The Demon Concubine of God

Chapter 299: Sleeping in the Imperial Study Room

Chu Yanqiu sat in the teahouse, watching Shen Wen being seduced by the emperor's personal eunuch, and he was worried and had wild thoughts. He had actually forgotten that the little emperor would do this, and at such a late hour, Chu Yanqiu cut off his wild fantasies, put the teacup in his hand on the table, and immediately stood up and walked towards Shen Wen and the palace servants.

Chu Yanqiu spoke to the eunuch first and said, "Why did Eunuch Hong leave the palace so late? I remember that for more than ten years, Eunuch Hong followed the order of the late emperor to become a monk in the Zhenzi Temple for the late crown prince. According to the palace rules, he just returned to the palace to do his job. He is just a eunuch in charge of food. How did the imperial meal arrive at the city gate? Did he leave the palace without permission?"

Although Eunuch Hong has a delicate face like a woman, his eyes are very sharp. With thirty years of bizarre life experiences, he always looks gentle and smiling no matter who he is in front of.

Eunuch Hong smiled before he spoke, "I haven't been back to Kyoto to work for more than ten years. I thought that only a few old people I knew knew me, but I didn't expect that Master Chu, who is so young, also knows so much about me. Back then, I was a lowly actor, Hong Huarui, but I was fortunate to sing a little tune for the late emperor. I also became a superior person above ten thousand people. I walked on thin ice in the palace for thirty years, but I still survived in the end. The late emperor sent me to the temple to practice for the prince, and told me before leaving that I would come back. No matter who becomes the next monarch, I, Eunuch Hong Huarui, will also be a popular person in front of His Majesty. Master Chu is still too young. Don't look at me as just a eunuch serving meals. Everything I do for the emperor is a big deal for the emperor."

Chu Yanqiu didn't want to hear him nagging about his past. How did he become a eunuch? Did he want to talk about it? He really threw his face into the moat. Others didn't remember to mention it, but he was happy to talk about himself.

Chu Yanqiu said, "Working for the emperor is of course a top priority, no matter what it is, food, clothing, housing or transportation. Then may I ask, sir, why does the emperor have to see Guard Shen at this time?"

Shen Wen rolled his eyes at Chu Yanqiu. Is this man crazy again? He called him Guard Shen. The emperor's guards are supposed to protect the emperor at all times. As for questioning whether it was too late, was that a problem?

Eunuch Hong said, "My Lord Chu, I really don't know. The emperor's mind is hard to predict, how can we servants find out? I only know that it was ordered by His Majesty to bring Guard Shen to the palace to see His Majesty as soon as he returned to the capital."

Chu Yanqiu asked, "So he entered the palace by imperial order? Is there an imperial decree?"

Eunuch Hong didn't understand what Lord Chu meant. Was he deliberately trying to make things difficult for a eunuch like him? Although he was a eunuch who had just returned to Kyoto and didn't have the interpersonal connections of eunuchs like Eunuch Guo, he didn't think he had ever offended Lord Chu.

Eunuch Hong said, "There is no imperial edict, but there is an oral order."

Chu Yanqiu asked, "Did other people also hear the decree issued by His Majesty himself? Or was it only Eunuch Hong who heard the decree, and then the palace servants behind you also listened to you alone convey the decree?"

Eunuch Hong blinked his eyes and said, "Master Chu, what do you mean? Are you going to accuse me of falsely conveying the imperial edict?"

Chu Yanqiu said, "Not really. I'm just afraid that you may have misunderstood His Majesty's instructions. I think to be on the safe side, you should go back and confirm whether the instructions are correct."

Eunuch Hong was really angry. He pointed at Chu Yanqiu and was speechless for a long time. "I couldn't have heard it wrong. His Majesty has been looking forward to Guard Shen's return to the capital for more than a day or two. His Majesty mentioned Guard Shen's return almost every day, and I came to the city gate to pick him up almost every day. How could I have heard it wrong? Lord Chu intercepted the emperor's envoy without reason. What crime is this? Lord Chu, do you know? I have to ask Lord Chu."

Chu Yanqiu knew that he couldn't hold on to this matter any longer, so he immediately changed his attitude and said with a smile, "Don't think too much, Eunuch Hong. I was just asking casually. I didn't mean to ask about Guard Shen. It's because I was waiting for Guard Shen to discuss something with me. Eunuch Hong saw it just now, right? I was waiting for someone in the tea shed, and I came earlier than you, Eunuch Hong. Can I take up some of your time and wait a moment, so that I can have a few words with Guard Shen on the side."

Chu Yanqiu didn't wait for Eunuch Hong to agree or not. He turned around and grabbed Shen Wen's hand, pulling him to a distance, keeping some distance from the others. The followers such as Chi He behind him formed a human wall for their master, separating the others.

Chu Yanqiu looked at Shen Wen and said, "You can't enter the palace today. Find a way to refuse."

How could Shen Wen listen to such words from him? Shen Wen still had several accounts to settle with that bastard Chu Yanqiu. Shen Wen didn't want to pay attention to him. He was afraid that he would not be able to control himself and would take out a knife to stab Chu Yanqiu.

Chu Yanqiu remembered that time was running out, so he asked, "What did you do to Princess Wanfu? Did you kill her?"

Shen Wen just smiled back at him and answered with two words: "No."

Chu Yanqiu asked: "What are you going to do with Wanfu next?"

