Zhao Yishi knew what his father was worried about.

His Majesty had never liked him. No matter how well he handled affairs, there were always faults to be found.

Yan Ruxian had served His Majesty for decades. Even after his house was raided, His Majesty hadn’t imprisoned him—clearly intending to spare his life.

Now this old eunuch faced certain death. Would His Majesty, displeased, redirect his anger toward the Crown Prince?

Quite possibly.

Because Father’s final words to that square-faced scholar today weren’t entirely appropriate.

“You will all see that day”—while these words appeased the scholars, upon closer reflection, they subtly carried a sense of coercing His Majesty.

Standing behind the vermilion doors, he’d heard that sentence and broken into a cold sweat.

But the words were already spoken—what could be done?

Zhao Yishi had gone from morning court until now, an entire day without a drop of water. He had no energy to comfort the Crown Prince’s anxiety. He bowed and silently withdrew.

The rain continued falling in a patter.

Shen Chong came forward with an umbrella. “Your Highness, shall we eat first, or bathe and change clothes first?”

Zhao Yishi slowly walked out from under the umbrella and asked without warning, “How did she end up mixed in among the scholars?”

Shen Chong was stunned by the question.

…

In the warm chamber.

The Emperor glanced at Feng Changxiu kneeling below with bowed head. “Speak. What commotion happened outside?”

Feng Changxiu didn’t dare conceal anything. He told the Emperor everything—how the scholars had gathered, how they’d clashed with the Brocade Guard, and how the Crown Prince had defused the situation.

After listening, the Emperor’s face showed a cold sneer as he said something that made Feng Changxiu’s heart race with fear: “Each and every one of them has quite the audacity.”

Each and every one—who did that refer to?

The scholars?

The Brocade Guard?

Or… someone else?

Feng Changxiu didn’t dare respond, only bowed his head even lower.

“You personally lead another contingent and secretly investigate the spring examination matter thoroughly.”

The Emperor stood up and patted Feng Changxiu’s shoulder. “As for the old censor—keep an eye on him too.”

Feng Changxiu: “This subject obeys the decree.”

Emperor Yonghe clasped his hands behind his back. “Stand up. Accompany me for a walk outside.”

“Yes.”

Feng Changxiu quickly rose from the ground and followed behind the Emperor. After just a few steps, he heard the Emperor ask, “Do you think Yan Ruxian deserves to die?”

Feng Changxiu lifted his eyelids to glance at the Emperor’s back, then replied respectfully, “Whether he lives or dies, this subject only listens to Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yonghe grunted but said nothing more, slowly walking out of the warm chamber.

The young eunuch on duty at the entrance saw the Emperor emerge and hurried forward with an umbrella. “Your Majesty, shall I prepare the imperial carriage?”

“Give the umbrella to Director Feng. The rest of you need not follow.”

“Yes!”

…

Monarch and subject walked in silence the entire way.

Feng Changxiu had entered service at the Emperor’s side at age twelve after castration, then entered the Brocade Guard at twenty-two. After a full ten years, he had some understanding of the Emperor’s temperament.

Such silence was rare—it meant the Emperor had matters weighing on his mind.

After walking for about half the time it takes to drink tea, they reached a palace gate. Emperor Yonghe coldly commanded, “Clear the area.”

Without a word, the guards immediately called everyone out from the courtyard.

“Director Feng, wait here for me as well.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Emperor Yonghe lift his foot and step through that threshold.

Eunuchs’ quarters in the palace were called duty rooms, but not all duty rooms were the same. The most favored eunuchs’ duty rooms were right beside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Yan Ruxian knelt prostrate in the courtyard, his head of gray and white hair particularly conspicuous in the moonlight.

When a man grows old, even wiping can’t erase certain memories.

Emperor Yonghe looked at this old servant who had attended him for decades, feeling somewhat melancholy.

Yan Ruxian lifted his eyelids to see the bright yellow robes before him and cried hoarsely, “Your Majesty, this old servant is wronged!”

