Chapter 1 was just as I imagined, very soft and easy to kiss...
"Hua Lang is a remnant of the previous dynasty, a threat to imperial power, and deeply resented by the people. He should have his property confiscated and be executed to clear the way for my successor, Yu the Great!"
"My lords, His Majesty has ordered a temporary halt to Hua Lang's punishment; let him be imprisoned for now!"
After a few sighs, the jailer escorted Hua Lang to the Ministry of Justice prison. He had been tortured earlier and was in bad shape, covered in blood and unable to straighten his back. The jailer opened the gate, and after a few creaking sounds, he was thrown into the prison by brute force. The jailer spat at him and then closed the gate.
Hua Lang propped himself up and sat up, wiping the blood and saliva from his face. He held his forehead and calmed himself down for a while before finally accepting the fact of the palace coup.
The previous emperor, who had reigned supreme for twenty years, was finally defeated when his country's gates were breached by iron cavalry. Unable to bear the pain of being taken prisoner, he hanged himself in the Chaotian Hall in front of Hua Lang. For eunuchs, the change of dynasty wasn't a major issue; all they needed was loyalty to the person on the throne, regardless of who that person was. Unfortunately, Hua Lang was a notorious loyalist of the previous dynasty, serving only one master his entire life and often abusing his power. Moreover, with the new emperor's ascension, it was inevitable that a few outspoken figures would be punished as a warning to others.
Hua Lang just didn't understand. They had already taken away his power over the Imperial Guards and confiscated his private property for the national treasury. Now he had nothing and had completely fallen from power. They had promised to behead him today, so why was his sentence suspended?
He couldn't survive, and he wasn't too willing to die either. His whole body was tense and sore, so he simply found a place with lots of dry grass to lie down, intending to sleep until he was beheaded. Just as he lay down, the noise outside the prison started again.
"Why would I send them food? They're about to die, why would they want to fill their stomachs?"
"I'm not entirely sure what General Zhan instructed."
Hearing a loud, mocking voice, the jailer took the food box and kicked the iron door hard, yelling, "What are you lying down for? The food's here!"
His words were mostly sarcastic and disdainful. Hua Lang hadn't intended to pay him any attention, but his refusal only enraged him. He immediately flew into a rage, opened the prison door without permission, and kicked Hua Lang. Hua Lang opened his eyes after being kicked and glared at him coldly. He squatted down, narrowing his eyes: "Unhappy? Who do you think you are? Still that powerful eunuch from the previous dynasty who could control everything—"
Before he could finish speaking, the jailer was slapped aside by Hua Lang. Turning around in surprise, Hua Lang grabbed the food box beside the jailer and smashed it over his head. Hua Lang had served in the Eastern Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in his younger days, and the blow was skillfully delivered; though not forceful, it still caused the jailer to bleed profusely. Before he could say anything, Hua Lang grabbed his chin, his nails digging into his flesh, and said in a gloomy voice, "Didn't you hear your superiors' orders? Probation and food delivery aren't for you to come in and put on airs."
After saying that, he kicked the man and his food box out of the prison cell.
After Hua Lang's actions, the jailers looked at him even worse. However, after hearing what he said, they became more clear-headed and realized that the new emperor had specifically ordered a reprieve, which meant that Hua Lang should be kept alive and not touched for the time being.
Hua Lang used up his last bit of strength and lay sprawled on the hay, pondering deeply. What did the new emperor want from keeping him? His power had long been wiped out, and all his wealth had been taken away. He had heard that the new emperor had learned from the lessons of the previous dynasty and would reduce the number of eunuchs and strictly prohibit eunuchs from interfering in politics. If that was the case, there was no need for Hua Lang to stay and assist him. So why keep him?
I can't figure out the cause and effect.
Having been subjected to constant street patrols these past few days, barely getting any decent food, and having fought with the jailers, Hua Lang was completely exhausted. He closed his eyes and lost consciousness.
The snow began to fall, and within half a day it covered the entire capital city. The Ministry of Justice prison was heavily guarded, with many guards looking solemn and serious.
"May I ask, Your Excellencies, where is Eunuch Hua Lang?" The newcomer was a young woman, dressed in finery. She came with a gentle smile and displayed the imperial edict bearing the new emperor's private seal.
The jailer glanced at him, quickly understood, and stepped aside to greet him respectfully, "Hua Lang is in the innermost room, please come in."
The woman followed the guide inside and saw Hua Lang lying on the ground with a furrowed brow and slow, labored breathing. She guessed that he was not in good condition, so she took a string of silver coins and gave them to the jailers around her. "Could you jailers please help carry Eunuch Hua Lang out? Just carry him to the gate. There are carriages from our General's Mansion over there."
