After leaving the Empress's palace, Hu Huai'an headed out of the imperial palace. Once outside, he boarded an ox cart and ordered, "To Six-Cart Alley."
"Yes!" The eunuchs all understood the rules. Keeping silent, they drove the ox cart away.
The Capital City had always been the most prosperous place. Its wards teemed with people, houses standing row upon row in neat ranks. As the weather gradually grew hotter, boatloads of fruits and melons arrived, vendors crying their wares.
Hu Huai'an heard none of it. His mind was filled with countless matters, and the longer he thought inside the carriage, the worse he felt.
"I thought that once the old man stepped down, it would be my turn. Who would have thought..."
Hu Huai'an had believed he had mastered the art of reading expressions and judging the situation, that there was no way he could fail to please the Emperor. Yet after actually becoming Chief Eunuch, he realized that serving people was not enough; one also had to handle affairs beautifully.
In this regard, both he and Ma Shunde still lacked seasoning.
"Alas, I used to think the old man was very unwise to remonstrate directly and anger the Emperor. But thinking about it now, perhaps the Emperor actually regarded him in a different light."
Lost in wild thoughts all the way, he arrived at an alley. A young eunuch had already come out to greet him. "It is still early. Grandfather is still inside. I will go in and announce you at once!"
Hu Huai'an smiled and waved a hand. "I am his godson. There is no need for all this. I will go in myself!"
As he spoke, he entered. As a chief eunuch, Zhao Bingzhong had a residence inside the palace and another outside it.
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