After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 30

At the Kunning Palace.

The Empress greeted the Noble Consort, her gaze lingering on Shao Yin, who followed behind her. She noticed that Shao Yin’s clothes were ill-fitting.

Guan Zhixian’s already cold expression turned frosty.

After Liang Fujun took a seat, Shao Yin stood behind her. As if aware of the Empress’s displeasure, Liang Fujun even dared to look at her with a smug smile.

Guan Zhixian scoffed, her words dripping with icy venom. “I suppose the Noble Consort didn’t come today to discuss plans with me, but merely to show off?” Her voice turned even colder. “However, Liang Fujun, I warn you not to push my limits.”

Liang Fujun smiled sweetly. “Your Majesty, I’m not here to provoke you. I’m simply delighted that we both share knowledge of certain… indiscreet matters.”

Guan Zhixian’s gaze sharpened as she turned to Shao Yin, who stood behind the Noble Consort. Already overwhelmed by Liang Fujun’s imposing presence, Shao Yin now felt the weight of the Empress’s icy stare, as if the air around her was being squeezed out, making it hard to breathe.

Secretly, Shao Yin raised her hands. Her left palm remained flat, while her right hand curled into a gesture, leaving only her index and middle fingers extended.

Two fingers stood upright on Shao Yin’s left palm. With a bend of her knuckles, she signaled the Empress to kneel, her eyes soft and glistening with apology and pleading.

Guan Zhixian’s heart softened instantly at this display, the coldness and resentment within her dissipating. It hadn’t been in vain that she had taken Shao Yin into her palace and treated her as her own. This servant still held her in her heart.

The Noble Consort noticed the Empress’s expression soften after a glance at Shao Yin behind her. She immediately turned to look at Shao Yin as well.

By then, Shao Yin had already withdrawn her hand and lowered her head, looking as she did when she was on duty.

A dangerous glint flashed in Liang Fujun’s eyes. She knew the Empress couldn’t have simply looked at Shao Yin and calmed down. What had Shao Yin done behind her back? It seemed this servant’s loyalty wasn’t entirely with her.
Seeing Liang Fujun’s smug expression fade, Guan Zhixian felt a surge of satisfaction. Taking a sip of tea, she asked, “What do you think of Consort Liang’s actions now?”

This wasn’t the first time they had faced such a situation. Normally, when their interests clashed, they would compete fiercely like over Shao Yin’s allegiance. But when faced with a common threat, they would immediately set aside their differences and unite against the enemy.

Liang Fujun was annoyed that the Empress and Shao Yin had schemed behind her back, but she understood that the most important thing was to make it clear to everyone in the Imperial Harem that Shao Yin wasn’t someone who could be trifled with.

A cold disdain flashed in her eyes, but beneath it lay a tenderness she didn’t even realize she felt.

Shao Yin was such a delicate, fragile woman, pretending to be a eunuch in the palace. It was already difficult enough for her to navigate this treacherous environment. As her mistress, how could Liang Fujun not protect her? How else could she survive here?

Liang Fujun smiled. “My plan, of course, is to make it clear to her that Shao Yin is not a slave she can simply lust after. She needs to know her place and remember that after all these years, she hasn’t forgotten the days when we all united to punish her.”

The Empress considered this. “That’s certainly feasible. She’s been far too arrogant in the palace lately, and her father is equally overbearing in court. Humbling her family wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.”

Shao Yin’s heart skipped a beat.

As expected, the women of the Imperial Harem never saw things in isolation. Every move they made was intertwined with the power struggles of the court.

But Consort Liang’s family was a formidable force.

Shao Yin hesitated, then glanced at the Empress.

Guan Zhixian raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking at me for?”

“Your Majesty,” Shao Yin began, “are you truly going through with this? Consort Liang… she might not be as…”

“What’s there to fear?” Liang Fujun spoke first. “Having served by my side and the Empress’s for so long, you should know our temperaments well.”

“Do you think we’d let that woman walk all over us?”

Guan Zhixian glared coldly at Liang Fujun.

Shao Yin had clearly asked a question, but Liang Fujun had rudely answered, drawing Guan Zhixian’s disapproving gaze.

Liang Fujun arched an eyebrow, a hint of smugness creeping into her expression.

Guan Zhixian remained silent, her answer echoing Liang Fujun’s sentiment.

A single glance at Shao Yin, her haughty demeanor made clear that she feared nothing.

