Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

Tao Dehai's lingering smile remained awkwardly on his face.

His breathing clearly faltered; he obviously hadn't expected Duan Yuchuan to publicly humiliate him.

"Your Highness means..."

Tao Dehai's words caught in his throat, and he hesitated for a long time before continuing.

It should be noted that the Emperor had already tacitly approved of his being ordered to deliver congratulatory gifts to the concubines in the harem. If this matter were to be brought into the open, it would be tantamount to putting him on the hot seat.

Regardless of whether he ultimately brought these hot potatoes back to the palace or not, he would still be accused of incompetence.

As Tao Dehai thought this, he stood in front of Duan Yuchuan, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Even someone who had spent decades navigating the complexities of palace life couldn't have imagined that Duan Yuchuan's words would leave him at a loss.

Duan Yuchuan looked at Tao Dehai, his eyes seemingly filled with determination.

His phoenix eyes held a hint of bloodlust, instantly sending a chill down Tao Dehai's spine as if he had fallen into an ice cave, a coldness spreading from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

After a long while, everyone in the courtyard stopped and looked at the Third Prince, waiting for their master to speak.

Seeing that Tao Dehai was already sweating profusely with fear, Duan Yuchuan, thinking his joke had hit the mark, suddenly burst out laughing.

"Haha—I was just joking with you. Eunuch Tao, you're just a gofer. How could you possibly have the ability to bring these items back to the palace, right?"

His face suddenly filled with a meaningful smile, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and the smile was unfathomable.

The brighter his smile became, the more frightened Tao Dehai became.

"Your Highness is too kind. Just now, this servant really thought you were going to return these items." He quickly smiled apologetically, but inwardly he was cursing the Third Prince for his extremely eccentric personality.

It seems that, just as the rumors circulating in the palace recently have been, the Third Prince's brain has been damaged by poison!

"Is Father-in-law angry with me? Otherwise, why don't you marry that Miss Gu for me?"

Duan Yuchuan's outrageous words startled Tao Dehai, whose face turned deathly pale. He quickly waved his hand and said...

"Your Highness, please don't joke with me. I'm just a lowly eunuch; I'd never have such an opportunity in my entire life. Besides, she's General Weiyuan's only legitimate daughter, a match made in heaven by His Majesty's painstaking efforts!"

Tao Dehai's eyes twitched involuntarily, and his already extremely stiff expression became even more unnatural.

He regretted it countless times, wondering why he had taken on such a difficult task.

His shock had clouded his judgment, and he failed to realize that Duan Yuchuan was making sarcastic remarks about him, the eunuch, and his betrothed wife.

Duan Yuchuan, however, casually pulled his hand back into his sleeve, looking nonchalant, which made Tao Dehai put his strange thoughts back to himself.

"Since you put it that way, then the Gu family girl must be an extremely suitable candidate, right, Eunuch Tao?"

"Since it was personally chosen by the Emperor, it is naturally the most suitable for you."

Eunuch Tao quickly bent down, fearing that Duan Yuchuan might say something shocking again.

Duan Yuchuan gazed wistfully at the somewhat hunched-over Eunuch Tao. Ever since he could remember, Tao Dehai had always been by his father's side, never leaving him for even a moment without permission.

If that's the case, then Tao Dehai must also know about that matter.

As Duan Yuchuan thought of this, a sly glint flashed in his eyes, but no one noticed.

"Since it's Eunuch Tao who vouched for her, the lady must be exceptionally beautiful. These gifts..."

Duan Yuchuan deliberately dragged out the last syllable, causing Tao Dehai's breathing to tighten in response to his tone.

Tao Dehai watched him slowly walk to the jewelry box that was filled with glittering gold, and quickly began to explain.

"These gifts are all congratulatory gifts prepared for you by the ladies of the palace, and they all represent their heartfelt wishes."

"Yes, they're all congratulatory gifts for me..."

Duan Yuchuan fiddled with the jewelry in the box in front of Tao Dehai, a hint of greed in his eyes, which actually put Tao Dehai's fears at ease.

As long as Duan Yuchuan accepts these gifts in front of everyone today.

Then Tao Dehai can be considered to have successfully completed the task assigned by the Emperor!

Duan Yuchuan reluctantly put the gold jewelry back into the box, then turned around and pulled Tao Dehai towards a quiet corner.

"Your Highness?"

"Father-in-law."

Duan Yuchuan pulled Tao Dehai aside, his slender phoenix eyes scanning the surroundings to make sure no one could hear their conversation before he slowly spoke.

"Father-in-law, you've worked hard too. After all, these things were prepared by the ladies, so I couldn't refuse them..."

With a smile on his face, Duan Yuchuan took out several pieces of jewelry that he had just taken from Tao Dehai right under his nose from his sleeve, and before Tao Dehai could react, he stuffed them into his arms.

"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

Tao Dehai looked flustered; he never expected Duan Yuchuan to reward him like this.

"Of course it is. You've gone through so much trouble, how can you go back empty-handed? Don't worry about these items, consider them a token of my appreciation. I'll still need to rely on you a lot in front of the Emperor in the future."

Duan Yuchuan's face was full of coldness, and his tone was also somewhat indifferent.

But perhaps because the jewelry was too dazzling, Tao Dehai failed to notice Duan Yuchuan's unusual behavior. While hypocritically making excuses, he secretly pocketed the reward that Duan Yuchuan had given him.

"Then this servant will not refuse your kindness. If the Emperor asks about it later, this servant will definitely put in a good word for you in front of the Emperor."

Tao Dehai couldn't hide his smile. He carefully put away the expensive gold jewelry and quickly turned around to scold the servants who were carrying the boxes.

"I will not disturb His Highness's preparations for his new room here. Let's return to the palace."

"Yes, Eunuch Tao."

The eunuchs carrying the boxes quickly answered and hurried out of the courtyard.

Tao Dehai turned around and slowly bowed to Duan Yuchuan, thinking to himself that with the Third Prince being so eccentric, he would probably find an excuse not to come next time.

"If there's nothing else, then this servant will return to the palace to report."

"Go."

Duan Yuchuan didn't even look up, just waved casually at him.

After Tao Dehai led a group of servants away from the Third Prince's courtyard, Duan Yuchuan turned his head and glanced at the doorway.

His face showed utter disgust.

He naturally despised Eunuch Tao, the most opportunistic eunuch by his father's side.

"Since Your Highness dislikes Eunuch Tao, why did you send gifts to him instead?"

Yongcheng, who had been hiding in the corner, suddenly appeared, walked forward with a puzzled look on his face, and handed him the handkerchief he had prepared in his arms.

Duan Yuchuan took the handkerchief with obvious disgust and wiped his hands, as if he was very averse to his contact with the eunuch just now.

"If I don't give him those things, how can he stay on the same boat as me in the future?"

"Your Highness means..."

"You don't actually think these jewels are clean, do you?"