After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 44

Why has the Empress come here?

Shao Yin stared at the Empress in surprise.

Her sudden appearance in the hairpin shop made all the ornaments seem dull in comparison.

The Empress narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on Shao Yin.

A famous saying flashed through Shao Yin’s mind: Today, the young master is treating everyone.

A flicker of amusement crossed her eyes, not escaping the Empress’s notice.

The Empress locked onto Shao Yin like a hawk, her gaze piercing. “What’s so amusing? Share it with me.”

Shao Yin had initially thought of brushing it off with a flimsy excuse, but lying to the Empress was clearly unwise. She decided to rephrase the modern joke and explain it to the Empress.

“It’s just… I once heard of a wealthy young master who, in a particularly good mood during a outing, declared he’d foot the bill for the entire restaurant.”

The Empress understood immediately. Shao Yin’s words implied that her own actions reminded Shao Yin of that extravagant young master.

The Empress’s gaze turned meaningful. “I wouldn’t treat the entire restaurant. Such honor is reserved for you alone.”

Her gaze lingered on Shao Yin, burning with an intensity that belied her usually cool and detached demeanor.

Shao Yin’s face flushed crimson, though she didn’t realize it. A sudden warmth spread across her cheeks, so intense that on this frigid winter day, she almost fanned her face to cool it. Her fair skin now glowed with a delicate pink, adding a tender charm to her already exquisite features.

Her eyes sparkled. “I don’t see anything I need.”

Guan Zhixian gazed steadily at her, her chest swelling with an indescribable emotion as a smile grew on her lips. “How can you know that without even looking?”
The shopkeeper, accustomed to serving nobility, spoke smoothly, his usual confidence intact. “Eunuch Shao,” he said, “the more you buy, the happier Her Ladyship the Empress will be.”

The Empress nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The shopkeeper redoubled his efforts, pulling out his most prized treasures. He didn’t understand why a eunuch would be interested in women’s hairpins and ornaments, but that didn’t matter. As long as money changed hands, he was happy to make the sale. He didn’t care if Shao Yin was buying gifts for a lover, a concubine, or even wearing them himself—though that last thought struck him as absurd. All that mattered was the profit.

He brought out exquisite treasures, masterpieces crafted in the most refined styles favored by the nobles of the capital.

Now that the most esteemed nobles had arrived, he naturally presented these treasures for them to choose from.

Shao Yin initially didn’t want anything.

But the exquisite hairpins and ornaments were simply too beautiful, immediately capturing her attention.

Beauty, transcending millennia, remains timeless.

She picked up a kingfisher-feather hairpin, its beauty reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle.

“This one is truly lovely,” Guan Zhixian suddenly understood what Shao Yin meant by “that wastrel.”

She too wanted to say, “Wrap all of these up and deliver them to Shao Yin’s residence.”

But such words weren’t fitting for her status. If Liang Fujun had said them, they likely wouldn’t have raised suspicions.

However, the shop attendant was remarkably perceptive. Having witnessed countless extravagant spenders, how could he miss the Empress’s fleeting expression?

Guan Zhixian made no effort to conceal her emotion.

The attendant immediately smiled and said, “These all look lovely. Eunuch Shao will surely appreciate them.”

Hearing this, Shao Yin grew wary. Before she could protest, the attendant added, “Shall I wrap them all up for Eunuch Shao?”

He wasn’t asking Shao Yin, but Guan Zhixian.

“No need!”

“But…”

Both spoke at once. The shop assistant, naturally deferring to Guan Zhixian, immediately began packing the jewelry back into the box. Only then did he turn to Shao Yin and say, “I’ll have someone deliver this to Eunuch Shao’s residence. It’s too heavy for you to carry.”

Shao Yin looked at Guan Zhixian. “Your Majesty, I don’t need these.”

Even if Guan Zhixian wanted to give her something, this was far too much. Just one or two pieces would have delighted her for days.

Guan Zhixian’s gaze lingered briefly on Shao Yin, relishing the sight of her flustered bewilderment. She couldn’t quite put her finger on the emotion stirring within her—a vague feeling that filled her heart completely.

Turning to Su Zhongjie, who followed behind her, she said, “Handle this matter.”

Then she turned back to Shao Yin. “There are other shops on this street. I have some time today, so I’ll accompany you on a stroll.”

Before Shao Yin could protest further, Su Zhongjie stepped forward. “Eunuch Shao, Her Ladyship has graciously gifted us these trinkets. It would be impolite to refuse and waste her kindness.”

With that, he took charge, helping the shop assistant pack the exquisite hairpins and ornaments into the box. He then gave the assistant Shao Yin’s address.

Shao Yin was at a loss. She never imagined she would complete Consort Zhen’s task so quickly.

She had also gained quite a lot herself. There were some hairpins and ornaments she hadn’t even had a chance to examine. She would have to wait until she got home to select suitable adornments for Consort Zhen and deliver them to the palace.

Now, the Noble Consort had taken Shao Yin away, intending to take her shopping and out for a meal.

Su Zhongjie was most familiar with these things.

He immediately took on the role of guide, leading Her Ladyship and Shao Yin through the streets and to a restaurant.

The nervousness she’d felt while buying the hairpins had vanished without a trace.