The two agreed to invite a theater troupe to perform at the Empress’s Palace in two days, and to invite Consort Liang to attend. Whatever pretext they used, their goal was to make it clear that she should stop scheming against Shao Yin.

Once the matter was settled, Guan Zhixian glanced at Shao Yin, clearly wanting to speak to her privately.

But Liang Fujun sprang to her feet, covering her mouth with a theatrical yawn. “My body’s growing frail these days,” she said. “Even the slightest exertion leaves me exhausted.” She extended her hand, signaling for assistance. “Shao Yin, aren’t you going to help this Empress back to her chambers? Are you trying to earn a punishment?”

Shao Yin glanced up at the Empress.

The Empress’s face remained cold, a frosty smile curling at the corner of her lips.

In the end, she nodded at Shao Yin.

But the intense possessiveness in her eyes, barely concealed, sent a shiver down Shao Yin’s spine.

Just then, the Noble Consort’s gaze also landed on Shao Yin.

The Noble Consort’s gaze held no possessiveness, only an faintly unsettling, almost invisible scrutiny, like invisible ropes binding Shao Yin.

Her gaze carried a palpable danger, as if lingering in Kunning Palace even a moment longer would invite cruel punishment.

Shao Yin could only look at the Empress with a hint of apology.

The Empress slowly closed her eyes, her expression conveying a silent warning: If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for not letting you go.

Shao Yin immediately extended her wrist, allowing the Noble Consort to grasp it. Bending slightly, she guided the Noble Consort out of Kunning Palace.

The moment they stepped outside the palace gates, Shao Yin’s wrist was suddenly clamped in an iron grip.

Liang Fujun’s voice drifted lazily beside her: “Were you secretly exchanging glances with the Empress behind my back?”

Shao Yin lowered her head. “This servant wouldn’t dare.”

“You’re not afraid at all! You’ve already done it, and now you’re telling me you’re afraid?”

As she spoke, Liang Fujun’s grip tightened, her eyes burning with a fierce, wolf-like intensity.

The other servants trailing behind them slowed their pace, keeping a respectful distance to avoid being caught in the Noble Consort’s wrath.

Liang Fujun could feel a scorching heat suffuse her body, an indescribable madness churning violently in her chest.

Her gaze fixed on Shao Yin, devoid of any mercy, burning with a desire to punish the woman before her.

Shao Yin kept her head lowered, but she could feel the weight of Liang Fujun’s gaze, heavy with malice.

Now reduced to a servant, what choice did she have but to flatter her mistress? She could only muster a hollow lie: “This servant will henceforth follow Your Majesty’s every word and never again anger you.”

Liang Fujun scoffed. “I’m no inexperienced girl to be so easily deceived by a few sweet words.”

She recalled some past memories: “My closest confidante used to soothe me with empty promises, but she never delivered on any of them.”

Shao Yin’s heart skipped a beat.

As they spoke, the two women returned to Liang Fujun’s Chengqian Palace.

Shao Yin had thought all this was behind her, but Liang Fujun dragged her into a room and slammed the door shut in front of all the servants.

Standing behind the door, Shao Yin retreated two steps, her back pressed against the cold surface.

Liang Fujun released her hand and turned to face her, her eyes twisted with madness. “You seem to miss the Empress a great deal.”

Shao Yin did miss her, a little.

The Empress’s possessiveness rivaled the Noble Consort’s.

But the Empress was more rational. Though she often acted domineering and made physical advances, she never exuded the same unsettling, dangerous aura as the Noble Consort.

Deep down, Shao Yin knew that neither the Empress nor the Noble Consort would truly harm her or take her life.

Yet the Noble Consort’s snake-like gaze, fixed upon her, still sent shivers down her spine, stirring a flicker of fear.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Liang Fujun leaned forward. “Admitting you miss the Empress now? You can’t wait to return to her side, can you?”

“This servant wouldn’t dare,” Shao Yin murmured.

Liang Fujun pressed relentlessly. “You dare not, not that you don’t want to.”

A ferocious glint flashed in her eyes. “I refuse to grant your wishes. I will keep you here in Chengqian Palace, bound to my side day and night, never to escape.”

“I would never escape,” Shao Yin replied. Her eyes trembled, her breath shallow, her gaze reflecting complete submission to Liang Fujun.

Liang Fujun gazed into Shao Yin’s eyes, shimmering like moonlit lake water, watching the tranquility within shatter with each word she spoke. Her heart, twisted by jealousy, finally began to calm.

