After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 42

During her stay at the Traveling Palace, Shao Yin was constantly under Liang Fujun’s watchful eye. Yet even with Liang Fujun by her side every day, Shao Yin couldn’t avoid meeting Consort Zhen.

Shao Yin avoided Consort Zhen like the plague. The consort always seemed to look at her with a knowing gaze, making Shao Yin feel uneasy. She didn’t know if Consort Zhen had discovered her true gender, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had.

Liang Fujun had originally planned to stay at the Traveling Palace longer with Shao Yin, but with New Year’s Day approaching and pressing matters at the palace, the Noble Consort simply didn’t have the time to continue her leisure there.

After returning to the Imperial Palace, the Noble Consort granted Shao Yin a few days off, citing her exhaustion from the strenuous trip.

During the journey back to the palace, Liang Fujun again left Shao Yin alone in the carriage. This time, Chunfeng was clever enough to wait outside on the carriage step. “Your Majesty,” she said, “I’ll wait here. If you need anything, just call me.”

Inside the carriage, Shao Yin kept her eyes fixed on her lap, even slowing her breathing. She could still feel the Noble Consort’s gaze burning into her, as intense and scorching as the woman herself.

She had expected the Noble Consort to say something. Instead, the entire journey passed in silence, the consort simply staring at her the whole way.

Shao Yin even wished she could switch places with Chunfeng, to go out and face the cold wind instead.

Shao Yin sat as stiff as if she were sitting on a bed of nails, her body rigid with tension, when the carriage finally arrived at the palace.

Inside the carriage, the charcoal brazier provided warmth, and Liang Fujun’s gaze, like the brazier’s heat, grew increasingly suggestive.

Her gaze enveloped Shao Yin completely.

She had never before felt such possessiveness in her chest, such intense focus on someone. Watching Shao Yin before her, her head bowed, her frail body swallowed by the Eunuch’s robes, she seemed even more vulnerable, as if anyone could trample her.

Back at Chengqian Palace, Liang Fujun’s sharp gaze pierced Shao Yin. “I grant you three days’ leave. Rest well, and avoid anyone you shouldn’t. Remember, I am your Mistress now.”

Shao Yin murmured her assent.

But Liang Fujun wouldn’t let her off. “Shao Yin, who is your Mistress now?”

“Of course, it’s you, Your Majesty the Noble Consort,” Shao Yin answered repeatedly.

“Then is the Empress your Mistress?” Liang Fujun pressed.

Shao Yin lowered her head, her eyes flickering slightly. “Your Majesty the Noble Consort, within the palace, all the Imperial Consorts are my Mistresses.”

Liang Fujun’s expression darkened. For some reason, she thought of certain women who were “available to all men.”

Could this Shao Yin be a slave “available to all Mistresses”?

A wave of turbulent emotions surged within Liang Fujun. Her expression hardened, and she glared at Shao Yin, intending to intimidate her.

Though Shao Yin kept her head lowered, she sensed the shift in Liang Fujun’s mood. She hadn’t finished speaking, and now she grew anxious, hastily adding, “But the Noble Consort is different.”

Choosing her words carefully, she continued, “It’s presumptuous of me to say such things, but I must tell Your Majesty that encountering you in this palace, serving at your side—it’s a blessing I’ve earned through countless lifetimes. To have this chance to serve you, to be sheltered under your protection…”

Liang Fujun fixed her gaze on Shao Yin, her expression gradually softening. After a long pause, she said, “Go. The New Year’s Day is approaching. When you return to the palace, you’ll have your hands full.”

Only then did Shao Yin breathe a sigh of relief and bow to withdraw.

Watching Shao Yin’s retreating figure, a familiar unease stirred within Liang Fujun. She fiddled with the silk handkerchief in her hand, her alluring eyes glinting with a dark intensity.

How lovely it would be to lock Shao Yin in my palace, never letting her leave, never letting her see anyone else. The thought brought her a peculiar satisfaction, though she didn’t dwell on why such confinement appealed to her.
Shao Yin was unaware of Liang Fujun’s thoughts. As she left Chengqian Palace, her footsteps quickened.

She couldn’t wait to return to her spacious three-compound courtyard and rest there for a few days, enjoying the comforts.

For some reason, she felt a sense of unease, as if something ominous was about to happen.

Her premonition wasn’t unfounded. Before she had gotten far from Chengqian Palace, she encountered Consort Zhen on the palace path.

Consort Zhen had just returned to the palace. Instead of retiring to her chambers to rest, she was walking along the path.

When a mistress walked, the palace servants were supposed to step back and avoid the path, staying close to the palace walls.

But Consort Zhen stopped when she reached Shao Yin, turning to look at her.

If Shao Yin didn’t react, it would be considered rude, even punishable.

She immediately stepped forward and bowed to Consort Zhen. “May Consort Zhen enjoy good health and happiness.”

Consort Zhen smiled at Shao Yin, her expression gentle. “I never expected to see Eunuch Shao here. If I hadn’t run into you, I wouldn’t have remembered something. Now that I’ve seen you, I need to trouble you.”

“Are you leaving the palace, Eunuch Shao?”

Shao Yin replied, “This servant is off duty these next few days.”

Consort Zhen beckoned to Shao Yin. “Eunuch Shao, please walk with me. I happen to need your assistance with something.”

Unable to refuse, Shao Yin stepped forward, maintaining a half-step behind Consort Zhen as they walked together.