Shao Yin’s attention was completely absorbed by the ancient sights around her.

She watched the ordinary people with delight, and she watched the wealthy families and high officials with equal delight.

The atmosphere of daily life enveloped her. Su Zhongjie even took them to a teahouse to listen to a storyteller.

Unfortunately, after finishing one story, the storyteller announced he would next tell the tale of Eunuch Shao, the palace favorite.

Su Zhongjie immediately moved to stand up, intending to teach the storyteller a lesson and stop him.

But Shao Yin stopped him. “There’s no need to disturb these people’s lives, Grandpa,” she said. “I’d like to hear what they say about me.”

Her eyes brimmed with curiosity, devoid of any anger at the perceived insult.

One wondered whether these ancient storytellers were like modern-day clickbait writers.

Before long, the storyteller slapped the table and began his tale. “Everyone knows that Eunuch Shao is the most favored attendant in the palace, cherished by many mistresses. But do you know what makes him so beloved?”

“Of course not! Why else would we be here listening to you?”

“Enough chitchat! Just tell us how that eunuch became so favored!”

The storyteller had achieved exactly the effect he wanted and continued smoothly.

“I’ve heard that Eunuch Shao is extraordinarily handsome, with a man’s body but a woman’s face. One glance at him and anyone would feel a surge of tenderness.”

“Goodness! How stunningly beautiful must he be to captivate all those palace mistresses?”

“Too bad we commoners will never get to see him!”
The storyteller exaggerated Shao Yin’s beauty to heavenly proportions, claiming she was unrivaled in the world.

Below, Shao Yin listened, drenched in embarrassment. Had she known the storyteller would say such things, she would never have stayed to listen. Her face burned crimson. She tugged at the Empress’s sleeve. “Your Majesty, there’s so much more to see in the palace. Shall we leave? We shouldn’t be listening to this storyteller’s nonsense.”

Guan Zhixian, her eyes twinkling with amusement, asked, “What exactly is he saying that’s nonsense?”

Shao Yin wanted to scream, Everything he’s saying is nonsense!

This storyteller is even more outrageous than a marketing pitch. Who could possibly brag like that?

Guan Zhixian didn’t press Shao Yin further. Instead, she turned to Su Zhongjie, who was sitting beside her. “Su Zhongjie, do you think the storyteller was right?”

Su Zhongjie immediately replied, “Your servant believes he was mostly correct. But Eunuch Shao’s beauty is unmatched by any ordinary person.”

Especially her aura, he thought. Even he, a eunuch hardened by years in the palace, couldn’t help but feel protective toward her. And the Noble Consort herself took special care of her—a honor few servants could claim.

The blush on Shao Yin’s cheeks burned down to her ears. “Your Ladyship,” she stammered, “this servant is hungry. Let’s go eat.”

This was a rare instance of Shao Yin taking the initiative to make a request.

Though Guan Zhixian wanted to tease her further, she relented and granted Shao Yin’s request.

Later, at the restaurant, Guan Zhixian handed Shao Yin the menu. “Let’s have Eunuch Shao, the most beautiful among us, order our meal.”

Shao Yin burned with shame, wishing she could flee back to her residence immediately.

Guan Zhixian’s teasing ultimately drove Shao Yin to make a hasty retreat after the meal.

Watching Shao Yin’s retreating figure, Guan Zhixian wiped all expression from her face. Her cool, detached demeanor remained until Shao Yin had completely vanished from sight. Only then did she instruct Su Zhongjie to arrange a carriage back to the palace.
Having served Guan Zhixian for so many years, Su Zhongjie’s relationship with her was far different from that of other eunuchs.

Inside the carriage, he tucked a hand warmer into Eunuch Shao’s robes, poured him a cup of hot tea, and teased with a smile, “Eunuch Shao, you’re blushing! The Imperial Consort really gave you quite a hard time today.”

Guan Zhixian protested, “How did I bully her? I neither scolded nor struck her. That doesn’t count as bullying.”

Su Zhongjie chuckled softly, feeling pleased. “You seem much livelier now, Eunuch Shao. You’re still just a teenager, after all. Your previous gloominess must have stemmed from the palace’s strict constraints, making you timid.”

Guan Zhixian lowered her gaze. Therefore, she must become the most powerful presence in the Imperial Harem.

When Shao Yin returned to her courtyard, the heat on her face had yet to subside. Her governess worried she might have caught a cold from the chill wind.

It took Shao Yin a while to recover. She instructed her governess to bring out the hairpins and ornaments that had been delivered.

That afternoon, in the main hall, she had selected three hairpins for Consort Zhen.

Moments later, she put one back.

After a long pause, she put another back.

It wasn’t that she was stingy.

These were gifts from the Empress. If the Empress hadn’t snapped up all the best pins, Shao Yin could have gone back to the shop and picked another for Consort Zhen.

It was impolite to give away a gift from the Empress to someone else.

But Shao Yin had no choice but to send a hairpin to Consort Zhen in the palace, so she had to pick just one.

The hairpin was a gentle, deep pink—perfect for Consort Zhen, and she was sure Zhen would love it.

Shao Yin was very satisfied with her choice, even thinking that Consort Zhen probably wouldn’t try to find fault with her over this matter anymore.

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