Chapter 564: Exaggeration

The area south of Xuanwu Gate and north of Changgeng Gate was known as Langxia Jia, where all lived were eunuchs serving directly in the emperor’s court, mostly attendants carrying official tokens. Although they were all registered under the Bureau of Rites, some even held the rank of sixth-grade official in that bureau, their duties however consisted of carrying palanquins, umbrellas, fans, or transporting arrows, gifts, and boxes—tasks that left them at most as foremen of laborers. They didn’t even dare wear regular clothes. This rank had been established during the Hongwu era, but in reality, it meant they were considered of low status.

Here, most people shared large dormitories with a dozen or so others, with little time off each day and low pay for hard work. Thus, everyone aspired to rise to a higher position and leave this miserable place someday. Whenever someone from the Bureau of Rites came, they would put on their most decent and clean clothes, hoping to catch the attention of high-ranking officials and gain their favor.

Yet, five years had passed since the emperor officially moved to Beijing, and fewer than ten attendants from Langxia Jia had managed to leave, with even fewer achieving rapid advancement. Among them, Cheng Jiu, who served Lu Feng, was one of the few who had fared quite well. Just in his early twenties, he was already a sixth-grade official in charge of records. Though it might not seem high, there was only one such official in the entire Bureau of Rites, making his position far better than that of the hundreds of laborers.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached on the 15th of August and the order to return to the capital was issued, the capital gradually took on a festive atmosphere. Shuntian Prefecture arrested some troublemakers and publicized their punishment, while the palace also carried out strict reforms. As a result, ordinary people dared not discuss state affairs, and even officials avoided visiting each other for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves, given the emperor’s imminent return. Thus, the main topics discussed in court were preparations for the emperor’s arrival—procedures, congratulatory messages, and various rituals. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the 12th year of the Yongle era, the crown prince and court officials had no time for festivals. But while the high-ranking officials were preoccupied, the Bureau of Rites still had to prepare, though they lacked a few staff members. With Lu Feng absent, the few leaders had to find solutions on their own.

That noon, a rare visitor arrived at Langxia Jia east of Xuanwu Gate. Seeing the once timid and unremarkable young man now dressed in bright clothes, many older eunuchs showed great envy. They gathered around to pay their respects, with some even kneeling and kowtowing.

Cheng Jiu, dressed in a cyan-colored round-collared shirt, saw so many people gathering around and immediately stepped back a few times before smiling and gesturing for them to rise. Unnaturally rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, he spoke in a calm, gentle tone, “Eunuch Lu said that the Bureau of Ceremonial is in need of a few reliable people. There are quite a few candidates from other departments, but they’re all seasoned veterans by now. That’s why he asked me to select four steady individuals from here. You all are veterans of the palace, and I can’t show favoritism. How about the four uncles from the Third Quarters? Among all these people here at the east end of this corridor, you have the longest standing qualifications.”

The palace has always had a tendency to elevate some and belittle others. Thus, even though Cheng Jiu had risen to power, he remained humble. Even those former colleagues from the Third Quarters who had once been jealous softened their hostile feelings upon hearing his words, at most agreeing outwardly while complaining inwardly. As for the four selected eunuchs, they were overjoyed and repeatedly expressed their gratitude. By the time they packed their things, put on their dark green round-collared shirts they hadn’t worn in ages, and left with Cheng Jiu, their gratitude grew even deeper.

After leaving Xuanwu Gate and crossing the moat, they headed east for a short distance. Along the outer palace walls, there were many buildings—these were the offices and residences of the twenty-four eunuch departments. The Bureau of Ceremonial was located inside the East Gate with yellow tiles, adjacent to the Bureau of Equipment, the Bureau of Attire, and the Bureau of Needlework. Its space was even smaller than those three, and the buildings in the area were all somewhat dilapidated. Even its main office was quite unassuming. The four attendants chosen by Cheng Jiu had only come here before to receive their salaries or during festivals. So even though this place didn’t seem as grand as the Third Quarters, they didn’t dare lift their heads when they entered the central courtyard.

Along the way, Cheng Jiu gave the four men numerous instructions, exaggerating the rules and punishments in the Bureau of Ceremonial. But once they arrived, he stopped talking about these matters. He told them to wait in the courtyard while he entered the main north room—only to find it empty. After searching the side rooms, he still saw no sign of Lu Feng and grew anxious. He pulled back the curtain and rushed out of the room.

