Lu Li asked Zhao Gonggong about his other adopted sons, and regardless of the amount of money they received, the answers were mostly the same: "Xiao Luozi oversees half of the harem, making him almost the sole ruler."

Even without Lu Zi, there would be Qi Zi, or other adopted sons who would clash with Luo Zi.

It's just that my identity is more suitable, more suited to be that knife.

Although Lu Li was not Zhao Gonggong's adopted son, his status was still more significant than that of the other junior eunuchs. Out of respect for Chen Gonggong, Zhao Gonggong had no choice but to assign him a task.

Blame it on Clerk Lu, blame it on Eunuch Chen!

Our Eunuch Zhao has his own difficulties, and Xiao Luo, as his godson, should understand his godfather's hardships.

Therefore, even if Xiao Luozi could figure out the key to it, even if he knew that Eunuch Zhao had deliberately made Lu Li fight against him, his loyalty and respect for Eunuch Zhao would only increase, not decrease.

Creating an enemy is far more effective in fostering loyalty than simply offering praise and empty promises.

"Reading and learning are indeed useful. No wonder eunuchs have to study and practice martial arts before they can take up their posts." Lu Li was certain of this. Moreover, if one's learning reaches its peak, it may be possible to cross the threshold of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

No wonder Xiao Jizi was able to enter the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs after becoming the godfather of Eunuch Ji; this is probably part of the reason.

There were only two ways for eunuchs to be promoted: by appointment by the emperor or by the emergence of an official vacancy.

The former is unattainable, and the latter is not something you can just take simply because an official position becomes available; you still need connections to pass both the civil and military examinations.

Lu Li had carefully inquired with his godfather and learned that there were indeed some eunuchs in the palace who rose to their positions solely based on their own abilities, but they were very few and far between. This was because those without connections relied on their literary skills, while those with connections simply copied answers.

If you have strong enough connections, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs will specially arrange for veteran eunuchs from the palace to participate. They may seem like just low-ranking eunuchs, but they can clear all obstacles for you in the martial arts competition. Until the final two-on-one competition, you will either be absent or suffer an unexpected defeat.

In any case, they'll make sure you become an official in a way that seems legitimate.

Lu Li stood in the shadows and continued to wait. When he saw Consort De's carriage leave the palace and disappear into the distance, he approached and saw an unfamiliar face.

Lu was surprised, yet felt it was only natural, and as usual, he offered silver to clear the way: "May I ask, sir, where are the eunuchs who were on duty before?"

Seeing the silver involved, the eunuch on duty replied enthusiastically, "Little Ruler, he was dozing off in front of the palace and let a rat escape into the palace. He killed it."

Lu Li felt it was good that he died, and naturally believed this absurd reason: "Please help me inform them that the Palace Attendant, Little Lu, has arrived."

After a short while, Lu Li followed the messenger eunuch into the east wing.

"Young Master Lu greets Your Excellency the Admiral." Upon seeing the bright red official robe, Lu kowtowed repeatedly.

Lu Li had already found out that the person in charge of Yanxi Palace was Eunuch Qian, the supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration, who was one of the most powerful eunuchs in the palace.

Lu Li originally thought he would see the same eunuch in blue again, but he never expected to directly connect with a second-rank admiral.

The official positions in the inner court were equivalent to those in the outer court. Except for the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, all the directors of the directorates were second-rank eunuchs.

Unlike those in the outer court, eunuchs were essentially servants of the imperial family, and the emperor could arbitrarily appoint or demote them without the need for the Ministry of Personnel to review their appointments.

In other words, matters of the inner court are family affairs, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere.

These differences are also reflected in the rules of etiquette when paying respects to His Majesty. Eunuchs and palace maids are required to kneel and bow, while officials of the outer court, regardless of their rank, are only required to perform three bows and nine kowtows.

This is also the difference between the etiquette between ruler and subject and the etiquette between master and slave.

"Eunuch Chen's godson?" Eunuch Qian sat in his chair without turning his head, only glancing sideways: "Bring up today's letter."

Lu hurriedly presented the document, and a tearing sound was heard. The eunuch on the seat remained silent for a long time.

"The new tea from Tiger Hill in Suzhou Prefecture has been picked. I imagine that hearing this news will put Her Highness the Consort at ease. It's a pity that Tiger Hill and Tianchi teas are the finest and most exquisite, the best in the world, but they are not produced in large quantities." Eunuch Qian said casually, seemingly indifferently, "Little Lu, raise your head and let me see you."

Only then did Lu Li look up.

"Hmm...not exactly wealthy or handsome, but how about finding a high-ranking official, young Lu?" Eunuch Qian asked.

Lu Li's heart began to pound. If he hadn't already sworn brotherhood with Eunuch Chen, he would have already kowtowed and acknowledged his new father. But upon closer inspection, something seemed amiss.

He was about to say something when Eunuch Qian waved his hand and said, "Forget it, we'll talk about it later if we're alive. That old codger arranged for you to be put in the Palace Guard. Who knows what he's planning to do."

......

Lu left Yanxi Palace in a daze.

Only when they reached a secluded and deserted place did Lu Li rub his face. His originally ordinary face gradually changed. Although he hadn't changed his appearance at all, he could still be seen as having a fierce look.

"The method of changing the appearance is indeed effective," Lu Li thought to himself.

Not only has the Listening Ear Technique been pushed to the second level, but the Face-Changing Technique has also reached the first level, allowing for slight adjustments to one's appearance to conceal one's original fierce face.

"Eunuch Qian mentioned the tea from Tiger Hill and Heavenly Pool. Does that mean we should tell Eunuch Chen about it?" Lu Li didn't quite understand. Could a superintendent really not be able to get good tea?

Moreover, the tribute tea was uniformly sent to the Imperial Workshop, and Eunuch Chen's connections were not very useful there.

Lu Li rushed back to find his godfather without stopping, as such an important matter could not be delayed until the next day. Sure enough, Eunuch Chen frowned when he heard this.

"Godfather, do you think Eunuch Qian is trying to make things difficult for us?" Lu Li asked tentatively.

"It is indeed a difficult problem." Eunuch Chen frowned. Seeing that Lu Li seemed to be thinking in the wrong direction, he said, "The imperial court's autumn and winter tribute tea is mainly Yangxian Jie tea. New tea produced in Tiger Hill Mountain and Tianchi Mountain in Suzhou Prefecture is rare in the palace, and it is not even available to Consort De."

"I see." Lu Li suddenly realized that this connected with the information he had received earlier; Consort De was indeed homesick.

That kind of thing might not be available in the Tiger Hill Heavenly Pool Palace, but Consort De must have drunk it before entering the palace.

"Godfather, do you think we should put more effort into this area?" Lu Li suggested.

Eunuch Chen glanced at Qian'er, thinking to himself that he was indeed still inexperienced in the palace and did not fully understand the palace's internal dynamics: "Eunuch Qian, as the supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration, may not be speaking about tea for the sake of Consort De, but could also be for the sake of the North..."

Lu Li was completely confused. Wasn't Consort De's family a prominent family in Jiangnan? And their tea was also a famous tea from Jiangnan. Why did his godfather suddenly mention the north?

He wanted to ask his godfather for clarification, but instead received a reprimand.

"Go ask the Imperial Horse Stables yourself!" Eunuch Chen scolded.