At dusk, Yue Shi young prince Nalan Xue took a carriage with his attendant Yue Po and a group of maidservants to the embassy. The Yue Shi embassy wasn’t large, just a small, exquisite courtyard with a decorative mountain in the center and several ancient trees planted around it.

Nalan Xue stepped down from the carriage and walked slowly toward the embassy. Just as he rounded the decorative mountain, he could no longer hold himself up, feeling a churning in his chest as he leaned against the mountain, breathing heavily.

Yue Po sighed and leaned leisurely against the mountain stone. “You’re also pushing yourself too hard. Your injuries haven’t fully healed, yet you insist on coming out!”

Nalan Xue glanced at him indifferently and said coldly, “You’ve also had enough fun today, haven’t you!” Having said this, he ignored him and frowned as he climbed the winding stairs to a beautifully furnished room on the second floor.

Yue Po followed Nalan Xue to the second floor room, pursing his lips. “Very fun, haven’t had enough yet. I think things are getting more and more interesting. Sigh…” He suddenly sighed, running his finger over his own face, saying rather narcissistically, “This face was exposed to daylight for the first time. I didn’t expect it would stun so many people. I’m really too beautiful, with boundless charm.”

A Yue Shi maidservant who had entered with them was lighting candles. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud, accidentally blowing out the candle she had just lit. Yue Po cried out strangely, “How dare you laugh at me, Yue Po?”

The maidservant called Yue Po had eyes above her veil that curved like crescents as she smiled. “Young prince, this servant couldn’t help it.”

“Yue Po, your name works quite well. During this period, I’ll use your name as punishment!” the attendant said, squinting.

“Then what name should this servant use?” The maidservant relit the candle and asked with a smile.

“You…” The attendant Yue Po pointed at the burning candle. “You’ll be called A Zhu! How’s that? Sounds good, right? It’s decided. Now withdraw!”

The maidservant pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, making a bitter face as she reluctantly nodded and withdrew.

The Yue Shi young prince Nalan Xue sitting on the couch slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing an extraordinarily handsome countenance, though his complexion was extremely pale, without a trace of color.

The candlelight in the room flickered, dim yet giving a feeling of brilliant radiance because the two people in the room both possessed otherworldly beauty that could serve as light sources.

“Li, today I just wanted to vent some anger for you. I didn’t intend to kill that little eunuch. However, I didn’t expect there would be so many people wanting to vent anger for you. This time, that little eunuch probably has no way to survive.” The real Yue Shi young prince Nalan Xue, who was the attendant Yue Po, said with furrowed brows.

The man sitting on the couch was the resurrected Ji Fengli. Candlelight flickered, illuminating his gaunt, haggard face. His lips were extremely pale, like ice crystals, and his eyes were deep, seeming to contain no emotion whatsoever. But such as he was, he still had an undeniable presence.

Ji Fengli said indifferently, “Do you think Huangfu Wushuang will kill him after putting him in the Internal Punishment Court?”

Nalan Xue furrowed his brows and smiled slightly. “So Huangfu Wushuang also has feelings for him?”

Ji Fengli’s expression was indifferent as he curved his lips slightly. “Whether he does or not, it has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Nalan Xue raised his brows, the cinnabar on his forehead particularly bright under the candlelight. “Don’t you want to rescue him? After all, you once felt for him…”

Ji Fengli said coldly, “That was all from a previous life!” His voice was so cold, like a wisp of wind floating over snowy mountain peaks in deep winter – crystal clear yet frigid.

The Internal Punishment Court was familiar territory after all. Last summer, Hua Zhuyu had lived here for quite a long period. Upon entering the main gate of the Internal Punishment Court, the same rigid-faced court official Zhou Quan emerged, saying in his emotionless voice with methodical precision, “Once you’re here, you’re no longer any first-rank head eunuch, just a prisoner. Now that you’re in, I needn’t salute you. These are shackles – please put them on.”

