BHB chapter 4

 

When Qian Qin was dragged out of the imperial kitchen, he had no idea what fate awaited him. Looking at Ning Hongru, he instinctively sensed danger.

What kind of status did Chief Eunuch Ning have? Why had he come to the imperial kitchen?

Something must have happened at the front of the palace, or His Majesty must have ordered it. Either way, the guards who had just rushed to the kitchen were enough to show that they weren’t there with good intentions.

Qian Qin: “Chief Eunuch Ning[mfn]níng zǒngguǎn[/mfn], why did you come here yourself?”

Ning Hongru smiled. “His Majesty ordered us to come.”

Qian Qin’s unease grew, and he could barely force a smile. “You could have just summoned me. Why go through all this?” He glanced at the burly guards flanking him on both sides, his eyes darting around.

“Take him.” Ning Hongru said. “Let others in the imperial kitchen come out.”

Soon, the open space in front of the imperial kitchen was filled with palace eunuchs and maids, all with uneasy expressions.

The incident at Qianming Palace hadn’t yet been reported to the kitchen, but this general eunuch’s appearance was enough to make everyone stand in awe.

Ning Hongru clapped his hands, and several guards dragged Qian Qin, whose stomach was filled with large intestines, closer. His arms were tied tightly behind his back, and his mouth was stuffed with something to force it open.

It was a truly humiliating sight.

Ning Hongru played with a knife, smiling as he said, “Qian Qin, the most valuable thing in life is being smart. But being too smart and saying things you shouldn’t—well, that’s no good either.”

The knife touched the corner of Qian Qin’s mouth.

“Better not to have such a slippery tongue.”

“Mmm, mmm—”

Qian Qin’s eyes turned red. He wanted to scream but could only spit out bloody foam and howl like a beast.

He was fat and strong. When he struggled, several people had to pin him down.

A piece of soft flesh lay in the snow, bleeding. Some of the palace staff standing in the open space watching were so frightened that they trembled and turned pale. Ning Hongru didn’t even glance at Qian Qin, who was wailing. He casually wiped the knife clean, polished it until it gleamed, and then put it away.

“Zhu Erxi.” Ning Hongru said, pointing to a thin eunuch standing in front. “His Majesty has decreed that, from now on, you are the new head of the imperial kitchen.”

Zhu Erxi’s eyes still showed fear, but after hearing this, excitement twisted his face. He immediately knelt and kowtowed.

“Your servant obeys, your servant obeys.”

In the past, it would take some time for news from the palace to reach Bei Fang. But this time, the news came the very next day.

Someone from the imperial kitchen came to report that Jingzhe didn’t need to go.

Changshou was also listening when the message came. Out of curiosity, he asked a few questions, but he saw that the young eunuch’s face was pale and he was shaking his head repeatedly. Then, the eunuch left.

Changshou frowned. “Something must’ve happened.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Jingzhe walking out and became anxious. “Where are you going?”

Jingzhe: “To inform Grandpa De.”

Changshou’s eyes flickered, and he quickly followed. “I’ll go with you.”

Jingzhe didn’t stop him, and the two went together to see Chen Mingde.

At that time, Chen Mingde was curled up inside, fiddling with his tobacco pipe and giving off a strange smell.

After Sanshun brought them in, he silently stepped aside.

Chen Mingde set down his pipe and said hoarsely, “You came to ask about the imperial kitchen?”

Changshou answered, “Yes, this matter came out of nowhere. Grandpa De, is something wrong?”

Chen Mingde: “Sit.”

After Jingzhe and Changshou sat down, he spoke slowly.

“Lady Liu is dead. Qian Qin’s tongue was cut out. He died last night.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Jingzhe and Changshou’s expressions changed instantly—especially Changshou’s. He gasped.

Jingzhe pressed his lips together, as if he wanted to say something but swallowed it back.

Changshou blurted out, “Grandpa De, could it be that His Majesty…”

Chen Mingde sneered coldly. “Why do you lust for wealth and glory? In this palace, it’s all about what you see and what you pretend not to see. Once someone has power, it’s like ascending to the ninth heaven. They can crush someone to pieces in the blink of an eye, leaving no room to breathe.”

