The shouting and violence gradually stopped. In this environment that was bad, the embrace of the two seemed to reveal a warm atmosphere.

When Fu Chen took the person out of the wood room, he said gently: “Turn around, don’t look.”

Shao Huachi tilted his head and pestered Fu Chen. Fu Chen repeated it with extra patience.

Making sure that Shao Huachi would not see this violent side, Fu Chen’s gentle expression was removed and he walked into the wood room.

The palace basically did not burn firewood because of fear of fire. Except for the dining room and some small kitchens in the main hall, there are hardly any chimneys. Therefore, Chonghua Palace, which has a small kitchen, was once prosperous. However, the small kitchen is now temporarily unused, and the firewood room is naturally abandoned. It has not been repaired for many years and has become dilapidated.

When Fu Chen came to the firewood room, his sharp eyes were like a cheetah, emitting a cold light in the dark night. 

He took a deep breath, raised one leg, and kicked the dilapidated wooden door fiercely.

Snap!

The wooden door made a mournful sound. Fu Chen kicked quickly and fiercely, and kicked it several times. The door fell down under the heavy load. It looked like Shao Huachi kicked it himself.

He couldn’t pretend that nothing happened like last time and stuffed Shao Huachi back into such a place for a day and a night.

The loud noise made Shao Huachi, who was originally dazed, squat down with his head in his hands. He was a little afraid of Fu Chen. Such a gentle person actually had such a fierce side.

Fu Chen ignored Shao Huachi’s fear and took him directly into the main hall. Shao Huachi was even more timid than last time. He sat there with his back hunched. He didn’t even dare to sit firmly on the chair. He only dared to touch his butt slightly, as if he could fall down at any time.

Fu Chen touched the messy top of his head, held him in his arms and combed his hair. Only then did Shao Huachi gradually get rid of the shadow of Fu Chen and became close to him again. Fu Chen filled a basin with clean water. Shao Huachi’s hair seemed to be all tangled after just one day of not seeing him. He dipped some water and used a handkerchief to clean the dust and debris on it. He lit another candle and observed his face carefully. Before Fu Chen could get close, Shao Huachi seemed to feel particularly embarrassed. He actually turned his head and pushed randomly, and kept leaning back to avoid Fu Chen’s sight. “Woo woo woo… Ao”

Fu Chen chuckled and looked at the half-ghost face. “Do you think you are a wolf? What are you ao-ing for?”

Shao Huachi was still hiding and didn’t dare to look at Fu Chen.

“It seems that he is not completely stupid yet. Don’t cover it. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Fu Chen forcibly pulled open Shao Huachi’s hand that was covering it and checked the wound.

When facing a fool, he felt that life in this palace was not so uncomfortable. At least he could be a normal person and could refer to himself as “I”.

Before coming here this time, he asked Wang Fugui to pick up some medicine for the wound and bring it with him wrapped in oil paper. Fortunately, it was useful. The tumor on Shao Huachi’s face broke, and the pus and blood inside had drained away. The wound was bumpy, some of which were scabby and some of which were more ulcerated.

“Does it hurt every night?” He asked softly while cleaning. Shao Huachi didn’t understand, but he was very quiet, probably because he remembered that this was the person who had helped him before.

Fu Chen sprinkled some medicine powder and applied ointment. He was very gentle throughout the process for fear of hurting Shao Huachi.

Before Fu Chen was ready to leave, he once again removed all traces of his presence and broke off some pastries to feed him. In early summer, many foods tend to go bad easily, so he specifically asked Lao Bahu for some that would not spoil easily.

Shao Huachi ate greedily, and it seemed that he was very hungry. The amount of pastries he brought this time was several times more than before. When Fu Chen came, his chest was bulging, but fortunately no one would notice how inappropriately a young eunuch was dressed.

He put the rest in an inconspicuous drawer and took Shao Huachi to identify the place several times.

“I can’t come here every day. If you meet them in the future, you can hide if you can. If you are hungry, eat the pastries I put here.” He made another eating gesture and saw Shao Huachi nod stupidly. Fu Chen couldn’t help but pinch the other half of the jade-like face. Even Fu Chen, who didn’t care about his appearance, thought it was very beautiful, and he inherited the beautiful face of Concubine Li. 

He doesn’t know if Shao Huachi listened to him. He took him to the bed, covered him with a thin quilt, and told him a bedtime story like he did to his son in his previous life. Fu Chen’s eyes stayed on Shao Huachi’s innocent face. He had also watched another person fall asleep like this at the bedside, his eyes became more and more distant, as if he was in another world…

He had been telling bedtime stories for six years. He had to go to bed early every day, and he could search for all kinds of fairy tales all over the world until midnight. He only knew Western cuisine, but he could come back from work and concentrate on studying Chinese meals. He was a model worker, and he could be late and leave early every day to pick up his son from school.

Fu Chen will always remember the feeling of the sky falling when he received the news that his son had a car accident. It was the second winter after his wife passed away. Snow piled up on the roadside. The days when the snow melted were particularly cold, and it was a damp cold that pierced into the bone marrow. The cold and pale light of the morgue shone on his son’s bloody body. He didn’t remember how he walked over and sewed the broken limbs together stitch by stitch, nor did he remember how to pack up his son’s belongings. His memory always stayed on the wooden box with his son’s ashes, the blue-gray sky, and the cold and hard tombstone.

When he was young, his relatives always said that he was doomed to be unlucky, and he had fought, refused to accept, and rebelled.

Until the last few years of his previous life, he always wondered why he was not the one to die.

“No… don’t cry.” The intermittent voice was like babbling, and the temperature that did not belong to him touched his face.

Fu Chen suddenly woke up, touched his face, and there was nothing. He looked at Shao Huachi who was speaking. This was probably the first time that the Seventh Prince spoke after he became stupid.

His heart was warm, and he smiled slightly, “I didn’t cry. Crying requires tears.”

Shao Huachi touched Fu Chen’s face randomly, and there was really no moisture at all. Looking at Fu Chen’s eyes again, there was no longer that mournful emotion, and he looked at Fu Chen strangely.

Fu Chen coaxed Shao Huachi like he was his son. In his eyes, this prince whose IQ had regressed to that of a toddler was no different from a child. He gently placed one hand on the other’s quilt and said, “Go to sleep. Do you still want to listen to the song we sang last time?”

It was completely dark outside. The warm yellow candlelight shone quietly on Fu Chen’s face. Fu Chen hummed a song. His speech was gentle and slow, and a warm atmosphere flowed in this empty palace.

When he left, he thought Shao Huachi had fallen asleep, but he suddenly woke up and grabbed the corner of Fu Chen’s clothes.

Fu Chen was stunned. Looking at Shao Huachi, who was not sleepy at all, he understood what he meant, “Don’t you want me to leave?”

Shao Huachi moved over, and the half of his face that was not disfigured rubbed against Fu Chen’s clothes. He was very reluctant, like a little puppy.

He seemed to remember what happened after Fu Chen left last time, and he didn’t dare to sleep today.

Perhaps sensing Shao Huachi’s mood, Fu Chen touched his hair, “Then I…”

Suddenly, there was a sound of unlocking outside the courtyard gate. Oh no!

Shao Huachi also heard it, and he shouted “Ah, ah, hide!”, as if telling Fu Chen to hide quickly.

Fu Chen quickly slipped under the bed, the only place in the room where people could hide, and watched two pairs of feet appear in front and behind in his sight.

Then there was the sound of Shao Huachi struggling, and the eunuchs’ curses. Fu Chen could tell from the sound that it was the horse-faced eunuch and the thin eunuch from before. They seemed to have stuffed something into Shao Huachi’s mouth, and Fu Chen could only hear a humming sound, and then he could only see them dragging people away.

From their few words, it can be analyzed that they seemed to be going to the queen’s Changning Palace.

It can be seen from the fact that the queen allocated Chonghua Palace to Shao Huachi that no matter how the queen tossed around in private, it was impossible for her to treat the seventh prince harshly in public.

Fu Chen looked at the empty palace and walked out slowly.

Maybe it’s just like what Shao Huachi once said by Ye Ting Lake, “I thought you would pretend you didn’t see it.”

Fu Chen looked at the palace gate and said to himself, “I can only pretend I didn’t see it.”

In the end, Fu Chen didn’t confirm the shoe he found by the lake to Shao Huachi, perhaps just because he hoped it was just a coincidence.

Fu Chen came to the corridor on the west side of Chuxiu Palace. It would be lively here in a few days when the contesting girls came, but now it was still empty. It was close to the Longyu West Twelve Houses where the palace maids lived. The West Twelve Houses was where the palace maids who were not assigned lived together, and Longyu was the name of this area when the capital was first built. The Jin Dynasty used the east and west to divide the boundaries. Taking the imperial palace as an example, the Yangxin Hall and Changning Palace were the central axis. The west was divided into twelve areas, including the six prisons of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Jingshifang, the aunt’s residence, the dining room, and the prison fence courtyard. The east was also divided into twelve areas, including the courtyards of the harem, the imperial garden, the prince’s residence, and the prince’s eastern palace.

When Fu Chen arrived, Aunt Mei was already waiting there. Mei Jue saw Fu Chen and approached with light steps. Among the palace maids, these aunts were the most standard in manners. They were light, soft, and clever. Their every move was extremely pleasing to the eye. They smiled without showing their teeth, and their voices were always soft and gentle.

Mei Jue looked around and said softly, “I thought you wouldn’t come. We’ve been a bit busy these days.”

“I’m sorry, aunt. I went to the dining room on the way and was delayed.” Fu Chen naturally knew that about the election that Aunt Mei was talking about, these palace maids would be assigned to the young masters of each palace, including their Jianlan Courtyard, which would also have to send some people to serve the new masters. Aunt Mei was stepping up the training of the young palace maids.

Mei Jue also knew that Lao Ba Hu in the dining room liked to chat with Fu Chen in private, so she was not surprised to hear that, “Glad that you are here. I heard that Master Li is getting more and more upset, and he even used his connections to leave his own yard and is looking for people to vent his anger on. You’d better be careful, he doesn’t like anyone now, like a mad dog. Do you still remember Ye Xin? You took his place to serve Murui Da, and Ye Xin was beaten with a sieve several times today. His face was so swollen that you can’t even recognize his shape. I was afraid that the night would be long and dreams would arise, so I asked someone to take some away overnight. Do you think it’s enough?”

Slapping is to hit the face with bare hands, while slapping with a sieve is to hit the face with a special glove. After the beating, it can’t be seen on the surface, but blood will come out from the inside. It is a more cruel way of punishing people.

Mei Jue opened a paper package, which contained a few freshly picked Aconitum that Fu Chen had asked her to do outside the prison yard. She only opened it for a moment, then closed it immediately and stuffed it into Fu Chen’s hand.

Fu Chen nodded. The two of them had agreed to meet privately, so they shouldn’t stay too long.

Fu Chen stuffed the paper bag into his chest and was about to leave when he was stopped by Aunt Mei. It turned out that after the Longyu West Twelve Houses finished their work today, everyone helped Xiao Yang make candy. Although being a vegetable householder was just a title, there were too few things for servants to celebrate. It was rare for something to happen, so the young palace maids went to the dining room early in the morning to ask for some leftovers, maltose, and sesame seeds, and made candy for their acquaintances so that everyone could celebrate.

When Fu Chen entered the Longyu West Twelve Houses, a young palace maid walked by and talked and laughed. When she saw Fu Chen, she greeted him. Everyone had seen him before and knew his face. Aunt Mei walked in, and soon there was a burst of laughter. Xiao Yang blushed as she took out a dozen bags of sesame candies wrapped in paper and handed them to Fu Chen. “Fu Chen, please share them with everyone in the prison. Thank you… Thank you for taking care of Fugui on weekdays.”

The little girl blushed as she handed Fu Chen an embroidered purse with elegant orchids embroidered on it. The needlework was very exquisite and took a lot of thought. “This is for you. Thank you for always helping Fugui.”

In fact, in ancient times, women gave purses to the opposite sex not only to express their love. The first type was used to hold things, such as mirrors, tobacco leaves, etc. The second type was given as gifts to relatives, friends and children on festivals, also known as sachets. The third type was used to seal a relationship and was a token of love.

Xiao Yang gave it to him, of course, just to express gratitude. Wang Fugui’s job was to supervise the castration of new eunuchs. He was born a businessman and was an old man in the palace, so he could change his job, but he never changed it. He had no choice but to enter the palace. In his words, he wanted to give some comfort to those new eunuchs after the castration, at least to make them feel comfortable in their hearts, take more care of them on weekdays, and sometimes when there were too many jobs and he couldn’t supervise them, he would let Fu Chen take over.

