Seducing a Eunuch - Chapter 3

Consort Shu changed her manner at once.

She took my hand, all warmth and affection.

“It’s such a shame. You’re so lovely, and I meant to arrange a splendid future for you. Now you’re giving yourself to a eunuch. What will become of you for the rest of your life?”

A splendid future in her dreams!

Only after I became a Lady of Talent in my previous life did I discover why the emperor had reached his fifties without an heir.

The problem was between his legs!

Even the consorts who knew didn’t dare discuss it in private. They could only suffer in silence.

Perhaps his physical problem was what had made the old emperor increasingly twisted in the head.

Whenever a woman attended him in bed, the sight of his own member would send him into a rage.

He would pinch and squeeze her viciously, or stab a dagger into her flesh. Only after making her cry and scream all night would he stop.

How could Consort Shu have conceived if she hadn’t drugged him?

Terrified of having no successor, the emperor had long made it clear, both openly and by implication, that the first son born in the harem would become crown prince.

That was why she had drugged him and become pregnant.

She feared another consort would copy her. What if she gave birth to a girl and someone else beat her to it?

Sending me to retain his favor was meant to deny the other women any opportunity.

Remembering the nightmare of my previous life, I had to fight to keep my whole body from shaking.

I put on a devoted expression. “Your Highness’s future is my future. So long as you give birth to a prince, how could I have anything to worry about?”

“We did grow up together, after all. Don’t worry. You’re like my own little sister. I’ll see that you’re well cared for.” Her eyes reddened as she spoke.

No wonder the emperor favored her. She was a marvelous actress, every word and gesture suggesting a loving elder sister.

If I hadn’t known how venomous her heart was, I would have been overwhelmed with gratitude.

A thought occurred to me.

“Now that Hongxiao is keeping His Majesty’s favor for you, Your Highness can rest easy.”

Consort Shu’s brows drew together in disdain. “That little seductress, skulking about with her filthy tricks! Go tell her I’ve consulted the calendar. Today is inauspicious for moving palaces. She can kneel until tomorrow before she goes.”

She was the only consort in the palace carrying a child, possibly the future crown prince.

Everyone was desperate for a chance to curry favor with her. Once word spread that Hongxiao had offended her, it wasn’t hard to imagine what lay ahead for Hongxiao.

Before long, it was the emperor’s birthday.

Li Huai had been very busy lately.

During the day, he served the old emperor. When he was off duty, he prepared the birthday banquet.

I hadn’t seen him for more than ten days.

More precisely, he hadn’t come to see me.

The emperor used to be very attentive to the child Consort Shu was carrying. Whenever he visited her palace, I could exchange a few words with Li Huai.

But ever since Hongxiao became a Lady of Talent, the emperor had favored her and often kept her at his side.

He hadn’t remembered to visit Consort Shu in a long time.

Now that I finally had a chance to see Li Huai, of course I was going to stick close to him.

Seeing hardly anyone around him, I hurried over.

In the blazing summer heat, he fanned himself with one hand while pointing out where the servants should place things so that everything complied with protocol.

His eyes brightened briefly when he saw me, then his brows drew together.

When I was two steps away, he stopped me. “That’s far enough. Stay there.”

If I hadn’t caught that flash of happiness in his eyes, I would have stormed off.

After we had finally managed to see each other, he wanted me to stand at a distance!

Annoyed, I took the last two steps and grabbed his belt. “It’s broad daylight. I’m not going to eat you!”

Li Huai pulled my hand away and said gently, “I don’t want any unpleasant smell to bother you.”

I tugged him behind a beaded curtain and, with no one around, leaned in to sniff him.

“There’s nothing unpleasant. Just a faint smell of face powder.”

I pretended to be angry. “Tell me. Have you been flirting with other little palace maids behind my back?”

I had meant it as a joke. But he offered no explanation.

Because of my memories of my previous life, I had always assumed Li Huai liked me.

But perhaps he had merely pitied me enough to retrieve my body?

My heart sank. By the time I looked up again, tears were already gathering in my eyes.

“You little troublemaker, why are you crying? I’m the one being falsely accused!”

Flustered, he reached to wipe my tears away. I knocked his hand aside.

He sighed softly. “We eunuchs often have an unpleasant smell about us. It’s normal to use scented powder.”

I suddenly remembered a young eunuch from when I first entered the palace. His castration had been badly done.

As ill luck would have it, he had been assigned to serve the emperor. One day, when His Majesty was in a foul mood, he declared that the boy smelled and charged him with improper conduct in the imperial presence. He had him beaten to death.

Not one decent person among all those powerful people. All they ever did was find ways to torment others!

Seeing how downcast Li Huai looked, I regretted my little fit of temper.

I changed the subject at once. “Are you on duty tonight?”

He shook his head. “Why do you ask?”

I leaned toward him. “Since you’re free, let me give you a thorough inspection tonight. Then we’ll see whether you smell!”