He paused and said, "Of course I know they harbor ill intentions. You and I are neither kin nor acquaint, I won’t risk my life to investigate the whereabouts of your Divine Embryo."
He laughed heartily and said, "When you were a child, I nearly wanted to eat you up!"
Chen Shi had no recollection of this matter at all.
"You’ve grown too tough to eat."
Zaowu Xiao Wu glanced at him and said, "Your flesh must taste sour now."
After breakfast, Zaowu Xiao Wu stood by with his hands tucked in his sleeves. Chen Shi glanced over, Zaowu Xiao Wu turned his pockets inside out and said, "I have no money, see, my pockets are cleaner than my face. I haven’t had any soy milk for several days."
He felt quite aggrieved.
He killed many high-ranking officials to investigate the Innate Dao Embryo, yet these nobles seldom carried Silver, except for Magic Treasure Talisman Soldiers and miscellaneous treasures. Later, he learned that Imperial Officials have pitifully low salaries and, to maintain a clean image, they typically don’t carry Silver.
They eat at designated taverns, finish the al and leave without paying, soone naturally settles the bill.
Chen Shi paid the bill, and the two returned to Chang’an Street together.
Zaowu Xiao Wu said, "Chen Tang should have returned ho from court, you should go back and co again tonight, I’ll teach you the Circulation Heaven Great Jiao."
Chen Shi waved goodbye, Zaowu Xiao Wu ignored him, went straight upstairs, and suddenly rembered sothing, said, "Co early tonight. Take to sell off the loot."
Chen Shi agreed, left the alley, and walked toward the Inner City.
Reflecting on the past day and night’s experience, he still felt a bit muddled.
Yesterday, he and Yu Lingzi killed twelve core mbers of the Thirteen Families at Qixia Temple, tossed Fan Kongliu into a well to feed the Dragon, and later in the evening, he encountered Zaowu Xiao Wu. He cultivated overnight in Xiao Wu’s crafted Lesser Heaven, not only fully recovering his Primordial Qi but significantly enhancing his cultivation.
Moreover, Zaowu Xiao Wu found clues to his Innate Dao Embryo.
Chen Shi steadied his mind, recalling Chen Tang’s warning not to associate with disreputable people, first among them being Zaowu Xiao Wu, hastily quickened his pace and soon entered the Inner City.
The Outer City bustling with people, the Inner City much quieter, like two separate worlds.
Chen Shi slowed his pace and noticed a wheelchair parked by the roadside, seated was a man dressed in black clothes with a red collar and white undershirt, face pale and beardless, seemingly forty to fifty years old, smiling at him.
Two young n followed him, wearing Jinyi Guards’ attire, likewise pale and beardless, but expressionless.
Seeing Chen Shi approach, the wheelchair automatically moved toward him, parallel to Chen Shi.
That pale, beardless man’s voice was bright and sharp, he laughed, "Young Master Chen, hold your steps."
Chen Shi slowed his pace, puzzled, "Sir, forgive my poor sight, I don’t recognize you."
The man laughed, "My family na is Feng, Tianhuan by na, originally the Chamberlain, East Factory Director, later resigned."
Chen Shi looked at him, surprised, "You’re a eunuch!"
He glanced at the two young n behind Eunuch Feng: "You’re all eunuchs!"
The two young n stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you!"
Eunuch Feng raised a hand, stopping them, laughed, "I am indeed a eunuch, no need to avoid the subject. Young Master Chen, do you know the benefits of being a eunuch?"
The wheelchair slowed, Eunuch Feng laughed, "Our Great Ming Court can do without a True King, without a Crown Prince, but certainly cannot do without eunuchs. Eunuchs are not part of the Thirteen Families, eunuchs have no descendants, don’t covet benefits for families, don’t aspire to be True Kings, after all, no heirs. Even if one ascends to power through trials and tribulations, in a hundred years, it is still death. We eunuchs in the Western Capital, have no entangled interests or conflicts."
He said with deep aning, "Thus, we eunuchs are actually the most impartial people in the Western Capital."
His novel perspective intrigued Chen Shi, slowing his pace even further, asked, "Are there such advantages to being a eunuch?"