When Fu Chen came to the prison yard with a bunch of candies, it was particularly lively. People were wiping windows, cleaning and organizing things everywhere. The palace also had a general cleaning once every quarter, at a fixed time and place, usually half an hour after the job was over. It took about several days of cleaning and waited until the eunuch in charge had finished the inspection before it was considered finished. Generally, during large-scale celebrations, each palace and hall needed extra cleaning, and the general election was also a festive occasion.

Fu Chenlai put the candy on the mat and joined in the cleaning. After finishing today’s cleaning quota, everyone was exhausted. They lay down and ate the candy in their mouths, kept making jokes about Wang Fugui, and talked and laughed. This was also the happiest time of their day.

At this time, Ye Xin, with half of his face swollen, grinned and poked his head inside. The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.

“Oh, you eat very happily.” Ye Xin smiled.

“Ye Xin, it’s none of your business. You should serve your Master Li more when you have time.” Only Yang Sanma, a eunuch who was about to be promoted to the fourth rank, could confront Ye Xin. He grabbed Fu Chen’s hand and openly broke up with Ye Xin.

After hearing what Yang Sanma said, Ye Xin’s face was distorted. After a while, he smiled. He ignored Yang Sanma and pointed to Wang Fugui, “You can only eat now, enjoy it more.”

“What do you mean!” Wang Fugui jumped up and glared at him.

Ye Xin smiled mysteriously, but his swollen face looked a bit hateful. “Fu Chen, come out for a moment.”

Wang Fugui and others tried to stop him, but Ye Xin laughed, “It was Master Li’s order. It’s useless for you to tell me. Fu Chen, do you want me to call you a second time?”

Fu Chen appeased the other indignant eunuchs and said with a smile, “You can eat the candy first. Don’t eat it all when I come back. I haven’t tasted much of Fugui’s happiness yet!”

The two came out. Fu Chen looked at Ye Xin, and the other party also looked at him. After a while, he laughed, “I don’t know whether you are lucky or unlucky. How did you offend Master Li?”

Master Li was naturally referring to Li Xiangying.

“Just be frank, Ye Xin, there’s no need to beat around the bush.”

​​Ye Xin sighed, “Do you really think I want to hurt you? I see that you’re having troubles everywhere, but I don’t really want you to die.”

Fu Chen looked at him and didn’t say anything. This cautious and untrusting attitude was exactly what Ye Xin feared the most.

He also suppressed the regret on his face and said in a cold voice: “Master Li recommended you to Master Liu to serve the emperor.”

In the Jin Dynasty, there was a high-paying, high-reward, and high-risk eunuch position called the eunuch serving the emperor. Most of these eunuchs had no rank, and the eunuchs serving the emperor were assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Li Xiangying was originally on duty in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His immediate superior was Liu Zong, the chief eunuch who checked Fu Chen. After a group of eunuchs including Chen Zuoren had an attack a few days ago, the prison yard was short of staff, and it was not so fast to fill the vacancy. The eunuch serving the emperor was vacant today after taking turns.

Naturally, someone had to be found to replace the vacant position. Under normal circumstances, the eunuchs who served the emperor were those who had offended certain people, and it was a position that could not be argued. It was common for young eunuchs to take on several errands, and there would always be times when there was no staff to be assigned.

Li Xiangying, who had just been released from his own courtyard today, heard about this and recommended Fu Chen to Liu Zong. Liu Zong had no impression of a little eunuch, so he nodded and agreed. That’s how Ye Xin came to invite someone.

To serve food, to put it simply, is to test the food for poison before the emperor eats it.

“Did Mother Consort say that your nail art skills are exceptional?”

“I only know a little, it’s my fortune if it pleases the Consort,” Fu Chen replied formally.

He had no intention of currying favor, his priority was to live peacefully and happily, and to proceed cautiously and steadily.

“Mother Consort appreciates you,” Shao Anlin mentioned casually.

Fu Chen didn’t know how much Shao Anlin knew. Perhaps the Consort mentioned him in passing, or maybe she remembered him from the last time she saw him vomiting. But the Third Prince would never guess that the Consort’s “appreciation” wasn’t for his makeshift talents.

“Can you trim and dye beards?” Shao Anlin asked.

It seemed that in the eyes of these masters, if one knew one skill, they should know them all.

“Your Highness, I am not skilled in that.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are a humble person?”

“Your Highness is the first.” The premise of being praised for being humble is that the two people are at the same level of status.

“Then go and try.”

“…Yes.” Whether he could or couldn’t made no difference.

Fu Chen knew he had no choice in the matter.

Fu Chen always felt that the Third Prince treated him more casually, or perhaps more harshly.

The aura of warmth that he showed to everyone else diminished significantly when he saw Fu Chen. Fu Chen didn’t know if he was being overly sensitive, but his professional instincts often made him keenly aware of others’ emotions. He couldn’t blame it on being naturally unlikable.

In the Jin Dynasty, the belief that one’s body and hair were gifts from one’s parents was prevalent. Unlike hair, which could be tied up, beards were always trimmed. Recently, it became fashionable among scholars and officials to trim their beards regularly. Those with well-trimmed beards were called “handsome bearded men.”

Older men especially considered dyeing their beards a trend, with a poem saying: “Dyeing my beard to deceive myself,” meaning that even though their beards were white and they were old, they dyed them black to comfort themselves.

This trend, like nail art, became fashionable among the aristocracy and nobility of the Jin Dynasty.

When Shao Anlin brought Fu Chen to wait outside the Imperial Study, he broke into a cold sweat.

Shao Anlin couldn’t find a suitable person, so he chose him?

How many people in this world could use a knife on the Emperor, even if it was just to trim a beard?

Bang!

Something was thrown to the ground, and the Emperor’s furious voice rang out, “These scoundrels! Even the disaster relief funds were stolen! What use are they? Dismiss them all! Dismiss them! Investigate thoroughly!”

Even standing outside, Fu Chen could hear the Emperor’s words, showing how angry the Emperor was. Being an Emperor wasn’t an easy job. Orders given to subordinates often got twisted as they passed down the chain, and by the time they reached the people, the message might have changed several times. Many aspired to be wise rulers, but few succeeded.

An official hurried out, looking disheveled. Fu Chen glanced at him and then lowered his eyes.

The previous dynasty had strict rules for eunuchs, stating that they should not interfere in politics, associate with officials, or invite non-royal people. Violations could result in fines or exile. These rules were even more detailed in the Jin Dynasty and continued to this day.

So Fu Chen only remembered the official’s appearance but had no idea who he was.

The Third Prince went in, and Fu Chen couldn’t hear what was said, but he could feel the Emperor’s mood improving. The atmosphere in the Imperial Study relaxed, and the Emperor even laughed, “Since Anlin recommended you, I must see if you’re as good as he says. Let the little eunuch in.”

Today, it was An Zhonghai’s turn to serve. Having just endured the Emperor’s wrath, he was still a bit shaken. Serving the Emperor meant facing his moods at any time, and the risk to one’s life was high, but one never got used to it.

He saw Fu Chen waiting outside and looked at him a few more times.

Fu Chen thought this eunuch probably recognized him.

Seeing the cat in Fu Chen’s arms, he said, “Isn’t this Tangyuan? Give it to me.”

Handing over the cat, An Zhonghai gave the meowing kitten to a nearby eunuch, “Take it to Fuxi Palace.”

“Go in quickly.” He led Fu Chen inside.

Fu Chen entered with his head lowered and body bent, and when he reached the appropriate spot, he performed a grand salute, “This servant greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor.”

“Rise. Anlin said your beard trimming and dyeing skills are good?” The Emperor seemed in a good mood.

“This servant dares not claim expertise but is willing to try.”

“You seem steady. If you don’t do well, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for punishment.” The Emperor smiled lightly, “You look familiar. Where have I seen you before?”

Fu Chen wouldn’t mention seeing him in Weiyang Palace, which would remind the Emperor of unpleasant things.

He chose the safest truth, “This servant once provided the formula for Guilingji.”

The Emperor clapped his hands, “Oh yes, you’re that little eunuch. The sages haven’t figured it out yet. You should go and take a look.”

The sages were those who made elixirs for the Emperor, mainly the imperial master and famous Taoists. The Emperor’s efforts in seeking immortality were evident. Although Fu Chen provided the formula, the exact quantities of each ingredient required repeated adjustments.

“If it works, you’ll be richly rewarded!”

“This servant obeys.” The reward was just words; the Emperor wouldn’t lavishly reward a servant for minor contributions. To them, it was the servant’s duty. The only difference was that the Emperor would remember his face. For most palace servants, being recognized by the Emperor was more important than rewards. There were thousands of eunuchs, and being remembered by the Emperor was a significant achievement. Li Xiangying once used this excuse to send them to Weiyang Palace.

“Anlin, investigate disaster relief. If there’s any trouble, deal with it. I will support you.”

The Emperor trusted that Shao Anlin wouldn’t favor any side, so he felt reassured giving the task to the Third Prince.

Before leaving, Shao Anlin glanced at Fu Chen, who was kneeling obediently. This little eunuch’s manners were impeccable, almost invisible.

After receiving his orders, Fu Chen was taken to the tea room next to the Imperial Study to prepare for the Emperor’s beard trimming.

The Emperor’s beard trimming was scheduled every twelve days at noon. The ancients believed that the sun at its peak could dispel the evil spirits of the knife.

Usually, no matter how close the Emperor was to someone, he wouldn’t let a lowly servant near him with a knife, especially near his throat. This showed the Emperor’s favor for the Third Prince. However, the Third Prince’s feelings for the Emperor were unclear, as he casually chose someone to deal with the Emperor.

Beard trimming was a meticulous task, often guarded by guards. The tension could lead to mistakes, and many servants had been punished for errors. Unable to find anyone, Shao Anlin sought an old master from Luguyuan, but he had passed away, and no replacement was found. If he could refuse, Fu Chen wouldn’t step into the Imperial Study.

Serving the Emperor closely was a thankless task. If done well, it was expected; if done poorly, it could incur the Emperor’s wrath. Finding someone skilled was difficult, and even then, the results weren’t guaranteed.

First, a series of checks ensured he had no harmful objects.

Then he changed into special clothes for beard trimming, including a hat and shoes. Fu Chen took the mahogany box from An Zhonghai, removed the blade, and under the watchful eyes of the guards, began trimming the Emperor’s beard. His focused gaze and fluid movements were pleasing to watch. His calm and confident demeanor compensated for any lack of skill, fooling outsiders. His modern experience allowed him to shape the beard precisely, thanks to his past practice of cutting his wife’s hair. His wife once joked that a husband like Fu Chen, skilled in everything, was hard to find.

Fu Chen gradually became adept, his cool fingers moving smoothly on the Emperor’s face. The professional-looking beard trimming didn’t touch any inappropriate spots, and the sharp blade worked efficiently. The initially impatient Emperor eventually relaxed and enjoyed the process.

An Zhonghai, holding a basin to wash the Emperor’s face, was amazed. The Emperor usually grew impatient during beard trimming due to the lengthy and detailed process, but this time he seemed to enjoy it.

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t plan to dye his beard, saving Fu Chen some work.

Afterward, the Emperor’s morning anger had subsided. He kept looking at his perfectly trimmed beard in the mirror, increasingly satisfied. With the triennial selection approaching, the Emperor was more concerned about his appearance. “What do you think?”

An Zhonghai, skilled at reading expressions, immediately praised, “Your Majesty looks like you’re in your twenties, like brothers with the Third Prince.”

The Emperor, pleased, waved his hand, “Come back in twelve days.”

Fu Chen became the designated beard trimmer, unexpectedly rewarded with five taels of silver, equivalent to five months’ allowance. The reward was secondary; the important thing was surviving unscathed. He never imagined his superficial skills would earn such appreciation.

Leaving the Imperial Study, a group of ministers came to report an invasion by the Yangwu people from the northwest. Fu Chen had seen these ruthless invaders when he first arrived, their ambitions clear.

These ministers all walked in with worried looks on their faces. Fu Chen took a quick look and, combining the information he had received over the past few years, gradually built a preliminary network of relationships in his mind.

Arriving at the corridor, An Zhonghai encouraged Fu Chen a few words, which was somewhat different from the perfunctory response in front of Fuxi Palace. Fu Chen naturally responded respectfully. On the way back, Fu Chen weighed the silver in his hand. It seemed that the money owed to Wang Fugui could be paid in advance. He did not use Chen Zuoren’s savings, but kept them in the original place.

