Chapter 1 Zhao Cheng, Becomes a Eunuch

In his account, he had discovered the Princess in a cowshed and then rescued her from the city.

As for what happened to the Princess in the cowshed and during the days she was missing before that, Zhao Cheng didn't know.

Didn't know, so didn't know.

Zheng Boye had asked Fan Zhengwen,

Saying if they were to send the Princess back, what method, what excuse, what arrangement should be used.

For example, shifting the blame eastward, to the Qian Kingdom's Silver Armored Guards, or to the Tian family that the Fan family had wanted to scheme against before.

After all, no matter what, things had to be done thoroughly, so that the people of Phoenix Nest couldn't find any flaws.

But Fan Zhengwen's answer,

Was very simple,

A total of five words, the first two of which were nonsense:

"Boye, no need."

Zheng Fan was stunned for a long time, then smiled in realization.

Yes,

No need.

Because Xiong Liqing was a princess, the Regent's own younger sister, and, barring accidents, would be the only full sibling of the future Emperor of Chu;

At the same time, she would also be the legal wife of the eldest son of the Qu clan, the future matriarch of the Qu clan.

When she returned,

As long as she wasn't harmed in any way and was still a virgin,

Then,

She would still be her.

She wasn't a suspect, she wasn't someone who could be interrogated. When she stood on the Phoenix Terrace again and put on her phoenix coronet, she would immediately return to her original, high-and-mighty self.

As long as she said, "I forgot."

No one would dare to pursue the matter further, not even the leader of the Phoenix Nest.

"This is a terrible memory for me, I don't want to experience it again, nor do I want to remember it, let it all pass."

Even if the Regent personally asked her about it in the future, this reason could be used to brush him off.

And in Great Chu, if even the Regent couldn't get an answer, no one would dare to force her.

Things,

Were actually very simple.

The reason why Zheng Boye had such concerns was partly because the Blind Man wasn't around, and there was one less strategist who could think both in detail and from a broad perspective, so it was inevitable that he would sometimes get caught up in details;

Secondly, most of his time since rebirth had been spent either fighting or on the way to fight. His position had been rising step by step, his military achievements had been constantly accumulating, and his title had also risen, but damn it, he was fighting further and further away, and he was getting further and further away from the imperial court.

Lacking the baptism of the political vortex, lacking the real environment of being a superior, and believing too much in the truth that "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,"

It was normal for Zheng Boye to lack the perspective and habits of a superior when looking at things now.

Fan Zhengwen was right, if the Princess wanted to hide matters about the Fan family and Zheng Fan, no one could get it out of her.

And if the Princess wasn't willing to hide it,

Hehe,

Then even if you arranged the scene perfectly and diverted the blame well, it wouldn't make any difference.

So,

It really wasn't necessary.

Outside Zhennan Pass, the Yan people's Jìng Nán Marquis was watching covetously, and the front line had just suffered a defeat, but the wedding couldn't be delayed.

It was precisely because the external pressure was clearer that the Regent needed to unite with the Qu clan as soon as possible.

Originally, there would have been people to inquire about Zhao Cheng's background, but when Zhao Cheng castrated himself, rested for a week, got out of bed, and put on a eunuch's uniform, no one dared to ask him about what happened in Xiayong City anymore.

When he was first castrated, he couldn't get out of bed and could only rely on his sister to change his dressings, layer upon layer, thickly applied, cool and itchy.

When he could get out of bed, it would sting every time he went to the toilet, and he couldn't clean himself properly, and it would stick to his pants.

But before long, he was able to adapt, and at the same time, he adapted to others calling him "Zhao gonggong" (Eunuch Zhao).

He didn't regret castrating himself. His family jewels were important, but not as important as his life. This boy, who had been trafficked, escaped, wandered the streets, and was even able to organize a gang of beggars, had an extraordinary sense and intuition.

He knew that if he hadn't castrated himself when the Princess asked him what reward he wanted that day, the only thing waiting for him and his sister was death.

People often say that in the eyes of big shots, human lives are as worthless as grass;

But Zhao Cheng knew that when ordinary people saw beggars freezing and starving to death on the streets, they would also look at them like a blade of grass on the side of the road.

