Eunuch Chen had served by the Emperor's side for over a decade—a decade during which the Emperor had neglected state affairs.
In an Imperial City where the Crown Prince had grown to adulthood and managed governance for years, the question of who truly held authority had grown ambiguous.
When Eunuch Chen declared that the Inner Palace Guards were meticulously selected and unwaveringly loyal to His Majesty, even he found it somewhat ironic.
Take himself, for instance—it wasn't that he was disloyal to the Emperor, but rather that he could also pledge loyalty to others, should they require it.
He wondered who this "other" might turn out to be.
The Crown Prince was out of the question. The Third Prince, perhaps?
His thoughts spiraled into chaotic speculation until he heard the Emperor utter an unfamiliar name, leaving him bewildered.
For over ten years, only a handful of individuals had been permitted to approach the Emperor. Though many had attempted to gain his attention, the Emperor couldn't be bothered to acknowledge or remember them. Later, with the rise of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, the Emperor's quarters had grown even more desolate.
"Who is Deng Yi?" Eunuch Chen hurried out, muttering to himself, "Why would His Majesty know a mere Palace Gate Commander?"
Stranger still, the Emperor insisted on using his own belt as a token of summons, as if without it, the commander wouldn't respond.
What kind of person warranted such measures?
The inner palace lay shrouded in darkness. Summoning over a dozen eunuchs to accompany him, Eunuch Chen rushed across the stone-paved paths, his rapid footsteps amplifying his racing heartbeat.
The eunuchs were equally perplexed by the name.
None of them had ever heard it mentioned in the Emperor's presence.
When had the Emperor become acquainted with this Palace Gate Commander? Weren't all such positions appointed by the Crown Prince? And why would a gate commander have access to the Emperor—
Too many inexplicable events had unfolded today.
Though his loyalty might waver, at this moment, with only the Emperor before him, Eunuch Chen had no choice but to obey.
The inner palace gates were brightly lit, yet the illumination only heightened their trepidation.
Before they could draw near, guards shouted, "Halt! Identify yourselves!"
Simultaneously, the glint of crossbows aimed in their direction sent a chill through the eunuchs. Their first thought was panic—had the inner palace gates fallen under someone else's control?
But regardless of who held power, surely they would still recognize the Emperor's authority.
"We bear His Majesty's command—" they hastily announced.
Yet the crossbows remained trained on them. "Do you have proof of summons?"
It seemed that without verification, they would be turned into human pincushions on the spot—
Was this Deng Yi's doing? The Emperor truly understood this man. Eunuch Chen took a deep breath and raised the belt. "We have proof—"
Under the torchlight, the eunuchs were clearly visible, as was the bright yellow dragon-patterned belt in his hand.
The officials on the palace wall sighed in relief. "It really is His Majesty's Imperial Belt."
But then tension resurged. "Did His Majesty remove the belt himself, or was it... forcibly taken?"
They had heard the commotion from the inner palace earlier—clashes and cries, no less intense than those from the outer city.
Uncertain how to proceed, Deng Yi had immediately led men to investigate but was blocked by the inner palace guards, who claimed the Emperor had forbidden anyone from approaching.
Without questioning the need for proof, Deng Yi promptly withdrew with his men.
"Now that His Majesty has issued a command, do we comply?" they asked, turning to Deng Yi.
Without hesitation, Deng Yi replied, "We comply." He then gestured for the gates to be opened.
At this moment, with the inner palace gates under his command, the guards immediately cleared the way.
Eunuch Chen hurried forward, observing the officials in their court robes—men of varying ages—Among the officials stood one around thirty years of age who appeared quite ordinary, his official robe being of the lowest rank, yet one's gaze involuntarily settled on him—likely because the other officials unconsciously clustered around him.
Eunuch Chen held up a bright yellow belt: "His Majesty summons you—please follow me quickly—"
He deliberately avoided naming Deng Yi directly.
Hearing this, the officials exchanged peculiar glances—none responded immediately.
In the past, being summoned by the Emperor would have been cause for elation. Now, however... Eunuch Chen sneered inwardly.
While an imperial summons used to be auspicious, who could say whether entering now might lead to ascending to heaven on a crane—the officials hesitated, their eyes uncertain.
Deng Yi stepped forward, reaching for the belt: "Deng Yi accepts the command."
So this was Deng Yi.
Eunuch Chen observed him with mixed emotions.
Indeed, the Emperor remained the Emperor.