Shen Wen said, "Why? Have you changed your mind? Do you agree that I should kill her?"

Chu Yanqiu said: "Don't go to the palace tonight. I will take you to see Qingque. I can exchange Wanfu with you along with Qingque's clansmen. We will do it immediately."

Shen Wen said, "Are you kidding, Lord Chu? The emperor's orders cannot be disobeyed. Finding excuses not to see the emperor is disobeying the imperial order. Aren't you harming me?"

Chu Yanqiu looked at Shen Wen and suddenly asked, "Do you really have to go see him? Are you also in love with the little emperor?"

At this time, Eunuch Hong, who was standing outside, became impatient and stretched his neck to shout, "Guard Shen, Lord Chu? Have you finished your talk? Don't delay, we have to go into the palace right away."

Shen Wen immediately agreed and said, "We're done talking. I'll go with Eunuch Hong now."

After saying that, Shen Wen pushed Chu Yanqiu away and left immediately.

Chu Yanqiu stopped Shen Wen again. Shen Wen took out the booklet with all the sins of Wanfu from his sleeve and gave it to Chu Yanqiu, saying, "Are you determined to save her life? I think you should go back and take a look at what she did at home. Then you can consider whether to save her or not."

After saying that, Shen Wen slipped out from under Chu Yanqiu's arm and followed Eunuch Hong.

Shen Wen followed quickly into the palace. After Eunuch Hong handed over to a group of young eunuchs waiting in the Imperial Study, he went to the Yangxin Palace to report.

Shen Wen followed the eunuchs into the imperial study. The imperial study was very large, with separate rooms for bathing and sleeping. The eunuchs first took him to take a bath, and prepared robes for him that were suitable for a third-rank guard. After he got dressed, the eunuchs helped him comb his hair. After he was done, no one came to summon him to the Yangxin Palace to meet the emperor. Instead, a group of eunuchs from the imperial kitchen came in one after another, carrying a variety of dishes, and served Shen Wen a rich imperial meal. Such generous treatment made Shen Wen, a modern man who didn't care about rank, a little flattered. Shen Wen didn't dare to pick up his chopsticks. He looked around at the eunuchs standing beside him and said, "Did His Majesty let me eat? Isn't this against the rules? I'm just a guard..."

The eunuch on the left respectfully handed the chopsticks to Shen Wen and said, "Everything is ordered by His Majesty. Guard Shen can eat without worry. His Majesty also said that after Guard Shen finishes his meal, he does not need to leave the palace and can sleep on the couch in the imperial study. His Majesty is already resting there. If there is anything, just summon him tomorrow to report."

Shen Wen was surprised again. He confirmed, "This imperial study is where His Majesty works. Your Majesty wants me to sleep here?"

The young eunuch said, "That's right. Guard Shen doesn't need to be afraid. From the previous dynasty to the present, this imperial study is not without other ministers who have had this honor. During the time of the founding emperor, Duke Ji slept in this imperial study once. So Guard Shen can just rest assured and take a nap in the imperial study."

Shen Wen suddenly realized, "So that's it! Could the Duke Ji you mentioned be the ancestor of the Ji family?"

The young eunuch nodded and said, "Yes, he is the first Duke of the Ji family who founded the country."

This is the first time I've heard of any court official in ancient times whose position of Duke was passed down from generation to generation.

Shen Wen calmly picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

After Shen Wen finished his meal, the young eunuchs helped him change into his nightgown, took off his hairpins, and helped him lie down on the couch.

As Shen Wen watched the eunuch light the soothing incense in the incense burner before leaving, his eyelids felt heavier and heavier. Perhaps he had not slept well in Hongwan Mountain for many days, and Shen Wen fell asleep as soon as he touched the pillow.

Shen Wen slept very deeply, and his biological clock that would wake him up naturally in the morning did not work. He actually overslept and slept until noon.

Shen Wen opened his eyes and for the first time felt sore and tired from sleeping.

The young eunuchs came in one after another and carefully helped Shen Wen wash, comb his hair, and eat breakfast.

Shen Wen chewed his meat porridge and asked the young eunuch, "Did His Majesty tell me when to see me?"

The young eunuch said, "Your Majesty has finished the morning court and moved to the imperial study to see Guard Shen, but Guard Shen was still asleep at that time. Your Majesty did not ask anyone to disturb you. He left the imperial edict written by the eunuch and left. Your Majesty should have returned to the harem by now. Yesterday, Your Majesty kept the two beauties that Prince Rui had just brought in. Your Majesty has been thinking about those two beauties this morning."

Shen Wen put down his chopsticks and looked at the eunuch and said, "Beautiful...beautiful lady?"

After hearing his words, the young eunuch immediately realized that he had spoken out of turn. If this word got out, people would accuse His Majesty of bad behavior, and he would be guilty. The young eunuch immediately knelt down and said in fear and trepidation: "I am guilty, I have spoken out of turn. Guard Shen, please do not let this word spread outside the palace!"

After saying that, he kowtowed to Shen Wen.

Shen Wen was frightened by his kowtow and stood up from the stool. He took two or three steps back, not daring to accept the eunuch's greeting.

The eunuch on the right saw that Shen Wen was frightened, so he ordered the eunuch at the door, "Drag this servant who offended Guard Shen out and send him to the Second Punishment Room to be beaten with twenty boards first."

Immediately, two eunuchs came and quickly dragged the kowtowed eunuch away.