The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 15

After her outburst at court that day, in which she punished Chief Minister Feng's son, Liu Qingtang stopped attending the morning court sessions to annoy the ministers who had been startled by her sudden outburst. She simply instructed Eunuch Ning to inform the Emperor that she would henceforth attend the morning court sessions once every seven days. (Note: The last part, "网(◎◎x◎s◎.o◎r◎g◎)百度搜索网址," appears to be an unrelated, possibly spam, and has been omitted from the translation.)

Eunuch Ning seemed to sense that she was no longer as indulgent and yielding towards the emperor as before, and he glanced at her hesitantly before accepting the order and leaving. Liu Qingtang was quite pleased to see his questioning gaze; the old man probably couldn't believe that she would suddenly change like this.

Because he was her sister's man, and her sister knew her very well, knowing how much she valued family. She would take care of her deceased sister, the emperor's nephew, and shoulder her responsibilities to protect the young emperor's empire. Yes, her sister was right; in her past life, she had indeed followed her own path.

The luxurious palaces within those walls imprisoned them, transforming them into entirely different people. Her sister, who had cared for her like a mother since childhood, gently combing her hair with a smile, had changed; now she had changed too, and would change even more in the future.

The hall was quiet. Liu Qingtang stared blankly at her youthful face in the bronze mirror.

"Your Majesty, Consort Lian has arrived and is waiting for you in the hall," a young palace maid said softly as she entered and curtsied.

"Yes, treat her well." Liu Qingtang casually instructed, sitting upright in front of the bronze mirror as Zhuiyi styled her hair. She flipped through several jewelry boxes on the dressing table, pondering what the Empress Dowager had come for.

The late emperor did not have many concubines in his harem, and very few of them gave birth to children. Moreover, those children did not live past the age of one. In the end, only her sister's son, Xiao Huaixu, and the son of the Dowager Consort, Xiao Huai and Ping'an, have survived to this day.

Although his life was spared, Xiao Huaiyu was an idiot. It was said that he would just sit there in a daze every day and couldn't even speak. Even the Dowager Consort, when the late Emperor was still alive, didn't like to compete for favor. She just lived quietly with her idiot son in a corner of this huge palace, which was almost like a cold palace. She seemed quite content.

The women in the late emperor's harem who had no children all went to guard the imperial mausoleum. The young emperor was still too young to begin the selection of concubines. Apart from her, the Empress Dowager, the only other woman in the harem was Consort Lian, who had little presence.

When Liu Qingtang first entered the palace, she happened to pass by Consort Lian's Qinghuai Palace and saw only a young maidservant serving her; none of the servants under the prince and consort's stipends were to be seen. Later, she mentioned it to the head eunuch, Eunuch Ning, and that group of maids and eunuchs were punished. After hearing that Consort Lian and the mentally challenged prince were living better lives, she paid no further attention to them, since they had no connection whatsoever.

In her previous life, even the Empress Dowager had approached her once, but that was probably at the New Year's banquet a month later. At that time, she came to request an imperial decree, apparently because she was seriously ill and worried that no one would take care of her son after she died. Therefore, she wanted to take Xiao Huaiyu back to her maternal home in Yangzi Prefecture so that her brother could take care of Xiao Huaiyu.

This isn't difficult. Just allocate that small area to Xiao Huaiyu as his fiefdom, and it will be perfectly reasonable for him to go there. Even if he's mentally challenged, he's still a prince. In his previous life, Liu Qingtang had promised Consort Lian that they would go to Yangzi Prefecture.

However, when Consort Lian returned to Yangzhou with Xiao Huai, they encountered villains, and both of them, along with their entire group of palace maids and guards, perished. Liu Qingtang felt regretful for a while at the time.

Upon seeing Consort Lian again, Liu Qingtang suddenly felt a sense of shared suffering.

Consort Lian was a great beauty in her youth. Although she looked particularly haggard due to years of illness, her former charm was still evident. Consort Lian, who was almost old enough to be her mother, was sitting on a stool with only a little bit of clothing on her hands. As soon as she saw her, she stood up abruptly and bowed.

