Chapter 302: 【Stealing the Beam and Replacing the Pillar】(Lower)

Hu Xiaotian answered, and following Liu Yuzhang's instructions he found the item in the drawer — it was a rod wrapped in gold brocade. Hu Xiaotian wasn't completely honest; he first opened the brocade to have a look, only to find inside was a tiger whip. He couldn't help wondering what the eunuch needed a tiger whip for? Eating it would be useless? This thing can't be grafted. Moreover, after years of drying, it had long lost any biological activity. Liu Yuzhang was already urging him from below, so Hu Xiaotian hastily rewrapped the tiger whip and carried it downstairs.

Liu Yuzhang took the package and opened it in front of Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian, pretending not to know, asked, "Eh! Eunuch, what is this?"

"Tiger whip!" Liu Yuzhang spoke with an unprecedented aura; it seemed this thing was indeed full of yang energy, so much that even a eunuch gripping it felt full of vigor.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Tiger whip, I've seen one!" Meaning it wasn't unusual; in fact, when he was still the son of a minister, his family indeed had such a thing.

Liu Yuzhang chuckled, "Tiger whips are common, but a black tiger whip is extremely rare. This whip was a gift from the ruler of Da Yong to the Retired Emperor. The black tiger is an ultimate yang creature, born in bitter cold lands; although Dakang's territory is vast, none are seen there, and even in Da Yong they are now quite scarce."

Hu Xiaotian said, "In that case, it's indeed a rare item."

Liu Yuzhang sighed, "Eunuch Rong said he would help take it to the Emperor." His words showed he was rather reluctant.

Hu Xiaotian observed minutely and whispered, "Does the Emperor also need virility?"

Liu Yuzhang couldn't help but laugh, then scolded, "Nonsense. If others heard such talk, they might lose their heads."

Hu Xiaotian said, "This black tiger whip is so powerful, yet I don't know if the Emperor can handle it."

"How so?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I've heard that any great tonic has drawbacks—strengthening one part harms another. Moreover, each person's constitution differs; if one forcibly supplements without knowing their own condition, not only will the desired effect fail, but it may even harm the body, just as ginseng is good, yet some who eat it get nosebleeds. What's more, relations between Da Yong and Dakang are unfriendly; their sending a black tiger whip over may not be well-intentioned."

Liu Yuzhang felt Hu Xiaotian's words made sense, nodded, and said, "But the Emperor sent someone to fetch it; how could Zajia refuse?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Actually, looking at it, this black tiger whip seems no different from an ordinary tiger whip." That remark was truly an awakening. Liu Yuzhang told Hu Xiaotian, "Go back to the original place, find the third row, and get another one."

Hu Xiaotian answered, turned, and went to the place Liu Yuzhang mentioned. He opened the drawer and saw that the whole row was filled with tiger whips; of course there certainly weren't that many black tiger whips. He quietly turned his head and saw Liu Yuzhang had already carefully put away the black tiger whip. It seemed he treasured that whip greatly. As it turned out, the black tiger whip was rumored to have another effect: it could let a eunuch experience renewed vigor, like dead wood sprouting spring, and become a true man again. Liu Yuzhang never mentioned this to Hu Xiaotian. In fact, every eunuch harbors a wish to regain his manhood, and Liu Yuzhang is no exception. Otherwise he wouldn't have pulled off this "stealing the beam and replacing the pillar" scheme. If it were exposed, it would be deceiving the sovereign.

Hu Xiaotian brought back a large tiger whip, Liu Yuzhang examined it thoroughly, found no flaw, and then let Hu Xiaotian push him out of the medicinal store. Along the way he told Hu Xiaotian that the store mainly held medicinal materials and tonics contributed by various countries and departments; the Emperor rarely used them, since it was hard to guarantee they weren't secretly poisoned, so they were kept year-round. Some medicines had expired; the Imperial Medical Institute occasionally came seeking a few rare herbs, but most of the time the medicinal store was just for show, left unattended.

As for Rong Baoxing coming under the Emperor's banner to demand the black tiger whip, upon closer inspection it still seemed suspicious; Liu Yuzhang also suspected Rong Baoxing was using the Emperor's supposed need as a pretense to secretly appropriate it for himself. After Hu Xiaotian's analysis, he resolved to pass off a fake as genuine.

What Hu Xiaotian said was correct; outwardly there was no way to tell real from fake. Rong Baoxing, having obtained the tiger whip, was delighted, beaming, and left happily with the whip.

Hu Xiaotian accompanied Liu Yuzhang into the room, intending to take his leave, but Liu Yuzhang called him back. Hu Xiaotian thought Liu Yuzhang might be worried he'd leak secrets and wanted to instruct him; he was about to express his loyalty to reassure Liu Yuzhang when he heard Liu Yuzhang say, "Xiaotian, Zajia has no close kin in this world; in my eyes you are like family to me."

Hu Xiaotian thought the senior eunuch was trying to win him over with a appeasement policy, secretly amused; it was unnecessary, for given Liu Yuzhang's care toward him, he would never betray him no matter what.

