Chapter 253

Quan De'an said: "I've changed my mind!"

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in shock: "What?" Could it be that my words just now completely infuriated the Senior Eunuch, making Quan De'an fly into a rage and want to kill my whole family? If that's really the case, I'd regret it terribly.

Quan De'an said: "If I let you keep your lineage, will you loyally serve me?"

Hu Xiaotian, hearing that he could keep his manhood, was overjoyed and kept nodding: "Eunuch Quan, as long as you spare me, I'll go through knife mountains or fire seas for you; if you still feel unsatisfied, I'll take you as my foster father, even take your surname."

Quan De'an seemed to have touched a sore spot again, he sighed softly: "I don't have such good fortune; I could never have descendants in this life." His right hand lightly patted the armrest of the chair as he said: "I can spare you from castration, I can also pardon your two companions, I could even persuade the Emperor to spare the lives of your entire Hu clan, but..."

Upon hearing the "but" turn, Hu Xiaotian's heart sank halfway again; the Senior Eunuch is no pushover, who knows what harsh condition he'll propose next, but after thinking, even if it's worse, it couldn't be worse than being castrated and entering the palace. As long as the Senior Eunuch can help me achieve those points, even if I have to help him kill someone, I could consider it. Hu Xiaotian said: "Go on!" Hu Xiaotian said: "Can I enter the palace without being castrated?"

Quan De'an said: "As long as I nod, nothing is impossible."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing that, let out a long sigh of relief: "Damn, this Senior Eunuch really scared the hell out of me; why didn't he say earlier? Being able to keep my manhood and enter the palace would be following in Little Brother Xiao Bao's footsteps—not bad." He nodded: "Deal, first let me down! Lying on this bed makes my skin crawl, I can't discuss cooperation like this."

Quan De'an stood up and walked over to him, indeed using a knife to cut the straps binding Hu Xiaotian's hands and feet. Hu Xiaotian rubbed his now-numb hands and feet. Taking advantage of Quan De'an's inattention, he furtively reached down to feel below; although he still felt something, only by actually touching it could he be reassured.

After confirming his manhood was still intact, Hu Xiaotian finally relaxed, though he wondered what aftereffects this fright might leave. Once calm, he immediately thought of a problem: if he must enter the palace, how could he bring his little treasure and move freely inside? Others aren't fools; if any telltale sign showed, the Emperor would likely have him sliced to pieces without appeasement. Hu Xiaotian said: "Fine, but... how can I avoid others' notice with such a big thing?"

Quan De'an sneered: "If you want to survive well in the palace, don't flaunt yourself everywhere. After castration there will be a recovery period; one month is enough for you. I'll teach you palace etiquette, help you understand the palace's intricate relationships, and show you how to conceal what you carry on your person."

Hu Xiaotian gaped: "You can hide that too?"

Quan De'an said: "Are you still a virgin?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Probably." On this point he wasn't lying. After all, most of the time he'd been an idiot; as a simpleton he'd have had no chance to lose his virginity, and after regaining consciousness, although he harbored thievish thoughts, he never had the opportunity to commit a crime.

Quan De'an said: "There's a technique called Raising Yin and Contracting Yang. If you're a virgin, practicing it yields twice the result with half the effort; normally you need no disguise, and when someone checks you, you use this method to retract your manhood."

"That works?" Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in astonishment.

"How? Don't you want to learn it?"

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly said: "I want to! I've dreamed of it! Eunuch Quan, please teach me this skill quickly; from now on, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do."

Quan De'an gave a sinister chuckle: "Don't rush; let's get past today's hurdle first, then we'll talk. Everyone knows I brought you here for castration; you can't just walk out like that... not a few words"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel creeped out: "Eunuch Quan, what else do you want?"

Quan De'an said: "Don't be afraid; we need to produce some bloodstains—do you really want the Zajia to make you bleed?"

Hu Xiaotian gritted his teeth: "Fine, I'll do it myself, but... you can't use that knife."

Hu Xiaotian was carried back to Cheng'en Manor by two young eunuchs; having fortunately kept his manhood, this feeling of surviving a calamity is something most people can't experience. He lay on the stretcher, hands covering his groin, the thick veil stained with considerable blood.

Both eunuchs were veterans; looking at Hu Xiaotian, their eyes filled with sympathy. The physical pain after castration is secondary; the mental torment is greatest. Recalling their lives before castration, they've almost forgotten it all—though only a small part of their bodies was cut off, it changed their entire lives.

Quan De'an had someone arrange for Hu Xiaotian to rest, and also ordered his subordinate eunuchs to prepare a carriage that left Cheng'en Manor in the night.

Every room in Cheng'en Manor feels suffocating; although Hu Xiaotian dislikes this feeling intensely, he nevertheless must keep up the act. It seems he'll have to lie honestly on this bed for several days; if he were to get up and walk about now, the surrounding eunuchs would surely grow suspicious.

