Chapter 3

A group of young eunuchs crowded into the training ground.

Each one was graceful and alluring, their figures and postures so exquisite that they seemed to be showing off to the heavens.

Yang Fan tried to ignore this and soon witnessed a scene that left him speechless.

It was a group of neatly arranged young eunuchs, clearly just as new to the palace as those beside him, their faces still full of youthful innocence.

At that moment, they were shouting slogans loudly, their high-pitched, youthful voices echoing like waves.

"Born to the royal family, die as a ghost of the royal family!"

"I am a brick of the royal family, ready to be moved wherever needed!"

"..."

These slogans left Yang Fan completely baffled.

He almost thought it was an illusion!

Could it be that some senior had come back in time?

Why did these slogans sound so familiar?

With a blank expression, he stood with the young eunuchs until he was handed a small booklet, filled with ancient complex characters.

Fortunately, as a liberal arts student, especially skilled in calligraphy, he could easily recognize the characters.

Flipping through the booklet, it was densely packed with palace rules, mostly aimed at them, these newly arrived young eunuchs, with loyalty and secrecy being the first commandments.

It made sense.

These young eunuchs, who frequently entered and exited the palace, would inevitably witness many private matters of the nobles.

If they couldn't keep their mouths shut, disaster would surely follow.

So, these rules, which seemed to constrain their behavior, were actually a form of indirect protection.

Additionally, the booklet included some common palace etiquette, and the etiquette varied depending on the rank of the noble they were addressing.

Under the command of the armored guards, the young eunuchs lined up neatly.

Eunuch Li walked up to them.

His cold gaze swept over everyone present, making many of the young eunuchs feel uneasy. Only then did he speak in a delicate voice.

"Let me make it clear to you, the palace is a place of rules. If you don't understand the rules and don't know your place, you will die, and no one will pity you."

"So, study the rules in this booklet; it won't do you any harm."

"Moreover, being assigned to me is a stroke of good luck. I happen to need some more hands. If anyone can memorize everything in the booklet within an hour, I might select a few of you to bring to the Changqing Palace."

"Understood?"

Indeed, the carrot and the stick always worked. Hearing Eunuch Li's words, many of the young eunuchs' eyes lit up.

"Yes, Eunuch Li."

They were currently in the eunuch quarters, living in large dormitories, eating coarse rice and vegetables. But if they were selected for the Changqing Palace, their status would be different.

At least they would live in the Changqing Palace, with better food and clothing!

Even Yang Fan was somewhat tempted.

But thinking of Consort Chen, his heart tightened.

Xiao Chunzi's death was like a thorn in his heart. He knew deep down that Consort Chen was not an easy person to get along with.

However, despite this, Yang Fan did not intend to miss this opportunity to leave the eunuch quarters.

Opportunities were rare, and getting out might allow him to climb the ranks faster.

So, in less than half an hour, he had memorized the dozens of major rules and the thousands of sub-rules in the booklet.

From that moment on, Yang Fan had fully acquired the basic qualities of a eunuch.

At least in theory.

He just needed practical experience.

"There are a few good ones."

In front of the platform, Eunuch Li's ears twitched, his gaze sweeping over the group of young eunuchs, pausing briefly on Yang Fan.

After all, being able to memorize thousands of words in such a short time indicated an extraordinary memory.

If his physical condition was good, he might be useful.

Seeing this, a tall, armored guard beside him couldn't help but laugh. "Eunuch Li, they are just a bunch of scoundrels, how could there be any good ones?"

Eunuch Li replied coolly, "You never know."

The armored guard was unconvinced, clearly not taking Eunuch Li's words seriously.

"You, you, you..."

After a while, it was already late. Eunuch Li walked into the crowd and pointed at random. "Follow me, the rest return to the eunuch quarters and wait for orders."

"Me?"

Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare to hesitate. He exchanged a glance with the other selected young eunuchs and quickly followed.

The remaining disappointed young eunuchs watched their backs with complex expressions.

In a sense, from that moment on, their fates were different.

In a small courtyard next to a side hall in the Changqing Palace.

Yang Fan didn't expect to return to this place so soon. Although he didn't know Eunuch Li's criteria for selection, he thought it might be related to memory, considering the booklet.

The other three young eunuchs, like Yang Fan, stood nervously in front of Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li sat down, his fingers in a delicate pose, and with a blank expression, he scrutinized the four young eunuchs he had selected from hundreds of new arrivals.

They all looked decent, at least not unpleasant to look at.

Since they were all young, around fifteen or sixteen years old, and had been castrated, they had fair skin and a gentle demeanor.

"Come up here."

He casually pointed to one of the young eunuchs.

"Yes."

The young eunuch walked up nervously.

"Come closer."

Eunuch Li said, and to Yang Fan's surprise, he shook his sleeve and extended a pair of withered hands to feel the young eunuch's body, from head to toe, not missing a spot.

Yang Fan felt uneasy at the sight.

They say old eunuchs have psychological issues; did he just encounter one?

The young eunuch being felt also looked uncomfortable, but he endured the disgust, bowing his head and suffering in silence. After a while, Eunuch Li said, "Average to below average, not good enough."

"Next."

"Next."

It was soon Yang Fan's turn.

Yang Fan steeled himself and stepped forward, enduring Eunuch Li's bone examination. Fortunately, the other party was really just feeling his bones, and the dry, withered hands pinched Yang Fan's bones, causing him pain.

After a moment, Yang Fan noticed a flash of disappointment on Eunuch Li's face.

"Average to below average."

"Alright, I understand your qualities. From now on, you will stay in the Changqing Palace and serve. Understood?"

"Yes, Eunuch Li!"

The four young eunuchs responded in unison.

Seeing their compliance, Eunuch Li was somewhat satisfied. Their physical conditions were not great, but they were new eunuchs, and it was reassuring to use them.

Thinking this, he no longer hesitated, pulling out several booklets from his sleeve and handing them to each of the four. "Memorize everything, practice according to the requirements, and remember, do not spread it outside."

"Otherwise, watch out for your lives!"

Eunuch Li's tone turned severe!

Yang Fan and the others did not dare to hesitate, quickly responding. In the palace, the hierarchical relationship between eunuchs was very strict.

Once they followed Eunuch Li, they were essentially marked by him.

Especially for young eunuchs like them, there was no chance of changing allegiances.

"Practice well, I will personally check your progress this afternoon."

Seeing Eunuch Li leave, the four of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the booklets in their hands, they discovered it was a basic cultivation technique.

"The Bull Body Building Technique."

It detailed the major acupoints and meridians of the body, as well as the three major postures for foundation building, with dense text and illustrations. Without a good memory, it would be impossible to memorize.

It was really a martial arts manual!

Yang Fan couldn't help but think of the scene where Eunuch Li killed Xiao Chunzi with one hand.

His heart instantly burned with excitement.

Martial arts!

He never expected to come to the Ming Dynasty and so quickly encounter such power!