After Transmigrating Into A Eunuch, I Became Famous In The Harem - Chapter 7

The following days passed without incident.

Yet Guan Zhixian remained troubled, her gaze lingering on Shao Yin more often than before.

The more she watched Shao Yin, the more uneasy the latter felt. Even Ruyi’s resentment towards Shao Yin grew even stronger.

Besides Ruyi, another figure harbored resentment towards Shao Yin: Su Zhongjie, the chief eunuch of the Empress’s Palace.

“Miss Ruyi,” Su Zhongjie lamented, “tell me where I’ve fallen short. Why does the Imperial Consort despise me so much that she refuses to let me serve her?” If not for his position as chief eunuch of Cining Palace, he might have been tempted to crouch on the ground and start pacing in circles.

Ruyi shared Su Zhongjie’s disdain for Shao Yin. “Lately, she’s even been stealing my duties! Yesterday, when I went to refill the Imperial Consort’s teacup, I found it already full—still perfectly warm.”

“That eunuch is truly cunning,” Ruyi continued. “No wonder he is favored by the Emperor. Who knows when he’s pulling his schemes?”

Su Zhongjie, thick-skinned, felt no offense at Ruyi’s use of the term “eunuch” to insult Shao Yin. Instead, he found her words satisfying.

In Ruyi’s eyes, this eunuch and Shao Yin, were clearly different. After all, Ruyi had never been insulted like that before.

As they spoke with shared resentment, a slight noise came from behind them. They turned around to see Shao Yin, the very person they’d been discussing.

They weren’t sure if he’d overheard their conversation, leaving them momentarily embarrassed.

After a moment, Ruyi’s face hardened. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be attending to the Empress?”

Shao Yin lowered his head slightly. Even though he deliberately lowered his voice, it still sounded softer than Eunuch Su’s. “Her Majesty the Empress has ordered Eunuch Su to enter.”

Su Zhongjie suddenly felt like a freed serf singing triumphantly. He had finally outmaneuvered this interloper and reclaimed his position as Chief Eunuch!

He lifted his chin, adopting an arrogant posture, yet he nodded politely. “Thank you for delivering the Empress’s command, Eunuch Shao. I’ll go in immediately.”

His demeanor clearly conveyed: See? The Empress still doesn’t trust you to serve her. It’s still me, Su Zhongjie, who she deems worthy.

He strutted into the hall like a rooster that had just crowed triumphantly.

*******

In the courtyard of the main hall of Kunning Palace, only Ruyi and Shao Yin remained.

Ruyi glared at Shao Yin again, but found that Shao Yin seemed even more dazzling under the sunlight than usual.

Her skin, already fair, appeared almost translucent in the sun, like the most precious glassware shimmering brilliantly under the light, yet fragile enough to shatter into pieces if dropped.

The faint aura of fragility around her unexpectedly stirred a flicker of pity in Ruyi’s heart.

A chill ran through Ruyi. This Eunuch is truly cunning, she thought. Even unintentionally, he has managed to make me feel sympathy for him.

Perhaps he’s a reincarnated fox spirit, always using those bewitching tricks to ensnare people.

Shao Yin cleared her throat and pointed to the top of Ruyi’s head. “There’s a leaf on your head.”

Ruyi froze, startled.

“It’s golden yellow and quite pretty, like a flower,” Shao Yin added. “Most people wouldn’t have noticed it.”

For some reason, hearing that the leaf on her head was compared to a flower, and that it was described as “pretty,” made Ruyi’s ears feel hot and flushed.

Ruyi didn’t know why, but in that moment, she found herself hesitant to meet Shao Yin’s gaze. She felt as if the depths of his eyes were like a shimmering lake surface.

Ruyi turned around, reached up, and felt two leaves on her head. Pulling them down, she saw they were a vibrant golden-yellow, quite beautiful.

Now Ruyi understood why the Emperor favored this eunuch so much.

He truly seemed different from the other eunuchs. When he spoke to her, his voice wasn’t as shrill as theirs, nor as deep and resonant as a man’s. Instead, it was slightly husky, warm and gentle, like the soothing flow of warm spring water over her heart.

Moreover, he was strikingly handsome. For someone like him, winning people’s affection was effortless.

Ruyi felt a twinge of frustration.

She couldn’t let this eunuch deceive her. She had to be the Imperial Consort’s most steadfast ally.

Meanwhile, Shao Yin stood at a distance, her eyes half-closed, basking in the gentle autumn sunlight.