What familiar tone and words! Hua Zhuyu sighed and slowly extended her hands, allowing two court officers to put the shackles on her. Last year, when Huangfu Wushuang was imprisoned here, he had also worn shackles. Let alone a little eunuch like her.

Passing through the dark corridor and entering a gloomy cell, it was actually the same one she had occupied before. This was good – familiar! She wasn’t afraid of suffering, but she had implicated Dan Hong. Because of the distinction between men and women, and because she and Dan Hong supposedly had an “affair,” they were separated upon entering the Internal Punishment Court. Dan Hong was now pregnant and might not be able to endure the hardships of prison. She had originally been about to take her out of the palace but had instead implicated her in this imprisonment.

Hua Zhuyu spread the straw in the corner of the cell and lay down, closing her eyes to sleep. After a whole day of commotion and sparring with Yue Shi’s Yue Po, she was extremely tired. Now in prison, she didn’t have to serve Huangfu Wushuang either – she could be said to have stolen half a day of leisure and could rest well.

She slept very well this time, even dreaming of childhood events. Many scenes flashed by like flowing light: the hellish training of childhood, the first time holding a knife to kill, the first time on a battlefield…

The cell was very cold. In the middle of the night, Hua Zhuyu was awakened by the cold. She curled up her body, and just then, footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Several people’s footsteps, walking calmly and unhurriedly – clearly not intruders.

Hua Zhuyu sighed lightly. The cell door was opened, and bright lanterns illuminated the entire cell. The sudden brightness made Hua Zhuyu squint her clear eyes, raising her hand to shield them. In the bright, brilliant light, she saw Huangfu Wushuang in casual clothes standing at the cell door.

Actually, Hua Zhuyu had already guessed that Huangfu Wushuang would definitely come to visit her in prison. After all, this matter needed to be clarified. She just hadn’t expected him to come secretly in the dead of night.

Huangfu Wushuang’s gaze locked onto Hua Zhuyu sitting on the straw, suddenly narrowing his eyes as he commanded, “Ji Xiang, go give orders for Zhou Quan to receive fifty heavy strokes himself.” His tone was icy, carrying irresistible authority.

Ji Xiang’s heart jumped. Fifty heavy strokes could kill a person if administered harshly. However, seeing the simple furnishings in the cell, he understood why Zhou Quan had offended the emperor. Seeing Huangfu Wushuang’s extremely cold face, he quickly agreed and went to relay the order.

“All of you withdraw!” Huangfu Wushuang commanded coldly again. The several hidden guards following behind inserted lanterns into the cell walls and silently withdrew, quietly closing the cell door.

The moment the cell door closed, Huangfu Wushuang quickly walked to Hua Zhuyu and said with a smile, “Little Bao’er, I’ve missed you to death.” He directly crouched before her. When she looked up, Huangfu Wushuang’s dark eyes were too close, so close she could see her own reflection in his pupils, so clearly.

She blinked uncomfortably and smiled indifferently. “Your Majesty, don’t you suspect I’m a false eunuch?”

“Little Bao’er, I confined you here only as a temporary measure. After this storm passes, I’ll declare you a real eunuch and release you.” Huangfu Wushuang smiled with curved lips.

“So Your Majesty thinks little Bao’er is a false eunuch?” Hua Zhuyu asked.

“Whether you’re a real or false eunuch, it’s all the same to me. Little Bao’er, don’t move – you have a piece of straw in your hair.” Huangfu Wushuang said solemnly, raising his hand to adjust Hua Zhuyu’s hair arrangement.

“This Zhou Quan really has no sense. This time, I’ll teach him a lesson.” He plucked a piece of straw from Hua Zhuyu’s hair and said slowly.

“This servant is a prisoner. Zhou Quan did nothing wrong. Let this servant do it!” Hua Zhuyu frowned and leaned back slightly.

“Don’t move! There’s another piece here.” Huangfu Wushuang said with concentrated expression, reaching out again. This time, Hua Zhuyu only felt her hair arrangement loosen. Looking again, what Huangfu Wushuang held wasn’t straw but her hair pin.

