The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 66

"You mean, the emperor made you drink contraceptive soup every time?"

"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Xuan Ge said respectfully, bowing her head.

"So that's how it is. It was him all along?" Liu Qingtang sat in the chair at the head of the table, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly before relaxing. She then kindly instructed, "Then let's leave this aside for now. Go back first, and don't arouse the emperor's suspicion."

"Yes." Xuan Ge obediently withdrew, reaching out to tie her veil. At the door, she bumped into Chief Eunuch Qin of Cining Palace entering, so she stepped aside and waited for him to go in before leaving.

Although she appeared outwardly exceptionally respectful and her expression remained largely unchanged, Xuan Ge was actually somewhat unsettled inside. This was only the third time she had seen her master. The first time was when she was rescued from near starvation and raised on the estate; one day, her master visited her, looked at her face for a while, and said she was quite satisfied. The second time was when she came to pay her respects in front of everyone; this was the third time, summoned privately to report news.

Perhaps she hadn't realized who this person was before, but after hearing about the Empress Dowager's deeds from many people, Xuan Ge felt that the Empress Dowager was truly an extraordinary person. If it were her, she wouldn't be so strong. For someone as lazy and unambitious as her, the Empress Dowager's strong personality was truly admirable.

Moreover, while this woman was devoted to her husband and children, the Empress Dowager was able to participate in politics and do things that many men could not. For Xuan Ge, who was also a woman, regardless of whether what she did was right or wrong, she should feel proud. Who says women are inferior to men? Even a lazy girl like Xuan Ge was unusually motivated.

Xuan Ge lost both her parents when she was very young and became a beggar, begging for several years. Because she was naturally lazier than other beggars, she often went hungry and was finally rescued when she was about to starve to death. Not only did the person rescue her, but they also took good care of her, teaching her poetry, literature, needlework, and so on. Although she was too lazy to learn anything, the person didn't say anything.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. She understood this from a young age, and she also knew that a life-saving grace should be repaid tenfold. Regardless of the motives of these important figures, the fact remained that they had saved her. Since the Empress Dowager had saved her behind the scenes and provided her with food and clothing, it was only right that she help her. Compared to her years of begging, her life now was much better. Even though she had to face an emperor who seemed to have a mental problem every day, she still felt content.

Xuan Ge is a lazy but happy person. She doesn't think much. Having enough to eat and wear is all she asks for. So she actually lives a very happy life in the palace, at least much happier than the emperor she thinks is mentally unstable.

An emperor falls in love with the Empress Dowager, and it's rumored they're related by blood as aunt and nephew. Isn't this emperor out of his mind? Even a girl like her, who's illiterate and gets sleepy when she tries to read, knows this is wrong. How could an emperor not know? To knowingly do something wrong is no foolish act.

Moreover, there are many more important things in this world, such as being well-fed, warmly clothed, and getting enough sleep. Aren't these more important than the emperor's strange preferences? Having experienced the near-starvation and freezing to death, Xuan Ge always felt that if she let the emperor go hungry for a few days, he wouldn't be so self-destructive, and wouldn't even let her have peace.

Every time she saw the emperor staring blankly at her face, then looking lost and ferocious, Xuan Ge would calmly eat her snacks, while wondering what illness he was about to have.

In Xuan Ge's opinion, the emperor was indeed a man with a bad temper. Despite being quite young, even a year younger than her, he was gentle in front of others, but became irritable and volatile when alone with her. One moment he'd make her laugh, the next he wouldn't; one moment he'd make her call his name, the next he wouldn't. One moment he'd scold her for being lukewarm towards him, the next he'd say her enthusiasm was inappropriate. Xuan Ge was annoyed at first, but later she got used to it and just pretended not to hear him; after all, he wouldn't hit her.

When they were together, the emperor didn't like anyone around. When he was angry, he couldn't hit her, and he couldn't even vent his anger on the palace servants around him. All he could do was smash things. Anyway, none of those things belonged to Xuan Ge, so she didn't care. She would just hold the plate of snacks, eat on the side, and watch.

