After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 5

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight streamed into the palace, bathing the Empress’s dignified and resplendent face in warm light.

She sat quietly on a low, phoenix-carved daybed, her fingers resting beneath her chin, her eyes half-closed as she pondered the events of the previous night.

Kunning Palace, enveloped in her silence, exuded a solemn tranquility, broken only by faint bird songs and the scent of blooming flowers.

She still wore the golden phoenix-embroidered nightgown she had changed into the night before. Though the garment’s style was simple and the embroidery unadorned, it only served to enhance her regal beauty.

A slight furrow creased her brow, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes.

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a cool, clear glow across her shoulders.

Her gaze slowly drifted toward the door.

She knew two eunuchs stood outside—her own men, her trusted confidants.

An inexplicable impulse stirred within Guan Zhixian.

Do those two eunuchs at the door also possess that faint softness? Does this happen to all eunuchs after castration?

Guan Zhixian was remarkably composed. Though doubts arose in her mind, she wouldn’t immediately seek answers.

Instead, she buried these questions deep within, refusing to abandon them.

As the middle of the month approached, the Emperor was required by Imperial Harem regulations to spend the first and fifteenth days of each month in the Empress’s Palace.

On this day of the middle of the month, autumn rain fell desolately on the palace eaves, saturating the air with a damp chill. Droplets clung to the weathered stone pillars, like tears marking the wasted years Guan Zhixian had spent in this palace.

The vast hall within the palace felt even more desolate than the autumn rain. Guan Zhixian sat upon the throne, resplendent in her lavish robes, exuding an aura of regal dignity. Yet beneath her composed exterior, her eyes held a frosty detachment, as if even the coldest rain could not disturb her composure.
These past two weeks had been excruciating for her. The torment had nothing to do with Eunuch Shao; it stemmed purely from her reluctance to see the Emperor again. Or rather, even if she did see him, she no longer wished to allow him to remain so utterly satisfied, content to let him control every aspect of her fate.

The Empress’s Palace stood majestically within the Imperial Palace, its location on the central axis a testament to the Empress’s status and authority. The interior furnishings were equally solemn and dignified, the pervasive deep crimson endowing the entire structure with a weighty grandeur.

Yet the woman seated within this palace felt utterly unworthy of such power.

Guan Zhixian recalled the Empress Dowager’s repeated admonishments whenever she visited the palace. She was always urged to be considerate of the Emperor, to yield, and to serve him as the sole master of the palace, while the Empress herself was merely a high-ranking servant.

Light from outside streamed through the doors and windows, illuminating the Empress’s calm, composed face.

A delicate bracelet adorned Guan Zhixian’s wrist. Her pale, slender fingers occasionally caressed it, sometimes gently turning the beads. The seemingly casual gesture betrayed her inner hesitation, a faint trace of worry etched between her brows.

Just then, Ruyi arrived with news: a governess from the Empress Dowager had come to deliver her verbal decree. Guan Zhixian summoned her.

The governess’s message was clear: the Empress Dowager wanted the Empress to persuade the Emperor to distribute his affections more evenly among the Imperial Harem, rather than lavishing all his attention on a single eunuch.

Of course, the governess phrased it more tactfully, but the underlying meaning was no less nauseating.

Guan Zhixian nodded obediently, her eyes glinting with cold fury.

After the governess departed, Ruyi whispered beside her, “Your Majesty, why does this always fall on you? You just…”

Although the Imperial Consort hadn’t suffered any visible injuries last time, Ruyi couldn’t understand how she’d avoided harm. Now, the Consort was clearly the one most deeply wounded, yet she still had to clean up the Emperor’s mess and ensure everyone received their share of his favor.

Ruyi lowered her head.
As a palace maid, there were many things she couldn’t say, or even think about. Yet her heart ached for her mistress.

Just as she felt utterly lost, as if her mistress had reached a dead end, Guan Zhixian stood up. “Ruyi, let’s go to Cining Palace and visit the Empress Dowager.”

Her voice was cold and detached, her eyes devoid of emotion.

But Ruyi, who had served her for many years, knew better. The Consort had devised a counterattack.

Her mood instantly brightened, like clouds parting to reveal a clear sky.

Ruyi didn’t dwell on grand principles. As long as her mistress was happy, she would be happy too.

The palace path stretched straight and narrow, flanked by towering walls. In the distance, the resplendent golden roofs of the palace gleamed under the sunlight, their brilliance dazzling.

The path was silent save for the soft rustle of skirts against the bluestone floor.

Guan Zhixian entered Cining Palace with the dignity and nobility of the Empress.

After the customary greetings, she explained her purpose for the visit.

The woman seated in the place of honor in the main hall was a stately figure, her age apparent yet her powdered face still smooth and flawless. She arched an eyebrow, her gaze scrutinizing as she addressed the Empress: “Are you suggesting we assign that eunuch to your palace?”

Guan Zhixian lowered her gaze. “To my knowledge, when His Majesty is with Eunuch Shao, their conversations often revolve around frivolous matters of pleasure. If Eunuch Shao were no longer at his side, His Majesty would undoubtedly have more time to attend to state affairs. During his leisure hours, he might even summon the ladies of the Imperial Harem to alleviate his boredom.”

Before Eunuch Shao’s rise in favor, the Emperor had naturally distributed his attentions evenly among the harem beauties, as he himself had said: “The harem is filled with beauties; how could I possibly neglect any of them?”

Thus, the root of the problem lay with Eunuch Shao.

