Chapter 18: Eunuch 18 (Aura Strengthened)

Eunuch 18 (Aura Strengthened)

Lately, the eunuchs in charge of the palace's plants and flowers have been especially busy.

The beauties of the Place: Inner Palace, eager to flaunt their status, are mostly pretentious, doing everything in a contrived way.

Clearly some flowers aren't afraid of night dew and can be placed outdoors without being moved back and forth, yet Ning Cai Ren and several beauties lament: "Because the water lily and azalea have earned a lowly reputation, can't they share the greenhouse with Mu Dan and peonies? If people are divided into three, six, nine ranks, must flowers also be divided into three, six, nine ranks? We are so ill‑fated that someday we may, like these water lilies and azaleas, be casually left by the roadside, uncared for…"

The eunuchs can only bow their heads and meekly agree, while inwardly they mutter: you're just ill‑fated; these water lilies and azaleas thrive everywhere.

Moreover, they're not just tossed aside on the roadside; the placement of each pot follows certain considerations.

A tear welled in Ning Cai Ren's beautiful eyes, as if it could fall like a pearl at any moment; she softly said, "In the future you must treat all equally—never favor Mu Dan and peonies while despising the other flowers."

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If the water lilies and azaleas could protest, they'd surely scold those beauties until their noses bled three thousand feet! Who's lowly? Who's lowly?! They may not be as noble as Mu Dan, but they've never considered themselves inferior!

Just as he was muttering inwardly, Eunuch Xia, who serves the emperor, happened to pass by Yuhuayuan.

When a few melancholy beauties, who tend toward a sentimental path, noticed him, their compassionate sorrow was so intense it seemed as if today were the end of the world, and they almost wanted to pounce on Eunuch Xia's face.

Ning Cai Ren sighed softly, "Moved by the times, flowers shed tears; resentful of parting, birds startle the heart… All things in the world have feelings, let alone flowers and grasses."

Good, this verse not only highlights Ning Cai Ren's status as a talented lady but also hints that she is a gentle and affectionate young woman.

Jiang He heard it and his mouth twitched; this poem must be describing a nation in ruin and a family in ruin, right?

There are quite a few talented women in this palace; their reputation is like water in a sponge—without squeezing, you can still squeeze out a lump.

Xia Duofu Gonggong, passing by, probably couldn't bear it either; his steps quickened, as if he wanted to run off immediately.

Each time one passes Yuhuayuan, one has to witness this performance; at first it seems novel, but after many repetitions, no one can endure it!

Year after year, fresh beauties enter the palace; almost every interval the Place: Inner Palace stages a grand drama, the beauties devise countless strategies, each displaying their divine abilities; not to mention the well‑travelled old emperor, even these eunuchs have become as calm as still water.

Seeing Eunuch Xia leave without looking back, not even a glance, Ning Cai Ren and the other beauties couldn't help but sigh regretfully, then immediately perked up, thinking perhaps when Eunuch Xia meets the emperor he'll mention their talent and beauty? Maybe the emperor will favor them tonight.

Ning Cai Ren, after thinking that, was about to leave to make some preparations when, suddenly, a delicate beautiful side profile appeared before her eyes.

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Everyone looked in the direction she pointed, and in an instant all eyes fell upon Jiang He.

Jiang He, who was about to hide himself, muttered that he was unlucky; originally his duties didn't include Yuhuayuan, but recently, to free up time to run to Lenggong, he offended someone and was reassigned to the palace's high‑incident zone—the Yuhuayuan.

Ning Cai Ren stared at Jiang He and said, "Yes, you there, come over!"

Jiang He had no choice but to go, respectfully bowing to the emperor's several beauties, his brows and eyes lowered.

Even though his heavy bangs concealed his star‑bright eyes, the features beneath were still refined enough to catch the eye; if he were to lift those heavy bangs, he would be truly stunning.

Ning Cai Ren and the others stared at Jiang He, feeling first a sourness as if they'd eaten a huge bowl of spicy noodles with half a bottle of vinegar, then couldn't help feeling a bit of pity.