Her black hair immediately cascaded down like a mountain spring flowing to her waist. With her dark hair flowing, Hua Zhuyu’s face appeared even more lustrous white as jade, her bright eyes like stars on her moonlike face.

After the initial moment of slight shock, Hua Zhuyu smiled faintly. So Huangfu Wushuang had suspected her after all. From entering this cell, he had probably been calculating how to remove her hairpin.

“You suspected me after all?” She leaned against the wall and asked slowly.

Huangfu Wushuang stared at Hua Zhuyu with round dark eyes, looking at her intently as if he could never see enough in a lifetime.

“Little Bao’er, you’re a woman? Really a woman!” he said incredulously, his lips curved in a happy arc.

That smile was genuinely joyful, so dazzling, as if light had illuminated his heart, or like a person poor all his life suddenly finding a gold ingot. That kind of unexpected joy, from inside out, was so obvious. He looked entranced, unable to resist reaching out to lift her chin. Hua Zhuyu turned her head away, avoiding his touch.

Huangfu Wushuang’s smile gradually froze, saying somewhat dejectedly, “Little Bao’er…”

“How did you come to suspect I was a woman?” Hua Zhuyu asked indifferently.

Huangfu Wushuang grinned and said, “After hearing Eunuch Ge’s words, I thought of how he hadn’t personally performed the operation, and I remembered that day I had already seen that you indeed… indeed didn’t look like a man.” That day, to prevent Huangfu Wushuang from continuing to suspect, Hua Zhuyu had deliberately lifted her robe hem to let Huangfu Wushuang see. Though she hadn’t removed her trousers, it was enough for him to see that she had been castrated there. Unexpectedly, he had deduced from this that she was a woman.

Hua Zhuyu couldn’t help but curve her lips in a faint cold smile. Looking up at Huangfu Wushuang, she saw he seemed to sense her thoughts and broke into a smile, like spring flowers first blooming.

Huangfu Wushuang seemed born with this ability to bewitch all living beings. You knew his smile was poisonous, yet you still couldn’t help being enchanted by him.

“Wushuang, let me go!” Hua Zhuyu looked up and said. Now she could no longer serve as a eunuch here. She had to leave, immediately.

“I won’t let you go!” he said quite domineeringly.

Suddenly hooking his arm, when their bodies just touched, he sensed she wanted to struggle free. Gritting his teeth, he pulled her firmly into his embrace.

“Do you really long so much to leave me? Little Bao’er, you’ve been by my side for so long – don’t you feel even the slightest attraction to me?”

Warm breath came to her ear, all of it Huangfu Wushuang’s low, deep, affectionate words, making Hua Zhuyu’s face instantly turn deathly pale.

So… Huangfu Wushuang toward her…

She tried to break free from the embrace before her, only then discovering that Huangfu Wushuang’s strength was actually so great. Lying in his arms, she couldn’t help but quietly draw a breath. She had long known that Huangfu Wushuang was definitely not as simple as his appearance suggested, and now it seemed his martial arts were not as weak as they appeared on the surface either.

Her heart grew inexplicably cold.

“Little Bao’er, you’re destined to be mine!” His words came out at her ear word by word, carrying a trace of roguish dominance. Turning his head slightly, he forcefully kissed her lips.

Hua Zhuyu narrowed her eyes coldly, suddenly gathering her internal energy and pushing toward Huangfu Wushuang’s chest. With a bang, Huangfu Wushuang was pushed away by her palm, flying toward the cell wall.

Huangfu Wushuang turned in midair, forcefully controlling his form, and slowly turned around.

The lantern hanging on the wall was impacted by Huangfu Wushuang’s momentum and immediately began swaying violently. Yellow light rapidly flashed across Huangfu Wushuang’s face and rapidly swayed back. His handsome features in the lantern light alternated between bright and dark, like his person – sometimes an immortal child, sometimes a demon.

“Little Bao’er… why did you push me so hard?” He stared at her with eyes more brilliant than jewels, looking at her full of grievance.

