PQE Chapter 8

After a day of commotion, Changning Palace finally returned to its usual tranquility. The main hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood mixed with the fragrance of flowers from outside, creating a calming atmosphere. 

Everyone praised Empress Wu for her grace and dignity. After sending off the last batch of concubines, Empress Wu Yinya took a short rest, sitting at the head of the hall. One maid massaged her back while another handed her tea. However, it wasn’t long before Empress Wu threw the tea away, exclaiming, “It’s so hot! Are you trying to burn me to death!?”

The maid begged for forgiveness, and Nanny Liang entered the room, taking over the massage. Nanny Liang had been the Empress’s wet nurse and shared a special bond with her. “Everyone, leave.”

“Empress, you are with child. You mustn’t let a bunch of servants upset you. Who has angered you?”

Seeing her wet nurse, Wu Yinya finally took a breath but was still furious. “It’s that Vixen Concubine Qi! I thought I could rest easy with Consort Li in the Cold Palace, but that wretch took advantage of the situation. Even though I’m pregnant, she doesn’t respect me!”

“Your Majesty, please don’t let those women affect your health. The little prince in your belly is the most important thing right now!” Nanny Liang massaged Wu Yinya, soothing her anger.

“Does the Emperor want to repeat the fate of King Xiang of Qi?” Wu Yinya twisted the handkerchief in her hands.

King Xiang of Qi was an emperor who lost his kingdom for the sake of a favored concubine.

“Your Majesty!” Nanny Liang shouted, looking around to ensure no one was nearby before sighing in relief. “Your Majesty, those women combined don’t have your status. You are the mother of the nation. Why lower yourself to their level? Once you give birth to the little prince, who in the palace will dare overshadow you?”

“I understand your reasoning, but I can’t swallow this anger. Consort Li has been a thorn in my side for years, and now Concubine Qi is another nuisance!” Wu Yinya said angrily, smashing the teapot beside her.

“Your Majesty, calm down. The triennial selection is coming soon, and new people will enter the palace. Concubine Qi won’t be able to jump around for long.”

“Yes, the selection! A new batch of younger ones will come in!”

“I just received news that the Seventh Prince is not doing well,” Nanny Liang whispered.

“What! Is this true? Is that wretched ghost finally being taken by the heavens?”

“I heard he fell into the lake while boating with the Second Prince and has had a high fever since returning.”

“What about Yang’er? Is he alright?” The Second Prince, Shao Huayang, was the Empress’s lifeline. She had lost two pregnancies early on, and Shao Huayang was her only surviving son.

“He’s fine. Don’t worry. The Emperor has already punished the Second Prince to copy scriptures a hundred times to pray for the Seventh Prince.” Even Nanny Liang, an outsider, felt the Emperor’s favoritism was excessive.

“As long as Yang’er is fine.” Wu Yinya patted her chest and then smiled at Nanny Liang. “Tell me, if one or two people in the palace disappeared, who would notice?”

“Your Majesty, you mean…” Nanny Liang looked at the Empress in horror.

Finally, she could avenge her unborn child.

The Empress smiled gently, her tone soft. “You know, I have a deep sisterly bond with Consort Li. It’s my duty to take care of her child.”

Fu Chen watched as Chen Zuoren left after midnight. When he returned to the eunuch quarters, it was already past bedtime.

Unexpectedly, he found Mu Ruida waiting outside. Today, several young eunuchs had disappeared from the quarters, and the supervisors remained silent.

Fu Chen approached, “Master, I didn’t serve you today. Please punish me.”

“In a few days.” Mu Ruida’s stern gaze swept over Fu Chen, finding nothing unusual. “Today’s incident is my fault… Zuoren.”

Chen Zuoren’s name was given by Mu Ruida, but in just a few years, everything had changed.

Hearing this, Fu Chen thought of Chen Zuoren’s final plea, feeling as if his heart was being cut by a dull knife.

“Master, he’s already dead.” Dead, no amount of apologies would help.

It was rare for the usually unyielding Mu Ruida to apologize.

Logically, Fu Chen should have said something to ease the situation, but he didn’t.

Entering the dimly lit room, most people were already asleep, but a small voice called out, “Brother Chen…”

Fu Chen didn’t bother changing clothes. He glanced at Chen Zuoren’s bed and then lay down beside Ji Ke. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

“I can’t sleep… I’m so scared. When I close my eyes, all I see is Brother Ren…” Ji Ke trembled, groping for Fu Chen in the dark.

“Sleep quickly, or you’ll be scolded tomorrow.”

