Chapter 65 - 1#

On a cold winter day, when there was nothing to do, one should have nestled indoors, hiding from the chilly wind outside. However, there was a commotion in the Palace Maintenance Office.

Jingzhe stood outside the door with a bitter face, watching boxes of things being moved out of the room.

There was no other reason than Jingzhe’s belongings finally couldn’t fit into his living quarters.

After hearing the news, Jiang Jinming waved his hand and assigned a new place for Jingzhe, ordering him to move there.

Jingzhe originally didn’t want to; he was used to living with Huiping.

Compared to a spacious courtyard, he actually preferred this kind of small house, which gave him an inexplicable sense of security.

Jiang Jinming said slowly: “You have lived with Huiping for so long, haven’t you thought that your many things have actually disturbed him very much?”

Jingzhe was startled and immediately reflected.

The result of his reflection was that he accepted Jiang Jinming’s words and decided to move immediately.

When Huiping learned about this, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“So what if you continue to live here? Having someone like you living with me is always much better than others.”

When Jingzhe slept, he didn’t snore, didn’t grind his teeth, and didn’t toss and turn much at night. He slept peacefully.

If it were someone else, they might have smelly feet or talk in their sleep in the middle of the night. Except for having a few more secrets, Jingzhe was a very good friend.

Huiping didn’t find it troublesome at all.

To move someone like Jingzhe with emotion and reason, the best way was not to handle him directly, but to handle the friends around him.

Manager Jiang was deliberately using Huiping to persuade Jingzhe.

Huiping knew it, and Jingzhe knew it too.

He said so.

“I also know that the Manager was waiting for me deliberately. But what he said also makes sense. You can accept it because you are tolerating me, but it doesn’t mean I can ignore it forever. That’s not good.”

Since Jingzhe said so, Huiping could only accept it.

Thinking about it again, the place Jingzhe was moving to was already much larger than this residence, which was a good thing for Jingzhe.

Thus, Huiping said no more.

Jiang Jinming called a few rough-labor eunuchs to help Jingzhe. Jingzhe took some ginger and troubled the little eunuch in the boiling water room to boil a thick pot of ginger soup for them to drink, and shared the various pastries he had kept with them.

With ginger soup and the rare pastries they usually couldn’t eat, these little eunuchs called to help were cheerful and very happy.

By the time they finally finished, it was already afternoon.

This was because Jiang Jinming specially gave Jingzhe half a day of leeway so he could tidy up neatly.

Jingzhe’s new residence was in the same area as the second-rank eunuchs of the Palace Maintenance Directorate. However, since he came later, he moved to the new row.

Although it was in the back, the location was good, and there was still some sunlight in winter.

Currently, the number of second-rank eunuchs in the Palace Maintenance Directorate was odd.

Jingzhe was promoted by the imperial decree and didn’t follow the path of the Palace Maintenance Directorate, so the number didn’t match the even numbers favored by the imperial palace.

So, he lived in this room alone.

This happened to allow many of Jingzhe’s things to be stuffed into the room opposite. When someone came, they could move them. Thus, the whole house seemed very spacious.

This made Liao Jiang, who came to congratulate him the next day, very envious.

Liao Jiang was now following Manager Jiang of the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, rising step by step, and would become a second-rank eunuch by the end of the year.

He had already moved a month ago, taking advantage of the fact that it wasn’t so cold just after winter started.

When others moved, they weren’t as reluctant as Jingzhe.

Who wouldn’t want to live in a larger place?

Moreover, that was a symbol of status.

Liao Jiang: “Previously, Chen Mi and Liu Fu mocked you, saying that you didn’t know how to enjoy fortune and always looked at immediate petty interests. Heh, look now, the place they live in isn’t even as good as yours.”

His room was shared with a previous second-rank eunuch. Although it was spacious, it was old after all.

Arranged row by row, the good locations were definitely occupied by previous people. When it was their turn, those houses could hardly get any sunlight in winter.

Entering every day, it was freezing cold.

But Jingzhe’s room was fortunate. He lived alone, so it was more spacious than others. Plus, this location could get sunlight, so it wouldn’t be cold and gloomy throughout the room.

And, it looked much newer than his residence.

Jingzhe: “Manager Jiang chose it.”

He rarely came here. When Jiang Jinming mentioned throwing him here, a spot had already been circled.

So, Jingzhe only knew where he lived after coming to this area.

Liao Jiang said enviously: “Manager Jiang is really good to you.”

Although he was envious, he didn’t dare to propose changing or moving here.

