Zhou Ninghai was incredibly excited at that moment, feeling an indescribable thrill.
If it weren't for the pressures of life, who would want to become a eunuch?
His family was poor when he was a child, and he had many siblings. With those ten or so acres of land, if the weather was good and there were no major storms, they could make ends meet, even though life was simple and frugal.
But the rope always breaks at its weakest point, and misfortune always seems to find those who are destined for hardship.
Father fell ill and never seemed to get better; the cost of one dose of medicine was equivalent to half a year's expenses for their family. The younger sister was sold to work as a maid, and the small amount of money she received saved her father's life, but he could no longer do heavy work.
When Erniuzi from the neighboring village came back to visit his relatives, he not only brought a large cartload of grain and cloth, but also built a house for his family. Even the county magistrate treated him with great respect.
I heard he entered the palace as a eunuch, endured several years of hardship, finally caught the eye of his master, and rose through the ranks...
I've also heard that if you become a eunuch, you'll receive a sum of loyalty money, enough to feed a whole family for two years, plus a monthly salary...
Zhou Ninghai only listened to these things and didn't care about anything else. As long as he became a eunuch, he could save his family's lives.
For his bedridden father, for his mother whose hands were covered in chilblains from washing clothes in the dead of winter, and for his younger siblings crying for food, Zhou Ninghai secretly signed up for the job.
He thought that first cut was the most painful, but he didn't expect that the scornful looks he would receive afterward would be like being slowly cut with a dull knife...
He thought he had nothing to complain about; his sacrifices over the years had enabled his family to live a good life.
Consort Hua treated him well. Although he was a eunuch, many of the concubines in the palace treated him with respect.
But now there's a chance for this most honorable man in the world to experience the suffering that eunuchs endured...
Admittedly, it was initially for Consort Hua's sake, but having gone this far, it was also partly for his own benefit.
Thinking about it, Zhou Ninghai felt that the resentment that had been stuck in his heart for so many years had finally been relieved...
So what if he's the emperor? He still ended up being defeated by a mere eunuch!
As usual, the imperial eunuchs relayed the news a step ahead that the Emperor was about to arrive at Yikun Palace, instructing Consort Hua to make preparations in order to receive his entourage.
Upon learning this, Lingzhi dared not delay. She knocked on the door, and only entered after receiving permission. She then happily said…
"Your Majesty, Xiao Yuanzi, who serves the Emperor, has come and said that His Majesty will be arriving at Yikun Palace shortly."
She had just received such a wonderful thing, and then she came through it all on her own; even God was helping her.
Consort Hua smiled brightly, "I understand. You may leave now. I will tidy up my makeup and then go out to greet you."
Lingzhi withdrew with a joyful expression. Lately, the Empress's temperament had become increasingly unpredictable.
It's probably because the Emperor has a new favorite and is visiting Yikun Palace less often than before.
Now that the Emperor has come, the Empress's mood has improved, and only then can we, the servants, have an easier time.
I truly wish His Majesty could stay overnight at Yikun Palace every day…
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Consort Hua rarely showed such gentleness and tenderness. The chubby orange cat reached out and helped her up, carefully examining her appearance, its small eyes revealing a not-so-serious look.
Consort Hua asked shyly, "Why does Your Majesty look at me like that? Is there something I haven't done well?"
The chubby orange said, "You've always done very well, but you're just too beautiful. I can never get enough of looking at you."
Consort Hua charmingly led the chubby orange cat through the door. The doors and windows were tightly closed, but they couldn't hide the cheerful laughter coming from inside...
"Your Majesty, look, these boots were made by my own hands. They are embroidered with auspicious clouds and dragon patterns in gold and silver thread, and are lined with fox fur, which is both soft and warm."
"Your Majesty, try them on and see if they fit."
Big Fat Orange looked at the boots; the craftsmanship was so meticulous that it didn't resemble Consort Hua's work at all.
However, some things don't need to be taken too seriously. After wearing them for a few steps, they were just as good as the brocade boots sent by the Imperial Household Department.
The chubby orange said, "Your cooking skills have improved a lot since then."
"I remember when we were in the Prince's Palace, you embroidered a purse for me with a butterfly and flower pattern."
“The butterflies on those pieces are embroidered crookedly, so I can’t wear them out. You get angry and say that I’ve disregarded your feelings.”
Consort Hua's eyes held a hint of nostalgia. Back then, she had just entered the palace and was immediately made a secondary consort. No one in the entire palace was more favored than her.
She thought that by marrying into the royal family and gaining his favor, she had everything...
"Later, the Emperor reluctantly wore it for a day, and then told me that he could not find it."
"Your Majesty and I argued with him for several days back then..."
The chubby orange said, "Actually, I didn't lose that purse; I've been keeping it all along."
Consort Hua asked, "Has His Majesty truly kept them all this time? And are they still with him now?"
The chubby orange said, "It's still there. I had Su Peisheng put it in a box and put it in the cabinet."
"I didn't tell you that when Father Emperor summoned me that day, I took him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Father Emperor asked me a couple of questions, which made all the princes present chuckle."
"So when I came back, I told you that you were gone, and in all the years since then, you haven't touched a needle and thread."
"Today I suddenly remembered to make boots for me; the embroidery is truly exceptional."
Consort Hua sniffed and said with emotion, "After that incident, although I was angry, I practiced in private for a long time."
"I was just thinking about when I could surprise the Emperor."
"But you need talent to do anything, and compared to others, my talent is somewhat lacking."
"Like these boots, although they were indeed made by me, the patterns on them were embroidered by the embroiderers in the needlework room. I really did embroider the last few stitches."
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