Even though they were unwilling, they dared not disobey the new emperor's decree and the general's private order. Not to mention the new emperor, the general alone made them tremble.
So, half-heartedly, with a hint of disgust but without showing it, they carried Hua Lang out, put him on the carriage, and gave him one last look before leaving.
Everyone knows that the new dynasty was established through military force, and this general was one of the founding ministers. Her carriage entourage was not much different from that of the emperor.
Another sigh escaped, as if the general was about to personally execute this treacherous eunuch, a remnant of the previous dynasty.
.
When Hua Lang woke up, the sky had just cleared up and the snow was dazzling. He subconsciously got up and drew the curtains. Only after he drew them did he realize that there was light and a bed. Where was he?
I looked around twice, but still couldn't find the answer.
The door was pushed open, and the woman, seeing that he was awake, smiled and stepped forward, setting down the food tray she was carrying. The food and medicine were neatly arranged on the table. "You're awake. I am Yao Shuniang, the head of the household. Please call me anytime if you need anything." Noticing that he wasn't very clean, she reminded him, "There's a bathhouse to the left of the bedroom, but unfortunately, we don't know what size clothes you wear. Right now, we only have large nightgowns. Please make do for now. The general has sent someone to the mansion to take your measurements, and then you'll have clean clothes."
Hua Lang was dazed and didn't hear much of what Yao Shuniang said. After trying to calm himself down, he began to recall her words repeatedly, trying to figure out what was going on. He was being served and had the right to move around, bathe, and even have someone come to his residence to take his measurements and make clothes.
He frowned, cautious and suspicious: "You mean the general? This is the general's residence? And which general is it?"
After Yao Shuniang finished setting out the bowls and plates, she stood at the door with the food tray in her hand, maintaining a very polite distance, and answered his questions one by one, "Yes, I am talking about the General; this is the General's Mansion; the General I am talking about is General Zhan Yunmei, the founding minister of Hou Yu. She released you on the second day after you were imprisoned. Do you have any other questions?"
Hua Lang asked, "Why did you release me?"
Yao Shuniang's smile remained unchanged as she gently shook her head, "This servant is unaware of the details."
"I want to see him."
"The general is currently in the palace and will not be available for the time being."
Hua Lang stared intently at Yao Shuniang. Yao Shuniang raised her lips, her formulaic smile devoid of any warmth, and then she withdrew.
Hua Lang went to open the door, but to his surprise, it was locked by Yao Shuniang. He sat on the couch, lost in thought, but could not come up with an answer. He looked around the room, which was very large and spacious. It was a newly renovated house, with incomplete furnishings and filled with the smell of new wood.
After thinking it over, since Yao Shuniang said that he wouldn't be able to see the general for a while, there was still a chance to see him. Hua Lang didn't intend to make things difficult for himself. He first cleaned himself up and changed into clean nightgown. The food was cold now. Thinking of Yao Shuniang's respectful attitude, Hua Lang felt in his heart that the general probably wanted to use him. In any case, he was useful to the general.
He knocked on the door, and Yao Shuniang came over quickly. She asked him what he needed, and he said the food was cold. She then took away the dishes and asked the kitchen to make a new batch.
Hua Lang then said he wanted some fresh air, and Yao Shuniang did not stop him. She invited him to the courtyard. Some of the servants around him looked at him with hostility, but most of them did not pay attention to his arrival.
A cool breeze blew in the night, and Yao Shuniang handed Hua Lang a thick cloak. "Hua Lang, please come inside. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Almost the instant she opened her mouth, Hua Lang sensed something amiss. Perhaps it was his keen sensitivity to such words as a eunuch, or perhaps it was his observation that she had led him into the main house even though there were other empty rooms in the mansion.
A thought popped into Hua Lang's mind, and he couldn't believe it.
“Eunuch Hua Lang?” Yao Shuniang waved in front of him. He gradually came back to his senses, narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. She accepted his malice and speculation, and her smile did not falter. “You should go to sleep first. I suppose the general will not be back tonight. There is no need to wait for her.”
Hua Lang seized upon the implication in her words and questioned her directly: "What? Waiting for him? Do you expect me to serve him?"
Yao Shuniang was silent for a moment, then admitted, "Of course."
Hua Lang's voice grew colder, "How should I serve him? Serve him like an emperor? Does a general want to be treated like an emperor?"
“No, that’s not it,” Yao Shuniang raised her hand and lowered the curtain of the canopy bed, their eyes blurring as they looked at each other. “You can tell the general when he returns.”
Before Hua Lang could speak, Yao Shuniang quickly retreated and locked the windows and doors.
