'...Therefore, the number of characters in the scriptures one must memorize to pass the civil service examination five times and become a Jinsa (進士) amounts to over four hundred and thirty thousand.
Not only must one be well-versed in countless commentaries, classics, history, poetry, and literature, but one must also be able to discuss national policies based on these classics.
Furthermore, since one must also be able to compose poetry and songs, it is fortunate to pass the examination and become a Jinsa in one's early twenties, and even if one is over thirty, it is by no means late.'
The Forbidden City (紫禁城) is the heart of the continent.
A magnificent fortress surrounded by high, thick walls and a deep moat on all sides, where golden double-roofed palaces and halls form a grand symmetrical structure.
The Forbidden City was a city within a city.
However, calling the Forbidden City the heart of the continent is not solely due to its majestic scale and beauty.
The Forbidden City is the center of power ruling the continent and the place where all the wealth and honor under heaven gather.
A forbidden city of splendid and noble purple [紫] hue, where power and wealth pulse with life, existing on this earth yet not of this earth.
That was the Forbidden City.
Contrary to the simple and imposing layout of the large palaces that form the central axis, once you step just a little inside, the Forbidden City soon turns into a gigantic maze.
Because of this, those setting foot here for the first time were almost bound to get lost without exception.
Perhaps it was because the beauty and splendor of the massive Forbidden City completely captivated the eyes of first-time visitors.
"This is big trouble. At this rate, I won't make it in time."
A young scholar in official robes muttered while wiping away sweat.
It wasn't even midsummer yet, but sweat was seeping a little from his forehead. It seemed this wasn't only because of his somewhat ill-fitting, large official robes.
The young scholar looked around, not hiding his anxious expression. But the splendid and vast Forbidden City was silent, as if no one lived there.
Even the Brocade Guard (Jinyiwei), who had been watching with glaring eyes earlier, were nowhere to be seen now.
"This is really..."
The young scholar wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead again.
'Was it unreasonable to try to find a place alone when I didn't even know the location well in the first place?'
But he couldn't say he couldn't find it.
He wanted to save face in front of the official who had looked at him dismissively.
Thinking, 'Surely I can find a single path properly,' he had nodded as if there were no problem, and that was the beginning of the trouble.
"I don't even know where I am at all. If I accidentally step into a restricted area like this, the trouble will be immense..."
The Forbidden City is the Emperor's residence.
In this place, where the entire fortress is literally a forbidden zone, moving recklessly might cost one their life.
However, if he was late like this, that would also be a big problem. He would be branded as insincere from the very first day.
"Haa..."
The young scholar let out a sigh once again with a dismayed expression.
But the splendid and beautiful buildings gave no answer, and there was no one to hear his sigh and offer a helping hand.
It was then.
Between the brilliant red pavilions, a small human shadow moving busily caught the scholar's eye.
He couldn't recognize it immediately because it was an unfamiliar sight, but it was clearly a human shadow.
Color returned to the young scholar's face instantly.
"Great."
It was just a passerby, but to the young scholar in trouble, nothing could be more welcome.
The young scholar swept his hand over his chest in relief as he watched the person approaching him. That figure moving unhesitatingly within the vast palace must surely be someone familiar with the geography here.
However, a moment later, a shadow fell over the scholar's bright face.
'Oh no, isn't that person a eunuch!'
Soft brown silk clothes edged with black at both ends, and that long upper garment coming down to the toes was clearly a eunuch's attire.
The number of eunuchs handling various tasks within the palace was as many as ten thousand, and over three thousand even at the fewest. So, it wasn't particularly strange that the person the young scholar encountered within the Forbidden City happened to be a eunuch.
However, to a scholar who prided himself on his noble spirit, a eunuch was definitely an uncomfortable subject. Certainly not someone to ask for help.
'But isn't it unavoidable? Since I am in trouble right now...'
But the young scholar had no choice. Moreover, if it was a eunuch familiar with the palace geography, he could be said to be the person most needed right now.
