Chapter 16: A Dramatic Rise and Fall in Rank

Liu Shangqin didn't reveal more, but what he did reveal was enough to excite everyone.

Even though Licorice knew in advance, she couldn't help but smile when she heard the confirmed news.

If the first time she served the emperor was like flying onto a branch, now she can finally stand firmly on that branch.

Soon, the master of ceremonies from the Bureau of Ceremonies came to teach them the etiquette and manners of palace attendants:

Normally, when facing His Majesty, Empress, or future potential rulers, they do not need to perform grand salutes except on special occasions; a slight curtsy is sufficient.

When encountering other attendants of the same rank who will enter the palace in the future, one should simply curtsy to each other.

Lower-ranking palace attendants were not required to participate in sacrifices in the suburbs and ancestral temples, so they were not required to be taught sacrificial etiquette for the time being.

These rituals sound much simpler than before, but maintaining the curtsy for an extended period of time still requires a certain level of balance.

"Your Highness, your posture is beautiful. If you bow a little more, it would be even more perfect." The master of ceremonies praised and corrected his movements, his face always covered with a kind and gentle smile.

Licorice felt pleased with himself and his learning efficiency increased. He had been exercising regularly during this period and had excellent flexibility, so he quickly mastered several etiquette rules.

The emcee naturally showered them with praise, and as the sedan chair was carried by people, Gan Cao couldn't help but return the compliments warmly. When seeing them off, he stuffed a generous purse into their hand.

For more than a decade, he had been extremely poor, so when he first received the reward, he was very reluctant to spend the silver and pearls. But in just a few months, his mindset underwent a dramatic change.

As a palace attendant, he received ten taels of silver per month. After becoming a palace maid, his monthly salary increased to fifty taels, and he also received a considerable amount of grain, oil, clothing, and jewelry each season, enough for him to live a life of luxury he could never have imagined before.

With money in his hands, he became much more generous in his actions.

"My lady, the master of ceremonies' attitude has changed so much this time," Mao Gen remarked after seeing the guests off.

Gan Cao turned to look at him: "Oh, you saw him when he was teaching me manners last time?"

The last time he learned etiquette was before he became the head of the palace. The master of ceremonies, Li, gave Cui, the eunuch, face and taught him, a lowly palace boy, manners. His attitude was already quite responsible, so it was naturally not as enthusiastic as it was today.

“Back then, I wanted to serve you, my lord,” Mao Gen said with a fawning smile. “I even circled around you a few times.”

Gan Cao was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, it seemed to make sense. He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration: he had originally thought that the palace attendant was just a minor palace servant chosen casually by the emperor, but he hadn't expected that the man had been preparing for such a slim chance.

Comparing his own situation with that of the other person, he felt even more grateful to Eunuch Cui, and he also cherished his appearance even more.

Using one's looks to please others may be shameful, but it can be effective.

He cannot make up for the talents of the noblemen in a short time, but his appearance and physique are advantages he already possesses. He must work hard to maintain and train them to the extreme so as not to disappoint His Majesty's favor.

Having realized this, he pulled himself out of the joy of being promoted and returned to his daily routine of maintaining and securing his favor with the emperor.

After shedding the constraints of clothing, I focused on exercising the parts of His Majesty that he favored, one by one, on the couch.

I carefully exercised my chest, waist, abdomen, legs, and other areas that I dared not touch without permission hundreds of times.

The early spring weather was still a bit chilly, but he worked up a good sweat. The soreness in his body made his heart feel exceptionally fulfilled: it was only through extreme effort that he could maintain the Emperor's favor!

After washing and drying his body, he began to carefully apply the cream to all parts of his body and then gently patted it in.

After taking care of him, Mao Gen looked at him with wide eyes: No wonder the young master is the most favored by His Majesty!

"Young Master Gan, hurry! An imperial edict has arrived from Changning Palace!" A young palace servant ran over, panting.

It's here!

Gan Cao jumped up and shouted, "Quickly, change my clothes!"

Mao Gen immediately took action.

He hurriedly changed his clothes, and after confirming that everything was alright, he immediately strode towards the main hall.

