Arc 4 Chapter 4.1 ( The Prince and the Eunuch )
A white colored soul form could be seen sitting at the corner of the neutral room . The neutral room's wall is colored white without any traces of dirts and dusts . The white transparent soul's light has dimmed . Looking depressed , low spirited and gloomy .
The white soul is currently hugging his knees in silence . His vague facial expressions looked dull and emotionless .
Behind him stood two silhouettes belonging to Uno and Doze . Uno felt his temple throbbing in pain and stress and clicked his tongue . While Doze pursed his lips in guiltiness .
" Master " Doze tried calling Jiro but the said master never paid him attention .
Doze gulped and looked at Uno . An expression of what-to-do could be seen upon his countenance . Uno on the other hand also has the same problem ..His master also ignored him and went to slumber to replenish his energy .
Uno just escaped because of his master's intimidating aura . Doze was more fortunate because of his master's tolerance . Different for Uno who has only met with Zone again for so many years , added by his master's gapped memory . There's no way Zone could accept the fact that Jiro and himself have been separated again . Although he himself ordered it , Zone placed the blame towards the mysterious organization that seems to target him . Uno was also affected because of the unvented anger of his master . It is only natural for him to escaped the chilly environment of their own neutral room .
Uno and Doze became friends during the past few days they had spent together and established a kind of link that only they themselves could do . Doze also learned some bits of information about Uno's identity but he did not dare to ask him in case Uno would get irritated by his meddlesome questions .
Uno sighed and told Doze that he would go ahead to the next world .
" Be careful " said Doze
Uno nodded and stepped into the blue portal that he casted . Once his figure disappeared within Doze's sight . Doze turned his vision back to his master's soul body .
' Hope master could overcome his depression . Only now did i realize how fragile my master's mentality was .'
Uno arrived at the dark neutral room and stared at his master's corrupted soul . He subconsciously trembled in fear but he tried his best to withstand the suffocating pressure .
Demonic and cruel pair of crimson eyes locked unto his body . Sending chills deep through his soul but at the same time , Uno felt sadness , pain and guilt .
It's all his fault .
It's all his fault that his master became like this .
Zone retracted his eyes and looked down at the floor . He was silent for a while before slowly standing up . Two phantoms of long fox tails could be seen swaying behind him . The contrast of his black corrupted soul and white and blue tail was rather peculiar . However , if the people who targeted him saw this scene , they would tremble in disbelief . How did his tail not get corrupted by the curse?
About the reason behind the hows . Only the person himself knew .
" Let's proceed " A cold androgynous voice resonated from the corrupted soul's mouth .
Uno who stood about 20 meters away from Zone nodded and slowly conjured up a blue portal with mysterious specks of lights spinning in the inward part .
Zone nonchalantly looked at the portal before stepping on it .
--
In a snow coated empire , a grand ancient palace could be seen from a far . Guarded by yellow uniformed imperial guards , several green robed eunuchs could also be seen exiting one after another to run errands .
In a deserted palace , a three year old little child snuggled at the corner of his room trying his best to warm himself . Mist would occasionally escape out of his little mouth everytime he inhales .
The child was silent and did not complain , but you could see a trace of anxiety and vigilance painted upon his cute countenance . His eyes would occasionally roam around the room , it is obvious that the child is aware of everything and cares about the environment .
When a palace maid passed by , his eyes followed her and there's a trace of avoidance and stiffness on the surface of the child's face . The child then sucked his thumb , obviously scared and insecure .
However , his eyes also held hope and desire to be cared and loved .
The palace maid paused and stared at the cute looking child .
" Your Highness? " The palace maid has a sweet voice , calming the little prince's cold and stiff nerves .
The little prince obviously perceived the palace maid's nature . The palace maid then smiled and knelt down beside him . The she showed him a circle pebble .
" Look , this is a stone . " Said the palace maid in a sweet voice .
Then she took out another circle stones threaded into a small bracelet . It created cute sounds , bringing the child's attention to it . But then , he quickly lost interest and looked out of the window again . It is obvious that he easily loses interest on things and instead focuses on observing the outside world , especially humans and their expressions and behaviours .
