After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 25

For Shao Yin, serving as a eunuch wasn’t particularly difficult.

Most of her time in Chengqian Palace was spent standing on the porch outside the main hall, idly gazing at the flowers and plants in the garden. She also carried out the Noble Consort’s orders, which were mostly minor tasks that didn’t even require venturing into the courtyard’s cold wind—the porch itself was quite warm.

Her shift ended today.

After handing over duties to the incoming eunuch, Shao Yin stepped out of Chengqian Palace.

She had just passed through the palace gates when a soft, hissing sound came from behind her.

She turned, a faint smile playing on her lips.

It was Su Zhongjie.

Behind her, the Noble Consort emerged from the palace and was about to speak, but paused when she saw Shao Yin stop at the gate and look back.

Liang Fujun watched Shao Yin with keen interest.

“Heh.” She let out a soft laugh, causing the eunuchs and palace maids on the porch to fall silent, trembling.

Shao Yin turned to Su Zhongjie, taking a few steps closer. Before speaking, she let out a barely perceptible sigh. “Eunuch Su, what brings you here?”

Su Zhongjie shot her a teasing grin. “Her Majesty sent me. She’s invited Eunuch Shao to Kunning Palace. Now that you’re off duty, would you care to join her?”

“Of course I’m willing,” Shao Yin said. “The Empress herself said I’ll always be one of her people.”

Smiling, they walked into the snow.

Su Zhongjie walked beside Shao Yin, their footsteps crunching in the snow. He chattered incessantly, “The Empress hasn’t smiled as much these past few days since you’ve been gone.”

Shao Yin glanced at him. “Her Majesty doesn’t smile much to begin with.”
Su Zhongjie chuckled. “Nonsense! When you’re around, Her Majesty is so much more approachable!”

“Don’t flatter me,” Shao Yin retorted.

Behind them, Liang Fujun, draped in a long cloak, watched the pair walk farther away before slowly following. Her eyes narrowed with growing interest, yet beneath the surface burned an inexplicable fury.

What is this eunuch really thinking?

Shao Yin merely missed the Empress a little.

These few days in the Noble Consort’s Palace had been surprisingly carefree, more so than she had anticipated. It was a pleasant surprise.

She had expected to be as cautious and wary as she had been when she first arrived in this world, or during her early days in Kunning Palace. But during her stay in Chengqian Palace, she’d discovered, to her delight, that she could navigate this new environment with surprising ease, like a fish finding its element in water.

Even when the Noble Consort occasionally flew into a mad rage, spitting threats at her, Shao Yin no longer cowered in fear as she once had.

She understood that the Noble Consort wouldn’t truly harm her.

The complex web of relationships and interests at play guaranteed her safety within the Noble Consort’s Palace.

Returning to Kunning Palace, the familiar arrangement of objects and the familiar scenery made her feel warmly welcomed.

As she walked through the courtyard, every carefully arranged ornament and meticulously tended plant felt so familiar.

Shao Yin stepped into the main hall of Kunning Palace, expecting the Empress to look up. Instead, the Empress, who was pruning a plum blossom at the table, didn’t pause for a moment, as if unaware Shao Yin had returned.

Yet it was clearly the Empress who had sent Su Zhongjie to find Shao Yin.

Shao Yin knelt to pay her respects.

Guan Zhixian merely instructed her to rise before resuming her work on the plum blossom.
Holding a pair of delicate scissors, she trimmed away the excess branches with practiced precision.

Her eyes remained cold and distant, carrying the same aloofness that had always marked her features.

In that moment, Shao Yin suddenly felt Guan Zhixian was like the snow pine on the cliff, so far out of reach.

Even though she had reached the edge of the cliff, she still couldn’t touch the snow pine’s branches.

She found it difficult to start a conversation, and she even wondered if the Empress’s earlier words to her had existed only in her imagination or dreams.

Just as she was lost in doubt, Guan Zhixian spoke.

Her expression remained calm and detached, her voice casual, as if she were merely mentioning something in passing, unconcerned about Shao Yin’s response.

“You’re doing well in Chengqian Palace, aren’t you?”

“I’m doing very well in Chengqian Palace, Your Majesty. The Noble Consort takes great care of me.”

Guan Zhixian’s hands paused momentarily, her demeanor still distant, but she turned to look directly at Shao Yin.

“She’s very kind to you?”