In the meantime, the eunuch wearing the brown eunuch attire passed by the young scholar with quick steps.
The scholar didn't know much about eunuch attire, but seeing that it wasn't red, he thought the rank didn't seem high.
"Ahem. L-look here."
The young scholar called out to the eunuch with an awkward voice.
The scholar somehow didn't like his own voice sounding like a novice, but fortunately, the eunuch stopped and looked back.
"Yeees. What is the matter?"
A strange voice that seemed neither male nor female.
The young scholar almost got goosebumps.
The face of the eunuch, seen head-on for the first time in his life, was an unfamiliar and strange sight.
There wasn't even a trace of a beard, and his smooth face, which seemed aged yet somehow young, was even peculiar.
Did the young scholar's thoughts show on his face? The eunuch's eyes took on a slightly strange gleam.
"Hmm, hmm."
The young scholar cleared his throat and slightly avoided his gaze.
"I apologize. Actually, I am looking for the Blue Dragon Hall (Changryong-jeon)..."
The young scholar trailed off. However, the eunuch could grasp the situation immediately with just those words.
'Aha, he's lost.'
He had sensed from the first glance that this was a greenhorn scholar who had just entered the palace. The awkward way he wore the official robes and the dismayed expression on his face had been noticed long ago.
He just didn't know why a young scholar was making such a troubled face in a place like this.
"If you say Blue Dragon Hall... Ah, you are someone going to the Crown Prince? Yeees."
At the eunuch's words, the young scholar brightened up at once.
"T-that's right. I am Un Hyeon, a Jinsa who placed first in the recent palace examination. I have come to serve the Crown Prince from now on, haha."
The young scholar's face, letting out an awkward hearty laugh unfitting his age, was full of unconcealable pride.
The eunuch bowed deeply to the young scholar who introduced himself as Un Hyeon.
"Ah, yes. So you are Jinsa Un. First place despite being so young, that is truly amazing. Yeees."
The eunuch chimed in with Un Hyeon's words in a drawling voice. However, Un Hyeon failed to notice the strange smile hovering on the eunuch's face.
The eunuch raised his head and spoke to him with a polite attitude.
"It is an honor to meet someone of such high learning. Since the Blue Dragon Hall isn't that far, please come this way. Yeees."
"Then I ask for your favor, haha."
Flattered by the eunuch's exaggerated reaction, the young scholar Un Hyeon answered with feigned dignity.
The eunuch turned his steps and began to lead the way with a quick pace.
"That gate is the Gate of Heavenly Purity (Geoncheong-mun) leading to the inner court of the Imperial Palace, and the high-soaring roof behind it is the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Geoncheong-gung) where His Majesty resides, and behind that is the Hall of Union (Gyotae-jeon) where the Empress is. Yeees."
Tap, tap, tap.
The eunuch spoke chatteringly while moving his steps quickly. Perhaps feeling leisurely, he even laughed while covering his mouth with his sleeve in the meantime.
"The roofs visible to the left of the Hall of Union are the Six Western Palaces, but since they are where His Majesty's concubines reside, it would be best not to go near them. Hohoho."
However, Un Hyeon, who was following behind, was in a state where even looking at the eunuch's heels was a struggle, let alone looking around at the buildings.
Even at this moment, the eunuch's small feet were moving busily and soundlessly over the walkway paved with colorful pebbles.
"Huff, huff. L-look here, a little slower..."
Despite Un Hyeon's words, the eunuch did not slow down at all.
Without looking back, the eunuch spoke in a clear voice.
"It is the Blue Dragon Hall where you are going soon, sir, so it would be better to move busily. Isn't it a situation where you are already late for the appointed time? Huhuhu."
At the eunuch's laughter, Un Hyeon felt slightly goosebumps rising.
It was like that from the first impression, but this eunuch's voice and laughter were absolutely not something one could listen to comfortably.
