Chapter 21: The Innocent Palace Maid

Liu Hairui contemplated the privileges his golden token now granted him. He could freely enter the chambers of unmarried noblewomen and even princesses. The prospects of his future were looking exceptionally bright, especially considering the unwed noblewomen and princesses who might secretly wish for his company. Observing other concubines being favored by the Emperor, he believed they must be fantasizing about intimate relations, perhaps even pleasuring themselves in their own quarters. These thoughts filled Liu Hairui with increasing delight as he walked, whistling a tune. Upon approaching a artificial mountain, he suddenly felt a tug on his clothes. He turned to see a young maidservant with clear and delicate features.

She had a pair of slender, jade-like hands that appeared almost transparent against the greenery. Her raven-black hair was styled in a princess bun, adorned with a pearl hairpin and tassels. Her clean, fair complexion was framed by finely drawn eyebrows and eyes that sparkled like stars. Below a small, straight nose, her lips were thin and slightly curved into a smile tinged with melancholy. Her entire visage was exquisite and refined, utterly unrefined. Dressed in a white shirt with a sheer floral pattern and a hundred-pleated skirt, she exuded a quiet elegance. Pure and tender, she was like an untarnished lotus bud. The maid, in her teens, had a round, smooth face with dark eyes and rosy cheeks, radiating a lively energy. Around twenty-two or three years old, her skin was fairer than snow, her features picturesque. Indeed, she was a stunning beauty, and Liu Hairui felt his heart skip a beat, especially as he observed the subtle trembling of her chest with each breath. This woman is mine, he silently declared.

"Excuse me, are you Eunuch Hai Chen?" the young maid timidly pulled Liu Hairui behind the artificial mountain and asked in a soft voice.

"Is that so? At your young age, you dare to pull me to such a place. Are you trying to seduce me?" Liu Hairui feigned indignation.

"Eunuch Hai, please help my mistress," upon realizing it was indeed Liu Hairui, the maid, Xiao Hong, immediately knelt before him and tearfully introduced herself, "I am the personal maid of the Empress. Eunuch Hai, my mistress is truly innocent of any wrongdoing. You know this, as you often interact with her. Please help clear her name."

"This is quite easy, indeed," Liu Hairui approached the maid, intending to help her up, but as he lowered his gaze, he inadvertently caught sight inside her clothing. The sight of her lively figure was enticing, and he felt an urge to claim her innocence as his own, using the thin membrane within her to barter for her mistress's safety. However, Liu Hairui was well aware that the Emperor had tasked him with this matter to clear the Empress's name. It was not yet time to act against the Empress, but he was patient; the future was long, and eventually, all the women in the palace would be his.

"Since it's easy, I implore you, Eunuch Hai, to save my mistress. I am willing to do anything. As long as my mistress is safe, I am willing to risk my life." Maid Xiao Hong knelt before Liu Hairui, clutching his legs and pleading desperately.

Liu Hairui couldn't bear it any longer; his lower body responded abruptly. Even though he knew he shouldn't touch the palace maid, he thought it would be acceptable to look at her. So he said sternly, "Are you really willing to do anything?"

"I am, your honor," Xiao Hong nodded vigorously.

"Alright then, take off all your clothes now."

"What?" Xiao Hong looked at Liu Hairui in surprise and whispered, "But you, you're a eunuch."

"So what if I am? Today, I, a eunuch, want to see your body, and I'm going to use my fingers to take your virginity. Are you willing?" Liu Hairui seemed very impatient: "If you're not willing, you can leave."

"I... I am willing," Xiao Hong finished in a soft voice, then she stood up, leaned against the artificial mountain, and gently undid the light gauze skirt she was wearing. After that, she loosened the sash of her blouse, revealing her snow-white and delicate skin. Seeing this, Liu Hairui's mouth went dry, his eyes sparked with desire, and he pushed the young maid against the back of the artificial mountain.