Chapter 845

As Hu Xiaotian returned along the secret passage, he couldn't help feeling curious; Qiqi seemed to have already anticipated that he would come via the passage to find her, but after all that had happened, this passage was already known to many, though it was unclear whether it had changed. Upon reaching the fork, Hu Xiaotian could no longer restrain his curiosity; since he was already there, he might as well spend some time checking the other two passages. Those two passages remained exactly as before, with no changes. After Ji Feihua's death, this passage became a shared secret between him, Qiqi, Li Yuncong, Quan De'an, and a few others.

Since Hu Xiaotian sneaked into the wine cellar, Shi Xuedong hadn't slept well all night, fearing that Hu Xiaotian's whereabouts would be exposed and bring disaster. At dawn, before it was light, this fellow got up on the pretext of going to the toilet, came to the wine cellar to inspect, holding up a lantern to look, only to see the cellar's seal torn open and the big lock chopped off and casually thrown on the ground. He couldn't help but silently curse, thinking how careless Hu Xiaotian's actions were; this time he would surely be discovered, and if investigated, what should he do?

Just as he was worrying and thinking of countermeasures, the wine cellar door moved, and Hu Xiaotian walked out from inside, still carrying two jars of good wine.

Seeing him swagger out like that, Shi Xuedong broke out in a cold sweat; seeing that dawn was about to break and the little eunuchs would soon be up, if anyone caught them together everything would be over. In a panic he blew out the lantern in one breath, quickly stepped forward and pulled Hu Xiaotian to the corner, trembling as he said, 'You… you how did you come out?'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Do you expect me to stay in there forever?'

'You…' Shi Xuedong pointed at the two jars of wine in Hu Xiaotian's arms, meaning you came out secretly—why did you still take two jars of wine?

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'The matter is settled, hold these for me!' He shoved the two jars of wine into Shi Xuedong's arms.

Shi Xuedong took the wine jars, saw Hu Xiaotian stride swiftly toward the latrine, and without thinking followed him inside. Seeing Hu Xiaotian standing there and immediately urinating, an act normally so ordinary and simple, shocked Shi Xuedong like a thunderbolt, beyond astonishment. He leaned forward, staring intently at Hu Xiaotian's thing, examining it closely, so excited he almost dropped the wine jar, trembling as he said, 'Ah… you… you how did it grow back?'

Hu Xiaotian, full of pride, after urinating still gave it a couple of shakes, a bit of showing off, then slowly and carefully put away his treasure.

Shi Xuedong stared fixedly at Hu Xiaotian's crotch, thinking he must have just woken up and was dreaming; Hu Xiaotian was clearly a eunuch just like him, so how could he suddenly have something extra?

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Had enough?'

Shi Xuedong muttered, 'Could it be my eyes are playing tricks?'

Hu Xiaotian walked outward, Shi Xuedong followed behind holding the two wine jars. At this moment his curiosity had completely overridden his fear: 'Really?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Have you heard of the Black Tiger Whip in this world? It can make withered wood bloom again.'

Shi Xuedong nodded repeatedly, saliva almost dripping: 'Brother, we share weal and woe; let me taste what you have left. If not, leave some broth for me to drink. As your elder brother, I don't expect to grow as large as you; even if I could sprout a peanut, just to be able to urinate like a man would be enough.' Shi Xuedong's words were truly miserable. One who isn't a eunuch cannot know the bitterness of being one.

Hu Xiaotian headed straight for his room, seemingly without intending to hide his movements. Shi Xuedong vaguely guessed his matter had been resolved, and trotted along behind him.

By then the sky was gradually brightening; the little eunuchs came out to wash up, preparing for the day's work. Seeing Hu Xiaotian appear, they froze for a moment, pretending not to have seen him—after all, anyone who had lingered in the palace long enough had that bit of perceptiveness. Though Hu Xiaotian had once been a palace favorite, times had changed. Ji Feihua had already fallen, Hu Xiaotian lost his backing, and returning now no one knew whether it would be blessing or disaster; who would dare openly associate with him? Treating Hu Xiaotian as if he were air was already generous, and some little eunuchs had already slipped away to report him.

Shi Xuedong warned Hu Xiaotian, 'Trouble, we can't cover it up!' Seeing Hu Xiaotian enter the room with a calm expression, Shi Xuedong guessed he must have a solution; otherwise he wouldn't have shown himself so openly.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the desk and sat down; the arrangement here hadn't changed much since he left, and he smiled, 'I'm afraid I won't be working here anymore.'

Shi Xuedong eagerly said, 'Brother, tell me, what exactly happened?'

Before Hu Xiaotian could speak, a report came from outside: 'Commander has arrived!'

This commander was not the former one; the one arriving was the Supervisor of Ceremonies Commander Quan De'an, who came to the Office of Imperial Gardens accompanied by two little eunuchs, and in fact on the way he had already received reports from several little eunuchs about Hu Xiaotian.

Upon hearing that Quan De'an had arrived, Shi Xuedong broke out in a cold sweat all over his head, pacing the room like an ant on a hot pan: 'Disaster, disaster! Eunuch Quan has come.' Shortly after Quan De'an regained power he had already punished many palace personnel severely; it can be said that after Ji Feihua's downfall, Quan De'an became the chief eunuch of the inner palace, and his methods were no less cold-blooded and ruthless than hers. Now the eunuchs and palace women all felt insecure, their awe of Quan De'an reaching its peak.

