lt;The misfortune of

Villagers in homespun short shirts carried farm produce past him, casting sideways glances his way, their eyes twinkling with amusement. He could still hear the fading chatter of their conversation.,Though it was clearly village gossip, they didn't seem to be avoiding him, the person involved.,The status of eunuchs was at a low point during the Ming Dynasty's historical trough. Military generals couldn't regain their footing after the Tumu Crisis, and Emperor Jiajing had been staying away from court for over a decade. Now, it was an era dominated by civil officials, providing the best opportunity for commoners to climb the ranks of government.。