[Time: autumn of the 27th year of the Daqian reign]
The autumn sky above the Jinling Imperial Palace was clear and blue, but it could not hide the power struggles going on inside.
Having resolved his conflict with the Inner Court and demonstrated exceptional competence, Xiao Wuchen's promotion was almost inevitable. An imperial edict, drafted by the Grand Secretariat and approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial, officially elevated him from insignificant eunuch to court scribe within the same Directorate.
This position held far more actual power than its apparent clerical role suggested.
Elevated status: Xiao Wuchen was no longer just an eunuch handling miscellaneous tasks; he was now a 'close attendant', responsible for handling memorials and official documents directly. Although he was still some way from becoming a Grand Eunuch, he had entered the decision-making circle of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
He began participating in confidential meetings and gained access to correspondence between the emperor, the Grand Secretariat, and the Six Ministries. This gave him firsthand knowledge of the court's major decisions.
A Glimpse into Power: The power of the Directorate of Ceremonial even extended beyond the palace walls. The promotion and transfer of many officials in the capital, as well as the handling of important cases, all required the Directorate's approval.
'These are the Great Qian Law and the Imperial Qian Ancestral Instructions. Now that you have entered the Imperial Household Department, Wu Chen, you must memorise these two books thoroughly.' Wang Dehai, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and a kind-faced old man in his sixties, handed the two books to Xiao Wu Chen. His tone carried the admonition of an elder.
Xiao Wu Chen respectfully accepted them, bowing his head in acknowledgement. 'This servant will obey the Grand Eunuch's instructions.'
Wang Dehai nodded in satisfaction. He appreciated Xiao Wu Chen's composure and restraint, noting that he wasn't as eager for quick success as other newly promoted eunuchs.
'While serving in the Directorate of Ceremonial, the most important thing is not martial arts or political manoeuvring, but rather a sense of propriety. You must ponder day and night what you should and shouldn't do.'
Xiao Wu Chen kept these words firmly in mind. During the day, he immersed himself in mountains of memorials and documents, diligently familiarising himself with the administration, and at night he returned to his residence to process what he had learnt that day and continue his martial arts studies.
The more central his involvement in politics became, the clearer it became to him that he had made the right move. Only by standing at the centre of power could he truly control his own destiny and pave the way for his future plans.
However, his rapid rise also attracted higher-level attention and apprehension, like a shadow in the sunlight.
The Left Governor's Mansion.
The high-ranking, powerful Left Governor sat in his study. On the table before him lay a detailed secret report about 'Xiao Wuchen'.
It meticulously documented his rise from cleaning official to high-ranking official in the Imperial Library and finally to clerk in the Directorate of Ceremonial, as well as his remarkable martial arts skills when dealing with the Eastern Depot and various Jianghu forces.
'This kid's speed is far faster than I expected,' the Left Governor remarked, tapping the table lightly with his index finger and producing a series of dull thuds.
'A eunuch of unknown origin with exceptional martial arts skills, once deeply embedded in the Directorate of Ceremonial, is a tremendous threat.' He said coldly to the commander of the Black-Clad Guard beside him, 'This man must be brought under control, or... completely eliminated.'
The commander bowed and replied, 'General, the Black-Clad Guard's initial probing has not revealed his martial arts style, only that his internal energy is pure and his movements are unpredictable.'
A sharp glint flashed in the Left Governor's eyes. 'Ordinary assassinations would only alert him. What I want is to subdue him, render him powerless to resist and investigate the details of his martial arts, his origins and who is behind him."
'Since the goal is subjugation, bloodshed is unacceptable. This operation must be carried out personally by the elite of the Black-Clad Guards and they must be equipped with instruments for controlling vital energy and severing meridians.'
The Left Commander rose and walked to the window. He gazed towards the palace, a cold smile playing on his lips.
'Go and teach this brat a lesson. Let him know that no matter how powerful one is, true strength renders one nothing more than a puppet controlled by others.'
In the shadows of the Black-Clad Guards, a secret hunt targeting the rising stars of the Directorate of Ceremonial was brewing.
Ding!
System Mission Triggered: Shadow Balance.
Mission objective: Successfully counter the assassination attempt by the elite 'Black-Clad Guards' and demonstrate sufficient strength to intimidate them. This will buy time for future developments.
Current status: Target locked.
System guidance:
The 'Flying Swallow Through Willows' movement technique can now be upgraded. The host needs to upgrade the 'Flying Swallow Through Willows' movement technique to [Traceless] in actual combat.
[Traceless] realm: Footwork is silent; the figure moves like willow catkins in the wind. This technique is unpredictable and greatly enhances speed and evasion abilities, allowing for high-speed movement and changes of direction within a very small area.
Xiao Wuchen's peaceful days in the palace are over. He knows that no secrets stay hidden forever and that his rise will inevitably attract the attention of the most powerful institution: the Left Commander's Black-Clad Guards. He must complete his breakthrough in the movement technique as soon as possible in order to face the impending life-or-death challenge.