Chapter 350: Strangers (Part I)

Hu Xiaotian thought, you of course have heard of me; you not only have heard my name, you personally tore off my clothes, not only that, you almost bit off my little brother with one bite; if you had bitten down a little harder back then, I would have been castrated by you while I was in Xichuan.

Wen Ya's expression was noble and coldly beautiful, vastly different from the charming, gentle Le Yao Hu Xiaotian remembered; even he began to doubt, could there really be two people in this world who look so alike? Otherwise, seeing this old acquaintance of his, how could she show no reaction at all? Hu Xiaotian tried to keep his composure, smiling and saying, "I don't know where the Talented Person heard that from."

Wen Ya said, "Before entering the palace, I had heard that Eunuch Hu was in charge here; I hope Eunuch Hu will look after me even more in the future."

Hu Xiaotian lowered his head and said, "Talented Person, you flatter me; looking after you is my duty. If you have any orders, just tell me directly; I will go through fire and water, not shirking anything."

Wen Ya said, "I heard you also serve as the steward of the Imperial Horticulture Bureau."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Yes, but Talented Person, rest assured; I will prioritize the Bright Moon Palace and will never delay any of your affairs."

Wen Ya nodded slightly and said softly, "I'm a bit tired; I should rest early today."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Imperial Kitchen just sent over some pastries for the Talented Person; would you like to try one?"

Wen Ya shook her head and said, "No need."

Baobao walked over and said respectfully, "Talented Person, the bathwater is ready; please allow me to attend to your bath."

Wen Ya hummed, rose and took two steps. Going around the screen, she suddenly stopped and said, "Eunuch Hu, come as well; I still have some questions for you."

Hu Xiaotian almost thought he had misheard; on his first day entering the palace, they sent him such a big benefit—doesn't that mean I can feast my eyes? Baobao also stared wide-eyed in surprise; others don't know, and she still doesn't know that Hu Xiaotian is actually a fake eunuch. The Talented Person actually let him attend her bath. In fact, in the palace it's commonplace for eunuchs to attend consorts' baths, but Hu Xiaotian is different.

Under Baobao's strange gaze, Hu Xiaotian bravely followed inside; an imperial order cannot be defied, how could I disobey the Talented Person's command? I'll treat it as distributing benefits, but the Zajia would consider it disrespectful not to.

Hu Xiaotian originally thought the Talented Person wanted him to help scrub her back, but upon arriving at the bathhouse he discovered there was still a screen blocking the way. That rubber maid of Wen Ya coldly barred him from outside the screen.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, knowing he wouldn't get an eyeful; he could only stand by the screen. Although blocked by the screen, he could still vaguely see the scene behind: Wen Ya, attended by palace maids, removing her clothes. Naturally, it wasn't clear. Shadows shifted, and this sense of mystery only heightened Hu Xiaotian's desire to investigate further; if no one else were present, he might have lunged straight at her. At the crucial moment, Hu Xiaotian still had some self-control.

Hearing the water sounds beyond the screen, it was clear Wen Ya had begun bathing; her soft, gentle voice came from behind the screen: "Eunuch Hu, I have prepared some gifts; tomorrow morning please help me deliver them to all the consorts in the palace; the list is with Wutong."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Yes!"

"I have just entered the palace; I don't understand any of its rules. If there's anything I can't do in the future, you must tell me directly."

Hu Xiaotian accompanied his smile and said, "Talented Person, beautiful outside and wise within, you act with propriety; I will still need your guidance in the future." He really felt tormented inside; a beautiful woman bathing, he was close yet unable to see her—it seemed Wen Ya was deliberately teasing him.

Wen Ya said, "You all retreat first; Eunuch Hu, come in."

Wutong looked at Hu Xiaotian full of wariness; Hu Xiaotian almost laughed out loud, "Haha, I thought you had forgotten me, but it turns out you've always remembered me."

Wutong, Baobao, and Qiuyan, the three palace maids, all withdrew.

Before leaving, Baobao couldn't help but glance at Hu Xiaotian one more time; that look was exceedingly strange.

After they left, Hu Xiaotian deliberately affected a cough and said, "Talented Person, may I come in?"

Wen Ya hummed.

Hu Xiaotian walked in with his body bowed, not out of respect but to conceal himself; such a lascivious scene was really more than he could bear, and if he straightened up he feared he would be exposed.

Amidst the misty water vapor, he saw a flawlessly beautiful figure seated in the lotus pond, with some petals floating on the surface.

Hu Xiaotian's heart pounded thump-thump; "Le Yao, Le Yao, are you deliberately trying to lure me into sin?" Originally tonight was the emperor's wedding night, but he didn't come; it seems I'm meant to pick up the slack. As a eunuch, going through blades and fire for the emperor is nothing, let alone a mere bridal chamber.

Through the hazy mist, he saw Wen Ya's black silken hair flowing like a waterfall down her knife-cut shoulders; every inch of her curves was flawless. Hu Xiaotian drew a deep breath, secretly swallowing saliva; faced with such beauty yet having to maintain decorum, this too was a torment.

