Xiao Zhengzi took out a banknote from his sleeve, with a denomination of fifty taels.
"If you have time, go to Eunuch Zhu, the prison supervisor, and tell him directly to buy the disguise ointment. It costs ten taels of silver a pair. Five pairs will be enough for half a year."
"Thank you, Brother Zhengzi, for your advice."
Zhou Yi bowed and took the banknote, and the obstacle in front of him was over.
As for agreeing to do things for Xiao Zhengzi, it sounds like he is inferior and not ashamed.
Zhou Yi knew himself and was a poor man. In previous years, when the servants went to the village to collect grain, they would often kowtow and beg, just to keep more grain.
Living is better than anything else!
Xiao Yuanzi said: "Don't worry, Xiao Yizi, it's not anything dangerous. Just write down what you hear and see while on duty."
"Uh-huh."
Zhou Yi nodded repeatedly. While he was obedient, he also had small thoughts in private.
As long as we live long enough and survive all the benefactors and enemies in the palace, won't we be debt-free and light-hearted?
Peasant cunning!
He continued to walk behind, but the relationship between the three of them suddenly became much closer. Zhou Yi felt that he had integrated into the circle, and Xiao Zhengzi and Xiao Yuanzi did not speak as coldly as before.
After practicing in the afternoon, Zhou Yi went to Du Zhijian.
Eunuch Zhu is a very old eunuch, with a fat body squeezed into a chair. I don't know if he looks real.
Zhou Yi mentioned Xiao Zhengzi, but Eunuch Zhu was not embarrassed and sold five packs of gray-white ointment.
Apply it on your face, and your skin will become pale and gray. Add it to the water and wash your hair, and your black hair will turn into gray, and you will suddenly look much older.
Looking in the mirror, one cannot tell the exact age unless one is an acquaintance.
"It's safe for now!"
Zhou Yi felt relieved and went out early and returned home late to practice diligently.
The disguise technique is not without flaws. One day the secret is revealed, and relying on powerful skills, one may be able to break out of the palace.
Talk to Xiao Zhengzi and Xiao Yuanzi on weekdays, and ask for advice on how to live a long life in the palace. Write the experience gained in a book and recite it three times in the morning, noon and evening.
"Listen less and watch less, don't talk and do nothing, and bend down more when you meet others!"
"Give half of the monthly silver to the steward. Remember not to give it directly to the Grand Eunuch!"
"When noble people talk and kowtow a lot, their true energy condenses on their foreheads and bleeds."
"Pretend to be a son and find a godfather..."
I have memorized dozens of Zhouyi articles and recited them back and forth to ensure that they will be remembered at all times.
Spring passes and autumn comes.
Half a year passed in a blink of an eye.
A group of servants came to guard the palace, and Zhou Yi was among them, not moving forward or backward.
Counting them one by one, there were forty-three classmates in the class last year, and now there are only thirty-seven left. Six of them died before they were assigned duties.
“I don’t know if I’m going to let others kill me, or if I’m going to practice martial arts and make myself die!”
Zhou Yi bowed his head and shrank inconspicuously among the crowd, observing the waiter in front of him testing his true energy.
The palace supervisor on duty poked a stainless steel pillar in the middle, and the chamberlain concentrated his energy and patted it on it. He judged the quality based on the palm prints left behind, and then the supervisor Eunuch Xu assigned duties.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
Waves of applause rang out from the palace supervisor, either deep or shallow, leaving palm prints.
Among them, the deepest one is two to three points, and the shallow one is one point. If it hits an ordinary person, it will definitely kill it. This has only been practiced for one year.
After ten years of practicing the Epiphyllum Book, one will either be invincible or die at the end of his life.
When it was Zhou Yi's turn to test, he only used 10% of his zhenqi to leave a minute and a half of his palm prints on the fine steel pillar.
"good."
Eunuch Xu nodded slightly and looked Zhou Yi up and down. Unlike the previous servants who directly assigned duties, he stretched his voice and said: "There is a guard at Jiangxue Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. You can go."
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Xu."
Zhou Yi was confused, but he knelt down very quickly, and the sound of kowtow was like a drum.
"Jiejiejie..."