In any case, he survived. He knew that many people around the Princess looked at him strangely, feeling that he would stop at nothing to climb up, but he didn't care about their gazes. Zhao Cheng didn't know the word "self-esteem," but even if he did, he would think that exchanging self-esteem for life was really worth it.

The group of old people who originally served the Princess were all gone, because after the Princess's accident, they were all arrested and imprisoned. He didn't know if they were dead or not, but they definitely couldn't come back to serve the Princess anymore.

The Yíngdū Imperial Palace sent another team, including palace matrons, guards, and eunuchs.

Originally, the new head eunuch was surnamed Sun. The Princess had Zhao Cheng recognize Eunuch Sun as his godfather. In front of the Princess, Eunuch Sun accepted the tea offered by Zhao Cheng.

It could be said that Zhao Cheng's path as a eunuch had already begun, and in half a month, he had completed a journey that others might not be able to complete in ten years.

On weekdays, Eunuch Sun was responsible for the matters in the imperial villa, while Zhao Cheng was responsible for managing the matters in the Princess's courtyard.

Zhao Cheng had been in the Jianghu (martial world) before, had run gangs, and had been recruited as a subordinate by many national intelligence agencies. He wasn't lacking in ability or skill, and he quickly managed the dozens of eunuchs and palace maids in the small courtyard in an orderly manner.

Then,

One day,

Zhao Cheng saw the young lady of the Mi family coming.

One of the young lady's arms was crippled, and she limped when she walked. She entered the courtyard with red eyes.

At that time, the Princess was having dinner, and Zhao Cheng was serving beside her.

The Princess calmly took the handkerchief from his hand, gently wiped the corners of her mouth, then stood up, picked up the plate on the table, and smashed it directly at the door.

The plate shattered all over the floor,

The Princess began to scream very calmly:

"Get out, get out of here, get out!"

Yes,

Very calmly.

After shouting,

The Princess sat down very calmly again, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and moistened her throat.

The young lady of the Mi family was therefore unable to enter the house and left dejectedly.

Two days later, Zhao Cheng heard people say that the young lady of the Mi family had hanged herself at home.

Zhao Cheng knew that the Princess was with the young lady of the Mi family when she disappeared.

Smashing the plate and screaming, the Princess's series of actions was enough to make people's minds run wild. Those Phoenix Nest spies who couldn't dig anything out of the Princess were likely to smell something unusual because of this incident.

Or, it could be seen as a kind of hint.

But the Mi family was the family of the current Minister of Revenue, and the head of the Mi family was also a confidant of the Regent. It wasn't easy to investigate. The death of the young lady of the Mi family could be considered a kind of compromise.

Zhao Cheng didn't understand the political situation of the court, but he knew that the truth of the matter was definitely not so simple.

That man, that man who had made the Princess take the initiative to throw herself into his arms, who exactly was he?

In the final analysis,

It was this man who made him lose his thing;

But Zhao Cheng didn't dare to ask the Princess about this person, and even in his heart, he didn't dare to hate him;

A man who could hold the Princess in his arms as casually as a farmer's daughter,

He didn't dare to think, didn't dare to think, and even more didn't dare to provoke him.

…

The day before New Year's Eve, Qu Peiluo came.

This was the first time Zhao Cheng had seen this young master of the Qu clan, who was fair and handsome, and could be called a handsome young man.

Qu Peiluo brought a lot of New Year's gifts and generously distributed them to the villa. Although they weren't married yet, the servants who had originally served the Princess in the villa were already calling him "Consort Fook Hong."

In the end, Qu Peiluo didn't come to see the Princess, because according to etiquette, the couple couldn't meet before the wedding.

The Chu people valued etiquette and respected the ancient ways, believing that disrespecting the ancient ways would bring bad luck.

It could be seen that Qu Peiluo really wanted to see the Princess and had signaled Zhao Cheng to inform her. Zhao Cheng returned to Qu Peiluo and reported that the Princess said:

If love between two people lasts for a long time, why should they be together day and night?

The poem was a good poem.

Profound and catchy, making people savor it.

