Chapter 0111: Eunuch Zhao Convinces with Virtue, Su Qinghe as if Reborn
“This humble servant wouldn’t know, after all, the Su Family’s Second Young Master is personally requested by Ti Ling Guo and Elder Gu,” Eunuch Zhao said lightly. “Perhaps Lord Su has misjudged?”
Eunuch Zhao’s tone carried subtle mockery. “While thousand-li steeds are common, those who recognize them are rare. Not everyone can be a judge of talent. Wouldn’t you agree, Lord Su?”
Su Zhongyue wiped his sweating forehead: “This… Eunuch Zhao speaks wisely.”
“What thousand-li steed is he…” Su Wenhao muttered under his breath. “There must be some mistake. Elder brother, let’s go examine the imperial edict later to see if there’s anything amiss.”
Su Haichao glanced at him briefly but didn’t intervene.
“Second Young Master Su, please rise to receive the edict.” Eunuch Zhao examined Su Qinghe carefully. This Second Young Master Su was now soaring to great heights – to have the Second Prince exert such effort for him. He only hoped the young man wouldn’t disappoint the Second Prince’s expectations in the future.
Su Qinghe hurriedly stood up, still somewhat incredulous. “This commoner… no, your official… receives the edict.”
“Upon joining the Directorate of Celestial Observation, you’ll need to reside within the palace. Ti Ling Guo has already prepared quarters for you in the tower. You only need to pack your essentials before entering the palace.” Eunuch Zhao reminded him, “Oh, and there’s no need to bring servants. That’s not a place requiring attendants.”
“Yes.” Su Qinghe nodded, clutching the imperial edict tightly as if afraid it might vanish into thin air. He turned and hurried toward his quarters.
Su Wenhao immediately followed. “Second brother! Let me see the imperial edict!”
Without waiting for Su Qinghe’s response, he snatched the edict and opened it. Upon seeing it, he burst into laughter. “This handwriting…”
Su Qinghe suddenly furrowed his brows, his expression turning angry. “How dare you! This is an imperial edict! How can you be so disrespectful!”
Seeing Su Qinghe’s anger, Su Wenhao froze, clearly surprised that the usually timid person could show such temper. He shrank back slightly before stiffening his neck defiantly. “I think you’re feeling guilty! The handwriting for your name on this edict is completely different from His Majesty’s calligraphy. Did you bribe someone to forge an imperial edict?”
“What?!” Hearing Su Wenhao’s words, Su Zhongyue, who had been watching nearby, immediately strode over and snatched the edict to examine it.
Sure enough, the characters for “Su Qinghe” at the beginning were extremely poorly written, completely unlike the Emperor’s calligraphy.
“You! How could you do something so foolish?!” Su Zhongyue felt darkness cloud his vision as he angrily threw the edict to the ground. “This is a capital offense! Do you want to drag our entire Su Family down with you?”
Su Qinghe stood stunned. He had never bribed anyone to forge an imperial edict!
“Father—” He started to explain, but a sharper, more drawn-out and panicked voice cut him off. “Oh my heavens—”
Eunuch Zhao hurried over with quick, small steps, anxiously picking up the edict and dusting it off. He glared furiously at Su Zhongyue. “How dare you treat the Second Prince’s calligraphy like this! If His Majesty were to learn of this, all your heads combined wouldn’t be enough to atone!”
What—!
The Su Family members turned around in astonishment.
This handwriting… was actually the Second Prince’s?
Su Zhongyue stood dumbfounded, his mind racing frantically. Could it be that the Second Prince had maneuvered Su Qinghe into the Directorate of Celestial Observation? But… even if it were the Second Prince, how could he possibly have such influence? The Directorate was a highly restricted institution—how could anyone simply insert a person at will? Especially someone with no particular skills?
Su Qinghe was equally bewildered. He had assumed the Second Prince had given up on him completely after that day, hence the lack of contact since…
Who could have predicted this…
“Aiyo, this is infuriating!” Eunuch Zhao lamented, clutching the imperial edict as if it were a precious treasure. “His Majesty dotes on the Second Prince—what harm is there in letting him write a few words on the edict? But you all! Without even verifying the authenticity of the Imperial Jade Seal’s imprint, you dare accuse us of forging an imperial decree…”
Eunuch Zhao turned angrily to the little eunuch beside him. “Xiao Dezi, you tell them! What is the punishment for disrespecting an imperial edict?”
Xiao Dezi lifted his chin and declared solemnly, “It is punishable by exile or execution.”
“Hmph! I shall return to report this truthfully to His Majesty!” With that, Eunuch Zhao turned to leave.
“Eunuch Zhao! Please wait!” Su Zhongyue hurriedly intercepted him, explaining anxiously, “Eunuch Zhao, this humble official merely feared malicious actors might exploit the situation—there was never any disrespect toward the edict! I beg for your mercy!”
Having said this, he quickly shot a meaningful glance at Su Haichao.
