Chapter 8: Eunuch 8 (Decision to Leave the Palace and Rebel)

Eunuch 8 (Decision to Leave the Palace and Rebel)

The moon entered the dark clouds, the huge palace was shrouded in darkness, only a point of light under the eaves glimmered faintly.

Jiang He took advantage of the night to leave the palace and inspect several princesses' residences.

In the Deposed Crown Prince's residence, the simple-minded yet adorable Qiuer gave him inspiration.

The princes of the Great Liang imperial household had already driven him to despair; he could only go see whether those princesses could still be saved, and if they could, he could support one to become empress. Though the path to empress is difficult, top-down reform always entails fewer casualties than bottom-up revolution.

In his view, a bottom-up revolution is simpler, able to reduce some sacrifice, or rather reduce some.

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Keeping male favorites isn't a big deal, but what gives Jiang He a toothache is that merely keeping male favorites has already left the princesses kidney-deficient, draining too much of their energy; their brains seem unable to turn, lacking the energy to pursue careers.

You should know, in feudal society, a good emperor is the biggest workaholic in the world!

Of course, there are also princesses with good kidneys who don't keep male favorites, secretly conspiring with the prince consort to back a certain prince.

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"Abundant City is the territory of the sixth prince's maternal uncle; if smallpox were to break out there…" she laughed with deep meaning.

The prince consort's face showed reluctance, looking upon the world with sympathy: "Princess, I will go to the Prime Minister's Temple to light an eternal lamp, praying for blessings upon the people of Abundant City… May they be reborn into a good fate in their next life!"

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Jiang He's expression was blank; he felt those commoners could still be saved, and did not need to be reborn.

After seeing this, his original hope for the princesses vanished instantly.

The genes of the Great Liang imperial household are indeed formidable; even bad bamboo does not produce many good shoots.

Jiang He ran dejectedly to the Deposed Crown Prince's residence, sat on a beam to secretly watch the little girl reading with her mother, and rubbed his eyes.

The little girl Qiuer was his sole comfort.

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Recently the mother and daughter's luck has been very good; they dug up silver from their own vegetable garden, their diet improved, the little girl's face finally gained some flesh, and her complexion looked much better.

"Silver is truly a good thing!" the little girl's voice full of longing: "Mother, when Qiuer grows up, she will earn lots and lots of silver."

"Then Qiuer will buy lots and lots of rice to give to those people who can't afford rice and can only eat chaff." Saying this, she felt a lingering fear and touched her own neck: "Chaff cakes are too hard to swallow; Qiuer's throat has even bled..."

The Crown Prince's consort smiled and said, "A bushel of rice breeds gratitude; a peck breeds resentment. What Qiuer should do is not give food to the commoners, but find a way for them to support themselves and buy rice with their own abilities."

The little girl innocently said, "Then Qiuer will become a shop manager, hire the poor, and pay them generous monthly wages..."

Jiang He felt that the spirits wounded by those princesses had been cleansed clean; he almost wanted to bury silver in the vegetable garden again.

As he left, he glanced at the Deposed Crown Prince collapsed drunk as mud in the pavilion.

Looking at his state, his death is not far off; after he dies, likely no one will care what happens to this mother-daughter pair, and they will soon be able to leave the Deposed Crown Prince's residence, this prison.

After dawn, Jiang He returned to the palace and found Character: Song Gonggong being surrounded by several little eunuchs, flattering him.

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"From now on you will be a member of the Imperial Kitchen; even if you become rich and noble, don't forget us brothers."

Character: Song Gonggong's face could not hide his pride: "Never forget, we share a bond forged in hardship!" Upon seeing Jiang He enter, he immediately greeted, "Xiaohez, come quickly and eat some osmanthus cake!"

Jiang He raised an eyebrow, coolly saying, "Character: Song Gonggong, have you been promoted?"

Without him needing to ask, the surrounding eunuchs chattered on about why Character: Song Gonggong could be promoted.