Jiang Jinming was famous for being protective.

Just look at Yun Kui to know that if he cared about someone, he would protect them in everything.

Looking at it now, Jingzhe was also pulled under his protection.

Jingzhe smiled: “Doesn’t Manager Jiang treat you very kindly too?”

Since Liao Jiang returned from Shangyu Garden, perhaps having experienced a lot, he had become more transparent and very steady in doing things.

Manager Jiang was surprised and delighted, relying on him even more.

That was why he was promoted to a second-rank eunuch at the end of the year.

Liao Jiang: “Manager Jiang does treat me very well, but he seems not planning to stay in the Palace Maintenance Office for too long.”

Speaking of this, he was slightly distressed.

Jingzhe raised his eyebrows, understanding the implication: “Manager Jiang, where does he plan to move to?”

People go to high places, water flows to low places.

How normal.

Having a better place to go, it was only natural for Manager Jiang to leave the Palace Maintenance Office. After all, this place really had no profit at all.

Liao Jiang gave a wry smile: “Qianming Palace.”

Jingzhe’s mouth opened slightly, and he said hesitantly: “Why go to such a place to gamble for wealth?”

Being by Emperor Jingyuan’s side was naturally good. Whether it was treatment or status, it was the top in this palace. But Emperor Jingyuan’s unpredictable temper, prone to killing at every turn, was really too bad.

Manager Jiang had reached the position of Manager, did he still want to lower his rank to go to Qianming Palace?

…This, couldn’t be done either.

Although there were people like Jingzhe who didn’t want to go to Qianming Palace, there were also plenty of people who wanted to squeeze in.

Whether one could enter or not originally didn’t depend on their status and thoughts, but on Chief Steward Ning’s selection.

Although these Managers had to bow their heads before Ning Hongru, in reality, regarding status, a Manager was already a high-ranking eunuch. The number of eunuchs in a palace was equal and couldn’t be excessive.

Manager Jiang was already in this position; wanting to go to Qianming Palace wouldn’t be easy, right?

Liao Jiang quickly said: “That’s not what I mean. If one wants to enter Qianming Palace, it’s naturally not that easy. The Manager is different from us ordinary eunuchs. However, he wants to go to the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

Jingzhe raised his eyebrows; so that was it.

The female official of Qianming Palace, Shi Lijun, was in charge of the Shangyi Bureau of the harem, and the Chief Steward before the Emperor, Ning Hongru, was in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

This symbolized power.

Manager Jiang wanted to leave the Palace Maintenance Directorate and go to the Directorate of Ceremonial. It sounded like a fantasy, but it was indeed something a person with ideas would do.

Jingzhe: “He is already active?”

Liao Jiang: “For some time.”

To go to such a good place relied not only on money but more on connections.

Manager Jiang still had some connections.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have maneuvered to his current position back then.

If Manager Jiang left, someone would inevitably take over this position. Liao Jiang had just been promoted to a second-rank eunuch, and coupled with his age, this position would definitely not be his turn to sit.

Jingzhe stroked his smooth chin: “Afraid they might transfer someone from outside.”

Anyway, many people coveted this position.

Liao Jiang nodded in agreement.

Before leaving, Manager Jiang promoted Liao Jiang to a second-rank eunuch, which could be considered protecting him. Otherwise, after he left, if the next Manager didn’t like Liao Jiang, he would still have a status and wouldn’t be sent back to do hard labor.

In this view, Manager Jiang was kind to Liao Jiang.

Therefore, even though Liao Jiang had long noticed Manager Jiang’s thoughts, he had never mentioned it to outsiders.

Jingzhe: “Then why did you tell me?”

Liao Jiang was slightly stunned, scratching his head strangely: “Yeah, why did I tell you?” He looked Jingzhe up and down while speaking, then shook his head.

“I don’t know, I just said it naturally.”

Even before Jingzhe mentioned it, Liao Jiang hadn’t realized this problem.

As if in his subconscious, Liao Jiang felt that Jingzhe wouldn’t harm him.

Hearing Liao Jiang’s words, Jingzhe couldn’t help laughing: “You trust me so much? Maybe tomorrow this matter will be known to the entire Palace Maintenance Directorate?”

Liao Jiang chuckled and said: “People who say this usually won’t do it.”

Previously about his matter in Shangyu Garden, even Shi En didn’t know. Jingzhe kept it secret for him and told no one.

Liao Jiang had already inquired about this openly and secretly.

This was enough for Liao Jiang to trust Jingzhe’s character.

