The Eunuch’s Schemes
The banquet concluded. Fan Li departed the Great Ming imperial palace and returned to his home in Beiting Alley.
As he stepped through the gate, Lu Fubao greeted him. Holding baby Diao Chan, she was enjoying the afternoon sun in the courtyard.
"What's wrong?" A woman's intuition was sharp. With a single glance, she could tell that the solemn expression on Fan Li's face signified something of great importance was weighing on his mind.
Fan Li remained silent, heading towards the inner courtyard with a heavy heart. The servants had been dismissed, leaving only Jing Wudi and Yu Shenzi, his trusted confidants, in the inner chambers.
"Tell me, what happened?" Lu Fubao pressed.
Fan Li retrieved a crumpled piece of paper. It was the drawing Lu Bu had given him before his death.
"Ah Chang, the Archery Sage, she's also in the Great Ming capital."
He unfolded the paper. The Archery Sage's face, as plain and unremarkable as an ordinary passerby, was revealed.
Lu Fubao's body stiffened, her grip on the infant tightening involuntarily. The enemy who had killed her senior brother, Yan Yuan, was also in the capital?
Thoughts raced through her mind. Quickly, she regained her composure, refusing to be blinded by hatred.
"The Archery Sage… she's here to assassinate you?"
Fan Li was her first concern. As the Sage's former target, was he in danger? Had his cover been blown?
After a long silence, Fan Li shook his head.
"My disguise shouldn't have been compromised. And today… her target was Emperor Jiajing."
Fan Li recounted his encounters at the charity auction and the banquet, detailing everything that had transpired.
There were no outsiders present. Jing Wudi immediately dropped to his knees.
"Your Majesty! The Great Ming capital is a dangerous place. Two Sages are lurking within its walls."
"This subject implores you to abandon your plan to recruit Hu Zongxian. Return to the Great Jin kingdom immediately. Do not risk your safety."
Yu Shenzi expressed his agreement. "Your Majesty, Director Jing is right. A gentleman should not stand beneath a crumbling wall, especially not the Emperor."
It was truly remarkable. The Azure Cloud Sect and the Dark Heaven Sect, bitter enemies for a thousand years, had not only reconciled but were now united in their concern for Fan Li's safety.
Fan Li, however, shook his head.
"I will not retreat."
Neither Yu Shenzi nor Jing Wudi knew his secret – that this was merely a clone.
"I have decided. Our mission in the Great Ming capital has expanded. Aside from rescuing Hu Zongxian, we have another target."
"Ah Chang, the Archery Sage. I will settle our score here, in the Great Ming!"
The Emperor's words were absolute law.
Hearing Fan Li's declaration, Yu Shenzi and Jing Wudi bowed deeply, acknowledging his command without further objection.
…
Within the Great Ming imperial palace, the Zhongcui Palace was bustling with activity. Eunuchs scurried back and forth, discarding old furnishings and replacing them with new ones. In just a single day, the entire palace was transformed.
"Consort Rou, this humble servant, Chen Hong, has been tasked with attending to your needs. Everything you require has been replaced with new items. If there's anything else you desire, please command me, and I will personally attend to it."
Plastered with a servile smile, Chen Hong was eager to please the newly appointed Imperial Consort.
As a eunuch, currying favor was a crucial skill for survival. Several high-ranking eunuchs in the palace were vying for an opportunity to ingratiate themselves with Consort Rou, the woman who had saved the Emperor's life.
Chen Hong had spent a small fortune – a thousand top-grade spirit stones – to secure this task of overseeing the renovations of the Zhongcui Palace.
Xue Susu, a mere courtesan from the pleasure quarters, was of low status and shouldn't have been granted the honor of serving the Emperor.
Her sudden elevation had caused quite a stir in court. Officials had argued fiercely, and memorials urging Emperor Jiajing to reconsider his decision piled up on his desk.
But in Chen Hong's eyes, the more intense the debate, the more it proved Xue Susu's favor with the Emperor. The logic was simple – a prostitute, becoming the Emperor's consort? Surely the Emperor must adore her to disregard public opinion and risk such a scandal?
"Eunuch Chen."
"This humble servant is here."
Xue Susu, like a startled bird trapped in a cage, seemed overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings.
Her beautiful face was etched with anxiety. She asked timidly, "I… I'm afraid to be alone in the palace. Could you arrange for my former maid to enter the palace? She's very sensible. She won't cause any trouble."
Seeing her reaction, Chen Hong couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain.
Hah! Beauty was fleeting. In the end, she was just a lowly woman from the pleasure barge, sheltered and naive.
A sudden stroke of good fortune had left her frightened?
Was there any place in the world safer than the Great Ming imperial palace?
What was there to fear?
Besides, her former maid, wouldn't that be a servant from the Smoke and Waves?
A prostitute's maid, surely she was even more lowly?
Typically, such individuals were forbidden from entering the palace. However, Chen Hong realized that agreeing to this small request would surely earn him Xue Susu's favor. His investment of a thousand spirit stones wouldn't have been wasted.
"Consort Rou, your request… It's against the rules."
Chen Hong feigned a troubled expression, then, as if making a difficult decision, added, "But you are my master. Any task you entrust to me, I will accomplish, even if it costs me my life!"
"Please rest assured! Within three days, at most, I will bring the person you desire to the Zhongcui Palace."
Chen Hong watched Xue Susu's reaction carefully. As expected, she was simple and easy to please. Hearing his promise, her face flushed with delight.
'Such a shallow woman will be easy to control. As long as she remains in the Emperor's favor, she could be a useful backer.'
Xue Susu tremblingly spoke, "Eunuch Chen, you're truly kind. But… three days is too long. Could you… Could you bring her to the palace today? I'm… truly afraid."
Chen Hong rolled his eyes inwardly.
This foolish woman, couldn't she be a bit more understanding?
He had already agreed to bring her maid within three days. Wasn't that generous enough?
Before Chen Hong could respond, Xue Susu continued.
"But… I understand. It must be difficult for you. His Majesty mentioned he would dine with me tonight. Perhaps I'll simply ask him directly."
"No, no, no! Consort Rou, please don't be hasty! I've already agreed!"
Chen Hong was startled. He thought to himself, 'Indeed, a new broom sweeps clean. This courtesan's favor with the Emperor is undeniable!'
Elevated to Imperial Consort in the morning, and the Emperor will dine with her tonight?
Casting aside what little dignity he had left, Chen Hong forced a smile.
"Consort Rou, just tell me the maid's name, and I'll personally go to the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge to bring her here. You see? It's a simple matter. I can handle it. There's no need to trouble His Majesty."
"Truly?"
Xue Susu's eyes were filled with tears, as if Chen Hong had just bullied her.
"Truly! More real than gold!"
Chen Hong gritted his teeth.
Selecting palace maids was the responsibility of another high-ranking eunuch. If he wanted to intervene, it would cost him dearly.
The eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were a shrewd bunch. They only had to see Chen Hong bringing someone into the palace, heading towards the Zhongcui Palace, and they would understand his intentions.
Surely they would take advantage of this opportunity to extort him.
'Alas! This is going to cost me at least five thousand top-grade spirit stones. Who knows when I'll earn it back.'
Chen Hong was overwhelmed with anxiety, but he still managed to maintain a servile smile.
"Consort Rou, I promise. Before nightfall, I will bring this person to you. Now… What's her name?"
Xue Susu finally stopped crying. Her cheeks were flushed, her demeanor still a picture of vulnerability.
"My maidservant is called Ah Chang."