004 The Masked Man Reveals Himself

“Aunt Minghe, don’t be fooled by this boy. He had both motive and opportunity—no one can prove that Eunuch He wasn’t killed by him,” Xiaoqingzi said, stepping forward to address Minghe.

“And who do you think you are? Did anyone say you could speak here?” Minghe shot him a sharp glance, and Xiaoqingzi shrank back a few steps, visibly frightened.

Minghe strolled over to me at a leisurely pace, tilted her head, and looked me over before asking, “Did you kill him?”

I bit my lip and shook my head. Though I’d always been strong and hated to cry, shedding a few tears at this moment seemed terribly useful. Perhaps I truly was terrified, so the tears fell of their own accord.

“You don’t look like the type,” Minghe said, her lips curving into a smile. “But you didn’t see who did it?”

I kept biting my lip and shaking my head.

“No matter,” she said gently. “You’re frightened now, but perhaps after some rest, you’ll remember what you saw. When that time comes, you can report to the Empress, and you’ll have done a great service.”

All I could do was nod. For now, I had to go along with her. The identity of that masked murderer remained a mystery.

“Then, Aunt Minghe, how do you think this matter should be handled? Surely, we don’t need to disturb His Majesty with this?” Qiu Ronghai interjected.

Minghe raised her brows and replied, “Eunuch He was the Empress’s personal attendant. Now that he’s met such a fate, the Empress will surely be deeply troubled. If even Eunuch He could be killed so easily, doesn’t that mean the Empress herself is in danger? If we don’t get to the bottom of this, how can Her Majesty be at peace? This is precisely the sort of matter that must be reported to His Majesty, so that he can send someone to investigate. Don’t you agree, Eunuch Qiu?”

Qiu Ronghai replied, “His Majesty is busy with state affairs. If we trouble him with this, won’t it only add to his burdens?”

Minghe gave a soft laugh. “The matters of the harem are also matters of the realm. If the inner palace is unsettled, how can His Majesty focus on governance? Besides, this concerns the Empress. But if it’s too much trouble for you, I’ll simply report to the Empress that we caught a scrawny little eunuch and called it resolved. The Empress might even thank you for your diligence in solving her problems!”

As she turned to leave, Qiu Ronghai quickly stepped forward with a smile to intercept her. “Aunt Minghe, you misunderstand me. I only meant that His Majesty is resting, and it would be inappropriate to disturb him just now. Since this concerns the Empress, it is indeed important. I will find an opportunity to report to His Majesty.”

“Then I’ll leave it in your hands. By the way, those two eunuchs were from Cuiwei Palace, weren’t they?”

“Sharp eyes, Aunt Minghe.”

“Well, since the eunuchs from Cuiwei Palace are dead, you’d best send two replacements quickly. Otherwise, if Lady Zhang asks, she’ll say the chief steward doesn’t know how to handle things.”

“Thank you for the reminder.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care!”

Minghe departed with her two attendants.

Xiaoqingzi then asked, “Eunuch Qiu, is it really necessary for Aunt Minghe to escalate things to His Majesty? It’s just a couple of dead eunuchs, after all.”

“What do you know, you fool? The Empress is just using this as a pretext to get rid of someone!”

Xiaoqingzi still looked bewildered, but Qiu Ronghai had no intention of explaining further. In the palace, discretion was always best. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Aunt Minghe has spoken. Release her and send her to Cuiwei Palace.”

“Just like that?” Xiaoqingzi sounded dissatisfied.

“If the Empress has claimed someone, do you think he’ll have an easy time at Cuiwei Palace? Xiao Xiaozi, you’d best look after yourself from now on.”

“Eunuch Qiu,” Xiaoqingzi suddenly added, “since Eunuch He was Xiao Xiaozi’s relative, and since this is to be reported to His Majesty, we shouldn’t bury the body just yet. We’ll have to wait for His Majesty’s orders. Why not have Xiao Xiaozi watch over the body tonight? Tomorrow I’ll pick a clever boy to go with him to deliver them to Lady Zhang at Cuiwei Palace.”

“That will do. Get some people to tidy up Eunuch He’s corpse—you can’t just leave bodies sprawled about; people will be living here again.”

“Yes, sir!”