"Do you know Character: Huo Gonggong of the Imperial Kitchen? He is now the Head Chef."

"He and Character: Song Gonggong are from the same hometown; after Character: Song Gonggong entered the palace, he has always been looked after by Character: Huo Gonggong."

The speaking eunuch could not hide his envy and jealousy, wondering why he didn't have such a hometown connection.

Character: Song Gonggong modestly said, "Actually we're just from the same town; I heard that when I was a hundred days old, my foster father even held me!"

This also reveals a meaning: his relationship with the Head Chef Character: Huo Gonggong is not that of ordinary fellow townsfolk.

Everyone suddenly understood: "No wonder Character: Song Gonggong took you as his foster son."

Jiang He listened silently, then looked at Character: Song Gonggong and said, "You've been transferred to the Imperial Kitchen?" In one sentence he exposed Character: Song Gonggong's purpose: "Do you want to become the Head Chef in the future?"

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The Imperial Kitchen isn't that tiring, and there is hope; if one makes delicious food for the emperor and empress, they have a chance to taste it.

For eunuchs who do hard labor, the Imperial Kitchen is better than many other places.

Character: Song Gonggong: "... No, just stoking the fire."

He felt a bit embarrassed; earlier he had boasted extravagantly, drawing much envy, originally intending to gloss over it, but who knew he'd be forced to reveal the truth—and moreover, to Xiaohez……

Actually he is just a fire‑stoking eunuch, not even as good as those who chop vegetables, only slightly better than those who wash vegetables.

The others were not lacking in tact, immediately saying, "Even stoking the fire is enough to make us envious!"

"Yes, I've heard that Character: Huo Gonggong also started out stoking fires; it's because his fire control is good that he can make excellent dishes."

Jiang He neither affirmed nor denied, his tone somewhat lazy: "Indeed, when cooking, fire control is most important."

Character: Song Gonggong stared at Jiang He, discovering that Xiaohez was quite clever, as his foster father also said.

His eyes shifted slightly, and he deliberately put on a show in front of Jiang He: "Xiaohez, if you ever want something to eat, just tell me."

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This disdainful look made Character: Song Gonggong clench his fists in anger; one day, when he holds power, what happens to Xiaohez will be nothing more than a word from him.

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The sun was about to set, and the Imperial Garden finally grew tranquil.

Xiao Anzi is a taciturn person, his stature taller and sturdier than the average eunuch; seeing Jiang He's steady steps ahead, he also felt a hint of envy.

Jiang He chuckled to himself, "I want to rebel; can you give me that?"

Seeing him in pain, tears streaming, Jiang He kindly went outside to summon help and sent Character: Song Gonggong to have his waist examined.

Although he appears an especially frail youth, with one hand he lifted a half‑person‑high bonsai and walked away neatly.

When Character: Song Gonggong was helped away, his gaze at Jiang He was as if he wanted to eat him.

Jiang He walked over; he had already grown accustomed to the most strenuous mornings and afternoons of the Flower Bureau's duties, which were all backbreaking labor of moving things back and forth.

Jiang He: "Heh, illiteracy is truly terrifying!"

Character: Song Gonggong startled instinctively, afraid he would crush the flowers beloved by Consort Shu, his body jerked sharply to the side, then there was a crack.

His expression froze, then he suddenly flew into a rage.

However…

The beauty is indeed pleasing to the eye, but if this beauty possesses boundless strength and is covered in thorns, who would dare to pluck her?

The Fourth Prince waved his fan, pretending to be suave, his gaze especially oily.

Again this arrogant disregard, more infuriating than anger or hatred, Character: Song Gonggong felt a surge of vengeful fire in his heart, wanting to vent it.

He restrained the impulse to wring the Fourth Prince's neck.

The system immediately went silent; it could see the host was truly angry, but it thought this was the host's own charm—perhaps also bolstered by that face, really having little to do with that halo.