Yet he hadn't expected Liu Yuzhang to produce that black tiger whip and hand it to him, saying, "Keep this safe."

Hu Xiaotian stared, "Eunuch Liu, what use is this to me?" His first thought was to conceal it, since outwardly he had declared himself castrated; what use would a eunuch have for a tiger whip?

Liu Yuzhang said, "The black tiger whip is precious precisely because it is rumored to have another effect: after consumption it can let us eunuchs become true men again."

At that moment Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt his nose sour, an urge to tear up welling up. Regardless of whether the black tiger whip actually had that effect, Liu Yuzhang's deep affection moved him. He sincerely said, "Xiaotian, what merit do I have to dare accept such a precious gift from you, Eunuch? Better you keep it for yourself." He wasn't being polite; he himself had never been castrated, was a false eunuch, so there was no need to take this. If it were ineffective, that would be fine; but if it actually worked and caused an extra growth, he'd become a freak.

Liu Yuzhang laughed, "Silly child, Zajia is already on the brink of seventy; even if it really worked, I'd have no use for it. On the contrary, you are in the prime of youth, with a promising life ahead—how could it just end like this? Xiaotian, you must keep this safe. Although your Hu family is temporarily in trouble, the imperial court is ever-changing; who knows what tomorrow will bring? If your Hu family ever gets a chance to rise again, this thing might still come in handy."

Although Hu Xiaotian didn't believe the legend of regrowing after castration, Liu Yuzhang's deep affection moved him to tears. He accepted the black tiger whip, knelt respectfully before Liu Yuzhang, and kowtowed three times to the senior eunuch. Great gratitude needs no words; saying more would only seem affected.

Liu Yuzhang said, "Our Imperial Gardens Bureau may not be an important place, but it has already caught someone's eye. Zajia is in the twilight of his years; once my injury heals, I will request retirement and leave the palace. I believe Your Majesty will not make things difficult for me, and before I go I will also arrange a position for you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Eunuch, your deep kindness I will forever keep in mind."

Liu Yuzhang said, "Zajia had thought that after Your Majesty's ascension he could sweep away past decadence, energize governance, and revive court discipline, but now……" He sighed dimly, not continuing, yet his heart was already deeply disappointed with the present state.

Hu Xiaotian said, "A wise ruler should draw near virtuous ministers and keep petty men at bay; Your Majesty ought not to entrust important duties to the likes of Ji Feihua and allow that clique of villains to run rampant."

Liu Yuzhang said, "Court affairs are beyond our ability to manage, and we need not bother with them. Xiaotian, have you heard anything?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Just lately there have been rumors that since the Emperor's accession he has hardly favored any concubine, but instead spends all his time with Ji Feihua." His meaning was obvious: Long Yelin is almost certainly involved with Ji Feihua; this new ruler is actually a man who prefers military attire over feminine garb—a "glass" type.

A heavy worry clouded Liu Yuzhang's brows; he sighed softly and said, "Xiaotian, listen to the outside gossip but never repeat it abroad."

Hu Xiaotian said, "That is, I only speak of it in front of you, Eunuch; before others I utter not a word."

Liu Yuzhang nodded and said, "You're quick-witted; you know what's important, so don't **." He handed Hu Xiaotian the key to the medicinal store, saying, "Keep this key for me as well; keeping that whip on your person isn't safe, better leave it in the store and take it whenever you need it."

Hu Xiaotian followed Liu Yuzhang's words and put the black tiger whip back into the medicinal store, but this kid had nonetheless grown a extra caution—such a fine thing certainly couldn't be returned to its original spot. The store had accumulated over centuries various medicinal ingredients, even more diverse than the Imperial Medical Institute's pharmacy, though most of the drugs inside had expired; their efficacy unknown, and whether they carried toxic side effects was hard to say.

Hu Xiaotian didn't bother to examine further; anyway the key was in his hand, he could come whenever he wished. As long as Liu Yuzhang held sway in the Imperial Gardens Bureau for a day, his authority wouldn't be taken away. By comparison, however, the task Quan De'an had given him was rather urgent: he must ascertain the internal layout of the secret passage within ten days.

Moreover, there was another worry: since Wang Desheng had drawn that map, he must have investigated earlier, but it's unknown whether he told Wang Decai. Recently Wang Decai has come by several times, each time asking about his brother's whereabouts; however Wang Desheng has already been reduced to nothing by Hu Xiaotian's bone-dissolving water—not a trace remains, let alone him; even if Ji Feihua rallied the masses, they still couldn't locate Wei Hualin's whereabouts.

Wang Decai seemed certain his brother had met with misfortune; from his resentful gaze toward himself, Hu Xiaotian guessed this fellow would eventually stir up trouble.

After Baobao and I laid our cards on the table, we gradually came to a tacit understanding; every few days Baobao would come under Consort Lin's banner. Hu Xiaotian knew her intention wasn't really the drink—she wanted to use him to find the underground passage—but Hu Xiaotian also couldn't easily divulge all the secrets he knew.

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