“Brother, your hand is so cold.” Ji Ke didn’t dare ask what happened to Chen Zuoren.

“Warm it for me. It’ll get warm.” Fu Chen chuckled.

The child was very obedient, unlike the unruly kids he often encountered in modern times. Ji Ke snuggled up to Fu Chen, as if this could ward off all fear. He held Fu Chen’s hand, cold as an ice cellar, in his arms, murmuring, “Not cold, we’re not cold.”

Fu Chen gently patted Ji Ke’s back, and Ji Ke gradually stopped trembling.

“Brother Chen, don’t be sad.” Fu Chen’s voice was the same as usual, but it made Ji Ke want to cry.

“I don’t have time to be sad. Sleep.” Fu Chen replied softly.

Like soothing his son in his past life, he patted Ji Ke’s back, humming a gentle lullaby.

After putting Ji Ke to sleep, he noticed several shadows rising and falling around him.

“You’re all awake?” Fu Chen exclaimed.

Someone lit a candle, and the faint light revealed solemn faces. Wang Fugui pointed at the sleeping Ji Ke and then at the door. A dozen young eunuchs of varying ages gathered in the corridor. This was the only place where no one usually passed by.

They sat together, but no one spoke first.

“I got some wine from Lao Bahu in the kitchen. Come on, brothers, none of us have had a drink before!” For eunuchs, who were looked down upon, calling each other brothers was a psychological comfort.

Fu Chen knew that even the worst wine wasn’t something servants could drink. Wang Fugui must have paid a price for it.

Wang Fugui smiled, pulling out a jar from somewhere, taking a big gulp.

He passed the jar around. At first, there was hesitation because it was against the rules, but soon everyone drank as if they had nothing to lose.

When it was Fu Chen’s turn, Wang Fugui tried to take it away, but Fu Chen grabbed it and drank.

After the round, they all sat silently under the full moon.

Someone suddenly started sobbing. It was Dongzi, the most tearful of the young eunuchs, and soon many eyes were glistening with tears.

“What are your wishes?” Fu Chen asked softly.

Sniffling, Dongzi wiped his tears. “To have a full meal.”

“I just want my younger brothers not to enter the palace…”

“We have enough to eat and wear here, but I still prefer home. Even though it’s poor, we’re happy!”

“Chenzi, what about you?”

Fu Chen smiled, looking at the moon in silence.

“I actually want to try the candied hawthorn Brother Ren mentioned…” someone said suddenly.

At the mention of that name, others choked up, holding back their cries to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Wang Fugui, crying, poured the wine on the ground.

“Renzi, goodbye! In the next life, we…will still be brothers!”

Someone suddenly hugged Fu Chen, and one by one, they all huddled together.

“Your courtyard has a heart, unlike mine, where colleagues sleep like pigs when someone dies.”

From a distance, Chief Eunuch Chen Lichuan spoke to Mu Ruida, watching the scene.

They were among the twelve chief eunuchs of the quarters. Mu Ruida was strict, while Chen Lichuan was more favored by the masters.

“What do you plan to do about today’s violation?” Chen Lichuan asked, seeing Mu Ruida ignoring him.

“With fewer people, the workload will double tomorrow.”

“I heard someone in your courtyard caught the eye of Consort De.”

“Nothing of the sort. Don’t speculate.”

“If they really get taken, congratulations in advance. Let’s see how Li Xiangying and his cronies show off then.” Chen Lichuan gritted his teeth.

After the incident with Chen Zuoren and others, the quarters were unusually quiet for a while, even during meals.

Originally, the twelve chief eunuchs were equal, but now Li Xiangying seemed to be the leader, with most young eunuchs fawning over him. It was said he was favored by Concubine Qi and would soon be promoted. But anyone who saw Li Xiangying would be shocked by his gloomy and silent demeanor, having lost a lot of weight in just a month.

Every night, he heard a piercing cry, as if someone was whispering in his ear, “Master, I’m so wronged…”

But when he got up and looked around, he saw nothing.

Day after day, Li Xiangying was terrified, becoming paranoid.

He suspected Fu Chen and the others, but they always seemed clueless and respectful.

In these times, people believed in ghosts and spirits, especially vengeful ones.

Fu Chen would occasionally receive food boxes from the palace maid, Mo Hua, who never said a word. She came and went quietly.

He even once said that if there were any orders, he would serve Consort De with his life.

When asked, Mo Hua just smiled, insisting it was just a favor because she found him pleasing.

Was a little eunuch like him worth such effort?

Finally, one day, after Fu Chen finished his duties, Mo Hua told him, “Consort De wants to see you.”