From street beggar to high-ranking official

Chapter 56 Each on Their Own Mountain

The following day, Lu Li visited Eunuch Zhao, the Palace Attendant.

"Little Xizi, where is Eunuch Zhao?" Lu Li asked with a smile as he stood guard at the gate in front of Eunuch Zhao's room.

"Replying to Eunuch Lu, my godfather should still be cultivating at this time. Should we inform him?" Xiao Xizi was still a doorman. It seems that after Xiao Qizi's death, Eunuch Zhao did not give Xiao Xizi a new position.

However, there has been progress. He was just an ordinary doorman before, but now he has become the godfather of Eunuch Zhao, presumably filling the quota of godchildren under Eunuch Zhao's name.

"Just say that we've come from our family."

""

Inside the main office, Xiao Xizi was about to sift tea for the two eunuchs when Lu Li suddenly called out, "Use our tea leaves. It's rare to get such good tea from the Imperial Workshop. We must have a good taste with Eunuch Zhao."

"Eunuch Lu has made it big!" Eunuch Zhao chuckled. "The Imperial Workshop's tea is something we don't usually get to drink."

Seeing that his godfather tacitly approved, Xiao Xizi took the good tea leaves that Lu Li had brought and began to brew and strain the tea.

Xiao Xizi first cleaned the teaware, warmed the teapot and cups with hot water, and then poured the tea leaves into the tea caddy for the two to appreciate the shape of the dry tea.

Color and aroma.

Looking at Xiao Xizi's tea ceremony skills, Lu Li thought to himself that Xiao Xizi was quite capable, unlike his family, who only knew how to brew tea for their godfather.

"Xiao Xizi's skills are quite extraordinary," Lu Li commented.

There was no place in the Inner Palace to teach these skills. If you wanted to learn them, you had to spend money. But most of the eunuchs would not spend money on such a skill that had little chance of return.

"Little Xizi is a natural follower. We've always enjoyed playing with tea sets, and since he became a doorman, he's been keeping a close eye on us, even learning about five or six tenths of our skills," Eunuch Zhao casually remarked. "Seeing how clever he is, we won't be stingy. How about we take him in as a godson?"

"It's Xiao Xizi's ability to control her own destiny is also a testament to her own capabilities."

,

Upon hearing Lu Li's words, Eunuch Zhao unconsciously recalled some past events: "Indeed, personal fortune..."

""

He took a sip, and the aroma of the famous tea filled his mouth.

"This tea is quite good," said Eunuch Zhao, smacking his lips.

"I heard from the eunuch in the Imperial Workshop that this is the first batch of Lion Peak Longjing tea this year. It was picked at night when the buds were just emerging, so it is naturally a top-quality tea." Lu Li also took a sip. He didn't know the price, but judging from the description given by the eunuch in the Imperial Workshop, it was probably no worse than the Ba tea he had tasted before.

The two eunuchs chatted casually until they finished their first cup of wine. Only then did Lu Li express his thoughts: "Eunuch Zhao, is there any precedent for eunuchs in the Palace Guard to exchange positions?"

He thought it over carefully. Going directly to Zhao Gonggong's door and saying that he was there to test Zhao Gonggong's attitude about Xiao Qizi would be too ruthless. This ruthlessness was for both Zhao Gonggong and himself.

Now that he is based in Jingyang Palace, he can take advantage of his status as an eighth-rank eunuch to do many things, but there are also many things that he cannot do.

For example, the night patrol meant that Lu Li could not stay by Consort Wu's side at all times.

"So, this is what Eunuch Lu wanted to ask about?" Eunuch Zhao picked up the half-full cup of tea and took a sip, showing that he really liked the tea.

"There are precedents for shift changes within the palace guards; many junior eunuchs do it this way. However, it's probably not appropriate for eunuchs to switch shifts," said Eunuch Zhao.

"What do you mean by that?" Lu Li asked.