Several times, her languid attitude angered the emperor, making him raise his hand in frustration. Xuan Ge would then look at him innocently, and he would grit his teeth, lower his hand, and sit down to the side. At first, Xuan Ge didn't understand why, but later, when she inadvertently saw the Empress Dowager looking innocently at the Grand Eunuch Qin beside her, she suddenly realized that this expression most resembled the Empress Dowager's.

Xuan Ge was lazy, not stupid, and after that, she became fearless. With her face and deliberate imitation, she did resemble the Empress Dowager quite a bit. And every time she saw the Emperor about to strike someone in a rage but then lower his hand upon seeing her expression and start smashing things in anger, Xuan Ge felt quite pleased. Before, the Emperor's unpredictable temper had upset her; now, she could make him unhappy in the same way.

Xiao Huaixu was indeed quite annoyed by Xuan Ge. He couldn't hit her, and when he scolded her, she acted as if she didn't hear him, spending her days eating and sleeping. But he still couldn't help but get angry with her every day because of her face. After all, when Xuan Ge was facing him, he could still see the emotions on her face, but now she didn't want to show him any extra expression, as if her face was wearing a mask.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Xuan Ge said, the osmanthus candy in her mouth still unswallowed. Xiao Huaixu watched the crumbs spilling out as she spoke and felt an urge to turn and leave immediately. The other concubines were all gentle and considerate, but none of them had a similar face. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't want to look at this vulgar person even once.

"Are you eating osmanthus candy? I remember you used to love red date cake." Xiao Huaixu suppressed the urge to get angry and tried to speak to Xuan Ge in his calmest tone.

Xuan Ge was already familiar with his tone, and upon hearing this, she understood that the person he was referring to who loved red date cake was the Empress Dowager. That's why she said his illness was getting worse and worse, and that he couldn't remember such things, or that he was just deceiving himself. "It's alright, I love to eat anything, as long as I can eat it."

"Why didn't you smile when you saw me today?" Having just witnessed Liu Qingtang's aloof attitude, Xiao Huaixu seemed to be touched by something, and he spoke to Xuan Ge with a gloomy face.

This meant he was about to get angry, and no matter what she did next, he would be angry. Xuan Ge was pretty used to it, and upon hearing this, she grinned. Sure enough, the emperor started smashing things, saying that this was wrong, how could you laugh like that, and so on, that you really didn't want to smile at me and were just trying to appease me. Amidst the clattering sounds of things being smashed, Xuan Ge quietly ate her snacks. As long as he didn't cut back on her food, she didn't care.

Xiao Huaixu was still in a bad mood today.

No matter how bad Xiao Huaixu's mood was, Liu Qingtang was in a very good mood. On the third day after her godson Xiao Le'an turned one year old, she finally found an opportunity to leave the palace to see her godson.

With the increasing number of concubines in the harem, they frequently came to her Cining Palace to curry favor. Even Xiao Huaixu took many opportunities to pay his respects, which greatly reduced her chances of leaving the palace. In the past two years, she had become accustomed to leaving the palace occasionally, but now, staying in the palace for so long made her feel uncomfortable all over, even though she had spent more than ten years there in her previous life.

Liu Qingtang is increasingly eager to leave that palace, hoping everything will end as soon as possible. So, given that the emperor is absolutely unwilling to have a son, she can only hope that her godson will grow up quickly.

Xiao Le'an had long since transformed from a skinny newborn into a chubby little boy. Yang Sushu had taken good care of him, which made Liu Qingtang extremely gratified.

With Yang Sushu, a doctor, around, not only Xiao Le'an but even his mentally challenged father had gained weight thanks to his mother's care. This amazed Liu Qingtang, while Qin Shu humbly sought her advice and brought back many medicinal dishes to nourish his mistress.

Although Liu Qingtang doesn't seem to do much on a daily basis, her mind is always on the go, constantly thinking about things here and there, and issuing numerous orders to those outside.

