Chapter 438: Eunuch Zhao Takes the Knife for One Clean Cut; Count Zheng Meets a Beauty in Wind and Snow

Zhao Cheng became a eunuch.

According to his account, he had discovered the Princess inside a cowshed, then rescued Her Highness out of the city.

As for what had happened to the Princess inside that cowshed, or during the days she had previously been missing—

Zhao Cheng did not know.

If he did not know then he simply did not know.

Count Zheng had once asked Fan Zhengwen what sort of method, excuse, and arrangement they should use when returning the Princess.

For example, they could divert suspicion toward the Silver-Armored Guard of Qian.

Or toward the Wu Clan the Fan Clan had originally intended to frame.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, a thing ought to have a beginning and an end.

They needed to arrange matters cleanly enough that Phoenix Nest could find no flaws.

Fan Zhengwen’s answer was very simple.

Only five Chinese characters in total, and the first two were practically wasted words:

“Count, there’s no need.”

Zheng Fan had frozen for quite a while.

Then realization struck.

He smiled.

Yes.

There was no need.

Because Xiong Liqing was a Princess.

She was the full younger sister of the Regent of Great Chu.

Barring some accident, she would one day become the only full-blooded younger sister of the future Emperor of Great Chu.

At the same time she would become the principal wife of the Qu Clan’s legitimate eldest son.

The future principal matriarch of the Qu Clan.

When she returned so long as her body had suffered no violation and she remained a virgin then she would still be herself.

She was not a suspect.

She was not someone who could be dragged into an interrogation chamber.

The moment she stood once more upon the Phoenix Dais and draped herself in phoenix-red robes she would immediately become that same lofty Princess again.

All she needed to say was:

“I forgot.”

And nobody would dare smash the clay pot merely to ask what lay at the bottom.

Not even the person in charge of Phoenix Nest.

“This was a terrible memory for me.

“I do not want to experience it again.

“I do not want to remember it again.

“Let all of it pass.”

Even if the Regent personally asked her about the matter someday that answer alone would be enough to block him.

And inside Great Chu if even the Regent could not extract an answer who else would dare force her?

The matter was actually very simple.

There were two reasons Count Zheng had worried about all this.

First the Blind Man was not at his side.

He lacked a strategist capable of considering both the tiny details and the larger picture.

Without that kind of mind beside him, it was inevitable that he occasionally became trapped inside his own assumptions.

Second ever since awakening in this world, Zheng Fan had spent most of his time either fighting wars or traveling toward the next war.

His position had risen step by step.

His military achievements had accumulated.

His noble title had risen with them.

But damn it the farther he fought the farther he moved from court.

He lacked the tempering of political whirlpools.

Lacked the true environment of someone living permanently among those in supreme authority.

And he believed too strongly in the truth that **political power grows from the barrel of a gun**.

So Count Zheng currently lacked certain instincts and perspectives natural to people who lived permanently at the top.

That was perfectly normal.

Fan Zhengwen was right.

If the Princess wished to conceal Zheng Fan’s involvement and the Fan Clan’s involvement nobody could pry the truth from her.

And if the Princess did not wish to conceal it heh.

Then no matter how exquisitely they arranged the scene no matter how perfectly they redirected suspicion none of it would matter in the slightest.

So there genuinely was no need.

Outside Zhennan Pass, the Yan people’s Marquis of Jingnan watched Great Chu like a tiger waiting to pounce.

The Chu front had only recently suffered another defeat.

But the wedding could not be delayed.

Precisely because the external pressure had become clearer the Regent needed to bind himself to the Qu Clan even sooner.

Originally, people still came to investigate Zhao Cheng’s background.

But after Zhao Cheng castrated himself rested for a week climbed out of bed and changed into a eunuch’s robes nobody dared ask him about what had happened in Xiayong City ever again.

Immediately after the castration, he could not get out of bed.

He could only rely on his little sister to change his medicine.

Layer after layer.

Applied thickly.

Cool.

Itchy.

Once he could walk again, urinating still caused sharp pain every time.

And he could never clean himself properly afterward.

Urine would stain his trousers.

But before long he adapted.

He also adapted to people calling him:

“Eunuch Zhao.”

He did not regret castrating himself.

A man’s root of descendants was important.

But not as important as his life.

This was a boy who had once been abducted and sold, escaped, wandered the streets, then organized a gang of beggar children.

He possessed sensitivity and instinct far beyond ordinary people.

He knew perfectly well that day when the Princess asked what reward he wanted if he had not castrated himself then the only future waiting for him and his little sister would have been death.

People often said that in the eyes of great figures, human lives were nothing more than grass.

But Zhao Cheng understood something else too.

When ordinary people saw a beggar frozen or starved to death by the roadside they looked at the corpse no differently than they looked at a clump of roadside weeds.

