Chapter 7: The Vice Chiliarch and the Ants

Lu Wenzhao lowered his head, pursed his lips, and said, "His Excellency is right; my brother here is indeed a man of integrity."

Wang Lu felt a slight chill in his heart. Just moments ago, Lu Wenzhao had feigned ignorance, so why did Guo Zhen’s words sound as if he were making excuses for him? Keeping his composure, Wang Lu exhaled, feigning a look of lingering fear. "I was just worried that you might misunderstand, sir. If you don't like it, I will have him removed immediately. I only hope you don't think I’m doing more than is necessary."

Whether Lu Wenzhao was the mastermind or Guo Zhen had discovered the truth himself, Wang Lu knew he could not afford to cross them. Simply put, his official rank was nowhere near enough to stand on equal footing with Lu Wenzhao or Guo Zhen. Nevertheless, a rough plan had already begun to form in his mind.

"Hahaha, 'more than is necessary'?" Guo Zhen chuckled at Wang Lu’s phrasing. "You can’t even use idioms correctly. That’s called worrying over nothing. Here in the capital, when we eunuchs leave the palace, we represent the Emperor himself. Who would dare lay a hand on us?"

*Heh,* Wang Lu thought, *if it weren't for me, you’d be dead by tomorrow, you know that?*

Wang Lu offered a faint smile, perfectly calibrated to appear polite and harmless. "Indeed, sir. I have never been well-read. Please forgive my ignorance."

"Yes, that’s enough," Guo Zhen said, tapping his wine cup. "Drink up. Let’s celebrate your promotion, Thousand-Household Wang."

Wang Lu raised an eyebrow. *Deputy Thousand-Household?* He feigned a slight tremor of excitement while remaining calm within. "Sir, are you implying..."

Guo Zhen lifted his chin. Wang Lu quickly raised his glass in a gesture of deep respect. Seeing this, Guo Zhen continued, "Your transfer order will arrive within three days at most. You are being promoted to Deputy Thousand-Household of the Imperial Guard, a rank of 5b. You performed well during the explosion last year, and your jurisdiction has remained largely free of trouble."

Guo Zhen patted Wang Lu on the shoulder, encouraging him. "Work hard for two years, and when the time comes, I’ll pull some strings to get you a full Thousand-Household position."

Though Wang Lu appeared increasingly reverent and thrilled, he was sneering inwardly.

Because his father had no connections, his climb had been grueling. Lu Wenzhao and Shen Lian, conversely, both had fathers who held sway within the Imperial Guard. That gave them a head start, and later, by aligning with Prince Xin’s faction, they soared to success. As for Shen Lian, he had played it safe for years, never seeking glory but avoiding mistakes, and now his promotion to Thousand-Household was a matter of course—a fact Shen Lian had already mentioned to him, and which Lu Wenzhao had confirmed in person.

Wang Lu had anticipated that having "no one in court" would make official life difficult, but he hadn't expected the severity of it. Yet, he could now count himself as having someone, with Guo Zhen being one such contact. Shen Lian’s promotion had nothing to do with Guo Zhen, nor likely with Lu Wenzhao, who didn't truly trust him—especially since their political philosophies were worlds apart. Shen Lian’s position was built on his seniority and the lingering influence of his father.

People say that when a man leaves, his tea goes cold, but that isn't always the case. Even if someone retires in glory or passes away, as the old saying goes: "A man is the sum of all his social relations." Although Shen Lian’s father was dead, his former friends and colleagues would still lend a hand at every turn. Of course, a man of Shen Lian’s character would never offer bribes; these people served not to open back doors, but to ensure no one made things difficult for him.

Wang Lu was in a similar position. His promotions were earned through merit, but Guo Zhen’s intervention was necessary because every official position in the court had a price. Especially now that Wei Zhongxian controlled the entire Imperial Guard—even the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Tian Ergeng, was Wei’s foster son.

Whatever Wei Zhongxian’s ability to defend the nation might be, his talent for accumulating wealth was immense, and he was as greedy as they come. Wang Lu remembered internet debates about whether Wei was truly a "bad" person, given that his hoarded wealth mostly went into the Emperor’s private treasury, but he couldn't be sure. What he *did* see was that everyone within the Imperial Guard who hoped for a promotion hated Wei Zhongxian to the core. A man who lived his life in such a way, regardless of his capability, was certainly no good person.

As Guo Zhen patted his shoulder and fed him empty promises, Wang Lu wasn't sure if this was genuine goodwill or merely a repayment for saving his life.

He allowed a look of authentic joy to wash over his face and immediately said, "I am deeply grateful for your grace, sir."

Before crossing over, Wang Lu had watched a variety show on acting techniques, and he was now putting those lessons to good use. He realized then that the greatest actors in the world were to be found in the imperial court. The two men before him were full of suspicion, yet they played the role of "brothers for life" flawlessly. Since they could act, Wang Lu would not be outdone.

Guo Zhen drained his cup and, seeing the expression on Wang Lu’s face, relaxed his demeanor. "The Emperor has been unwell lately. I had to speak many good words to Lord Tian, Wei Zhongxian’s foster son, regarding your matter. It yielded no results for a long time, but this month—perhaps through some stroke of luck—he finally agreed."

Wang Lu asked, "You have gone to great lengths for me, sir. The costs must have been substantial. Please tell me the amount; I will save up and pay you back."

Guo Zhen laughed as if he’d heard a grand joke. "With your measly salary? It wouldn't be enough in ten years. Do you intend to starve?"

Wang Lu bowed in embarrassment. "Your kindness, sir, is something I will never forget."

"I’ve heard that a hundred times, or at least fifty, but I’ve yet to see anyone truly repay me," Guo Zhen scoffed. "You saved my life, so I gave you a Thousand-Household position. The good days are still ahead. As for repayment, it’s better to just drink."

"Besides, you little fellow, what could you possibly repay me with? What do you even have?"

"I... I only have my brute strength," Wang Lu said, acting sheepish.

Guo Zhen threw his head back and laughed. "Good. Self-awareness is a fine trait. Brute strength, when applied in the right place, can be very effective. The key is knowing who you serve. They say one studies civil and military arts to sell them to the Emperor’s house. Now that the Emperor is ill, you should think carefully about who you serve just to earn your keep."

"Don't get ahead of yourself just because you’re about to be a Deputy Thousand-Household. In the eyes of the great lords, you are but a single hair on the hide of an ox. They could crush you like an ant. Do you understand?"