Chapter Fifty-Two: A Visit to Gao Lishi!

The residence of the General of the Right Guard Gate is located within the Yongjia Ward on the west side of Chang'an City. It is separated by only a single wall from the Xingqing Palace, where the Emperor, Li Longji, resides year-round, making travel between them extremely convenient.

In the morning, Li Zhao, accompanied by Baimo and Bairishu, arrived at the mansion’s gate, intending to visit the man renowned as "the first virtuous eunuch of all time."

...

"Baimo, have you confirmed it? Is Eunuch Gao truly in the residence today?"

"Rest assured, Master. I have had people watching the place. Eunuch Gao returned from Xingqing Palace last night and has not stepped out since. However, those keeping watch say that over a dozen groups have come to visit this morning alone, including royalty and high-ranking officials. All of them were turned away at the door. I fear it will not be easy for you to get inside, Master."

"The situation is urgent and brooks no delay. I must see Eunuch Gao today. If I cannot enter through the front door, I will find a way to scale the wall."

As the Emperor’s most trusted confidant, Gao Lishi spends most of his time on duty within the palace. He returns to this mansion at most once or twice a month.

Being the Emperor’s close attendant and the Grand Superintendent, he is naturally the target of flattery from the powerful and influential. Everyone seeks to curry favor with him to divine the Emperor's intentions and secure their own lasting prosperity—even the Right Chancellor, Li Linfu, and the Left Chancellor, Li Shizhi, are no exception.

Consequently, whenever Gao Lishi returns home to rest, his gates are thronged with carriages and horses, and a constant stream of visitors arrives to fawn over him.

However, Gao Lishi is a cautious man. He knows his position is unique and that it is inappropriate to associate too closely with high-ranking court officials. Thus, he refuses most external guests, turning them all away at the door.

...

When Li Zhao and his two companions arrived at the gate, they were immediately stopped by two young eunuchs in green robes. "Halt! Who are you, and what is your business here?"

"I am Li Zhao, the Commander of the Bad-Actor Division. I have come specifically to seek an audience with Eunuch Gao. I ask that you two please convey my request."

As he spoke, Li Zhao produced two small gold ingots, each weighing ten taels, and secretly slipped them to the two young eunuchs. This was one of the rules of visitation, known as "buying the threshold."

To his surprise, the two eunuchs waved their hands repeatedly, firmly refusing the offering. What could this mean? Were they offended by the amount?

Twenty taels of gold was enough to buy twenty sturdy oxen in the Guanzhong region. If this wasn't enough to secure a message, then Gao Lishi’s threshold was truly high indeed.

"Young Master Zhao, please do not misunderstand. Our master gave orders long ago that if a young man named Li Zhao came to visit, he should be brought inside immediately. He forbade us from obstructing him and strictly prohibited us from accepting any 'threshold money,' under penalty of severe punishment."

"Oh? Did Eunuch Gao really say that?"

"It is the absolute truth. Our master is currently in the back hall sipping tea. Please follow me, Young Master Zhao. As for these other two, perhaps they could wait in the gatehouse?"

"Very well. Thank you!"

Li Zhao had never met Gao Lishi; why would the latter issue such an order? No matter, entering smoothly was a good thing. He would simply have to adapt to the situation as it unfolded.

With that, one young eunuch dashed off like a whirlwind to deliver the news. Li Zhao, filled with questions, followed the other toward the back hall, mentally reviewing Gao Lishi’s background along the way.

Gao Lishi, a native of Panzhou in Lingnan, was originally named Feng Yuanyi. He came from a prestigious lineage; he was the sixth-generation grandson of Lady Xian, the famous heroine of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. His father, Feng Junheng, served as the Prefect of Panzhou, and his mother, Lady Mai, was the great-granddaughter of the Sui Dynasty general Mai Tiezhang.

