CHAPTER 526: CHAPTER 225: LONGEVITY RICE AND THE NEW GRAND SECRETARY

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Master, the rice strain you mentioned is intriguing. It is truly impossible to promote it throughout the world in a short time, but we can try it first. By the way, if you are free tonight, Master, let’s go to Eunuch Chen’s residence for a vegetarian meal."

"Are you referring to the Chief Eunuch of the Ritual Supervision, Chen Zhong? Is it appropriate for me to go?"

"It’s fine. People like us should act with integrity and righteousness. In fact, for our Majesty, he is not afraid of what we are doing, but rather afraid he doesn’t know what we are doing." Xu Qing got straight to the point, explaining the path of governance in the Longevity Dynasty.

Speaking of which, this banquet between Xu Qing and Chen Zhong was also a prearranged business matter.

Old Gu was researching the steam engine in the Ministry of Industry and needed a place for testing. After searching around, he found that the Imperial Stables had a suitable meadow.

This place naturally exceeded the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry.

Xu Qing did not know the eunuchs of the Imperial Stables, so he sought out Chen Zhong to discuss this matter in the evening.

Eunuchs like Chen Zhong also had residences outside the palace, which were quite grand, and when at home, were no different from the esteemed scholar-gentry.

Moreover, eunuchs like Chen Zhong, in terms of culture, may not be inferior to many scholars, and their knowledge of miscellaneous subjects and history might even be better.

Because many eunuchs who could enter the Ritual Supervision of this dynasty had to study in the Inner Book Hall, with teachers, many of whom were Hanlin Scholars.

For eunuchs in the deep palace, striving for advancement required an essential reading of history books, otherwise, they wouldn’t even know how they died in the future.

They also did not need to spend a lot of energy like normal scholars, wasting it on the Four Books and Five Classics and the Eight-legged Essays.

In some areas of knowledge, being better than some scholars is not surprising.

Before Xu Qing visited, he specifically fetched two rare books.

He had also informed in advance that Master Xiong Chan would be attending the banquet today.

Chen Zhong was pleasantly surprised at this.

The time arrived.

The literary and martial stars of the Great Yu Dynasty simultaneously visited the residence of the Grand Eunuch, making Chen Zhong smile broadly.

Though he was quite skillful, his nature was quite reckless, and if someone was useful to him, he would treat them like his father with complete devotion, especially regarding the old Emperor’s words, to which he never made exceptions.

This was also the persona Chen Zhong established for himself and was his secret to climbing ranks.

He thought openly that as a person without descendants, there was no need to leave any ways out; now was the time for indulgence, so be wild.

Moreover, within the Imperial Palace, the reason a eunuch would fall out of favor was often due to losing favor, and it had nothing to do with actions.

From Chen Zhong’s perspective, the most favored in the Capital now was Xu Qing, and none other.

The son of the Xu Family, Xuanhu, was now raised by Consort Shou.

With the current reign titled Longevity, and His Majesty seeking the Path of Immortality, Consort Shou’s title includes the word "longevity." It shows the favor Consort Shou currently receives. Consort Shou is also over forty, childless for years, and is actually the master of the inner palace.

In terms of background, Xu Xuanhu, as an adopted son, was supremely noble in the Great Yu Dynasty.

Even the biological mother of Prince Yu was ranked below Consort Shou.

The favor shown to Xu Liushou now is evident.

After some pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Though it was a vegetarian meal, it was accompanied by music and dance.

Like other grand eunuchs, Chen Zhong also had a consort outside the palace.

Actually, because eunuchs had unsatisfiable desires, they often had very strong lust, and palace couples were truly not too few.

For cultivators, however, lust was something rather easily seen through. Even if they enjoyed it greatly, they would not indulge excessively.

Take old Gu, for example, after coming to the Capital, except for the initial period, he later played rarely and only occasionally relaxed at places associated with the Ministry of Rites and the Inspection Bureau.

Purely as entertainment and leisure.

The same was true for Xiong Chan.

After achieving martial success, he broke his vow of celibacy and even had a child in the temple. This was also required by the previous Void Abbot.

Even the Void Abbot had a fleeting romance with a certain Taoist master.

For masters like them, encountering a formidable female cultivator, exchanging experiences, and the occasional courteous dual cultivation was not surprising.

Of course, the premise was that the other party was willing, going along with the moment.

In fact, in ancient times, casual relations were common. Now, the emphasis on propriety and reputation is the result of the era’s development, with its necessity.

But it has not always been this way.

After feasting and drinking, with attendants dismissed, Xu Qing and Chen Zhong discussed business.

"Mr. Xu, I’ve already informed the eunuch Qin Xiang of the Imperial Stables. The piece of meadow you need is arranged for you, and by then, the little eunuch Zhang Kun from the Qianqing Palace will take you there."

Qin Xiang was also the Steward Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace. Zhang Kun was a little eunuch Xu Qing had met earlier at the Wenyuan Pavilion, and now, having been appreciated by an ancestral Imperial Palace eunuch, he has made his way into the Qianqing Palace.

Xu Qing thanked him first, then mentioned Master Xiong Chan’s intention to present Longevity Rice to His Majesty.

In fact, Xiong Chan hadn’t mentioned the name of the rice, but intending it as auspicious, Xu Qing spontaneously named it so.

Xiong Chan witnessed Xu Qing’s real expertise in wielding influence in official circles, and that was shamelessness, extreme shamelessness.

After a conversation, even the Yellow Millet Rice got involved.

Xiong Chan almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

If not for Xu Qing’s private notification that this matter brought great benefits, Xiong Chan would have left immediately.

This time, it was mainly to first inform Chen Zhong, and then report it to the old Emperor.

After the banquet, Xu Qing and Xiong Chan departed.

...

...

"Gongming, we didn’t discuss the matter of Yellow Millet Rice beforehand."

Xu Qing shot a glance, "Master, the yield of Yellow Millet Rice in your Great Zen Temple is too low. It would be better to take it out; only then would it be a great merit to the world. Don’t worry, if you present Yellow Millet Rice’s strain, I’ll annually provide three times the yield to your Great Zen Temple."