After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 45

After three days of rest, Shao Yin spent the first day accompanying the Empress on a shopping trip, during which she received numerous hairpins and ornaments as gifts.

The second and third days were spent resting in her residence and then wandering the streets.

On the fourth day, as she prepared to return to the palace for duty, Shao Yin lay in bed, feeling the familiar frustration of dreading work.

Still, she had to get up.

Missing a regular job could mean forfeiting a perfect attendance bonus, but as a eunuch, she couldn’t simply call in sick. Even tardiness could cost her more than her monthly stipend—it could cost her life.

Clutching the hairpins, Shao Yin dozed in the carriage as it made its way toward the palace gates.

She couldn’t enter through the main gate. At a small side entrance, she stepped out of the carriage, suppressed her weary expression, and presented her identification token to the guards.

The guards, clearly familiar with the storytellers’ tales, secretly scrutinized Shao Yin for a long moment.

One of them cleared his throat, returned the token, and said with a smile, “Take care, Eunuch Shao. Last night’s heavy snow has made the palace paths slippery. Please be careful.”

Shao Yin nodded in acceptance of their kindness and left.

As she departed, she heard the guards chuckling:

“Such a handsome face, isn’t it?”

“Stop daydreaming. But…” The guard glanced at Shao Yin again before whispering to his companion, “Good thing Eunuch Shao is so kind-hearted. If it were that other guy from before, he’d have retaliated against you for sure.”

Shao Yin caught fragments of their conversation, feeling helpless and a little flustered.

I wonder who spread that brainwashing nonsense.

Quickening her pace, she strode briskly down the snow-swept path.
She was still serving at the Noble Consort’s Palace, so she needed to report to the Noble Consort first and deliver the hairpin to Consort Zhen later if she had time.

As Shao Yin approached Chengqian Palace, she overheard palace attendants ahead whispering as they walked:

“Is Consort Liang’s younger sister really entering the palace today?”

“Yes, the bridal sedan chair has already left. I heard the Emperor was so eager he nearly skipped morning court to wait in the New Consort’s Palace for her arrival. It was the Empress who urged him to attend court, so he finally went.”

Shao Yin realized with a flash of understanding: Consort Liang’s family had a younger sister, now sixteen, who was being sent to the palace.

Is she being carried in already?

Shao Yin’s expression grew even more composed and steady. I must be especially careful today.

But upon arriving at Chengqian Palace, she heard the Noble Consort’s delicate laughter.

Shao Yin paused, wondering, Does the Noble Consort not feel jealous?

Then she remembered: she had been in this ancient world for nearly half a year, and apart from Consort Liang, she hadn’t witnessed any Imperial Consorts vying for favor.

She strolled to the entrance of the Main Hall and handed over her duties to another Eunuch.

Once the handover was complete, the Noble Consort summoned her inside. “Shao Yin, come in.”

Shao Yin bowed and entered. The Noble Consort sat on the raised platform, her posture languid and alluring, her lapels still unfastened as if she had just woken, exuding an air of indolent charm. She smiled at Shao Yin, her eyes curving like hooks, but addressed Chunfeng beside her: “Don’t you agree? This new Consort Shu pales in comparison to our Eunuch Shao in terms of beauty.”

She held up a portrait, glanced at Shao Yin again, and nodded decisively. “Her features lack the delicacy of our Eunuch Shao, and she’s far less endearing. She looks so frail, as if she might breathe her last at any moment.”

No one dared to respond.

Shao Yin didn’t dare to respond either, and she certainly didn’t want the Noble Consort to praise her beauty. She didn’t even consider herself beautiful.

While attending to the Noble Consort, Shao Yin decided to change the subject. She stepped forward and took the painting from the Noble Consort’s hand. “Your Majesty,” she said, “breakfast is prepared.”

Liang Fujun smiled at Shao Yin, her gaze carrying a hint of mischief. “Now that you’re leaving the palace for your birthday, will you be able to hear your own story being told outside these walls?”

Shao Yin never imagined that even after returning to Chengqian Palace, she would still be subjected to teasing. She sighed helplessly. “Those storytellers are just making things up. I don’t even know where they’re getting their stories from.”

Liang Fujun’s smile grew even more alluring. “I think they’re telling it quite well.”

Her gaze lingered on Shao Yin’s figure, wondering what she would look like in women’s clothing.

Chunfeng, standing nearby, interjected, “Your Majesty, the hairpins you wanted to wear have been found.”

Liang Fujun hadn’t even started her morning grooming yet.

Liang Fujun rose and headed toward the inner chamber, but suddenly paused and turned to look at Shao Yin, giving her a meaningful look.

Shao Yin tried to pretend she didn’t understand, but Liang Fujun raised an eyebrow. Dare you?

Shao Yin had no choice but to bow and follow.

A faint smile played on Liang Fujun’s lips, clearly pleased by Shao Yin’s obedience.

As Shao Yin followed Liang Fujun into her bedchamber, the palace maids lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact as if she were not a eunuch, but one of them.

The maids in the Noble Consort’s Palace knew that just days before, Shao Yin had attended to the Noble Consort during her bath at the hot spring. Now, assisting her with dressing and grooming in her own chamber was hardly a significant task.

Shao Yin didn’t need to do anything; she simply stood to the side, waiting for the attendants to help the Noble Consort change and get ready.

But Liang Fujun took out the hairpins the maids had retrieved and asked Shao Yin, “Come here. Tell me, do you like this set of hairpins?”

Shao Yin stepped forward. At first glance, the hairpins seemed strangely familiar.

Liang Fujun saw the surprise in Shao Yin’s eyes and assumed she liked the hairpins. She knew that as a girl, Shao Yin would naturally appreciate such beautiful ornaments.

