After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 50

“Consort Zhen, I don’t like hearing such words from you,” Noble Consort said, not looking at Consort Zhen but instead examining her nails.

As she twirled her nails, she continued, “I handle matters within my own palace. There’s no need for you to interfere.”

The Empress turned to Shao Yin. “Is your ‘handling’ of things leaving Shao Yin vulnerable to humiliation at your side?”

The Empress continued, “The New Year’s Day is approaching, and I have many tasks that require Shao Yin’s assistance. Noble Consort should return her to Kunning Palace.”

“Your Majesty,” Consort Zhen interjected again, her expression calm and composed. She appealed to the Empress’s sense of compassion and reason. “With the New Year’s Day approaching, unforeseen incidents may arise amidst the myriad preparations. These could even affect His Highness the Second Imperial Prince’s disaster relief efforts in the north. I believe Your Majesty, being a kind-hearted person, would not wish for the disaster-stricken people in the north to have a difficult New Year.”

The Empress, of course, harbored ambitions.

Who wouldn’t wish for their child to become the next emperor? Who wouldn’t yearn to ascend to the position of Empress Dowager, wielding power over the realm?

The Noble Consort’s son was the Eldest Imperial Prince. Recently, he had accompanied a convoy delivering provisions to the border fortress. Officially, his role was to supervise the transport, but in reality, it was an opportunity for him to gain practical experience on the front lines.

Any prince who could survive the battlefield and return was a strong contender for the throne.

At least that’s what the senior military officers thought about the Eldest Imperial Prince.

Guan Zhixian’s son excelled in his studies and was also a legitimate imperial prince. However, he lacked opportunities to interact with the common people, leaving his scholarly knowledge confined to the pages of books.

When Shao Yin proposed that the legitimate imperial prince accompany the disaster relief mission, Guan Zhixian developed a special fondness for her, distinct from her feelings toward other servants.

Keeping Shao Yin by her side would invite covert attacks from other concubines and jeopardize the legitimate prince’s mission. This was something Guan Zhixian couldn’t risk.

It wasn’t that she cared more for her own son or her own ambitions. Rather, the disaster-stricken regions were suffering terribly. A single misstep by those in power could cost countless lives.

Liang Fujun felt the same way.

Yang Yuzhen was an exceptionally clever woman.

She understood the true nature of the Empress and the Noble Consort. Though one appeared cold and detached, the other domineering and arrogant, both harbored tender hearts. They would never willingly let the common people or the border soldiers suffer because of them.

Moreover, anyone truly wise would weigh the pros and cons of such a situation.

Yang Yuzhen’s tone grew increasingly sympathetic. “Consort Shu and Consort Liang come from the family of the First Grand Secretary. The Empress and the Noble Consort are well aware of the true depths of their malice. To call them ruthless and cunning would be an insult to their cruelty.”

“They don’t care about the lowly commoners and soldiers. To them, those people are beneath contempt.”

The conflict between Consort Shu and Consort Liang on one side, and the Empress and the Noble Consort on the other, didn’t originate with today’s incident. Their covert attacks on each other had long been simmering. Now, Shao Yin had become the catalyst that could ignite this simmering tension.

Deep down, none of the three women wanted Shao Yin to be tainted by the sordid affairs of the Imperial Harem.

“I’m not asking for her to claim her for myself,” Consort Zhen said. “I simply recognize her high standing with both Your Majesty and Sister Noble Consort. Given our past friendship, I believe I can protect her.”

Her words sounded so sincere that even Shao Yin almost believed them.

Yet Shao Yin had a nagging suspicion that Consort Zhen wasn’t as earnest as she appeared.

Shao Yin relied on her intuition, while the Empress and Noble Consort drew on their knowledge of Consort Zhen’s character. They knew they could only trust about a third of what she said.

Why did Consort Zhen want Shao Yin in her palace?
The Empress and Noble Consort speculated that she simply wanted to pass the time in the Imperial Harem, or perhaps she had taken a fancy to Shao Yin.

But regardless of her motives, some of Consort Zhen’s words weren’t baseless.

If Consort Shu hadn’t entered the palace, Shao Yin might have enjoyed a peaceful life in the Empress and Noble Consort’s palaces. Consort Shu’s entry into the palace had been endorsed by the First Grand Secretary.

Shao Yin was easily manipulated by Consort Shu and Consort Liang. If chaos erupted in the palace, the Empress and Noble Consort couldn’t guarantee that Shao Yin would escape unscathed.

At least today, Shao Yin had burned her hand, knelt for hours on the ground, and nearly been taken away by the Emperor.

Guan Zhixian and Liang Fujun exchanged a glance.

In that brief moment of eye contact, they reached an unspoken agreement.

Guan Zhixian said, “New Year’s Day is indeed busy. Your palace, Sister, is somewhat quieter, so let Shao Yin go there for a few days to recover from her hand injury.”

Liang Fujun was clearly reluctant, letting out a delicate hmph. “Once this busy period is over, I’ll bring her back to my palace myself. If a single hair on her head is harmed, I’ll hold you accountable.”

Shao Yin kept her head lowered, her breathing shallow and subdued.

The three women had already decided her fate in their conversation.

She had no say in her own destiny.

Yet this time, she didn’t feel the chains of fate binding her.

Nor did she find it particularly outrageous that the Empress and Sister Noble Consort were deciding her fate without consulting her.

After listening to their conversation, she understood even more clearly how difficult it was to survive in this palace.

Their decision was simply a way to make her life here a little easier.

