Peace Order-Chapter 93 - 66 Destiny from the Heavens, I Decide!_2

The eunuch was accompanied by an attendant holding a tray, on top of which were a buckle and soft armor.

The soft armor could protect against the stabs of knives and sharp weapons, while the buckle was a decorative symbol of a martial officer’s status.

Only officials from the third to sixth grades were permitted to use materials made of rhino horn.

With a smile playing on his lips, the eunuch said, "Please accept the decree."

Supressing his emotions, Li Guanyi reached out to take the items, but the eunuch did not let go. Smiling, the eunuch looked at Li Guanyi, and Li Guanyi looked back. A trace of surprise and displeasure appeared in the eunuch’s eyes. A fragrant breeze swept by. Xue Shuangtao stepped forward, unfastened a jade pendant from her waist and handed it over.

The quality of the jade pendant was very good.

The eunuch’s smile became warmer and he finally released his grip.

He praised, "Sir has talent, and Miss Xue is also clever."

After delivering the imperial decree and receiving some benefits, even the attendant received silver beans. They all left the Xue Family content. Before leaving, the eunuch slowed down beside Li Guanyi and whispered, "Captain Li is a young hero. I take the liberty to speak out of turn."

"Recently, when the Saint converses leisurely with the officials, he often praises Captain Li."

Li Guanyi’s eyes flickered.

The eunuch, face clean-shaven and devoid of facial hair, said in a soft voice with a smile, "I dare not say more."

"But among the lords in the court, they too have sons and nephews. Many children from military merit families only get a Ninth Grade military officer position when they turn sixteen. Captain Li, however, is only thirteen or fourteen and already holds such a position, plus earning the Saint’s praise. The lords might not mention it, but the young nobles in their houses must be displeased."

"Young people tend to be temperamental and full of vigor," the eunuch added.

Li Guanyi started to understand.

It seemed that Mr. Wang Tong and Mr. Siming succeeded in their plan to rescue General Yue, and while the officials were resentfully non-compliant, the Emperor therefore bestowed rewards upon the Xue Family and himself. Was this to suppress the officials and also to distract them with a new target?

A king’s balance of power.

Li Guanyi looked at the clean-shaven eunuch and said, "Thank you."

After some thought, he reached into his robe and felt for the silver, rubbing it between his fingers.

He chose the larger piece.

And placed it in the eunuch’s hand.

The eunuch’s smile broadened. He accepted the silver and then placed Xue Shuangtao’s jade pendant into Li Guanyi’s hand, chuckling, "For the hard work, I’ll accept this."

"Please return this item to the young mistress yourself."

The astute eunuch, still smiling, nodded his head and departed.

Upon leaving and getting into the carriage, a young eunuch attending him began to massage his legs and shoulders, asking:

"Godfather, why are you so nice to that Li Guanyi?"

"Even offering him special advice?"

The Ritual Eunuch laughed and said, "Foolish boy, what do we call me outside?"

"It’s sir."

"What does it mean that we offered advice?"

"What are we? Nothing but a mouthpiece, a meat-made pen, if you will. It’s the Emperor who instructed us to speak thus."

"He says that from ancient times, talented youths have been like eagles and steeds, needing their spirits to be tempered."

"So that they may become obedient and easy to manage."

"He intends to use the sons of the military merit families to mold the character of this young hero, and also to stimulate the military merit, so that the younger generation may clash while the elders needn’t intervene. It’s fortunate that Master Wang Tong has joined the court and become a Grand Scholar, and our forebear among the literary persons in the provinces suddenly became a Doctor of the Imperial Observatory, leaving many lords feeling stifled."

"At such a time, some matters must be found for them, and the Xue Family just serves this purpose."

"Ah, the Xue Family... It cannot be too powerful, nor too weak; they need to be relied upon by the officials, yet be suppressed by the military; although suppressed, the civil officials must not dominate alone. This way, the aristocratic families, officials, royal relatives, and scholars from among the people can check each other. The Saint then sits in the Peony Pavilion, watching all this unfold."

"Scatter a handful of fish feed, and all the heroes of the land will come scrambling for it. This is what makes the Saint wise and sagacious."

The young eunuch still didn’t understand, but merely asked: "What if this Captain Li’s spirit is broken?"

The Ritual Eunuch’s eyes drooped slightly as he thought of that Saint, who painted pictures and was admired by the officials.

The casually uttered words of the Saint were still something he couldn’t fully comprehend, but he said softly:

"Then that would mean he lacks such fortune."

Casually spoken.

Somehow, the young eunuch suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness and shuddered.

Watching the palace emissaries leave, Li Guanyi gripped the imperial decree in one hand and the soft armor and rhino horn belt in the other, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

... The Emperor, Jiangzhou.

For any noble son or son of a good family, praise and rewards from the Emperor are always a good thing.

Yet such praise posed an obstacle for Li Guanyi.

Once the Emperor gives an order, even mentioning it once, people below would strictly adhere to it.

To leave, he would have to wait until the end of the Jiangzhou’s Grand Sacrifice in Chen Country, but the Chen Kingdom Royal Family...

Thinking of the three most likely possibilities regarding his own origin, Li Guanyi felt that entering the Imperial Palace was no good; it was like a vortex there, and with the Emperor seemingly using him as a target, stepping into the Capital City might invite trouble from those young nobles filled with vigor.

Xue Shuangtao gently bumped Li Guanyi and said, "When people from the palace come out to handle affairs, everyone prepares some gifts for them."

"It’s like a gratuity."

"Remember that for next time."

"This time, I’ve covered the jade pendant for you, but next time you need to prepare something yourself."

Li Guanyi smiled and, looking up, extended his hand, "Is that so?"

"Miss, what do you think this is?"

Xue Shuangtao widened her eyes, seeing Li Guanyi relax his hand, his fingers holding the red cord.

The jade pendant fell, swinging slightly.

Xue Shuangtao’s eyes widened: "You, you, you got it back?!"

"The gratuity intended for the palace people, you’ve taken it back?"

There was admiration at the bottom of her eyes.

As if to say, such audacity!

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