A smirk curled her lips. “I’ve said it before: as long as you obey, follow my commands, and perform your duties properly in Chengqian Palace, I won’t burden you with heavy tasks. I’ll even reward you with any good things I receive. Isn’t this better? Isn’t this more comfortable than life in Kunning Palace?”
Her voice softened further. “Or perhaps the menstrual pads I gave you are simply too uncomfortable? Making you forget how kind I’ve been to you?”

The thought that the menstrual pads she was using were gifts from Liang Fujun—pads specially made for her by the consort’s personal attendants—now being used by someone else, inexplicably filled her with a strange sense of shame.

Shao Yin’s ears flushed crimson as she murmured softly, “This servant remembers your kindness, Your Majesty. The menstrual pads you gave me… are far more comfortable than the ones I used before.”

Liang Fujun reached out and gently tapped Shao Yin’s dewy, slightly warm cheek. Seeing the bashful vulnerability in her eyes, the lingering irritation in her heart dissipated like mist.

“If you remember how kind I’ve been to you, then don’t secretly flirt with others behind my back.”

Shao Yin replied, “This servant understands.”

“The Empress doesn’t treat you as well as I do, does she?”

Shao Yin paused, momentarily stunned.

Liang Fujun’s expression darkened, her face twisting in displeasure. “Have you forgotten everything you just said?” she snapped, her voice cold and mocking.

Shao Yin murmured, “I simply don’t like to speak ill of the Empress behind her back.”

She immediately added, “If I were to slander the Empress today, wouldn’t the Noble Consort worry that I might do the same to her in the future?”

“You dare!” Liang Fujun snapped.

Seeing Shao Yin flinch, she pressed, “How exactly has she been kind to you? Did she share her menstrual rags with you too?”

Shao Yin paused. “No, not that.”

Her gaze lowered as her thoughts shifted. “The Empress merely granted me a few days off.”

Liang Fujun frowned. “So you’ve been waiting here to slack off? You think you can get me to give you time off too, just to outdo the Empress?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Shao Yin stammered.
Liang Fujun grabbed Shao Yin’s chin, forcing her to look up. She saw a flicker of defiance in Shao Yin’s eyes, quickly extinguished by fear.

Liang Fujun laughed in exasperation, her voice cold as she ground out, “So that’s what you’re after? You want me to give you time off too, just to one-up the Empress?”

“There’s no one in this palace braver than you. Anyone who dared to be as arrogant and presumptuous as you would be beaten to death.”

Shao Yin instinctively gasped.

She had indeed been too greedy just now.

Liang Fujun’s voice suddenly softened, her eyes curving into a faint smile that made her already stunning face even more bewitching. Her voice, now sweet and coquettish, was utterly alluring. “But what can I say? You’re just too lucky. Even I can’t help but fall for your tricks.”

“When you’re feeling unwell, you really should rest more. With all this heavy snow these days, you must feel even worse. The Empress is worried about you, but why shouldn’t I be worried too? How many days off did she give you?”

Shao Yin stared at Liang Fujun in astonishment.

She had been genuinely panicked earlier, deeply regretting the fleeting selfishness and greed that had flashed through her mind.

Her astonishment only pleased Liang Fujun further. “Come, tell me—how many days off did the Empress give you?”

“Three days,” Shao Yin replied.

“Then I’ll give you five.”

Shao Yin remained silent.

Liang Fujun saw the disbelief in Shao Yin’s eyes and her gaze swept lightly across her cheeks. “Tell me now, who is better, the Empress or I?”

Shao Yin murmured, “The Noble Consort has always been kind to me.”

Liang Fujun was satisfied. “You may return and rest now. Chengqian Palace doesn’t need you to serve at the moment.”
Having received her dismissal, Shao Yin didn’t linger a moment longer. Dealing with such unpredictable temper was best avoided. She thanked the Noble Consort for her favor, opened the door, bowed, and withdrew.

Before long, she had vanished from the gates of Chengqian Palace.

As Shao Yin approached her quarters, she had hoped for two days of rest. But to her dismay, she found Su Zhongjie waiting at the door.

Surprise flashed in Su Zhongjie’s eyes. “I thought I’d have to wait for you to finish your shift to see you. Come quickly to Kunning Palace. The Empress wishes to see you.”

Shao Yin’s legs nearly buckled, and she nearly collapsed into the snow.

It was like escaping a snake den only to fall into a wolf’s den.

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