“Eunuch Lu still isn’t fully recovered. Why isn’t he in the room?”

After a few shouts, an older eunuch finally came out from the east wing room. He said indifferently, “Your Excellency has been ill for over a month. At first, he said he really didn’t want to stay in the room anymore. Just then, Liang Ming, who is in charge of the estate outside, sent a message saying that since the emperor hadn’t returned yet, Your Excellency should go outside for a few days to rest. Of course, Your Excellency agreed right away. He left through the North An Gate just a short while before you returned. He should be home by now.”

Hearing this, Cheng Jiu’s face turned pale instantly. It took him a long time before he forced a smile and said, “What a coincidence! Just when I’m not here, he happens to arrive. Your Excellency still isn’t fully recovered. Yesterday, we finally managed to bring in another imperial physician to examine him. If I were here, I would have to dissuade him—what if it turns into typhoid fever…”

“Enough! Stop showing off your loyalty in front of us!” The older eunuch snorted disdainfully, then added coldly, “Who doesn’t know that Your Excellency Lu trusts you the most? During these days of illness, he still let you handle the affairs of the Eastern Depot. Don’t get too happy too soon. With your experience and age, it’s still too early for you to aim higher!”

Cheng Jiu’s eyelids twitched, but he finally couldn’t hold back. He grew stern and retorted, “Eunuch Li, stop talking nonsense! It was Your Excellency who personally signed all the documents regarding the Eastern Depot. I merely sorted out some paperwork every day!”

“If that’s the case, why are you so worried just because Your Excellency is going outside for a few days to rest?”

The older eunuch gave him a cold glance before turning and going back into the room. He had just returned from outside the North An Gate and happened to meet Liang Ming waiting there. Knowing that Liang Ming was a trusted guard of Lu Feng and also held a position in the Eastern Depot, Liang Ming handed him a silver ingot. He immediately accepted it and agreed without hesitation to deliver a letter. Since Cheng Jiu was not there and Lu Feng was awake, he successfully delivered the letter. As a result, Lu Feng, who had seemed listless before, suddenly said he wanted to go outside for a few days and gave him some instructions. Now, sitting in the inner room, he took a sip of tea and fell into deep thought.

If this is the case, does it mean Your Excellency doesn’t trust this Cheng Jiu? If so, it’s truly satisfying. He had long disliked this guy, who seemed timid and humble but was actually the most cunning schemer!

Lu Feng did not return to his residence outside the palace. At that moment, covered with a gauze quilt, he sat in a bumpy carriage, trying to sleep but unable to do so—the discomfort was unbearable. He even regretted listening to Zhang Yue’s letter and coming here to suffer such troubles for no reason. Yet, thinking that the imperial physicians had only said he had heatstroke but he had been suffering for over a month, he hesitated again before finally making up his mind. After all, his own life was more important—what was a little hardship compared to that?

Although they were on main roads and the carriage was the best one custom-made by the capital’s finest carriage makers, he still felt as if his bones were about to break apart. Just when he could barely hold on and was about to vomit, he finally heard a voice outside: “My lord, we’ve arrived. Please wait a moment; I’ll go in and call the doctor right away!”

“Okay, hurry up!”

Lu Feng gave a weak command before leaning back and breathing heavily. Due to the emperor’s northern expedition, almost all the physicians in the imperial medical institute had been called away, leaving only two physicians commonly used in the Eastern Palace. He hadn’t been able to move for days; it was Cheng Jiu who went to summon them. He had heard their formal diagnoses, but he couldn’t believe that just a minor case of heatstroke could keep him sick for over a month. Thinking of this, he felt that Zhang Yue was truly concerned about him, and Liang Ming was extremely loyal—even though he hadn’t secured a high position in the Eastern Depot, he still cared deeply about his illness.

Before long, a voice came from outside: “Doctor, this is our master inside the carriage. Ever since he got heatstroke, his illness hasn’t improved. Please take a look… Don’t worry about the fee; our master has plenty of money. If he doesn’t, I, as a servant, am willing to pay! As long as he can be cured, no amount is too much!”

Hearing this, Lu Feng felt even more satisfied, and the discomfort of the bumpy journey was temporarily forgotten. Hearing affirmative responses from outside, he extended his left hand as requested. He felt two fingers pressing on his wrist pulse before they were removed after a while. He then coughed softly, and immediately heard Liang Ming ask from outside, “Doctor, what’s the diagnosis of my illness?”

