Hu Huai'an left the hall, unable to still his surging heart. He shook his head and murmured, "Ah, Grandpa Zhao, it isn't that I'm ungrateful. You always taught us to put the greater good first, and loyalty to our sovereign above all."
"If nothing happens to you, that would naturally be best. If something does..." The rest was too difficult to say. Hu Huai'an stood lost in thought for a long time. "Every year, I will remember to burn a stick of incense for you."
Outside, several young eunuchs were cleaning the palace hall. The emperor had been in a foul mood lately and had grown more particular about his surroundings. The slightest dissatisfaction could send him into a rage.
The young eunuchs working here were busier than ever.
One of them was scrubbing the floor tiles. After a while, he went outside to sweep the steps.
Then he suddenly clutched his stomach and told another young eunuch who had come outside with him, "My stomach suddenly hurts so badly I can't bear it. I need to leave for a moment."
"Go on, but hurry back." The other young eunuch glanced cautiously around. "Don't let the higher-ups catch you. Little Gunzi took thirty strokes of the cane last time, and he's still bedridden!"
"Don't worry, I'll be right back!" Once outside, the young eunuch hurried toward a certain spot. It was called secluded, but it was really only a corner, not far from the main hall-just around a bend in the corridor.
In the secluded courtyard, the door opened with a creak. Eunuch Zhao walked a circuit of the courtyard, then brewed himself another cup of tea by the chair in the middle.
Steam rose from the tea bowl. He took a small sip without betraying anything. His expression did