Either way he had survived.

He knew many people around the Princess looked at him strangely.

They thought he had sacrificed absolutely everything just to climb upward.

He did not care what they thought.

Zhao Cheng did not know the word **self-respect**.

But even if he had he would still have felt that trading self-respect for his life was an extraordinarily good bargain.

The Princess’s original attendants were all gone.

After the Princess disappeared, every one of them had been arrested and thrown into prison.

Whether they had died nobody knew.

But they would certainly never be allowed to return and serve the Princess again.

The imperial palace in Ying Capital sent a new group.

There were palace matrons.

Guards.

And eunuchs.

The new chief steward was a eunuch surnamed Sun.

The Princess ordered Zhao Cheng to recognize Eunuch Sun as his godfather.

Before the Princess herself, Eunuch Sun accepted the tea Zhao Cheng offered.

One could say—

Zhao Cheng’s road as a eunuch had officially begun.

In only half a month he had already traveled farther than many men could manage in ten years.

Ordinarily, Eunuch Sun handled affairs throughout the imperial villa.

Meanwhile, all matters inside the Princess’s own courtyard were entrusted to Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng had once wandered the jianghu.

Built a gang.

Even been recruited as an informant by the intelligence offices of several states.

He lacked neither ability nor methods.

Before long, the several dozen eunuchs and palace maids inside the small courtyard were already being managed in perfect order.

Then, one day—

Zhao Cheng saw the Eldest Young Lady of the Mi Clan arrive.

One of her arms had been ruined.

She also walked with a limp.

Her eyes were red when she entered the courtyard.

At the time the Princess was eating.

Zhao Cheng stood beside her and attended.

The Princess calmly accepted a handkerchief from him.

Gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

Then rose.

Picked up a plate from the table.

And hurled it directly toward the doorway.

The plate shattered across the floor.

The Princess began screaming in an extraordinarily calm voice:

“Get out.

“Get out of here!

“Get out!”

Yes.

Calm.

After shouting the Princess sat back down with the same composure.

Lifted her teacup.

Took a sip.

Moistened her throat.

Because of that the Eldest Young Lady of the Mi Clan never managed to enter the room.

She left in a daze.

Two days later—

Zhao Cheng heard that the young lady had hanged herself inside the Mi household.

Zhao Cheng knew that when the Princess disappeared she had been together with that young lady.

The shattered plate.

The screaming.

That whole chain of actions was more than enough to stir endless speculation.

The Phoenix Nest operatives who had failed to extract anything from the Princess herself might very well smell something unusual because of it.

Or they might interpret it as a hint.

But the Mi Clan was the household of the current Minister of Revenue.

The head of the Mi Clan was also one of the Regent’s trusted confidants.

Investigating them was difficult.

The Eldest Young Lady’s death could therefore be considered a kind of... compromise.

Zhao Cheng did not understand the storms and currents of court politics.

But he knew one thing.

The truth was absolutely not what it appeared to be.

That man.

The man the Princess had once willingly thrown herself into the arms of.

Who exactly was he?

At the end of the day it was because of that man that Zhao Cheng had lost his former equipment.

Yet Zhao Cheng did not dare ask the Princess about him.

He did not even dare hate the man inside his own heart.

A man capable of casually pulling a Princess into his arms as though she were some village girl do not think about it.

Do not think about it.

And absolutely do not provoke him.

...

The day before New Year—

Qu Peiluo arrived.

This was the first time Zhao Cheng had ever seen the Young Master of the Qu Clan.

The man had fine features.

He could certainly be called a handsome young lord.

Qu Peiluo brought many gifts and New Year goods.

He generously distributed them throughout the imperial villa.

Though the wedding had not yet taken place, the servants who attended the Princess had already begun cheerfully wishing the future Prince-Consort health and good fortune.

In the end Qu Peiluo did not meet the Princess.

According to ritual propriety, husband and wife were not supposed to see one another before marriage.

The Chu people valued ritual.

Revered antiquity.

They believed violating ancient rites brought misfortune upon oneself.

It was obvious that Qu Peiluo very much wanted to see the Princess.

He even hinted that Zhao Cheng should go inside and report his arrival.

Zhao Cheng returned and conveyed the Princess’s reply:

"If two hearts are bound to long endure,
why cling to every dawn and dusk?"

It was good poetry.

Elegant.

Easy on the tongue.

A line that lingered after hearing it.

Though disappointed—

Qu Peiluo still left smiling.

He did not know exactly what had happened while the Princess was missing.

But he had already confirmed two things.

Her body had not been harmed.

And she was still a virgin.

Those two facts were enough.

As for the literary talent the Princess had displayed that could be considered an unexpected delight in this political marriage.