Ever since Yang Sushu once told Qin Shu that Liu Qingtang was overthinking things, Qin Shu started looking for ways to find medicinal meals for her. Now, things are much better. Before, it was Liu Qingtang who was trying to force Qin Shu to drink those nourishing things, but now there's no need to force her. In order for the other person to drink, he has to drink too, so the two of them each drink from a small cup.

Sometimes when Liu Qingtang didn't want to drink anymore, Qin Shu would put down his bowl without saying a word, not even glancing at the medicinal food. No matter if Liu Qingtang pretended to be angry or acted coquettishly, he remained unmoved. His relentless attitude made Liu Qingtang grit her teeth, and she kept saying that he was becoming less and less interesting than before.

No matter what she said, Qin Shu would always go along with her whenever possible, but when it came to her health, he would suddenly become incredibly assertive. In a relationship, two people in love need to know how to compromise and complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. After Qin Shu learned to be appropriately assertive, Liu Qingtang also learned to be appropriately weak.

If Qin Shu and Liu Qingtang's relationship is like boiling water steeping tea leaves, allowing one to savor the lingering aftertaste, then Yang Sushu and Xiao Huaiyu's relationship is like a cup of lukewarm water, light and bland from the start. Although it lacks many flavors, there are always people in the world who love tea and others who prefer plain water.

As for Xiao Le'an, this unexpected child, he was like a small piece of sugar added to Yang Sushu and Xiao Huaiyu's cup of warm water, giving the taster a sense of peace and a touch of sweetness.

So when Liu Qingtang came to the Yang residence this time, she found that her friend and Xiao Huaiyu were getting closer and closer, and Xiao Huaiyu seemed to have become more sensible.

For example, right now, he's sitting next to his son's cradle, reaching out to push it. He sees his son suddenly wake up, whimpering and responding, and he wants to go and hold him. You know, before, only Yang Sushu could get him to respond.

Liu Qingtang watched with great interest, but Xiao Huaiyu's hand froze halfway out, and he began to look around for Yang Sushu's figure, but did not hold the child as she had expected.

Unfortunately, Yang Sushu had just been called away for something, so at this moment only Xiao Huai, Liu Qingtang, and Qin Shu, along with a baby waving its arms and babbling, were present.

The baby waved his arms for a while, but when no one picked him up, his little mouth immediately twitched. Seeing that he was about to cry, Liu Qingtang eagerly stepped forward and picked him up. She had been wanting to hold him for a long time, but with Yang Sushu around, she dared not do so.

Liu Qingtang had never held such a small child before, and her posture was incorrect; she was holding him by the armpits and didn't know what to do. Adding to her unease was Xiao Le'an's crying, which made Xiao Huaiyu beside her anxious, making her even more helpless. She repeatedly cried out to Qin Shu for help. "Qin Shu, come quick! He's so soft, I'm afraid to use my strength! Come quickly, he's about to fall!"

Qin Shu was completely lost when it came to holding a baby, but he couldn't abandon Liu Qingtang at a time like this. He steeled himself and stepped forward, unsure of where to begin, before finally carefully supporting Xiao Le'an from below. The baby's softness made him hesitant to use force, and he simply held him there, staring wide-eyed at Liu Qingtang, who was equally at a loss for what to do.

Their silly, clumsy lifting and supporting movements actually stopped Xiao Le'an's crying, and instead made him giggle. He laughed, but he also waved his arms and kicked his legs, making Qin Shu and Liu Qingtang tremble with fear, afraid they might drop the child if they let go. Liu Qingtang practically begged him to stop moving.

When Yang Sushu returned, she saw her unreliable friend and the usually reliable Qin Shu carrying her son into the cradle in a dangerous position. The child's father was staring wide-eyed at the edge of the cradle, and all three of them were equally nervous. Only her son was still smiling foolishly.

Author's Note: Seaweed threw a landmine.

Cangying threw a landmine

[Thanks to the girls who threw in the grenade, and of course to the girls who left comments. Those who are still following after more than sixty chapters are truly devoted fans~]