Jiang He cheerfully saw off the injured Character: Song Gonggong, thinking he could finally sit down to eat, when he saw the suave Fourth Prince appear in the flower house.

"Little River, Little River."

Taking advantage of the nobles' departure, a group of eunuchs hurriedly busied themselves cleaning up.

"My waist—"

The potted plant was too big, nearly knocking Character: Song Gonggong over; Jiang He shouted, "Watch out! That's Consort Shu's favorite peony!"

"Why?"

Upon hearing his decision, the system quickly said, "Host, don't make a decision yet!"

It is precisely this display of true manliness that caused many eunuchs, who harbored ulterior motives because of his beautiful appearance, to halt.

Speaking of which, the original host was indeed badass, exploiting the Fourth Prince's "deep affection" to the fullest, neither sincere nor half-hearted, climbing all the way up and wiping out a large bunch.

Little River is still young, his stature not yet grown; he looks frail, but when he works, he is a true man.

"No need, I can handle it alone!" Jiang He coldly refused, "I'm not hungry either."

After all, among so many task-takers, none could be as formidable as him, directly hooking up with the main god!

He walked over and said, "Tsk tsk, Little River, this work is quite tough! I've left you some steamed buns here—do you want to eat? Or should I call someone to help you clean up?"

Character: Song Gonggong appeared furtively at the door of the warm room, waving at him.

Character: Song Gonggong cried out in pain; his waist had been twisted.

After a busy half-day, his stomach was already growling with hunger; mealtime had passed, and he didn't know if anyone had left him food—probably there were no such kind souls in the palace.

Not to mention men, many women, upon seeing the host, inexplicably felt a pang of pity for his face.

System: "Host, hold back! Hold back! Killing will deduct points!"

Jiang He did not want to follow the original host's path as a Ninth Prince, playing hard-to-get games with the Fourth Prince; after spending so many years in the imperial palace and gathering enough information, he decided to leave the palace and find a mountain to rebel on.

"You didn't find out? There's still a prince in the Lenggong."

The system whispered a reminder: "Host, it's said that princes and eunuchs are a popular BL pairing, very marketable."

"Ah—"

Seeing Character: Song Gonggong wailing and collapsing in a strange posture on the ground, Jiang He blinked.

Jiang He merely glanced, then indifferently withdrew his gaze.

After everyone had left, only Jiang He remained in the warm room, tidying up.

Every time it's like this; this Little River is practically his nemesis!

The Fourth Prince also became his stepping stone.

The Fourth Prince waved his paper fan, his handsome face showing a pained expression: "You could have been a lovely person; why become a slave……"

I don't know how Little River and Little An offended Lord Lu.

Lord Lu stood to the side, shouting, "Move these flowers back to the warm room; it might rain tonight, these flowers are all the beloved possessions of the ladies!" He raised his voice and shouted, "Little River, Little An, you come move these bonsai over here."

Saying that, he hoisted a potted plant and walked over.

"Little River, as long as you follow this prince, I can give you whatever you want."

If Jiang He were merely a powerless little eunuch, he truly couldn't bear it.

Just as he was about to get some food from his space, he heard Character: Song Gonggong's voice.

"Shut up!" Jiang He cursed the system in his mind, "You useless thing, after all this time, you still can't think of a way to rid yourself of this damned halo!"

The two eunuchs nearby, who were moving other light flowerpots, stared at him in stunned silence.

Sometime or other, Jiang He caught the Fourth Prince's eye, and would occasionally come over to harass him.

No matter how many times they saw it, they found this scene utterly unbelievable.

The two eunuchs exchanged a glance, relieved that their superior Lord Lu hadn't ordered them to move the bonsai; flowerpots are much lighter, while bonsai are large half‑human‑high pots, and hauling them back and forth would ruin their hands.

The Fourth Prince is no different from the other princes, enjoys both men and women, plays very openly; it's said the eunuchs attending him are all handsome youths, frequently rotated.

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