The answer to the last question was definitely no, if I helped women to gain favour with the Emperor wasn’t I just personally delivering him to her bed, absolutely not!
How about this, I would use delaying tactics, anyway, the Imperial Concubine would not know whether I said anything to the Emperor anyway.
As for whether I should tell the Emperor, I would decide when I saw him again.
When I returned to Yangxin Palace it was dinner time but the Emperor had not asked for me to serve him, but he had actually gone to Shoukang Palace to see the Empress Dowager. Apparently, it was because of the Prince of Duan.
Oh yeh, during the day when we had encountered the Prince of Duan, it seemed that the Emperor did not get on well with him? They were clearly brothers born from the same womb, in principle, they should have a close relationship. This imperial family was really complicated.
I put the small bundle of money given by the Imperial Concubine Shu into the cupboard and placed it with the rewards bestowed by the Emperor previously. Then, I went to find Zhou Xin to go eat together.
It seemed that my relationship with everyone had got a lot better, probably thanks to Zhou Xin.
At the dinner table, Zhou Xin complained, “I thought that I could rest today but in the end, I’ve been on my feet all day, I’m exhausted.”
“Where did you go?” I was curious.
Zhou Xin glanced at me exhaustedly, “I can’t say.”
Alright, mysterious.
After dinner, Zhou Xin went out again, and once again arrived at the daily moment in the day when I was most upset.
Tonight, the Emperor would probably have flipped the Yanxi Palace token right? I thought about what the Imperial Concubine Shu had said this afternoon, I felt helpless. In reality, there was no need for me to say anything, the Emperor would still go there. No matter what, they were the Empress Dowager and the Consort Dowager’s people, he could not think of not going, he was obliged to give them some face.
But this time I no longer sat at the doorway but instead lay in my bed staring blankly.
Because my mind was a mess, I had my head out of the bed, and then I took out the brocade handkerchief that the Emperor had given me before.
Although that day he had told me to throw it away, I had secretly cleaned it and then kept it.
But because I had cleaned it myself, there was no longer the scent of the Emperor. I used the handkerchief to cover over my face, and forcefully sniffed to take in even a tiny bit of that alluring fragrance.
My mind was filled with everything that had happened with the Emperor, his handsome face, his rugged chest, his sturdy arms, his strong fingers, how great would it be if everything belonged to me.
I imagined taking a stroll through the Imperial Gardens hand in hand with the Emperor, I imagined kissing and cuddling in the grace, and then my beautiful dream was quickly dashed.
The high-ranking palace maid, Nianru-gugu who served the Imperial Concubine Shu came to personally come and get me.
Eh…. At this time, shouldn’t the Imperial Concubine Shu be in the bedroom with the Emperor carrying out private matters? Why was she asking me to go there? Unless she wanted me to watch??
But I noticed that Nianru-gugu did not seem to be in a good mood, so I knew that the situation was definitely not this ridiculous, unless it was because the Emperor had not gone to Yanxi Palace?
I felt very apprehensive as I went once again to Yanxi Palace. Who knew that as soon as I stepped up, a little eunuch closed the palace doors.
My heart immediately dropped, I’m done for, I shouldn’t be finished off right here right!
I was so petrified that I already couldn’t describe my emotions, perhaps feeling my blood run cold was more fitting.
In the pitch black night, the lanterns burned brightly in Yanxi Palace’s courtyard. Originally they were red lanterns to indicate a newlywed’s night, but right now it was entirely used to brighten the courtyard.
Imperial Concubine Shu was wearing a red wedding dress as she sat down elegantly in the middle of the courtyard, however her face was fierce and intimidating. It was hard to imagine that such a beautiful woman would make such a face, she must have suffered a great shock….
I had yet to walk over there when I felt myself kneel down.
“This servant greets the Imperial Concubine Shu-niangniang, could niangniang….”
I opened my mouth with fear, I had yet to finish speaking when Imperial Concubine Shu shouted, “Enough, that’s enough, put away your fakeness! Bastard eunuch, you accepted my money but you’d actually do this kind of thing! You’re clearly seeking death!”
My brain was numb, I hadn’t done a thing, what thing…..
“Come and tear up his mouth for me!” The Imperial Concubine Shu snarled at me like a scorned woman.
I immediately and madly begged for mercy, “Niangniang, please forgive me, Niangniang, please forgive me. This servant does not know what he has done to offend niangniang. Please could niangniang explain!”
The Imperial Concubine Shu was so furious she laughed, she quickly walked over to me and then crushed me to ground with her food, “You bastard thing, you clearly accepted a reward from me today so why did the Emperor go over to Consort Shun, you were stymieing I guess? The Emperor clearly had lunch with me, how come after I spoke to you, the Emperor went to see Consort Shun? If you didn’t do it, then who could it be!”
“I’ve been wronged niangniang. This servant… this servant never saw the Emperor after I returned from here.” I couldn’t hold back the tears, this Imperial Concubine Shu-niangninag looked like a weak girl but she was actually incredibly strong, her kick to my chest almost made me spit out blood!
However, she was too furious to listen to my explanation. She leaned over and smacked me, making my face burn in pain.
“Bastard eunuch, you even dare to lie. In this palace, who doesn’t know that the Emperor is served by you during mealtime. You dare to say you have not seen the Emperor, do you think I am easy to trick?”
“Niangniang, I’m innocent. This servant does not dare.” I was so frightened that I could no longer hold back the tears, why was everything on me.
” At this moment, Nianru-gugu, who had brought me over, quietly said something to the Imperial Concubine Shu. The Imperial Concubine Shu stared at me and said through gritted teeth, “Come, smack his mouth for me, ten times!”
After that no matter how I begged, the Imperial Concubine Shu did not relent.
Therefore, I was held down by two little eunuchs as I was smacked across the mouth ten times.
Afterwards, I felt my head swaying, I was completely dizzy. The Imperial Concubine Shu walked in front of me, and looked down at me to say, “Liu-gonggong, this time I have only ordered a small punishment to prevent a greater crime. If you are smart then you know how to explain this to the Emperor. You are just a eunuch, no matter how doted upon you are, you can’t compare to me. Plus, I have the backing of the Consort Dowager, you need to consider how much you are worth.”
I wanted to reply but my eyes went dark and I fainted.