Qu Peiluo left.

But most of the soldiers he had brought remained.

Inside and outside the imperial villa three layers within and three layers without the defenses were now extraordinarily severe.

Zhao Cheng returned to the Princess and reported that Qu Peiluo had departed.

He did not embellish anything.

Because he saw the Princess staring at the calligraphy she had personally written earlier.

The same two poetic lines he had just carried to Qu Peiluo.

The Princess had written them.

But Zhao Cheng felt she probably had not composed them.

...

New Year arrived.

And on New Year’s Day, a very bad piece of news came.

Xue Rang’s troops at Zhennan Pass had mutinied.

If General Nian Yao had not acted decisively ordering Great Chu’s Imperial Clan Guards into Zhennan Pass to take over the walls and suppress the chaos the Yan people might very well have seized the opportunity to break straight through the pass.

That day—

Zhao Cheng noticed the Azure Luan Army outside the imperial villa undergoing a large-scale rotation.

The troops who had previously looked uniform in armor and equipment were sent northward in large groups.

Afterward, units that looked much more like private household soldiers began replacing their defensive positions.

Eunuch Sun told him that pressure from Yan in the northern fighting had continued to rise.

The Qu Clan’s Azure Luan Army had no choice but to move north once more.

The replacements were mostly Qu Clan local auxiliaries and the private troops of the servant families beneath the Qu household.

At the same time a group of Qu Clan retainers took up residence around the outer edge of the Princess’s courtyard.

Those retainers radiated an aura that clearly said strangers should stay away.

Zhao Cheng had wandered the jianghu.

He knew this group consisted of genuine experts.

If they lived in the jianghu every one of them would be capable of earning a name.

So compared with before the defenses of the imperial villa could now be described as **looser outside, tighter within.**

That made sense.

Even if thieves existed they could hardly mobilize an army to attack this place.

And if only a small band of infiltrators came forget how difficult entering would already be.

Even if they somehow slipped inside, the Qu Clan experts around the courtyard would never allow anyone to harm the Princess again.

On the first day of the New Year the Princess distributed rewards.

Every eunuch and palace maid serving in the courtyard lined up early outside the Princess’s sleeping hall.

Once the Princess emerged they stepped forward one by one.

Spoke an auspicious phrase.

Then received a red envelope from Zhao Cheng.

Afterward, the Princess returned inside to rest.

Zhao Cheng remained behind to collect his own private tribute.

Of the red envelopes distributed before the Princess more than ten percent had to be taken back out and handed to him.

Everyone paid willingly.

This was already a long-established palace custom.

A master’s reward might indeed be given to you.

But you should never imagine you could swallow the whole thing alone.

After collecting everyone’s tribute, Zhao Cheng hurried without pause to the outer courtyard and found Eunuch Sun.

Eunuch Sun had also just returned after exchanging greetings with the inner-palace guards.

Zhao Cheng placed a packet of silver before him.

“Godfather.

“This is yours.”

Then, Zhao Cheng took out a separate silver ingot.

Placed it to one side.

Pushed it over.

“This is your son’s own share.”

Eunuch Sun narrowed his eyes.

A smile that was not quite a smile appeared.

“The numbers are wrong, aren’t they?”

Zhao Cheng immediately dropped to his knees.

Raised one finger toward Heaven.

And swore:

“Godfather should know— this is exactly what was collected just now.

“Your son did not dare conceal a single coin.”

He had not been a eunuch for long.

But Zhao Cheng was sharp.

He understood that right now his duty was to follow the rules carefully and solidly.

This was not yet the time for him to grab silver and take benefits.

Naturally, he would never commit that sort of stupidity now.

Eunuch Sun smiled.

“This old eunuch did not mean there was too little.

“I meant there was too much.”

As he spoke—

Eunuch Sun pushed the entire packet of silver back.

Then took only the single ingot Zhao Cheng had separately offered from his own share.

“What does Godfather mean?”

“What do I mean?

“Exactly what I just did.

“Life is not easy for the palace eunuchs and maids.

“They all need to save a little private silver.

“When they grow old and weak and are eventually released outside— they need enough to buy a few poor mu of farmland and provide for themselves until death.

“So do you know why they handed over their share to you so quickly and willingly?”

“I ask Godfather to teach me.”

“Alas.

“When you work beside the great and noble, no matter how careful you are, sooner or later you may make a mistake.

“And take ten thousand steps backward—even if you truly never make one mistake—what happens if one day your master happens to be in a terrible mood and insists on finding fault with you?

“This silver may be called tribute.

“But truthfully— it is money spent to buy one’s life.

“When they hand it over, they are not handing it over for nothing.

“If you accept someone’s tribute, then someday when that person makes a mistake— you have to help smooth matters over.