Seeing that she was pale, Liu Qingtang didn't want to leave her hanging and asked her directly why she had come.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince is getting old now, and even if he has some mental problems, it is not appropriate for him to stay in the palace any longer. I have come here to ask Your Majesty for a favor, so that the Second Prince may come with me to Yangzi Prefecture..." Consort Lian said while secretly observing the Empress Dowager's expression. When she saw the Empress Dowager frown, she immediately stopped talking and looked at her with some trepidation.

Liu Qingtang had this suspicion from the beginning, so she wasn't surprised to see that she was saying the same thing as in her previous life. Since she wanted to avoid this tragedy for them, she didn't agree as she had in her previous life, but said, "It would be better for the Second Prince and Consort Lian to stay in Yujing. I will allocate a mansion for you outside the palace."

Seeing the anxious look on Consort Lian's face, Liu Qingtang added, "Just take good care of yourself."

The Empress Dowager seemed reluctant, but dared not contradict the Empress Dowager's wishes, so she remained silent. Liu Qingtang had only met her a few times, so there was nothing to say. After a moment of silence, she waved for her to leave.

After sitting in the chair and thinking for a while, Liu Qingtang said to Zhuiyi, "Go and get my nameplate, and have Taoye go to the Imperial Hospital to invite Physician Yang over. Just say that my headache has returned, as always."

Qin Shu was walking towards the door when he heard the Empress Dowager say those words, and he stopped in his tracks.

He knew about Physician Yang. Physician Yang was born into the Yang family, a renowned family of physicians, and was the only descendant of the Yang family. Before the Empress Dowager suddenly took notice of him, he guessed that the Empress Dowager might... be in love with that person. Because Physician Yang would return to Cining Palace every two months to examine the Empress Dowager's pulse, and sometimes the Empress Dowager would say that she had a headache and ask someone to summon Physician Yang.

He had seen that Imperial Physician Yang several times. He was about the same age as the Empress Dowager, and his handsome face always wore a warm smile, completely different from Qin Shu's perpetually gloomy expression; he was tall and slender, unlike Qin Shu, who had to hunch over all his life as a eunuch; he also had a good birth, and should have lived a life of luxury from childhood like the Empress Dowager, unlike Qin Shu, who had been bullied and struggled in and out of the palace since childhood... He had no one who could compare to that Imperial Physician Yang.

In the past, he couldn't even touch a single hair on the Empress Dowager's head, but even so, every time he saw Imperial Physician Yang enter the inner palace of Cining Palace, he would be consumed by jealousy. But what could he do? He could only watch from the shadows, unable to do anything about it.

Even now, he still can't do anything. Yes, the Empress Dowager has been very kind to him lately, and he can sense that she cares about him to some extent, but he doesn't dare to gamble, doesn't dare to gamble on the position that Physician Yang holds in the Empress Dowager's heart.

He couldn't show the slightest sign of unease, nor could he let anyone see his jealousy and resentment. For now, he could only stand by the Empress Dowager's side as if nothing was amiss until the arrival of Physician Yang, and then, like a dutiful servant, leave them some space, without revealing any emotion that would displease the Empress Dowager.

Although he had thought a lot, Qin Shu only paused for a moment when he entered the room. He bowed as usual and then silently stood behind Liu Qingtang.

Liu Qingtang glanced at him, and was about to say something when Taoye walked in from outside. Liu Qingtang said directly to Taoye, "You've come at the right time. Go and call Physician Yang. I'm feeling dizzy."

Tao Ye's eyes darted around, and she suddenly said with a grin, "Master misses Physician Yang again~"

Before Liu Qingtang could say anything, Zhuiyi frowned and said, "Taoye, don't say things that damage our master's reputation anymore. If someone overhears this, it will become a handle against our master. Why are you always so careless!"

