Chapter Seventeen: The Medicine Is Really Potent

The group continued heading north without any intention of turning east. Bai Yu couldn’t help but call out, “This isn’t the way to the General Headquarters!”

The leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a captain, turned back and said, “Who told you we were going to the General Headquarters? Just follow along quietly!”

Bai Yu was quite familiar with the paths around the West City, and soon they reached near the West Peace Gate.

Compared to the area near his home, this place looked vastly different—mansion after mansion with grand red gates.

Bai Yu knew a bit about the reason behind this.

Because the West Peace Gate provided convenient access to the Imperial City and the Western Gardens, many powerful eunuchs and high-ranking officials had purchased residences here.

They led Bai Yu into a noble’s estate, whose main gate was impressively wide, spanning five bays, though they entered through a smaller side gate.

Passing through two more courtyards, they arrived at a study room. Calling it a study was an understatement—it was larger than Bai Yu’s entire family home.

Two men sat in a side chamber of the study. The guest seat was occupied by none other than Shi Li Ji, whom Bai Yu hadn’t seen in two days. Having this familiar face gave Bai Yu a small measure of reassurance.

In the main seat sat a dignified man in his fifties, with a commanding presence and a majestic bearing.

What caught the eye most was his fierce dragon-embroidered robe, a symbol of extraordinary prestige.

Even a fool like Bai Yu could guess this elder was none other than Lu Bing, the great leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

What Bai Yu didn’t know was what had happened to cause Lu Bing to summon such a small fish like himself.

Otherwise, given Lu Bing’s status, he would surely keep a lofty demeanor and simply have Shi Li Ji convey any orders.

At this moment, Shi Li Ji, acting like a narrator assigned to explain things, said to Bai Yu:

“This morning, the Emperor decreed to promote Commander Ti from Grand Tutor and Chief Guardian of the Crown Prince to Grand Protector and Junior Tutor.

Since the founding of the Great Ming, no one has held the three highest titles simultaneously. This honor for Commander Ti is truly unparalleled!”

Bai Yu had already seen this information when he researched Lu Bing with AI, so it didn’t surprise him now.

Still, for appearances, he put on a look of shock and joy and offered warm congratulations.

Lu Bing’s excitement was still evident. After Bai Yu congratulated him, he spoke:

“Frankly, I must thank you for your assistance! After the three-thousand-character elegant poem you submitted, the Emperor was greatly impressed and issued a decree to reward me.”

In the Jiajing reign, presenting a fine literary work had such immediate effect!

However, Bai Yu hadn’t expected the assembled three-thousand-character poem to have such a potent effect.

Could it be that the AI’s somewhat soulless writing style perfectly matched the Jiajing Emperor’s mental wavelength?

While pondering this, Bai Yu humbly said, “I dare not claim any credit. Surely, Commander Ti has long won the Emperor’s favor; the poem was merely a pretext.”

Lu Bing glanced at Shi Li Ji, a bit surprised.

Shi Li Ji and Old Zhang from the Elephant Training Office often said Bai Yu’s mind was unusual—this wasn’t surprising at all.

“What are your plans going forward?” Lu Bing asked.

Usually, when a powerful figure asks a subordinate such a question, it means they intend to grant a favor and want to hear the person’s request.

Bai Yu replied, “I wish to use my pen to obtain success in the imperial examinations. Next month, I plan to take the county-level test...”

Lu Bing seemed not to hear Bai Yu and spoke on his own:

“A person like you is far too talented to remain in the Elephant Training Office. If you are not promoted and given important duties, it would be a failure on our part!”

Bai Yu was stunned; the situation felt off.

He had tried to bring up the exams to get Lu Bing’s help passing, but Lu Bing ignored it.

Lu Bing continued, “Your father is a strongman at the Elephant Training Office? He no longer needs to work—have you take his place.

Start as a junior officer, serving me. After two or three months of experience, you will be promoted to a banner officer.”

For any other son of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, this would be a huge favor.

But Bai Yu only wanted to ask one thing: Commander Ti, do you not want me to take the imperial exams?

Bai Yu looked at Shi Li Ji, hoping he’d say something, but Shi Li Ji only wore a helpless expression.

Lu Bing looked at Shi Li Ji and instructed, “You handle the paperwork. Let Bai Yu serve as an administrative junior officer, stationed at the Meridian Gate.”

Those unfamiliar with the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s internal affairs would find Lu Bing’s words hard to understand because of the specialized jargon.

The Guard’s personnel are generally divided into three tiers.

The first tier is the officers, holding titles like captain, commander, deputy commander, starting from rank six.

The second tier is the banner officers, considered grassroots leaders—those in charge of ten men are small banners; those in charge of fifty are chief banners.

Small and chief banner officers enjoy rank seven status, though this is not an official court rank.

The third tier comprises the base-level personnel, called junior officers and strongmen; junior officers have a higher status than strongmen.

Junior officers are akin to civil servants—administrators—while strongmen are laborers doing manual tasks.

Lu Bing’s decision to transfer Bai Yu’s family’s hereditary strongman status to junior officer was like promoting a laborer to a cadre.

Moreover, specifying that Bai Yu become an administrative junior officer was an even higher level of promotion.

There are large differences even within junior officers. When the Ming emperors gradually transformed the Embroidered Uniform Guard into a secret service, they selected some to become investigative junior officers.

The guard members commonly perceived as conducting investigations, arrests, and raids usually belonged to this category.

During the Jiajing reign, because the emperor secluded himself in the Western Gardens and was naturally suspicious, he established the administrative junior officers to monitor government agencies and officials.

Lu Bing’s instruction for Bai Yu to be stationed at the Meridian Gate meant his workplace was there, tasked with monitoring political developments and officials’ activities inside and outside the gate.

If there were incidents like court beatings, he might have to lend a hand.

Again, for any other Embroidered Uniform Guard member, moving from a strongman at the Elephant Training Office to an administrative junior officer guarding the Meridian Gate was a tremendous leap.

Bai Yu sighed. Although these were excellent benefits, they were not what he wanted.

Such a position would bind him tightly to Lu Bing, and at the Meridian Gate—a highly visible place where everyone could see him.

He still could not comprehend whether the three-thousand-character poem truly had such a powerful effect.

It had even made a seasoned veteran like Lu Bing act so aggressively—it was almost unbearable.

Bai Yu wanted to fight for his own path and said, “I have studied well and aspire to succeed in the imperial examinations...”

Lu Bing feigned ignorance and said, “I have not stopped you from registering or taking the exams. How well you do is another matter and unrelated to the Guard.

These arrangements I make are simply to promote talent within the Guard. We cannot let outsiders say the Embroidered Uniform Guard does not value talent!”

Shi Li Ji reminded him, “You should be grateful to Commander Ti!”

Bai Yu was speechless.

Was there truly no other choice? Was he not allowed to refuse this ‘promotion’?