The palace maid was not irritated and instead took out a small candy . She was about to give it to the cute little prince when a mean looking palace maid suddenly snorted behind her .
" Heh! You are still giving a candy to a son of an unfavored noble consort? I mean , concubine? "
The kind palace maid frowned and looked at the mean palace maid . " What's wrong with what I'm doing? "
The two palace maids started arguing . The little prince who was about to take the candy immediately retracted his little hands when he saw that the other palace maids seems to dislike him .
His behaved and sad appearance could make anyone who saw him like that pity him . Unfortunately , no one appreciates his sensible behavior .
Usually , kids at his age would play small blocks to build tower and would not care about the world around them because of their parents' protection and care . However , this little prince is different to the other normal children.. He was neglected by his imperial father and noble consort Lin mother .
The child has suffered child neglect and emotional abuse . It may not sound miserable compared to the other unfortunate people around the world , as a prince , it was unfair .
The neglect of his parents could cause his growth to become crook without the parents' guidance . No one would teach him morality and teach him how to love .
The kind palace maid sighed and followed the mean maid out of the room . Silence invaded the whole room , as the cold breeze made the child feel more cold and the silence was unbearable to him .
He was alone again .
And no one genuinely cares for him .
The child pursed his lips and sucked his thumb . He does not dare cry out loud . His eyes turned red and watery , before burrying his little head between his knees . Soft hicks and sobs silently echoed in the quiet cold room . No one even light up a fire to warm him up . The environment was cold , the silence feels cold , and even the heart of the child feels cold and unbearable .
" ... M-mama " the child called out to his birth mother , but no one answered him .
Although the child's wisdom was still little . The child was aware that no one cared for him and his birth mother did not even visit him these past few months after she fell out of favor . The child had once saw his imperial father before , but his father never landed his eyes upon his body . Never took an interest for him and instead focused on the beautiful peonies beside him .
At that time , the little prince saw his birth mother being bullied by the other beautiful women . She looked weak and sickly , the child even heard that her rank fell down despite her being a di (daughter to the main wife) daughter of a general) daughter . The child cannot understand what those words are , but their malicious tones remained marked within his head .
The little prince slowly climb to his bed and opened the book his birth mother left him . The characters on the book was unreadable for a child like him but he greatly cherishes it . It is the only thing his birth mother gifted to him in his whole life , he naturally would take goo care of it until he can finally read the characters .
The child climb down the bed and took out an ancient paper and took out a coal from the fireplace. The child saw that his hands became dirty . The little prince stiffened for a while before immediately locking the door .
If the palace maids saw that he became dirty again , they would surely scold him and hit him . The child bit his lower lips and subconsciously wanted to cry but stopped himself .
He roamed his eyes around the room and slowly pick up a dirty fabric and wrapped it around his palm and fingers before turning back and sat down on the floor . He layed the paper on to the ground and started sketching using the coal on his hands . He usually saw his eldest brother painting beside the tutor behind him . He was a little envious because his eldest brother recieved a gift from the emperor , but he never recieved a single thing from the imperial father .
Yesterday , the little prince saw a very beautiful flower when he passed by the garden of the Empress' palace . The little prince got fascinated and the image of that certain flower remained within his head for a very long time . The picture within his mind was so vivid that the little prince felt an urge to sketch it with his own palms .
Slowly a rose appeared on the paper . There's a bit of smudges around the lines of the image , it is still excellently done as a child . The little prince then carefully hid the paper below his bed and covered it with a small plank . There's a hidden place there , if the palace maids cleaned his room no one would notice that behind the planks there hid a sketch of a flower that was beautifully drawn .
The little child then removed the dirty piece of fabric around his little palms and tossed it out of his room . He clapped his hands and climb up the bed . He slowly blink his eyes , the feeling of his birth mother's absence made the little child feel insecure . The child tuck himself in the quilt and cocooned himself and curled . His knees close to his abdomen while hugging a pillow within his arms. This way , he could imagine that the pillow was his birth mother . The little prince then weakly smiled and sucked his thumb and slowly closed his eyes .