Hua Zhuyu had originally thought he would fly into a rage, but unexpectedly he looked aggrieved and hurt. Her shame and anger immediately subsided somewhat. But she still felt somewhat indignant.

Huangfu Wushuang had actually kissed her – this was too shocking. Perhaps because when they first met he was too mischievous and childish, she had always felt he was younger than her, but actually he might be about the same age as her. After returning from the battlefield, she had realized he had suddenly changed from a mischievous youth to a steady man, but in her heart she still thought he was younger than her.

“You… why did you kiss me?” Hua Zhuyu leaned against the wall, asking with a pale face, her clear, beautiful eyes wide and round, the light in her dark pupils reflecting the lamplight as if it could burn through this boundless night.

“Why?” Huangfu Wushuang stepped forward, his gaze burning as he stared intently at Hua Zhuyu. “Little Bao’er, don’t you know I dream of kissing you like that?”

Hua Zhuyu could hardly believe her ears. She had never known that Huangfu Wushuang also had improper thoughts toward her. Then how could she possibly leave the palace now?

“Little Bao’er, stay. As long as you remain in the palace, I’ll give you the most noble status.” Huangfu Wushuang’s unfathomably beautiful pupils seemed to carry soul-stirring power as he stared at Hua Zhuyu without blinking.

Hua Zhuyu smiled coldly and said slowly, “Stay in the palace?” Her smile at the corner of her lips froze as a trace of sharpness flashed in her dark eyes. “But I do mind. Moreover, Your Majesty, I have no romantic feelings for you either. That noble status should be reserved for Miss Wen. For you, she has done quite a lot! You’ve always been devoted to her too. You two are a match made in heaven. Let me leave!”

Her voice was very light, gentle, and mild, but her tone was resolute, leaving no room for compromise.

A trace of gloom crossed Huangfu Wushuang’s eyes. Under the lamplight, his features were so handsome they were dazzling, like a blazing flame. This flame had once warmed her, but now it could burn her.

“Fine, little Bao’er. I can comply with anything you want. You don’t want this noble status – fine, I won’t force you, but I’ll always keep it for you. You want to leave the imperial palace – fine, I agree to that too.” Huangfu Wushuang said word by word, slowly.

“Really?” Hua Zhuyu frowned, somewhat incredulous. She felt things couldn’t be this simple. Huangfu Wushuang wouldn’t be playing tricks, would he? “Then what about Song Zhaoyi? Can you let her leave the palace too?”

“Yes, but not now. In the future, I will definitely let her leave the palace.” Huangfu Wushuang said slowly, walking slowly to Hua Zhuyu’s side.

Keeping Dan Hong in the palace was undoubtedly making her a hostage to restrain Hua Zhuyu. Even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she wouldn’t feel at ease.

“Then fine. Since that’s the case, please treat her well, Your Majesty. I owe her a lot, and this time I’ve implicated her in imprisonment. I feel quite sorry about it.” Hua Zhuyu said dejectedly.

Huangfu Wushuang nodded. “Don’t worry, I will treat her well.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Zhuyu gave him a grateful smile, brilliant as spring dawn flowers, making Huangfu Wushuang’s heart flutter. Just then, Hua Zhuyu suddenly formed her palm into a blade and chopped toward Huangfu Wushuang’s neck. This palm carried fierce momentum, originally intended to knock Huangfu Wushuang unconscious and use him as a hostage to rescue Dan Hong. She knew Huangfu Wushuang wasn’t sincere about letting her leave the palace, or he wouldn’t keep Dan Hong in the palace.

Unexpectedly, Huangfu Wushuang was extremely agile. He dodged Hua Zhuyu’s strike and stared with round dark eyes, crying out aggrievedly, “Little Bao’er, what are you trying to do?”

Knowing that missing with one strike made it difficult to capture Huangfu Wushuang again, and hearing footsteps of hidden guards approaching after hearing the commotion, Hua Zhuyu knew that if she delayed any longer, even escaping would be difficult. She launched several palm strikes, forcing Huangfu Wushuang to dodge. Taking advantage of this, she turned her waist and her entire form flashed out from his side like a wisp of light smoke.