Eunuch Xu gave a harsh and strange laugh: "No wonder I can catch Eunuch Wen's eyes. He is indeed a man of etiquette. Our family is still short of a godson. Are you willing?"
Zhou Yi only hesitated for a moment, thinking of Xiao Xizi's expression before he died, and then he said: "Godfather!"
"Eh."
Eunuch Xu agreed and said, "Go down first. I'll come to look for my godfather in the evening. I have some good errands arranged for you."
"Thank you godfather."
Zhou Yi kowtowed a few more times, ignoring the envious and jealous looks of other chamberlains, and bowed his body to leave the palace supervisor.
The servants who were testing their palm strength later also imitated Zhou Yi and kowtowed, but unfortunately none of them could catch the eye of Eunuch Xu because they did not have Eunuch Wen to support them.
Who is Eunuch Wen? He is Mr. Shufang!
Zhou Yi came out from the palace guard and stood in front of the fence for a long time, taking deep breaths to calm his mind.
There was not only the pressure of Eunuch Xu's inspection, but also the excitement of allocating the royal garden and recognizing his godfather. With Eunuch Xu as his backer, he would not be afraid of being bullied by the servants in the palace.
The chamberlain on duty is responsible for guarding the guards. The first-class areas are the Qinzheng Palace and the Yangxin Palace. These two palaces are always with His Majesty, so it is very easy to be promoted.
Next are the Qianqing Palace, the Palace of Favored Concubines, the Imperial Garden and other areas where His Majesty will appear from time to time.
Other palaces cannot see His Majesty a few times a year, and they belong to the third level. As for the lowest level, they patrol the palace walls and cannot see His Majesty for almost a lifetime.
Zhou Yi was about to leave and go to the study to kowtow to Eunuch Wen, when a friendly voice came from behind him.
"Brother Yi, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"
The speaker was Xiao Kangzi, a classmate of Zhou Yi. He had just been ranked among the top five in the palm strength test and was assigned to Jingyang Palace.
Jingyang Palace was once the residence of the Supreme Emperor. However, the Supreme Emperor has long since passed away and there is no one in Jingyang Palace. His Majesty will not have time to miss the past.
It is said that the relationship between His Majesty and the Supreme Emperor is so bad that they are almost at war with each other. After all, they are better now.
Zhou Yi asked: "What's wrong with Xiaokangzi?"
Xiao Kangzi took out a banknote from his sleeve and said with a flattering tone in his voice: "Nothing else. When Brother Yi gets rich in the future, don't forget our classmate."
Zhou Yi glanced at the face value, one hundred taels!
My parents have worked hard for half their lives, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk, and they have only managed to save five guan. Without having to do anything, they can reach out and get a hundred guan!
I couldn't help but reach out to take it, but then retracted my hand in mid-air.
Zhou Yi suddenly remembered Xiao Zhengzi's warning, there is plenty of money in the palace, you should distinguish between what should be taken and what should not be taken, what can be taken and what cannot be taken.
If you get it wrong, you will die!
"Well-off man, let's not be so polite."
Zhou Yi retracted his hand in embarrassment and said with fake enthusiasm: "If there is a chance in the future, I will introduce you to my godfather and transfer you to a good job!"
Cake painting skills, self-taught without a teacher!
No matter how much food the land can produce, blow the cowhide out first, who knows what will happen after autumn!
"Thank you, Eunuch Yi."
Xiao Kangzi bowed and nodded, which looked quite funny, but it made Zhou Yi feel the pleasure of power for the first time.
The word "father-in-law" is not an ordinary title for a chamberlain. It must have a formal position and rank.
This is just Eunuch Xu’s godson. How majestic will he be if he takes on the position of Eunuch Xu in the future?
Zhou Yi had already begun to imagine being promoted to admiral, and having dozens of godsons in the future. He would be so majestic that the food servants who bullied him in the past would be thrown into the sky prison one by one.
After all, he was poor since he was a child, and he didn't have much knowledge. His reading was limited to reading.
After half a year of being cautious, once I gained power and was praised by others, I felt like I was about to take flight.
Come to the study room.