All the way back to Yeting Lake, this time the journey was safe and sound. While cleaning the lakeside, Fu Chen saw a shoe. Whether meeting the master or walking in the palace, the servants usually can only look at the ground, so they will instinctively remember the shoes to distinguish the masters of each palace.

He had a good memory and had seen this pair of shoes before, but there were several people in the palace who wore this style and he was not sure which one it was.

Looking at the tranquil Yeting Lake, the summer breeze gently brushed across the water, creating ripples on the surface. He just hoped that it was not the person he was thinking of.

Putting the shoe into his clothes, Fu Chen pretended not to notice it and continued to complete the cleaning task meticulously.

Until the evening, after finishing his work, Fu Chen took some small change and went to the dining room to find Lao Bahu, who loved to take advantage of small opportunities. Wang Fugui also asked him for the wine last time. The two chatted for a while. Fu Chen was a tight-lipped person, like a saw. Whenever Lao Bahu met Fu Chen, he would pour out all his daily complaints and gossip to him.

This allowed Fu Chen to indirectly learn a lot of news, such as the Empress preparing new clothes for the little prince in her belly today, Concubine Qi returning the food she had sent several times, and someone in the palace asking their kitchen to work overtime to make soup for the Emperor tonight…

It was not until Lao Bahu had to go on his next mission that Fu Chen took the packaged fresh snacks and left.

He carefully avoided being seen and heard along the way, and sneaked into Jingyang Palace while the guards were changing shifts…

After listening to the noise inside for a while and making sure that the eunuch sent by the queen had already left, he walked in. The Seventh Prince was an abandoned child, stupid and disfigured, and his mother was banished to the cold palace. It was impossible for him to turn the tables.

This was a fact recognized by everyone in the palace, so naturally no one would come to this place. Fu Chen saw the broken bowls in the courtyard under the palace lanterns, and the food still mixed with yellow liquid, and felt sad.

There was no one in the courtyard. He called out softly a few times, but no one responded.

He searched room after room, almost all the places where he might have lurked, how could he not be there?

Fu Chen didn’t know how long a fool could survive in the harem, so it all depended on the Seventh Prince’s luck.

When Fu Chen found the woodshed, a cup of tea time had passed.

Looking at the shabby wooden door with several thick chains on it, he knocked on the door, but there was still no sound from inside.

He searched outside for a long time and finally found the key under a broken jar. After opening the door, a sour and moldy smell emanated from inside, which was very pungent.

The room was very dark, with old wooden blocks scattered on the floor and cobwebs on the walls. It was very shabby and compared to the main hall, it seemed like a forgotten corner of the palace.

A shadow huddled in the corner, as quiet as death.

Fu Chen walked over carefully and squatted down, “Seventh Prince?”

His voice seemed to have suddenly ignited the fuse of the corpse. Shao Huachi swung his arms wildly, as if he was trying to drive something away. “Ah—Ah!”

The piercing scream pierced the eardrum, and Shao Huachi’s sharp nails quickly scratched Fu Chen’s arm, leaving blood marks immediately.

Fu Chen didn’t care about Shao Huachi’s crazy attack at this time, and held him in his arms. Although Shao Huachi was a few years older, he was not strong, and Fu Chen locked him tightly.

After struggling for several times, he still couldn’t shake Fu Chen off. Shao Huachi was shaking violently, and seemed to be very scared. Half of his ghostly face was covered with scabs and blood, which looked even more disgusting than the first time they met.

However, Fu Chen seemed not to notice it.

When Shao Huachi calmed down, he gently soothed him from behind with one hand, “Don’t be afraid, it’s me, do you remember me?”

Concubine Qi hurriedly adjusted her body and clothes. Compared to the stern look on Shao Huayang’s face, she appeared more flustered. The emperor, old and impotent, was obsessed with elixirs and rarely lingered in the harem. She merely sought excitement, never intending to risk her life. She found the Second Prince not only handsome but also a promising future emperor. Dissatisfied with the emperor’s impotence, she naturally succumbed to the younger man’s advances. The secret thrill kept both of them entertained.

At this moment, she was furious at her carelessness, wishing she could tear the intruder in the woods to pieces, almost grinding her teeth to dust.

Shao Huayang’s clothes were intact, looking as dignified as ever. He quickly emerged from the rockery, glanced around, and focused on the bamboo grove, his steps drawing closer.

Shao Anlin, still elegant and refined, glanced at the tense Fu Chen, then shifted his direction, allowing Fu Chen to see the fluffy white ball on his shoulder.

As they entered the bamboo grove, Fu Chen restrained himself from looking at Shao Anlin for too long to avoid being accused of disrespect. He didn’t notice the quiet little creature that had made the noise earlier, the beloved cat of Consort De: Tangyuan.

Fu Chen signaled his understanding, his questioning eyes asking what to do next. Shao Anlin, surprised by Fu Chen’s quick comprehension, showed a hint of appreciation. Though strangers, their tacit understanding was pleasing.

Unaware of Fu Chen’s psychological expertise, Shao Anlin naturally had a knack for reading people.

Shao Anlin held Tangyuan in his hands, his snow-white fingers stroking its soft fur before placing it on the ground.

The Second Prince Shao Huayang’s gaze was fixed on the small area near the bamboo grove.

The rustling in the green bamboo grove grew louder, and suddenly, a white furball darted out with a “meow.”

Concubine Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Now dressed and radiant, she gracefully walked out, her jade hands elegantly reaching to embrace the furball, but it quickly dodged, avoiding her. It’s said that all creatures have a spirit, and those with heavy turbid energy make them retreat.

Concubine Qi forced a smile and said to the still tense Shao Huayang, “You’re too jumpy. It’s just an animal. This little rascal often makes Consort De search for it.”

Shao Huayang remained silent, his expression cold and sharp, his icy demeanor like a blade, his sneer chilling. “Come out, I know someone’s there, or do you want me to come in and find you?”

Using the cat as a shield was a good idea, but it couldn’t cover up the fact that the Ming Shen Garden was too far from Consort De’s Fu Xi Palace. Even if the cat had three heads and six arms, it couldn’t have run that far on its own.

Fu Chen’s expression stiffened. Even the seemingly impulsive Second Prince wasn’t easy to fool. He faced two choices: wait for Shao Huayang to find them both or take all the blame himself. The Third Prince leaving would be disastrous, involving many complications. Most importantly, if he chose the former, he might face pressure from both princes later. Choosing the lesser of two evils, Fu Chen stepped forward resolutely, but was suddenly pulled back. The green figure stepped out before him, leaving Fu Chen staring in astonishment at Shao Anlin’s back. He couldn’t believe this man didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, yet he walked out.

Fu Chen suddenly thought of the Third Prince’s reputation among the people, often providing disaster relief, helping the poor, and mingling with the common folk. At this moment, even Fu Chen was moved. As a powerless eunuch, he admired Shao Anlin’s selflessness. No wonder everyone praised him. Regardless of any ulterior motives, his conduct was admirable.

Seeing Shao Anlin’s figure emerge from the bamboo grove, even Shao Huayang was surprised, his expression changing several times before settling into a casual smile. “What a coincidence, old third, are you out for a walk with your cat?”

Indeed, Tangyuan ran over, rubbing against Shao Anlin’s leg.

Shao Anlin replied naturally, “Just taking a stroll to see the lotus flowers at Yeting Lake. Second brother, Concubine Qi, are you also here for the scenery?”

This statement had two meanings: first, he told Shao Huayang he was there by chance, not intentionally; second, he implied he would pretend not to see Shao Huayang and Concubine Qi’s affair, reassuring Shao Huayang.

After a few more pleasantries, Shao Huayang got to the point.

“Old third, I sent an invitation to your residence last time, but you were out. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming up. Can you spare some time for your second brother?” Shao Huayang’s voice, though calm, carried a sharp edge.

The struggle for the throne was intensifying. Emperor Jin Cheng, learning from his own succession, was reluctant to appoint a crown prince even in middle age. The eldest prince was nearly forty, and with more princes coming of age, the older ones were getting anxious. As a neutral figure and a popular candidate for the next imperial master, Shao Anlin was someone everyone wanted to win over, but he never accepted invitations from any prince’s residence.

If Shao Anlin accepted an invitation from any prince, it would signal his allegiance, making it impossible to remain neutral.

“Recently, I went to Wufu Mountain to pray. Now that I’m back, I must visit your residence for tea. I hope you won’t mind, second brother.”

Shao Anlin’s words clearly pleased Shao Huayang. “Then I’ll be waiting for you, old third!”

The two brothers bid farewell amicably, but as Shao Huayang turned away, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

After paying her respects to Shao Anlin, Concubine Qi quickly left, and the courtyard returned to peace. After a moment, Shao Anlin called out, “Come out.”

Fu Chen emerged and approached the Third Prince.

As he stood there, Shao Anlin’s long fingers reached for Fu Chen, who could almost hear his own breathing.

The fingers plucked a bamboo leaf from Fu Chen’s hair and tossed it into the air, making his heart race despite no physical contact.

Fu Chen knelt and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

This gratitude was sincere. Shao Anlin had saved his life and taken all of Shao Huayang’s potential retaliation upon himself. If Fu Chen had stepped out, it would have been a death sentence.

“Thank me for what?” Shao Anlin smiled, looking thoughtfully at the respectful Fu Chen.

“For saving my life. I can die a thousand deaths to repay you,” Fu Chen replied, his head touching the ground.

“Die a thousand deaths? Heh, I had to step into this situation,” Shao Anlin said cryptically, then added, “Recently, you painted my mother’s nails?”

“Yes, I had the honor of painting the Consort De’s nails once.”

“I saw you leave Fu Xi Palace and vomit. Were you dissatisfied?”

“!” Fu Chen lowered his head further. Shao Anlin’s words were probing. “This servant had a stomach issue.”

He hadn’t expected that moment to be noticed.

And he hadn’t expected the usually aloof Third Prince to ask so directly.

“Stand up and answer,” Shao Anlin seemed to accept the explanation.

Fu Chen stood, but Shao Anlin grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up, their eyes meeting.

The position was humiliating, the age difference making Fu Chen feel oppressed, but he remained respectful and submissive, anyone would say he was a good servant.

Shao Anlin seemed to be examining him, speaking softly, “Do you know, every time you say ‘servant,’ your eyes never show that you see yourself as one.”

The dark look in the Third Prince’s eyes made Fu Chen shiver, feeling frozen, unable to respond.

He could bow and scrape, call himself a servant, even kneel and beg, but he couldn’t lower his last bit of dignity.

Yet no one had ever noticed this. He didn’t know how the Third Prince had discerned it, considering they’d only met three times, the first time Shao Anlin hadn’t even noticed him.

“Servant… doesn’t… understand,” Fu Chen forced himself to stay calm. Shao Anlin’s words might be casual in modern times, but in this era of absolute monarchy, they were dangerous. Ignoring the grip on his chin, he knelt and kowtowed, “This servant deserves to die!”

Under Shao Anlin’s gaze, it felt like nothing could be hidden, as if he were naked.

The man’s calm demeanor and all-seeing eyes made Fu Chen even more humble and obedient.

Shao Anlin didn’t tell him to rise, watching Fu Chen plead before saying, “Remember, you owe me a life. Now, follow me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Fu Chen’s forehead was slightly swollen, not bleeding this time, but he didn’t relax.

On the way, Shao Anlin remained silent, and Fu Chen followed a few steps behind, not daring to speak. A servant couldn’t disturb the master without orders, nor ask where they were going.

He held Tangyuan in his arms, gently stroking its fur. The cat’s soft, well-maintained coat and its gentle nuzzling against his chest slightly eased his tension.

The two of them came to Luguyuan, where people with special talents lived. These people did not belong to the Ministry of Works, but served the emperor personally. This included the design of the palace buildings, the planting of royal gardens, and some projects that provided special services to the emperor, such as the construction of open-air hot springs and other places. 

Luguyuan was not far from Yeting Lake, so Shao Anlin’s original purpose was to come here? And seeing the second prince and Concubine Qi on the way was really just a coincidence?

When they reached the door, two eunuchs came out one after another carrying a stretcher with a person covered with a cloth on it.

Fu Chen went up to ask and found out that it was an old eunuch who had passed away. After asking for his name, he reported it to Shao Anlin, who frowned slightly and said, “This time is really a coincidence.”

Fu Chen didn’t understand what these words meant, but he could tell that Shao Anlin originally wanted to come here to find someone, but this person might have already left.

After walking for a while, Shao Anlin turned his head and slowly set his eyes on Fu Chen. Shao Anlin looked like a landscape painting, his casual movements were full of freehand elegance, and his otherworldly aura complemented his appearance and demeanor.