The curly long eyelashes fluttered and fell down , covering his black iris . Cold breeze brushed upon the bump on the bed . The little head moved and covered his whole body with the thin quilt , there's no fire in the fireplace . Such treatment , is really unfair for a pitiful child like him .
Far away from the little prince's place . A certain blonde man crouched down in distress . Although he can still monitor his master's life , his chosen body was still in a coma in that world . It will took a few more months before he can awaken .
Staring at his blonde comatose body , Uno's transparent soul dimmed in distress . He wished he could go there immediately and protect his master .
On the other side , Jiro found himself in a delapitated room along with Doze . Jiro did not talk to Doze and instead open the interface to read his main mission .
[ Main Mission : Raise the Third Prince ]
Small Information about the target :
Name - Qiang Quiyue
Age- 3
- son of an unfavored imperial Noble consort(fallen out of the rank and became a noble consort ) .
Instruction : Take good care of the third prince and let him live until the coronation of the next emperor .
Reward : Blessing
Punishment : Curse and regret .
Jiro closed the interface and climb down from the small bed and went to the bathroom to wash his face . Jiro currently possessed the body of his former life in the ancient era as a general . The body was the younger version and only retained weak strength . He has to train and recondition his body again to go back to his peak strength .
Fortunately , he can use his mana a little bit in this world due to the small restriction of the world consciousness . This is a world where internal qi exists , Jiro could use mana as the substitute of the qi .
As a former beastman , Jiro is more familiar with mobilizing mana . It is already itched within his soul on how to control and absorb mana . However , mobilizing internal qi is a bit different .
They are different types of energies , and Jiro has to grow accostumed to it before he can completely master the martial arts using qi .
Jiro looked across the sorroundings coated with white snow . For now , he has to acquire the method of using internal qi before trying it .
" Master "
Jiro turned his head to the back and looked at Doze . " Hmm? "
Doze bit his lower lip in hesitation . " I just want to ask , about how do you plan to get close with the target? No fertile man can live in the imperial palace . "
The meaning behind Doze's words was clear to Jiro . It means , only Eunuchs can live in the palace . Except the imperial guards , becoming a eunuch could make him more closer to the target . Disguising as a woman is not even a good choice for him as a tall man . His conspicuous adam apple is not suitable for crossdressing .
Jiro subconsciously touched his lower part . Does he have to give up his jewel for this mission? Then how can he do it with his wife if it no longer exist? Jiro was unwilling . He would rather choose to disguise than have his T gone .
Moreover , there's a lot of loopholes and danger on becoming a eunuch . Eunuchs undergo strict examination and as time would pass , Eunuchs physical body would undergo some changes . If his T would be cut off , he will no longer grow muscles and instead will become feminine . If that happens , will his wife hate him?
" Actually master , you can simply make an illusion during the castration process . "
Still , Jiro does not want others to touch his T and D . His wife will kill him if it does .
" Then let's do this ... "
---
A few weeks later , an inconspicuous eunuch walked along the group of eunuchs walking towards the imperial households and will assume their duties . This batch of eunuchs were the ones that were castrated 100 days ago , now that they are fully healed . They can now go to their own respective places .
The young man behind the group of eunuchs silently clutched the cylinder container hanging beside his waist where the fake lower part was contained . Jiro bit his lips and silently felt sorry for the bribed eunuch who he replaced . They made an agreement already that the eunuch would not disclose their negotiation to anyone and keep it a secret . That young eunuch was given a bag of gold coins and traveled away to settle in the small towns in the countryside .
On the other side , two servants is about to arrive at the third prince's palace . Jiro was also assigned to the third prince and immediately packed his things to go there . Once the group of servants met with each other , they began on knocking the third prince's door .
" Are you awake , your highness?" Jiro is now called Mo Shun and every high ranked personnels in the inner palace would usually call him Xiao Xun . Although , he felt a little strange , he didn't dwell on it too much and just focused his mind on serving the third prince .
