Scheming Emperor X Hunting Eunuch - Chapter 4

Steward Zhao called over a young servant, and when he returned, he brought unexpected news—the position of tea house steward had been given to someone else.

Before yesterday, they thought it would go to Fei Yuan, later they thought it would be Yanci, but the person who ultimately got the steward position hadn’t even expected it himself.

Steward Zhao only said that Yanci had injured his head and needed proper rest, so they found someone else to temporarily fill in. As for whether the steward position would be returned to him after he recovered, that remained unknown.

Yanci’s situation became awkward.

Previously, because he shared quarters with Wu Luo, Fei Yuan had spread rumors about him everywhere. Combined with his honest and simple nature, his reluctance to argue with others, and his allowing them to slander him, everyone looked down on him even though they all knew the affair between him and Wu Luo was fabricated. Later, when the room was given up, their attitude had just begun to improve because he was about to become steward, but now the position had fallen to someone else, naturally making him a laughingstock.

Pei Yanci completely ignored their thoughts and slept in bed for an entire day. Steward Zhao had given him half a month’s leave, which he was happy to enjoy. He even used the five taels of silver Zhang Huairu had given him to have the small kitchen prepare nourishing soups and medicines for him.

As for repaying Steward Zhao’s money, that was temporarily not within his consideration.

Yesterday, when Steward Zhao suddenly brought up the matter of the debt, he was initially puzzled about why this was suddenly mentioned. After brief contemplation, he understood.

This was blatant extortion, and you couldn’t refuse to acknowledge it.

Because Steward Zhao had been sent by Chief Steward Zhang to test him.

Steward Zhao didn’t care whether Pei Yanci’s amnesia was real or fake; he only saw what benefits he could gain from this situation.

Since he had claimed amnesia before Chief Steward Zhang, and since his belongings had been cleared away completely, there was no evidence to contradict this. Having opened this conversation, he was prepared to make Pei Yanci pay this money no matter what.

If you truly had amnesia, given the original owner’s personality, you would naturally agree to repay this money. If you denied borrowing money from him, regardless of whether this had actually happened, Steward Zhao would tell Chief Steward Zhang that you hadn’t lost your memory because you didn’t pay this hush money.

Then, you would have deceived Chief Steward Zhang.

Pei Yanci didn’t know what the consequences of this would be, but his impression with Chief Steward Zhang would certainly not be good.

After sleeping soundly again, while half-asleep, he heard people talking outside the door. He suddenly awakened and realized they were calling his name.

“Come in,” he called out, rubbing his forehead as he sat up.

This body’s constitution was indeed good—after a day’s rest, he felt much better.

Wushu entered carrying morning wound medicine, followed by a man.

The man was around twenty-five years old, with a goatee, wearing a bamboo-green robe embroidered with white lion patterns. Most striking was his height—Wushu only reached his ribs, and when entering the room, his head nearly hit the top of the door frame.

He bent down to enter the room and smiled at the person on the bed.

“How are you? Is your head feeling better?” the goateed man asked with concern.

“Much better,” Pei Yanci smiled.

“Mr. Yue, don’t mind him,” Wushu said. “Not only did he injure his head, but he lost his steward position too, yet he can still smile. The people outside are saying terrible things—let’s see if you’re still laughing later.”

So this was the Steward Yue that Wushu often mentioned—Yue Ting.

“When the old man lost his horse at the frontier, how could one know it was not a blessing in disguise?”

(TL: 塞翁失马，焉知非福-proverb; means that misfortune may actually lead to good fortune — you never know how things will turn out.)

“You’ve been quite unlucky these past few days. When the fifteenth comes, ask the chief steward for leave and go to a temple outside the city to pray,” Wushu said while quickly unwrapping the old bandages from his head.

“Did Steward Zhao only say I was resting because I injured my head?” Pei Yanci asked. “He didn’t say anything else?”

“What else would there be? What other reason could there be?” Wushu asked strangely.

Pei Yanci didn’t answer.

The three of them chatted intermittently, and before they knew it, the conversation had turned to the master of this residence.

“You two really don’t know anything. At least you’re people of this residence—surely you should know our His Highness’s name is Gu Jiuqing,” Yue Ting said.

Wushu shook his head blankly.

Yue Ting made a show of disdain, poured himself a cup of tea, and assumed the posture of a storyteller, speaking eloquently.

“Our Crown Prince is neither legitimate nor the eldest, ranking fourth, born to the daughter of an unfavored minor official. In his early years, his reputation was unremarkable.

“Three years ago, the former Crown Prince conspired with two brothers to attempt usurpation, but was discovered early by the Emperor and executed. Soon after, the truth was revealed—it was actually the then-favored Imperial Consort Chen who had orchestrated this false case to help her own son inherit the throne. His Majesty was furious and executed Imperial Consort Chen and her son, the Third Prince. After these two bloody purges, the throne fell to the current Crown Prince.

“His Majesty has been obsessed with alchemy these years, seeking the path to eternal life, with most court affairs conveyed through his informants. Although the former Crown Prince’s rebellion failed, it served as a warning. His Majesty began to fear the power in the Crown Prince’s hands, worried it might threaten him.