During the reign of Wu Zetian, the Feng family was framed by corrupt officials and fell into ruin. At the age of ten, Feng Yuanyi was castrated and sent into the imperial palace as a young eunuch, taking the name "Lishi." Later, he was adopted by the high-ranking eunuch Gao Yanfu and officially named Gao Lishi.

Eventually, after several twists of fate, he became the trusted confidant of Li Longji, who was then the Prince of Linzi, playing a crucial role in his struggle for the throne. In the subsequent distribution of rewards, Gao Lishi was appointed Grand Superintendent, Silver-Blue Grand Master of Glorious Happiness, and concurrently served as the General of the Right Guard Gate, overseeing the affairs of the Palace Internal Service.

In the palace, all memorials and petitions from across the empire had to be submitted to Gao Lishi first before being presented to the Emperor. Minor matters he decided on his own.

To the current Crown Prince, Li Hu, Gao Lishi was "Second Brother." All the princes and princesses called him "Grandfather," and the imperial sons-in-law addressed him as "Sire." For a eunuch to reach such heights—he was truly a man of exceptional standing.

...

Without further ado, let us return to the story.

Li Zhao entered the back hall and saw an elderly man in a blue robe, roughly in his fifties. He was tall, clean-shaven, and wore a kind, serene expression—a face wreathed in smiles.

*Hmm, he looks familiar? Where have I seen him before?*

*Ah!*

Li Zhao remembered. A few months ago at Qujiang Pool, he had played cockfighting with an elegant older gentleman and used a trick to win the man’s tiger-bone thumb ring. Feeling a bit guilty later, he had asked Cui Zongzhi to return the ring along with a Tai Chi manual... The person serving the older gentleman back then was precisely this man in the blue robe.

If this was Gao Lishi, then the elegant older gentleman must have been... *Gasp!*

Li Zhao was not a timid man, but he couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat. No wonder he had felt an instinctive urge to kneel back then. He had encountered a true dragon!

"Haha, Young Master Zhao. It has been several months. Do you still remember me?"

"Last time at Qujiang Pool, I was ignorant of your identity and committed many slights. I beg your forgiveness, Eunuch!"

"Those who do not know are not guilty. Besides, Young Master Zhao was very courteous to me; how could there be any talk of slights? Please, have a seat... Someone, bring tea!"

"Thank you, Eunuch!"

Li Zhao possessed an extraordinary will. He regained his composure quickly, bowed with folded hands, sat down to drink his tea, and remained as steady as Mount Tai.

Seeing this, Gao Lishi was quite astonished. He had assumed that upon learning the truth, Li Zhao would be frightened out of his wits, stammering and sweating, perhaps even collapsing to the floor—he had been prepared to be amused.

Instead, this was the outcome. What a courageous and quick-witted young man!

Furthermore, having not seen him for several months, Li Zhao had grown taller, and his facial features had become more mature. In his every gesture, he radiated a heroic spirit.

This temperament gave Gao Lishi a sense of familiarity. Where had he seen it?

*I remember now.* In the southeast corner of the Imperial City stood the Grand Ancestral Temple, which housed portraits of the past emperors of the Great Tang. One of them depicted Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, in his youth—red-lipped, white-toothed, with fine eyebrows and eyes, and a heroic air that bore a striking resemblance to the Li Zhao before him.

A member of the imperial clan, bearing such a resemblance to Emperor Taizong—he wondered if this would be a blessing or a curse. Gao Lishi’s heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

After a few moments of idle chatter, Li Zhao took a small wooden box from his robe and placed it before Gao Lishi. "I have prepared a small gift for today's visit. I hope you will accept it, Eunuch!"

"Young Master Zhao is too kind. However, as a close attendant to the Emperor, it is not appropriate for me to accept gifts from officials outside the court. I appreciate the sentiment, but I must decline the gift."

"Hehe, perhaps you might refuse other gifts, Eunuch, but this one is something I fear you must accept."

