Lin Xiao still did not know that the Pacification Envoy had developed murderous intentions toward him. He was still speaking with the old eunuch.
"May I ask how I should address you, Eunuch?"
"Lord Lin is too courteous. This old servant's surname is Cao."
The old eunuch said this with a beaming smile.
He was extremely satisfied with Lin Xiao's tribute.
The gold Lin Xiao had given him amounted to a full hundred taels.
That was absolutely a lavish gift.
Ever since entering the palace and rising to become the Emperor's personal eunuch, this was the first time he had received so much money. The more he looked at Lin Xiao, the more pleasing he found him.
At first, his favorable impression of Lin Xiao had only come from Lin Xiao becoming one of the Emperor's favored ministers. He had wanted to build good relations and leave himself another path for the future.
But after Lin Xiao's tribute today, he truly came to like Lin Xiao.
If the opportunity arose, he certainly would not mind putting in a few more good words for Lin Xiao before the Emperor.
Of course, even if Lin Xiao had not given this old eunuch any money, he would not have needed to worry. With his strength and the system's help, he would rise sooner or later.
But as the saying went, having someone in the palace made matters easier. What was more, this was the Emperor's personal eunuch. There might come a day when he proved useful, and making connections could never be wrong.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the two headed to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
It was not until afternoon that they finally parted ways.
After returning to the Pacification Office, Lin Xiao sat in the Thousand-Household Office that had been assigned to him.
Looking around at everything, Lin Xiao could not help feeling extremely satisfied.
When he had first arrived in Stability Prefecture, he had only been a Banner Officer. Those Thousand-Household Officers had stood high above him and would not even spare a lowly Banner Officer like him a proper glance.
Now, he had risen to this position as well and no longer needed to watch the expressions of those people from before.
In the entire Pacification Office, aside from the Pacification Envoy, no one could show him any attitude now.
His gaze fell upon Chang Le and Xue Shan, who stood respectfully in the hall. Lin Xiao began considering how he should promote them.
Now that he had been promoted to Thousand-Household Officer, one Banner Officer position had opened up.
But he could only arrange for one person, and that was not what he wanted. If he was going to arrange anything, he would arrange positions for both of his trusted subordinates.
Then he recalled the Banner Officer who had mocked him yesterday, and the corner of his lips curled upward.
"Chang Le, has the matter of that Banner Officer I had you record in the Book of Impermanence yesterday been reported?"
Chang Le hurriedly replied, "Reporting to my lord, it has not yet been reported."
"Mm, then report it now. This official suspects that man is a mole planted by martial artists of the jianghu within our imperial court. Pass down this official's order at once and take him into custody."
"Yes, my lord."
Upon hearing Lin Xiao's words, Chang Le immediately perked up. He knew that his lord was paving a path for him and Xue Shan.
In private, Chang Le had also wondered which of himself and Xue Shan Lin Xiao would appoint to the vacant Banner Officer position after being promoted to Thousand-Household Officer.
He had not expected Lin Xiao to begin seeking a way forward for them so quickly after just becoming a Thousand-Household Officer.
After receiving Lin Xiao's order, Chang Le and Xue Shan headed straight for that Banner Officer's office.
At this moment, inside a Banner Officer's office.
A Banner Officer had one foot planted on a stool as he drank with two Jinyiwei strongmen under his command.
"My lord, Chang Le recorded you in the Book of Impermanence. Could that cause trouble?"
That Banner Officer sneered. "Would he dare? Does he really think that just because he has become a Thousand-Household Officer, he can do whatever he pleases?"
"I am under Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer Lord Yan. Do you think Lin Xiao can simply touch me whenever he wants?"
"Do you not know who Lord Yan is?"
"Lord Yan is the nephew of Grand Secretary Yan, the Chief Minister of the current court. Though Lord Yan is only a distant relative of Grand Secretary Yan, this connection is still not one that just anyone dares provoke."