“Because of this, the former Fourth Prince, now Crown Prince, has been extremely cautious and walking on thin ice since his enthronement. Even at his investiture ceremony, he never wore the crimson gauze robe symbolizing the Eastern Palace. Afterward, he petitioned His Majesty, refusing to reside in the Eastern Palace, instead continuing to live in the Prince An’s mansion granted to him upon reaching adulthood. Thus, while the Crown Prince’s officials still serve in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince lives outside the imperial city. The two sides rarely interact, and even when they do, it’s under the Emperor’s surveillance. All this is to put the one in the palace at ease, which is why you see our residence is so quiet and cold—few officials dare to visit.”

Originally, Pei Yanci had wondered why the Crown Prince would establish a separate residence instead of living in the Eastern Palace—it turned out this was the Crown Prince’s own intention.

“Originally, there was another way to reassure the Emperor—accepting palace eunuchs to serve at his side. But the Elu Bureau and His Highness are like fire and water,” Yue Ting took a sip of cold tea, becoming more animated as he spoke.

“Yes, we constantly hear them say we can’t provoke people from the Elu Bureau, or not only will we suffer, but we’ll implicate His Highness too. I never understood why,” Wushu said naively.

A weak Crown Prince who would rather let the Emperor’s suspicion and distrust grow indefinitely than use eunuchs, even to the point of complete antagonism—such deep hatred must have its reasons.

Yue Ting held up two fingers. “There are two reasons. It still relates to the former Crown Prince. The powerful eunuch who now firmly controls the court—Nine-Thousand-Years Tang Xizhui—rose to power by attaching himself to the once-favored Imperial Consort Chen, and the Elu Bureau he later established became notorious. The charges of treason fabricated against the former Crown Prince and the other two princes were gathered by them. After the former Crown Prince fell and Imperial Consort Chen suffered backlash, mother and son died miserably. This castrated dog originally recommended the Fifth Prince to His Majesty, but later it was the Empress’s words—’Not establishing the eldest may breed chaos’—plus the support of the Zheng family of Liuhe, that allowed His Highness to successfully ascend to the Crown Prince position. After this, the feud between the two sides was established, escalating to a fight to the death.”

Pei Yanci lowered his brows, lost in thought.

“As for the second reason,” Yue Ting became more excited, “this legendary Elu Bureau supervisor has an extraordinarily ugly appearance but particularly favors male beauty. His bypassing His Highness to recommend the Fifth Prince was because the two had a conflict—he had lusted after His Highness’s beauty. His Highness has the bearing of a dragon and phoenix; even noble young men from aristocratic families find it difficult to touch the hem of his robes, let alone a physically defective, lowly castrated man. The mere thought disgusts us bystanders. Later, this Nine-Thousand-Years, driven by love turned to hate, bit at His Highness like a mad dog. His Highness, who conducts himself with benevolence and virtue, was no match for him and could only be forced to retreat step by step. A dignified Crown Prince even gained a reputation for incompetence and weakness.”

Speaking thus, he let out a long sigh, as if feeling sorry for the Crown Prince.

“For a storehouse steward, you know quite a lot,” Wushu said sourly, displeased that he knew more than she did.

Yue Ting’s expression paused, and he laughed. “It’s all from listening to storytellers’ wild tales in teahouses.”

Wushu understood and couldn’t help but envy. “Being a steward is good—you can go out whenever you want. I want to be a steward too, so I can hear as many stories as I like and drink as much good tea as I want.”

Yue Ting smiled, turning the empty white porcelain cup in his hands. “The tea at your Brother Yanci’s place is far better than what they serve in teahouses.”

Wushu made an “eh” sound and poured himself a cup. The tea was different from what he usually drank—no scallions, ginger, or peppercorns, no dates or cinnamon bark. It tasted bland and flavorless, so he wrinkled his nose. “What’s so good about this?”

Yue Ting shook his head without arguing and poured another cup of tea, handing it to the person on the bed.

Pei Yanci accepted his tea and looked up. “When drinking tea, you should taste the original flavor of the tea leaves. As long as it’s strong, hot, and full, it’s already good enough.”

Yue Ting immediately burst into hearty laughter. “Returning to simplicity—that’s the truth! I thought I was odd in my tea drinking, but I didn’t expect to find a kindred spirit.”

The two simultaneously raised their heads and drained their cups.

Pei Yanci set down his teacup, and the look in his eyes toward Yue Ting carried a different meaning.

Yue Ting also sensed something different from his smile compared to before.

Every ray of candlelight falling on his brow sparkled with ambition for power.

From Pei Yanci’s body, he smelled the corrupt scent of power.

Forever putting profit first, ambitious, dirty, depraved, relentless in achieving goals, taking pleasure in manipulating others, trampling on others’ dignity at will, enslaving others’ wills.

“As the saying goes, great wisdom appears foolish, and it’s rare to be confused. We should fulfill our duties loyally, conduct ourselves properly, drink tea when we have nothing to do, and chat idly—isn’t this the most joyful thing in the world?” Yue Ting leaned back in his chair, the bottom of his cup occasionally tapping against the armrest. “Fame and fortune, royal power and wealth, are merely worldly shackles that confuse the mind. In one’s lifetime, one should seize the day and indulge in enjoyment.”

“Some people have no interest in fame and fortune, but another kind of life, for some people, isn’t it also a form of enjoyment?” The smile at the corner of Pei Yanci’s mouth grew wider.

The original owner had an honest and simple personality, with some inferiority complex and unconscious fear and ingratiation due to his slave status. Even with the same appearance as Pei Yanci, he seemed plain and ordinary, lost among the crowd.

After the soul changed, this body seemed to bathe in light, making it impossible to look away.

Some people are born to be pursued by light.