Mo Xun and the three servants looked at each other and went back to look at the closed door.
" Are you awake , your highness? " Imitating a Eunuch's. way of waking up the imperial members. Mo Xun swallowed his pride and absorbed himself in the role of a eunuch .
One of the palace servants named , Yin Ping scratched her cheeks and suggested . " How about we open the door? "
Mo Xun immediately frowned . " No , we should not brazenly go beyond the things that we should not do . "
A little servant with bangs pouted ." What if the little prince can't wake up? After all , today's season is winter . The child must have been too lazy to wake up . "
Lei Dandan at the side nodded in agreement to Su Jie . Mo Xun who was holding a tray hesitated , then put the tray on the ground since the three servants also have things in their arms . He then excused himself and opened the door .
Once he entered the room , his eyes landed on the small bump on the bed . Mo Xun excused himself again and pried open the quilt . Mo Xun suddenly felt his heart thumping when he saw an adorable flushed face sleeping peacefully in the bed with a defenseless look .
Wah , so adorkable .
Mo Xun then realized something and hurriedly touched the little prince's forehead .
" This is bad! The Third Prince has a fever! "
Because of the tone Mo Xun used , the three servants outside suddenly felt nervous and trembled . " His highness has a fever . " Su Jie
" What should we do? " Lei Dandan .
Yin Ping then immediately said . " Call the imperial Physician . "
Mo Xun immediately interjected . " We cannot do that . "
The three little girls paused and a confused look surfaced upon their faces .
Mo Xun pointed at the fireplace . " Have you seen any residual smokes and remaining woods in there? It is obvious that the prince have been neglected by the former servants that served him before ."
Then continuesly " I'm afraid to think that the prince's social status in the palace might be low . "
Yin Ling , Su Jie and Lei Dandan turned silent and entered the room and put their things down . They looked at the curled up back of the small figure and suddenly felt pity . Others may look down on the prince because of his birth mother's situation in the inner palace . But as newbie servants , they don't have strong ambitions to climb up to the emperor's bed and become the lowest ranking of palace maiden that only served the emperor in bed . At first , they thought that it was already good that they were assigned to become a prince's personal servants .
But it was still not changed and instead , they thought that they had to protect the little prince more now that they learned that he's been neglected by the former servants .
" How dare they disdain his highness? Did they forget their status im this palace? They are nothing but ants here . " Yin Ping said through gritted teeth .
Su Jie nodded furiously in agreement , her soft hands clenched . " From now on , i will protect this little bun from the bullies . "
Mo Xun almost burst out in laughter thinking that these servants are too inexperienced . Just as Yin Ping said , they are nothing but ants . How could they protect the prince? Even a prince couldn't even protect himself from the struggles inside the palace .
Lei Dandan then turned to look at the young eunuch . " Then , what are we going to do? "
Mo Xun sighed . " It is not allowed to wrecklessly let anyone heal the prince . It is the imperial Physician's responsibilities to treat the members of the imperial family . But as we all know ,they are also used by the harem members to secretly hurt each other . We cannot guarantee that the imperial Physician that we choose will be trustworthy . "
" For now , let's just alleviate the heat from the little prince's body and let him rest . Not let him dehydrated and feed him . "
As if injected by chicken blood , the three servants walked outside to do their own roles .
They set aside the plan of cleaning for now and went to fetch a bucket of water and wipe the little prince's body .
Mo Xun on the other hand did not go to the Imperial Kitchen and instead walked to the mini kitchen of the Prince's palace . At least there are still some remaining raw food ingredients that he could use to cook a nutritious porridge for the prince . It's been a long time since Mo Xun did household chores , as a general , student , emperor and CEO , none of these roles made him do household chores .
This kind of household work , made Jiro feel strange yet at the same time happy . This is rather easier than battling in the battlefield , study in the sealed campus , rule an empire and manage a company .
This eunuch role , kinda made Jiro feel leisurely and relaxed . The bit of depression within his heart slowly healed replaced by the joy of raising a little cub. Although he raised Zone before inside the game , it is still not comparable to taking care of a cub in real life .