Furthermore, seeing him walk swaying his hips left and right like a woman, he hadn't known where to look for a while now.
"Ah, that huge staircase visible over there leads to the back of the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Bohwa-jeon). Just that single stone carved with a dragon is a megalith of immense weight. And..."
The eunuch started explaining chatteringly again, but nothing entered Un Hyeon's ears.
Now, regardless of being late or whatever, he only had thoughts of stopping his feet unconditionally and resting.
It was at that moment.
"Right over there is the Blue Dragon Hall you are looking for, Jinsa Un. Huhut."
Un Hyeon's eyes and ears snapped open. He quickly raised his head.
'Ah.'
As he lifted his eyes, the face of the eunuch smiling at him and the appearance of a huge pavilion visible beyond it came into view.
The characters on the signboard, carved gorgeously as if about to fly, were clearly Blue Dragon Hall.
The moment he confirmed the signboard, color returned to Un Hyeon's face again. The voice of the official telling him to go to the Blue Dragon Hall was vivid in his ears.
"Oh, so that is the very Blue Dragon Hall."
Strength returned to Un Hyeon's voice as well. As the destination he had wandered searching for so much revealed itself before his eyes, it seemed even his fatigue vanished completely.
Admiring it, Un Hyeon looked back at the eunuch standing next to him. A soft smile had risen on the eunuch's face.
"T-thank you. If it weren't for you..."
"Don't mention it, sir. Since you must be late, please hurry and go inside."
The eunuch said, bowing his head.
"R-right. Then, I'll take my leave..."
Un Hyeon hurriedly moved his steps, barely returning the eunuch's greeting.
Having escaped the trouble of wandering lost, the fact that he was late now approached as a more urgent matter.
Without even a moment to adjust his clothes, Un Hyeon hurriedly moved his steps toward the Blue Dragon Hall.
Looking at Un Hyeon's back, the eunuch clicked his tongue quietly.
"Heyo, if it were anyone else, I would have given them a hard time so they'd snap to their senses..."
The eunuch sighed slightly.
"How could I be mean to someone going to the Blue Dragon Hall? Placing first at a young age, it seems luck and skill followed quite a bit, but now it seems that luck has run out too. Tsk tsk."
The eunuch shook his head side to side and turned away.
"A world teeming with scholars who read a bit. Without connections, even a top scorer is bound to end up in such a plight."
Muttering like a complaint, the eunuch hastened his steps again.
The morning sunlight was landing softly on the fluttering brown eunuch attire.
Thud.
A thick book landed with a sound, spread open on the desk.
An official with a sharp impression at a glance sat upright in front of the desk, narrowing his eyes and scanning the contents of the book wordlessly.
And opposite him, a little distance away, stood Un Hyeon, the young scholar who had been wandering the palace until a moment ago, with an anxious expression.
Un Hyeon couldn't hide his uneasiness as he examined the complexion of the official sitting in front of him.
'Late from the first day, at this rate...'
Regret washed over him. But it was already too late.
The sight Un Hyeon saw upon hurriedly entering the Blue Dragon Hall was a single official sitting in front of a desk.
To the official who clearly looked like his superior at a glance, Un Hyeon greeted him as politely as possible.
However, the sharp-looking official merely looked at Un Hyeon once, and there was not even a single word, let alone a greeting.
That silence felt like a reprimand directed at him, so Un Hyeon couldn't bring up any words with his head bowed.
How long did he wait in such an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere?
"No family."
At the unexpected words, Un Hyeon raised his head in surprise.
Suddenly, it was certainly not a topic to ask on the first meeting.
But the official sitting in front of him was silently looking at the book.
That figure was literally unwavering, so Un Hyeon wasn't even sure if what he just heard was indeed that person's voice.
However, the only people here were himself and him; no one else could have spoken.
"Uh... Yes, that is correct. I have an uncle who owns a small merchant guild in Guangzhou, but..."
Un Hyeon's answer could not continue.
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