007: I am a eunuch and have no interest in men.

It was only because I recognized Long Zhan that I was able to piece some things together. As long as no one knew who killed Eunuch He, it was unlikely that anyone would guess the truth behind it all. Especially when I recalled the conversation I overheard between two young eunuchs before I discovered Eunuch He’s corpse. I suspected that the Empress had deliberately made a scene before His Majesty, perhaps hoping to suppress the Empress Dowager. Yet who would have expected that Eunuch He would end up having his household raided by Long Zhan, and in the end, it was the Empress who was punished. In this battle, the Empress Dowager neither appeared nor lost or won, while the Empress was thoroughly defeated. Yet the biggest winner was the Emperor himself. If my guess was correct, then all of this was a drama orchestrated by the Emperor, either to teach the Empress a lesson or to truly eliminate Eunuch He.

But besides those reasons, did the Emperor have other motives as well?

Thinking back to last night, when I encountered Long Zhan, the things I said to him shouldn’t have tempted him at all. Yet he chose to spare me, not because he was reluctant to kill again, but perhaps he simply couldn’t be bothered to do it himself and preferred to let me fend for myself. I couldn’t make sense of Long Zhan, and decided not to dwell on it.

Only now did I finally understand what Ming He meant when she spoke to me yesterday—she was clearly hinting that I must “remember” something. Unfortunately, I said nothing in the end, and I might have offended the Empress’s side because of it.

“What are you thinking about?” Yun Qing suddenly asked.

I was startled, then quickly replied, “I was just thinking how someone should die so suddenly, and now there will be no investigation.”

Yun Qing said, “People die in this palace every day. You’ll grow used to it in time. There are some things we cannot change.”

“Mm.” I could only nod, unable to describe what I felt inside.

“Good thing you kept your mouth shut just now. I’ll be able to report back to Her Ladyship.”

“Aunt, I really didn’t see anything.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you saw anything or not. The point is, you mustn’t speak of it. In this palace, no matter what you see, if it’s not your place to speak, then don’t. That’s the only way to keep your head on your shoulders, understood?”

“Yes, I’ll remember your teaching.”

“Go get some rest after this. You look awful. Were you frightened just now? Child, how old are you?”

“I’m fourteen.”

“Why did you come to the palace?”

My heart tightened. Yun Qing was probably asking out of concern, but I still had to be careful with my answers. “My family was poor. My parents couldn’t support me, so they entrusted me to Eunuch He.”

“So what is your relation to Eunuch He? Are you from Jiangnan as well?”

“Yes. My parents met Eunuch He when the selection of court ladies happened. I’d never seen him before, but my parents told me to call him Uncle Eunuch He, so I did.”

“Very well. Now that you’re in Cuiwei Palace, just do your work diligently. Loyalty and good service are the only things you need to focus on. Her Ladyship may have a temper, but she means no harm. Just be alert.”

“Yes!”

When we returned to Cuiwei Palace, Yun Qing had a maid lead me to my quarters while she went inside, probably to report to Lady Zhang about what had happened in Chengqian Palace.

Having not slept well last night, I fell into bed and slept straight through the day. By the time I woke up, night had already fallen. My stomach was so empty I couldn’t bear it, so I got up at once.

I’d never been in the palace before, but I’d heard my father talk about how strict the palace rules were. Meeting someone as caring as Yun Qing warmed my heart.

I made my way to the small kitchen, hoping to find something to eat, and happened to see a young maid from Cuiwei Palace fetching hot water.

Seeing that she was about to carry a large bucket, I hurried over to help her. But she had already lifted it and, upon turning around, was so startled to see me right behind her that she dropped the unsteady bucket onto her foot.

“Ah…” She fell to the ground, her face contorted in pain.

“Are you all right?” I rushed to her side and helped her sit down. She took off her shoes and socks, revealing a swollen, red foot. “I’m truly sorry. I only meant to help, but ended up scaring you instead.”

The maid was only a few years older than I, and whether from the pain or the spilled water, she started to cry.

“Sister, don’t cry! Does it hurt a lot?” I moved closer to massage her foot. When I was at home, I often ended up scalded, forced by my stepmother to do rough chores, so I knew a few ways to ease the pain.

But as soon as I reached out, she recoiled in alarm. “What are you doing? If anyone sees us, we’ll both be in trouble!”

I wanted to explain, but suddenly realized that as a eunuch, I was still half a man. If a eunuch and a maid were found in a compromising situation, it would be grounds for punishment.