His chilling words made the cold winter day feel even colder, as if every word were a blade slicing flesh from bone.

Frightened, Changshou didn’t dare speak again.

Jingzhe softly said, “Thank you for the reminder, Grandpa De.”

Chen Mingde’s voice softened as well, taking on a strange tone. “Jingzhe, you’re lucky. Based on how things look, if you had actually gone, you wouldn’t have come back. Rest in Bei Fang for the next few days and don’t wander around.”

As he said this, Chen Mingde squinted at Changshou.

Changshou’s face turned red, knowing he was being called out.

During this half-month shift, he and He Ye were supposed to go out and collect food. However, because it was too cold, they made excuses, and sometimes Jingzhe went out alone.

Changshou mumbled, “I understand.”

Meanwhile, at Nanny Ming’s residence, a different scene was unfolding.

He Ye helped Nanny Ming sit up and quickly searched the nearby medicine box. He found a large pill, turned to dissolve it in water, but Nanny Ming grabbed it and shoved it into her mouth, chewing it fiercely.

It was horrifying to watch her choke, but she finally swallowed it.

He Ye ran to fetch tea. Nanny Ming drank several cups in a row. The medicine finally took effect, and she recovered.

Seeing her complexion improve, He Ye said tearfully, “Nanny, you scared me half to death! What happened?”

Nanny Ming took a deep breath and replied, “Liu Cairen is dead.”

He Ye was stunned and could barely hold the teapot. Nanny Ming had just returned from Chen Mingde’s room with a terrible look on her face. She was on the verge of having a seizure.

But this answer…

Liu Cairen was a connection that Nanny Ming had worked hard to establish.

This young lady had long been favored in the harem. Whether it was food, clothes, or imperial favor, she stood far above the other consorts.

Such a case had never been heard of before.

Since Emperor Jingyuan ascended the throne, a few people had stood out in the harem, but they were replaced within a few months. It was like a cycle of poisoning.

Very few would jump on the bandwagon of someone who was newly favored. They usually observed from the sidelines to avoid backing the wrong horse.

Liu Cairen had lasted the longest. Naturally, she valued herself. Over time, she won many hearts.

Who would have thought that she would be the one to finally capture His Majesty’s heart?

Nanny Ming was one of those people.

Though she was called “Nanny,” she wasn’t even forty. Since arriving in Bei Fang three years ago, she had been looking for a way out.

She wasn’t like Chen Mingde, that old dog. Her ambition hadn’t faded.

One of her adopted daughters worked in Liu Cairen’s palace. Though she was only a second-rank maid and not close to Liu Cairen, she still had more access than others.

Liu Cairen was pampered and arrogant. She wanted persimmon soup. The idea came from the imperial kitchen—specifically, from Qian Qin. Even though Nanny Ming was in Bei Fang, she wasn’t blind or deaf. She knew what was going on.

Qian Qin had approached her first.

He wanted to escape the mess, and she needed help, so she gave him a good pawn.

When Nanny Ming first arrived at the Bei Fang, Chen Mingde had a high fever and couldn’t get up.

Logically, a palace eunuch like him should have been sent away to die.

But he got lucky. No one cared if someone in Bei Fang died, let alone a eunuch.

As long as no one reported it, he could stay.

He was fortunate that one of the eunuchs had medical skills and saved him.

That person was Jingzhe.

Back then, Jingzhe fed Chen Mingde half-baked medicine recipes. Somehow, they worked. Otherwise, why would that old dog have protected a young eunuch for no reason?

Nanny Ming remembered this and Jingzhe’s background. She also remembered that he’d used persimmon soup back then. So she chose him.

If she could leave Bei Fang, what did it matter if she offended Chen Mingde? Besides, even if Chen Mingde protected Jingzhe again, he’d never go against her.

Things went exactly as she expected.