The others trailed behind the pair.

Yang Yuzhen glanced back at Shao Yin, her gaze soft yet hiding a teasing undertone. “Eunuch Shao, are you in such high spirits because you’re off-duty? You seem even more radiant than usual.”
Though meant as a polite remark, Yang Yuzhen’s words carried a chilling implication that made Shao Yin’s spine tingle.

She continued, “With your beauty, Eunuch Shao, you outshine not only the other eunuchs and palace maids, but even most of the concubines in the Imperial Harem. You’re more delicately lovely than many women.”

Shao Yin nearly stumbled.

Had Yang Yuzhen discovered her true identity? Why else would her words strike such fear into Shao Yin’s heart?

But if she knew, why not expose her outright? Why toy with her like this? Was it simply her cruel nature, finding amusement in teasing others? How could such a gentle and refined concubine torment a mere servant?

This is so… unnatural.

Just as Shao Yin was beginning to suspect something, Consort Zhen spoke again, “By the way, we’ve strayed from the main topic.”

“It’s been ages since I’ve strolled outside the palace, and I miss the jewelry from Jade Hairpin Pavilion. If Eunuch Shao’s errand takes him past, could he please pick some out for me? Just tell the shopkeeper to charge it to my account.”

Shao Yin instinctively wanted to refuse. “But my eyes are untrained…”

Yang Yuzhen smiled. “How could Eunuch Shao’s eyes be untrained? He should know exactly what women like.”

Shao Yin was now almost certain that Consort Zhen knew her true identity. Wasn’t this a deliberate provocation, a way of taunting her with her secret?

With no choice, Shao Yin reluctantly agreed.

Fortunately, the palace path was short, and Consort Zhen soon arrived at her destination.

Shao Yin bowed hastily, as if fleeing a battlefield.

But Consort Zhen suddenly called out to her, her gentle gaze holding a faint hint of lingering affection. Her voice was soft and velvety, the last syllable lingering with a subtle inflection: “So the subtle fragrance I’ve been smelling all along… it was coming from you.”

Shao Yin felt as if Yang Yuzhen’s words carried some kind of magic, sending a tingling sensation from the crown of her head that slowly spread through her entire body.

Yang Yuzhen seemed to relish the scent, leaning forward slightly to take a deeper whiff.

Panicked, Shao Yin stumbled back two steps, her expression flustered like a startled sparrow. She wanted to flee, flapping her wings like a bird, but someone had gripped her by the nape of her neck, preventing her escape.

Her eyes brimmed with pleading tears, her trembling, dewy gaze fixed on Yang Yuzhen.

Under Yang Yuzhen’s gaze, the hardened heart beneath her gentle exterior softened unexpectedly, the sudden tenderness catching her off guard.

She almost reached out to stroke Shao Yin’s cheek, wanting to apologize and promise never to bully her again.

Fortunately, her rationality quickly returned.

A shadow of realization flickered in Yang Yuzhen’s eyes.

She hadn’t anticipated that her confrontation with Shao Yin would nearly put the eunuch in the driver’s seat.

She smiled again, this time genuinely letting Shao Yin go. “Why are you so afraid of me? I might have misheard. How could a eunuch carry such a pleasant scent?”

“Alright, you’ve been working hard these past few days. Go back and rest. Don’t forget the favor I asked you to do.”

Shao Yin hurriedly assured her she wouldn’t forget. After bidding Yang Yuzhen farewell, she fled the palace as if pursued by a ferocious beast.

Only outside the palace walls did Shao Yin feel her breathing ease.

She felt like a caged canary suddenly released into the forest, flitting joyfully from branch to branch, momentarily unsure where to look first.

She hadn’t expected the governess the Empress had purchased to be so useful, even hiring a carriage to meet her at the palace gates.

The governess the Empress had chosen was honest and kind. Seeing Shao Yin, she helped her into the carriage and told the coachman to hurry back.
The governess and coachman sat on the carriage’s footboard, while Shao Yin alone occupied the interior.

Lifting the curtain, Shao Yin saw a scene much like the one she’d witnessed when she’d left the palace to inspect her residence a few days prior. Still unable to tire of the view, she continued gazing out.

After returning to the estate, Shao Yin stepped down from the carriage. The Governess led her to the Main Courtyard.

Along the way, the Governess glanced back at her several times.

Curious but not overly concerned, Shao Yin asked amiably, “Governess, is there something you need to tell me? Has something happened in the estate?”

“Not at all,” the Governess replied. “The Mistress just returned, and it’s only the two of us here. How could anything have happened?” Yet her eyes continued to flicker with unease.

That means something must be wrong, Shao Yin thought. She immediately composed her expression.

As the Governess pushed open the door to the main residence, Shao Yin was about to step inside when she saw the Empress seated in the place of honor.

Now Shao Yin understood why the Governess had looked so uneasy. She had thought she could rest peacefully, never imagining the Empress would come.

Looking closer, Shao Yin noticed the Empress’s icy, aloof expression. Her aquamarine court robes made her seem even more unapproachable. In her hand, she held a disciplinary ruler, tapping it lightly against her palm.

Shao Yin paused just as she was about to step into the main residence, suddenly wanting to flee back to the palace.

What had she been thinking a few days ago, believing that serving the Empress would be easier than serving the Noble Consort and Consort Zhen?

Why couldn’t she escape the grasp of these Imperial Consorts?

Did the Empress actually intend to strike her palm with that ruler?

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