The Directorate of Ceremonial.
The most powerful office among the twelve directorates in Great Ming's palace.
Its highest-ranking official was the Seal-Holding Eunuch, Zhang Banban, followed by three Brush-Holding Eunuchs. Those posts had once belonged to Cao Zhengchun, Liu Xi, and Wan Yulou.
But since Cao Zhengchun's death, the third Brush-Holding Eunuch's post had remained vacant. Besides, the Emperor of Great Ming had recently insisted on governing personally, so the two of them were enough to help review memorials and such. They had no wish for someone else to come and divide their authority, either.
Usually, the Directorate of Ceremonial's two Brush-Holding Eunuchs avoided each other, hardly even meeting when handing over official documents. Their arrival together this time greatly surprised the lesser eunuchs.
After someone brought in two pots of different teas, the door was closed.
Wan Yulou looked at Liu Xi. "Eunuch Liu, did you ask me here to discuss Lin Lang?"
Liu Xi nodded darkly. He had known Wan Yulou wanted to eliminate Lin Lang too.
Although Lin Lang had been arrogant before and reclaimed the Jinyiwei's authority, there had been little left in Great Ming's Jianghu worth overseeing, so neither of them had cared much.
Both had thought there would still be time to deal with the Jinyiwei after settling the contest between themselves.
But that clearly would not work now. In fact, unless the Eastern Depot and Western Depot cooperated, neither could deal with the Jinyiwei, all because of Lin Lang.
"Eunuch Wan, you saw Lin Lang's strength yourself. It's unfathomable. Even Cao Zhengchun wasn't this terrifying back then."
"Don't forget, everything we do now used to be handled by the Jinyiwei. If Lin Lang asks for that authority, do you think His Majesty will give it to him?"
Wan Yulou's expression changed. If the