"Oh? What precious treasure could it be that I simply must accept?"

"Hehe, you will see once you look, Eunuch. It is not a precious treasure, yet it is worth a thousand times more than any jewel!"

Li Zhao had long since learned that Gao Lishi had a rule: he never accepted gifts from outside officials. Firstly, he did not want to provide anyone with leverage or be accused of "colluding with outside officials," which was a major taboo in the palace. Secondly, having lived in the palace for so long, Gao Lishi had seen every treasure imaginable; his standards were exceptionally high, and few things in the world could move him.

Yet, Li Zhao was certain that his gift was the exception.

On the other side, driven by curiosity, Gao Lishi opened the small wooden box. To his surprise, there were no precious gems or treasures inside—merely a neatly folded piece of paper.

As he opened it and read, Gao Lishi’s eyes lit up instantly. He quickly folded it back, tucked it into his robe, and patted it carefully, looking as though he were treasuring a priceless object.

...

Someone might ask: what was written on the paper that Gao Lishi valued so highly?

Nothing more than a recipe for a health-preserving porridge. Li Zhao had previously given a copy to the mother and wife of his good friend, Cui Zongzhi.

The difference was that the previous version was intended for women, while this one was suited for men. If consumed regularly, it had the effect of nourishing the blood, boosting vitality, and prolonging life.

Such a gift was one that no aging man could refuse.

Of course, Gao Lishi accepted this gift not just for himself, but for the current Emperor, Li Longji!

As an emperor, he was even more fearful of death and more desperate for longevity than any commoner. Since receiving the Tai Chi manual, Li Longji had practiced it diligently for several months with excellent results; his spirit and physical strength were far better than before. Now, with this porridge recipe, Li Longji would surely be even more pleased. And bringing joy to the master he had served for most of his life was Gao Lishi’s greatest pursuit.

"As the saying goes, when a gift is offered, there is a request behind it. Young Master Zhao has given me such a valuable gift; I assume there is something you wish to ask of me?"

"I dare not hide it from you, Eunuch. I do indeed have a request."

"Speak. As long as it is within my power, I will surely satisfy you."

"Thank you, Eunuch, but..."

Li Zhao thanked him hastily, but did not continue, glancing instead at the young eunuchs nearby.

Gao Lishi understood immediately and waved his hand gently. The surrounding eunuchs vanished at once. Only then did Li Zhao lean in and whisper into his ear for a long while.

"What you speak of, Young Master Zhao, concerns the great affairs of state. I am but a eunuch; I only know how to serve the Emperor well. I should not concern myself with such matters. I fear I cannot help you in this. You had best seek someone else more capable."

"Hehe, the Emperor possesses all under heaven. State affairs are family affairs. As the Emperor’s confidant, how can you not concern yourself with them? Besides, the 'coin shortage' is causing great harm, and the people of Chang'an are suffering immensely. I was forced by desperation to devise this plan. I beg you to grant me your assistance!"

"State affairs... family affairs... *Sigh!*"

After a long sigh and a moment of silence, Gao Lishi gave an almost imperceptible nod.

It was done!

With his goal achieved, Li Zhao said no more. He bowed with folded hands and rose to leave the back hall.

...

At the main gate, Baimo and Bairishu were waiting anxiously. Seeing Li Zhao emerge, they hurried over.

"Master, how did it go?"

"Everything went smoothly!"

"That’s wonderful! We knew that as long as you took action, Master, there would be nothing you couldn't accomplish. You are the smartest person in this world."

"Hehe, I am no genius. I merely played the role of a cormorant driving the fish; the fisherman is the one who truly reaps the reward!"

"Cormorant... fisherman... I don't understand?"

Baimo and Bairishu were both full of confusion. Li Zhao did not explain. He simply looked toward the distant Xingqing Palace, where the supreme ruler of the Great Tang Empire—Li Longji—resided.

He was a fisherman whose depths were truly unfathomable!