Although Chen Mingde was angry, he didn’t stop her. He would have only stopped it if someone got hurt because this matter involved Qian Qin.

That old dog wasn’t willing to go that far.

But Nanny Ming had calculated the beginning and the middle—just not the end.

How could Liu Cairen, the center of attention just yesterday, be dead?

“Are you going out with Changshou today?” Nanny Ming suddenly asked.

He Ye nodded.

“Take this chance to gather some information. The more, the better.”

He hesitated, but still nodded.

After she left, Nanny Ming’s face turned completely ashen.

In the entire palace, Emperor Jingyuan was the person everyone feared the most. With something like this happening, everyone would be filled with pure dread, no matter who it was.

Who knew what the emperor was thinking?

…

Jingzhe felt relieved when he returned.

Liu Cairen and Qian Qin were both dead. Surely, the imperial kitchen would be in chaos and no longer pay attention to him. The fact that they even remembered to send someone to inform him was a bonus.

Could their deaths be related to Chen Mingde’s silence that day?

Jingzhe sighed as he thought about it.

He was struggling himself—how could he care about anyone else?

After cleaning the Bei Fang, Jingzhe went to refill his master’s tea. When he returned to his quarters, he saw Sanshun waiting outside, grinning foolishly.

“Jingzhe, I’ve boiled water for you.”

Jingzhe replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to do chores for me? I can do it myself.”

“No, I’m strong, and you’re weak.” Sanshun shook his head. “Go quickly. I’ll keep watch. No one will come in.”

Inside the house, Changshou scoffed. “Idiot! Who wants to see him? It’s not like I have anything to hide!”

Wuyou laughed. “Then why’d you barge in before, knowing people don’t like it? Weren’t you asking for trouble?”

Ever since Chen Mingde recovered from his high fever thanks to Jingzhe’s treatment, not only had Chen Mingde’s attitude toward Jingzhe changed, but Sanshun had also started treating him well and rushing to do the heavy work.

Jingzhe liked cleanliness. Even in winter, he insisted on bathing regularly. However, he had a habit: he never bathed with others. He had even argued with Changshou about it before.

Whenever Sanshun boiled water for Chen Mingde, he boiled some for Jingzhe, too, and even guarded the door for him.

Sanshun didn’t care what the others said. He lived like a rock. Jingzhe frowned and glanced at the others in the room. Wuyou patted Changshou to stop his grumbling.

As Jingzhe picked up his clothes and left, Changshou couldn’t help but say, “Why’d you stop me? Are you afraid of them?”

“You always say the wrong things. Why bother with other people’s business?” Wuyou disapproved of Changshou’s ways, too, but since they had arrived in the same year, they were more familiar with each other. “Sanshun is Grandpa De’s man. If you talk badly about him, will Grandpa De be happy?”

Changshou thought about it and pouted.

He didn’t like Sanshun. If Chen Mingde hadn’t chosen Sanshun all those years ago, Changshou would’ve been the one following Grandpa De!

…

It took a lot of persuasion to get Sanshun to leave.

Every time Sanshun stood guard outside, Jingzhe felt a little guilty.

He carefully shut the doors and windows, making sure he could hide if anyone came in. Then, he finally let out a breath.

No wonder Jingzhe was always so cautious. When he took off his clothes and got into the tub, his bare body revealed that he was different from Changshou and the others.

Jingzhe had never been punished.

He had entered the palace for a different reason—his family had sent him there as an escape. He’d rather die with them than live like this, but it was his parents’ final wish.

When Jingzhe was young, something happened to his family.

He vaguely remembered that, before the accident, Huang Qingtian had handled the case involving his father.

The Huang family was the empress’s maternal clan.

Huang Qingtian is now the Minister of Revenue and the queen mother of Shoukang Palace.

His entire family had been executed. It was impossible to say the Huang family was not involved.

But Jingzhe had no proof; it was only a suspicion.

His parents were afraid he would commit suicide out of revenge, so they never told him what had really happened before they died. As a result, he had no choice but to survive as he was.

He would never help Prince Rui seize the throne!

