The eunuch profession has produced famous figures throughout history, such as Cai Lun, who improved the papermaking process. His innovation gradually brought paper, previously accessible only to the upper classes, into ordinary households.
Paper had been invented before Cai Lun's time, but its manufacturing process was so complex that it was even more expensive than bamboo slips. It was considered a true luxury. After Cai Lun's improvements, paper remained costly but was monopolized by aristocrats. This singular achievement was enough to make Cai Lun's name immortal in history.
In the era when Confucianism dominated, progress in science and technology was exceedingly difficult. Isn't it evident from the fact that there was little significant advancement in this area for over two thousand years?
Then there's Zheng He, whose voyages to the Western Seas marked China's exploration of the oceans. To be blunt, if it hadn't been for the obstruction by Confucian scholars, how could the Ming Dynasty have declined so disastrously in its later years?
These same scholars, who read the classics daily and prided themselves on their loyalty and patriotism, often fell short compared to certain eunuchs like Wang Cheng'en and Gao Lishi. One of Confucianism's most renowned figures is remembered for saying, "The water is too cold," which highlights their lack of resolve.
Daniel treated the eunuchs exceptionally well, offering them arrangements that were unparalleled in this era. At the same time, he tasked them with certain responsibilities. For instance, while managing royal farmland, they were instructed to experiment with improving seeds. Additionally, they were being gradually entrusted with the burgeoning newspaper industry.
There was no denying that many talented individuals resided among the palace eunuchs, some of whom rivaled or even surpassed the so-called scholars in capability. Furthermore, they lacked the arrogance typical of scholars and were highly practical. It was no wonder that many rulers in feudal society relied heavily on eunuchs. Being without descendants, eunuchs posed no threat of seizing the throne.
If not for the inhumane nature of castration, Daniel wouldn't have considered abolishing the eunuch profession. Strictly speaking, eunuchs—or rather, court officials—originally referred to individuals serving the emperor and the royal family. Castration, initially used to punish slaves and prisoners of war, somehow became universally applied to court officials over time.
"Let's go. It's about time for dinner. Come over; I'm treating today."
Although the palace had imperial chefs, since both the Shuanglong brothers and Ba Fenghan had come to visit—and given that Daniel had been too busy to properly explore Luoyang since his arrival—he seized the opportunity to take the three men to Dong Family Tavern.
"Brother Shen, are you sure about this?" Xu Ziling asked as he glanced around, watching Daniel quietly leave the palace to meet them.
"Don't worry, Ziling. Don't you trust my abilities? Besides, I have the three of you with me." Daniel immediately guessed Xu Ziling's concern—his earlier glances around were to check for hidden bodyguards.
As an individual of Daniel's current status, his every move was under scrutiny. Naturally, every outing required a significant number of guards. This was the price of being a figure of importance.
Take Stark, for instance. Whenever he went out, he was accompanied by numerous bodyguards. While it wasn't guaranteed someone would try to harm him, such precautions were always better safe than sorry.
For an emperor, the security measures were even stricter. The notion of casually wandering off alone to sightsee was practically impossible. Even if the emperor didn't mind, those around him would. It's well-known that after becoming emperor, Li Yuan even resorted to using secret tunnels to visit brothels.
"To be honest, if not for the common people, I wouldn't want this position of emperor at all. On the surface, the emperor holds supreme power, but in reality, even leaving the palace is a challenge. Isn't the so-called imperial palace just a gilded prison for the emperor?"
With a sigh, Daniel expressed his frustrations. This was a sentiment he had deeply understood during his time in power. And this was under circumstances where he had delegated much of his authority. For those who clung to power, the workload would only grow heavier.
"Your Highness, only you could say such words. If anyone else said them, I'd assume they were being pretentious," Ba Fenghan remarked, his perception of Daniel improving significantly.
"That's why, for the sake of my future freedom, some things must be changed now."
"I never imagined being emperor would come with so many restrictions and troubles. I definitely couldn't handle this kind of life," Kou Zhong said with a shake of his head.
This visit to the palace had left a profound impact on Kou Zhong. If he had previously harbored even a sliver of ambition to conquer the world and claim power, it was now completely extinguished.
During their visit, Daniel had explained the various rules of palace life—such as the Three Palaces and Six Courts with their seventy-two concubines, the intrigues of the harem, the restrictions on meals, morning court sessions, and even the difficulties of leaving the palace.
Given Kou Zhong's personality, he would likely find such a lifestyle unbearable within a week. Hearing about something and experiencing it firsthand were entirely different things. Of course, this reaction was unique to Kou Zhong. Most people, though aware of the sacrifices, would likely find the rewards of power far more enticing.
"As Ba Fenghan said earlier, only you, Kou Zhong, would say such things. If anyone else did, it would come across as pretentious," Daniel joked, causing all four to burst into laughter. This eased the atmosphere further, and the Shuanglong brothers and Ba Fenghan began to relax around Daniel.
Unexpectedly, their conversation turned to Li Mi.
"I didn't expect you two to have fought Li Mi," Daniel said, intrigued as Kou Zhong recounted their recent exploits after leaving Pegasus Ranch.
"It's a shame we didn't kill that bastard Wang Bodang."
At the mention of Wang Bodang, both Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's expressions darkened with anger. Despite Daniel's interference altering many events, Su Su's fate had remained tragically unchanged. Being merely a maidservant, she was insignificant in the eyes of powerful figures like Zhai Rang or Li Mi.