He came this time specifically to congratulate him on his housewarming. Although people in this palace mostly didn’t care about this, Liao Jiang still gave him some small gadgets before leaving in a hurry.

After Liao Jiang left, Zheng Hong also came.

He brought a stack of paper for Jingzhe, plus the ointment requested before, along with a gift prepared by himself, and sent them all over.

Jingzhe looked at the exquisite bracelet and said in surprise: “This, there’s no need…”

Before he finished speaking, he saw Zheng Hong shake his head.

“Feel it and see.”

Jingzhe frowned, turned the bracelet over and over for a while, and then discovered the ingenuity.

Inside the bracelet, there was actually a small opening that could be moved. In the space inside, a few small things could be hidden.

For example, a note, a needle, or something else.

Zheng Hong: “You can hide some poison inside.”

…?

Jingzhe looked up blankly.

Zheng Hong: “A lot of things have happened to you recently. I thought, taking advantage of the housewarming, it’s just right to send you something for self-defense.”

Jingzhe: “…But who should I poison?”

“Decide for yourself.” Zheng Hong spread his hands. He wasn’t tall, even thinner and weaker than Jingzhe, and when he smiled, there was a bit of viciousness, “Keep it, it’s not something amazing.”

Jingzhe was helpless and had to put the things away.

Then he asked: “Previously about Huiping’s matter, it wasn’t appropriate for me to ask him. However, since Hu Li came, is it related to his family?”

This wasn’t a secret matter. Zheng Hong told Jingzhe the ins and outs.

Jingzhe frowned after listening and cursed in a low voice.

Huiping’s parents were good parents who exhausted their efforts to cover for his eldest brother, but to other children, they were completely exploiters.

Since they could do something like cheating Huiping of his money, they naturally could also sell their daughter to the highest bidder for more betrothal gifts.

Jingzhe: “If Huiping really cares about his sister, it’s best to find someone to inquire about where she is married.”

Maybe, a life could be saved.

Zheng Hong knew what Jingzhe thought of as soon as he heard it, and frowned too: “I’ll go back now.”

He was a decisive person. After saying this, he really turned and left.

Jingzhe organized the things he sent. Other things had their places, but only that pot of ointment, after being sent by Zheng Hong, had been lying on the table, lonely until now.

Jingzhe stared at it, hesitating.

Then, without even opening it, he swept it into the cabinet at the head of the bed.

He didn’t have the courage to explore yet.

Better keep it for now.

Jingzhe unconsciously scratched his ears.

…

After Jingzhe moved, the people in the Palace Maintenance Office didn’t know how to get along with him for two days.

After Jingzhe became a second-rank eunuch, his status was different, but he had always lived in the original dormitory and never put on airs. People around him played and fought with him, rarely thinking about these issues.

Until this move.

They were a little worried about whether Jingzhe would change his temper from now on.

However, seeing Gu Sheng, Shi En, and Huiping still following Jingzhe in and out every day these few days, this brief disturbance subsided.

Yun Kui and Hu Li also successively sent things to Jingzhe. Mingyu and Sanshun were the most practical and treated Jingzhe to a meal.

Jingzhe didn’t know where they got so much enthusiasm.

It was just a small move, making it seem like a big event.

In the afternoon, Jiang Jinming called him over and asked about Xiefang Hall.

Jingzhe: “During the cleaning a few days ago, special attention was paid, and all rooms were cleaned. The West Office was organized by this humble one personally.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinming nodded with satisfaction.

There had been no good news in this harem, which made many palaces just decorations. It was just that some places could be disposed of at will, while some places needed to be treated seriously and cautiously.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t bother to ask.

“Jingzhe, I feel assured when you do things. It’s just you, if you could cause less trouble, that would be good.” Jiang Jinming sighed with emotion.

Thinking back, although Yun Kui caused trouble, he ended up with a ‘duishi’ relationship, which could be considered passing safely without further issues.

But Jingzhe, looking at these things, it was one after another.

Clearly not yet forty, Jiang Jinming felt he had aged a lot from being tossed about by these matters.

Jingzhe muttered in a low voice: “These things, originally this humble one didn’t want to provoke either.”

Jiang Jinming glared at him: “If you want to speak, speak louder. What’s the point of muttering!”

Jingzhe had no choice but to say loudly: “This humble one feels that none of these are what this humble one wanted!”

Take that Xinsheng for example, even if Jingzhe tried to avoid him, it was hard to avoid jealousy from others.

Speaking of this person, Jiang Jinming’s expression was a bit strange.