Yao Shuniang's words made it very clear: if she wasn't serving the emperor, how else could she serve him?
When those iron cavalrymen marched into the imperial city, Hua Lang was by the emperor's side and had no idea who was rebelling. After the emperor died, he was captured alive by several rough-looking generals, knocked unconscious with a single blow, and put into a prison cart for a patrol. He never saw the others. Now, when the general is mentioned, all he remembers are those rough men.
It's disgusting that a general would have to be served by a eunuch. He must have some kind of epilepsy. Hua Lang felt nauseous at the thought.
Serving men is worse than death; even eunuchs shouldn't be treated like this!
Hua Lang found a piece of cloth, intending to hang himself. Just as he climbed onto the table, the cloth was tied to the roof beam. There was a commotion in the mansion, probably because the general had returned. He quickened his pace, and just as his feet left the stool, the door was pushed open.
"Get him down!"
It was Yao Shuniang.
After his suicide attempt failed, Hua Lang was bound hand and foot and placed on a bed. Only an embroiderer from a clothing shop came to take his measurements and make him clothes.
"Get out!" Hua Lang suddenly roared fiercely, his shrill voice startling the embroiderer. "Dare to come any closer and I'll skin you alive!"
The embroiderer's face turned pale and blue. Although Hua Lang had fallen from power, the prestige left over from the previous years still lingered and could not be eliminated in a day or two. She no longer dared to go forward and hurriedly ran out of the room.
Yao Shuniang said from outside the door, "Eunuch Hualang, let's make the clothes after you've calmed down."
From then on, Hua Lang neither ate nor drank, nor listened to anyone, and lay motionless on the couch. He himself did not know how much time had passed, but he could hear movement in the mansion again, and vaguely heard Yao Shuniang's voice.
The door opened.
Hua Lang's heart pounded, but he dared not turn around to look. He truly felt it was bad luck. If he had known he would be imprisoned in the Shi Dao Mansion by a man, he would have preferred to die in prison.
"Get out of here, don't worry about this."
"This servant understands."
Each time, it was a woman's voice. Hua Lang was surprised, but quickly returned to his previous state. So what if she was a woman? Would he feel better being released and kept in the mansion by a woman?
"I heard from Shuniang that you were very quiet when you first arrived. Why are you trying to kill yourself again?" She walked over slowly, sat down on the edge of the couch, and her figure covered Hualang.
"Aren't you going to pay any attention to me? I'm your savior." The moment she untied him and gained his freedom, he turned around and pounced on her in an aggressive posture.
She shifted slightly, raised her hand and grabbed Hua Lang by the neck, pressing him down on the bed. Her free hand curled up her knuckles and touched his cheek. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Hua Lang, do you recognize me?"
She didn't use much force; she just restrained him without choking him to the point of being unable to breathe. He felt the rough calluses on his neck and was momentarily stunned when she asked him a question, but he quickly regained his senses and remembered her.
The female general who had fought against the Northern Mongols in the previous dynasty was so far removed from the court that he couldn't remember her when he heard her name from Yao Shuniang. Surprisingly, she, who had sacrificed herself for the previous dynasty, also became the one who destroyed it.
“It seems you remember me. It wasn’t in vain that I pleaded with the Emperor to release you,” Zhan Yunmei released her hand and smiled kindly. “Say something, okay?”
Hua Lang snorted coldly, her words cutting and sarcastic: "What are you saying? That this servant is grateful to the general for saving my life?"
“That’s too formal,” Zhan Yunmei grabbed his wrist. He pulled away warily, but she persisted, pinching and rubbing the red marks on his wrist.
Looking up, she saw his face, which had become much more haggard over the past few days, a stark contrast to his former arrogance when he stood at the pinnacle of power. The old him and the new him overlapped, with only his ruthlessness and sensitivity remaining. She smiled again and asked with concern, "Does it hurt?"
"Just because I say it hurts, does that mean the general will feel sorry for me?" Hua Lang tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't. His expression grew increasingly fierce, and his words became more and more sarcastic.
Zhan Yunmei looked at him and nodded: "Yes, of course."
Hua Lang was still stunned by her bluntness when she suddenly pulled his wrist and drew him towards her. He was completely taken aback and had no time to react. She gently stroked his lips and slowly kissed his tightly pursed, pale lips.
Just as she had imagined, it was soft and easy to kiss. Zhan Yunmei felt that this rebellion was worthwhile.
A note from the author:
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This one isn't long, around 150,000 words. I might go a little over if I get carried away, but not by much. The start date for *The Princess* remains the same; I'm just using this one to build up pre-orders for *The Princess* [please!].
A story that lets you express yourself freely, purely about romance, with no political intrigue.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