Although they didn't know why they should feel pity for a complete stranger, a little eunuch.

Perhaps it's because this little eunuch looks this way, easily evoking women's tender pity.

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Ning Cai Ren's expression flickered, and she instructed, "Xi Yue, this little eunuch has worked hard; you help him wipe his sweat."

They thought Xiao Hezi was quite unlucky, probably because of his face? He's born more beautiful than the concubines, drawing their attention, and it's not surprising they torment him out of jealousy.

These concubines, regardless of temperament, even if they come in fury, will eventually show Jiang He inexplicable gentle pity, making other eunuchs very envious.

Not only is it pleasing to the eye, but it also lets them compare their own happy lives, making the days feel less hard to endure.

He set the flower pot down and said, "What I'm doing isn't being stingy; it's careful calculation."

During this period, Ning Cai Ren and the others, whether there was business or not, kept calling Jiang He to serve in their palace, making him run around.

Just a slight glance from her, and the palace maid Xi Yue knew what to do; she smiled and took out a handkerchief to wipe Jiang He's sweat.

Whenever many concubines came to Yuhuayuan, they couldn't help calling him over to attend to them.

The system cautiously reminded him: "Host, the older you get, the more terrifying this aura becomes; your art of blending into the crowd will soon cease to work."

Ning Cai Ren cursed inwardly, thinking that a talented lady of such unparalleled talent, shouldn't Eunuch Xia proactively recommend her to the emperor?

Ning Cai Ren silently breathed a sigh of relief, her compassionate heart again feeling sympathy for Jiang He.

Xia Duofu Gonggong truly is a rootless eunuch, completely not understanding what it means to cherish fragrance and treasure jade!

It thinks the host is being stingy; as long as he is willing to give up half his points, this aura can actually be removed.

In the palace, once a eunuch loses that root, he automatically becomes a servant; physiologically, the emperor treats him as a woman—a woman to attend to him.

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Their pity, though present, hasn't reached the point of violating their own will; more often they say they're happy, and only when they're in a good mood can they spare a few bits of pity for unrelated people.

Now, it's as if the present eunuchs have swallowed half a bottle of vinegar; the palace maid sisters are gentle, delicate, and considerate, wiping Xiao Hezi's sweat, even though they sweat more themselves.

A few days later, after discovering the emperor hadn't turned their cards, Ning Cai Ren felt a slight irritation.

The eunuchs of the Imperial Flower Bureau first envied Jiang He, then grew sympathetic.

Perhaps people who aren't happy can't stand seeing others happy, or rather, seeing others' tragic fates can oddly comfort oneself that one is actually quite happy.

Whenever he thought of this, Jiang He felt a chill; serving men is impossible, and anyone who dares let him serve them also dares to turn men into his sisters!

Recently, because Jiang He was serving in Yuhuayuan, the women of the Place: Inner Palace finally noticed that the palace also has such a handsome little eunuch.

To them, Jiang He is just an irrelevant person.

Jiang He carried a flower pot into Ning Cai Ren's hall; today was already the fifth time he delivered flowers. Ning Cai Ren's literary talent isn't great, but her talent for tormenting people is quite strong.

If the points were fewer, he'd of course have bought it, but using half the points is like doing half the work for free; don't even think about it!

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Although Ning Cai Ren noticed Jiang He, her thoughts were more focused on Eunuch Xia.

Having so many tasks is one thing; the problem is that they are extremely petty, and these low‑ranking beauties seem to take pleasure in ordering him around, growing more and more impertinent.

In comparison, her talent goes unrecognized and her flower‑like beauty faces the moon in vain; not receiving the Emperor's exclusive favor is not that tragic or lamentable.

With such looks, if she were a woman she would surely be the favorite of the six palaces, yet she happens to be a man—and a disgraced eunuch at that.

Similarly depressed are several other talented women whose abilities go unappreciated.

The "everyone falls for the eunuch" aura is indeed troublesome; it can turn people's affection into an obsessive desire.

Xi Yue's hand seemed to brush Jiang He's chest unintentionally, and she gave Ning Cai Ren a barely perceptible shake of the head.

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