The call for the officials to enter court rang out.
Everyone filed inside. With the Duke of An and the others leading him, Xu Qingxiao suddenly appreciated the benefits of belonging to a group. At least he did not have to walk in all alone.
Upon entering the palace, Xu Qingxiao spotted a familiar figure: Eunuch Li Xian. He was waiting inside the palace gates, and smiled when he saw Xu Qingxiao accompanying the Duke of An and the others.
Clearly, he had worried that Xu Qingxiao did not know the rules for attending court and had waited here for him. Now that he saw him with the Duke of An and the others, he did not come over to guide him.
Li Xian was a decent fellow. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that the silver had been well spent.
Xu Qingxiao offered him a warm smile in thanks. Eunuch Li Xian returned a slight bow, then left.
"Nephew Qingxiao, do you know him?"
The Duke of An had keenly noticed the exchange and asked with some curiosity.
"Yes. This eunuch came to deliver a message yesterday. Since he was from the palace, I thought I should be polite."
Xu Qingxiao answered.
But as soon as he said this, the Marquis of Guangping spoke up.
"They're just a bunch of castrates. What's there to be polite about? Brother Qingxiao, you're simply too cautious. Let your older brother remind you: these castrates have no real power. You don't need to treat them so well."
The Marquis of Guangping seemed to have no fondness whatsoever for these eunuchs.
His words startled Xu Qingxiao.
Eunuchs were castrates, neither quite men nor women, but throughout history, hadn't most of them done rather well for themselves? Apart from those without standing, shouldn't