Eunuch Chen had been by the Emperor’s side for over ten years, and the Emperor had neglected state affairs for over ten years as well.
For the Imperial City where the Crown Prince had grown to maturity and managed state affairs for many years, who the true master was had become somewhat blurred.
Actually, when Eunuch Chen had spoken those words about the inner palace guards being carefully selected and loyal to His Majesty without question, he himself found it laughable.
Take himself, for instance—it wasn’t that he was disloyal to His Majesty, it was just that besides His Majesty, he could also be loyal to others if they needed him to be.
He didn’t know who this “other person” would be next.
It couldn’t be the Crown Prince anymore. The Third Prince, perhaps?
His mind was filled with chaotic rambling thoughts, and then he heard His Majesty mention a name. This name was very unfamiliar, leaving him bewildered.
After more than ten years, there were only a few people whose names could be called by His Majesty’s side. It wasn’t that no one wanted to squeeze their way before the Emperor, but His Majesty couldn’t be bothered to look, much less remember. Later, with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, His Majesty’s court became even more desolate.
“Who is Deng Yi?” He hurried out while asking, “Why would His Majesty know a palace gate guard?”
What was even stranger was that His Majesty wanted to give this palace gate guard his belt as proof, as if without it he couldn’t be summoned.
What kind of person was this?
The deep palace was pitch black. He called over a dozen eunuchs to accompany him. Their hurried footsteps striking the stone slabs made his heart beat even faster.
The dozen or so eunuchs were also bewildered upon hearing this name.
They had never heard it from His Majesty’s side.
When had His Majesty met this palace gate guard? Weren’t palace gate guards all selected by the Crown Prince? They never came before His Majesty either—
There had been too many incomprehensible events today.
Though a loyal heart could waver, at this moment with only His Majesty before them, they could only faithfully obey orders.
The inner palace gates were brightly lit, which made people even more terrified.
Before they even drew near, imperial guards shouted: “Halt! Who goes there!”
At the same time, crossbows glinting with cold light were aimed at them. The eunuchs jumped in fright. Their first thought was that something was wrong—the inner palace gates had fallen into who knows whose hands—
But no matter whose hands they’d fallen into, they still had to acknowledge their master.
They hurriedly said: “His Majesty has issued a command—”
But the crossbows were not lowered: “Do you have proof of the command?”
It seemed that without proof of command, they would be shot into pincushions on the spot—
Was this Deng Yi’s way of doing things? His Majesty truly understood this Deng Yi well. Eunuch Chen drew in a breath and raised the belt: “Yes—”
Under the illumination of the lamplight, the eunuchs were clearly visible, and the raised bright yellow dragon-patterned belt was also clearly visible.
The officials standing on the palace walls breathed a sigh of relief: “It really is His Majesty’s imperial belt.”
But immediately they caught their breath again: “Was His Majesty’s belt removed by himself, or was it—stripped off him?”
They had also heard the commotion from the deep palace earlier—sounds of slaughter and screaming, no less than what came from the outer city.
They didn’t know what to do. Deng Yi had immediately led people to investigate, but was stopped by the guards of the bedchamber, who said His Majesty had ordered no one to approach.
Not allowed to approach—Deng Yi hadn’t asked for proof of command and immediately led his people back.
“So now His Majesty has issued a command. Will you obey it or not?” They looked at Deng Yi and asked.
Deng Yi showed not the slightest hesitation: “Obey.” With that, he raised his hand to signal them to let them pass.
At this moment, the inner palace gates all listened to him. The guards immediately let them through.
Eunuch Chen hurried over, looking at the officials in official robes here, of varying ages—
Among them, an official around thirty years old looked quite ordinary, his official robe of the lowest rank, yet one’s gaze unconsciously fell upon him, probably because the other officials unconsciously clustered around him.
Eunuch Chen held up the bright yellow belt: “His Majesty summons you. Please come with me immediately—”
He deliberately played coy, not directly calling out Deng Yi’s name.
Hearing these words, those officials’ expressions were somewhat strange—they didn’t immediately respond.
In the past, upon hearing of His Majesty’s summons, each one would act as if they’d ascended to heaven. Look at them now. Eunuch Chen sneered inwardly.
In the past, His Majesty’s summons was indeed a good thing, but now—who knew if going in meant truly ascending to heaven and departing westward on a crane? The officials’ gazes hesitated.
Deng Yi stepped forward and reached out to take the belt: “Deng Yi receives the command.”
So he really was Deng Yi.
Eunuch Chen looked at him, his expression complex.
Indeed, His Majesty was still His Majesty.
You thought you saw through him, but actually he was unfathomably deep.