The attendant for Hu Xiaotian was the young eunuch Fugui, the same one who had been guarding the door earlier. Because Hu Xiaotian had entered Cheng'en Manor wearing a mask, Fugui didn't recognize him as the person who came bearing the Ebony Token to visit Eunuch Quan. Fugui glanced at Hu Xiaotian on the bed, sighed, and said: "It must be terribly painful, right? Not a few words—I was castrated at seven; back then the pain kept me awake for three days and three nights, I thought I'd die, but I ultimately pulled through. I've heard that the older you are, the greater the agony of castration; judging by your appearance, you don't seem to come from an ordinary family—why did you take this path?"

Hu Xiaotian, fearing that speaking would reveal a flaw, simply pretended to be mute and said nothing.

Fugui said: "You can't speak from the pain, huh? Hey, drink some water; you won't be able to eat until tomorrow morning—I'll prepare some plain congee for you."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, indicating he didn't want to drink.

Fugui recalled: "I almost forgot—water should still be taken sparingly, and you should limit trips to the latrine, otherwise you'll likely faint from pain."

Hu Xiaotian finally spoke: "Thank you..."

Fugui said: "No need to thank me; Chief Eunuch Quan assigned me to look after you, and he's very concerned about you."

Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes and said: "I'm a bit tired; I want to rest."

Fugui said: "Alright, rest first; I'll be outside waiting—just call out if you need anything."

With Fugui closing the door and leaving, the room fell into dark silence; lying in this windowless chamber, seeing not a glimmer of starlight, Hu Xiaotian thought of his parents, of Murong Feiyan and Zhan Peng, wondering whether Quan De'an could keep his promise.

At that moment, Quan De'an had already arrived at the Ministry of Justice's great prison; relying on the Emperor's bestowed gold tablet, he could freely enter and exit any part of the Imperial City.

Hu Buwei now had been stripped of his official robes and hat; his plain white undergarments were filthy. He sat alone in a cell about two zhang square, dazedly staring at the window less than a chi high in the upper wall. Since his imprisonment, he'd been kept in this cell; although the Ministry of Justice hasn't yet summoned him for interrogation, Hu Buwei already sees his fate—he cannot escape death. Nobody fears death, and Hu Buwei is no exception. But once he realizes all hope of life is utterly cut off, his fear disappears. Either way it's death; merely colluding with Li Tianheng in a plot to overthrow the state, this charge alone is enough to exterminate his entire clan.

Unknown whether Hu Tianxiong has found Xiao Tian, but I hope this child, upon hearing the wind, hides his name and escapes this calamity. Since entering prison, Hu Buwei's thoughts have been mostly about his son, his greatest concern being this son. Had he known today, he shouldn't have contracted the marriage alliance with the Li family; now regret comes too late. Hu Buwei very much wishes to meet the new emperor, to explain face-to-face his relationship with Li Tianheng, but he also understands that this time it is the new emperor Long Yelin who wants to kill him.

The iron cell door gave a shudder; Hu Buwei pressed his lips, deep into the night—this can't be good; perhaps someone's grown impatient and won't even grant him a formal trial.

Under the yellow lamplight the cell was illuminated; a shrill, icy voice sounded from behind: "You all go out and wait for me; I have an imperial edict to deliver privately."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing the emperor's oral command, Hu Buwei slowly turned and saw a eunuch in palace robes, the Director of the Office of Ceremonies, Quan De'an, holding a lantern in one hand and a food box in the other, slowly entering. Quan De'an had always been the personal attendant of the Crown Prince Long Yelin; his fortunes rose and fell with the prince's. Now that Long Yelin has finally ascended the throne, Quan De'an has leapt to become the chief of the Twelve Directorates of the Inner Palace, the Director of Ceremonies. He is arguably one of the most powerful figures in the Imperial City today, overseeing all rites, penal matters, management of duty personnel, and hearing services within the city. Though his official rank is only fourth grade, lower than Hu Buwei's, his deep favor with the emperor and daily proximity to the Son of Heaven have earned him immense respect from all officials.

Quan De'an hung the lantern on the wall, placed the food box before Hu Buwei, and took out a jug of wine and two small dishes.

Seeing the jug of wine, Hu Buwei's heart sank instantly; it seems the Emperor truly does not wish him to live on—Quan De'an's visit must be to bring poisoned wine. Hu Buwei's expression darkened as he said: "Eunuch Quan, did the Emperor send you?"

Quan De'an said nothing, silently poured a cup of wine and handed it to him.

Hu Buwei took the cup, gazed at the wine, sighed, and said: "I never imagined I'd still not see tomorrow's sun. Eunuch Quan, could you give me some time to have someone prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone? I want to write a letter to the Emperor."

Quan De'an said: "Do you think it's necessary? Will the Emperor be in the mood to read your letter?"