After finishing his shift.
Zhou Yi returned to his quarters and found two more youths there.
The elder was twelve or thirteen, while the younger was only eight or nine, lying weakly on the bed and groaning.
Eunuch Gu from the cleansing room reminded the two to watch what they ate and prevent their wounds from festering. Amid the youths' profuse thanks, he carried off his medicine chest, giving Zhou Yi a slight nod before leaving.
"Thank you, Eunuch Gu."
Zhou Yi deftly slipped him a banknote, neither too large nor too small—fifty taels.
Any larger would not suit "Xiao Shanzi's" status; any smaller would be too shabby to offer, making it difficult to ask favors of him later.
Eunuch Gu said with satisfaction, "If Xiao Shanzi had been this sensible earlier, you would not have ended up guarding the gates."
"You are right to reprimand me, Eunuch."
Zhou Yi bowed Eunuch Gu out, then returned to the room with a kindly smile on his face.
"This Xiao Shanzi of ours—where have these two friends come from?"
The younger youth shrank back, too afraid to speak. The older one endured the sharp pain and answered, "Eunuch Shan, my name is Qian An. I am from Wannian County."
"You cannot call yourself 'I' in the palace. You must refer to yourself as 'this servant.'"
Zhou Yi said, "If you run into some petty-minded eunuch and he hears you calling yourself 'I,' he will be displeased and will surely have someone trip you up."
Qian An showed a grateful expression. "Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Shan."
"The superintendent of the Directorate of Imperial Equipage is surnamed Qian, so we cannot call you Xiao Qianzi. Let us call you Xiao Anzi instead."
With a few words, Zhou Yi closed the distance between