Chapter 119: The Intelligence of a Big Eunuch and a Small Eunuch

The five written tests would only end close to the sunset, and the Emperor didn’t have time to sit on the stage for the full day.

After the examiners passed out the papers, the Emperor stayed around for a bit and left.

Luo Weiran followed the Emperor with the royal guards.

However, without question, the person closest to the Emperor was the eunuch named Su Buwei.

Before Wu Peisheng died, no one paid attention to Su Buwei. After Wu Peisheng died, Su Buwei went from an unknown eunuch to a eunuch who had the most power.

Although he only had a rank 6 position, no one could doubt that he was comparable to high-ranking officials who had purple uniforms.

The emperors’ close servants always had a bigger influence on them compared to big officials. This was possible since these servants knew the emperors the most.

Luo Weiran walked in the back and couldn’t help but observe this eunuch whose back was slightly bent even when he was walking. Even though Luo Weiran was the Royal Guard Captain and didn’t pay much attention to this eunuch, he felt a little helpless since he knew nothing about this eunuch’s strength.

Since the Emperor picked Su Buwei to be his close servant, it meant that this person wasn’t a wastrel.

Luo Weiran wasn’t this afraid of Wu Peisheng since he understood the latter. Even though Wu Peisheng was a rare level 7 runemaster, he couldn’t pose any threat to Luo Weiran.

Su Buwei was different; Luo Weiran knew nothing about him. Perhaps no one knew anything about him other than the Emperor.

“Bring Fang Jie to Smooth Spring Garden; I have many things to do,” the Emperor ordered, and Su Buwei quickly nodded and ordered a small eunuch to summon Fang Jie.

When he heard Fang Jie’s name, Luo Weiran couldn’t help but smile. That young man only entered Chang’an recently, yet he was in the center of public attention. His experience was too unique, which was hard to say if he was lucky or not. After all, the Emperor frequently thought about him, which was enough for many people to feel jealous.

Many big figures could only see the Emperor during daily morning meetings, and they couldn’t get close to the Emperor during other times. It was almost impossible for the Emperor to think of them.

However, Fang Jie, a scout from a border city, was summoned to Smooth Spring Garden twice by the Emperor already; others would all be jealous of him.

The Emperor’s horse-drawn carriage left the Martial Arts Academy in a lowkey fashion, and those officials of different agencies all returned to their offices to work.

Only those few grand scholars stayed behind and waited for the five written tests to be finished. Since they were all honorary professors of the Martial Arts Academy, they couldn’t just leave on this occasion. After the tests, they had to grade the papers with other professors.

When Fang Jie received the summon, the Emperor was already outside the academy. The residents of Chang’an who gathered around the gate were still there, and no one could imagine that the Emperor was sitting in the ordinary-looking horse-drawn carriage that just left the academy.

At this moment, the Emperor suddenly changed his mind.

“Let Fang Jie catch up; I will meet him on the horse-drawn carriage.”

Su Buwei was surprised, and he reminded the Emperor in a low voice, “Boarding Your Majesty’s horse-drawn carriage is a great honor; is it too early for him to receive such an honor? After all, his status is too low, and obtaining such an honor might not be beneficial for him right now.

The Emperor smiled and said, “Your eyes are always the sharpest!”

Su Buwei smiled with his head lowered. “I’m only saying such a thing since it seems like Your Majesty is interested in this young man. He is only a small soldier from a border city; Chang’an is too big for him.”

“You are right.” The Emperor waved his hand and said, “Let’s do it according to your suggestion. Although Fang Jie’s background is low, he is the most interesting young man I have met these years. Compared to him, other talented young men all seem too flimsy. You also went to see the little trap that Royal King Yi set up; didn’t you praise him as well? I’m about to launch a military operation in the northwest; it might be the biggest war in the history of Great Sui. Now, I must make an example for people from poor backgrounds, letting them see that if they have talent, I will appreciate them. With hope, they would do things more diligently.”

After a pause, the Emperor continued, “Su Buwei, do you know Huai Qiugong’s background?”

Su Buwei replied, “I know. Senior Huai is from a poor background, but he continued to rise. Now, he has served three emperors, and he seems to be the leader of all civil officials. Even the Left Grand Chancellor and Right Grand Chancellor’s reputation is lower than that of Senior Huai.”

The Emperor nodded and said, “When my grandfather promoted the imperial examination, he didn’t only face the obstacles posed by big families; people from poor backgrounds didn’t trust this as well.

All the officials before that were selected from big families, and nepotism ran rapid in the nation. It wasn’t a good thing for Great Sui. Over time, the government would be controlled by the big families that had complex relationships with each other. Therefore, my grandfather made the decision and promoted the imperial examination, selecting people from poor backgrounds to become officials as well…”

The Emperor continued, “However, the citizens of Great Sui didn’t believe that people from poor backgrounds could become prestigious from participating in the imperial examination. Therefore, my grandfather decided to make an example, letting everyone see that the imperial examination wasn’t only a show. Huai Qiugong got lucky and became that example. He served three emperors, yet he is still that example.”

The Emperor smiled and said confidently, “My grandfather could make an example, and so can I. Great Sui could only be stable for a long time if the citizens believe that the government is fair and just. Such examples need to appear occasionally, not only once. Fang Jie is young and lacks experience; that is why I’m sending him into the Martial Arts Academy and not places like Belvedere of Literary Profundity. I’m afraid that if he enters the government too early, he will fall into schemes and die before knowing it.”