“Illness? In my opinion, your master has most likely been poisoned!”

Hearing just these words, Lu Feng, who had been listless and weak, suddenly sat up straight, almost about to lift the curtain of the carriage. Having spent twenty years in the palace, he quickly reacted and demanded sternly, “Don’t talk nonsense! The people who serve me are all long-time servants from my hometown—how would they dare harm me?”
As soon as he spoke, the hand still outside was grabbed abruptly. Startled, he was about to shout, but suddenly he felt a tingling sensation, like mosquito bites, in several places on his arm. Immediately afterward, the hand holding him let go, and the pain vanished as well. Fuming, he retracted his hand ready to explode, but upon hearing what the person outside said, he immediately changed his mind.
“Pinning needles at these acupoints—against ordinary cold, it’s no different from regular acupuncture. But in case of poisoning, it causes tingling. May I ask if you felt any tingling just now? I once treated a similar patient; the pulses at the Chǐ and Guān points were similar, and acupuncture produced the same reaction. If you insist that no one could have poisoned you, then go and find someone more skilled—no need to waste my fees!”
If he had been skeptical at first, by now Lu Feng was convinced to eight parts. Regretting his hasty words, he was about to try to salvage the situation when he heard Liang Ming’s earnest pleas from outside. After a long while, the doctor finally softened his tone, lifted the curtain to examine him carefully, then stepped closer and sniffed him, asking him a few questions in a low voice. He answered them all attentively, after which the doctor withdrew his head and stared straight at Liang Ming.
“Your master must have suffered from heatstroke, and someone added a small amount of arsenic to the mung bean soup meant to relieve the heat, slowly poisoning him. Fortunately, the poisoning isn’t too severe, and there’s medicine to save him.”
The mention of mung bean soup shocked Lu Feng greatly, but the words “there’s medicine to save him” were like rain after a long drought. He didn’t care what the doctor and Liang Ming discussed and slumped back in his seat. Reflecting on his actions over the past few days, his expression darkened completely. Since the emperor had entrusted him with the crucial task of overseeing all officials, he had been preoccupied with both the Imperial Censorate and the Eastern Depot and Imperial Guards, barely having time to visit other places. If someone had indeed poisoned him, it must be one of his own confidants. At this thought, he felt icy cold all over. After much consideration, he realized that only Liang Ming, who had been away these past days, could be trusted.
How could he have left behind the guard he always relied on to watch over the estate? Gold and silver were trivial compared to life.

He just couldn’t think of any solutions, and Lu Feng finally grew impatient. Only when Liang Ming climbed back onto the front of the carriage and waved his whip to set it moving again did he speak up: “Don’t go back to the palace. Take us straight to the Lu family’s residence. Then find a reliable person to take our tokens to the Yangwu Bo’s mansion and make sure Lord Zhang is brought here!”
Hearing this, Liang Ming’s eyes lit up immediately, though he quickly lowered his eyelids as if nothing had happened. “My lord, just one doctor’s opinion isn’t very reliable. How about we consult a few more well-known doctors? Don’t worry—we just switched to another carriage; the original one has already returned. Everyone thinks you’ve gone home to rest. As long as we pay the fees, even if we’re seen as strange for seeking treatment inside the carriage, those doctors won’t question anything.”
Lu Feng, who always valued his life dearly, hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. After visiting several pharmacies, aside from one doctor who said it was a severe case of typhoid, the others all suggested it might be poisoning and prescribed loads of medicine. By the time they returned to his residence outside the palace, he was almost grinding his teeth in frustration—everyone seemed like a traitor, and he didn’t even dare let Liang Ming leave his side.
He was still young and hadn’t enjoyed enough of the world’s riches and glory. How could he die so early?
After arranging for someone to deliver a message to the Yangwu Bo’s mansion, Liang Ming returned and saw Lu Feng looking furious, as if driven mad. He secretly admired the idea that had been suggested. Rather than poisoning, it was more likely that someone had tampered with the medicine prescriptions these days, which was why he hadn’t recovered yet. But deliberately delaying recovery sounded far more serious than poisoning.
If it weren’t for exaggerating to make this guy obedient later on, it wouldn’t have been so easy.