"Having been in the Palace Guard for so long, Eunuch Lu must have discovered some things. Among the twelve palace guards, the Palace Guard has the most informants. As the supervisor of the palace guard, Eunuch Xie naturally wants to place an important position under my name."

If certain key positions in the Palace Guard are not controlled by their own people, then wouldn't the Palace Guard become someone else's territory?

Admiral Xie naturally thought the same way, so even if Li Lu had a request, even if he spent money to personally find Eunuch Xie, Eunuch Xie would most likely take the money and not do anything.

Lu Li immediately realized that he had been subtly excluded. The Palace Attendant was a poor and lowly office, and night patrols were an even more arduous task. Since Lu Li was Eunuch Chen's man, he would naturally be excluded.

"So, Eunuch Lu, don't overthink it," Eunuch Zhao said.

"In that case, we won't bother you any longer." Lu Li stood up and said, "This tea can be left for Eunuch Zhao to enjoy at his leisure."

""

"No need to see me out."

Seeing that Lu Li had left on his own, Xiao Xizi, who had been serving him, stepped forward and asked:

"Godfather, did Eunuch Lu really come here just to ask about this matter?"

Eunuch Zhao glanced at Gan'er sideways: "What did you figure out?"

"I didn't see anything wrong, but I felt that Eunuch Lu's words were not entirely complete," Xiao Xizi offered his opinion.

"Of course, Eunuch Lu came to ask more than just this one question." Eunuch Zhao's words were full of meaning: "You should listen more, observe more, and think more about everything. Think carefully about why Eunuch Lu came today."

,

"I will definitely think it over carefully!" Xiao Xizi diligently poured another cup for Eunuch Zhao.

Eunuch Zhao stared at the emerald green tea in the teacup, his wrist twitching slightly as the tea swirled within.

"Eunuch Lu's tea is very precious, so we're even."

""

He knew that even if he didn't do anything behind Lu Li's back, Lu Li would eventually come to the attention of some people if he continued like this.

Why has Jingyang Palace not had a chief eunuch for so long?

This isn't because Consort Wu is difficult to serve; there are plenty of eunuchs in the palace who know how to serve, and those eunuchs who specialize in this are all incredibly smooth.

Furthermore, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs could directly appoint a certain eunuch to the position of head eunuch of Jingyang Palace.

The key lies with the heir; no one dares to step in lightly.

During the more than twenty years of the Yongxi reign, matters concerning the imperial heir were never so simple. Some eunuchs rose to prominence, but many more were lost without even their remains being found, along with the treasures that were registered in their names in the treasure room.

Now that the Crown Prince resides in the Eastern Palace, the inner palace has become peaceful, completely unlike the bloody conflicts of the past.

Moreover, any eunuch who becomes an official will inevitably have his own faction. As a rising star, if you rashly approach Consort Wu, it's hard to say that you might be planning to establish your own independent faction.

Back in his duty room, Lu Li sat on a large mahogany chair and closed his eyes to think for a while. He hadn't expected that changing his position would become so difficult.

He had considered that perhaps there wasn't enough money, or perhaps other eunuchs wouldn't let him pass.

The only reason I never expected was that I wasn't on Eunuch Xie's side, but that I was actually Eunuch Chen's godson.

"However, we still have a chance. As long as Consort Wu is willing to speak up, we will definitely be able to change to the most suitable position."

As Lu Li pondered, he suddenly thought of something else.

The eunuch Lu from the Imperial Household Department, whom I have never met.

Did Eunuch Lu encounter the same situation as us when he was working in the Imperial Household Department?

Is this the hilltop?

No wonder Chen Gonggong's other godsons rarely visited him; the key lies here.

If you're not on the same side, you'll never get promoted unless you surrender and offer your allegiance.

Just like Xiao Fuzi who betrayed him back then, Eunuch Lu became a sixth-rank eunuch precisely because he betrayed Eunuch Chen!