It was cold outside, so he didn’t stay in the bath too long. After soaking briefly, he got out.

As he dressed, he glanced at his back.

The scars had long since faded, yet Jingzhe still felt uneasy. Every time he bathed, he took a look at them.

Thankfully, Rong Jiu was careless.

Otherwise, if a man had done that to another man, he would surely feel awkward—maybe even disgusted. Not to mention, Jingzhe was a eunuch.

They’d been coming and going for several months, though, and Rong Jiu seemed very calm, not taking any of it to heart.

When Jingzhe finished bathing and came out, he saw Mingyu waiting for him outside.

Six young eunuchs were assigned to the Bei Fang:

Changshou and Wuyou were the last to arrive, followed by Jingzhe and Mingyu. Qi Tui and Baqi arrived first; they were both in their early twenties.

Jingzhe and Mingyu had a very good relationship.

While Jingzhe wiped his hair, Mingyu helped him with the laundry. It was warm inside, but freezing outside. This was one of the perks of working in the Bei Fang. If they were anywhere else, how could they have a private room to bathe in?

“Why’d you come out? It’s cold,” Jingzhe asked.

Work at the Bei Fang was light, and aside from those who liked to waste time, most of the masters lived dull, exhausting lives. On cold winter days, they didn’t like going out; they just chatted with the palace maids.

In winter, the air was bitterly cold. Though there wasn’t much charcoal, it was warmer inside than outside.

Mingyu said, “I didn’t want to listen to them talk inside.” He had gone to do some chores for one of the masters and then returned to Jingzhe because he didn’t want to stay in the room.

When Jingzhe heard that, he knew that Changshou had been nagging him again.

He and Mingyu walked side by side.

“I heard from Baqi that you ran into that guard again yesterday.”

“Yeah, it was his turn on patrol.”

“Jingzhe, Rong Jiu doesn’t seem like an easy person…”

By now, they had nearly returned, and Jingzhe paused when he heard this.

“What about him?”

“You don’t go out much and haven’t met many people, but I think even the chief guard can’t compare to him. I just feel like someone like him might not stay a lowly guard forever.” Mingyu said hesitantly.

Many officials cared about their reputation, especially those close to eunuchs. If word got out, they might be reported. Jingzhe and Rong Jiu now seemed close. If Rong Jiu succeeded and reflected on this later, he might feel ashamed. Jingzhe, a lowly eunuch, wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

Jingzhe laughed and pointed at himself. “If he really rises in the future and looks down on me, I’m just a eunuch in Bei Fang with no power or status. If he doesn’t come, how would I seek him out? Why would he bother with me?”

Guards could leave the palace, but they couldn’t.

Mingyu thought about it and nodded. “You’re right,” he said, laughing again. “Maybe he won’t be promoted.”

Jingzhe: “Why not?”

Mingyu replied, “He’s got a terrible temper.”

He looked Jingzhe up and down.

“Only someone like you, with a good temper, could tolerate him.”

People with bad tempers had a harder time advancing in the palace.

This rule applied to everyone, even in officialdom.

Mingyu had only seen Rong Jiu twice, but he could tell that he was the kind of man who would never stoop to lowly things.

Jingzhe laughed. “If you have ability, it doesn’t matter if you have a bad temper.”

Mingyu shook his head. “Hard to say. If someone has family backing them, can’t they just step on people to get ahead? What business do people from Chenghuan Palace[mfn]Chenghuan Palace (承歡殿) Palace of Cherished Favor[/mfn] have in Bei Fang?”

Jingzhe was about to speak when they heard hurried footsteps approaching. Looking up, they saw a flustered Changshou. He Ye followed close behind, looking frightened, as if they were being chased.

Jingzhe and Mingyu looked at each other and rushed over.

“What happened?”

He Ye clutched the food box, visibly shaken. When she saw that it was Jingzhe and Mingyu, she nearly cried. Her nose was red, and she wiped her eyes. “Changshou was beaten up.”

Jingzhe supported Changshou on the other side.

