Eunuch Chen had been by the Emperor’s side for over a decade, and the Emperor had neglected state affairs for just as long.

In the Imperial City, where the Crown Prince had grown up and managed state affairs for many years, who the true master was had become somewhat blurred.

When Eunuch Chen had said that the inner palace guards were carefully selected and unwaveringly loyal to His Majesty, he found it rather amusing.

Take himself for example—it wasn’t that he was disloyal to His Majesty, but rather that he could be loyal to others as well, if the need arose.

Who would this “other person” be next? The Crown Prince was no longer possible. The Third Prince, perhaps?

As these jumbled thoughts ran through his mind, he heard the Emperor mention a name that was unfamiliar to him, leaving him bewildered.

For more than a decade, there had only been a few people the Emperor would call by name. It wasn’t that people hadn’t tried to get close to the Emperor, but His Majesty was too lazy to look at them, let alone remember them. Later, with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince around, the Emperor’s quarters became even quieter.

“Who is Deng Yi?” he asked urgently as he hurried out. “Why would His Majesty know a mere gate guard?”

What was even stranger was that the Emperor gave this gate guard his waistband as proof, as if Deng Yi wouldn’t come without it.

What kind of person was this?

The deep palace was pitch black. He called for more than a dozen eunuchs to accompany him, their hurried footsteps striking the stone slabs, making his heart beat faster.

The dozen or so eunuchs were also bewildered upon hearing this name.

They had never heard it mentioned in the Emperor’s presence.

When had the Emperor become acquainted with this gate guard? Weren’t all gate guards selected by the Crown Prince? They didn’t come before the Emperor—

Too many inexplicable things had happened today.

Although one’s loyalty could waver, at this moment, with only the Emperor before them, they could only faithfully follow orders.

The inner palace gate was brightly lit, but this made it all the more terrifying.

Before they got close, the guards challenged them: “Halt! Who goes there!”

At the same time, gleaming crossbows were aimed at them. The eunuchs were startled, their first thought being that the inner palace gate had fallen into someone else’s hands—

But no matter whose hands it had fallen into, they still had to acknowledge their father.

They hurriedly called out: “By order of His Majesty—”

But the crossbows were not lowered: “Do you have proof of the imperial command?”

It seemed that without proof, they would be turned into porcupines on the spot—

Was this Deng Yi’s way of doing things? The Emperor knew Deng Yi well. Eunuch Chen took a deep breath and raised the waistband: “Here it is—”

Under the lamplight, the eunuchs were visible, as was the imperial yellow dragon-patterned waistband they held up.

The officials standing on the palace wall let out a sigh of relief: “It truly is His Majesty’s imperial waistband.”

But they immediately drew another breath: “Was His Majesty’s waistband removed by himself, or… was it stripped from him?”

They had also heard the commotion from the deep palace earlier—the sounds of killing and screaming, no less intense than those coming from the outer city.

They didn’t know what to do. Deng Yi had immediately led men to investigate, but they were stopped by the imperial guards at the sleeping chambers, who said they had the Emperor’s orders not to let anyone approach.

Not allowed to approach—Deng Yi hadn’t asked for proof of the order and had immediately returned with his men.

“Now there’s this imperial command. Should we obey it?” they looked at Deng Yi and asked.

Deng Yi didn’t hesitate at all: “Obey.” With a wave of his hand, he signaled to let them pass.

At this moment, the inner palace gate was under his command. The guards immediately made way.

Eunuch Chen hurried over, looking at the officials in their robes, of varying ages—

Among them was an ordinary-looking official around thirty years old, wearing the lowest-ranking official robe. Yet, one’s gaze was naturally drawn to him, perhaps because the other officials unconsciously stood close to him.

Eunuch Chen held up the yellow waistband: “His Majesty summons you. Please come with me quickly—”

He deliberately played a trick, not directly calling out Deng Yi’s name.

Hearing this, the officials’ expressions became somewhat strange—they didn’t immediately respond.

In the past, upon hearing of an imperial summons, everyone would have been elated, as if they had ascended to heaven. Look at them now, Eunuch Chen thought coldly.

In the past, an imperial summons was indeed good news, but now, who knew if entering meant truly ascending to heaven by departing this world—the officials’ gazes were hesitant.

Deng Yi stepped forward and reached for the waistband: “Deng Yi accepts the command.”

So he was indeed Deng Yi.

Eunuch Chen looked at him with a complex expression.

