"you?"

The three Grand Secretaries turned their heads simultaneously.

"Qi Yong," Grand Secretary Zhong said with great displeasure, "what are you doing, you old eunuch, getting involved in this mess?"

Old castrated bastard!

These three words pierced Qi Yong's sensitive and fragile young heart.

What's wrong with eunuchs?

I didn't eat your rice, why are you meddling so much?

Qi Yong glared fiercely at Grand Secretary Zhong and said in a high-pitched voice, "Although I am a eunuch, I am a close minister of the emperor. It is my duty to share the burdens of my master."

But Grand Secretary Zhong, instead of handling proper official duties, he willingly degenerates into running errands. Such negligence—is it not a sign of arrogance and conceit due to being favored by the emperor?

As she spoke, she gave him a provocative look and curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

These old pedantic people dislike him, treating him as if he admired hypocrites.

I can't do anything to them, and they can't do anything to me either. It's just a war of words, who's afraid of who?

In this respect, Qi Yong has never lost.

The already inflated Qi Yong subconsciously ignored the scene where Jiang Nuan was completely and utterly humiliated.

“Qi Yong is right,” Ji Xuan nodded slightly. “Usually, imperial edicts are delivered by palace servants, so the Grand Secretaries need not worry about it.”

“Your Majesty’s words are inappropriate. In the past, imperial edicts were only for the people of Great Zhou. As the sovereign and father, Your Majesty can’t just say anything. The Lady Protector of the Nation is no ordinary person and cannot be treated the same way. Only those whom Your Majesty relies on can show His Majesty’s respect.”

"Does Vice Minister Zhong agree with what he said?" Qi Yong clenched his nails tightly. "Isn't this scholar someone the Emperor relies on?"

"I can barely rely on him, but I'll pass on the person."

The three Grand Secretaries were all renowned Confucian scholars in the court, influenced by orthodox Confucian thought, and they especially despised palace servants like Qi Yong who flattered and bewitched the emperor.

If you can't even do the most basic self-cultivation, what can you do besides flattering your superiors?

"You called me a nobody?" Qi Yong pointed at himself and asked incredulously.

“No,” Grand Secretary Zhong explained solemnly, “I am merely stating the facts.”

These words are even more hurtful!

Qi Yong wished he could roll up his sleeves and scratch this cunning fellow to death.

“That’s going too far,” Qi Yong said sharply, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down. “I would be willing to cut off my own offspring for His Majesty’s sake, and I would feel honored. Does Vice Minister Zhong look down on me or His Majesty with these words?”

"Zhong Qing, are you dissatisfied with me?"

“This old minister dares not,” Grand Secretary Zhong immediately pleaded guilty. “Your Majesty is wise; I absolutely did not mean that.”

After saying that, he gritted his teeth and glared at Qi Yong.

The bright, pungent eye drops made my eyes water.

It hurts so much!

The other two Grand Secretaries also looked unwell.

Since Grand Secretary Zhong has been reprimanded, it is highly unlikely that he will be able to issue imperial edicts again, which is indeed a cause for celebration.

But that dog of a eunuch, Qi Yong, dared to make things difficult for the Grand Secretary right in front of them, and who knows how many times he's badmouthed them behind their backs.

As expected, petty people have no integrity.

"Um."

Ji Xuan raised her hand, signaling Grand Secretary Zhong to stand up.

He hadn't expected things to become so complicated; the mere act of promulgating the imperial edict had caused the three Grand Secretaries to argue endlessly.

He immediately sat on the dragon throne and pondered deeply.

After Zhong Ge Lao got up, he looked at Qi Yong coldly, his eyes containing a warning.

Castrate the dog, just wait!

Such arrogant and obsequious individuals, who bully their superiors and oppress their inferiors, will only disrupt the court if kept by the Emperor's side.

His Majesty is still able to maintain his rationality now, but over time, his mind will surely become unknowingly skewed.

At this moment, Grand Secretary Zhong set a goal for himself: to kill this eunuch before him in his lifetime.