Hu Xiaotian rose unhurriedly, walked out of the room, and smiled at Quan De'an.

Quan De'an's face showed a hint of a smile, but it was a cold sneer, and he announced loudly, 'The imperial edict has arrived!'

Hu Xiaotian lifted his robe and knelt on the ground; all the little eunuchs of the Office of Imperial Gardens knelt with him, shouting in unison, 'Long live the Emperor, ten thousand times ten thousand years!'

Quan De'an said, 'Supervisor of the Office of Imperial Gardens, eunuch Hu Xiaotian, in the nation's time of peril, did not hesitate to sacrifice personal interests, endured humiliation and bore burdens to infiltrate the palace, by imperial order gathered evidence of the rebel Ji Feihua's crimes, for this pacification earned meritorious service, on his mission to Da Yong endured countless hardships, never yielding on Dakang's interests; the Emperor, moved by his loyalty, hereby grants a five-colored coiling dragon gold tablet, to see the tablet is to see the Emperor himself; effective today, restore Hu Xiaotian's original status, appoint him Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, permitted to wear sword and enter the palace.'

Quan De'an rattled on; the point boiled down to three things: first, Hu Xiaotian had entered the palace under imperial orders, posing as a eunuch; second, he had rendered great service, and the Emperor granted him a five-colored coiling dragon gold tablet; third, from today onward he would no longer be a eunuch, transforming into the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Hu Xiaotian shouted, 'Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand times ten thousand years!'

The little eunuch beside Quan De'an handed him the already-prepared Imperial Guard uniform.

Hu Xiaotian received it with both hands, unable to conceal the delight on his face; his joy was not from the promotion, but from finally being able to openly resume his true identity as a man.

Quan De'an said in a sinister tone, 'Commander Hu! Congratulations!'

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, 'Without Eunuch Quan's patronage, how could the miscellaneous household have achieved today?' After saying that he realized he had misspoken; from now on he was no longer a eunuch, so naturally he could no longer refer to himself as the miscellaneous household.

Quan De'an said with deep meaning, 'Commander Hu is a person who repays kindness; I hope you will continue to serve Dakang and be loyal to the Emperor.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'I will faithfully follow Eunuch Quan's teachings; I will surely devote myself to the nation.'

Quan De'an swept his gaze over the scene and asked, 'Where is Shi Xuedong?'

Only then did Shi Xuedong push through the crowd, hurrying to his side, bowing low, trembling as he said, 'Your servant is here…'

Quan De'an looked at him, nodded, and said, 'You've done a decent job managing the Office of Imperial Gardens; from now on you will take charge of the affairs previously overseen by Commander Hu.'

Shi Xuedong exclaimed, 'Thank you, Commander, for your trust; I will give my all and will not disappoint your expectations!'

Quan De'an embraced Hu Xiaotian, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Hu Xiaotian called out, 'See you off, Commander!'

After Quan De'an left, the little eunuchs all rushed forward to congratulate him. Now everyone understood what had happened: Hu Xiaotian would not be implicated in Ji Feihua's affair; on the contrary, he had rendered great service and was the meritorious officer who eliminated Ji Feihua. Moreover, Hu Xiaotian was fundamentally not a eunuch; he had used the eunuch identity as a disguise to approach Ji Feihua and gather evidence against him. Now he had transformed into the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, a position second only to Mu Rongzhan among the palace guards. At such a young age attaining this rank, it is foreseeable that Hu Xiaotian will surely rise to prominence, even soar to great heights.

Amid the flattery of the eunuchs, Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily, somewhat overwhelmed; Shi Xuedong finally managed to send them away, after which Hu Xiaotian returned to his room.

Shi Xuedong had someone prepare hot water for Hu Xiaotian to bathe and change clothes.

Hu Xiaotian soaked comfortably, changed into the guard uniform, and fastened the five-colored coiling dragon gold tablet at his waist.

Shi Xuedong watched, feeling both envy and emotion; truly, same people, different fates—together they had entered the palace to atone for their fathers by castration, Hu Xiaotian had been a false cut, while he himself was a genuine one; now Hu Xiaotian had not only restored his manhood but also transformed into the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, whereas he himself remained a eunuch in the palace—just thinking about it was miserable. Although he had also gained a promotion thanks to Hu Xiaotian, compared to official advancement, Shi Xuedong's heart yearned more to become a normal man.

Just thinking about this, his eyes involuntarily fell on Hu Xiaotian's crotch; Hu Xiaotian felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze: 'I say, Elder Brother Dong, could you stop staring at me there?'

Shi Xuedong sighed, 'Isn't this just envy? Brother, I'm happy for you; we brothers finally have someone to carry on the line—you must promise me that your first son will acknowledge me as his godfather.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Sure, sure!'

Shi Xuedong said, 'You just mentioned the Black Tiger Whip—is that real or fake?'

Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said, 'Don't worry, elder brother; I'll think of a way for your matter.' He then quietly told him that the old-timers would soon be exonerated and rehabilitated one after another. Hearing this, Shi Xuedong was overjoyed—didn't this mean he still had a chance to become the son of a minister again? But then he thought, even if his father became prime minister, his own manhood could not be restored, and his spirits sank again.

Thanks to Mumusanshou for the red rockets, the alliance leader is mighty! Sending the first update! (To be continued… ^~^)】