After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 38

At the Traveling Palace, Shao Yin resided in the Rear Annex of the Noble Consort’s Residence.

The quarters were more comfortable than the standard palace accommodations, but they couldn’t compare to the three-compound residence the Empress had bestowed upon her. She hadn’t even had a chance to move into that residence yet, which she found rather regrettable.

Today, the Noble Consort had received berries from the palace’s greenhouse and sent some to Shao Yin as well.

Just as Shao Yin was receiving her evening meal from the kitchen, a palace attendant rushed out from the adjacent room and announced in the rear courtyard of the Rear Annex, “Eunuch Su has arrived.”

Shao Yin froze. Su Zhongjie? What was he doing here? She and the Noble Consort had only arrived at the Traveling Palace a few hours ago, and already Su Zhongjie had come?

Shao Yin had a premonition that Su Zhongjie’s visit was connected to her.

Su Zhongjie was there for Shao Yin.

He hadn’t expected to arrive at the Traveling Palace so soon after Shao Yin left.

At the time, he was attending to the Empress when a eunuch suddenly reported, “Eunuch Shao has joined the Noble Consort’s carriage on the road. He’s heading to the Traveling Palace by carriage.”

The Empress nodded and remarked after a moment, “At least he wasn’t exposed to the cold wind. That’s a relief.”

Su Zhongjie breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that any mishaps during the journey might displease the Empress and lead to resentment toward the Noble Consort.

Unexpectedly, the Empress continued, “The braised goose from the Imperial Kitchen today was excellent, and the apples from the recent tribute are also crisp and sweet.”

Casually, she added, “Su Zhongjie, deliver some to the Traveling Palace. Make sure the goose stays warm in the carriage so they can enjoy it hot.”

Su Zhongjie never imagined the Empress would ask him to send something just half a day after Shao Yin’s departure.

Having served the Empress for many years, he understood perfectly well that “the Traveling Palace” wasn’t referring to the other Imperial Consorts there, but specifically to Shao Yin.

Of course, he couldn’t just deliver the gifts to Shao Yin alone; the others at the Traveling Palace had to be considered too.

However, Su Zhongjie knew that the information he brought back from this trip would undoubtedly pertain to Shao Yin. Otherwise, he might as well forget about keeping his position as Chief Eunuch.

He immediately accepted the order and left, careful not to meet the Empress’s gaze throughout the entire exchange.

The Empress watched Su Zhongjie leave, her expression darkening visibly.

Before long, she sent Ruyi out of the palace with her personal token, instructing her to return to the estate and bring her mother to the palace.

She intended to use her mother as a mediator to discuss with her father how to accelerate the Emperor’s decision to appoint her son as Crown Prince.

The title of Empress no longer satisfied her.

She needed greater authority to break free from these constraints.

When the dish arrived at the Traveling Palace, the Noble Consort gazed at the steaming pot of stewed goose on the table, a knowing smile spreading across her beautiful face.

The Empress moves quickly.

No sooner had she sent her own carriage away than the Empress sent over the stewed goose.

Is this really goose?

Or is it a veiled threat to “stew” her?

They’d always claimed to be “good sisters,” yet now they’re constantly clashing over a mere slave.

This Shao Yin is quite something.

Well, after eating, I’ll have her serve me my bath. I can’t let all the anger fall on me alone; the Empress should lose some sleep tonight too.
Shao Yin received a stewed goose personally delivered by Su Zhongjie. She turned to look at him and whispered, “What does the Empress mean by this? Does she want to stew me?”

Su Zhongjie cleared his throat. “Not at all. The Empress is not so petty. She likely just wants you to remember her kindness. She enjoyed the goose so much that she had me keep it warm and deliver it to you. And the basket of apples? They were just offered today.”

Beside the goose sat a small basket containing five large apples.

Regardless of the Empress’s intentions, free food was always welcome.

Shao Yin immediately thanked Su Zhongjie.

Su Zhongjie stepped back and bowed in return.

He then glanced at the half-basket of berries on the table, subtly signaling Shao Yin.

Understanding in an instant, Shao Yin said, “These are fresh berries from the Traveling Palace, just picked. They’re at their peak ripeness and flavor. I don’t have anything else to offer, but these berries are presentable. Eunuch Su, please bring some back to the Empress.”

Su Zhongjie nodded approvingly. “I’m sure Her Majesty the Empress will adore this fruit.”

Both knew that what the Empress truly lacked wasn’t a simple treat. It was the thought—the constant remembrance of her—that would truly please her.

After seeing Su Zhongjie off, Shao Yin savored the Empress’s stewed goose. The flavor was indeed exceptional; the palace chefs were clearly superior to those at the Traveling Palace.

Yet as she ate, Shao Yin felt uneasy. Her heart raced in her chest, pounding with anxiety, as if foretelling an impending disaster.

After finishing her meal, Shao Yin washed an apple and had just taken a bite when Chunfeng arrived. “Eunuch Shao,” she said, “the Noble Consort has sent me to inform you that she will be bathing in the hot spring in her courtyard tonight and requests your attendance.”

Chunfeng kept her gaze averted, too afraid to look Shao Yin in the eye. Even though Shao Yin was a eunuch—a castrated man—she was still a man. Such intimate contact between a man and an Imperial Consort in the Imperial Harem was strictly forbidden.

As a servant who had attended the Noble Consort for many years, Shao Yin naturally understood her mistress’s temperament. She wouldn’t dare utter a word of advice.

The only duty of these servants was to help the Noble Consort conceal this matter, ensuring no one else learned of it and used it against her.