Even though Zhai Jiao had a good relationship with Su Su, familial bonds weren't strong enough to challenge social norms. In this world, it was common for maids and even concubines to be given away or discarded without a second thought. Many famous poets and scholars in history had done the same.
"Li Mi is preparing to attack Luoyang soon. If you're seeking revenge, the opportunity is near," Daniel said.
"Li Mi plans to attack Luoyang? Is he insane?" Kou Zhong exclaimed, stunned. Though he hailed from a humble background, Kou Zhong possessed an extraordinary natural talent for strategy. His insights into military affairs were evident in his leadership of the Young Marshal Army in the original timeline.
"Li Mi should be focused on recuperating. With Luoyang's defenses, he doesn't stand a chance," Kou Zhong remarked, analyzing the situation with remarkable clarity.
"What if the Buddhist sect supports him?" Daniel asked with a smile.
"The Buddhist sect? Why would they support Li Mi?" Kou Zhong's confusion deepened.
"It's simple. In their eyes, I've become a threat to the entire Buddhist sect's survival. Helping Li Mi—or even collaborating with the Demonic Sect—wouldn't be out of the question if it meant eliminating me," Daniel explained.
As Daniel spoke, he suddenly shifted his gaze toward the door. Just as he was about to say something, two voices—one steady and one melodious—sounded from outside.
"Your Highness, Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi request an audience."
"Come in."
"Miss Song, long time no see," Kou Zhong greeted Song Yuzhi with a cheeky grin. Song Yuzhi, however, merely snorted coldly, clearly unimpressed by him.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi both saluted Daniel respectfully. Even Song Yuzhi had to adhere to proper etiquette in his presence.
"Song Shidao, Miss Song," Xu Ziling greeted them earnestly, standing in stark contrast to Kou Zhong's flippant demeanor.
"Have a seat. Join us," Daniel invited.
"I'll handle this. Miss Song, please. Waiter, bring a few more dishes!" Kou Zhong said, pulling out a chair beside him in an exaggerated show of hospitality. Unfortunately, Song Yuzhi ignored him and sat next to Xu Ziling instead.
Seeing this, Song Shidao frowned slightly. Though he held Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling in high regard due to their connection to Fu Junyu, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease about Kou Zhong's behavior and his sister's reaction.
"Who might this be?" Song Shidao asked, glancing at Ba Fenghan.
Xu Ziling promptly introduced Ba Fenghan and explained the Song siblings' identities to him in return.
After the introductions, Song Yuzhi turned to Xu Ziling with curiosity. "I heard you managed to kill Ren Shaoming and escape from Qu Ao's pursuit. How did you do it?"
"Through skill, of course," Kou Zhong interjected before Xu Ziling could respond. "Ren Shaoming is nothing. Even Qu Ao would've joined him if he hadn't run away so quickly."
Kou Zhong's words left the Song siblings momentarily speechless. Song Yuzhi turned to Xu Ziling for confirmation, prompting him to nod and recount the events in detail.
"I didn't expect you to have grown so strong. Junyu would've been proud," Song Shidao remarked, a mix of relief and regret flashing across his eyes.
Song Shidao was undoubtedly a devoted man. Since learning of Fu Junyu's death, he had been plagued by guilt, believing he could have saved her had he acted sooner. His hesitation stemmed from her being Korean.
At the mention of Fu Junyu, Kou Zhong's playful demeanor faded. She had been the first person to show genuine kindness to the Shuanglong brothers and was someone they deeply respected.
"Apologies, Your Highness," Song Shidao said, regaining his composure and addressing Daniel.
"It's fine. If anything, I owe you thanks for looking after these two," Daniel replied graciously.
Indeed, the Song Clan had played a crucial role in the Shuanglong brothers' assassination of Ren Shaoming. Without their intelligence, the task would've been nearly impossible. Ren Shaoming, as the leader of the Iron Cavalry Society, was heavily guarded, making it a daunting challenge even for top experts.
The conversation soon shifted to lighter topics, with Kou Zhong occasionally teasing Song Yuzhi, much to Song Shidao's quiet frustration.
As they left Dong Family Tavern and strolled across a stone bridge, Daniel suddenly smiled.
"Interesting. We have guests."
No sooner had he spoken than four figures in black emerged from the river below. Armed with crossbows, they fired at Daniel before discarding their weapons and rushing toward him with short swords.
Before Daniel could move, Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan intercepted the bolts with their weapons and engaged the assailants.
The sudden attack sent the nearby pedestrians into a panic. Among the fleeing crowd, two well-dressed young men suddenly lunged at Daniel with concealed daggers.
However, before they could strike, their faces turned pale as they lost control of their bodies and were flung aside.
Xu Ziling, using his Taiji techniques, had created a protective field that hurled the attackers away, revealing that every person on the bridge was, in fact, an assassin.
"So many are targeting me already? Looks like I'll soon enjoy the same 'popularity' as Qin Shi Huang," Daniel mused with a wry smile.
It seemed the assassins couldn't resist such a rare opportunity. Despite suspecting a trap, they couldn't pass up the chance to strike at Daniel, who was only accompanied by three companions.
"Idiots. You should've stayed hidden in the water," Daniel chuckled as Kou Zhong unleashed his Ao Han Six Stances, freezing a large section of the river and trapping the hidden assassins below.
Moments later, the frozen surface shattered as a powerful figure burst through, unable to remain concealed any longer.
(End of Chapter)
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