Tao Ye first looked at Liu Qing Tang's expression. Seeing that she wasn't angry but rather looking at her with amusement, she immediately relaxed and waved her hand dismissively, replying to her serious older sister, "The mistress doesn't like too many people serving her. I sent all those little palace maids far away so no one could hear them. Sister, you're too tense. The mistress hasn't even scolded me yet, but you've already started scolding her."

Zhuiyi was taken aback and quickly apologized to Liu Qingtang: "This servant has overstepped her bounds."

"It's alright. I've told you so many times not to be so reserved, but you just won't listen, Zhuiyi." Liu Qingtang tapped the table and urged, "Hurry up and go, or it will get late."

"Yes, Master, I won't keep you waiting~ Physician Yang must have rushed over as soon as he heard your summons~" Tao Ye smiled and walked out with Zhui Yi, while Liu Qing Tang stood up and looked at Qin Shu beside her, "Let's go to the study first, I want to see how your calligraphy is progressing."

"Yes," Qin Shu said calmly, but only he knew how much torment he was going through. Tao Ye's words had plunged him into an ice cave, making him shiver uncontrollably. The Empress Dowager had a smile on her face the whole time she heard them talking about Physician Yang, and hadn't uttered a single word of rebuttal.

The Empress Dowager tacitly admitted that she and Physician Yang did indeed have an intimate relationship. Qin Shu felt a huge void in his heart. He had always told himself that the Empress Dowager would never like a eunuch like him, and that those words were just for fun, but he still took them seriously and was immersed in that beautiful dream, unwilling to wake up.

It was all wishful thinking on his part, and now reality has given him a harsh wake-up call. Don't covet what isn't yours, or you'll only sink deeper into despair. If he hadn't once received the Empress Dowager's smile, words, and touch, how could he feel such a sudden and utter destruction of all his hopes?

He had no right to dislike Physician Yang, nor could he possibly blame the Empress Dowager, because it was her, so it didn't matter what she did to him.

For the first time, Qin Shu was grateful for his somber expression. Even though he was feeling unwell, he looked perfectly normal, which was the best possible outcome.

"Your calligraphy is quite good, but Qin Shu, you're not concentrating. What are you thinking about?"

"This servant deserves to die; I was momentarily confused."

"You and Zhuiyi, one after another, are all so quick to confess and deserve to die, making me seem so harsh. The three of you are the people I value and trust most in this palace, do you understand?" Liu Qingtang didn't look at Qin Shu, but took the brush from his hand, dipped it in the inkstone, and rewrote the words Qin Shu had just written next to them.

Qin Shu watched as the Empress Dowager smoothly added a sentence next to his words, and suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. His heart, which had just sunk to the ground, had come alive again at the sound of the Empress Dowager's words, pounding fiercely. Regardless of who the Empress Dowager favored, she had said she valued and trusted him, and that was enough. He would stay by the Empress Dowager's side, waiting for her to rely on him more and more.

As for the sudden pang of bitterness that arose from the thought of the Empress Dowager smiling at Physician Yang or even touching him, he figured he'd get used to it. Qin Shu gripped his pen tightly, forcing himself to calm down and rewrite.

Meanwhile, Tao Ye and Zhui Yi were walking on their way to the Imperial Hospital. Seeing that no one was around, Zhui Yi disapprovedly whispered to Tao Ye, "How could you say such things in front of the master? We can talk about it in private, but how could you make such jokes with the master?"

“Didn’t you say yourself, sister, that Qin Shu and the master haven’t made any progress? It’s time for us to help.” Tao Ye glanced at the palace behind her and smiled meaningfully.

Zhuiyi understood her sister's meaning after a little thought, but she seemed even more disapproving, saying, "Qin Shu might feel terrible hearing you say that. How can the master guess what the person who keeps everything bottled up be thinking? Don't just make things worse by trying to help."

"That's not necessarily true, our master is very clever~"

Since they were outside, the two sisters only exchanged a few words before stopping.

When Physician Yang was invited to Cixi Palace, Liu Qingtang had already finished testing Qin Shu's calligraphy and was having him read a book aloud.

"Her Majesty the Queen Mother, be safe and sound."

