The stout eunuch laughed heartily, stepped forward, and took Xu Yi by the sleeve with warm familiarity. "Congratulations, Commander Xu! My congratulations to you! I've served in the Central Palace for many years, yet I've never seen a man as outstanding as you, Commander Xu. To be frank, the Central Palace hasn't directly issued an edict rewarding an official in nearly thirty years. You're now Favored by the Emperor, and your future is limitless."
What the stout eunuch said was the truth.
The greatest reward Xu Yi had received this time wasn't any of the various measures listed in the edict. It was precisely that the edict had come from the Central Palace.
Those in the Underworld who could issue edicts included not only Emperor Qin Guang but also the Five Underworld Lords. In truth, Emperor Qin Guang had gradually become a spiritual totem of the Underworld, a symbol.
Real power rested in the hands of the Five Underworld Lords, and edicts were issued by the lords themselves.
But Xu Yi's reward edict had come from the Central Palace. And what was the Central Palace? It was where Emperor Qin Guang's sacred body resided.
Edicts from the Central Palace had always been among the most precious.
Receiving such an edict was itself an inexplicable honor.
The stout eunuch chatted with Xu Yi for the time it took to drink half a cup of tea before taking his leave.
Xu Yi remained in the courtyard, watching him go, when a voice came from behind. "Dragon Official has always been haughty. Even the few Underworld Lords treat him with great respect. The fact that he spoke with you for so long at least proves one thing: you really are Favored by the Emperor."
Long Wenzhang emerged from behind a bamboo door, his