After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 36

Beside her, Chunfeng wished she could sit on the carriage step outside. The seat inside felt like a bed of nails, and she longed to vanish into thin air.

She had actually witnessed the Noble Consort flirting with a eunuch.

Before, the Consort’s special attention to this eunuch had led Chunfeng to assume he was simply good at pleasing the imperial ladies.

But now… what was this? Had the Consort developed feelings for him?

Even if the Consort had developed feelings for the eunuch, it wasn’t a matter a lowly servant like herself could comment on.

All she could do was pretend to be deaf, hearing nothing at all.

Shao Yin, however, couldn’t pretend there was no third person present.

Last time she had been forced to act flirtatious with the Noble Consort, there had been no witnesses. At the time, she hadn’t even realized she was actually flirting.

Now that it had been exposed, how could she possibly say those words again?

Shao Yin’s icy chin felt the warmth of Liang Fujun’s fingertips, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes flickered, afraid to meet Liang Fujun’s gaze. Those eyes seemed to hide a pair of hooks, capable of stirring the soul and stealing the heart.

The scent of incense that usually filled the carriage had been replaced by a faint, delicate fragrance, likely coming from Liang Fujun’s hands.

Shao Yin’s heart raced.

Liang Fujun pressed her ear, urging, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to speak?”

Shao Yin closed her eyes and murmured, “Imperial Consort, please release me.”

Seeing Shao Yin’s vulnerable, almost forcibly taken appearance, Liang Fujun felt a surge of delight. She chuckled softly, withdrew her fingers, and leaned back against the soft cushions of the carriage. “You’re being so coy. You know how many people in this palace would beg for the chance to act so affectionate with me?”

Only then did Shao Yin breathe a sigh of relief and open her eyes, though she didn’t dare look at the Noble Consort. She continued in a soft voice, “It’s this servant’s foolishness.”

Beside her, Chunfeng also secretly sighed in relief.

How could Shao Yin be foolish? Chunfeng thought. Who would dare accept an opportunity offered like that by the Noble Consort?!

She certainly wouldn’t.

As the carriage rocked along, the scenery outside shifting between quiet stretches and bustling activity, Shao Yin longed to look out the window. But she didn’t dare. She couldn’t help but wonder why she’d been summoned inside in the first place. Though it was cold outside, she’d at least been able to observe the ancient scenery through the carriage window—a sight that had genuinely intrigued her.

She even dared not sigh, fearing the Noble Consort might catch her slipping.

The journey passed in tense silence until they reached the Traveling Palace.

Shao Yin’s body was stiff from sitting upright the entire way, while Liang Fujun continued to gaze at her, clearly pleased.

Even when stepping down from the carriage, she ignored the hands others offered her, instead giving Shao Yin a meaningful look.

Caught by her alluring gaze, Shao Yin quickly extended her hand. The Noble Consort rested her soft palm lightly on Shao Yin’s, barely exerting any force, and gracefully stepped down from the carriage.

As the other concubines gradually disembarked, a large group of women soon surrounded her, their voices twittering as they greeted the Noble Consort.

Shao Yin tactfully stepped back, making way for the ladies.

Suddenly, she felt a gentle gaze upon her. Instinctively, she looked up. A single glance revealed it was the Empress. She immediately lowered her eyes, knowing she shouldn’t stare.

Yet Shao Yin could sense that gaze lingering, still fixed on her.

This gaze, however, was remarkably tender, its presence barely perceptible as it rested upon her, utterly unlike the Empress’s or the Noble Consort’s.

First, a faint, delicate fragrance drifted toward her, reminiscent of a subtle floral scent, its soothing aroma permeating the air.
Then, Shao Yin saw a pair of elegant shoes enter her vision, followed by a pale yellow dress.

The dress’s hue perfectly matched the subtle fragrance.

A voice as gentle as spring breeze spoke: “Are you Shao Yin?”

The voice was so soft that Shao Yin nearly couldn’t resist looking up.

Fortunately, she remembered her place as a eunuch, a servant, and replied immediately: “This servant is Shao Yin. What are Your Majesty’s orders?”

“You don’t even look to see who I am before calling me ‘Your Majesty,'” the person said. “Aren’t you afraid you might address the wrong person?”

Shao Yin’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be a palace maid or servant girl speaking to me? But this tone… it sounds like a noble mistress of the palace.

“You really won’t look up to see me?”

Before Shao Yin could respond, the person spoke again.

“I dare not overstep my bounds,” Shao Yin replied.

Besides, she couldn’t recognize anyone in the palace anyway. Even if she looked up, she wouldn’t know who she was looking at, which would only make things more awkward.

The person chuckled softly, her laughter light and airy. “You’re certainly cautious for a servant. But how many cautious people in this palace are favored?”

Those favored were mostly the bold ones. Only those who dared to speak what others wouldn’t, and flatter whom others wouldn’t, could gain more favor in the Imperial Palace.

Consort Zhen hadn’t expected the eunuch Shao Yin to be so cautious.

How did someone so cautious manage to gain the favor of the Emperor, Empress, and Noble Consort?

She hadn’t actively sought out the commotion, yet she had heard tales of Shao Yin’s exploits.

With a soft chuckle, she turned and left.

Liang Fujun, tired of the crowd’s greetings, instructed the eunuchs and palace maids to lead everyone inside.

The eunuchs of the Traveling Palace had already arranged accommodations for each noble and assigned hot spring pools.

Consort Zhen and the Noble Consort just happened to be staying in the same courtyard.

As Shao Yin and Chunfeng were packing the Noble Consort’s belongings, they heard a familiar voice from the courtyard. The consort they had just spoken to was now chatting with the Noble Consort.

Shao Yin whispered to Chunfeng beside her, “Sister Chunfeng, do you know who the consort in the courtyard is?”