……
……
Under the tense, uneasy, and sympathetic gazes of the officials, Deng Yi followed Eunuch Chen alone. When the Emperor summoned, there was no reason to bring imperial guards. Whether he lived or died on this trip would depend on fate.
Eunuch Chen also glanced at Deng Yi from time to time. Under the dim lamplight, he saw his expression was calm, and he asked no questions.
“How long has Lord Deng been at the palace gate guard?” Eunuch Chen couldn’t help asking.
Deng Yi said: “Not long.”
Eunuch Chen said: “This old servant is often in the deep palace and has never greeted Lord Deng. How shameful, how shameful.”
Deng Yi said: “No matter. I’ve never entered the deep palace, so you and I had no opportunity to greet each other.”
Never? Eunuch Chen was even more surprised and knew even less of Deng Yi’s background. Tonight his eyes were covered by the night and he could see nothing clearly. He dared ask no more questions and led the way with his head bowed.
Deng Yi looked at the deep palace. This was his first time walking in. The deep palace at this moment was dark and gloomy, permeated with the stench of blood. In the thick darkness, human shadows vaguely overlapped, mixed with crying that seemed real yet illusory, present yet absent, like a realm of ghosts.
But walking into the Emperor’s bedchamber, it felt like returning to the human world.
Inside, the lamps were bright. An old man with his bright yellow robe hanging open sat on the couch eating pastries, seemingly dissatisfied with them, frowning.
“Too sweet.” he said, tossing the pastry back onto the plate. “Nothing like what the Noble Consort made.”
The eunuchs nearby hurriedly offered tea.
The old man impatiently waved his hand, and the eunuchs quickly withdrew.
Eunuch Chen stepped forward and bowed: “Your Majesty, Deng Yi has arrived.”
Deng Yi knelt and bowed: “Your subject Deng Yi pays respects to Your Majesty.”
He kept his head lowered, feeling the old man’s gaze from above fall upon him.
“How old are you?” the Emperor asked.
Deng Yi said: “Your subject will turn thirty-one this coming August.”
The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment: “At thirty, one establishes ritual propriety.” He asked again, “Have you studied?”
Deng Yi said: “I have. In my youth I went to Lu Commandery to study poetry, but my eldest brother died early and my widowed mother was frail, so after only five years I had no choice but to return home.”
The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment: “Lu poetry—that’s the lineage of Shen Peigong.” He asked again, “What did you do after that?”
Deng Yi said: “Your subject served as a village head for three years in my hometown, then entered the county office as a clerk for three years, then worked in the prefectural governor’s office as a supervisor for two years, later served as a patrol officer under the Investigating Censor, and last year came to the capital to work at the Commandant’s office. A month ago I was just transferred to the palace gate guard.”
Having listened, the Emperor laughed: “You’ve held quite a few posts. From top to bottom, you’ve done everything.”
Deng Yi said: “Your subject receives the sovereign’s stipend and should work diligently and carefully.”
Listening to this sovereign and subject’s questions and answers, Eunuch Chen on the side was even more surprised. Why did it sound like His Majesty didn’t know this Deng Yi and was inquiring on the spot?
Moreover, this Deng Yi had started as a mere village head—such a lowly background—
What exactly did His Majesty summon Deng Yi for? Surely not because he couldn’t sleep this chaotic night and wanted to find a stranger to chat with?
Eunuch Chen’s mind wandered while he kept his ears pricked to listen to the Emperor speak.
The Emperor asked Deng Yi no more questions and called out: “Someone come.”
Eunuch Chen quickly responded.
“Fetch the court official’s robes and sash.” the Emperor said, pointing at Deng Yi. “Bestow them upon Deng Yi.”
Both Eunuch Chen and Deng Yi looked up in surprise. The difference was that Eunuch Chen stared blankly, while Deng Yi immediately kowtowed again: “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”
The Emperor looked at Deng Yi and asked: “Having you become a court official at this time—are you afraid?”
Deng Yi raised his head, his expression calm, his eyes bright: “Previously when your subject was a village head, I did not fear becoming a clerk. Today as your subject serves as a palace gate guard, I likewise do not fear becoming a court official. Your subject only heeds the imperial command—I will bend my back to the utmost until death.”
The Emperor laughed heartily and pointed at the desk.
“Deng Yi, here is my imperial seal, the Imperial City Guard command, and the Capital Garrison tiger tally. Now that the imperial household is in turmoil, I appoint you as Grand Tutor. I entrust the safety of Da Xia to you.”
Deng Yi straightened his body, cupped his fists in salute, then bent down to kowtow.
“Your subject Deng Yi receives this command!”