Although there was regret, Qu Peiluo still left with a smile. Although he didn't know exactly what happened when the Princess disappeared before, he had long confirmed that the Princess was unharmed and still a virgin, and these two things were enough;

And the talent shown by the Princess could be regarded as an unexpected joy of this political marriage.

Qu Peiluo left,

But most of the troops he brought stayed behind, surrounding the imperial villa layer upon layer, which could be described as heavily guarded.

Zhao Cheng returned to the Princess to report, saying that Qu Peiluo had already left.

However, Zhao Cheng didn't embellish the story, because he saw that the Princess was staring at the calligraphy that she had written herself, which was the two lines of poetry that he had conveyed to Qu Peiluo earlier.

It was written by the Princess, but Zhao Cheng felt that it shouldn't have been composed by the Princess.

…

The New Year arrived;

On this day, a very bad piece of news came, that was, Xue Rang's troops at Zhennan Pass mutinied. If General Nian Yao hadn't acted decisively and had the Great Chu Imperial Guards enter Zhennan Pass to take over the city walls and quell the riot in time, the Yan people might have taken the opportunity to break into Zhennan Pass.

On this day, Zhao Cheng discovered that the Qingluan Army outside the imperial villa had undergone a large-scale rotation. The troops, who originally looked bright and uniform in their armor, were being transferred to the north in batches, and then teams of private soldiers began to replace the previous Qingluan Army's defense areas.

According to Eunuch Sun, it was because the Yan people's pressure from the northern war was increasing, and the Qu clan's Qingluan Army had to go north again. The newly replaced troops were Qu clan's local auxiliary soldiers and the private soldiers of the slave families under the Qu clan.

At the same time, a group of Qu clan retainers moved into the periphery of the small courtyard. These retainers exuded an aura that strangers should not approach. Zhao Cheng had been in the Jianghu and knew that these people were true experts.

In the Jianghu, they were all figures who could make a name for themselves.

Therefore, the defense of the imperial villa at this time should be tighter on the inside and looser on the outside compared to before.

This was also natural. Even if there were thieves, it was unlikely that they would mobilize a large army to attack here. If it was a small group of thieves, not to mention that it would be difficult for them to infiltrate, even if they did, with the strength of these Qu clan retainers outside the small courtyard, they wouldn't be able to harm the Princess in the slightest.

On the first day of the new year, the Princess distributed rewards. All the eunuchs and palace maids in the small courtyard stood early in front of the Princess's bedroom. After the Princess came out, they went forward one by one to say an auspicious greeting, and then took a red envelope from Zhao Cheng's hand.

After that, the Princess returned to her bedroom to continue resting, while Zhao Cheng stayed behind to collect additional profits.

More than 10% of the red envelopes that had been distributed in front of the Princess had to be taken out and handed to him again.

Everyone handed it over willingly. This was already a customary rule in the palace. The master's reward was given to you, but you shouldn't think of keeping it all to yourself.

After collecting everyone's tribute, Zhao Cheng immediately went to the outer courtyard to find Eunuch Sun, who had just returned after greeting the imperial guards.

Zhao Cheng placed a bag of money in front of Eunuch Sun;

"Godfather, this is yours."

Then, Zhao Cheng took out a tael of silver separately, pushed it over, and said, "This is my share."

Eunuch Sun narrowed his eyes, smiling ambiguously, and said:

"The numbers don't seem right?"

Zhao Cheng immediately knelt down and pointed to the sky with his finger:

"I want to inform Godfather that this is what I just collected, and I didn't dare to hide anything."

Although he hadn't been a eunuch for long, Zhao Cheng was a shrewd person. He knew that what he had to do now was to work steadily according to the rules. It wasn't time for him to make money and collect benefits, so he couldn't be confused at this time.

Eunuch Sun smiled and said, "This old one isn't saying that it's less, but that it's more."

As he spoke, Eunuch Sun reached out and pushed the bag of money out, and instead took the tael of silver that Zhao Cheng had taken out himself in front of him.

"What does Godfather mean by this?"

"What do I mean? That's what I mean. It's not easy for the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, and they always have to save some private money for themselves. When they get old and weak, they can be released to the common people and buy a few acres of thin fields to support themselves.

So, do you know why they are so quick and willing to share the money with those above them?"