Chunfeng’s heart tightened at the term of endearment. Truly worthy of the Empress’s favor, she thought. That single “sister” carries such comfort.

Listening carefully to the voice in the courtyard, she replied, “It’s Consort Zhen. She’s sharing the courtyard with the Noble Consort.”

Though the Traveling Palace was vast and many consorts had come this time, the Noble Consort’s courtyard was the largest, so she was sharing it with Consort Zhen.

Consort Zhen watched the figure packing luggage in the room and chuckled. “I heard Consort Liang went to the Emperor to request Shao Yin, but His Majesty refused. Sister, you and the Empress even invited Consort Liang to watch a play.”

Liang Fujun tilted her chin slightly, her expression haughty. “Consort Liang should take a good look at herself. Does she really think her father’s high position allows her to act however she pleases? If her father truly wanted to protect her, would she be in her current position in the palace?”

Consort Zhen said, “I heard her father is preparing to send his nearly grown daughter to the palace. This daughter is even more beautiful than Consort Liang—a delicate beauty who would make anyone pity her just by looking at her.”

The image of Shao Yin immediately surfaced in Liang Fujun’s mind. If we’re talking about evoking pity, no one compares to Shao Yin. She’s the true embodiment of ‘a beauty who makes one pity her at first sight.’ Even I sometimes find myself drawn to her. Didn’t the Empress herself fall under her spell?

At Consort Zhen’s words, Liang Fujun laughed. “Then they’ve truly made the right bet this time.”

Isn’t that exactly what the Emperor craves? Otherwise, how could Shao Yin have bewitched him so completely?

After everything was settled, Liang Fujun returned to her main residence.

Consort Zhen turned back to her side chamber but glanced one last time at the retreating figure.

If even I find him pitifully charming, this eunuch has quite an alluring presence, she thought. His slender frame and delicate features seemed to evoke sympathy.

However, he had kept his head bowed all day, so she hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face.

Half an hour later, Shao Yin carried a tray of fruits and melons toward the side chamber.

Liang Fujun had entrusted her with this task, a favor that was actually a great honor for a servant. Being chosen to deliver gifts from one Imperial Consort to another proved the servant’s immense importance in her mistress’s eyes.

Shao Yin truly didn’t want to be this errand girl.

It wasn’t that the task was particularly tiring. It was just that Consort Zhen’s earlier words had struck her as strangely unsettling. Having observed the Empress and the Noble Consort, she now understood the women of the Imperial Harem better and couldn’t help but feel wary.

When Consort Zhen heard Shao Yin had arrived, she immediately sat up from her relaxed posture leaning against the low footstool while reading. She set her book aside, tilted her head slightly toward the door, and said to the eunuch beside her, “Now that Eunuch Shao has come, hurry and welcome him in. We wouldn’t want to keep Eunuch Shao waiting outside, would we?”

The eunuch immediately went to escort Shao Yin.

Shao Yin entered carrying a tray of fruits, intending to place it on the round table in the room. However, Consort Zhen pointed to the low table beside the daybed and said, “Put it here.”

Her voice was incredibly gentle, the lingering cadence like a gentle breeze brushing against one’s heart.

Shao Yin steadied her breathing and walked forward, placing the tray on the low table, her eyes fixed on the floor the entire time.

Just as she was about to withdraw, Consort Zhen called out, “Wait.”

Shao Yin remained frozen in place.

Now that Shao Yin stood and Consort Zhen sat, the latter could easily look up and see her face.

The face was truly beautiful, so striking that one might never imagine a man could be so handsome, yet delicate as a icicle on a doorframe, seemingly fragile and easily broken.

Such a beauty was unheard of in the Imperial Harem, no wonder even the Emperor had taken notice of this man.

Even more remarkable was how the Empress and the Noble Consort went to such lengths to protect him.

Even Shao Yin couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness for that face.

Consort Zhen chuckled softly, her manner more approachable than the Empress or the Noble Consort. “Now you know who I am, don’t you? Outside the Traveling Palace earlier, you refused to look at me. Were you pretending not to recognize me?”

Having touched a sore spot, Shao Yin felt not only embarrassed but genuinely worried.

Not recognizing one of the Imperial Consorts was a grave offense for a servant like her.

She wanted to kneel and apologize immediately. After all, as a servant, kneeling to apologize was the most natural thing to do, regardless of whether it was her fault or not.

Consort Zhen, however, reached out to stop her. “Why are you suddenly kneeling before me? I’m not angry with you.”

“You’re so close to the Noble Consort and the Empress. Why can’t you be closer to me? I’m not some terrifying beast who will devour you.”

“Or perhaps… you simply don’t like me?”

This was truly an unjust misfortune.

How dare a mere servant like her harbor feelings of liking or disliking towards her masters?

Yet Consort Zhen’s voice carried a hint of hurt, as if Shao Yin had truly wronged her.

Consort Zhen sighed languidly, sounding genuinely wounded. “It’s been many years since I’ve received the Emperor’s favor in this Imperial Harem. Now even you find me utterly dull and don’t like me?”

“I dare not presume!” Shao Yin apologized repeatedly, ultimately unable to resist falling to her knees.

Consort Zhen’s voice was gentle, yet why were her words so terrifying?

As she knelt, she heard Consort Zhen laugh again. “What are you doing? Did you really think I’d blame you? Did I scare you? Hurry and get up. I was just joking with you.”

“Life in the palace is so dull. I enjoy teasing the people around me. Don’t let my words frighten you.”

Shao Yin broke out in cold sweat, vowing never again to take on these errand-running tasks.

Staying with the Noble Consort and the Empress was much safer. No matter how moody or domineering they were, they would never joke around with their servants like this.

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