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She couldn’t help but count on her fingers.

Xiao Jizi was filled with emotion, but as he was deeply moved, he heard the conversation behind him, and his choked throat relaxed in an instant, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. He quickly exclaimed in shock, "Master!"

"Ah? What’s wrong?" Lian Hua was counting and looked at him without understanding, particularly proud of the eunuch rank she boasted.

Seeing Lian Hua’s obliviousness, Xiao Jizi chuckled dryly, "Nothing, servant, your servant is just feeling a bit chilly."

His back felt a little cold.

The chief eunuch was available for use by the concubines above the concubine rank and below the Empress, and each palace concubine could be assigned one chief eunuch when they reached their rank.

And the added rank was even more particular, like the Managing eunuch’s rank, which even the Noble Consort’s palace currently lacked.

It was unaffordable without the grace of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, or His Majesty.

Since there was no official Empress in the palace and His Majesty had not spoken, the Noble Consort did not have one.

The master probably only knew one part and not the other, unaware of the subtleties and utterly uninhibited.

He had confidence in his master that she would not limit herself to merely a beauty’s rank someday, but such thoughts should never be overheard by outsiders. If manipulated by the cunning, they could no longer be untangled!

Lian Hua became anxious, "Oh no, is it because you’re underdressed and cold? Then quickly put this on, Xiao Qing, help him dress."

Xiao Qing, no longer moved, hurriedly put the tray on the table, took off the hat, and shook out the clothes.

Xiao Jizi, seeing the Managing eunuch uniform, felt his heart heat up again, pounding rapidly, his legs soft and floaty, as if stepping on clouds, feeling as if he was dreaming.

When Xiao Qing held it up to him, and he touched the clothes, he pinched himself hard, cried out in pain, and then realized he was not dreaming.

He took it and tried to put it on, stretching his arms several times but failing to get them through the sleeves until Xiao Qing helped him. Yet he was so nervous he couldn’t fasten the buttons. After several failed attempts, Lian Hua and Xiao Qing burst into laughter, teasing him endlessly.

This teasing was incredibly real, just like their usual playful banter, which reassured Xiao Jizi deep down.

Once dressed and his belt fastened, he looked rejuvenated, as if he’d come back to life.

Xiao Qing and Lian Hua circled him, examining him from head to toe, ceaselessly praising him.

Xiao Jizi, carrying excitement and agitation, held his head high, allowing Lian Hua and Xiao Qing to scrutinize him, looking very proud.

"Look at this, not a bit too much or too little, just right. Xiao Qing, you wait, you will have one too eventually."

"Ah? Thank you, Master." Xiao Qing didn’t expect to have a part too; she and Xiao Linzi had received the master’s reward silver already.

"Goodness, clothes make the man, Xiao Jizi looks the part now."

"Yes, Master, your servant thinks Xiao Jizi looks better now than before."

"That’s right, he’s much more presentable."

As Xiao Jizi was basking in the praises, he bristled at that comment, "Hey hey hey, Master, how can you speak of your servant like that!"

Lian Hua laughed heartily, "Xiao Jizi, you look much more normal now. Xiao Qing, bring the silver for Xiao Jizi and also bring the roasted chicken over."

Xiao Jizi’s eyes lit up the moment he heard the words "roast chicken" but then it suddenly dawned on him, "Master, were you guys teasing me on purpose just now?"

He understood everything now. No wonder the courtyard was so clean, and the people he met on the road back had such weird expressions. At that time, he was so focused on hurrying back that he didn’t think much about it. Now that he thought about it, his master was just playing a joke on him!

Lian Hua laughed arrogantly with her hands on her hips, proudly admitting, "Of course, you were always itching for some trouble in the past, so today when we finally caught the chance, we definitely had to tease you a bit."

"Master, you... you really had me going around in circles," Xiao Jizi realized all these points and started laughing along, shaking his head helplessly as he laughed. His master really loved to play and make a fuss.

The Side Hall burst with laughter and talking.

Lian Hua allowed Xiao Jizi to eat roast chicken in the Side Hall.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jizi did not refuse. He first performed a respectful bow to show his gratitude, then slowly and methodically rolled up his sleeves, neatly each time, causing Lian Hua and Xiao Qing to look puzzled and wonder if he had gone mad or was sick.

Xiao Jizi smiled subtly, appearing quite profound, telling them not to rush and just wait and see.

Having carefully rolled up his sleeves, he moved his stool a bit further from the table, adjusted his posture, and sat down with only a third of his bottom touching the stool, his entire body poised as if squatting in a horse stance, and then held the roast chicken far away with both hands.

He then looked down to the left and right to make sure everything was correct, before taking a big bite, eating the chicken hurriedly, gobbling it down, truly beast-like, revealing his true nature, which looked rather comical.

Watching him, Lian Hua was stunned; this itchy-skinned young eunuch, oh no, the managing eunuch now, who was adopting such a serious posture, was actually afraid that dripping oil might stain his new clothes.

It was hilarious!

She couldn’t help but lean on her waist, close her eyes, and purse her lips, trying hard to suppress her laughter, occasionally letting out a giggle, almost tearing up, since Charcoal Head had told her she shouldn’t laugh too hard due to her pregnancy.

Suppressing her laughter was really uncomfortable; as soon as she looked at Xiao Jizi, she couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Finally, she managed to suppress her biggest laugh, feeling exhausted all over. She then remembered about the silver and told Xiao Jizi she had given him ten taels. She told him Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi hadn’t been promoted, so she gave each of them twenty taels, telling him not to mind.

At that moment, Xiao Jizi, cheeks greasy from eating, said while eating, "Master, even if you hadn’t given the silver, it wouldn’t matter since I got promoted."

Lian Hua, supporting her head, couldn’t help but tease him with a chuckle, "Then I won’t give it."

Xiao Jizi suddenly choked on a mouthful of meat; he had just been politely modest, not expecting his master to seriously say she wouldn’t give it.

Remembering his master’s unpredictable character, it was indeed possible she wouldn’t give it. In his panic, he desperately swallowed the meat, and it finally went down. He was about to complain when he saw Lian Hua’s cunning look and realized he’d been teased again.

He exclaimed, "Oh, master, you’re teasing me again!"

"Humph, that serves you right for pretending to be generous." When she pretended generosity with His Majesty, she would never say no, but merely acted coy. Xiao Jizi was just too naive.

He adopted a pitiful look and pleaded, "Master, for the sake of me being hungry half the day, please forgive me. I realize my mistake; I want the silver, I do!"

Lian Hua found it entertaining and smilingly told Xiao Qing to give it to him.

He found a handkerchief to wipe his hands and carefully stored the silver inside his new clothes, reflecting, "Master, you could have hinted at my promotion so I could prepare. It took me by surprise; I thought I was dreaming. The spot I pinched myself has turned all purple."

"Oh, but I did tell you," Lian Hua scratched her head, she remembered she had told him.