“I’ll go check on His Majesty in the main hall.”

“Take care, Eunuch Qiu!”

As soon as Qiu Ronghai left, Xiaoqingzi turned to me with a scowl. “Did you hear that? Go tidy up the corpses! Don’t think you’ll be off the hook once you reach Cuiwei Palace tomorrow.”

I couldn’t afford to offend Xiaoqingzi now. Having narrowly escaped death, my only goal was survival. Just as I had to endure my stepmother’s bullying at home, I had to endure here as well. Until I had the power to fight back, I could only endure. Only when I was strong enough would others bow before me.

“Yes, sir!” I answered.

I went alone to the inner chamber, only to see Xiaoqingzi sneaking in after me. Before long, he emerged, looking pleased with himself. “That old fellow had a little stash after all, though I’m sure there’s more hidden somewhere. Who knows where he put it? Hey! Why are you dawdling? I told you to tidy up the corpses!”

“I’m on it!” I replied.

He shot me a contemptuous look and left.

From his demeanor, it was obvious he’d found some gold or silver in Eunuch He’s room.

I was only fourteen, and my body was weak and frail. Dragging three men’s corpses was no easy task for me. The two junior eunuchs were slight, and with effort, I managed to move them. But when it came to Eunuch He, I was utterly exhausted. As I tried to drag him, my strength gave out, and I collapsed atop him. When I looked up, I saw his lifeless, wide-open eyes, and realized my hands were stained with his blood.

“Aah…” I shrank back in terror, gasping for breath. It took a long moment to calm myself.

Staring at Eunuch He’s cold corpse, I felt neither grief nor joy. Though my father had sent me to him, and he’d nearly tried something vile with me, I couldn’t feel happiness at his death either.

It was a nameless fear. At fourteen, I was seeing a dead body for the first time. My mother had died early, and I had no real concept of death. Now, seeing a living person dead before me, it was impossible not to be afraid.

I understood that Xiaoqingzi, still resentful that he couldn’t drag me down with him, had deliberately left me here to watch over Eunuch He.

I forced myself to suppress the fear, though my body trembled uncontrollably.

In my heart, I whispered: Eunuch He, we have never been enemies. I hope you won’t hold anything against me, and won’t return as a spirit to haunt me. If you seek vengeance, go after the one who killed you.

Summoning my courage, I reached out and closed his eyes—a small act of merit for myself.

As I tried to move him again, something slipped from his body. I picked it up and found it was a fine jade pendant—likely worth a tidy sum. Perhaps Eunuch He still had valuables on him, but Xiaoqingzi hadn’t dared get too close to the corpse to check.

I put the jade pendant back. I couldn’t take such things; let Eunuch He take it with him.

I looked at the three corpses and sighed at the fragility of life. But now that these three were dead, no one knew my true identity.

I kept vigil over Eunuch He and the others all night, constantly worried that someone—especially Xiaoqingzi—would come by to catch me off guard. Fear kept me awake; every time I dozed off, I jerked myself awake again.

Finally, dawn arrived.

Truthfully, I was eager to be sent to Cuiwei Palace. No matter if it was another den of tigers and dragons—so long as I left this place.

“Finish tidying up and come with me,” Xiaoqingzi called from the doorway, a boy about my age standing beside him.

“Xiaoluzi, once you get to Cuiwei Palace, if you win Her Ladyship’s favor, don’t forget who brought you there,” Xiaoqingzi said, speaking only to the other boy as I trailed behind.

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll never forget your kindness. If I fare well at Cuiwei Palace, you’ll certainly have your share of the benefits.”

“Good. As for you, Xiao Xiaozi—ha…” For whatever reason, whenever he mentioned me, it was as if I owed him money.

But I didn’t care. Once I reached Cuiwei Palace, I wouldn’t have to see him again.

“Ah, Lord Long!” Xiaoqingzi suddenly stopped as a group of guards approached—a neat line, each with a sword at his waist. Their leader was tall and imposing, clad in striking crimson, his bearing extraordinary. Sunlight spilled down, illuminating his handsome face.

As he drew closer, the sunlight shifted, and I saw his eyes clearly.

Those ink-dark eyes—I could never forget them.

He was the masked man who had killed Eunuch He the night before.