When they were almost there, he slowed down, straightened his clothes, and made sure everything was alright before stepping inside.

"Please, Bamboo Melody, Fragrance of Tea, White Apple, and Piao Peng, the four palace attendants, listen to my decree." The commander's drawn-out voice sounded exceptionally serious.

Licorice's mind went blank for a moment.

He didn't seem to hear his own name?

Driven by instinct, he knelt down along with everyone else present, but his mind remained blank for a long time.

"...He is hereby brought into the palace and appointed as a ninth-rank palace attendant. This is the imperial decree."

His name really isn't listed...

Why? Didn't the Empress say she would request a title for him?

Or does His Majesty feel that he lacks virtue and is unworthy to be a palace attendant?

Wasn't the beating he received that day enough to punish his transgressions? He's clearly changed! Perhaps his handwriting is just too bad?

The others happily accepted the imperial decree and expressed their gratitude. Bai Ping and Zhu Yun couldn't help but feel some disdain for his dejected appearance, while only Piao Peng felt some pity for him.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, he almost crushed his palms.

"Please listen to the imperial decree, Gan Siqin..." The commander then produced another imperial decree.

And an imperial edict for him?

A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in Gan Cao's eyes: "Gan Cao, obey my command."

Everyone in the hall knelt down again.

"...Gentle and obedient in nature...He has rendered meritorious service to the emperor and is hereby promoted to the rank of Junior Attendant, Grade 8."

A male official of the eighth rank!

It turned out that he hadn't been left without a reward; he had been given the rank of eighth grader. The immense joy almost overwhelmed him.

How different does His Majesty treat him?

This realization filled his heart with sweetness.

"This servant receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!" He bowed deeply.

From then on, he could refer to himself as a 'servant' instead of a 'captive'.

"Congratulations, Lord Cainan." The commander handed him the imperial edict, his serious face breaking into a smile.

Mao Gen hurriedly handed over a large purse, and Gan Cao smiled and said, "Congratulations to you too."

"Then I'll take this good fortune with me," the commander said with a smile, accepting the gift.

The newly promoted bedchamber attendants were caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events. Their initial disdain turned into shame and anger, and their initial joy faded.

He's nothing but a vixen; what does His Majesty actually like about him?

"So Brother Gan was granted the title of Cai Nan?" Piao Peng exclaimed happily, finally snapping out of his surprise. "That's a higher rank than ours!"

What is this clueless guy so happy about?! The others were increasingly embarrassed, but since the licorice was indeed of a higher grade than theirs, they had no choice but to force a smile and flatter him.

"Congratulations, Your Highness!" The palace servants of the Imperial Bedchamber all smiled and curtsied.

No matter how unwilling Bai Ping, Zhu Yun, and the others were, they had no choice but to curtsy as well.

Why? Because the other party's rank is higher than theirs.

Originally, they were all palace men who served as bedchamber attendants, while the other party was the lowest-ranking laundry attendant. Now, however, he had climbed above them, and from now on, they would have to bow to him first when they met. The thought of this made them all feel very uncomfortable.

Having just experienced a dramatic rise and fall, Gan Cao was now overjoyed. Everyone was congratulating him, and even Bai Ping, who had previously disliked him, was bowing to him.

He had only just been promoted when he began to enjoy the pleasure of being a superior person.

Keep a low profile, remember the admirable virtues praised in the imperial edict, and live up to His Majesty's bestowal.

"Congratulations, congratulations." Gan Cao helped Piao Peng up and then gave Bai Ping and the others a slight nod of support, saying, "No need for such formalities, brothers."

He offered a way out, and Zhu Yun and the others' smiles became more natural.

Bai Ping joined in the laughter and chatter, but she was still deeply resentful.

How could he be so lucky? He made a mistake in front of the emperor on his first audience, but the emperor did not punish him; he had Liu Zhi reveal the matter to Shou'an Palace, but it backfired, and the punishment of copying the text by the Empress Dowager actually helped him stabilize his position after receiving thirty strokes of the cane; now he has even bypassed them and become a Cai Nan!

A note from the author:

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