I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 521: Chapter 381: Acknowledging a Godfather_2

Zhou Yi asked, “What business does Xiaokang have?”

Xiaokang fetched a silver note from his sleeve, his voice tinged with eagerness to please, “No other meaning, just hope that when Brother Yi becomes successful in the future, don’t forget this old classmate.”

Zhou Yi glanced at the denomination, one hundred taels!

His parents had toiled for half their lives, working from dawn till dusk, scrimping and saving only five coins, and without lifting a finger, he could receive one hundred coins!

He couldn’t help but reach out to take it, but midway his hand retracted.

Zhou Yi suddenly recalled the admonition of Xiaozhengzi: there’s plenty of money in the palace, what should be taken, what should not, what could be, and what couldn’t be, one must discern clearly.

Take the wrong thing, and it’s death!

“Xiaokang, let’s not stand on ceremony,”

Zhou Yi awkwardly withdrew his hand and said fervently, “If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will definitely recommend you to godfather for a good assignment!”

Skill at painting a rosy picture came to him without a teacher!

No matter how much grain the fields could yield, first blow up the promise big, who knows what autumn holds!

“Thank you, Eunuch Yi,”

Xiaokang bowed, looking rather comical, yet it gave Zhou Yi a taste of the thrill of power for the first time.

The term ‘Eunuch’ wasn’t a title just any servant could claim; it required having an official position and rank.

This was only being the adopted son of Eunuch Xu, what would it be like to have Eunuch Xu’s position one day, how imposing?

Zhou Yi had already begun to fantasize about being promoted to commander, adopting dozens of godsons, being imposing and powerful, and throwing all those who once bullied him into the deepest dungeons.

After all, coming from a poor background, he had little experience, his reading limited to recognizing words.

A cautious and careful half a year, suddenly favoured and flattered by others, he felt like he was about to soar into the sky.

He arrived at the study.

Zhou Yi stood at the door and waited. Once the servant who recognized characters left, he pushed the door open, entered, and immediately knelt to kowtow.

“Thank you, Teacher, for your support!”

“Hee hee hee!”

Eunuch Wen’s kind eyes shifted as he spoke in a voice that alternated between shades, “Today’s kowtow doesn’t seem as sincere as before, but that’s expected, who in this palace can be truly sincere?”

Zhou Yi looked frightened, he didn’t understand the meaning of the words, but he could sense that Eunuch Wen was unhappy.

Eunuch Wen had the power to make Eunuch Xu adopt a son, and he could also take it back with a single word, bringing Zhou Yi from heaven to hell, stripping away the power he had only recently gained.

Eunuch Wen waved his hand dismissively, “Scram, just scram.”

Zhou Yi dared not say another word and left, crawling and scrabbling, and from then on, he made sure to steer clear of Eunuch Wen whenever possible.

That night.

Xiaozhengzi and Xiaoyuanzi came back and heard that Zhou Yi was on duty in the Imperial Garden and had also acknowledged Eunuch Xu as his godfather. They both expressed their congratulations.

“You needn’t return the fifty taels,”

Xiaozhengzi said, “Remember when you’re on duty, take heed of His Majesty’s words and deeds, and tell me after you come back.”

Zhou Yi nodded in agreement, “I will remember.”

His Majesty didn’t go to the Imperial Garden every day, and even if he did, it wasn’t certain he would visit Jiangxuexuan, so there really wasn’t much to see or hear. If by chance he did hear some secret, just conceal it, pretending he heard nothing.

…

The next day.

Zhou Yi put on new clothes and, wearing his waist token, went to the Imperial Garden.

After six rounds of verification, he finally entered, and following the instructions of the duty eunuch, he went to Jiangxuexuan.

The duty eunuch, learning that Zhou Yi was adopted by Eunuch Xu, showed utmost respect to him and shared tips for standing guard, such as how to laze and slack off, and how to prevent falling asleep, and so forth.

Jiangxuexuan.

Located in the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden, a palace backed against the city wall.

It faced west, with a width of five rooms.

The so-called ‘jiangxue’ wasn’t actual snow, but rather it referred to several hundred-year-old flowering crabapple trees in front of the hall, with falling petals drifting like white snow.

Eighteen eunuchs were stationed at Jiangxuexuan, four at the main door, ten on the left and right of the five-room doors, and another four at the stele and pavilion.

Zhou Yi stood by the pavilion, enjoying a wide view with no one to left or right, feeling quite at ease.

Ten days passed with him on duty.

There were only eunuchs in the Imperial Garden. Zhou Yi stood guard in the afternoon, returned to his room at sunset, and went to the Training Room to practice the Epiphyllum Treasure Tome in the morning. @@novelbin@@

Until the eleventh day.

Zhou Yi stood under the pavilion, pondering the intricacies of the True Qi circulation techniques, when he suddenly heard a drake’s voice.

“His Majesty arrives!”

All eunuchs kneeled at the sound, bowing their heads and quietly waiting for His Majesty to pass by.

It was May.

The flowering crabapples were in full bloom, clustering thickly, like clouds, like snow.

Four elderly eunuchs cleared the way ahead, His Majesty walked with the gait of a dragon and the strides of a tiger, followed by a dozen or so inner attendants holding fans, flags, or carrying various utensils.

After His Majesty passed by, Zhou Yi saw the other inner attendants rising to their feet and followed suit, standing up as well.