You might think you understand him, but his depths are unfathomable.
……
……
Under the nervous, uneasy, and sympathetic gazes of the officials, Deng Yi followed Eunuch Chen alone. There was no logic in bringing imperial guards to an imperial summons—whether he would live or die depended on fate.
Eunuch Chen occasionally glanced at Deng Yi, noting his calm expression in the dim lamplight and his lack of probing questions.
"How long has Lord Deng been at the Palace Gate Guard?" Eunuch Chen couldn't resist asking.
Deng Yi replied, "Not long."
Eunuch Chen said, "This old servant has long been in the inner palace yet never greeted Lord Deng. Shameful, shameful."
Deng Yi responded, "No matter. I have never entered the inner palace, so we've had no opportunity to meet."
Never. Eunuch Chen grew even more astonished, further baffled by Deng Yi's origins. Tonight, his vision seemed clouded by the night, seeing nothing clearly. Not daring to inquire further, he lowered his head and led the way.
Deng Yi gazed at the inner palace—this was his first time entering. The inner palace now lay shrouded in darkness, permeated with the scent of blood. In the deep gloom, shadowy figures overlapped, interspersed with faint, illusory sobs that came and went, resembling a realm of ghosts.
But upon entering the Emperor's bedchamber, it felt like returning to the human world.
The room was brightly lit. An elderly man in an open bright yellow robe sat on a couch eating pastries, though he seemed dissatisfied, frowning.
"Too sweet," he said, tossing the pastry back onto the plate. "Nothing like what the Imperial Concubine makes."
Eunuchs nearby hurriedly offered tea.
The old man waved impatiently, and the eunuchs hastily retreated.
Eunuch Chen stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, Deng Yi has arrived."
Deng Yi knelt and saluted: "Your subject Deng Yi pays respects to Your Majesty."
He kept his head lowered, sensing 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 grunted: "Thirty stands with ritual." He then asked, "Have you studied?"
Deng Yi said, "Yes. In my youth, I went to Lu Commandery to study the Book of Songs. But my elder brother passed early, and my widowed mother was ill and frail, so I had to return after only five years of study."
The Emperor grunted: "The Lu School of Poetry—that's Shen Peigong's lineage." He then asked, "What have you done since?"
Deng Yi replied, "Your subject served as a village chief for three years, then as a clerk in the county magistrate's office for three years. After that, I worked in the surveillance office of the commandery governor for two years, then served as an inspector under the Imperial Censor. Last year, I came to the capital to the Ministry of the Guards as a deputy director, and was transferred to the Palace Gate Guard just last month."
The Emperor laughed after hearing this: "Quite a career path—from top to bottom, you've done everything."
Deng Yi said, "Your subject receives the sovereign's stipend and must be diligent and conscientious."Listening to the exchange between the monarch and his subject, Chen Eunuch standing nearby grew even more astonished. Why did it sound as though His Majesty didn’t know this Deng Yi? Was he making inquiries on the spot?
Yet this Deng Yi had started as a mere village chief—such a humble background—
What exactly did His Majesty summon Deng Yi for? Surely not to chat with a stranger just because he couldn’t sleep on this chaotic night?
Chen Eunuch’s thoughts wandered as he strained to listen to the Emperor’s words.
The Emperor did not question Deng Yi further but called out, “Attendants.”
Chen Eunuch hurriedly responded, “Yes.”
“Fetch the court official’s robe and sash,” the Emperor said, pointing at Deng Yi. “Bestow them upon Deng Yi.”
Both Chen Eunuch and Deng Yi looked up in surprise. Chen Eunuch was dumbfounded, while Deng Yi bowed again and said, “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”
The Emperor looked at Deng Yi and asked, “At a time like this, if I appoint you as a court official, are you afraid?”
Deng Yi raised his head, his expression calm and his eyes shining brightly. “When I served as a village chief, I did not fear becoming a clerk. Today, as a guard at the palace gates, I do not fear becoming a court official. I only follow the Emperor’s command, devoting myself entirely until my last breath.”
The Emperor laughed heartily and pointed to the items on the desk.
“Deng Yi, here lies the Imperial Seal, the Imperial City Guard Decree, and the Capital Garrison Tiger Tally. With the royal house in turmoil, I appoint you as Grand Tutor. The safety of Great Xia, I entrust to you.”
Deng Yi straightened his posture, clasped his hands in salute, and then bowed deeply.
“Your servant Deng Yi accepts the command!”
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