Eunuch Feng laughed, "The advantages of being a eunuch are nurous! Consider your old Chen Family, three generations outstanding, but reaching only Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Assistant Minister of Rites. Why can’t they rise further? Fear that you gain power, beco a family, and compete for power and profits. But eunuchs fare much better, eunuchs have no heirs, naturally can’t form a family. Thus, they won’t guard against you, instead valuing you, giving you power, giving you money, letting you make waves."
Chen Shi laughed, "Eunuch Feng, you speak with humor indeed. You and I surely are not eting by chance today, may I ask what brings you to ?"
Eunuch Feng laughed, "Young Master Chen, we share history, no need for such precautions. These legs of ours, were broken by your grandfather."
Chen Shi felt a chill in his heart, guarded cautiously.
Eunuch Feng said, "Eleven years ago, your grandfather Chen Yindou stord the Western Capital, no one could stop him, no one dared confront him in battle. Our family did not dare either, thus mobilized East Factory’s experts, set up an array to duel him. East Factory suffered heavy casualties, I lost all sensation below my waist thanks to him."
Chen Shi beca even more tense.
Eunuch Feng’s tone changed, laughing, "But that’s past. Young Master Chen, many doubt you becoming the top scorer, but this family thinks you are talented, I support you pushing the prince aside, for you to beco the top scorer."
Chen Shi was slightly startled, looking at him puzzled.
Among the Thirteen Families, aside from Grand Secretary Zhang Fuzheng openly supporting Chen Tang, other families openly or secretly supported the prince. Eunuch Feng, such a high official, supporting the prince seed prudent.
Eunuch Feng laughed, "You are outstanding, better than the prince. My support for the prince is rely embellishnt, but my support for you amid adversity is crucial. Moreover, I cannot stand the prince’s behavior."
He said coolly, "The prince practices ’those who follow prosper, those who oppose perish.’ I can understand suppressing opposing officials, but it’s not easy to find diligent officials, yet he wishes to remove these people, replacing them with his own. I cannot agree. Especially on the day he entered the city, using Punishnt Chief Du Wanshu’s head from Zhenzhou to enhance his prestige saddened ."
Chen Shi stopped, looking at him in confusion.
Eunuch Feng said, "Unless forced, who wishes to beco a eunuch? I too wish to change the Great Ming, but the prince is no wise ruler. If he becos the True King, Great Ming is dood."
He lifted his head, saying, "The Imperial Examination’s results are already predetermined, the prince shall claim the top honor, you rank second. After, it will be a contest for the Imperial Examination’s top scorer, between you and the prince. Then, so will seek harm upon you, preventing you from competing with the prince. I will shield you from so dangers."
Chen Shi was stunned, saying, "Do eunuchs have integrity indeed?"
Eunuch Feng laughed heartily, "We, lacking one thing, instead have more backbone than those who possess it. Let accompany you ho, to demonstrate my stance."
The wheelchair moved alongside Chen Shi, heading towards Chen Mansion.
Eunuch Feng eagerly said, "Young Master Chen, you are exceptionally talented. If not disdainful, accept as your foster father?"
Chen Shi was startled, quickly declined, "Why such words, sir? Please don’t ntion this again."
Eunuch Feng felt regret, "We eunuchs, lacking descendants, like to adopt godsons. These two behind are my godsons, pity they’re eunuchs too, I wish to adopt one with it. You are impressive, help have a grandson."
Chen Shi laughed, "Thank you, sir, for your kindness. My parents still living, I dare not take another as parent."
Arriving at Chen Mansion, Eunuch Feng watched him enter, then departed.
"Why does the foster father abandon the prince to value Chen Shi?" asked a eunuch behind Eunuch Feng.
Eunuch Feng sighed and said, "The prince’s deeds I disapprove, appearing clever but really trifling, harming ritorious deeds, better to let Chen Shi act correctly. Anyone with backbone wouldn’t willingly submit to him. Moreover, the new Director of the East Factory has already sided with the prince, if I too side, once the prince ascends, will he return control of the East Factory to ?"
That eunuch said, "Yet, if the prince wins, he ascends. Chen Shi wins, only a top scorer, can’t bring us greater benefits."
Eunuch Feng said coolly, "So eunuchs believe whitening master’s sins, their mothers can beco Noble Consorts. I dislike those dead eunuchs siding with the prince. I don’t seek benefits, nor will I let such a wretch beco True King!"
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