But after what happened today, Fu Chen just felt creepy. 

Unexpectedly, Shao Anlin suddenly smiled faintly, with a charming look.

Fu Chen looked away. The two guards returned to their original positions, just like when they entered the room. No one could tell anything by just looking at them. He did not dare to relax. He would not let himself fall into danger passively because of carelessness. After checking the surroundings to make sure it was safe, he said to Liu Zong who was standing blankly by the side, “Go check and record it.”

Liu Zong walked over obediently and followed every command. He glanced at the young eunuch, picked up the pen and ticked Fu Chen’s name.

After completing the process, Fu Chen clapped his hands lightly. The speed and frequency seemed to have been professionally trained, and the sound revealed a special rhythm.

After the applause ended, the five people returned to their original state as if nothing had happened. Liu Zong’s gaze slowly came back to his senses from the dull state. The momentary confusion and alertness made him look around. Seeing that everyone else was still doing things in an orderly manner, he wiped away the strange feeling in his heart.

When he found Fu Chen was still there, he waved his hand and said, “Hasn’t the check been completed? Why don’t you leave quickly?”

Then the next person’s name was called, and nothing seemed to have changed.

When Fu Chen came out, his face was still a little pale, his teeth were chattering slightly, his steps were unsteady, and cold sweat was dripping from his temples.

This body was still too young and could not withstand the aftereffects of high-intensity hypnosis. He staggered, holding onto the wall and gasping for breath.

This was also the reason why Ji Ke covered his hand and felt it was unusually cold when he returned to the prison a month ago.

After recovering from the shock, Fu Chen wiped his sweat. He could still get away with it now as he was young, but if he got older his male characteristics would become more and more obvious, and it would be several times more difficult to prevent others from noticing anything unusual. It seemed that he had to prepare early.

Fu Chen tidied himself up and left after he looked fine. When he arrived outside the Sidao Gate, he saw Wang Fugui and others waiting there. Although everyone looked pale before entering, they were able to relax and get over the difficult situation after they had overcome it.

The eunuchs in the palace are generally divided into three shifts, calculated according to the order, morning to lunch, lunch to bedtime, bedtime to midnight. Usually, young eunuchs like them work one or two shifts according to their job functions, and they may work three shifts when there is a shortage of manpower. Fu Chen is a sweeping eunuch, and needs to work two shifts from morning to afternoon.

Today is the day for inspection, so the first shift was naturally postponed, so everyone agreed to meet outside after finishing the work.

“Finally he came out, what took you so long? His face is so pale, as if he had put on powder.” Wang Fugui only felt that Fu Chen looked a little weak, but didn’t notice anything else. It was also because Fu Chen was good at concealing his appearance. He had fair skin, which made him look very beautiful in a different way.

“Wouldn’t it be better to check it more carefully?” Fu Chen made a dirty joke as if nothing had happened. The lives of young eunuchs were quite conventional most of the time, so they often entertained themselves. Fu Chen’s way of adjusting the atmosphere was more down-to-earth.

“Who told us that Chenzi is so beautiful that Master Liu will have to examine him carefully!” The speaker was Yang Sanma, a name given to him by Mu Ruida. He was in charge of the stables and specialized in taking care of a horse named “Feifu”, which was the exclusive horse of the third prince Shao Anlin. When it was difficult to take care of, he would call Fu Chen to help. Fu Chen was quick and efficient, which saved him a lot of trouble. Yang Sanma often met nobles in and out of the palace, and he received the most rewards among them. He had a special skill. He joined a drama troupe when he was young, and his ventriloquism was amazing.[the ability to speak without moving your lips so that your voice seems to be coming from someone or something else] The ghost cry that Li Xiangying heard in the middle of the night was actually from his mouth, which could be mistaken for the real thing.

“It seems that you don’t want my help from now on.” Fu Chen retorted.

“Please don’t, my little eunuch Fu, Grandpa Chen, I really need your help!” Yang Sanma rushed over, but Fu Chen dodged. He had a good relationship with Fu Chen. It should be said that there were few people in their group who could not have a good relationship with Fu Chen. Fu Chen was like air, not deliberately showing his presence, but it seemed that he should be there.

“Get out of here, you smell like a horse.” Fu Chen scolded with a smile and pushed him away.

Although the others wanted to laugh, they didn’t dare to. When Yang Sanma was first assigned the task, he was looked down upon. He stayed in the stable all day. Although this job allowed him to come into contact with nobles, almost no one could really win the eyes of nobles. At that time, Fu Chen was the only one in the whole room who was willing to get along with him. He was considered isolated. 

Now that Yang Sanma has become proud, those who originally laughed at him don’t dare to get close to him. It is said that he was quickly promoted to the fourth-rank eunuch, under the command of the Eunuch Supervisor, an official position in the twelve supervisors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Although he still manages the stables, his power is much greater than it is now, and he is one level higher than Ye Xin. However, the token and the document have not been issued yet. I don’t know whether this man is nostalgic or can’t get used to sleeping in a good place. Every night after work, he will return to the Supervisory Courtyard to stay with everyone.

Fu Chen dared to joke with him, but others did not have the courage to do so. Status determines attitude, and this is true everywhere.

Yang Sanma was not angry when he was pushed away. He liked Fu Chen’s unpretentious attitude and knew how to handle things properly. Instead, he leaned over to whisper something in Fu Chen’s ear. His voice was too soft for people around to hear clearly. From his attitude, he seemed to be praising Fu Chen. Of course, only the two of them knew what he said.

After hearing what he said, Fu Chen nodded for a while and said, “Okay, call me when the time comes.”

Yang Sanma patted Fu Chen’s shoulder happily.

Ever since Li Xiangying suffered yesterday, everyone has been in a good mood and is walking and talking and laughing.

They heard this morning that Li Xiangying had been temporarily suspended from his post and confined to his own yard, and the specific punishment has not yet been handed down. The haunting is at best the work of wronged spirits, and at worst it threatens the stability of the emperor’s throne. The imperial palace is the place where the true dragon energy is most abundant, so how could a powerful ghost dare to harm the true dragon emperor?

Today, several people took advantage of the end of the inspection to go together, or to make some preparations for Wang Fugui and Xiaoyang to sign a marriage contract. First, they went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to obtain special approval, and then applied for the necessary materials, etc. Although the procedures were complicated, it was still a grand ceremony for everyone who wanted to pair up with a “Cai Hu”. As long as you are willing, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be completely ruthless. After all, there have not been many pairs of Cai Hu since the beginning of the dynasty.

After submitting the application, Fu Chen saw that the time was almost up, so he walked towards Yeting Lake to continue his daily cleaning.

The area around Yeting Lake is usually deserted, so this job is generally easy. Today, he took a small path and passed Mingshen Garden to reach the area of ​​Yeting Lake. When Fu Chen passed by a rockery in a pond, he heard a strange sound. Although he tried his best to suppress it, it was not difficult to hear the woman’s moan and the man’s heavy breathing.

His face suddenly changed. Doing such a shameful thing in broad daylight in the palace! ?

The hand holding the broom shook, and reason quickly returned, and he quickly grabbed the broom that was about to fall to the ground.

If you want to leave, you must pass through the archway of the courtyard. The archway faces the rockery, and you will definitely see him.

In just a few moments, Fu Chen had decided on his retreat route. He moved lightly and hid in the bamboo forest in the courtyard.

Just as he entered the bamboo forest, a breath that almost merged with the forest came from behind. Before he could react, a large hand with distinct joints covered his mouth. A faint cool fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, elegant and otherworldly.

The seemingly gentle movements had explosive power that could only be felt when one was really close. The person who came was a martial artist. This was Fu Chen’s first judgment. This person’s moves were very fast, accurate and ruthless. It was obvious that there were already people in the bamboo forest before he came. They came earlier than him and probably did not want to alarm the people in the rockery. They took the initiative to gain the upper hand. This was Fu Chen’s second judgment.

After Fu Chen’s initial instinctive resistance, he stopped moving his body because he saw the delicate patterns on the exposed sleeves. The person who could wear such a sleeve must be of extraordinary status. The person’s movements slightly touched Fu Chen, and after making sure that Fu Chen would not scream, he left.

The soft fabric brushed against his skin, giving him goosebumps.

Fu Chen turned around and looked up, and was shocked. The man was wearing a green robe, with a faint smile on his face. His ruthless and desireless look revealed a noble aura. His every frown and smile could move people’s hearts. Just one glance could make people fall into eternal damnation. Before, he only saw him from a distance and remembered him in his heart. There are some people in this world who are born to be unattainable. There is no other person like him in the palace, the third prince Shao Anlin.

Just as he was about to salute, he was stopped by a look. Shao Anlin slowly shook his head, the meaning was obvious: now was not the time to be polite.

The bamboos were densely distributed and the two of them were standing quite close to each other. There was a faint smell from Shao Anlin that penetrated into the tip of his nose, and Fu Chen felt his nose was a little itchy.

Fu Chen seemed calm and composed, but he was actually a little worried. Although he was forced by the situation, with his status standing here, it would be a big deal for him if the Third Prince came to settle the score with him later.

Every second seemed like an eternity, and the couple put him in a dilemma and he could only wait for this live show to be over.

The man and woman in the garden were almost at the end, and the sounds were becoming more and more intense. The suppressed growls and groans, the “slap” sounds of flesh hitting each other, whipped Fu Chen’s heart again and again. He could fully foresee that if he was discovered by the people inside at this time, he could disappear quietly in the harem.

The man and woman changed positions many times. If Fu Chen had not left their original position quickly and quietly, they would have been seen by the people inside.

In the gap of the rockery, the woman’s hair and clothes were a little messy, her expression was blurred, and her usual manners were gone. She bent over and grabbed the rock with both hands. Her palace dress was lifted to her chest. Two milky white balls were rippling in the air. The towering part was held in the hands of the person behind her and changed its shape at will. Her white skin was a little dazzling in the sun. The man behind her moved faster and faster. Such a scale is rare even in modern times. The two people have completely forgotten themselves, and their faces are full of excitement and secret pleasure. And their faces are gradually exposed, but their true faces make Fu Chen even more frightened.

The woman was the noble concubine Qi, who had a distinguished family background and was favored by the emperor. She was the noble lady who caused Ye Xin to switch places to deliver lychees and ended up being punished. The other person involved, whom Fu Chen had seen before in Yeting Lake, was the second prince Shao Huayang, who had pushed Shao Huachi into Yeting Lake to make it look like he was drowned and was now the most powerful heir.

With this man’s vicious and reckless character, what would happen if his “good deeds” were seen by others?

The bamboo forest made a slight rustling sound, and Shao Huayang, who was still lying on Concubine Qi and enjoying the afterglow, suddenly looked up.

He looked around with sharp eyes and shouted, “Who!?”

Fu Chen’s heart was beating fast and his palms were sweating.

This translator has something to say:

*Ahem* That’s definitely not the last time you’ll see people doing that outdoors (yes, even our MC and ML, lol). Let me know if this requires a warning / \

Ye Xin usually worked hard to make arrangements in various palaces, and he took the risk of changing his godfather to Li Xiangying. He was not short of tricks and schemes. If Li Xiangying had not been in trouble, he might have continued to nag Fu Chen. The root cause was that Fu Chen served Mu Ruida instead of him, which really made him very upset, but the real reason why he wanted to suppress the other party was that he was afraid of Fu Chen.

Ye Xin and Fu Chen entered the palace in the same year. Perhaps no one would pay attention to a little eunuch, but Ye Xin carefully observed every potential rival. For a little eunuch, being scolded, beaten, and reprimanded was commonplace. Almost everyone would complain, suffer, and wail, speaking ill of others behind their backs to vent their dissatisfaction. 

Only Fu Chen, no matter what he encountered, always maintained a respectful and humble expression, never criticizing anyone. Ye Xin couldn’t describe the feeling, but he felt that Fu Chen was very deep and dangerous.

Ye Xin was now heading to Li Xiangying’s courtyard. A well-mixed chief eunuch could have his own separate courtyard in the Supervisory Courtyard, which was why Ye Xin chose Li Xiangying. Mu Ruida couldn’t reach this level, but recently, Li Xiangying seemed possessed, which worried Ye Xin greatly. 

For the sake of everything now, he absolutely couldn’t let anything happen to Li Xiangying! When he arrived, many people were already standing outside, all with fearful expressions. There were other managing eunuchs, but no one dared to approach.

He pushed through the crowd and was about to step in when he stopped.

For the past month, Li Xiangying’s condition had been very bad, which was obvious to everyone. He seemed to be haunted by something, muttering to himself all day, his mind wandering. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, he would make unreasonable demands, causing complaints in the Supervisory Courtyard.