As soon as Jingzhe grabbed his arm, Changshou cried out in pain. Though he didn’t look too dirty, he was clearly in pain. Jingzhe frowned and rolled up his sleeve. It was cold just doing that in this freezing weather, but it let him clearly see the bruises all over his arm.

Wuyou heard the noise and came out. A few eunuchs gathered around and helped bring Changshou inside.

After a while, the full story of what had happened to Changshou and He Ye came to light.

Today, as usual, Changshou and He Ye had gone out to collect food. On the way, He Ye said her stomach hurt and left. Though Changshou wasn’t happy about it, she waited because she had to go.

When she returned, she saw several people surrounding Changshou where they had agreed to meet. A tall eunuch in green palace robes stood nearby, looking at Changshou with disgust on his pretty face.

Changshou had been beaten and was yelling.

He Ye didn’t dare approach. She hid until they left, then ran out to help.

Changshou had been beaten so badly that he couldn’t lift his arm. Luckily, the food box wasn’t broken, so He Ye carried Changshou back.

Everyone gathered around and asked, “Which deity did you offend to get beaten like this?”

Changshou pulled a sad face. Wuyou applied medicine to his wounds. He cried out with every touch. After a while, he wiped his tears away and said, “It was someone from Chenghuan Palace.”

Jingzhe’s heart jumped. “Chenghuan Palace… Did you offend Lady Xu?”

Changshou frowned like a sour orange.

“How could I possibly offend someone from Chenghuan Palace? I was waiting for He Ye when someone from the palace passed by. Suddenly, the head eunuch asked if I was from Bei Fang.”

Of course, Changshou said yes. Then, the head eunuch asked if there were any handsome eunuchs in Bei Fang.

Changshou racked his brain but couldn’t think of anyone.

The prettiest eunuch in the Bei Fang was clearly Jingzhe. However, even though Jingzhe was pretty, he didn’t match the description the eunuch gave, so Changshou said no.

The head eunuch immediately became hostile, calling Changshou a liar and beating him.

Wuyou was stunned after applying the medicine.

“What’s going on? Why would someone from Chenghuan Palace come looking for someone in the Bei Fang?”

Another eunuch, Handan, also shook his head.

“On normal days, they look down on the Bei Fang. Maybe someone caused trouble outside, and now they’re taking it out on us.”

“Do you think this place is so cold that no one will speak up if we’re pushed around?”

The servants all knew that Changshou had been beaten, and they were afraid. But if Chen Mingde or Nanny Ming found out, they wouldn’t care. They didn’t care about the servants, and the servants knew they couldn’t fight back.

Wuyou helped Changshou rest. Mingyu turned and saw Jingzhe standing there, dazed. He pulled him inside and said, “Why are you standing out there? It’s freezing. Come in and shut the door.”

Jingzhe looked into Mingyu’s worried eyes, smiled weakly, and shook his head. He sat on the bed but couldn’t suppress the fear in his chest.

The servant from Chenghuan Palace was probably Qiu Yi, the same man who had stopped him that day.

That day, the system had failed two missions in a row. The first punishment had been the “Loved by All” buff. The first group he encountered was from Chenghuan Palace, and they chased him through the palace.

Jingzhe vividly remembered the terrifying experience and couldn’t forget it.

Was Qiu Yi still looking for him? Why?

Was the “Loved by All” buff still in effect?

Jingzhe didn’t want to speak to the system again. In his mind, the system was nothing but a monster. But now that the Chenghuan Palace incident had happened, he had to ask.

“After the punishment duration ends, will there still be lingering effects?”

It was the first time Jingzhe had spoken to the system since they had fallen out.

He silently asked in his heart, not knowing if the system would answer.

[The system responded:]

[After the buff ends, the effects don’t disappear immediately—they fade gradually. It varies from person to person. Some fade quickly; some last a long time.]

Jingzhe still wasn’t used to someone speaking in his ear. He instinctively shrank his neck and thought about what the system had said.

The effects don’t disappear immediately?

His expression changed slightly—wait, what about Rong Jiu?