"Most likely." Old Man of Medicine nodded. "A place like this must have people assigned to guard it. We simply hadn't discovered them."
"The Emperor told you to retrieve the Kirin Ganoderma because he was giving you an opportunity. You used your wits to lure it out, proving that you were capable of managing this medicine garden. That was why he promoted you to Commander of the Imperial Guards. In truth, he was placing the garden in your care."
Only then did Lin Taichu understand. No wonder the Emperor had taken such good care of him before and even issued special orders to the Imperial Guards. The real reward had not been the official position, but this medicine garden filled with ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs.
"Then why didn't the Emperor tell me directly?" he asked in confusion.
"Ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs are national treasures. They cannot be casually revealed to others."
Old Man of Medicine explained, "Besides, he was looking for someone who could keep a secret and had the ability to handle it. If he handed it directly to you, he might have feared that you couldn't protect it, or that you wouldn't understand its value. By letting you discover it yourself, you would take it more seriously."
As they spoke, hoofbeats suddenly sounded in the distance. The two hurriedly hid behind nearby bushes and saw a group of men dressed as palace Guards approaching. The leader was none other than the Chief Eunuch who served at the Emperor's side.
The eunuch walked to the cliff's edge, bowed toward the top, and shouted, "By His Majesty's Imperial Decree, South Mountain Medicine Garden is hereby placed under the care of Lin Taichu, Commander of the Imperial Guards. From this day forward, all guards are to obey Commander Lin's orders."
As his voice