Under the light of the palace lanterns, the unnaturally thin Li Xiangying curled up in a corner of the courtyard, trembling and holding his head. His eyes bulged, his gaze vacant, completely unaware of his surroundings. He couldn’t distinguish between reality and illusion. 

Tears fell unconsciously, clearly on the verge of a mental breakdown, and he cried out in terror, “Don’t come near, I didn’t kill you, it wasn’t me!”

He was very thin, and the mental pressure made him look more like a ghost than a ghost. Extreme fear made his breathing rapid, his brain deprived of oxygen, his vision blurred, looking like he could faint at any moment.

Around him, clusters of blue-green flames floated in the air, moving up and down with his movements, like souls with their own consciousness. No one dared to approach, but they couldn’t ignore Li Xiangying either, so they stood far away, whispering that he had committed too many sins. Some eunuchs who couldn’t stand it went to call the person in charge.

Fu Chen and others had just come out of the dining hall and ran over because of the commotion. They met Aunt Mei and others who had rushed over. At this time, there were not many people outside the gate of Li Xiangying’s yard. Even the usually arrogant Ye Xin was trembling on the ground, pointing at Li Xiangying, crawling out of the courtyard in fear.

The blue-green flames suddenly appeared at night. How could they not be scary in ancient times when people believed in ghosts and gods.

In ancient times, it was mostly called Yin Fire or Ghost Fire, and in modern times it is called Phosphorus Fire.

At this moment, Li Xiangying was completely deranged. Whether he walked or talked, the ghost fire followed him, fitting the saying “the ghost lingers.” In the dark night, this scene alone could scare most people to death.

Li Xiangying walked fast, and the ghost fire followed fast. When he stopped, the ghost fire stopped. He panted heavily, his face covered in snot and tears, a hot liquid dripping from his crotch, making a puddle on the ground. His miserable appearance no longer showed any of his usual majesty.

In both the current and previous dynasties, burials were practiced. After a person was buried, the body would gradually decompose. Human bones contain a lot of phosphorus, and through chemical reactions with alkali, a gas called phosphine is produced. It has a low ignition point and can spontaneously ignite in high summer temperatures. This gas is very light and can be moved by talking or walking, making it look like “ghosts follow people.”

Achieving this wasn’t easy. It took a whole month of preparation. Just changing the soil in the courtyard to the required type took many channels. The plan was detailed, waiting patiently, step by step leading Li Xiangying into the trap.

The chief eunuch arrived, and all the idle people were cleared out. Fu Chen lowered his eyelids, hiding the hatred and killing intent in his eyes.

The only one who realized this might not be a vengeful spirit was Aunt Mei, who looked at Fu Chen with both fear and suspicion.

When Fu Chen escorted Aunt Mei out of the Supervisory Courtyard, she suddenly turned and solemnly asked Fu Chen, “Was it you?”

“The ghost is lingering around to claim your life.” Fu Chen answered the question irrelevantly, staring quietly at the extremely beautiful face of the woman opposite him.

Tears welled up in Mei Jue’s eyes. She covered her face, swallowing her sobs, and looked around.

Everyone was too scared to go out because of today’s events, fearing the vengeful spirits. With no one around, she suddenly knelt before Fu Chen, performing a grand ceremony, her trembling body showing her excitement.

She wasn’t familiar with Chen Zuoren, he was impulsive and playful, yet remembered kindness. Aunt Mei often mended clothes and shoes for the little eunuchs who had no one to care for them. Last winter, Aunt Mei almost caught the emperor’s eye, but Chen Zuoren “accidentally” spilled a basin of coal, saving her from disaster. Mei Jue always remembered this kindness and took special care of Chen Zuoren afterward.

Like everyone else, she knew she couldn’t avenge him and could only numb her heart with time.

But Fu Chen gave her a glimmer of hope, even if it was faint. It made her, who was used to life and death, want to do something different to honor the souls of the deceased. She just didn’t want to be numb anymore!

Fu Chen didn’t stop her because he knew how stubborn this woman was.

“What else do you need?” Unlike before when Fu Chen secretly asked for help, this time Mei Jue took the initiative, feeling this wasn’t the end.

“I need some wolfsbane.” Fu Chen didn’t hide it. His connections were far inferior to Aunt Mei, who had been in the palace for many years.

She could get things without arousing suspicion, but he couldn’t.

Fu Chen didn’t explain, and Aunt Mei seemed to understand. She looked deeply at Fu Chen’s lower body, an impolite gaze. In modern times, it would be considered bold, let alone in this era of strict propriety. Her focused and serious look almost made Fu Chen think she had other thoughts about him. After a long sigh, she seemed regretful, “Fu Chen, if you weren’t… what a remarkable person you would be.”

After asking for aconite, Fu Chen sent Aunt Mei away and returned to the Supervisory Courtyard.

Wolfsbane, with its beautiful flowers, is a common plant often used to beautify streets in modern times. The imperial garden here had it, but few knew its roots contained neurotoxins. Poisoning caused dizziness, vomiting, gradual limb paralysis, and symptoms like hysteria, making it hard for even gods to save the person, leading to a quiet death.

As for how to poison Li Xiangying, the smoking pipe was the best medium. The more nervous he was, the more he would use tobacco to numb his nerves. With his current unstable mood, he might increase the amount of tobacco. The only thing Fu Chen had to do was erase all evidence afterward.

From a month of psychological hints, nighttime ghost tricks, to the appearance of ghost fire, and finally dying as a vengeful spirit, every step was meticulously planned.

Revenge is never just talk.

That night, the people in Fu Chen’s room in the Supervisory Courtyard were inexplicably excited. Many touched Chen Zuoren’s bed, muttering “in heaven.”

Since Chen Zuoren left, no one had slept in his bed, a silent agreement among everyone, a way to mourn. After more than a month of repression, it finally felt like a release today. Everyone couldn’t hide their joy, embodying the saying, “Knowing Li Xiangying is not doing well, we are relieved.”

Late that night, Wang Fugui put his arm around Fu Chen’s shoulder, unable to hide his emotion, “I can finally be at ease and make a vow with Xiao Yang.”

A month ago, Wang Fugui and Xiao Yang wanted to hold a ceremony to confirm their relationship, but it was postponed due to the events involving Chen Zuoren and others.

Now that Li Xiangying was suffering, the couple was willing to proceed with the delayed ceremony.

The next day was the inspection day. Previously, the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted inspections twice a year, but many palace people had their ways to avoid it through bribery. Later, they were found out by the higher-ups, and now no one dares to do such a thing. The reason for wanting to avoid inspection is that they don’t want to be humiliated by the inspection again. Eunuchs are also human beings, and it is a thousand times more uncomfortable for them to be seen without their life force than for ordinary men.

So when Fu Chen saw Mo Hua waiting for him outside the Supervisory Courtyard early in the morning, he vaguely guessed her purpose.

“Little Eunuch Fu, the Master ordered me to convey that if you feel uncomfortable, you can avoid it.” Mo Hua said gently, but his eyes were firm, as if he was sure that Fu Chen would agree. No eunuch would like this day every six months.

If you promise to do anything, you have to pay the corresponding price, but Fu Chen feels that there are some prices that he cannot afford.

After bowing, Fu Chen lowered his thick, butterfly-like eyelashes and said, “Thank you, Miss Mohua. Please thank the imperial consort for her kindness. I am not uncomfortable.”

Mo Hua obviously did not expect to be rejected. Her face looked a little ugly. She did not curse, but her eyes clearly showed that he did not know what was good for him. He nodded politely and left.

The fact that Concubine De could stand firm in the harem for more than ten years was inseparable from her low-key style. The maids trained by this woman also knew how to advance and retreat. Even though Fu Chen was furious, he refused without hesitation and did not say anything bad. Her status was much higher than that of Fu Chen, who had no rank now. She had the final say even if she was beaten with a stick. This also showed how well she was cultivated. It was precisely because of this that Fu Chen was more frightened and cautious, and never dared to underestimate Concubine De.

Concubine De has been helping him silently, whether it is food boxes or avoiding inspections, which is what he needs most at the moment. This kind of behavior is hard for eunuchs, even ordinary men will be tempted. Such a woman is the real Concubine De. The longer she lives in the palace, the more cautious and meticulous she becomes. Often, such women who do not show off are the most terrifying.

Of course he knew that it was impossible for Concubine De to really fall in love with him after just one look at him. That was not Concubine De’s character. It could only be said that the position of her first love, White Moonlight, was too high in Concubine De’s heart, so high that even a substitute was worth her spending so much time on.

The place for inspection and purification is the same place, both in the Sidao Gate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also knew that this was not a good thing, so they asked people to wait outside in batches and then let them in one by one.

When Fu Chen went in, there were only two eunuchs in charge of recording, one eunuch in charge, and two guards. Five in total, which seemed enough.

The eunuch in charge is Liu Zong, who, like An Zhonghai, is one of the six eunuchs in charge. He is a strict person and mainly handles the affairs of the Imperial Household Department. Mu Ruida, the head of Fu Chen and others, was promoted because of Liu Zong’s appreciation. He is like the person he appreciates.

Liu Zong didn’t even look at Fu Chen. He looked at the record book in his hand and pointed to the bamboo couch behind him. “Fu Chen, right? Take off your clothes and get on.”

Fu Chen agreed, and the others were still there and didn’t come over. Fu Chen reached for his belt.

Suddenly, his face turned pale, he squatted on the ground with an expression of pain, gasping for breath, and it seemed that he was in great pain.

Liu Zong was startled, and several others came over as well.

“What’s going on here?”

Fu Chen covered his stomach, frowned, his lips slightly pale, and raised his head slowly, “this slave…”

At first glance, those eyes were nothing special, but they were so deep as if to suck people in. Fu Chen’s eyeballs gradually turned from black to grayish white, as if sprinkled with a layer of silver frost, dazzlingly beautiful. This was the only golden finger he had after traveling through time, an ability so small that it was almost negligible: hypnosis.

In modern times, he knows some simple hypnosis techniques, and can hypnotize patients through language, environment, body movements, etc., but hypnosis takes time, and the effect of hypnosis varies greatly depending on the individual. 

It can be said that hypnotists do exist in the real world, but they are very rare, and their functions and effects are definitely not as mysterious as those in the outside world or in film and television dramas. If he just brought his abilities from his previous life intact, he would probably be surrounded when he knocked down a eunuch. 

Fortunately, this ability deviated slightly after crossing over. Now he can hypnotize less than ten people at a time, with the restriction that it can only be used once a month. He gave the opportunity last month to Chen Zuoren, allowing him to leave in ignorance and pain.

Because the five people were close to each other and were all paying attention to Fu Chen, it could be said that Fu Chen had created the right time, place and people for himself. Their eyes became more and more blurred, almost dull.

“Go over there and take off your clothes yourself.” Fu Chen looked at them coldly, pointed at a eunuch casually, and repeated what Liu Zong had just said.

Sure enough, the young eunuch took off his pants without any hesitation…

If it were the previous Seventh Prince, Fu Chen might have turned and left, knowing that such a proud prince did not need pity. Moreover, Fu Chen had no masochistic tendencies, he wouldn’t put himself in an awkward position for a man who once looked down on him. It would be more in his interest to trip him up whenever possible.

He could play dirty tricks on the prince, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so to a foolish child. Now that things had come to this, he hoped the Seventh Prince could retain a shred of the royal pride he once admired, rather than being humiliated into the mud.

Shao Huachi shrank back, clearly afraid of Fu Chen, as the two eunuchs in similar attire had left him with painful memories.

Fu Chen, patient as ever, sat on the ground and played with him for a while. Shao Huachi gradually let go of his panic, realizing that Fu Chen wouldn’t harm him. He laughed at Fu Chen and was about to grab a bowl of rice to eat when Fu Chen quickly stopped him.

Fu Chen noticed a yellow liquid in the rice, which gave him a bad feeling.

“You can’t eat this.” He held Shao Huachi’s hand and gently repeated, “No, you can’t eat this!”

“Ah! Ah!” Shao Huachi waved his hands and cried out, his stomach growling with hunger.

Fu Chen sighed, unsure how long Shao Huachi had been living like this. With gestures and a stern look, Shao Huachi finally pulled back his hand in fear and didn’t touch the bowl again.

Fu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Shao Huachi’s foolishness wasn’t aggressive; he had regressed to a childlike state, still capable of fear and pain.

He tidied the prince’s clothes and picked up the silver mask, wiping off the dirt but not putting it back on Shao Huachi. Although the mask could fetch a good price, no one took it, likely because it was too obvious that only one person in the palace needed it.