Outside the cell door, several of Huangfu Wushuang’s personal hidden guards saw Hua Zhuyu rush out and surrounded her with drawn swords.

“Get out of the way!” Hua Zhuyu smiled wildly, nimbly dodging one person’s blade, borrowing force by pressing on the heavy blade back and viciously striking back. That person didn’t even grunt before falling to the ground.

The howling wind in the corridor cut like knives across her face, lifting her waterfall-like long hair like black mandala flowers blooming wildly.

“Everyone stand aside!” Hua Zhuyu pointed the sword she had seized from the hidden guard forward and said coldly.

“Yuan Bao, so you’re actually a woman! His Majesty is devoted to you – why are you still so stubborn?” A thin figure flashed from the darkness of the corridor – it was Ji Xiang. He didn’t appear alone but held a woman in his grasp – Dan Hong, who had entered the Internal Punishment Court with Hua Zhuyu.

A bright sword lay across Dan Hong’s neck. If it advanced one more inch, it would cut her throat. Dan Hong’s face was extremely pale, her originally lively large eyes now full of anger. Looking at Hua Zhuyu, she said resolutely, “Leave quickly! Don’t worry about me!”

Hua Zhuyu smiled faintly as cold wind howled past, blowing her loose hair into wild disarray.

Huangfu Wushuang – she had still underestimated him.

How could she not care about Dan Hong?

For her sake, Dan Hong had entered these nine-story palace buildings; for her sake, she had married a man she didn’t love; for her sake, she had willingly entered this deep prison; and now, for her sake, she was even risking her life! How could she abandon Dan Hong?!

Her hand loosened, and the steel sword in Hua Zhuyu’s hand fell to the ground with a crisp clang. She turned to Huangfu Wushuang and showed him a clear, beautiful smile. “Release her, and I’ll submit to your disposal!”

Huangfu Wushuang leaned against the cell door with folded arms, wearing black casual clothes with his long hair bound high. The bright light from the lantern in the cell shone from behind him, making his entire figure appear as a black silhouette. He emanated an aura that made people tremble with fear, extremely cold. But hearing Hua Zhuyu’s words, his face, originally hidden in shadow, immediately revealed a lotus-white smile, his beautiful dark eyes radiating the most brilliant light.

“Little Bao’er, how could I dispose of you? I’m just complying with your wishes to let you leave the palace. As for her, I will treat her well. Don’t worry!” Huangfu Wushuang said with a pleasant smile.

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiang lowered the steel sword from Dan Hong’s neck.

Dan Hong glanced sorrowfully at Hua Zhuyu, then suddenly exerted force, rushing toward the blade that had just been lowered.

“Go! Don’t worry about me!” Dan Hong’s voice carried indescribable pity and reluctance, yet contained resolve.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart jumped, feeling as if someone had suddenly punched her. She shouted, “No!”

She hurriedly turned and rushed over, suddenly feeling dizzy, a rich, fishy sweetness suddenly hitting her chest. Her vision suddenly went black and her steps faltered. Dimly, she saw Dan Hong’s forehead about to hit the blade when, in a flash, Ji Xiang flipped his wrist, turned his body, and his steel sword had instantly turned over. Dan Hong struck the blade’s back and fainted.

Hua Zhuyu immediately felt relieved but felt a mountain-toppling, sea-overturning pain in her body. Her body pitched forward as she felt herself falling into someone’s embrace. Looking up, she saw Huangfu Wushuang’s hazy face, his lips tightly pressed, his eyes full of pity.

In her confusion, it seemed like a long time passed, yet seemed like only an instant.

Hua Zhuyu opened her eyes to see a golden hook above her head and crimson silk gauze curtains hanging lightly before her eyes. A gentle breeze stirred them, and the golden hooks and pearl curtains struck each other in succession, making clear, pleasant tinkling sounds.

