Chapter 5: The Fake Eunuch

“Have me summon the Crown Prince?” Even Ye Cheng was at a bit of a loss for words.

“The Crown Prince has called for you two days in a row; this shows he trusts you. Go and give it a try,” Lin Yaoxue urged.

She was starting to grow anxious. A year had passed since she entered the palace, and she still had not consummated her marriage with the Crown Prince, nor did she have a child. Inevitably, rumors and gossip were swirling outside. Moreover, she needed an heir to secure her position.

Recently, she’d heard whispers that the Emperor of Great Zhou was in poor health and the Crown Prince might ascend the throne at any moment. Once that happened, he would be Emperor—and she would become Empress.

But now, without an heir, even if she became Empress, she could be deposed at any time. As the saying goes, a mother’s status is elevated by her child; with an heir, her position as Empress would be unshakable.

Furthermore, there was ample room to maneuver in all of this. If the Emperor were to die suddenly, she could govern from behind the curtain.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ye Cheng replied.

...

“Which shameless woman is inviting me to a banquet at the Xing Sheng Palace?” Ling Xiaoyue’s delicate brows knitted as worry clouded her heart.

Anyone could see through the Crown Princess’s intentions—it was as plain as day.

But she was a woman herself; how could she consummate a marriage with the Crown Princess? If she went, and that woman used some sort of seductive trick or drugged her food and rendered her unconscious, her true identity would be exposed.

“What is your opinion, Your Highness?” Ye Cheng inquired.

“Of course, I won’t go. If I do, that wretch will try to force me to consummate the marriage, and then my identity will be revealed. Could you bear responsibility for that?” Ling Xiaoyue shot Ye Cheng a cold, piercing glance.

Ye Cheng muttered inwardly, “It wasn’t my idea for you to go; why should I bear the blame for this?”

“Report back and say my health is poor,” Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand, dismissing Ye Cheng.

For the moment, she had no solution and could only stall for time.

“But Your Highness, this can’t go on forever,” Ye Cheng said.

“It’s none of your concern. Just go,” Ling Xiaoyue replied impatiently.

After Ye Cheng left, Shangguan Feiyan approached Ling Xiaoyue with light steps and asked, “Your Highness, was Ye Cheng here just now?”

Ling Xiaoyue nodded, biting her lip and letting out a cold laugh. “It seems that wretch is getting desperate, trying to force me to consummate the marriage with yet another banquet. If my identity is exposed, it will surely destabilize the very foundation of Great Zhou.”

“But right now, there’s no other way,” Shangguan Feiyan sighed softly.

Ling Xiaoyue raised her beautiful face and asked, “How goes the matter I asked you to investigate?”

“Your Highness, there is no record of Ye Cheng’s household registration, not even a record of his castration in the purification house. It’s as if this man appeared out of thin air,” Shangguan Feiyan reported truthfully.

“What? No information on Ye Cheng at all? Just how many things is this audacious dog eunuch hiding from me?” Ling Xiaoyue’s heart burned with anger; she detested being deceived above all else.

Shangguan Feiyan advised, “Your Highness, could this be the Empress’s doing? Didn’t Ye Cheng claim he was sent by her?”

Ling Xiaoyue considered for a moment and nodded, “That’s possible.”

“But, Your Highness, since Ye Cheng doesn’t even have a castration record, I suspect he’s not a real eunuch at all,” Shangguan Feiyan speculated.

“A fake eunuch?” Ling Xiaoyue was taken aback, biting her lip. “That can’t be. Is he really a man?”

That day, Ye Cheng had seen her completely exposed. The scoundrel had even pinched where he shouldn’t have. The mere thought made her cheeks flush and her teeth clench with rage, an urge to kill arising in her heart.

It wouldn’t matter if he were a eunuch, since he wouldn’t be a real man—but if that scoundrel truly was a man, then...

“Hurry and find out Ye Cheng’s true identity!” Ling Xiaoyue ordered.

It was a critical time, and she needed to ensure that everyone around her was firmly within her grasp.

Ye Cheng had just exited the sleeping quarters when Eunuch Wang arrived with four eunuchs in tow.

After all, Ye Cheng was now a chief eunuch, a man of some authority, and deserved attendants of his own. These four were to be placed under his command.

However, Eunuch Wang’s expression was grim. “My dear boy, you’ve gone too far—how could you injure Steward Qiu so severely?”

Eunuch Wang had only just learned of the matter and had been frightened by it. Steward Qiu, though not a good person, was one of Chief Steward Li’s men. As the saying goes, you must consider the master before beating the dog. For Ye Cheng to beat Qiu in public was a direct affront to Chief Steward Li!

Would Chief Steward Li let this slide?

“That Qiu went too far, demanding silver from me. I gave him a hundred taels and he still wasn’t satisfied? He deserved a beating!” Ye Cheng grumbled.

“Qiu certainly went overboard, but you need to be careful. I foresee Chief Steward Li will look for an excuse to come after you,” Eunuch Wang warned.

Ye Cheng nodded. Sooner or later, he would settle accounts with that old dog.

Afterwards, Eunuch Wang departed, leaving the four eunuchs with Ye Cheng.

Ye Cheng was now in charge of the bathhouse, which was not an especially taxing post—just cleaning, heating water, and the like.

Generously, he handed each of the four a fifty-tael silver note.

The four were immediately grateful, showering him with flattery and calling him “Brother Ye” and “Brother Cheng” with the utmost affection.

Such was the reality of society; having received his favor, how could they not obey him?

“As long as you follow my lead, there will be plenty of benefits for you,” Ye Cheng instructed, sending them off to their tasks.

After nightfall, the Prince’s residence felt especially quiet under the cold moonlight.

Ye Cheng made his way to Xing Sheng Palace.

Today, Lin Yaoxue wore a stately palace gown; her delicate features were accentuated by her exquisite makeup, making her even more alluring.

Ye Cheng thought to himself, “What man could possibly resist this?”

“Will the Crown Prince come?” Lin Yaoxue lifted her teacup and arched her brow at Ye Cheng.

“Reporting to Your Highness, I went to inform the Crown Prince, but he said he is unwell and will not come,” Ye Cheng answered truthfully.

If the Crown Prince had come today, Lin Yaoxue would surely have become a raging lioness. If she ever discovered the Crown Prince was actually a woman, it would be an amusing scene indeed.

“Still not coming?” Lin Yaoxue’s face darkened; her enchanting features now filled with endless grievance.

Suddenly, she did something wholly unexpected.

She rose to her feet and slammed her palm down, shattering the table into pieces with a crash of splintered cups and plates.

Her willow brows arched, her phoenix eyes narrowed, emitting a chilling light. “If he won’t come, then he need never come again!”

“Your Highness, please calm yourself,” Ye Cheng hastily advised.

He could not help but sweat for her. He’d heard people say that the Crown Princess was a martial arts master, but he hadn’t realized her prowess was so formidable.

“Calm myself? How can I? I’ve been in the Crown Prince’s residence for a year, and the number of times I’ve seen him could be counted on one hand!” Lin Yaoxue’s gaze grew steely, her anger mounting.

Seeing her in such a mood, Ye Cheng wisely held his tongue and said nothing more.