She wasn’t ungrateful, nor the type to cry about “freedom of choice” when something clearly beneficial was happening to her.

Of course, going to Consort Zhen’s palace wasn’t entirely a good thing, given Consort Zhen’s notoriously scheming nature.

Even so, Shao Yin felt satisfied.

Su Zhongjie brought over the medicine chest.

Guan Zhixian gestured for Shao Yin to come forward.

Liang Fujun rose and intercepted Shao Yin. “Let me do it instead. How could a mere servant like her dare to trouble the Empress?”

Guan Zhixian’s stern gaze fell on Liang Fujun, carrying a hint of authority. “Sister Noble Consort has always been rash. Don’t let her aggravate her injuries further.”

Shao Yin opened her mouth, wanting to say, “I can do it myself.”

Although her right hand was injured, applying ointment with her left hand wasn’t difficult.

How could a lowly servant like her dare to trouble these Mistresses?

Yang Yuzhen also stood and walked directly toward Shao Yin.

She stopped in front of Shao Yin and extended her hand. “Let me see the condition of your hand.”

Shao Yin froze momentarily. Yang Yuzhen raised an eyebrow, and Shao Yin reluctantly lifted her hand, keeping her distance.

Yang Yuzhen saw several blisters on her hand. Her gentle smile faded, replaced by a more critical expression. “How did you sustain such a severe injury? I hope it won’t leave scars.”

Though it was just on her hand, for a woman, any scar was considered unfortunate.

Yang Yuzhen took Shao Yin’s hand and brought her before Su Zhongjie. She turned to the Empress and the Noble Consort and said, “Let Eunuch Su from the Empress’s quarters apply the medicine. If word gets out that the Empress and the Noble Consort personally treated her wounds, countless eyes in the palace will burn with envy.”

Su Zhongjie eagerly stepped forward to seize the opportunity, effectively saving Shao Yin’s life.
Just as Yang Yuzhen had said, no palace servant was worthy enough for the imperial concubines to personally tend to their wounds. Such a servant would likely not live long.

Despite this, Shao Yin still felt deeply uncomfortable.

She had merely suffered a few burns on her hand, yet the three imperial concubines had all their attention focused on her injury. Under their watchful gaze, the blisters seemed to throb even more painfully.

She had thought that once the medicine was applied, it would all be over. After completing her final day of duty at the Noble Consort’s Palace, she was supposed to return to her post at Consort Zhen’s quarters.

But unexpectedly, the Empress detained her.

“I have urgent matters to discuss with her. Sister Noble Consort, please return to your quarters first.”

Liang Fujun was far from willing to comply.

Why did she have to leave first? What could be so urgent?

Liang Fujun couldn’t imagine what urgent matter the Empress could possibly have with a mere eunuch.

The Empress was simply furious that the hairpin Shao Yin had bought for Shao Ying had been re-gifted to another Imperial Consort.

Liang Fujun didn’t care how the Empress disciplined Shao Yin. Once Shao Yin returned to her palace, she’d make sure Shao Yin picked out a hairpin for her too.

She couldn’t let Consort Zhen get all the perks.

She wanted two, so she could outdo Consort Zhen.

The Empress had already issued her orders, her tone unyielding.

Holding Shao Yin for a reprimand wasn’t a major matter, nor did it involve bringing Shao Yin back to Kunning Palace permanently. The Noble Consort and Consort Zhen had no choice but to acquiesce.

As they left, one smiled with hidden meaning, while the other shot Shao Yin a venomous glare.

Shao Yin stood ramrod straight, silently begging the two Imperial Consorts to take her away.
Damn it all! She’d just forgotten that she’d passed on the Empress’s gift to Consort Zhen.

After Consort Zhen and the Noble Consort departed, silence descended over the Main Hall of Kunning Palace.

Yet this oppressive stillness made Shao Yin’s legs tremble.

“Su Zhongjie, you may leave as well,” Guan Zhixian said, her voice calm and detached, as if nothing had happened. She gestured for him to be dismissed. “Close the door on your way out. I have something to discuss with Shao Yin.”

As Su Zhongjie passed Shao Yin, he sighed softly, casting her a sympathetic glance.

He never would have imagined Shao Yin would be so audacious as to re-gift the Empress’s gift to another Imperial Consort. He also never would have expected Consort Zhen to present that hairpin to the Empress and repeatedly provoke her with her words.

Eunuch Shao’s troubles were far from over.

Su Zhongjie closed the door, feeling utterly helpless, his heart filled with a flicker of pity.

The door clicked shut, further muffling the sound of the wind and snow outside.

Candles had already been lit inside the room. Their flickering light mingled with the dim glow seeping through the windows, casting shadows across Shao Yin’s figure.

Standing beside Guan Zhixian, Shao Yin kept her head bowed, barely daring to breathe. She feared her breathing might disturb the Empress and invite further punishment.

Guan Zhixian remained silent, the tension in the room thickening with each passing moment.

Just as Shao Yin’s legs began to tremble, threatening to buckle, Guan Zhixian suddenly reached out. “Let me see the wound on your hand.”

Shao Yin gently placed her hand in Guan Zhixian’s palm. Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, the rhythmic pounding of her heart echoing in her ears.

Guan Zhixian’s gaze swept from Shao Yin’s trembling fingertips to the red mark on the back of her hand. Her icy eyes remained devoid of warmth, but a cold smile curled her lips. “You’re afraid now? Did you ever think of fear when you gave the hairpin I gave you to someone else?”

Her gaze brushed against Shao Yin, leaving a trail of shivers in its wake.

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