[Bonus Chapter] Inner War

The third watch had just begun. Outside the emperor's bedchambers, Cao Mingbao stopped the approaching eunuch from knocking on the door. 

"Where does Wang Gonggong think he's going?" Cao Mingbao asked. His usual jovial smile was on his face but none of the other servants in his vicinity was fooled. There was no love lost between Head Eunuch Cao's faction and the inner palace departments. 

Eunuch Wang, a portly middle-aged man who had served in the Department of Respectful Affairs for over two decades, eyed Cao Mingbao beadily. His tone was sarcastic as he replied, "Cao Gonggong might be His Majesty's most loyal…servant but if Zajia (1)'s memory isn't failing, the duty to remind His Majesty that his bedchamber time is up belongs solely to my department (2)."