The tailor said, “It can be completed today.”
“Mm,” Rong Jin waved her hand, “Go and receive your reward.”
“Yes!”
After Tong Sui changed back into his clothes, he heard Rong Jin say, “Feng Yongchang, I have some matters to attend to at Qianqing Palace, so I leave everything here to you.”
Feng Yongchang repeatedly assured, “You can rest assured, I will ensure everything is arranged perfectly.”
Once Rong Jin left, Tong Sui asked, “Feng Gonggong, what should I do now?”
He did not feel that he came here merely to enjoy himself.
Rong Jin had found him such a good place to live and ordered him such fine clothes; he couldn’t accept without doing something in return.
Feng Yongchang replied, “Little Lord, you don’t need to do anything. Just go rest. I’ll take you to your new residence.”
The side room, though it was usually unoccupied, was so well-maintained that there was no sign of desolation.
Expensive paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls, and the shelves were filled with exquisite decorations. The room was heated with the best charcoal, making it warm the moment you stepped inside.
The bedding on the bed had also been newly changed.
This was far better than Tong Sui had imagined. He thought he would be given a servant’s room, but it turned out to be only a bit smaller than Rong Jin’s quarters.
Feng Yongchang said, “Please let me know if you find anything lacking. I will arrange for it immediately.”
Tong Sui shook his head, “Feng Gonggong, are you sure this is where you want me to stay? Honestly, you could just find me a random place; this is a bit too nice.”
“How can that be?” Feng Yongchang replied. “You can stay here with peace of mind. No one can defy the orders of the Supervisor.”
“Alright,” Tong Sui said, “Then can I go back to get some things?”
“Of course, please go ahead.”
Tong Sui cautiously stepped outside and found Feng Yongchang closely following behind him, which made him furrow his brows.
“Feng Gonggong, I can go by myself.”
“This won’t do. Just in case something like this morning happens again, I should accompany you for safety.”
Feng Yongchang was committed to this extent, following closely behind as they walked. Tong Sui couldn’t send her away, so he just let her be.
Thus, they walked out of the gate of the Bureau with several attendants trailing behind them.
At this time, the sky had completely brightened, and there were more people on the road. As they passed by Qianqing Gate, both guards and court ladies, even officials, were dumbfounded at the sight.
Feng Yongchang could be considered Rong Jin’s most capable assistant and the Chief Eunuch of the Bureau.
Her status was high, and she was usually quite ostentatious, attracting the attention of countless people; few dared to offend her in court.
Yet now, Feng Yongchang was walking respectfully behind an unknown young boy, adopting a posture of obedience.
A few officials heading to Qianqing Palace paused and whispered among themselves.
“Who is that person?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never seen him before.”
Regardless of who he was, anyone able to command Feng Yongchang’s attitude signaled that their status was extraordinary, undoubtedly a person of note.
Consequently, the officials stopped and cupped their hands in salute.
“Feng Gonggong, it’s been a long time. I hope you’re well.” One official looked at Tong Sui and asked, “I wonder, who is this?”
Tong Sui hesitated about whether to bow, especially given his current status; it would definitely require him to bow to these officials.
“It’s inconvenient for me to disclose, but if the two lords truly wish to know, you may go ask Supervisor Rong yourself,”
Feng Yongchang bowed, “Please, young master.”
The two officials, naturally picking up on the nuances in Feng Yongchang’s attitude, muttered to each other after they left, “This eunuch is really playing coy.”
“Feng Yongchang usually looks down on people; to see her behaving so obsequiously, it seems this person is indeed extraordinary.”
Once they walked a distance away, Tong Sui asked Feng Yongchang, “Feng Gonggong, do you think it was inappropriate for us to walk like that? I didn’t even have the chance to pay my respects.”
Feng Yongchang was amused by his words. “Little Lord, you must be joking. Those people would want to curry favor with you; they wouldn’t care about you bowing to them.”
Was this the benefit of holding onto a powerful patron?
Though Tong Sui felt a bit uncomfortable with this power dynamic, he did not think much of it and regarded it as a privilege of being subordinate to Rong Jin.
When Tong Sui returned to his small worn-out room, he realized he had almost nothing to pack—just a few rough garments and a jade pendant.
The jade pendant was left by the original owner’s biological mother and was the token that allowed him to enter the palace.
Tong Sui carefully observed the jade pendant in his hand.
The pendant was smooth and flawless, its entire body a shiny green, easily recognizable as a rare treasure.
Even in the hardest times, the original owner’s mother never considered selling it, indicating that this jade pendant was not only precious but also held special significance.
Tong Sui meticulously stored the jade pendant and, with a small bundle in hand, exited, “Feng Gonggong, let’s go.”
After returning to the side room and closing the door, Tong Sui placed the jade pendant under his pillow and lay down on the bed.
The bedding underneath was soft and comfortable, making him feel as though he were lying on a cloud, giving him a sense of surreal detachment from reality.
In those days he begrudgingly survived in that dilapidated room, even with the help of the system, he had still felt sore and stiff from poor sleep.
But now lying on this soft bed, with warm firewood burning below and a gentle calming incense wafting by, Tong Sui quickly fell asleep.
When he awoke, it was already dark outside.
Tong Sui felt he had let his guard down too much, falling asleep unawares.
He quickly got up and opened the door.
Outside stood two young eunuchs, and upon seeing him, they quickly bowed.
“How was your rest?”
Tong Sui nodded shyly; this was certainly the best sleep he had in a while.
“That’s great! Supervisor Rong instructed that once you wake up, you should go to the front hall to find her.”