Chapter 12: The Eunuch

Bao Ning stopped what she was doing as soon as she heard the commotion and stood by the window, staring blankly outside.

In the small courtyard stood more than a dozen people, all armed guards, surrounding an oily-faced old eunuch.

The old eunuch looked to be in his forties or fifties, dressed in a deep purple robe. His face was heavily powdered, and even from a distance, a strong perfume could be smelled.

Bao Ning recognized his robe—it was embroidered with the distinctive patterns of the Imperial Household Department. Judging by his extravagant appearance, this eunuch must hold a high rank.

This was odd… People from the Imperial Household Department were notorious for their snobbery. Not a single one of them came to help when she married into the family. Now, it wasn’t a holiday or festival, so why had they suddenly come in such a large group?
Bao Ning grew uneasy. This couldn’t be good. She didn’t dare go out recklessly.

“Where is everyone? Are they all dead?” a bearded guard shouted. “If no one comes out soon, I’ll burn this whole place to the ground!”

Ah Huang, sensing hostility, arched its back and stood protectively in front of her, growling low in warning.

“Where did this stray mutt come from?” Eunuch Huang glanced at the dog with disdain and said coldly, “How dare it bark in front of me. Someone, drag it out and beat it to death!”

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Gv bkp nsxxyde, psxlsdl kxxlekyvlzu alprsdele, “Zlp!” yde ealo y posae vs pvyc qsaoyae.

Gb Twydt vwadle yde cszvle cynj. Jys Lkdt’p blyav zlyrv kd qaktbv. Fbl iwknjzu pvlrrle swv yde pbswvle pbyarzu, “Ps usw lhld jdso oblal usw yal? Tso eyal usw ynv ps kdpszldvzu! Ebyv kp vbl xlydkdt sq vbkp?”

“Xb? Wkdyzzu, psxlsdl pbsop wr.”

Owdwnb Twydt vwadle bkp blye yde zssjle yv bla, pxkzkdt pzuzu. Tkp lulp asyxle wr yde esod bla cseu, pvweukdt bla: “Mbkp bwxczl plahydv tallvp vbl Wswavb Vakdnl’p Usdpsav.”

Mbswtb bl prsjl osaep sq alprlnv, bl xyel ds xshl vs cso. Tl pvsse zygkzu okvb bkp qzu-obkpj, bkp tygl caypb yde yaastydv.

Jys Lkdt qasodle yde ypjle, “Ebs yal usw?”

Owdwnb Twydt qlktdle pweeld alyzkgyvksd. “Gb, R qsatsv vs kdvasewnl xuplzq.”

“R yx Owdwnb Twydt, nwaaldvzu vbl Plrwvu Ubklq sq vbl Rxrlakyz Tswplbsze Plryavxldv,” bl pyke okvb y xsnjkdt pxkzl, nwrrkdt bkp bydep. “Yu zyeu, ol’al sze yniwykdvydnlp, yal ol dsv? Rv oyp R obs shlapyo uswa oleekdt yaaydtlxldvp okvb vbl Wswavb Vakdnl. Elal usw pyvkpqkle okvb vbl ralryayvksdp?”

The tone was dripping with sarcasm—clearly not a kind person.

Bao Ning looked at him warily and took a step back. “Director Huang, may I ask why you’ve come in such force?”

Eunuch Huang replied, “I come by order of the Third Prince to check on things and bring some gifts. And to see how the Fourth Prince is doing. If he’s on his last legs, the Imperial Household needs to start preparing a coffin to collect the body.”

Bao Ning’s face changed instantly. Shocked and furious, she was about to speak when a calm voice called out from behind her:
“Bao Ning, come back.”

She turned to see Pei Yuan standing at the door. At some point, he had appeared, draped in a black outer robe, motioning for her to come over.

He didn’t look angry. His expression was calm, his left hand resting on a cane. His eyes were half-lidded as he glanced at Eunuch Huang without pause, then looked back at Bao Ning. “Carry your dog.”

Pei Yuan rarely addressed her by name. But today, when he spoke those two words, they filled her with a strange sense of reassurance. She took a few steps toward him, suddenly remembering Ah Huang. She quickly picked up the dog and ran over to his side.

Behind her, the bearded guard laughed heartily. “So timid! A few words and she runs away. Why don’t you stay and chat with us for a bit…?”

Pei Yuan rested his hand on Bao Ning’s shoulder and looked over coldly. His eyes flashed with a glint of icy menace, a fleeting murderous intent that made the bearded guard shiver and choke on the rest of his words.

Gripping his sword handle in an attempt to cover up his unease, the man snorted, “Just a cripple—still think you’re who you used to be? Hah!”

Bao Ning’s heart was pounding. She had never encountered anything like this before. These people radiated malice, and she had no idea how to deal with them.

Pei Yuan saw her fear and said quietly, “Help me inside.”
“Yes,” Bao Ning nodded, grateful for his calmness. She supported him by the arm and helped him back into the house.

Pei Yuan turned his head and said to Eunuch Huang, “You all come in too.”

He spoke as if nothing had happened, like he hadn’t heard any of the earlier mockery. Still bearing the air of one in command, he gave orders without a hint of subservience.

Eunuch Huang was stunned. Pei Yuan was nothing like he had expected.

He’d seen him when he was first released from prison—covered in blood, looking neither human nor ghost, seemingly close to death. Eunuch Huang had assumed that even if Pei Yuan hadn’t died, he would be in a pitiful, filthy state. He thought the prince’s consort would be resentful—either hitting and cursing him or packing up and leaving him to rot alone.

Who would’ve thought Pei Yuan would still be alive and looking respectable?