Zhou Yi stood at the door and waited quietly. After the literate chamberlain left, he pushed the door open and knelt down to kowtow.
"Thank you sir for your support!"
"Jie Jie Jie!"
Eunuch Wen's eyes rolled, and his voice changed with yin and yang: "Today's kowtow is not as serious as before, but still, who in this palace can be sincere?"
Zhou Yi looked panicked. He didn't understand what he meant, but he could tell that Eunuch Wen was unhappy.
Eunuch Wen could ask Eunuch Xu to take back his godson, but he could also take it back with one word, knocking Zhou Yi from the sky to the ground, and losing the power he had just gained.
Eunuch Wen waved his hand: "Go away, go away."
How could Zhou Yi dare to speak? He even rolled away and crawled away. He would have to walk around when he met Eunuch Wen in the future.
night.
Xiao Zhengzi and Xiao Yuanzi came back and learned that Zhou Yi was on duty in the Imperial Garden and had recognized Eunuch Xu as his godfather. They all expressed their congratulations.
"There's no need to pay back those fifty taels."
Xiao Zhengzi said: "When Brother Yi is on duty, remember what His Majesty says and do, and tell me when you come back."
Zhou Yi nodded and agreed: "We remember."
Your Majesty doesn't go to the Imperial Garden every day, and when he does, he doesn't necessarily go to Jiangxue Pavilion. In fact, he doesn't see much or hear much. If you really hear something secret, hide it and pretend you didn't hear it.
…
The next day.
Zhou Yi put on brand new clothes and went to the Imperial Garden with his belt tag on.
After six rounds of inspections, Zhou Yi was allowed in, and he followed the instructions of the servant on duty to Jiangxue Pavilion.
When the servants on duty heard that Zhou Yi was the godson of Eunuch Xu, they all looked respectful and told them the secrets of being lazy, how to prevent drowsiness, etc.
Jiang Xuexuan.
Located in the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden, there is a palace leaning against the city wall.
The seat faces east and west, with a width of five rooms.
The so-called Jiangxue is not real snow, but a few hundred-year-old crabapples in front of the palace. Their petals fall like red snow.
A total of 18 chamberlains are on duty at Jiang Xuexuan, including four at the gate, ten at the door to each of the five rooms, and four at the stele and stone pavilion.
Zhou Yi stood next to the stone pavilion. The scenery was broad and there was no one around, so it was quite relaxing.
On duty for ten days in a row.
There were only chamberlains in the imperial garden. Zhou Yi went to stand guard in the afternoon, returned to his room at sunset, and went to the practice room in the morning to practice the Epiphyllum Collection.
Until the eleventh day.
Zhou Yi stood under the pavilion, thinking about the secret of how to move Qi, when he suddenly heard a drake's voice.
"Your Majesty is here!"
All the chamberlains knelt down upon hearing the sound, lowered their heads and waited quietly for His Majesty to pass by.
It was May.
Begonia flowers are in full bloom, clustered like clouds and snow.
Four old eunuchs opened the way in front, and His Majesty was walking like a tiger. Behind him were a dozen chamberlains holding fans, holding flags, or carrying various utensils.
After His Majesty passed by, Zhou Yi saw other chamberlains standing up and followed suit.
I couldn't help but feel a pity secretly in my heart that I only saw a broad back, but not the true face of His Majesty.
When I was a child, I often heard my father tell me that His Majesty is like a god in the temple. When he sees a real person, he is like a god descending to earth. With just one word, he can rise to great heights and bring glory to his ancestors.
Zhou Yi once asked, why does your Majesty not care about corrupt officials?
Dad told him that Your Majesty has too many areas to take care of, so if you wait patiently, it will always be our turn to take care of us!
After a while.
His Majesty climbed up to the second floor and admired the snowy view of Begonia. Perhaps thinking of something happy, he laughed heartily.
Zhou Yi stood bowed beside the stone pavilion and glanced towards the second floor from the corner of his eyes. After more than two years in the palace, he finally saw His Majesty's true appearance.
The beard and hair are white, and the face is clear.
Wearing a golden winged crown, a shining nine-dragon robe, and deep-set eyes, there is an inexplicable majesty as he looks around.