The Emperor was truly the Emperor.

You might think you’ve seen through him, but in reality, he’s unfathomable.

……

……

Under the tense, uneasy, sympathetic gazes of the officials, Deng Yi followed Eunuch Chen alone. Being summoned by the Emperor, there was no reason to bring guards. Whether he would live or die on this journey was up to fate.

Eunuch Chen also glanced at Deng Yi from time to time. In the dim light, he saw that Deng Yi’s expression was calm, and he didn’t ask any questions.

“How long has Lord Deng been serving at the palace gate?” Eunuch Chen couldn’t help asking.

Deng Yi replied: “Not long.”

Eunuch Chen said: “This old servant stays deep in the palace and has never had the chance to greet Lord Deng. My apologies.”

Deng Yi replied: “It’s no matter. I’ve never entered the deep palace, so we’ve had no opportunity to meet.”

Never entered? Eunuch Chen was even more surprised and uncertain about Deng Yi’s background. Tonight, his eyes were covered by the darkness of night, and he could see nothing. He dared not ask more questions and lowered his head as he led the way.

Deng Yi looked at the deep palace. This was his first time entering. The deep palace was now dark and permeated with the scent of blood. In the thick darkness, shadowy figures seemed to overlap, mixed with occasional, seemingly real yet illusory cries, like a realm of ghosts.

But upon entering the Emperor’s chambers, it felt like returning to the world of the living.

The room was brightly lit. An old man with an open yellow robe sat on a couch, eating snacks. He seemed dissatisfied, frowning.

“Too sweet,” he said, tossing the snack 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 hastily retreated.

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 as he felt the old man’s gaze upon him.

“How old are you?” the Emperor asked.

Deng Yi replied: “Your subject will turn thirty-one this August.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment: “At thirty, one stands firmly in propriety.” Then he asked, “Have you studied?”

Deng Yi replied: “Yes, in my youth I went to Lu Prefecture to study poetry. However, my elder brother died early, and my widowed mother was frail, so I only studied for five years before having to return home.”

The Emperor made another sound of acknowledgment: “The Lu school of poetry, that’s from Master Shen Pei’s lineage.” Then he asked, “What have you done since?”

Deng Yi replied: “Your subject served as a pavilion chief in my hometown for three years, then as a county clerk for three years, followed by two years in the prefect’s office in the prefecture city. Later, I was assigned as a patrol officer under the Imperial Censor, and last year I came to the capital to serve as an assistant officer in the Court of the Imperial Regalia. A month ago, I was transferred to the palace gate guard.”

After listening, the Emperor smiled: “You’ve held quite a few positions. From top to bottom, you’ve done a bit of everything.”

Deng Yi said: “Your subject eats the ruler’s grain and must serve diligently.”

Listening to this exchange between the emperor and the subject, Eunuch Chen was even more surprised. It sounded like His Majesty didn’t know this Deng Yi at all. Was he gathering information on the spot?

Moreover, Deng Yi had started as a mere pavilion chief, such a humble beginning—

What did His Majesty summon Deng Yi for? Surely not because he couldn’t sleep and wanted to chat with a stranger?

As Eunuch Chen’s mind wandered, he kept his ears perked for the Emperor’s words.

The Emperor didn’t question Deng Yi further but called: “Come.”

Eunuch Chen responded immediately.

“Bring the court official’s robes and belt,” the Emperor said, pointing at Deng Yi. “Bestow them upon Deng Yi.”

Both Eunuch Chen and Deng Yi raised their heads in surprise. The difference was that Eunuch Chen was dumbfounded, while Deng Yi bowed again: “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”

The Emperor looked at Deng Yi and asked: “At a time like this, are you afraid to become a court official?”

Deng Yi raised his head, his expression calm, his eyes bright: “When Your subject previously served as a pavilion chief, I was not afraid to become a clerk. Today, as a palace gate guard, I am likewise not afraid to become a court official. Your subject only obeys the imperial command and will serve wholeheartedly until death.”

The Emperor laughed heartily and pointed to the desk.

“Deng Yi, here are my imperial seal, the command of the Imperial City Guard, and the tiger tally of the Capital Garrison. With the royal family in turmoil, I appoint you as Grand Tutor. The safety of the Great Xia, I entrust to you.”

Deng Yi straightened his back, made a fist-and-palm salute, then bowed deeply again.

“Your subject, Deng Yi, accepts the command!”