In his heart, he couldn’t help but feel regretful, having only seen a broad back and not having beheld His Majesty’s true face.

As a child, he often heard his father describe how His Majesty was like a deity from the temple. To see him in person was as if a god had descended to earth, and speaking just one word to him could make one soar high and bring glory to one’s ancestors.

Zhou Yi had once asked, “Why doesn’t His Majesty take care of the corrupt officials?”

His father told him that His Majesty had too many territories to manage, advising patience, and assured him that their turn for attention would come eventually!

A moment later.

His Majesty ascended to the second floor, admiring the beauty of the begonia blossom amidst the snow. Perhaps thinking of something amusing, he let out a hearty laugh.

Zhou Yi bowed his body, standing next to the stone pavilion, stealing glances toward the second floor. After more than two years in the palace, he had finally seen His Majesty’s true face.

His hair and beard were white as snow, and his face was clear and dignified.

He wore a glittering Wings Good Crown upon his head and a shining nine-dragon robe around his body. With deep-set eyes, he radiated an inexplicable authority in his every glance and gesture.

Emperor Hongwu.

It was now the thirty-second year of Grand Martial reign.

Emperor Hongwu stayed for an hour in the Imperial Garden, spending most of the time in Jiangxuexuan admiring the flowers. Unfortunately, the conversation was too quiet, and Zhou Yi could only hear snippets of the content.

The Northern Border, foreign tribes, treaties, and so on…

Having returned to his quarters.

Zhou Yi hadn’t even spoken with Little Zheng yet when a godson of Eunuch Xu came by, inquiring about what he had seen and heard that day.

“Brother Yun, His Majesty in Jiangxuexuan…”

Little Yunzi noted everything down carefully and took a silver note from his sleeve, “Godfather says you did well. Keep this silver note safe; you can send someone to take it back to your family in Wannian County.”

Zhou Yi paused for a moment, then bowed in the direction of the Inner Court Supervisor, “Thank you, godfather.”

He accepted the silver note, but before Little Yunzi could leave, he promptly returned it.

“Brother Yun is often by godfather’s side. I’d appreciate it if you could put in a good word for me. This is a little token of my gratitude!”

“Sure thing, sure thing.”

Little Yunzi nodded in satisfaction, skillfully pocketed the silver note, and with light steps as swift as a ghost, he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yi’s expression showed a touch of heartache. Returning to his room, he asked,

“Zheng, why did you use sound transmission to ask me to give the silver note back, when it was so hard won?”

Little Zheng replied, “Little Yunzi is a dark-hearted and narrow-minded fellow. If you don’t give him something favourable, he’ll speak ill of you to Eunuch Xu!”

Zhou Yi suddenly understood and bowed, “Thanks, Brother Zheng. Today, His Majesty…”

“We’ve already heard it.”

Little Zheng said, “I’ll teach you the Listening Technique. When True Qi circulates through the acupoints near the ears, it enhances one’s hearing, so eventually, you’ll be able to clearly hear what His Majesty says.”

Zhou Yi carefully memorized the Cultivation Technique and tried circulating True Qi around his ears. Suddenly, he became aware of various sounds coming from all directions.

There were whispers, the grinding of teeth, squeaky beds, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds and insects…

The cacophony drilled into his ears, causing his chest to feel stuffy and making him dizzy and disoriented.

He quickly withdrew the True Qi from his ears, and as the noises disappeared, Zhou Yi gradually recovered.

“The first time using the Listening Technique, the rush of numerous sounds can cause discomfort. Practice diligently, and it will get better,” Little Yuen advised.

“Brother Yi, your True Qi is weak, allowing you to listen within only three or four zhang. As your True Qi grows stronger, you will be able to hear from ten or more zhang away!”

With so many walls and plantings in the palace, sound could not travel far, so the ability of the Listening Technique to hear conversations from beyond a wall three zhang away was already extraordinary.

Zhou Yi did not voice any objections, but he had just overheard Little Kang talking. Building Ding Nine was at least twenty zhang away from his Building Bing Three, which attested to the depth of his True Qi.

“Brother Zheng, Brother Yuan, the Listening Technique is unlike ordinary martial arts. Where did you learn it?”

“From the Daqing Sutra Depository!”

Little Zheng said, “After serving as an inner attendant for three full years, one can choose a Cultivation Technique from the Scripture Pavilion. Among them, martial arts are all-encompassing—you can find anything, and the Listening Technique is one of them.”

Zhou Yi expressed his doubts, “Why not choose a more powerful secret move?”

Little Yuen explained, “The palace is the safest place in the world. Having a powerful secret move is useless here. Instead, the Listening Technique is quite useful. Knowing more information can help us prepare in advance.”

“I see.”

Zhou Yi still harboured doubts but did not ask them aloud. For the time being, it seemed that Little Zheng and Little Yuen had no malicious intentions.

From then on.

Zhou Yi would be on duty in the Imperial Garden, using the Listening Technique to eavesdrop on sounds from all directions.

Initially, he could hear within twenty zhang, after a year, forty zhang, and two years later, sixty zhang—nearly covering the entire Imperial Garden.

No sound could escape him, yet he didn’t uncover any state secrets. Instead, he overheard the secret liaisons of eunuchs and palace maidens hidden among the rockeries.

Their sounds of pleasure made Zhou Yi blush with shame.

“Have they no sense of shame!”