Wronged?

Emperor Yonghe sneered coldly.

“You’re the one who bought and sold official positions, embezzled silver from the Twelve Directorates, and even reached into the spring examinations, aren’t you?”

Yan Ruxian suddenly raised his head, just as Emperor Yonghe looked down at him.

Master and servant’s gazes met, one high and one low. Yan Ruxian saw the cold frost in the Emperor’s eyes and slowly lowered his head back to the ground.

“This old servant deserves death!”

A wave of fury rose from deep within Emperor Yonghe’s heart.

Look at this.

Just moments ago crying innocence, now claiming he deserved death—how quickly this face changed! Each one putting on airs of loyal subjects and filial sons, yet behind the scenes there was nothing they wouldn’t dare do!

The Emperor nudged Yan Ruxian’s head with his foot. “Are you all bullying me for growing old?”

“Your Majesty, this old servant wouldn’t dare. This old servant was bewitched, this old servant knows he was wrong. Please, Your Majesty, spare this life.”

The Emperor seemed not to hear his words, staring fixedly at a bright moon at the horizon’s edge, then suddenly said without reason, “I recall you and Noble Consort Li always got along well.”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”

Yan Ruxian was scared out of his wits. He crawled forward several steps using both hands and feet. “Even if heaven lent this servant several hundred, several tens of thousands of galls, this servant wouldn’t dare…”

“What wouldn’t you dare!”

Emperor Yonghe suddenly roared in fury. “You even dared meddle in the spring examinations—do you still have me, still have the law in your eyes?”

“This old servant’s ten thousand deaths cannot atone for his crimes.”

“Speak!”

Emperor Yonghe, at the peak of his rage, kicked out. “How did you collude with Li Xing, inside and out?”

Yan Ruxian was kicked to the ground. He hurriedly crawled back up, weeping bitterly. “Noble Consort Li is Li Xing’s youngest daughter. This old servant promised to look after her. As long as Li Xing, as long as he…”

So that was how it was!

Not only buying and selling offices, not only reaching into the spring examinations—this dog slave had even exploited His Majesty’s consort… No wonder Lu Shi had said he corrupted the imperial palace.

Emperor Yonghe’s heart turned ice-cold. “Very good, very good!”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

Yan Ruxian crawled over and clutched the Emperor’s ankle desperately.

“This old servant was wrong, truly wrong. Please, Your Majesty, for the sake of this servant’s lifetime of service at your beck and call, spare this dog’s life!”

The older one gets, the more one fears death. Even living like a pig or dog, he still wanted to live.

Because only by staying alive—if one day His Majesty suddenly remembered his contributions, he could enjoy wealth and honor again.

After several heaves of his chest, Emperor Yonghe looked at his aged face and lifted his foot, breaking free from Yan Ruxian’s hands.

“Little Xian’zi, this time, I cannot protect you either.”

Two streams of murky tears fell from Yan Ruxian’s eyes.

“Little Xian’zi” was what His Majesty had called him when still a prince.

Back then he was still young, full of endless energy. Of twelve shichen in a day, he spent ten by His Majesty’s side. The bond between master and servant began then.

How many years had it been?

Yan Ruxian couldn’t even remember.

What he could remember was standing beside the Emperor, with everyone addressing him with awe and flattery as “Eunuch Yan.”

He was Eunuch Yan, the Emperor’s most favored person. No one could surpass him.

He’d worked like a beast of burden in the first half of his life—why couldn’t he live like a proper man, head held high, in the second half?

He wanted power, money, women, beautiful concubines…

Everything that powerful men in this world had, Eunuch Yan wanted too. How was that wrong? How did it come to this?

Emperor Yonghe turned away.

“I’ll have someone sew your manhood back on.”

Yan Ruxian jerked his head up, looking at the Emperor’s back in disbelief.

After watching for a long while, he drew his sleeve across his face to wipe his tears, then bent down prostrate.

“Little Xian’zi expresses gratitude for His Majesty’s great kindness.”