Huang Xiao naturally took the guard's words to heart. He still wanted to stay in the palace for a while longer, so he could not stir up trouble. He would merely have to swallow a little indignity. It was nothing serious.
"Constable Huang, there's still something I don't understand. With your martial prowess, if you can't become a retainer, then simply don't. Why become a reserve constable?" The guard was still puzzled. After all, in his view, someone as young and accomplished as Huang Xiao would receive a warm welcome wherever he went. Wasn't becoming a reserve constable simply asking to suffer?
"It's only temporary. Things will be fine after a while," Huang Xiao said with a smile. He was naturally very grateful for the guard's kindness.
Since Huang Xiao had said so, the guard merely shook his head slightly and sighed, saying nothing more.
He was not normally a talkative man. In the palace, talking too much meant you would not live long. Still, he was willing to tell Huang Xiao these things, which were no secrets anyway. After all, Huang Xiao's status and martial prowess were both extraordinary. Showing him a little consideration could hardly be wrong.
"We're here. This is the Prison Office!" The guard brought Huang Xiao to a side hall in a secluded corner of the Imperial Palace.
"Go tell your Eunuch Gou that there are orders from the chief steward!" the guard told a young eunuch standing at the entrance.
Although the young eunuch did not recognize the guard, his uniform showed that he was an imperial guard. Not daring to keep him waiting, the eunuch hurried inside.
Before long, a fat old eunuch emerged.
"Which esteemed gentleman has come on the chief steward's orders?"
"Eunuch Gou, by the chief steward's orders, this is