"This memorial was actually asking for merit to be awarded to monks and Daoist priests?"
"Indeed. During this time, Prince Dai had dealt with sixteen Divine Shrines in succession, and the monks of Clear Garden Temple and people from Yin Temple Sect had both been involved. They helped, so it was only natural for Prince Dai to request rewards for them. But being this blunt about recruiting the two sects for his own use—was Prince Dai not afraid of drawing His Majesty's displeasure?"
Thinking this, Ma Shunde put away the memorial, leaving no trace, before opening the second one.
The contents of this memorial were far more "heart-stirring." Just as Ma Shunde had expected, it concerned the assassination attempt.
Regarding Prince Dai's assassination, Ma Shunde read the memorial carefully, word by word and sentence by sentence. Only then did he cautiously smooth away all traces of having read it and sink into thought.
The two young eunuchs following him did not look at each other. Both remained bent over, awaiting Ma Shunde's orders.
After pondering for a moment, Ma Shunde unexpectedly unfolded the second memorial again and read it carefully once more. Only then did he put it away and take it in hand.
The young eunuch who had intercepted the memorials to curry favor watched his expression and probed, "Eunuch Ma, is there something wrong with the memorial? Should we... hold it back for a few days first?"
Ma Shunde immediately snapped out of his thoughts. "No need."
What a fool.
"There are procedures and deadlines for court memorials—when they are submitted, when they are presented for imperial perusal. There are rules for everything."
"Even if we chief eunuchs wish to withhold one, we merely press it beneath the others. If His Majesty is tired, he may not read