Wen Ya said, "Eunuch Quan said you would look after me."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; the slight romantic stir in his mind instantly vanished. At that moment he suddenly realized that the Wen Ya before him was far from simple—whether she was Le Yao or not, her entry into the palace bore a heavy mission. Wen Ya's remark carried a double meaning, clearly reminding him that his relationship with Quan De'an was already known. Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, Quan De'an had told Wen Ya their secret, thereby selling him out; the more outsiders knew, the more perilous his situation became. He stepped close to Wen Ya, placing both hands slowly on her fragrant shoulders—skin like congealed fat, smooth and delicate, the pleasure her skin gave his palms hard to put into words. This feeling was somewhat familiar; Hu Xiaotian gently massaged her shoulders. Being a eunuch indeed has its perks: one can righteously take advantage.

Hu Xiaotian harbored ulterior motives; while taking advantage, he couldn't help but wonder, could Wen Ya be just like me? She ought to be Le Yao, right? Could it be that she truly doesn't remember me?

From Wen Ya's reaction there was nothing abnormal; even when Hu Xiaotian's hands touched her shoulders, her muscles showed no tension, making him ever more perplexed. If she were truly Le Yao, why would she show not the slightest reaction to him? If she were not Wen Ya but an unmarried maiden of the Yunying lineage, how could she be so indifferent to a man's touch? Either she had experience in this matter, or her mindset was extraordinarily strong. Actually, Le Yao's gentleness might itself be a facade; initially, the third young master of the Wan family, Wan Tingguang, died of poison, and the prime suspect was his newlywed wife Le Yao, who had not yet consummated the marriage.

Wen Ya said, "Eunuch Hu, it seems you haven't been in the palace long, has it?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Not long; I arrived a few months before the Talented Person."

Wen Ya said, "You probably haven't done any service for others before."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Talented Person thinks my hands are clumsy."

Wen Ya said, "Since childhood I've had an elderly attendant looking after me, and that attendant comes from the palace." Her remark explained why she was so calm about having a eunuch attend her bath, while also subtly telling Hu Xiaotian that his technique was rather clumsy.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I dare say a word."

Wen Ya said calmly, "Go ahead."

"I always feel as if I've seen the Talented Person before."

Wen Ya chuckled and said softly, "Have you been to Gold Hill?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat, then he replied, "My maternal grandmother's home is in Gold Hill."

Wen Ya said, "The Xu family of Gold Hill is indeed a prominent clan." She already knew Hu Xiaotian's background; after speaking, she closed her beautiful eyes and said, "We have never met before—you have never been to Gold Hill, and I am making my first visit to Kangdu, so how could we have crossed paths?" After saying this, she rose from the bath, emerging like a lotus from the water, breathtakingly beautiful; Hu Xiaotian glanced once and quickly lowered his head, feeling a surge of desire rise within him.

Wen Ya stretched out her arms; only then did Hu Xiaotian snap to attention, hurriedly grabbing the white robe nearby and draping it over her.

Wen Ya fastened her robe and stepped out of the lotus pond. Hu Xiaotian lowered his gaze even further, admiring her beautiful feet—each toe crystal‑clear like jade, as delicate as petals; to call her beauty nation‑toppling would be no exaggeration. Wen Ya said, "You may go; since the Imperial Horticulture Bureau still needs you to oversee it, you needn't run back and forth. When I have business, I will naturally have someone summon you."

"Yes!" The deeper his contact with Wen Ya, the more he felt her strangeness; although her appearance was identical to Le Yao's, their temperaments and personalities were completely opposite, causing Hu Xiaotian to doubt his initial judgment—could she perhaps be someone entirely different?

Wen Ya did not let Hu Xiaotian attend to her changing clothes; instead she had him summon Wutong.

Hu Xiaotian drooped his head like a defeated rooster as he walked out of the palace chambers; outside, Baobao suddenly flashed out from somewhere, reaching to grab his ear. Hu Xiaotian reacted swiftly, seizing her wrist, turned and brought her into the shadows, pressing her soft body against the palace wall.

In the darkness Baobao panted heavily, her beautiful eyes glaring at Hu Xiaotian as she lowered her voice with a vicious tone: "You shameless, lewd wretch, what did you just do?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly chuckled, "What can I do? Even if I had the ability, I lack the courage now; it's merely helping the newcomer Talented Person rub her back and pinch her shoulders." Recalling the recent scene, his blood boiled; gazing at Baobao's pretty face, feeling her rising and falling chest, he suddenly lowered his head, precisely caught her lips, and planted a fierce kiss.

Baobao hadn't expected him to force a kiss on her; her body trembled slightly, then she clenched her fists and hammered his back twice, but his hot kiss left her breathless, her body leaning against the palace wall—if not for the wall's support she would have collapsed to the ground. Her mind went blank, as if her soul had been ripped from her body in an instant.

Not content with just kissing her, Hu Xiaotian's hands remained restless, firmly kneading her jade‑like buttocks twice before letting go. Seeing his smug, lecherous grin, Baobao first spat, wiped her mouth, then lifted her right foot to kick him.

Monday, please vote for recommendation! (To be continued~^~)