It was only to purge the court of corrupt officials, absolutely not for revenge. I repeat, it was absolutely not for revenge!

"Your Majesty," Grand Secretary An said earnestly, bowing, "I wish to issue an imperial edict, and I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

“Anqing,” Ji Xuan frowned, “didn’t we go a bit too far?”

Grand Secretary An was not only a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty, but also the only veteran minister who remained in office through three reigns.

Its importance is such that calling it a national strategic asset is no exaggeration.

Qi Yong dared to openly make things difficult for Grand Secretary Zhong, but he wouldn't dare to treat Grand Secretary An in the same way.

In fact, the positions of the three Grand Secretaries were not something that a mere eunuch like him could shake. The only reason he could cause them trouble was because his master favored him and was willing to give him face.

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary An curled the corners of his mouth and gently shook his head, "No, this old minister is but a mortal, how can I compare with an immortal?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan pursed her lips.

He suddenly didn't know if what he was doing was right or wrong.

Even though the common people lauded the banished immortal as an absolute saint, the court officials believed it without question.

He also dared not forget how much of the immortal's reputation was fabricated.

It was something they created themselves.

Whether it was the common people or the court officials, they all had high expectations for the banished immortal, regarding her as the savior of the Great Zhou Dynasty and imagining that she possessed all sorts of extraordinary abilities.

They've elevated her to such a high position; what if the newly appointed Lady Protector of the Nation doesn't meet the court officials' expectations...?

Suddenly, a feeling of being caught in a dilemma arose.

Perhaps he shouldn't have been so arbitrary.

“Anqing, the court cannot do without you. Let’s discuss this matter later.”

Ji Xuan felt she had to do something to deal with the current situation.

The feeling of being the only one sober when everyone else is drunk is really not good at all.

“Your Majesty,” Qi Yong said, “let me go. It is the job of palace servants to deliver imperial edicts. I am the chief eunuch in charge of the palace seal. No one is more suitable than me.”

“Nonsense,” Grand Secretary Zhong looked at him disdainfully, “To send an imperial edict to an incomplete eunuch like you is an insult to the Lady Protector of the Nation.”

"Don't use your vulgar and dark thoughts to speculate about the Lady Protector of the Nation," Qi Yong snorted coldly. "Although the Lady Protector of the Nation is a banished immortal, she has never looked down on eunuchs. She has taken good care of me and has repeatedly instructed me to keep in touch with her."

Without batting an eye, Qi Yong spouted a string of nonsense, standing straight behind Ji Xuan with an arrogant expression.

He secretly decided that he would stick close to Jiang Nuan from now on.

He didn't care whether he would get any benefits or not, since his master would definitely leave him a share anyway.

As long as these old, sour grapes get their comeuppance, that's fine.

Looking at Grand Secretary Zhong's face, which was filled with barely suppressed anger, he felt that the weather was no longer so hot.

It feels as refreshing as drinking ice water.

"I don't believe it."

"Believe it or not, it's none of my business. It's the truth anyway," Qi Yong sneered. "Even though I'm just a eunuch, I'm still more valued by the banished immortal than you are."

Cough cough...

Ji Xuan gestured to Qi Yong not to go too far.

These elders are old and frail; we mustn't let them get too angry and ruin their health.

Qi Yong's words put Grand Secretary An on guard.

They also knew that they were proud and aloof, and that they often clashed with the regent emperor, so they were not as pleasing as the castrated dog.

The eunuchs running rampant in the palace are already a headache enough, but if this ethereal immortal, whose true nature is unknown, is also won over, it's simply...

Without any hesitation, he decisively advised, "Your Majesty, this old minister proposes that Grand Secretary Liu proclaim the imperial decree."

"Hmm?" Ji Xuan asked slowly, "Why?"

"His status is suitable, his temperament is mild, and his reputation is illustrious. He is qualified to do this job and to bestow the title of immortal on behalf of the emperor."