"I hope Godfather can enlighten me."

"Alas, when working around noble people, even if you are careful, you will inevitably make a mistake. To put it bluntly, even if you never make a mistake, what if one day the noble person is in a bad mood and has to find a mistake with you?

This money, although it is said to be a tribute, is actually money to buy your life. It is not given in vain. If you take people's tribute, you have to help them when they make mistakes in the future. You have to help them speak well in front of the noble person.

A heavy punishment becomes a light punishment, death becomes a heavy punishment. If it is really unforgivable, you still have to help their family.

In this world, there is no money that is received for nothing;

I heard that you saved the Princess, and the Princess has entrusted you to manage the affairs of the inner courtyard. Therefore, you can speak to the Princess, and you have the face to sell favors.

You naturally collect the money from the people in the inner courtyard, and you will naturally sell these favors in the future;

What am I? I have never served the Princess before, so I am not qualified to collect this money."

Eunuch Sun raised the tael of silver that Zhao Cheng had given him separately and said:

"As for this, you call me Godfather, just consider it your filial piety to me as a son. I should accept it. This old one has never really made a name for himself in the palace, but at least I have accumulated seniority. If you follow me, at least you won't suffer in terms of seniority in the future.

I have received your filial piety, and according to the rules, when you get promoted in the future, I will prepare a set of clothes for you. When you find a partner, although palace maids don't have the dowry customs of the common people outside, you still have to prepare some jewelry, and I will pay half of it.

This money is received clearly and steadily;

What is mine, I want, what is not mine, I don't want.

Little thief, remember this, when you are working around your master and managing a large group of people, you have to do it like this;

You have to make the people under you pay tribute to you willingly, not gnashing their teeth in secret.

Money is money, favor is favor;

But since ancient times,

Money without favor is cold-hearted,

Favor without money is unsustainable."

When Zhao Cheng heard this, he immediately kowtowed three more times, loudly and sincerely, and said:

"Thank you for your teachings, Godfather, I have learned!"

Eunuch Sun reached out to help Zhao Cheng up and said earnestly:

"Your godfather and I were sent here from the palace as exiles, but you will still have the opportunity to go to the palace in the future. Do your job well and be a good person;

We are all rootless people,

But we have to fight for this breath, we have to live like human beings."

"Yes, Godfather."

"Put the money with me first. You running around with it doesn't look good. I'll send it back to you later tonight. By the way, the Fan family's jade shop sent a pair of jade cabbages. Go find two people there to carry them over and send them to the Princess. Jade can calm the mind."

"Yes, I understand, I'll go now."

Zhao Cheng got up and said goodbye to Eunuch Sun before leaving.

After leaving the inner courtyard and passing through the outer courtyard, he entered the middle area of the imperial villa. The periphery was guarded by circles of various troops, and the middle circle was decorated by various merchants and craftsmen, mainly from the Fan family, in order to make the wedding on the Lantern Festival magnificent and dazzling.

There was no way, who asked that sixth prince of Yan to raise the demand and specifications for royal weddings in other countries after his wedding?

"Where are the jade cabbages?"

Zhao Cheng asked a Fan family manager.

"Replying to gonggong (eunuch), they are on that carriage."

When Zhao Cheng heard this, he couldn't restrain himself and went straight over. He saw that there were seven or eight Fan family guards guarding the carriage, which was enough to show how precious the pair of jade cabbages were!

"Let this one take a look."

Before becoming a gonggong, Zhao Cheng was a greedy person, but he rarely had the chance to see such rare objects, let alone own them.

Today, firstly, Eunuch Sun's words to him made him very excited;

Secondly, he was still a young man after all, with a young heart.

Therefore,

Zhao Cheng didn't need anyone to help him,

He directly climbed onto the carriage and lifted the curtain. The outside light shone in, and the two jade cabbages immediately reflected a dazzling luster.

But Zhao Cheng wasn't intoxicated,

And not only wasn't intoxicated,

But was almost so scared that the thing under his crotch almost stood up again!

"I……"

Zhao Cheng pointed at the man sitting between the two jade cabbages with his finger, his mouth wide open, with a shocked expression.

But the man just held up an index finger,

Placed it on his lips,

"Shh."