To avoid trouble, it was best not to get too close to anyone.

I withdrew my hand and said, “You should go rest. I’ll finish your work.”

“But…”

“No buts. You can’t carry water like this, can you? Where does this water need to go?”

“It’s for the Ninth Prince’s bath.”

“Oh?”

That inscrutable young prince?

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Since I’d already agreed, I couldn’t back out. “I saw the Ninth Prince this morning. He seemed a bit strict. I’m new here and afraid of making mistakes.”

The maid said, “It’s not our place to judge our masters. Just serve him dutifully and things will be fine.”

“You’re right.”

I drew fresh water. Despite my small build, years of “training” under my stepmother had made me quite strong.

As I carried the water away, the maid called after me, “Thank you. What’s your name?”

“I’m Little Xiao. And you?”

“I’m Hongxiu. You can call me Sister Hongxiu, or just Hongxiu.”

“Then Sister Hongxiu it is.” I gave her a sweet smile. Hongxiu smiled back, saying, “You’re really quite handsome. If you hadn’t entered the palace, you’d surely have grown into a charming young gentleman.”

“Sister Hongxiu, you’re beautiful too.”

She laughed again, covering her lips. “Go on now. Don’t keep the young master waiting.”

“All right.”

Only when I left did I realize I didn’t know where Jiang Xuan lived. Luckily, another maid, Lanyan, pointed me in the right direction.

When I arrived, the door was closed and candlelight flickered inside.

“Ninth Prince, your servant has brought hot water.”

“Hurry up and come in!”

“Yes, sir.”

I pushed the door open and entered, finding Jiang Xuan in a white silk robe, looking just as intimidating as he had that morning. I quickly averted my gaze and poured the hot water. Just as I was about to leave with the bucket, he called out, “Where’s Hongxiu?”

“She—oh, in answer to Your Highness, she was injured, so I came to serve you.”

“In that case, why are you leaving?”

I froze.

“Well? Hurry up!”

Hurry up and do what? As I hesitated, I saw Jiang Xuan undressing.

I turned my back immediately, and soon heard the sound of him stepping into the water.

“Are you waiting for me to do it myself?” His voice was commanding.

I had no choice but to turn around, only to be confronted by the sight of his bare chest, reddened by the steam.

“Ah!” I yelped, covering my eyes and spinning away.

“Get over here!” he ordered with authority. “We all have the same things—why cover your eyes? Oh—” He suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “Some things you, of course, do not have!”

After a few more words from him, I gradually calmed myself. I was a eunuch now, neither man nor woman! He was the Ninth Prince, and if I gave myself away now, it would be the end.

A woman disguised as a man, posing as a eunuch, living in the inner palace—any one of these would be a capital crime. My only goal was to survive.

After all, I’d seen the steward’s son naked as a child. This was no different.

Nothing to fear. With that thought, I turned around. “Your Highness startled me with your beauty, that’s all. Please don’t be offended.”

“Do all you eunuchs have strange preferences?” He looked at me with disdain.

What was he thinking? Did he believe I liked men? My true self certainly did, but I could not admit that now!

I hurriedly explained, “Your Highness misunderstands. As a eunuch, I have no interest in men. Nor in women, for that matter.”

He looked at me coldly and let out a short laugh. “Just get on with it.”

“Yes, sir!”

How was I supposed to do this? Well, I’d just have to manage.

Despite bracing myself, I kept my eyes closed as I washed his back. If I could avoid looking, I would. After all, I was still an untouched maiden!

“The front.”

“Yes!” I moved around to the front, head lowered, eyes shut, washing him as best I could.

“Raise your head. Open your eyes!” His tone brooked no argument.

I obeyed. The steamy air shrouded everything in a dreamlike haze. In that mist, Jiang Xuan’s red lips and white teeth, his peach-blossom face and porcelain skin, seemed almost bewitching.

Lost in thought, I was suddenly splashed with hot water. I shut my eyes and wiped at my face.

“Wretch, if you keep staring at me, I’ll gouge your eyes out!” he snapped.

Who wanted to stare? You were the one forcing me.

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to see him stepping behind the screen to dress. But the flickering candlelight cast his entire silhouette onto the screen. Wait—what was that protruding in the middle?

Realizing what it was, I spun around and clapped my burning face with my hands.

Xiao Zhi, you can forget about getting married.

Not that I ever wanted to marry in the first place.