With little effort, Fu Chen helped Shao Huachi inside. The room wasn’t shabby; it reflected the former owner’s status with luxurious decorations. It made sense, the Empress couldn’t give Shao Huachi a poor place, as it would tarnish her reputation.

Fu Chen went out to fetch water for washing and found no servants in the courtyard. If the two eunuchs had been there, they would have come out by now. He guessed the servants only appeared when needed.

He didn’t know where the prince’s former servants had been reassigned, but he decided it wasn’t his concern.

Returning with the basin, he saw Shao Huachi sitting on the bed, looking around nervously. Perhaps due to their earlier interaction, Shao Huachi instinctively felt close to Fu Chen, like a small hamster in a strange environment, brightening up when he saw Fu Chen.

Fu Chen sat beside him, wrung out a cloth, and gently wiped Shao Huachi’s uneven skin. The broken tumors and the red, purple, and black pus oozing out emitted a foul odor, indicating Shao Huachi’s suffering. Fu Chen had heard that Shao Huachi experienced excruciating pain periodically, and he could imagine the agony just by looking at him.

He wiped away the pus until the wound stopped oozing, then applied some hemostatic powder, a servant’s ration, usually saved up.

Fu Chen didn’t mind the task, his eyes calm and serene. This tranquility reassured Shao Huachi, who didn’t cry out in pain. Watching Fu Chen’s smooth movements, he sat obediently.

Without ointment, Fu Chen could only clean the wounds and apply the powder. He tidied Shao Huachi’s messy hair a bit, not washing him to avoid revealing his presence.

After cleaning up and removing any traces of his visit, Fu Chen didn’t put the mask back on Shao Huachi.

“Wearing the mask is stuffy and bad for your wounds. Don’t wear it when no one’s around.” Fu Chen didn’t care if Shao Huachi understood, placing the mask on the table.

The unblemished half of Shao Huachi’s face looked at Fu Chen in confusion. 

The candlelight illuminated his porcelain-like face, and his clear eyes seemed to see into one’s soul. From their first meeting, Fu Chen noticed the prince’s penetrating gaze. 

If he had been a young wolf before, he now seemed like a puppy, making Fu Chen not regret his actions today.

Though he was past the age of impulsiveness, it didn’t mean he could completely suppress his humanity.

He took out an oil-paper package, releasing a faint fragrance of peach blossom cakes. Fu Chen usually ate little to avoid indigestion, carrying some food for emergencies.

The cakes weren’t from the usual meals but from a food box sent by Mo Hua. In modern times, people might scorn accepting food from someone with ulterior motives, but having experienced hunger so severe it felt like his stomach was digesting itself, Fu Chen knew that pride couldn’t fill an empty stomach in the palace.

He looked up to see Shao Huachi’s eyes light up at the sight of food, hesitating because Fu Chen had stopped him from eating the rice earlier.

Fu Chen smiled, poured a cup of water, and broke off a small piece to feed him, worried he might choke.

Shao Huachi’s mouth, affected by the tumors, was cracked and swollen. The slightest movement could tear the wounds, causing blood to gush out.

Fu Chen fed him carefully, avoiding the affected side. They cooperated seamlessly, creating a touching scene in the candlelight. After feeding Shao Huachi all the cakes, the prince burped cutely, leaning against Fu Chen, drowsy.

Even a foolish child knows who won’t hurt them, and happy emotions linger in their mind. Fu Chen stayed, letting Shao Huachi lean on him, ignoring the foul smell. The prince’s furry head rubbed against his neck, tickling and warming him.

A powerless, foolish prince made Fu Chen feel at ease. In the palace, only fools and madmen could give him a sense of security.

Once Shao Huachi was asleep, Fu Chen returned to the dining hall, meeting the spirited Ye Xin.

Ye Xin, once the foster son of their steward Mu Ruida, had switched allegiance to Li Xiangying. With Li’s favor, Ye Xin had risen to a senior eunuch, a fourth-rank position, higher than the others.

Seeing Fu Chen, Ye Xin smiled, “Isn’t this Fu Chen? I heard your little follower got into trouble and ascended to heaven. Did you cry your heart out at midnight? Tsk tsk tsk~~”

The “little follower” referred to Chen Zuoren, who had left a month ago. Fu Chen knew Chen had been temporarily reassigned to deliver lychees, taking Ye Xin’s original task and becoming a scapegoat.

It is said that Wang Fugui reminded Fu Chen to be careful of Ye Xin because this person was vindictive and would say a lot of flattering words to his superiors, but when it came to people of lower status than himself, he would completely change his attitude. Of course, there was always a shortage of such people in the palace, but Fu Chen replaced Ye Xin’s position to serve Mu Ruida, which was not pleasing to Ye Xin.

Ye Xin’s group of eunuchs laughed, and Wang Fugui rushed over to shield the smaller Fu Chen, knowing he would suffer against Ye Xin.

“Ye Xin, we don’t interfere with each other. You have your own path, but don’t mess with us!” Wang Fugui’s large frame and fierce expression made him look intimidating.

Ye Xin laughed, “Such deep friendship, I’m touched.”

His fake smile and sharp voice were grating.

A young eunuch ran in, whispering to Ye Xin, who turned pale and left without further words.

Before leaving, he smiled at the group, “Tomorrow is inspection day. Enjoy yourselves.”

After Ye Xin left, Wang Fugui’s face relaxed. He checked Fu Chen over, relieved to find nothing wrong, and patted his shoulder, “Glad you’re okay!”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Fu Chen replied, distracted.

“What’s wrong? You look off.”

“You know, inspections are never pleasant.” Fu Chen suppressed his irregular heartbeat, forcing a smile.

Wang Fugui didn’t notice anything amiss, nodding grimly.

Fu Chen ate absentmindedly, thinking about Ye Xin’s parting words. Inspections.

The so-called “Inspections” is a procedure that must be done every six months to check whether the eunuchs have truly undergone castration or whether they are completely “clean”.

It is rumored that there were eunuchs who were not castrated in a certain dynasty. Although rumors are still rumors, the custom of checking the goods has been passed down. After Fu Chen learned about the dynasties in this world, he knew that this kind of thing was fundamentally impossible. In order to ensure the centralization of the emperor’s power and the stability of the harem, some palace rules and laws were gradually improved, and the management of eunuchs was also quite strict. Every year in late spring and early summer, late autumn and early winter is the time for checking.

All eunuchs without rank had to suffer once every six months, which was why Ye Xin, who had just been promoted to the fourth rank, was gloating. Inspection was extremely insulting to every eunuch. Most eunuchs, except those who had to enter the palace because of crimes, were from poor families. Who would be willing to castrate a good child if they could? Castration would be fine, but to have to check one’s own defects every six months was a great shame.

For any eunuch, this is an extremely humiliating process.

But the reason why Fu Chen was solemn was because he was the accident among the accidents that were impossible to happen.

Every six months, this happens again.

He thought that Concubine De wanted to choose him to be a loyal servant, or to send him to another palace as an insider, or maybe she just took a fancy to some qualities he had in the past three years. He never expected that this would be the most obvious answer. If this was the case, he seemed to understand why Concubine De went to so much trouble.

He suddenly remembered that on the way to send Concubine De back to the palace that day, Concubine De very gently asked him about his birthplace and family.

“I… dare not.” Fu Chen suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud, without any hesitation, “The concubine’s body is worth millions of gold, how can it be desecrated.”

In his previous life, he was a psychologist. Although he had the title of doctor, it would be more appropriate to say that he was a psychological counselor. 

He had seen a lot of dirty things, and keeping his mouth shut was his professional ethics. Many of his clients were celebrities, but even these glamorous people always had some shady things that were not visible to the public. 

Perhaps this was also the reason why he changed his career later. He didn’t want to be assimilated.

When living in an environment that is easily corrupted for a long time, sometimes even the original intention will gradually be lost.

The nobles in the palace all regarded eunuchs as slaves and never looked down on them. This was not directed against anyone, but was a habit accumulated over the dynasties. In other dynasties, such things did happen, that is, eunuchs who gained power would let low-ranking and unfavored concubines serve them.

Concubine De was not angry about Fu Chen’s refusal. She seemed to have expected it. Instead, she was more satisfied. This integrity was the most unique feature of this little eunuch. Her hand with the finger gloves stroked Fu Chen’s smooth face.

Fu Chen felt the tip of the fingertip sliding across his skin, close yet not so close, like a sickle dancing on his heart.

“Everyone wants power, don’t you?”

“Do you know why I chose you? You have a pair of eyes that are beyond your age, and they contain desires that you are not even aware of.”

“You are in a state like this, and you have better options. I can give them to you.”

“You are a smart person and you know what to choose.”

A series of words can arouse people’s most potential desires.

Fu Chen remained silent, listening to Concubine De’s words, every word hitting his heart. Concubine De stood up, graceful and elegant, her breath slowly sprayed on Fu Chen’s neck. Fu Chen couldn’t help but shudder, she chuckled and said: “I once had a lover, he was the same age as you when I met him, you have eyes that hide secrets, you have such a cautious temperament, you have such a beautiful and clean appearance, at that time I was a concubine’s daughter and was placed in an old house in the countryside and no one cared about me, until the emperor issued an imperial decree, my family sent me to the palace out of gratitude, and later learned that I was in love with him, and actually sent him to the palace.”

There was only one path for men sent to the palace.

The family of Concubine De is really cruel. This does not just cut off any possibility.

Fu Chen just learned about Concubine De’s past. He looked confused and asked, “What happened to him later…”

“Died.”

Fu Chen didn’t ask how he died, and Concubine De obviously didn’t want to say.

“I’ll give you some time to think about it. I pity you and won’t force you.”

“If I hear any rumors about what happened today, your family members outside the palace will be implicated as well.”

“Go down, I’m tired.”

Finally, he walked out of Fuxi Palace in a daze under the lazy expulsion of Concubine De.

He believed that any eunuch who could catch the eye of the noble master would be eager to agree.

He did not agree immediately, perhaps because Concubine De saw him as ungrateful.

Concubine De was willing to risk implicating her entire clan in order to displease the emperor. How deep of a hatred was this?

She also thought of the reputation and connections that Concubine De had in the palace. Although the emperor never stayed overnight with her, he always showed her great favor.

He suddenly felt a chill running up from the soles of his feet.

Is it up to him to be a woman’s exclusive lover, a male favorite who relies on his master’s face?

He is even worse than a male favorite. In everyone’s eyes, he is now just a eunuch.

He suffered a stomach cramp and fell to the ground in the corner of the palace path and hid in the bushes. All the food that was still being digested in his stomach was regurgitated.

He had vomited until there was nothing left, but he was still retching, tears filling his eyes, and the touch of the woman’s touch seemed to remain on his face and chest, and his throat was burning. Their age difference was almost two generations, and he thought of a popular saying in modern times: no matter how old a man is, he will always like a girl in her twenties.

Perhaps, this law also applies to women. In this lonely palace, they always have to find some fun.

Does he have to be grateful just because he has the chance to be a part of the fun?

What kind of logic is this! He even wanted to tear off the smiling face of that woman.

Fu Chen staggered out from behind the bushes, not noticing the pair of calm and holy eyes behind him. It was the Third Prince who had been away for a long time.

Shao Anlin walked out leisurely from not far away and looked in the direction where Fu Chen left.

Fu Chen was a well-behaved person. No matter how upset he was, he would not vent it. He came out of Fuxi Palace and walked towards Jianlan Garden.

But when passing by a palace, he heard sounds of laughter and cursing from inside.

“Hey, idiot, come over to Grandpa’s crotch.”

“Hahahaha, come and pick it up, you idiot is really stupid!”

A disheveled, disheveled man screamed and shouted something as he rushed out of the door and bumped into Fu Chen who was coming towards him.

When Fu Chen came back to his senses, he noticed a pair of familiar eyes. It was the Seventh Prince who once punished him to kneel under the scorching sun: Shao Huachi.

Hearing the sound of pursuit from behind, Shao Huachi, who had bumped into someone in front, didn’t seem to notice Fu Chen and just ran forward.

Fu Chen suppressed his shock and turned around without even thinking, hiding behind a pillar. Soon the two eunuchs inside chased out, brought the seemingly crazy Shao Huachi in, closed the palace gates, and isolated him from the outside world.

Fu Chen looked inside through the hollow patterns on the wall and saw Shao Huachi’s eyes were distracted, his expression was dull and he was grinning foolishly. 

His clothes were still a little muddy. He seemed to see Fu Chen looking here and laughed in this direction. He looked completely different from the arrogant and forbearing prince he had seen before. 