Not exactly kind, but I can’t afford to sow discord between the two Imperial Consorts.

The Noble Consort, in my view, has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Her words may be harsh, but she’s never truly punished me.

Shao Yin chose her words carefully. “At the Noble Consort’s Palace, the work is relatively light. I maintain a regular schedule, and I’m even due for a break in two days.”

This was a far cry from her treatment at Qianqing Palace.

Though the Emperor claimed to miss her dearly, he showed no concern for her well-being, often demanding overtime. After all, without overtime, he wouldn’t even see her.

They called it the Emperor’s favor, but who would want such “favor”? She certainly didn’t.
Her words, however, seemed to prick Guan Zhixian’s composure. The Empress’s gaze sharpened as she fixed it on Shao Yin. “In my Kunning Palace, are you being deprived of your rights? Is a regular break truly worth such longing?”

Shao Yin hadn’t meant to imply anything of the sort.

She had never intended to sow discord between the two Imperial Consorts. She simply wanted to say something positive about the Noble Consort, hoping to ease the Empress’s displeasure at the Noble Consort bringing her back to Chengqian Palace. But her good intentions had backfired.

Though the Empress’s expression remained calm, Shao Yin, having spent considerable time at Kunning Palace, knew better. The Empress was clearly displeased.

She had intended to kneel and plead for forgiveness, but as soon as she bent her knee slightly, the Empress’s gaze turned even colder.

She must think I’ve grown too casual with kneeling and apologizing, Shao Yin realized.

Shao Yin quickly explained, “Of course, no matter how comfortable my days are at Chengqian Palace, they can’t compare to the freedom I felt at Kunning Palace.”

The Empress turned back to trimming the plum branches in the vase, her movements as leisurely as before, her expression carrying a faint chill.

She casually snipped away a distracting side branch and asked, “Has the Noble Consort been shortening your food rations? I recall there’s a private kitchen in her palace.”

During her time at Kunning Palace, Shao Yin had received a sweet or dish from the palace’s small kitchen every few days. The food was far superior to the eunuchs’ standard fare.

After moving to Chengqian Palace, she hadn’t tasted such delicacies again.

Her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of longing: “My lord, the kitchen has never shorted my rations.”

The Empress asked, “What about the Private Kitchen?”

Shao Yin replied, “The Noble Consort has never granted any food from the Private Kitchen.”

Guan Zhixian set down her scissors, satisfied with the plum branch she had trimmed. Only now, as if finally at ease, she turned to Shao Yin. A faint, barely perceptible smile crept into the corners of her cold eyes, as if pleased with Shao Yin’s answer.
Her gaze softened, and a trace of genuine concern crept into her voice. “I summoned you here today simply to ask if you’ve been mistreated at Chengqian Palace.”

“If the Noble Consort hasn’t done anything to harm you, and you’re managing well there, I won’t keep you any longer. Go back and rest properly. Don’t risk being unprepared for your duties at Chengqian Palace tomorrow.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the involuntary gentleness vanished from her features. She added coldly, “When I eventually bring you back to Kunning Palace, your duties will be even lighter.”

Shao Yin pondered these words, gradually grasping the Empress’s true purpose in summoning her.

The Empress feared that if Shao Yin became too comfortable at Chengqian Palace, she might grow disloyal, forgetting her origins and betraying both the Empress and Kunning Palace.

Shao Yin’s heart skipped a beat. With a grateful smile, she bowed deeply to the Empress. “I will never disgrace Your Majesty’s trust. I’ll serve faithfully at Chengqian Palace and never bring shame upon you. I eagerly await the day when you will summon me back.”

Guan Zhixian’s expression softened. She raised her hand and waved gently. “I understand. There’s no need to pledge your loyalty so fervently now.”

Relieved, Shao Yin left, appearing deeply reluctant to part.

True to her word, the Empress didn’t trouble her further.

As Shao Yin exited Kunning Palace and headed toward her quarters, she froze mid-step around the corner of the palace gate.

A group stood ahead, and at its center, draped in a deep crimson cloak, was none other than the Noble Consort.

Before Shao Yin could process why the Noble Consort was there, she was confronted: “Why have you come to Kunning Palace instead of returning to your quarters after your shift? Are you here to tattle to the Empress about me?”

The Noble Consort leaned in, her voice dripping with malice. “I never expected you to have the nerve. Is it because you’re so devoted to the Empress?”

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