The palace was short-staffed, so men from the common people were chosen by lot to become eunuchs.
My adopted younger brother was unlucky enough to be picked, and my parents actually wanted me to take his place and undergo the operation.
"Your brother has already passed the provincial examination. He has a bright future and will bring honor to the family. You need to be sensible!"
Even my fiancee urged me:
"You go into the palace in his place, and he'll marry me for you. How about we give our son to you to raise?"
I refused, but they drugged me and sent me into the palace.
Then they struck my name from the family tree, unwilling to bring shame on the Pei family.
Five years later, Pei Huai'an really did pass the palace examination and become its top graduate.
My parents sent word to the palace, asking me to join them in celebrating the Pei family's big day.
They had no idea that in those five years, I had gone from being a lowly eunuch
into the ruthless, bloodthirsty head of the Eastern Depot.
Everyone at court called me:
"The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old!"