…

The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood. After drinking a bit of tea, he said to Su Buwei, “Let him learn and mature in the Martial Arts Academy. If Chang’an is a melting pot, eliminating people who couldn’t endure this temperature, then the Martial Arts Academy is another pot inside the melting pot. It can both temper people and protect people.”

Su Buwei nodded, not daring to interrupt.

The Emperor added, “He is too young. Although I like him, I won’t promote him at will. Like what you said, giving him too much right now will only harm him. I need to temper him; three years, five years, or even ten years. After 20 years, he will be another Huai Qiugong. Huai Qiugong has lived long enough; he couldn’t live for another 20 years. Before people forget about him as an example, they will talk about the new example that I will make.”

Su Buwei replied, “Your Majesty is farsighted; I can’t think that far into the future. I only feel like this young man is likable, so he needs to be pressed. If he climbs too high too early, the fall will be painful.”

“Hahaha!” The Emperor laughed and pointed at Su Buwei while saying, “If you aren’t a eunuch, you will be a high-ranking official.”

Su Buwei quickly lowered his head and said, “I’m only trying to guess your mind. I don’t deserve that high praise.”

“Su Buwei…” the Emperor thought for a moment and said, “Your eyes are always sharp when observing people. Let me ask you this. What do you think about Hou Wenji and Luo Weiran? And what about Royal King Yi?”

“I… don’t dare to have any opinions.” Su Buwei was startled, and he knelt and begged, “Your Majesty, please pardon me. The First Emperor made strict laws, prohibiting eunuchs from interfering with politics. I don’t dare to make comments about big officials, let alone Royal King Yi.”

“You don’t need to be this careful.” The Emperor waved his hand and said, “Just treat it as chatting with me casually; this doesn’t count as interference. I’m only asking your opinion; just speak.”

“I…” After a moment of hesitation, Su Buwei replied carefully, “In my opinion, Captain Luo and Deputy Hou both are loyal to Your Majesty. They are like your hands, holding the two sharpest sabers which are the Royal Guard and the Intelligence Department. Wherever Your Majesty want to strike, the sabers would follow. As to Royal King Yi, I don’t know much about him, so I don’t dare to make any judgments.”

“I don’t want to listen to such pretty words.” The Emperor glared at Su Buwei and said, “I will ask it more directly. Out of Luo Weiran and Hou Wenji, who do you think is more loyal to me?”

Su Buwei looked up at the Emperor and then quickly lowered his head. He said, “I feel like they are both equally loyal. Perhaps they think differently and behave differently. That isn’t related to their loyalties.”

“You!” The Emperor smiled powerlessly and said, “I told you to tell the truth, but you are still saying such pretty words. I won’t ask you anymore. Since you don’t even dare to make comments about these two, I don’t need to ask you about Royal King Yi anymore.”

Su Buwei thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t need to have any opinions. Your thoughts are my thoughts. Just like Captain Luo and Deputy Hou, I will go wherever your finger points.”

The Emperor froze for a moment and said while shaking his head, “You are different from them. I can say these words to you but not them. You should know that there aren’t many people around me who I can talk to casually.”

Su Buwei got teary-eyed, and he knelt on all four and said, “Your Majesty, thank you for your appreciation.”

Although Chang’an allowed people to ride horses on the street, they couldn’t dash on the street.

Fang Jie was in a hurry, but he didn’t dare to be too arrogant. Also, since he was out of the Martial Arts Academy, he didn’t need to act high profile.

On the way to Smooth Spring Garden, he controlled his red horse’s speed and didn’t make a scene.

Fang Jie didn’t want to be accused by others of anything. Chang’an was too big for him; even the smallest mistake might be turned into something that would devour him alive.

The sun was already in the western sky when Fang Jie got to Smooth Spring Garden, and Fang Jie’s stomach started to growl since he didn’t eat lunch.

However, Fang Jie didn’t have time to worry about hunger.

After entering the gate, he handed the red horse to a guard, and he followed the small eunuch into this royal garden.

When they reached the building where the Emperor was in, the small eunuch stopped, turned around, and said to Fang Jie with a smile, “I can only bring you to this point; I don’t dare to enter.”

“Thank you.” Fang Jie took out a silver certificate and tried to give it to the small eunuch, but the latter waved his hands and took a step back.

The eunuch said, “I don’t dare to take it; I don’t want to taste the hard staff of punishment. If you think that I’m useful, you can give me the honor of becoming your friend. I’m Wu Three.”

Fang Jie praised in his mind, “This small eunuch sure is smart!”

“I got it. Your name is Wu Three. You can also remember that your friend’s name is Fang Jie.” Fang Jie cupped his hands and nodded.

Eunuch Wu Three smiled and returned the gesture before walking away.

Looking at Wu Three, Fang Jie thought, “The level and vision of a small eunuch are already this high. Chang’an sure is a fascinating city. He doesn’t want to accept my silver certificate because he knows that the friendship of a small figure who might make it big one day worth more than 100 silver taels. Who wouldn’t think about the future?”

Wu Three; Fang Jie memorized this name. This small eunuch didn’t forget to climb up; such people would always be useful.