Hua Zhuyu suddenly came fully awake, rolled off the bed, and pushed aside the gauze curtains before her.

She found herself in an exquisite, elegant room with a rosewood screen embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum… This was clearly a young lady’s boudoir, yet it didn’t seem like palace furnishings.

Memory returned to the instant before she lost consciousness, recalling Huangfu Wushuang’s words: “Little Bao’er, how could I dispose of you? I’m just complying with your wishes to let you leave the palace.”

Leave the palace! This meant she was now outside the palace, but where was she?

She calmed herself and walked to the window, pushing open the green window to look outside.

The scenery outside was unexpectedly elegant. Where she resided was obviously a back garden with decorative mountains and clear water, green trees and red flowers, forming a distant, tranquil picture. It looked like some mansion.

As Hua Zhuyu was guessing where this might be, she heard the soft sound of pearl curtains behind her and the jingling of ornaments. Turning around, she saw a little maid with double hair buns taking small steps while carrying a tray.

The little maid obviously thought Hua Zhuyu hadn’t awakened yet. She set the tray on the table and lifted the curtains to check the bed. Seeing no one there, she was immediately frightened, her jade face turning white.

“Oh no, Miss…” She opened her mouth to shout and ran toward the door. Turning around the screen, she saw Hua Zhuyu standing by the window and quickly covered her mouth. After a long while, she lowered her hand and said slowly, “Miss, you were here all along. This servant thought… thought you had gone out.”

“What miss?” Hua Zhuyu narrowed her eyes slightly and coldly interrupted her words.

“What?” The little maid asked blankly, obviously not understanding Hua Zhuyu’s words.

Hua Zhuyu suddenly turned around, quickly walked to her side, and stared at her coldly. “You called me miss. Whose miss am I? What is this place?”

“This is Miss’s home! This is the Nie residence!” The little maid was frightened by the coldness emanating from Hua Zhuyu and quickly stammered.

Home? She had long had no home. What was this talk of home?

“Nie residence? Nie Yuanqiao’s mansion? I’m a miss of the Nie family?” Hua Zhuyu asked again.

The little maid nodded frantically.

Hua Zhuyu released her hand and slowly walked to sit on the bed.

Huangfu Wushuang had indeed kept his promise and truly sent her out of the palace. However, it was out of the tiger’s den into the wolf’s lair – she had become Nie Yuanqiao’s daughter. She probably wouldn’t find it easy to leave the Nie mansion either.

“What’s my name?” Hua Zhuyu asked indifferently.

The little maid said respectfully, “Miss, you are Chancellor Nie’s daughter, named Nie Yiren. You were raised at your maternal grandparents’ home from childhood and only recently returned home to participate in the imperial selection.”

“Oh! Imperial selection?” Hua Zhuyu sat on the bed and nodded woodenly. This meant Huangfu Wushuang hadn’t let her leave the palace but had merely created an identity for her, wanting her to legitimately enter the palace as his consort.

“What’s your name?” Hua Zhuyu suddenly turned to ask the little maid.

The little maid lowered her head. “Miss, this servant is called Cuixiu.”

“Let me ask you something. How many days was I unconscious, and what illness did I have?” After thinking for a moment, Hua Zhuyu asked slowly. Her sudden fainting in the Internal Punishment Court must have been suspicious. Though she felt no pain now, she remembered feeling very uncomfortable in her chest before losing consciousness.

“Miss seemed to be poisoned and was unconscious for two days. The master requested an imperial physician from the palace who has already detoxified you.” Cuixiu said carefully.

Hua Zhuyu sent Cuixiu away and wandered around the boudoir alone, trying to escape from here. After surveying the area, it was obvious that heavy troops were stationed around the boudoir. Nie Yuanqiao’s eldest son was the commander of the capital’s Imperial Guards. If she wanted to leave the Nie mansion, it probably wouldn’t be much easier than escaping from the imperial palace.