Eunuch Huang was annoyed that the show he’d expected didn’t play out. That’s why he had said what he did—to provoke Pei Yuan and enjoy watching him suffer in silence. The Fourth Prince had always been arrogant and temperamental—surely he wouldn’t tolerate such humiliation.

But Pei Yuan acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing and even dared to speak to him in a commanding tone.

Eunuch Huang’s face darkened. He had come to witness a disgrace, not to be put in his place.

The bearded guard frowned and leaned in to whisper, “Sir, are we really going in?”

Eunuch Huang flicked his sleeve and sneered, “Go in! He’s a cripple—what can he do to me?”

Bao Ning stood beside Pei Yuan, her hands icy cold as she listened to the noises outside.

Pei Yuan pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Take Ah Huang back to the room and lock the door. Don’t come out unless I call you.”

Bao Ning hesitated. “But you…”

Pei Yuan snorted coldly. “A bunch of castrated dogs—what can they do to me?”

Such arrogance. Bao Ning pressed her lips together and whispered, “Don’t be reckless.”

So timid. Pei Yuan chuckled and, in a rare show of patience, coaxed her: “Back when I was swinging a sword at people, you were still in the courtyard playing shuttlecock. Look at you now—what’s there to be afraid of?”

Bao Ning couldn’t smile. She knew she couldn’t help in this situation and would only get in the way, so she picked up Ah Huang and, casting one last worried look at Pei Yuan, returned to the western chamber before Eunuch Huang and the bearded guard entered.

The bearded guard stared at Bao Ning’s back, exchanged a glance with Eunuch Huang, a hint of lust in his eyes before he quickly looked away and stepped into the room.

Pei Yuan leaned back lazily in his chair, fingers tapping the armrest, waiting.

Eunuch Huang sneered insincerely, “Fourth Prince, what a surprise—you’re still alive?”

Pei Yuan said coldly, “Even the dog’s still alive—how could I, a living person, be dead?”

Eunuch Huang’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“I’m talking about you,” Pei Yuan replied, staring at him and stroking his chin with a smile. “Back then, it was you groveling to me, just short of kneeling to lick my boots. And now, it’s still you, putting on airs with Pei Xiao’s token, coming here to throw your weight around. Eunuch Huang, oh Eunuch Huang… you really are a fine dog who knows how to wag its tail for the wind.”

“Watch your mouth!” the bearded guard bellowed, drawing his sword. “Another insult and I’ll cut you down right here!”

Pei Yuan glanced at him and shook his head. “Eunuch Huang, I used to think you were smart. Why’d you pick such a fool for your right hand?”

“But you’re well matched,” he added, holding up two fingers and waggling them. “A pair of dumb mutts.”
“You—!” Eunuch Huang finally lost control. He stepped forward and jabbed a finger at Pei Yuan’s face, ready to curse him—but before he could say a word, Pei Yuan grabbed that finger and bent it back with a crack.

There was a sickening crunch, and Eunuch Huang howled. Pei Yuan yanked him forward by the collar, twisted his arm behind his back, and locked him in a chokehold, forcing him down over his knees.

Pei Yuan’s grip was merciless. Eunuch Huang’s breath caught; his legs flailed as his face turned red then purple.

The bearded guard froze at first, then barked, “Men!”

“Yes, sir!” The guards outside surged in, blades drawn, steel flashing in the dim light—all pointing at Pei Yuan.

“See that?” Pei Yuan said, tightening his hold further. His voice was low and icy. “They’re here to help you die quicker.”

“Eunuch Huang, you’ve followed me for years like a dog—how are you still so clueless? Don’t think that just because I’ve got one bad leg, I can’t kill you. Even if both legs were gone, snapping your neck would be as easy as flicking my fingers.”

“I—I…” Eunuch Huang wheezed. His face was drenched in sweat, eyes bloodshot from the pain. The makeup on his face had streaked, and his left index finger stuck up at an unnatural angle—clearly broken. “I was wrong, Your Highness! Please… have mercy…”

Pei Yuan said, “Tell them to leave.”

Struggling, Eunuch Huang croaked, “Out! Everyone out!”

The bearded guard looked reluctant, but didn’t dare defy the order. He waved his hand. “Withdraw!”

The room quickly emptied.

Pei Yuan slowly released Eunuch Huang’s throat, rinsed his hand with some tea, and said coldly, “Go back and tell Pei Xiao—if he wants to come at me, he can do it himself. Don’t send random mutts to disturb my peace.”

“Yes, yes…” Eunuch Huang nodded repeatedly, coughing and stumbling out in a rush—he even forgot to take his horsetail whisk.

The bearded guard had been waiting anxiously outside. As soon as he saw Eunuch Huang emerge, he hurried over. “My lord, are you all right?”

Eunuch Huang gritted his teeth. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. Couldn’t even handle a cripple—what use are you?!”

With that, he slapped the man hard across the face.
The guard took the blow, bowed, and said, “But my lord… are we really going to let this go?”

Eunuch Huang snapped, “And what would you have me do—actually kill him? The emperor may talk tough, but he still cares about that cripple. If Pei Yuan really dies, we’ll be joining him in the afterlife!”

His body still ached with fury and pain. He stood glaring at Pei Yuan’s window, teeth clenched. “Unload the supplies. Stack them by the cripple’s door.”

The guard obeyed, directing men to carry several cloth sacks from the cart and leave them quietly by the doorway.

One of the braver ones knocked lightly. “Your Highness, the Ministry has delivered provisions. Leaving them here.”

Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and fled.

A sneer curled on Eunuch Huang’s lips. “Let’s see how long you keep your arrogance.”

“Move out!”

The wheels of the carriage rumbled away into the distance. Only then did Bao Ning finally breathe a little easier. She hurried to the west wing, heart still worried for Pei Yuan.

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