[Suggested song for this chapter – Once Upon a Dream by Emile Pandolfi]
Shi Lei and an entourage of junior eunuchs arrived at the doors to the Mei Mansion. Before he could climb the steps to request entry, the Mei servants had wrenched opened the huge wooden doors and Boyan quickly ushered the group through into the front courtyard, while another male servant rushed inside to alert the family.
"The Chief Eunuch has arrived!" shouted Boyan.
Servants ran hither and thither in alarm as they passed on the message of the royal eunuchs' arrival, making sure the whole family was alerted.
"The Chief Eunuch's here!" a servant poked his head into First's chamber.
"It's the new Chief Eunuch, Lord Mei," the Lord's personal manservant came rushing into his study without knocking. "He's already in the front courtyard."
"Madam, the Chief Eunuch is here," a breathless maid announced to Lady Yu.