This was a rare moment of leisure for her.

In truth, serving in the Empress’s Palace brought her more comfort than serving the Emperor ever could.

Who would enjoy enduring sexual harassment from their boss while on duty?

Inside the palace, Su Zhongjie approached the Empress, his face plastered with a fawning smile. “What summons this servant, Your Majesty?”

The Empress looked up at the eunuch who had served her for many years, her gaze slowly drifting down from his face to linger on his chest.

Su Zhongjie felt the weight of her stare, suddenly feeling restless and uneasy. He even had the urge to cover his chest with his hands.

But this was the Empress before him, and he was her servant. No matter what she demanded, he was duty-bound to endure it. Besides, he believed the Empress wouldn’t harbor any improper thoughts toward him.

Su Zhongjie knew his place. He didn’t think he possessed any qualities that could attract the Empress.

Yet, no sooner had he excused her than she beckoned him closer. She lifted her delicate, pale left hand. “Tell me, now that you’ve been castrated, are you truly different from other men?”

Su Zhongjie, a veteran of the palace, wouldn’t harbor resentment toward his mistress over such trivial matters. He even took it as a jest.

He lowered his head and replied with a teasing tone, “Your Majesty, what are you saying? We eunuchs are naturally different from ordinary men.”

The Empress’s doubts persisted. She pointed at his chest. “Even here?”

Su Zhongjie hesitated for a moment before understanding her meaning. Men’s chests lack the softness of women’s. Some guards develop firm chests through training, but the texture still differs from that of women.

Though unsure why the Empress was asking, Su Zhongjie answered truthfully, “Our chests remain unchanged. We’re no different from ordinary men in that regard.”

Facing this eunuch who had served her for ten years, Guan Zhixian felt no embarrassment. She beckoned Su Zhongjie forward and, with a pointed index finger, jabbed at his chest.

Su Zhongjie’s body bristled like a cat whose whiskers had been plucked, his hair standing on end. He was about to leap away, but seeing the phoenix hairpin on the Empress’s head, he froze.

Holding his breath, his face flushed crimson, he endured the Empress’s probing fingers on his chest.

He couldn’t possibly misunderstand the Empress’s intentions. As a eunuch and someone far from handsome, he had served her for ten years without ever stirring any unusual feelings in her. Why would she suddenly take notice of him now?

The Empress’s expression was solemn, as if she were contemplating some major matter concerning the management of the Imperial Harem.

Guan Zhixian withdrew her hand, not even glancing at Su Zhongjie as she waved him away.

Su Zhongjie fled like a bullied young wife, his steps were quick and small.

Guan Zhixian lowered her head, examining the fingers she had jabbed into Su Zhongjie’s chest.

The sensation had been different.

Logically, Shao Yin was even thinner than Su Zhongjie. The firmness she had felt, almost like poking a bone, should have been more pronounced in Shao Yin.

As Guan Zhixian pondered this, Su Zhongjie returned. “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has come to pay her respects.”

Guan Zhixian’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of persistent annoyance flashing in her eyes.

At that moment, the Noble Consort entered the Cining Palace, resplendent in lavish robes. Her exquisitely refined face, though cold and aloof, would still captivate countless admirers.

Standing by the roadside with Ruyi, Shao Yin looked up, her gaze also drawn to the Noble Consort’s peerlessly beautiful face.

The Noble Consort wore a garishly bright peach dress, yet the color suited her perfectly, making her the most dazzling woman in the palace.

Rumor had it that the Emperor had doted on her for a time, adoring her haughty demeanor. Now, she rarely granted anyone in the palace the courtesy of respect.

Noticing Shao Yin’s gaze, the Noble Consort turned to look at her.

Shao Yin immediately lowered her head, but the Consort’s eyes remained fixed on her.

The Consort stopped and asked a palace maid beside her, “Is that Eunuch Shao—the one the Empress wrested from the Emperor?”

The maid nodded affirmatively.

The Consort’s contempt was unmasked as she muttered, “Neither man nor woman.”

With those words, she strode toward the Empress’s Hall.

After the customary greetings, the two exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries. Guan Zhixian ultimately seated the Consort in the lower seat and asked why she had come.

The Consort suddenly smiled, her gaze turning toward the door. Her smile held a hidden malice. “Have His Majesty’s most beloved eunuch come listen as well. I recall the Emperor disregarding the entire Imperial Harem for his sake. I wonder if the news I bring will please Eunuch Shao.”

With that, she strode into the Empress’s Hall.

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