Liu Zhan and Huo Wuyong were Daoists who frequently entered the palace. The former was a True Person of the Daoist Sect, while the latter was an imperial alchemist. Summoning them was a common occurrence.
Although Chen Yuanhe was a head eunuch in the palace, holding the Subordinate Sixth Rank, his usual duties concerned only craftsmanship. Senior eunuchs responsible for such matters rarely had opportunities to see the emperor. Yet this time, he too was to be granted an audience?
Eunuch Zhao's eyelid twitched slightly. He felt that matters were becoming increasingly unusual.
Leaving everything else aside, summoning Chen Yuanhe alone showed that the emperor harbored suspicions about the booklet's origins.
His gaze drifted lightly toward Yu Qianzhi again. Though exhausted from riding through the night, Yu Qianzhi still stood there with a trace of apprehension on his face. Yet Eunuch Zhao's discerning eye could tell that the man already had a finished bamboo painting in his breast, as though everything lay within his grasp.
This man's intentions were truly unfathomable.
While he was thinking this, the eunuch sent to deliver the command returned shortly, since his destination was within the palace, and reported, "Your Majesty, Chen Yuanhe has arrived."
"Have him wait outside for now. Once the other two arrive, they can enter together." Then the emperor's voice softened. "Minister Yu, thank you for your efforts on the journey. Someone, give him a seat and serve him ginseng soup. Let him rest a little."
Yu Qianzhi hurriedly accepted the rewards and thanked the emperor for his grace.
The emperor said nothing more, merely gazing at the sky beyond the hall, thick with dark clouds. After a long while, there came a ripping sound as he tore the final page from the booklet and concealed it in his sleeve.
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