Hua Zhuyu was extremely anxious, mainly worried about Dan Hong’s situation. Here, she probably couldn’t find out the truth. She finally managed to wait until dusk, then jumped out the window, passed through the flower bushes behind, and came to a long corridor.

She saw two Imperial Guards crouching under the corridor talking – obviously watching her. Hua Zhuyu was about to quietly approach and knock them unconscious when she suddenly heard one guard say, “Who would have thought that even a false eunuch could infiltrate the imperial palace? That Yuan Bao really had good fortune. Wonder how many of the emperor’s consorts he slept with?”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.” The other guard said with a laugh. “What good fortune? In the end, he still couldn’t escape beheading. Better not to have had that fortune!”

“I heard that after he was beheaded, someone went to the vegetable market and pulled down his pants to look. He really was a false eunuch!” the other guard said with a chuckle.

Upon hearing this, Hua Zhuyu immediately froze.

Though she knew the Yuan Bao who died wasn’t herself, hearing these two guards’ words, her heart still felt waves of coldness, that chill penetrating from her limbs all the way to her heart.

She had been beheaded and her corpse thrown at the vegetable market for people to gawk at.

Why did Huangfu Wushuang treat her this way? Ruthless enough! Ruthless enough!

Why did he make her suffer such humiliation even in death! Huangfu Wushuang, what exactly are you trying to do?

Hua Zhuyu stood in the flower bushes, hatred almost making her grind her silver teeth to powder. The evening wind was very cold, yet this coldness wasn’t one ten-thousandth of what was in her heart.

Those two Imperial Guards finally noticed Hua Zhuyu standing behind them and hurriedly rose to salute. “Miss, you’re awake. It’s windy outside – please return to your room quickly.”

Hua Zhuyu lowered her head and only then realized she was still wearing the white single robe from when she first awakened. She smiled slightly. “I’m just taking a walk and will return shortly. When was that Yuan Bao beheaded?”

“Today.” One guard quickly answered.

The first year of Hongwu was truly a turbulent autumn.

In the first month, the slow slicing execution of Left Chancellor Ji Fengli had shocked the entire Southern Dynasty. Just after the first month ended, another major event shocked the entire Southern Dynasty.

That time, when Left Chancellor Ji Fengli was executed, people remembered that little eunuch in apricot-yellow robes who served as execution supervisor. The chancellor had kissed him publicly at the execution ground, disregarding social conventions. And he had personally wielded the blade at the execution ground, striking Ji Fengli seven times – each strike fierce, each drawing blood, each heartbreaking.

This little eunuch had also become the public enemy of all women in the Southern Dynasty overnight.

This time, the event that shocked the Southern Dynasty was also related to him.

It was said he was a false eunuch who had affairs with Emperor Kang’s consorts in the palace, causing the former emperor’s consort to become pregnant. It was said this little eunuch, relying on the current emperor’s favor, had been so bold as to have that consort brew pregnancy-protecting medicine in the palace. Seeing the consort’s belly growing larger, he had petitioned the Hong Emperor to take her out of the palace, but this was delayed due to the arrival of foreign delegations.

That little eunuch never dreamed that at the banquet for the visiting foreign delegations, this matter would be exposed. In his fury, the emperor imprisoned him in the Internal Punishment Court and decreed that on the third day of the second month, he would be beheaded outside the Meridian Gate for public display, his corpse thrown at the vegetable market.

It was said that on execution day, crowds filled the area outside the Meridian Gate. It was said that after the beheading, someone bold enough went forward and pulled down his pants to look – he was indeed a false eunuch.

Thus, this little eunuch who had defiled the Southern Dynasty’s palace for a year finally faded from people’s view.

What couldn’t help but make people sigh was that no one disputed this little eunuch’s talents.

He had world-managing abilities and heroic military achievements. He had supported the new emperor’s ascension, and the new emperor had shown him extreme favor. However, no emperor would allow a eunuch to dictate to him. It was said he had been extremely arrogant, relying on the Hong Emperor’s favor.

When the birds are gone, the good bow is stored away. This little eunuch ultimately couldn’t escape such a fate!