I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 590: Chapter 449 This Sugar is Really Sweet
 

Zhou Yi had anticipated Xiao Anzi’s obsequiousness followed by insolence.

While children outside the palace play with mud, the little eunuchs inside are already engaged in open and secret struggles. Those who adapt slowly are devoured so thoroughly, not even their bones are left.

Moreover, having experienced the destruction of his family and ruthlessly severed the root of troubles, Xiao Anzi was never an ordinary person to begin with.

Seizing the slightest opportunity, he climbs upwards with all his might!

“It’s a pity his eyelids are too shallow.”

Zhou Yi watched coldly from the sidelines as Xiao Shanzi patted Xiao Wu’s shoulder, clumsily trying to imitate others in gathering followers and began to contemplate how to punish Xiao Zhong.

The audacity to gather personal followers in the palace meant Xiao Zhong had likely already betrayed them.

It could be a misunderstanding, yet Zhou Yi couldn’t be bothered to distinguish it. Daring not to die for their lord was already a major taboo.

“This scoundrel hasn’t caused a small amount of harm; his enemies are too numerous to count.”

After a brief period of reflection, Zhou Yi had a plan in mind.

Xiao Zhong’s enemies included the Empress Dowager and the faction of the Prince of Pingxi. Now that he had risen rapidly thanks to his abilities to align with the powerful, a little instigation would lead them to tear each other apart.

On one side there’s a replaceable servant belonging to two surnames, and on the other, a loyal courtier essential to stabilizing the court.

What choice the Empress Dowager would make was obvious!

“Such a revenge is not satisfying enough…”

A savage glint flashed across Zhou Yi’s eyes. As the head of the Eastern Depot, he could kill whomever he wanted and impose any charge he desired. He had never felt so stifled before.

Murmuring a calming mantra and suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, Zhou Yi raised his head and looked towards the Diligent Administration Hall.

“But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Falling from a high place is the perfect opportunity to see who is truly loyal!”

The next day.

Getting up early to head to the kitchen, Zhou Yi habitually walked in front.

“Ahem!”

Xiao Anzi coughed lightly, “Xiao Shanzi, you’ve been in the palace long enough to know some rules that need not be reminded by me, right?”

“After you, Eunuch An.”

Zhou Yi suddenly realized and smoothly pulled the curtain aside, his speech carrying a hint of flattery, “I’ll lead the way for you, hoping only to speak well of me before the Loyal Governor. I truly do not wish to guard the palace gates any longer.”

“Certainly, certainly.”

Xiao Anzi revealed a pleased expression, enjoying the pleasure brought by power.

Zhou Yi and Xiao Wu followed behind, very consciously acting as attendants. One an old figure concealing his identity, and the other a young man of extraordinary origin, neither showed any sign of discontent.

Having someone in front to take the hits was more than welcome!

In just a few days, everyone in the palace knew that Xiao Anzi had pledged allegiance to the Loyal Governor, becoming the twenty-eighth personal follower.

As a favored individual serving directly under the supervisor in charge of palace attendants, even three-rank officials from the provinces had to respectfully address him as “Eunuch An” and dutifully present their tributes of gold and silver.

Yet, just a few months before, a Ninth Grade county magistrate had put Eunuch An in a desperate situation.

Nothing in the mortal world changes more than this!

And in every era, there are eunuchs that soar to great heights, which is part of what makes the Internal Affairs Division so fascinating.

With Eunuch An’s rise in status, his social class immediately changed.

He no longer went to the kitchen with Zhou Yi and Xiao Wu. According to the sycophants surrounding him, this was because a tiger does not travel with dogs; each had their own circle.

As for the promise to speak well for Zhou Yi, naturally, it was forgotten.

…

The last day of the sixth year of the Orthodox era.

New Year’s Eve.

The palace was adorned with red lanterns, bright and festive.

Eunuch An, dressed in brand new crimson official robes, carried the gifts he had prepared, on his way to spend the New Year with his foster father who oversaw the attendants.

Outside the door, several lackeys were already waiting. Upon seeing Eunuch An emerge, they bowed and offered New Year’s greetings, uttering auspicious phrases that cost nothing, and escorted him toward the overseer’s residence.

The room fell silent for a long time.

Unable to bear the quiet, Xiao Wu closed his book of characters and whispered, “Big Brother Shan, the glory you once held is now his. Don’t you resent this?”

Zhou Yi, practicing meditation on his bed, glanced at Xiao Wu.

After all, he is just a child of eight or nine, and no matter how mature he pretends to be, he ultimately has his heart set on power and excitement.

