Chapter 3. Concubine bathing

"I understand," said the servant, watching Empress Mei leave with a sense of dread as beads of sweat formed on Liu Hai Rui's forehead. He had seen enough on TV about the ruthlessness of the palace, where masters would kill their servants without a second thought. He needed to find a way to protect his own life. It would be such a pity to die after having miraculously brought his "equipment" to the inner palace.

After wandering for a while, a young eunuch ran in, holding his face and said, "Eunuch Hai, the servants of Consort Li have beaten us again."

"Beat you? Why would they do that?" Liu Hai Rui was astonished. Such matters were brought to him, indicating he still had some influence on Empress Mei's side. "Tell me, on what grounds did they beat you?"

"Just because we met them on the path and didn't give way, they started hitting us. They are getting arrogant because Consort Li is currently favored, and they don't even consider us. It's always like this, they just hit whenever they feel like it," the young eunuch complained. "Eunuch Hai, if you don't stand up for us, we are doomed."

"Let's go, show me," thought Liu Hai Rui. Maybe if he could gain some respect in front of Consort Li's servants, Empress Mei might spare him. In the harem, face and reputation were everything.

When they arrived at the scene, the servants of Consort Li hadn't left but were waiting for them, looking aggressive. There were about seven or eight eunuchs and four or five maids, all puffed up with pride.

"Oh, it's not Eunuch Hai from Empress Mei's side? You scared us to death," one of them sneered, arms crossed. "You, Eunuch Hai, always hide with Empress Mei and never dare to come out. What's the matter today? Do you want to try our fists?"

"You brats, I've never wanted to stoop to your level. Do you think that just because Consort Li favors you, you can do whatever you want?" Liu Hai Rui approached them, singled out the one who seemed to be the leader, and slapped him, saying before he could react, "I'm warning you, if there's really a problem, your Consort Li won't be able to save you by talking nonsense in front of the emperor. At any time, when masters fight, it's us servants who suffer. What are we? We're just dogs in the house."

"You, you..." The leader seemed to realize that Liu Hai Rui was right. If this matter really disturbed the masters, they, as servants, would definitely suffer in the end.

"What are you 'you'-ing? Get lost," Liu Hai Rui shouted. This move worked, and after thinking it over, they all retreated.

After settling the matter, Liu Hai Rui hurried to Empress Mei's quarters, hoping that if he told her about how he had dealt with Consort Li's servants, she might be pleased and spare his life. He had heard that the harem was full of evil, and this time, Liu Hai Rui really believed it.

Upon arriving at Empress Mei's bedroom, two maids informed Liu Hai Rui that she was bathing. Normally, he wouldn't dare to barge in, but things were different now. He wasn't a eunuch anymore; he was a normal man.

"Never mind you two. Take me to Empress Mei," Liu Hai Rui said sternly. "I have something very important to tell her. Hurry up, if you delay my important matter, none of you can afford the consequences."

"Okay, okay." The two maids, frightened, led the way to where Empress Mei was bathing, and then Liu Hai Rui waved them away.

After gently opening the door, Liu Hai Rui saw a curtain. Through the translucent curtain, he could vaguely see Empress Mei in the bath, holding pearls in her hands, lifting them slowly, and letting them trickle down her body. The curtain made it hard to see clearly, which made Liu Hai Rui open it to get a better look. Seeing Empress Mei bathing was like seeing a pure and sacred plum blossom. Her skin was so delicate, gently lifted from the water, still adorned with pearls, looking so enchanting that Liu Hai Rui forgot everything else and just wanted to cherish this great beauty right in front of him.