Fu Chen had heard a month ago that the seventh prince had a fever after falling into the water. After that, he was delirious with fever and the imperial physician was helpless. Although he was saved, he became stupid. 

The emperor, who originally disliked Concubine Li and her son, wanted to remove them from the list of princes, but was stopped by the kind-hearted empress and ministers and gave up. In the end, he gave them to the empress to raise.

However, Fu Chen knew that the reason why the emperor was so cruel was probably because he still thought that the seventh prince was not his own child.

This palace is usually deserted, so no one knows what the empress wants to do. These eunuchs were probably sent by the empress to deliver meals.

“What is he looking at! Is there anyone there?” One of the horse-faced eunuchs looked in Fu Chen’s direction and found nothing.

“What’s the big deal? Why are you arguing with a fool?” The thin eunuch pulled him back and took a look outside.

The horse-faced eunuch slapped Shao Huachi loudly with great force.

Soon the half mask fell off, and the two eunuchs were so scared when they saw the ghostly side that they grabbed each other.

“Ghost!”

“too disgusting!”

“This ghost face actually has the nerve to live in this world!”

“No wonder Concubine Li entered Jingyang Palace. It must be the work of this half-human, half-ghost thing. What a jinx!”

“Your Majesty is too kind to keep such a thing in the palace.”

While they were cursing, they didn’t know that Fu Chen behind the wall was holding on to his clothes. Jinx, a familiar name, used to be a Jinx, a synonym for disaster. He killed his father, mother, wife and children, and was a complete loner. Even he himself would doubt whether he really killed everyone around him.

The half of Shao Huachi’s ghost face was now even more horrible. Half of his eye had been squeezed by the swollen abscess. The abscess seemed to be torn due to the force just now, and black and purple pus flowed out. On the other hand, the other side was as beautiful as a banished immortal. It was no wonder that the huge difference between the two sides could scare people to faint.

These two eunuchs had seen bloody scenes before, so they suppressed their nausea and approached Shao Huachi again.

The horse-faced eunuch turned his face away, and grabbed Shao Huachi’s hair fiercely with a fierce look of malice, “I’ll let you look around, I’ll let you show your face, I’ll let you laugh! Laugh, laugh, laugh, keep laughing!”

Shao Huachi screamed in pain and looked really in agony.

The horse-faced eunuch seemed to have found some pleasure. As a servant who had been bullied in every way, he could one day surpass his master and vent all his negative emotions on him, especially on the arrogant Seventh Prince.

The horse-faced eunuch threw the rice bowl to the ground, and held Shao Huachi’s head down with one hand, so that the vegetables and rice were all over his face. Shao Huachi’s back was pressed, his hands were flying in the air, and he was making a “wuwuwu” sound from his mouth. It looked like he was really suffocating.

“Hey, you’re almost there. The empress only asked us to test whether he is really stupid. After all, he is a prince. If he goes too far, he will be punished.” The thin eunuch next to him pulled him to prevent him from killing anyone. After all, he is a prince.

“What are you afraid of? He is not the seventh prince now. He is not even as good as us.” The horse-faced eunuch was fearless.

This was true. It was said that after Concubine Li was banished to the cold palace, the Emperor had originally ignored the Seventh Prince. Unexpectedly, the Empress was so kind that she offered to raise the Seventh Prince, who was said to be the reincarnation of a disaster star. There were even rumors in the palace that the Empress was a fairy who had descended to the earth and was very compassionate.

Thanks to the thin eunuch’s obstruction, the horse-faced eunuch did not kill the man after all.

He suddenly laughed evilly, as if he had thought of a good idea, and poked the person next to him, “I said, hold him down.”

“What are you going to do?” The thin eunuch glanced at the ghost-faced eunuch, his face turned pale. He was not as interested as the horse-faced eunuch and just wanted to leave quickly.

“Hold him down, and then…” The horse-faced eunuch opened his legs and pointed at his crotch, “Let him crawl over.”

“Are you… crazy? He is the prince!”

“What’s wrong with the prince? If I can get the prince to crawl under my crotch in this life, I will be honored even when I die!”

The eunuch with the thin face didn’t agree at first. He wouldn’t even dare to think about such a disrespectful thing. But then he became tempted. This was the prince!

Suddenly, at this moment, a voice of greeting was heard, but it was too far away to be clearly heard.

The two eunuchs quickly suppressed the malice on their faces, quickly cleaned up the ground, and rudely picked the food off the Seventh Prince’s face. At the same time, they grabbed a few strands of his hair, and hurried out of the palace without paying any attention to the screaming Seventh Prince.

Fu Chen waited for about a cup of tea, and only walked in after making sure that the two people would not come back.

Just now he was not sure whether shouting greetings could divert the two eunuchs, and fortunately they were already guilty.

He approached Shao Huachi gently, but found that the young man had his head down, completely immersed in his own world, fiddling with his clothes, and did not notice Fu Chen. He approached and gently patted his back, shouting, “Seventh Prince?”

The ghost’s face was facing Fu Chen, but having seen far more horrible things in his previous life, he did not show any disgust. Instead, he took the cloth he carried with him and gently wiped off the blood.

Fu Chen could not see any disguise in that look. He knew that some people who were good at disguise and anti-reconnaissance could confuse the line of sight and act so well that they could even fool themselves. He once assisted the police and provided psychological counseling for a criminal who used to be a professor of criminal psychology. 

The negotiation process was not smooth. Fu Chen was brought into the other party’s world many times when he came into contact with the other party.

But he didn’t think that Shao Huachi, who was still a teenager, had the ability to make the fake look real.

At least for now, in his judgment, Shao Huachi should have really been burned into an idiot.

Fu Chen wasn’t visiting Fuxi Palace for the first time, yet he showed no curiosity.

He kept his gaze straight ahead, not even glancing at Mo Hua beside him.

Mo Hua observed Fu Chen along the way. This rule-abiding little eunuch, with his nervous demeanor, easily garnered goodwill. People liked those who wore their emotions on their sleeves, such individuals were easy to read and get along with. “Don’t be nervous. Our lady is known for her kindness. Just relax.”

Over the past month, they had met several times. Mo Hua had a good impression of this polite and discerning eunuch. The palace was never short of ambitious individuals or smooth talkers, but it was rare to find someone who climbed the ranks in a way that made others comfortable. Mo Hua found this little eunuch pleasing to the eye.

Fu Chen seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, perfectly embodying the role of a naive eunuch suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

His cheeks were flushed, and though he was timid, he tried to remain calm. “Miss Mo Hua, do you know why the lady wants to see me? I’m afraid I might offend her due to my ignorance of the rules.”

“Actually, I don’t know either,” she admitted. Although Consort De was kind, her kindness wasn’t a reason for them to overstep boundaries. “I haven’t heard the lady mention anything.”

Fu Chen discreetly imprinted Mo Hua’s expressions in his mind. Her puzzled eyes and subtle expressions indicated she truly didn’t know. This was a professional habit, he had encountered various patients, some adept at hiding their true feelings, requiring him to capture fleeting micro-expressions.

At the palace gate, they encountered An Zhonghai, the chief eunuch known as Master Hai, who had once pleaded for Chen Zuoren and others.

“Oh, a new face. Is Fuxi Palace getting a new member?” With the triennial selection approaching, Master Hai was here to discuss matters with Consort De. He had just left the palace gate when he met Mo Hua and Fu Chen. Consort De preferred quiet, and since the time when Emperor Jin Cheng was still a prince, her courtyard hadn’t added any new servants. Hence, Master Hai’s question.

“Not at all. The lady noticed this little eunuch’s skill in making kou dan and asked me to bring him to see if he truly has the talent.”

Master Hai, recalling that Consort De had just been washing her kou dan, smiled. “Then hurry in, don’t delay the lady’s time.”

“Greetings, Master Hai.” Fu Chen greeted him only after they finished speaking.

Master Hai didn’t respond, just smiled and left.

Fu Chen waited outside the palace gate for Consort De’s message. At that moment, a striking figure approached along the palace path.

The young man wasn’t wearing a prince’s robe but a blue brocade robe. His features were delicate, his skin like porcelain, and a serene smile graced his face. Anyone who met his gaze felt a sense of peace. He seemed to exude a holy aura, as if he was favored by the heavens. He was the third prince, Shao Anlin, born to Consort De. 

Frail since birth, he was once predicted not to live past twelve. The emperor, deeply fond of him, sent him to a temple until he was twelve, after which he studied under the imperial master. He had an extraordinary aura and was a popular candidate for the next imperial master. He was also one of the few princes not yet betrothed, making him a sought-after ally among the other princes.

Humans are complex beings. Even with a background in psychology, Fu Chen couldn’t read many people. For those who seemed perfect like saints, Fu Chen was particularly cautious, making himself appear like any other eunuch awed by the third prince’s demeanor. When the prince approached, Fu Chen hurriedly knelt, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Throughout, the third prince didn’t spare Fu Chen a glance, walking past him as greetings echoed around.

About a quarter of an hour later, the third prince left Consort De’s quarters, and Fu Chen was summoned inside.

The air was thick with the scent of flowers, refreshing and soothing. Several palace maids surrounded Consort De, washing her hands and handing her towels.

Consort De’s slender hands stroked the cat in her lap, her jade-like fingers weaving through its white fur. Just by looking at her hands, one couldn’t tell she was over thirty. The cat, Consort De’s beloved pet, meowed upon seeing Fu Chen. It was said that cats could see spirits, and Fu Chen amused himself with the thought that it might see through his otherworldly soul.

Fu Chen didn’t look at Consort De, who sat at the head, keeping his head bowed. “Greetings, my lady.”

“Rise. Do you know how to make kou dan?” Consort De’s voice was gentle and elegant.

Recalling Mo Hua’s words at the palace gate, Fu Chen calmly replied, “Yes, I do.”

“Oh? If you’re pretending, I will punish you.” Her tone remained light and graceful, exuding a noble and serene demeanor, making one marvel that only such a person could have a son like the third prince.

“Please allow me to demonstrate, my lady.” He respectfully replied, not noticing Mo Hua’s approving glance.

It was almost certain that if he had said no, he would have been dragged out for deceit. The palace valued adaptability.

At this moment, even if he didn’t know, he had to act like he did. Fortunately, the process wasn’t difficult; the key was to mix the petals’ color evenly.

Kou dan, often made from the petals of the thousand-layer red flower, was also known as thousand-layer red, and in modern times, it was called nail polish. This trend of dyeing nails started in the early Jin Dynasty and quickly spread from the palace to the outside world, with countless women imitating it. 

Women loved beauty and used it to showcase their status. The steps in this era were similar to what Fu Chen had read in books. He was grateful for his photographic memory. He bowed and placed the bright red petals on the table into a ceramic mortar, using a tool to crush them. His long, fair fingers created a striking contrast against the red petals, exuding a captivating allure.

Consort De watched as the little eunuch added alum to the mortar, grinding the petal mixture with even force. It was a meticulous task; too much force would make the color too dark, too little wouldn’t soak through. Maintaining consistent pressure required great patience and focus. Fu Chen soaked silk sheets in the petal mixture, waiting for them to be fully saturated.

Throughout the process, the palace maids around Consort De were astonished. They hadn’t expected the little eunuch to not only know how but also to perform like an expert. Even the palace maids specializing in kou dan didn’t have Fu Chen’s fluidity and grace.

In his youth, Fu Chen had loved the art of tea, an art that shared similarities with this task. The elegance and steadiness in his movements made them pleasing to the eye. Just by watching, one could tell he was skilled.

“Please raise your hand, my lady.” Seeing Consort De extend her well-maintained hand, Fu Chen knew he had been acknowledged. Throughout history, pretending to be more capable than one required a certain foundation. “I have overstepped the bounds.”

“No matter, take a seat.” Consort De placed one hand on the table, the other stroking her cat.

“Thank you, my lady.” Fu Chen sat down, carefully holding Consort De’s cool hand, and began to apply the color to her nails.

The cat, with its icy blue eyes, seemed curious about Fu Chen. It stood up from Consort De’s lap and nestled into Fu Chen’s arms.

Fu Chen didn’t dare move, letting the cat roll around on his clothes. The palace maids around Consort De chuckled at the sight.

“This little one is usually so aloof, yet it seems to like you,” Consort De remarked as Fu Chen finished the kou dan and stood respectfully to the side.

Fu Chen broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly expressing his humility.

Consort De smiled warmly, handing the cat to Mo Zhu, a palace maid similar to Mo Hua.

Consort De gracefully waved her hand, and all the palace maids bowed and left.