"Provoking Lord Yan is the same as refusing to give Grand Secretary Yan face. Even if Lin Xiao enjoys His Majesty's favor, he would not dare offend Grand Secretary Yan."
"You must know that Grand Secretary Yan's power overshadows court and realm. He is the head of all civil officials. No matter how favored Lin Xiao is, Grand Secretary Yan only needs to say one word to take him down with ease."
Just as the Banner Officer was speaking and expressing his disdain for Lin Xiao, the door to the office was suddenly kicked open.
"By order of Thousand-Household Officer Lord Lin, we are here to arrest Banner Officer Yue Qi."
The moment he entered, Chang Le shouted coldly.
The commotion here drew the attention of many people.
Though the Pacification Office was large, news traveled even faster.
Chang Le and Xue Shan had only just arrived to arrest Yue Qi when a large crowd had already gathered to watch.
"A new official takes office and burns three fires. Lin Xiao became a Thousand-Household Officer this morning, and he is already making his move this afternoon."
"Indeed. Lin Xiao truly repays every tiny grievance. We must never offend him in the future."
"Now there is a show to watch. This Banner Officer Yue Qi belongs to Thousand-Household Officer Yan. Is he really so easy to touch? Once Lord Yan receives word, he will probably rush over, won't he?"
"Of course. Lord Yan is one of the Thousand-Household Officers with the greatest real power in our Pacification Office. It will not be so easy for Lin Xiao to touch his man."
The crowd stood in the distance, pointing and whispering, but Chang Le and Xue Shan paid them no mind whatsoever.
As an old hand in the Pacification Office, Chang Le naturally knew whose man Yue Qi was. But now, he had no need to worry at all.
He had witnessed his lord's terrifying strength with his own eyes.
Here in Stability Prefecture, Lin Xiao was absolutely one of the strongest few.
In the entire Pacification Office, perhaps only the Pacification Envoy could fight Lin Xiao.
Seeing Chang Le and Xue Shan barge in, Yue Qi rose to his feet in fury. Pointing at them, he berated them, "You truly have the gall of dogs! Who gave you the courage to come arrest me? Are you not afraid Lord Yan will punish you for your crimes?"
"This official falls under Lord Yan's jurisdiction. Even if I have committed a mistake, it should be handled by Lord Yan. Does Lin Xiao intend to overstep his authority?"
Chang Le sneered. "Heh. Yesterday, you openly spoke in favor of martial artists from the jianghu. That already constitutes the crime of feeding from the bowl while smashing the pot. Was Lord Yan the one who instructed you to do such a thing?"
"Mm?"
Upon hearing Chang Le's words, Yue Qi nearly blurted out, So what if he was? Then he suddenly realized that he absolutely could not say that. Otherwise, he might bring heaven-shaking trouble upon Lord Yan.
No matter what crime one committed, one could not commit treason.
Even Grand Secretary Yan would not dare commit such a crime. Otherwise, even as the Chief Minister of the current court, he would still be thrown into prison.
"You are framing an imperial official. Do you know how grave a crime it is to falsely accuse a Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer?"
"If you have evidence, produce it. Without evidence, you are guilty of falsely accusing a colleague."
At this point, Yue Qi gave himself full marks for his own cleverness.
He had never colluded with those martial artists of the jianghu in the first place. He had merely disliked Lin Xiao yesterday and said a few extra words. Since there was no evidence anyway, what could they possibly do to him?
Chang Le sneered. "Whether you colluded with martial artists of the jianghu and fed from the bowl while smashing the pot can only be determined after interrogation. Come with us to the Imperial Prison."
"If you truly did not feed from the bowl while smashing the pot, your innocence will naturally be restored."
"You dare!"
The moment he heard that he was being taken to the Imperial Prison, Yue Qi absolutely did not dare go.
Even someone with a spotless background would be forced to confess to something after entering that place.
Once people entered the Imperial Prison, very few could walk out whole.
If he went in, would he still come out alive?
Before you continue