A clear, gentle, and soothing voice rang out, and Qin Shu immediately stopped reading and lowered her head to avoid looking at the man who had entered.

"I've been waiting so long, why is it so slow?" Liu Qingtang stood up and complained, but there was no blame in her tone, instead, there was a hint of coquetry.

Yang Sushu smiled and replied unhurriedly, "It took some time because I was preparing the medicine that the Empress Dowager had specially instructed me to make last time."

Their interaction felt so natural, as if it were always meant to be. Qin Shu felt so uncomfortable he could hardly breathe, and seized a break in their conversation to say, "Your Majesty, should this servant leave..."

"Why go out? Just stay here." Liu Qingtang gave him a strange look, feeling that something was off about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she put it aside for the time being and started talking to Yang Sushu about serious matters.

"Sushu, in a while, Consort Lian will be moving out of the palace with the Second Prince Xiao Huai. When that happens, go and see Consort Lian for me and get her some tonics."

Yang Sushu was somewhat surprised. "Why are you starting to care about those two?" She shook her head and said, "Never mind, I won't ask. I'll just do as you say. It won't take much effort. It's just that you've changed a bit recently, which really makes me curious."

"I've just realized some things, you don't need to worry." Liu Qingtang's expression softened for once; she only showed her true colors in front of people she cared about.

She and Yang Sushu... or perhaps she should be called Yang Sujin, were childhood best friends, Sujin being a year older than her. When she was ten, the real Yang Sushu, Yang Sujin's twin brother, passed away. Afterwards, due to her father's obsession, she became Yang Sushu, transforming from a delicate young woman into a man, a role she has held for many years.

Now she doesn't want to revert to her female identity; she just wants to be Yang Sushu and stay in the Imperial Hospital to fulfill her father's dying wish. Every time she thinks of her friend's current masculine mannerisms, Liu Qingtang feels like sighing, but she's quite easygoing and always tries to comfort her.

"Qin Shu, come here and let Su Shu take a look."

Qin Shu was still listening to the intimate conversation between the two with his head down and a complicated expression when he suddenly heard his name from the Empress Dowager's mouth. He raised his somewhat pale face and walked to Yang Sushu as instructed.

Liu Qingtang didn't notice his expression and said directly to Yang Sushu, "Look at his hands. He didn't pay attention to them in the early years and got frostbite. Now it's like this every year. The ointment you gave him last time didn't seem to help."

Yang Sushu blinked with a smile, then suddenly realized, "So the ointment you asked me to make last time was for him?"

The ointment he's been using these days, was it personally ordered by the Empress Dowager to be made by Physician Yang? Qin Shu was overjoyed when he heard this news, but then he thought of the close relationship between the Empress Dowager and Physician Yang, and his mood turned bitter. His heart was in turmoil, and he couldn't settle down. It was very annoying.

After examining Qin Shu, who appeared silent but was actually stunned, Yang Sushu drafted a prescription and modified some of the ingredients in the previous ointment. Having done this, she said gently, "Seeing you like this now, I can finally rest easy."

Liu Qingtang expressed her frustration at seeing her close friend, who was clearly a woman, act like a gentle man. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she saw her friend off.

"I will arrange for the Empress Dowager to move out of the palace as soon as possible. You can go and take a look at her then. As for this ointment, I will have Qin Shu pick it up himself once it's ready."

Yang Sushu smiled and nodded as she left, her silhouette truly resembling a slender bamboo.

Liu Qingtang turned her gaze to Qin Shu, "Next, Qin Shu, tell me, what have you been acting so awkwardly about since just now?"

Author's Note: Lalala threw a landmine.

Fu Xiangjin threw a landmine

LoveIce threw a landmine

So neat! Thank you so much!

I'm taking the train to Guangzhou tomorrow! Okay, I admit I'm a little scared traveling alone for the first time...

[Oh yeah, next up is another scene where the Empress loses all her morals (>▽<) Su Shu is a good girl, she has a boyfriend, can you guess who it is~]