She said, “If you like them, I’ll give you some. I heard the hairpin maker just released a new collection. When we’re free, I’ll take you to pick some out.”

Shao Yin was certain now: this hairpin was strikingly similar to the one the Empress had given her a few days ago. They must have been crafted by the same person.

The Empress had given her all the new designs, leaving nothing left to browse.

Shao Yin knew the Noble Consort was always competing with the Empress. Throughout history, most Noble Consorts and Empresses had been at odds.

She didn’t want to become a pawn in their rivalry, so she couldn’t possibly tell the Noble Consort that she’d already received a hairpin from the Empress.

Instead, she could only stammer anxiously, “How could this humble servant be worthy of such an honor? Such exquisite and noble hairpins are truly fitting only for the Noble Consort herself.”

Liang Fujun was pleased. Her eyes lingered on Shao Yin for a moment before finally letting her go.

In the afternoon, after the Noble Consort retired for her midday rest, Shao Yin left Chengqian Palace and headed to Consort Zhen’s residence.

Upon hearing of Shao Yin’s arrival, Yang Yuzhen’s gentle demeanor grew even warmer. Seeing Shao Yin enter, her shoulders dusted with snowflakes, Yang Yuzhen’s chest swelled with emotion. “You must be freezing,” she said softly. “The wind and snow were so fierce outside.”

Shao Yin replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I wasn’t cold walking over. I came today to deliver a hairpin to you.”

With that, she produced a delicate pale pink hairpin. Nestled in its box, she presented the box to Consort Zhen.

Consort Zhen’s smile grew even more radiant as she opened the box. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction and delight. “It’s truly beautiful. As expected, Eunuch Shao’s taste perfectly matches my own.”
She placed the hairpin on the table and instructed a nearby attendant, “Go fetch the gift I prepared.”

The palace maid hurried to the inner chamber and returned with a jade bracelet.

A memory flashed through Shao Yin’s mind—the moment the Noble Consort had bestowed a bracelet upon her. She immediately lowered her head, afraid to meet Consort Zhen’s gaze.

She didn’t really want the reward.

But refusing a reward from the palace mistresses would be a direct insult to their dignity.

After a long silence, Shao Yin relaxed, thinking the reward wasn’t meant for her.

Unexpectedly, the rustle of footsteps and rustling clothes reached her ears. She saw Consort Zhen approaching, each step seeming to land on her heart, crushing her breath.

When Consort Zhen stopped a foot away, Shao Yin heard her soft laughter, which struck her like thunder.

Shao Yin’s body stiffened as she watched Consort Zhen raise her hand.

Before she could react, Consort Zhen gripped Shao Yin’s wrist, pulling her closer. With her other hand, she took the bracelet and moved to fasten it on Shao Yin’s wrist.

Yang Yuzhen gripped Shao Yin’s slender wrist, feeling the soft flesh over the firm bone. She couldn’t resist squeezing slightly; the texture was far softer than she’d imagined.

Suddenly, she felt an urge to grasp that hand tightly, an impulse like a caged beast raging within her heart.

She didn’t know why these emotions suddenly arose, nor why they had taken root within her.

She slowly slipped the jade bracelet onto Shao Yin’s wrist, her gentle voice carrying a dangerous undertone: “You mustn’t remove this. Otherwise, I won’t let you off easily.”

The naked threat made Shao Yin’s wrist tremble.

That tremor tightened Yang Yuzhen’s heart. She even wanted to see more tremors—uninhibited, involuntary tremors.

A bird chirped as it flew past the window, snapping both Shao Yin and Yang Yuzhen out of their trance.
Shao Yin pulled away from Yang Yuzhen’s hand, taking a half-step back. She vowed to always cherish the Imperial Consort’s gift.

“Consort Zhen, Noble Consort should be awake by now. I must return.”

After Shao Yin left, Yang Yuzhen settled back onto the low couch, lowering her gaze to her fingertips. There seemed to linger the warmth of Shao Yin’s wrist.

She glanced at the hairpin, a hint of tenderness softening her lips. “This hairpin is quite lovely.”

Her mood lightened. She instructed a nearby eunuch to settle the bill at the shop. “While you’re at it, pick out two more. I’ll give them to Eunuch Shao.”

The eunuch didn’t dare ask any questions and left with his orders.

The snow fell heavier in the afternoon. Word spread that the Emperor, unable to wait, had rushed to Consort Shu’s palace immediately after court.

The Empress and Noble Consort remained indifferent, but Consort Zhen, known for her gentle demeanor, unexpectedly flew into a rage and flung her hairpin to the floor.

Yang Yuzhen pointed at the fallen hairpin box, her usually soft features hardened into an uncharacteristic coldness. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, but no warmth reached her eyes. Turning to the eunuch who had just returned to the palace, she demanded, “Tell me, is this hairpin the Empress paid for and sent to Shao Yin? Is she deliberately trying to disgust me?”

The floor was filled with kneeling servants, none daring to answer.

They all knew better than to underestimate Consort Zhen’s temper, which belied her gentle appearance.

The returning eunuch trembled where he knelt. “This servant only heard the shopkeeper say that the Empress purchased all the new arrivals that day and sent them to Eunuch Shao. I cannot confirm whether the Empress was aware of Eunuch Shao’s purpose for visiting the shop.”

Yang Yuzhen stared at the hairpin, the pleasant mood she’d enjoyed all afternoon suddenly vanishing.

“Take this and throw it away. Don’t let me see it again.”

The eunuch crawled forward on his knees, picked up the hairpin box, and moved to discard it.
Yang Yuzhen changed her mind again. The coldness in her eyes gradually faded, and she smiled warmly. “Forget it. Give it here. After all, it’s Shao Yin’s heartfelt sincerity.”

“But I wonder how the Empress will feel tomorrow when she sees this hairpin on my head.”

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