Shao Yin sighed softly. She had known this day would come eventually, but so soon…

Enough. A short pain is better than a lingering one. If I serve her tonight, I won’t be haunted by nightmares later.

The Traveling Palace was exquisitely refined, each courtyard offering a unique and charming view.

The Noble Consort’s Residence was filled with plum trees. Amidst the pristine snow, crimson plum blossoms bloomed, yet their beauty paled in comparison to the Consort’s radiant splendor.

Two hot spring pools stood close together within the courtyard. To accommodate the noble ladies, small, airtight pavilions were built around each pool, shielding them from the wind and snow, and blocking prying eyes.

Inside the pavilion, a thick, fragrant mist filled the air, creating an opulent atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the biting winter outside.

As Shao Yin entered the pavilion in her winter eunuch robes, she immediately felt a wave of warmth wash over her.

The Noble Consort reclined languidly against the pool’s edge, her graceful form ethereal in the swirling mist.

The air in the room grew thick, as if something were slowly spreading through Shao Yin’s heart.

Perhaps the temperature inside was higher than outside, making it difficult for Shao Yin to breathe upon entering.

She took a few steps forward, approaching the pool. Lowering her gaze, she dared not look at the Noble Consort leaning against the pool’s edge, her skin luminous. Softly, she asked, “Noble Consort, do you wish to simply soak here, or would you like me to attend to you?”

The Noble Consort propped her cheek in her hand, watching Shao Yin. Afraid to look at her own reflection, she found that the tightness in her chest, stirred up by the Empress, had suddenly eased. She drawled lazily, “I didn’t summon you here just to stare at me. Come, wash my hair.”

Her hair had already been undone, falling over her shoulders and into the water. The dark strands made her skin seem even fairer in contrast.

To wash her hair, Shao Yin would have to lift it from her shoulders, inevitably touching her skin.
Even though the Noble Consort knew Shao Yin was a woman, Shao Yin still felt a strange unease. It was as if she had betrayed the Empress.

The Empress had just sent her stewed goose and fruit, and now she was about to wash the Noble Consort’s hair.

As a servant, Shao Yin should have focused solely on her duties, regardless of whose residence she was in. Yet now, she felt a pang of guilt.

Kneeling beside the hot spring, Shao Yin prepared to wash the Noble Consort’s hair, her gaze inevitably lingering on the Consort’s shoulders, now lightly flushed from the steamy water.

The Consort’s shoulders, tinged pink by the warm spring, exuded an alluring fragrance.

As Shao Yin’s fingertips glided over them, the skin felt so smooth it made her heart tremble.

Shao Yin’s breathing grew shallow. She scooped up a ladleful of water and gently wet the Consort’s hair.

The Consort’s lips curved slightly, savoring the moment as Shao Yin served her.

But when Shao Yin’s fingertips brushed against her shoulder, a peculiar sensation spread across the skin, nearly causing the hand supporting her cheek to falter.

Moments later, that same hand reappeared in her hair.

Wherever Shao Yin’s fingertips touched, they left a lingering tingling.

The Consort let out a soft gasp, her clenched teeth and half-closed eyes flying open, as if startled by her body’s reaction.

Before her, the air was thick with steam, carrying a warm, damp scent.

The sultry curve of her eyes and the uncontainable tenderness in her expression told a different story—one of an extraordinary tension now hovering between them.

Until Shao Yin’s finger accidentally brushed Liang Fujun’s earlobe.

Liang Fujun’s gaze darkened, her bewitching eyes burning with possessive intensity.

Without warning, she seized Shao Yin’s wrist with unyielding force, pulling her arm downward and dragging Shao Yin entirely into the pool.

The splash was loud, but Chunfeng and the others guarding outside the door didn’t dare enter.

The warm water rippled and overflowed onto the edge of the pool before slowly receding.

Shao Yin emerged from the water, letting out a deep sigh.

Her hat had fallen into the water and now floated, drifting with the ripples.

Her hair clung to her cheeks, and droplets of water slid slowly down her face.

Shao Yin wiped the water from her face, tucked the strands of hair behind her ear, and glanced nervously at the Noble Consort standing nearby.

The distance between them was minimal, and Shao Yin could clearly see the Noble Consort’s graceful figure reflected on the water’s surface.

The sight of this alluring scene momentarily flustered Shao Yin, her gaze drifting aimlessly, afraid to meet the Consort’s eyes.

The Noble Consort, whose composure had been unsettled by Shao Yin’s earlier teasing, now regained her calm at the girl’s flustered state. A knowing amusement flickered in her eyes, her gaze filled with self-satisfied amusement.

Her voice carried a teasing smile as she murmured, “Why are you so afraid to look at me? We’re both women—why so shy?”

“Shao Yin, is there something you’re hiding?”

In the adjacent bath, Consort Zhen leaned against the pool’s edge.

No attendants were present; she had simply wanted a quiet soak to soothe her body and mind. Yet now, the sound of the splash from the neighboring pool reached her ears.

She knew the Noble Consort had summoned the eunuch named Shao Yin to attend to her. Could this splash be from Shao Yin?

Consort Zhen strained her ears and seemed to hear faint sounds from the neighboring residence.

Very soft, yet she could vaguely make out a few words:

“…dare not look… it’s a woman… so shameful…”

“Shao Yin… in her heart…”

The corners of Consort Zhen’s lips curled upward.

She seemed to have discovered something extraordinary.

She couldn’t believe the Noble Consort was so promiscuous as to allow a man—even if he was a eunuch—to attend to her bath.

Consort Zhen’s smile widened, her expression becoming even more gentle and lovely.

If her suspicions were correct, this would be even more entertaining.

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