"Your Highness, the Former Emperor has asked you to return. Some things, once missed, are missed forever. He wants you to forget them!"
"Wh-what did you say?"
Upon hearing Shunxi's words, Zhao Kai trembled all over as if struck by lightning, standing frozen in place.
"Your Highness, are you alright!"
Seeing Zhao Kai's dejected state, his attendant quickly supported him.
"Impossible! Impossible! Father Emperor loved me the most. He wouldn't do this! I want to see Father Emperor! I want to see Father Emperor!"
After just a moment of silence, Zhao Kai became like a madman.
"Your Highness, you should return. Didn't Shunxi just make it clear? The Former Emperor wants you to go back. His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and it's not appropriate for you to remain in the palace at this time!"
Seeing Zhao Kai about to rush forward, He Guan blocked him without hesitation.
"The Form- Former Emperor..."
Hearing these words, Zhao Kai finally came to his senses.
Shunxi had referred to Zhao Ji as the Former Emperor from the very beginning!
"That's right, His Majesty has already ascended the throne. As a son of the Former Emperor and a brother to His Majesty, Your Highness should naturally avoid suspicion!"
As He Guan spoke, Zhao Kai's face turned ashen.
Was everything finally over?
After all his efforts, was he just a clown in the end?
Seeing the guards outside resting their right hands on the hilts of their swords, his spirit utterly broken, he finally gave up.
"Your Highness, the Former Emperor has handed over the position of Director of the Imperial City Directorate to His Majesty's maternal uncle, Wang Zongchu. Please hand over the Imperial City Directorate's token!"
Just as he was about to leave, Shunxi suddenly spoke again.
"Director of the Imperial City Directorate..."
Upon hearing this official title, Zhao Kai's body trembled inexplicably.
Compared to other official positions, this one held an extraordinary significance for him.
Now, even this had been taken away. Wasn't this clearly a sign that he was to be a prince who simply lived off his status?
Perhaps for other princes who lacked ambition, this would have been an outcome they could only dream of.
But for someone as ambitious as him, what was the difference between this and being killed?
Looking at the ancient bronze token in his hand, Zhao Kai's body trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Your Highness, the Former Emperor is waiting!"
Seeing Zhao Kai's reluctant demeanor, Shunxi smiled and spoke again.
Though his words were polite, there was no politeness in his tone.
"Then I shall trouble you to return this to Father Emperor!"
After taking several deep breaths and casting one last look at the token in his hand, Zhao Kai, with trembling hands, handed it over.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
After receiving the token, Shunxi turned with a smile and headed towards Fanning Hall.
When he returned to Fanning Hall, only Zhao Huan, who had just ascended the throne, remained.
"Your Majesty, this is the token I retrieved from Prince Yun!"
With a long sigh, Shunxi quickly knelt before Zhao Huan.
"Director of the Imperial City Directorate..."
Looking at the inscription on the token, Zhao Huan's eyes even became a little moist.
Once upon a time, a small token like this had suppressed him so completely. He, the Crown Prince, had been so intimidated by a mere prince that he dared not raise his head.
Although this throne was not what he currently desired, at least this item was finally back in his hands. With this, he could finally sleep soundly.
Ever since the Emperor had given this to Prince Yun, he couldn't recall how many times he had been startled awake from nightmares in the middle of the night.
Even with hundreds of servants attending to him in the Eastern Palace, it was only in the quiet of the night that he and his Crown Princess could hold each other and secretly shed tears under the covers.
Seeing that the new Emperor, Zhao Huan, had fallen into a trance, Shunxi's heart sank.
He had gambled everything, even refusing the path laid out by Liang Shicheng, and had ultimately offended Prince Yun to death, all to obtain this token.
But now, it seemed things were not developing in the direction he had anticipated!
Just as despair was setting in, Zhao Huan, who had been standing blankly, finally moved.
"What is your name?"
Hearing Zhao Huan's slightly hoarse voice, Shunxi's body began to tremble.
"Replying to Your Majesty, my name is Shunxi, the chief eunuch of Fanning Palace!"
"Shunxi? Chief eunuch?"
Hearing this, even Zhao Huan was surprised.
Zhao Ji had given him Fanning Hall, and he himself had moved to Longde Palace overnight.
Inside Fanning Hall, apart from a few eunuchs and palace maids of the lowest rank, almost all eunuchs of any standing had followed Zhao Ji.
At this moment, for Shunxi, a chief eunuch, to come to his side, he found it quite perplexing.
"Are you an informant left by Father Emperor to watch me?"
Placing the token in his hand on the imperial desk beside him, Zhao Huan asked with a cold smile.
"Replying to Your Majesty, although I am the godson of Grand Commandant Liang, I am also Your Majesty's servant. If Your Majesty does not trust me, I am willing to prove my loyalty by dying!"
Hearing Zhao Huan's words, Shunxi's body trembled uncontrollably.
"Prove my loyalty by dying? Take that act to Longde Palace!"
Waving his hand, Zhao Huan sat down on a nearby chair with a cold smile.
"Your Majesty, my Godfather did indeed intend for me to go to Longde Palace with him. However, I believe that as the chief eunuch of Fanning Hall, I should remain to serve Your Majesty. Since Your Majesty does not trust me, I will prove my loyalty to Your Majesty now!"
Pinching his thigh, Shunxi once again stood up with tears in his eyes and violently slammed his head towards a pillar outside the hall.
"Bang—"
Right before Zhao Huan's eyes, Shunxi actually slammed his head against the bronze pillar outside the hall.
This time, even the new Emperor Zhao Huan was startled by the loud noise.
By the time he reached outside the hall, Shunxi had already fallen to the ground, his head covered in blood.
"Your Majesty! What happened?"
Hearing the commotion, the guards on duty outside rushed over.
"Quick, quick, check on him! See if he can be saved!"
With a long sigh, Zhao Huan frantically directed the guards.