"Eunuch An, watch your step. This slave will hold the lantern to light your way. Please walk slowly."
At night, a small group walked along the palace path, led by Ansheng.
Ever since the Chief Eunuch Su Delong had died suddenly from illness some time ago, Ansheng had gained the Emperor's favor and served closely by his side. Although his official rank hadn't been promoted, anyone with eyes could see that Eunuch An had already become the Emperor's favorite. The few junior eunuchs who served him daily were especially fawning and flattering, hoping to gain Eunuch An's regard and secure a promising future.
Ansheng snorted with a laugh. Having climbed his way up from the muddy depths since childhood, he took pleasure in enjoying these faces that worshiped the high and trampled the low, gaining immense psychological satisfaction.
Upon reaching his quarters and turning a corner, Ansheng immediately spotted Liu Youli standing at his door. His previously good mood vanished completely.
Hmph! This old fox was the head eunuch of the Empress's palace. Ansheng recalled how he himself had often curried favor with him in the past, but this slippery character had never given him a second glance. Times were different now. Ansheng wore a thin, insincere smile: "Eunuch Liu graces us with your presence. Does Her Majesty the Empress have some instructions for this servant?"
Liu Youli was advanced in years, his voice hoarse and shrill. He now faced Ansheng with a face full of wrinkled smiles. "Eunuch An is a very busy man these days. You've kept this servant waiting quite a while."
Ansheng feigned a world-weary sigh, a trace of mockery curling at his lips, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Indeed. His Majesty finds this servant handy to use now. Since this servant is fortunate enough to have gained His Majesty's favor, naturally everything must be handled personally. Not only is His Majesty unaccustomed to others, but this servant wouldn't feel at ease either."
"Since attending to His Majesty has kept Eunuch Liu waiting, this servant offers my apologies right here."
Liu Youli's expression changed abruptly. "Aiyo!" he exclaimed, calling out that it was unacceptable, then bowed, putting himself a head lower than Ansheng, and said through gritted teeth, "Eunuch An, you truly humble this servant!"
Ansheng stared darkly at Liu Youli, the smile on his face widening a few degrees as he stepped forward to offer a token support of his arm. "Eunuch Liu is a veteran of the palace, and highly trusted by Her Majesty the Empress. We are all serving our masters. What talk of humbling?"
The implication was clear: masters were not all the same; the Emperor and the Empress were naturally different. Liu Youli's face turned a mixture of green and yellow. After a good while, he managed a dry laugh.
"Eunuch An is magnanimous."
As he spoke, Liu Youli turned his head and shot a fierce glare at a thin, small-built eunuch following behind him, his tone sharp and venomous: "Hurry up and come forward to greet Eunuch An!"
That eunuch seemed startled, stepping forward apprehensively to bow in salute, his voice trembling with forced composure: "This slave, Hehua, pays respects to Eunuch An."
The voice was soft yet carried a delicate charm, completely unconcealed. This was clearly a woman dressed in eunuch's attire.
Ansheng's slender eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at Hehua with an unfriendly gaze for a moment, then looked back at Liu Youli with a knowing, faint smile.
"Eunuch Liu, this is?"
Liu Youli let out an extremely lewd chuckle, his raspy voice truly grating to the ear: "Her Majesty the Empress, concerned that Eunuch An works hard serving His Majesty day and night, also heard that Eunuch An is already married outside the palace. With your wife outside the palace walls and you, Eunuch An, unable to leave your duties within, naturally you are not well attended to. Therefore, Her Majesty specially selected a pleasing and capable maid from those serving by her side, one who knows how to care for a man, and instructed this servant to deliver her to Eunuch An."
Liu Youli turned to look at Hehua, his eyes roaming up and down, failing to notice the terrifyingly dark expression that had settled on Ansheng's face. He continued with suggestive laughter: "Tsk tsk, look at this face, this figure. Guaranteed to serve you better than the woman you have outside the palace."
The woman outside the palace? In Ansheng's mind flashed the bright, smiling face of A Mei as she left during the day. In that instant, the look he directed at Liu Youli was like that towards a dead man.
Ansheng forced a calm, low laugh. Thinking that Her Majesty the Empress was already trying to recruit him in such a manner made him feel somewhat pleased again. However, his words carried a tone of surprise and doubt: "This? A person from Her Majesty the Empress's palace coming to serve this servant—that would truly be humbling this servant. What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such grace from Her Majesty? Eunuch Liu, please take this person back quickly!"
As soon as Ansheng's words fell, there was a thump. The woman named Hehua threw herself to her knees before Ansheng, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed and choked: "Eunuch An, save me! If you do not accept this slave, this slave will have no path to survival upon returning!"
Ansheng frowned, impatience rising in his heart.
At this moment, Liu Youli hissed, giving Ansheng a look that said 'you understand': "Aiyo, well, there's no principle of taking back someone Her Majesty the Empress has sent out. Eunuch An, you'd best not decline. If this Hehua truly serves poorly, just beat her to death or have her killed. Alright, this servant's task is complete. I have some other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
This Liu Youli left in a hurry, leaving behind a grim-faced Ansheng. Having grown up in the imperial palace, Ansheng had seen all sorts of filthy affairs. Not just between eunuchs and palace maids, but even between eunuchs and eunuchs, or maids and maids, was nothing strange—willing, forced, Ansheng had seen it all. But this was the first time he had encountered a master forcibly bestowing a person upon someone.
The palace maid named Hehua cried, her face rain-soaked like a pear blossom. One of the junior eunuchs behind Ansheng felt a stir of pity and spoke up timidly.
"Eunuch An, this... what should be done with this person?"
Ansheng had been busy these days, barely touching the ground with his feet, and now this crying grated on his nerves. His face was livid as he stared darkly at Hehua kneeling on the ground, naked malice surfacing in his eyes: "Go and check this person's palace identity plaque against the palace registry. If her background is clean, this servant naturally has a good place for her here!"
...
The An Residence. Close to midnight, another urgent letter arrived from the palace.
"Godfather, what did my husband write in the letter?"
As soon as An Gui put down the letter, A Mei couldn't help but ask.
An Gui sighed, looking at A Mei's curious face. For a moment, his expression was complex, as if considering how to phrase it.
Finally, he said:
"He has indeed taken the most dangerous path."