Emperor Hongwu.
Today is the thirty-second year of Hongwu.
Emperor Hongwu stayed in the Imperial Garden for an hour, most of the time admiring the flowers in Jiangxue Pavilion. Unfortunately, the voice of the narration was too low, so Zhou Yi only listened to what was written intermittently.
Northern Xinjiang, alien races, covenants, etc...
Return to your residence.
Before Zhou Yi spoke to Xiao Zhengzi, Eunuch Xu's godson came over and asked about what he had seen and heard today.
"Brother Yun, His Majesty is at Jiangxuexuan..."
Xiao Yunzi wrote it down carefully and took out the banknote from his sleeve: "My godfather said you did a good job. You can keep this banknote and send someone to take it back to your hometown in Wannian County."
Zhou Yi was slightly startled and bowed in the direction of the palace supervisor: "Thank you godfather."
After taking the banknote, he stuffed it back without waiting for Xiao Yunzi to leave.
"Brother Yun is always by my godfather's side. Please give me a few kind words. This is our little thought!"
"It's easy to talk about."
Xiao Yunzi nodded with satisfaction, put away the banknote skillfully, and disappeared in an instant with light steps like a ghost.
Zhou Yi looked heartbroken, returned to the house, and asked.
"Brother Zheng, why did you send a message to us to return the silver reward that we finally got?"
Xiao Zhengzi said: "Xiao Yunzi has a sinister temperament and is narrow-minded. If you don't give me any benefits, I will say bad things about you to Eunuch Xu later!"
Zhou Yi suddenly realized, bowed and said: "Thank you, Brother Zheng. Your Majesty, today..."
"I just heard it."
Xiao Zhengzi said: "Let me teach you a method of listening to the breath. The true energy circulates the acupoints in both ears, which can help improve your hearing. In the future, you will be able to hear clearly what His Majesty is saying."
Zhou Yi carefully wrote down the exercises and tried to circulate the Qi in his ears. Suddenly he felt various sounds coming from all directions.
There are whispers, snoring and teeth grinding, beds creaking, wind blowing leaves, birds chirping and insects chirping...
The noisy noise penetrated into the ears, making the chest feel tight and dizzy.
He quickly removed his zhenqi from his ears, the sound suddenly disappeared, and Zhou Yi slowly recovered.
"It's the first time I use the Listening and Breathing Technique. I feel a lot of discomfort when hearing a lot of sounds. Just practice more and it will be fine."
Xiao Yuanzi said: "Brother Yi's true energy is shallow and he can only hear three to four feet away. In the future, if his true energy is strong and powerful, he can hear more than ten feet away!"
There are many walls and vegetation in the palace, making it difficult for sounds to travel very far. It is extraordinary to be able to hear people speaking behind the three-foot-long outer wall using the Listening Method.
Zhou Yi didn't refute. He just heard Xiao Kangzi talking. Ding Jiushe was at least twenty feet away from his Bingsanshe, which showed how strong his true energy was.
"Brother Zheng, Brother Yuan, the listening method is different from ordinary martial arts. Where did you learn it?"
"Daqing Sutra Pavilion!"
Xiao Zhengzi said: "When the chamberlain has been on duty for three years, you can go to the Sutra Pavilion to choose a martial art. Among them, martial arts are all-encompassing, and the Listening Breathing Technique is one of them."
Zhou Yi wondered: "Why not choose a powerful trick?"
Xiaoyuanzi explained: "The palace is the safest place in the world. It's useless for us to learn special tricks. On the contrary, the listening method is quite useful. If we know more information, we can deal with it in advance."
"I see."
Zhou Yi still had doubts, but he didn't ask them out. At least for now, it seems that Xiao Zhengzi and Xiao Yuanzi are harmless.
Since then.
Zhou Yi was on duty in the imperial garden, using the listening method to listen to the sounds from all directions.
It can be heard at twenty feet at the beginning, forty feet after one year, and sixty feet after two years, almost covering the entire imperial garden.
No sound could be escaped, but instead of getting top-secret information, I heard the secret meeting of the maids in the rockery.
The overwhelming sound made Zhou Yi blush.
"What a couple, they are so shameless!"
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