“Each to their own fate, it cannot be forced!”

Zhou Yi was careful with his words, never letting slip anything taboo, even though his martial prowess was formidable and he could easily crush the likes of Eunuch An and Little Wu, he kept his speech impeccable.

Having spent over a decade within the palace walls, he had met countless people who would stab others in the back, so he was constantly on his guard.

Little Wu said, “I just can’t stand their sycophantic ways, lifting some high and stepping on others.”

“That’s just how it is in the palace, whomever is favored gets all the praise!”

Zhou Yi let out a strange laugh and reminisced, “I’ve heard from the old timers in the palace that Supervisor Zhou, before he made his mark, loved to kowtow to anyone he met and was skilled in sliding on his knees to win over the favor of the eunuchs.”

Little Wu’s eyes showed a trace of enlightenment, and after a long period of contemplation, he seemed to have gained some understanding.

“Thank you, Brother Shan, for the guidance!”

“No need for thanks.”

Zhou Yi’s words were only half-spoken, for his actions lifted others up without putting them down.

Back when his power was at its peak, if he encountered a new eunuch in the palace, Zhou Yi would encourage them with a smile. Even when he was ordered to surround and kill Eunuch Zhu, he affectionately called him “foster father,” without any trace of alienation or neglect.

Commanding the thirteen sections of the Inner Attendants Department, it isn’t just about martial strength!

Perhaps it was because of the new year, Little Wu spoke more than usual. Glancing outside the door, he said, “I always feel that Eunuch An’s days of favor won’t last long.”

Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows, “Why say that?”

Little Wu said, “If Eunuch An truly had the favor, why would he still be living with us?”

“The fact that you can see this means you’re already ahead of most.”

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, not wishing to continue discussing Eunuch An, considering him an insignificant stepping stone not worth his concern.

He looked up towards the window, where fireworks soared into the sky, illuminating the palace’s night sky. In past years at this time, Zhou Yi would be seated in the Diligent Administration Hall, with eighteen adopted sons around him, all wishing him congratulations in chorus.

“In just a year, everything has changed.”

Zhou Yi suddenly realized why Lao Lu could enjoy the solitude, living in the Cold Palace for decades.

The bustle is momentary, but solitude is the constant state.

“On the third day of the new year, I’ll burn some paper money for you and offer up a seafood porridge and spring cakes, so you won’t miss out on food or the ability to spend below. Being rootless, I’ve never visited our ancestral grave, yet I still remember to burn incense for you…”

Zhou Yi was lost in a trance, murmuring to himself.

Whoosh!

A cold wind suddenly sprang up in the room, sending a chill to the bone.

Little Wu shivered and sighed, “This winter is unusually cold. I’ve heard it’s been snowing for half a month in the Northern Border, killing I don’t know how many people.”

“Fortunately, the King of the Northern Defense is guarding the Northern Border, or else the foreign tribes would have certainly come south to plunder…”

Zhou Yi said these insincere words, while his mind had already drifted elsewhere, with some guesses about the origin of the mysterious cold wind he had felt three times.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes; there was something more important to him than becoming emperor!

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking interrupted Zhou Yi’s thoughts. A servant from the Imperial Household Department named Xiao Dingzi pushed the door open and placed down two red paper packages.

“This is Frost Sugar rewarded by the Empress Dowager, two catties for each person.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”

Zhou Yi and Little Wu faced Kunning Palace and kowtowed nine times, then stood up, bowed to Xiao Dingzi, and made a circle on the roster to indicate they had received the Frost Sugar.

As Xiao Dingzi was about to leave, Zhou Yi grabbed his sleeve and handed him a silver note worth ten taels.

“Eunuch Ding, this reward from the Empress Dowager is so precious, should we eat it or keep it as an offering?”

Xiao Dingzi skillfully put away the silver note and whispered, “From now on, Frosting Sugar won’t be a rare commodity anymore. If the Empress Dowager rewards you with it, you might as well taste it.”

Zhou Yi handed over another silver note, “Could you please clarify, Eunuch Ding?”

Xiao Dingzi explained, “Recently, a merchant from the south discovered a cheaper sugar manufacturing method and, with prices far below the market, won the Sugar Tribute contract.”

“Sugar… far below the market price…”

Joy flashed in Zhou Yi’s eyes, and he returned to his room to open the red paper package. Inside was the snow-white Frost Sugar.

He dipped his fingers into it, then licked it with his tongue.

“This sugar is indeed sweet!”