“You have to speak kindly for them before the master.

“Turn a heavy punishment into a light punishment.

“Turn death into a heavy punishment.

“And if their crime is truly unforgivable and nothing can save them— you still need to lend a hand to their family afterward.

“There is no such thing in this world— as silver you collect for free.

“I heard you once saved the Princess.

“And Her Highness has handed the affairs of the inner courtyard to you.

“So you can speak before her.

“You possess enough face to sell favors.

“The silver from the people in the inner courtyard— naturally you should collect it.

“And in the future— naturally you are also the one who must return those favors.

“What am I?

“Even back when I served in the palace, I never personally attended the Princess.

“So—

I have no right to collect this money.”

Eunuch Sun lifted the separate silver ingot Zhao Cheng had given him.

“As for this— you call me Godfather.

“So I can accept one offering from my son.

“I never became anyone important inside the palace.

“But at least I survived long enough to gain seniority.

“If you follow me— at minimum, no one will be able to bully you over rank and generation later.

“I accept your tribute.

“According to the rules, when you receive a better post in the future—

I will prepare a proper set of robes and equipment for you.

“When you find yourself a palace companion— yes, palace maids do not follow the outside custom of demanding bride-price but jewelry still has to be prepared.

“And I will pay half.

“This money—

I accept clearly.

I accept it with peace of mind.

“What is mine—

I take.

“What is not mine—

I do not.

“Little thief.

“Remember this.

“In the future, when you work beside a master and command a whole crowd of people beneath you— this is how it must be done.

“When people beneath you offer tribute— make sure they do it willingly.

Do not make them grit their teeth and curse you behind your back.

“Silver is silver.

“Favors are favors.

“But from ancient times until now— silver without favors chills the heart, and favors without silver cannot stand.”

The moment Zhao Cheng finished listening he kowtowed three times again.

**Bang! Bang! Bang!**

His forehead struck the floor solidly.

He said with genuine sincerity:

“Many thanks for Godfather’s teaching.

“Your son has learned!”

Eunuch Sun reached out and helped Zhao Cheng back to his feet.

Then spoke earnestly:

“Your godfather was transferred here from the palace.

“You could call it exile.

“But you— you may still have a chance to enter the imperial palace someday.

“Do your work properly.

“Conduct yourself properly.

“We are all men without roots.

“But exactly because of that— we have to fight for our dignity even harder.

“We still need to live like human beings.”

“Yes, Godfather.”

“Leave the silver here for now.

“You carrying it around everywhere looks improper.

“I’ll send it back to you tonight.

“Oh, right.

“The Fan Clan jade shop sent over a pair of jadeite cabbages.

“Go find two men over there and have them carried to the Princess.

“Jadeite can calm the heart and settle the spirit.”

“Yes.

“Your son understands.

“I’ll go immediately.”

Zhao Cheng rose.

After taking his leave of Eunuch Sun he went out.

Leaving the inner courtyard and crossing the outer courtyard brought him into the central area of the imperial villa.

The outermost ring consisted of layer after layer of different military forces guarding the estate.

The middle ring, meanwhile, was mostly filled with Fan Clan people merchant-house staff and craftsmen arranging decorations and ceremonial objects.

Everything had to be prepared so that when the wedding arrived on the Lantern Festival the entire place would look bright, prosperous, exquisite, and dazzling.

There was no helping it.

After the Sixth Prince of Yan held his wedding he had invisibly raised the standards and expectations for imperial weddings in every other state.

“Where are the jadeite cabbages?”

Zhao Cheng asked a Fan Clan steward.

The steward immediately replied:

“Reporting to Eunuch Zhao— they are on that carriage.”

Zhao Cheng could not restrain himself.

He walked over directly.

Seven or eight Fan Residence guards stood around the carriage.

That alone was enough to show how valuable the pair of jadeite cabbages had to be.

“Let this eunuch have a look first.”

Before becoming a eunuch, Zhao Cheng had already loved money.

But objects this rare forget owning one.

He had barely even had chances to look at such things.

Today first, Eunuch Sun’s words had left him in an excellent mood.

Second he was still a teenage boy.

His boyish nature had not disappeared.

And so without even asking anyone to help him—

Zhao Cheng climbed directly onto the carriage.

He lifted the curtain.

Light from outside poured in.

The two jadeite cabbages immediately reflected a mesmerizing brilliance.

But Zhao Cheng was not mesmerized.

Not only was he not mesmerized the sight nearly frightened him badly enough to make the equipment beneath his robe stand back up!

“I...”

Zhao Cheng pointed at the man sitting between the two jadeite cabbages.

His mouth fell wide open.

His face filled with shock.

The man merely raised one index finger.

Placed it against his lips.

“Shh.”

[End of Chapter 438]