The air still carried the lingering floral scent, but Fu Chen felt inexplicably anxious. Only he and Consort De remained in the room.

Of course, the area was cleared of people, ensuring that any conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

“Sit,” Consort De said, her warm smile hinting at something Fu Chen couldn’t quite discern.

This was Consort De’s domain. Fu Chen knew the earlier display was for outsiders; now came the real purpose of his visit. He thanked her and sat down again.

“Are you wondering why I had Mo Hua bring you food boxes?” Consort De’s smile was as radiant as a flower, her voice growing softer.

Her tone and pitch changed, indicating she was weighing something, hesitating.

“Your servant is foolish. Please enlighten me, my lady.” Fu Chen thought to himself that the food boxes were indeed Consort De’s orders, but he couldn’t fathom why.

If she simply needed someone, it would have been easy for someone of her status to instruct her attendants to have the Internal Affairs Office assign someone. As Master Hai had mentioned earlier, the palace staff changed every few months, with each palace regularly selecting new servants for the masters. There was no need for a palace maid to repeatedly curry favor. In simple terms, a little eunuch wasn’t worth such effort from a master.

“What do you think it is?” Consort De nodded at the eunuch’s polite response, seemingly making a decision.

“I dare not speculate on your intentions, my lady,” Fu Chen said, keeping his head lowered.

In the palace, servants were not allowed to look directly at their masters unless permitted.

Suddenly, those delicate hands covered Fu Chen’s clenched fists on his knees. His heart skipped a beat, feeling as if a snake had slithered up, its cold skin pressed against his. For the first time, he looked up in shock, directly at Consort De.

Consort De smiled sweetly, not reprimanding Fu Chen for his rudeness. That smile, on her elegant face, had an unexpected allure, different from her usual demeanor. No one would have imagined this was the dignified and graceful Consort De. Her red lips parted slightly, “I need someone close to me. What do you think?”

Consort De didn’t even use “this palace” to refer to herself, looking at Fu Chen with a half-smile, making the meaning of her words unmistakably clear.

She had taken a liking to him—not for his abilities or character, but for his youthful appearance!

Of all the possibilities he had considered, this was the most unlikely.

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.”

When Fu Chen and his companions arrived, the courtyard was already filled with people, all standing in an orderly manner, holding their breath and lowering their heads.

Influenced by this atmosphere, they joined the queue, and Fu Chen quietly observed through the crowd.

Li Xiangying stood at the forefront. The other chief eunuchs had not yet arrived, and Fu Chen did not see their Master, Mu Ruida. Either he was still on duty or he had tacitly acknowledged Li Xiangying as the main executor for today.

Through the corridor, several soldiers specializing in punishment came, carrying instruments of torture. The crowd made way, creating a sense of disorder.

Fu Chen tore open the inner lining of his chest and took out the silver he had saved, discreetly approaching Li Xiangying.

Wang Fugui, standing beside him, saw Fu Chen’s actions but was too late to stop him.

He knew that this savings was what Fu Chen had accumulated over the past three years for his parents back home.

In the Jin Dynasty, eunuchs without rank received a salary equivalent to that of a fourth-rank eunuch, with a monthly silver of one tael, one dou of rice, and three hundred wen of copper coins. Over the past three years, Fu Chen had saved some money after deducting expenses for filial piety, illness, and various bribes, but today, all of it would be spent.

Li Xiangying did not have a bad impression of the little eunuch who had opened the door for him last night. “What, do you also want to try the taste of bamboo shoots and meat?”

“Master Li, please don’t scare me. I’ve been timid since I was a child.” Fu Chen quickly made an appropriate expression. As a former psychologist, he knew better than most when to make what expression to make the other person accept him more quickly. It was a subtle influence.

Seeing Fu Chen’s pale face and eyes full of fear, Li Xiangying’s expression softened slightly. “Speak, what do you want from me?”

“Master Li, could you show mercy? This is my tribute to you.” Almost as soon as he saw Li Xiangying supervising the punishment, Fu Chen guessed that today’s incident involving Chen Zuoren was designed by this eunuch. It was a bloodless move that not only got him noticed by Concubine Qi but also made the other little eunuchs think that it was Chen Zuoren, who was ordered to deliver lychees, who had harmed them all. After receiving the punishment, the blame would naturally fall on Chen Zuoren. Now, supervising the punishment in front of all the eunuchs further demonstrated who was in charge of the prison courtyard, achieving multiple goals.

Li Xiangying, seeing how perceptive Fu Chen was, smiled and accepted the tribute.

Most eunuchs loved money. They have no roots and no ties, only silver could provide them with enough security, both spiritually and materially.

Originally, among the few little eunuchs who went yesterday, he had not planned to spare Chen Zuoren and Fu Chen, the two leaders. But later, he thought that this little eunuch, Fu Chen, was usually clever, pleasant to look at, and articulate. Most importantly, he had never spoken disrespectfully to him and was always very respectful. Such a sensible and not stupid little eunuch, he had the intention to take him under his wing, so he did not send Fu Chen to Concubine Qi.

“That board…”

“Go back to your place. Is this something you should be asking?” Li Xiangying glanced at Fu Chen. “Do you know why I spared you?”

Fu Chen’s heart skipped a beat. “Please enlighten me, Master Li.”

“I like your unpretentious manner, knowing what to say and what not to say.”

“All thanks to your guidance, Master.”

“Get lost and learn how to speak nicely.”

“Are you crazy? You saved up so hard for your parents!” Wang Fugui scolded in a low voice as Fu Chen returned to the queue.

“Money can be saved again, but life is only once.” Fu Chen knew what he was doing.

But the scene that broke Fu Chen’s heart still happened. The soldiers who carried out the punishment usually judged the severity of the punishment by the supervising eunuch’s foot position.

If the feet were apart, it meant inflicting some flesh wounds, not real hits. If the feet were together, it meant no mercy, hitting to death.

And Li Xiangying had no intention of sparing these people’s lives.

The punishment board was made to ancient specifications, five feet long and six inches wide, made of green bamboo. Chen Zuoren and others were brought up, and in the palace, corporal punishment required the removal of pants, which was more humiliating than the punishment itself. In the previous dynasty, palace people had committed suicide out of shame, leading to the collective punishment of their families outside the palace.

So as long as there were attachments, even suicide was not allowed.

The board came down, and the sound of bamboo hitting flesh made the heart tremble.

Cries of pain filled the air, and the shrill sounds would give everyone here nightmares for months.

They had to shout, “Thank you, master, for the reward. The servant knows his mistake!”

If they didn’t shout this, it meant the punished person was not convinced, and the punishment would be heavier.

If Li Xiangying wanted to achieve a deterrent effect, it worked very well.

Many little eunuchs around could not bear the bloody scene. The screams seemed to reflect their own fate. Fu Chen suddenly felt a warmth in his arms. It was the shivering Ji Ke, a child just over six years old. In modern times, he could have a warm home, act willfully, and be a mischievous child, but here he didn’t even dare to cry out loud.

In this early summer season, the two of them huddled together tightly, as if it could make them warmer.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, it’s okay…” Fu Chen whispered, trembling as he covered Ji Ke’s eyes.

It was unclear whether these words were to comfort himself or the child in his arms. This was also the first time Fu Chen felt an unparalleled desire for power.

The punishment ended, but the screams continued to echo in his mind like an illusion.

Li Xiangying went to report to Concubine Qi, and the soldiers who carried out the punishment also left. Only then did Fu Chen and the others seem to come to life. Chen Zuoren, due to the severe pain and shouting, had a bloody mouth, and his lower body was even more unbearable to look at. He rolled off the punishment board onto the ground, crawling towards Fu Chen with his elbows, leaving two trails of blood.

Fu Chen stumbled over, gently holding Chen Zuoren, but even this gentle action made Chen Zuoren suffer immensely.

“Chen, Chen…” Chen Zuoren’s face was ashen, his breath weak, completely devoid of the vitality and curses of the day.

“I’m here!” Tears welled up in Fu Chen’s eyes.

He remembered the first day he entered the palace, meeting Chen Zuoren, who had been sold into the palace by his parents. Unlike Fu Chen, Chen Zuoren cursed and swore all the way, saying he would one day become a person of high status, making those who abandoned him regret it. He wanted to live in a palace, serve noble masters, and after being released by the court, buy two bowls of soy milk for Fu Chen, drink one, and pour one. He would warm Fu Chen when he was frozen in winter, demand medicine from the imperial hospital when Fu Chen was feverish, and sneak some midnight snacks for Fu Chen after fire inspections. This person always had a sharp tongue but a straightforward and soft heart.

“He lied about the time… I was framed…”

“I know…” Tears filled Fu Chen’s eyes, hot tears dripping onto Chen Zuoren’s face.

“Don’t cry… it’s ugly.” He reached out, touching Fu Chen’s face, as if cherishing its warmth.

“It will be okay. I will heal you. Don’t forget you promised to buy me soy milk. We agreed!”

“It’s no use…” Chen Zuoren’s eyes gradually dimmed, lifeless, reflecting no light. He tightly held Fu Chen’s hand. “Promise me, live well for me.”

“…Okay.” Fu Chen’s lips were bitten, the taste of iron filling his mouth, but he felt nothing. He couldn’t even hear the crying around him.

“My silver is at the bottom of the second cabinet, all for you.” Chen Zuoren’s voice grew weaker. 

“Eat candied haws for me… I’ve never seen them, really want to eat…”

“…Okay! Stop talking…”

“I heard the Jin Dynasty is vast, with deserts, mountains, and waterfalls. It must be beautiful… I want to see it…Please do it for me…” Chen Zuoren knew he had to speak now or it would be too late.

“Okay, okay!” Fu Chen’s voice was hoarse, his chest feeling like a thousand-pound stone was pressing on it. His tears flowed more and more, sliding down his face, continuously falling. “I promise everything!”

The hot tears fell on Chen Zuoren’s face and neck. He smiled, blood at the corners of his mouth like red plum blossoms in the snow.

Someone in this world still cares about him. This life was not in vain.

“One last request, Chenzi, give me a quick death, it hurts so much…”

This was Chen Zuoren’s last request. He was in unbearable pain, his lower body almost completely broken, bones and flesh a mess of red and white.

These words were a heavy hammer, shattering Fu Chen’s expression. “I can’t do it…” How could he bear to do it?

His choked voice sounded as if something was stuck in his throat, rough and muffled. He covered his eyes with his hands, and tears seeped through his fingers.

“Please, Chenzi, please…” Wang Fugui gritted his teeth and knocked Chen Zuoren unconscious. Chen Zuoren’s hand slipped weakly from Fu Chen’s grasp.

Fu Chen’s shoulder was gripped by Wang Fugui, but through his tears, there was a hint of determination. “Chenzi, you can’t do this.”

A friend who was about to leave and one who was still alive—naturally, the latter should be saved.

If Fu Chen handled it, he would be implicated as well. Both suicide and homicide were crimes here, and no one would ask for the reasons.

The execution soldiers appeared, and Fu Chen wiped the moisture from his face. “Fugui, do you have any silver on you?”

“You don’t mean to…” Wang Fugui knew from Fu Chen’s expression.

Despite Fu Chen’s usual quiet demeanor, he was the most loyal. Wang Fugui sighed.

“Your nature will be your downfall someday.” He stuffed the silver into Fu Chen’s hand. “I’ll lend it to you.”

“Thanks.” When the soldiers were about to drag Chen Zuoren away, Fu Chen stopped them. 

“Wait, where are you taking him?”

“To the morgue, of course.”

“But he’s not dead yet!” a young eunuch exclaimed.

The soldiers looked impatient. Doing this kind of work every day had long worn away their compassion.

Chen Zuoren had already fainted from the soldiers’ actions, barely breathing.

The soldiers suddenly noticed something unusual behind them. Turning around, they saw a delicate young man kneeling on the ground, his face blurred with tears, but his bright eyes were unmistakable. His calm voice was soothing, “Please, sir, give him his final dignity and let him leave with his body intact.”

Many people knelt down. Fu Chen handed over the silver. “Gentlemen, I hope you will allow me to accompany him.”

The soldier weighed the silver in his hand, satisfied, and smirked. “Strange things happen every year, and we’re not afraid of bad luck.”

Another soldier came down the corridor, and Fu Chen vaguely saw the hem of Li Xiangying’s robe, his heart sinking.

“The Empress is pregnant today, and we must avoid any clashes. He must not die until after midnight.”

This meant that even though he wouldn’t survive the hour, they would do everything to make him last until the designated time, making his final moments worse than death. This was a punishment more terrifying than execution.

Fu Chen felt the world spinning around him.