Su Haichao stepped forward, gesturing respectfully. “Eunuch Zhao, may we speak in private?”
Eunuch Zhao snorted coldly, placed the edict back into Su Qinghe’s hands, and followed Su Haichao to a side chamber.
After a short while, Eunuch Zhao returned with his sleeves stuffed full of silver notes, lazily declaring, “The death penalty may be waived, but living punishment cannot be escaped. Considering the Su Family acted without malicious intent—guards! Administer ten cane strikes to all who doubted the edict’s authenticity!”
Having issued the order, he grabbed Su Qinghe’s arm and said, “No need for Young Master Su to pack anything. Come with me to the palace directly.”
Su Qinghe was dragged out of the Su residence by Eunuch Zhao. Before boarding the carriage, he couldn’t resist glancing back at the Su manor.
The agonized cries of Su Zhongyue and Su Wenhao echoed in his ears—proof that the caning was being administered with full force.
Su Qinghe closed his eyes briefly, then turned resolutely and entered the carriage.
“Young Master Su, once you enter the palace, your conduct will reflect directly on the Second Prince’s reputation. Do not disappoint his thoughtful arrangements.” Eunuch Zhao retrieved half of the silver notes obtained from Su Haichao and pressed them into Su Qinghe’s hand. “Though the Directorate of Celestial Observation won’t require these, they might prove useful in the Ministry of Works.”
“This is too much…” Su Qinghe hurriedly tried to refuse, but Eunuch Zhao cut him off with “This is the Second Prince’s wish,” leaving him no choice but to accept obediently.
Clutching the silver notes, Su Qinghe felt as if he were in a dream. He carefully unrolled the imperial edict as though handling a priceless treasure, gazing at the crooked, strikingly conspicuous characters “Su Qinghe.” Suddenly, he couldn’t suppress a bittersweet laugh, his eyes reddening with moisture.
The Second Prince’s handwriting was truly awful.
So why… did it seem so beautiful to him?
As if they were the most exquisite characters in all the world.
——
The moment Su Qinghe entered the Ministry of Works, he felt countless scorching gazes land upon him.
Gu Lao, having heard of his arrival, emerged from the workshop to meet him. His sharp, authoritative eyes swept over Su Qinghe before furrowing in a frown.
Seeing this, Su Qinghe couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
After all, he had only gained entry to the Ministry of Works and the Directorate of Celestial Observation through the Second Prince’s favor. In truth, he possessed no exceptional talents—it was only natural for the ministry officials to look down on him.
He was only afraid of bringing shame to the Second Prince.
As expected, Elder Gu shook his head, appearing deeply dissatisfied.
“Elder Gu, I…” Su Qinghe originally intended to say that although he wasn’t very familiar with the Ministry of Works, he would diligently study, but then he saw Elder Gu turn to an official and order, “Old Li, this lad is too skinny—he probably can’t even lift a piece of iron! Go! Train him properly! Don’t bring him before me until he can carry three full vats of water without panting!”
Su Qinghe: ???
Su Qinghe: Carry how much water???
By noon, when Guo Tianheng came to the Ministry of Works to collect him, he found Su Qinghe completely exhausted like a dead fish.
Furious, Guo Tianheng stood at the Ministry of Works’ entrance and shouted, “Gu Yun! You must be doing this on purpose! How can I use him in my Directorate of Celestial Observation when he’s worn out like this!”
Elder Gu, standing inside the Ministry of Works, snorted coldly in response, “He’s originally from my Ministry of Works! Lending him to you for half a day was an act of great mercy! Take it or leave it! If you don’t want him, return him to us!”
“Bullshit!” Guo Tianheng gnashed his teeth. “He’s clearly from my Directorate of Celestial Observation! If you weren’t so disrespectful in your old age, why would I have to share him with your ministry at all!”
The two hurled insults at each other across the Ministry of Works’ main gate. Eventually, Guo Tianheng, mindful of his dignity as the Ti Ling of the Directorate of Celestial Observation, snorted coldly and ended the argument. He took Su Qinghe back to the Directorate.
As soon as they entered, Guo Tianheng pointed at a mountain of stacked books and said, “Start by reading these. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask the seniors here—don’t be ashamed to speak up.”
With that, he hurried away.
Seeing so many books, Su Qinghe immediately felt overwhelmed. Since childhood, he had never been good at studying, and it had only worsened over time. Now, having to read and thoroughly comprehend an entire room full of books felt no different from being subjected to a slow, torturous death.
But…
The Second Prince had gone through great trouble to get him into the Directorate of Celestial Observation. How could he give up so easily and disappoint the Second Prince’s earnest efforts?
Taking a deep breath, Su Qinghe picked up one of the books with the resolve of someone marching to their doom and began reading.
Unexpectedly, when he looked up again, the moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the night was pitch black.
His exhaustion had somehow dissipated without his notice, and his mind felt clear, his vision sharp… as if he had been reborn.