Since his presence at the Emperor’s side clouded His Majesty’s judgment, it was necessary to transfer him. Guan Zhixian trusted no other palace with him; it would be best to assign him to her own quarters, making it easier for her to investigate any hidden secrets he might harbor.
The Empress Dowager found this proposal agreeable.

If the Emperor’s disinterest in the Imperial Harem were merely a fleeting whim, she wouldn’t concern herself with it. But for the past three to four months, he had completely neglected his duties there, spending his days holed up with a single eunuch and barely attending to state affairs.

Though the Empress Dowager doted on her son, when he strayed from the virtues expected of an emperor, both sentiment and duty demanded she intervene and counsel him.

She didn’t believe this was her son’s fault; she suspected the eunuch had used some vile trick to ensnare him. Otherwise, how could a mere eunuch truly lock a man’s heart? Her son was the Emperor, with access to thousands of beauties in the Imperial Harem. Why would he settle for a eunuch?

She also knew the Empress was no pushover.

Perfect. By handing this repulsive eunuch to that embarrassing daughter-in-law, she could let them tear each other apart. If the Empress managed to eliminate the eunuch, her son would ultimately benefit. Meanwhile, she could remain perfectly hidden. When her son lost his beloved, he would surely resent only the Empress.

“Since you’ve already made up your mind, and it’s all for the Emperor’s sake, then go ahead,” the Empress Dowager said, lifting her teacup and gently stirring the nonexistent tea leaves with its lid. This was her way of dismissing her guest.

The Empress lowered her gaze with a faint smile. “Mother,” she said, “if I were to keep that eunuch serving in my palace, I fear the Emperor wouldn’t be pleased.”

The Empress Dowager paused.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense.

Their eyes met briefly before the Empress lowered her gaze, appearing exceptionally deferential.

Yet the very words she had just spoken proved she was far from as obedient as she pretended.

The Empress continued, “A few days ago, my mother came to the palace to urge me to advise His Majesty.”

She didn’t elaborate on what exactly her mother wanted her to advise the Emperor about.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but speculate.
The Empress’s father wasn’t just any official. In the imperial court, no official could exist independently without forming alliances or joining factions.

The Empress’s father was a key member of one of the most influential factions among the civil officials.

The Emperor’s position wasn’t as secure as it seemed.

He had sons and brothers, and his lack of decisive action made him appear somewhat weak and incompetent.

Could such an Emperor truly maintain his throne?

The Empress Dowager’s own family had already been purged during the reign of the Former Emperor, and their influence in the court had long since waned.

If the Emperor’s position became unstable, how could she, as Empress Dowager, maintain hers?

This was the first time the Empress had subtly bared her claws to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager set down her teacup, the clattering sound of the cup hitting the table shattering the icy tension in the air.

In the end, the Empress Dowager relented. “Governess Yuan, accompany the Empress. Tell them this is the joint will of both myself and the Empress.”

Getting her to issue an imperial decree was out of the question; at most, she could subtly push things along behind the Empress’s back.

This was enough.

The Empress rose and expressed her gratitude with utmost deference.

The Empress Dowager clearly saw her bend her back in submission, yet it was also strangely indistinct, as if her spine had remained ramrod straight all along.

After a brief visit to the Empress Dowager, the Empress turned and headed straight for Qianqing Palace.

Governess Yuan followed Guan Zhixian, her eyes taking in the solemn dignity and noble bearing radiating from the Empress.

She was like a peony meticulously tended by both the Empress and the Empress Dowager—cool, regal, and radiating an untouchable aloofness.

Qianqing Palace was the very heart of imperial authority.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, glinting off the palace’s roof tiles like shattered jewels cascading from the heavens, a dazzling spectacle.

Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor had pushed aside the memorial scrolls. Holding a golden tangerine offered as tribute, he smiled at the slender eunuch beside him, as tall and straight as a bamboo stalk. “This is a fresh tangerine from the south. Its sweetness is unparalleled. Have you ever tasted one?”

A thousand curses rolled through Shao Yin’s mind.

In modern times, these tangerines would cost no more than two or three yuan per kilogram at the market. She wouldn’t even bother eating them; they were too tart.

She had no choice but to bow her head, exposing the snow-white nape of her neck. “This humble servant has never tasted one.”

The Emperor held the tangerine in his hand and extended it toward Shao Yin. “This one is a gift from us.”

She didn’t want it.

But she had to accept it.

She thanked the Emperor and reached out her hand, sculpted like white jade, to take the honey-sweet tangerine from his grasp.

The moment her fingers touched the fruit, the Emperor’s hand suddenly tightened.

His fingertips brushed against Shao Yin’s palm, moving to grasp her hand.

A chill ran through Shao Yin’s heart as she lowered her gaze, suppressing the urge to kill the Emperor.

Just then, Eunuch Qian entered. “Your Majesty, the Empress and Governess Yuan have arrived.”

The Emperor frowned deeply.

He was about to refuse when the Empress and Governess Yuan stormed into the Imperial Study.

Guan Zhixian’s gaze froze on the two hands that were about to clasp.

Shao Yin feigned calm, withdrawing her hand and stepping back. She turned to face the Empress and knelt in a formal salute.

Her head bowed, revealing that pale, snow-white neck, so bright it almost blinded the Empress.

The memory of Shao Yin’s hand nearly touching the Emperor’s flashed through Guan Zhixian’s mind.

A wave of nausea surged through her, nearly overwhelming her.

Support After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem