CHAPTER 374: CHAPTER 374: ENTERING THE PALACE

The man brought Su Yang and the others back intending to use them as hostages, to coerce Marquis Dongxiang if necessary.

But the man underestimated Duke Chong’s ruthlessness.

Innocents should not suffer, yet he wanted to make Marquis Dongxiang’s son atone for his father’s sins, and the man was helpless.

The servant helped Su Yang and the others change out of women’s clothing into ordinary attire, then sent them into the palace.

The Ninth Prince fell into the water because he was bored and playing on the rockery.

Because the Ninth Prince was young and couldn’t play with the eunuchs, the Empress suggested finding a few little eunuchs of similar age to accompany him, and the Emperor agreed.

But it was difficult to find young kids.

There weren’t many eunuchs, and it would take ruthless parents to sell their children into the palace, to be beaten and scolded, truly a last resort with no other option.

So even after a few days, they couldn’t find suitable candidates.

Luckily, after the Ninth Prince fell into the water and got sick, there was no rush to find companions immediately, allowing for a slow selection.

Now, three arrived all at once, just the right age, relieving the urgent need in the palace.

"But why are they unconscious?" the eunuch receiving them asked.

They had been handling this for years, yet had never seen anyone brought in unconscious.

Such a final act, one slash and there’s no going back.

The other two were thin and emaciated, connected with the palace, but this smallest one had tender skin and a rosy complexion; clearly from wealth or aristocracy. Could such a person be subjected to a casual slash?

The little eunuch wanted to ask clearly, but the delivering servant said, "Some things shouldn’t be asked; just take them in and receive them."

The tone was obviously backed by strong connections.

The servant didn’t even know whom he was delivering; accustomed to draping Duke Chong’s flag when stepping out, it made things easier and brought benefits.

This time was no exception.

Upon hearing they were from Duke Chong’s Mansion, the little eunuch didn’t dare ask more.

They paid double the price and quickly brought the people into the palace, waiting for cleansing.

Su Yang and the others were carried into the Cleansing Room.

Despite his young age, Su Yang had the best physical strength. Uncomfortable being carried, the pain in his neck from a blow woke him.

Seeing himself being carried into a room where an old eunuch was wiping tools.

At that moment,

Su Yang was truly frightened.

He had just joked on the street that if he didn’t strive, he’d become food on someone’s chopping board, unaware it would come true so quickly.

He had only been lazy for a few days.

Even sleeping in the broken temple, he still practiced his stances every morning, never forgetting for a day.

Su Yang was placed on the table, and he cried out, "Let go of me!"

"You’re already here; calling out is too late," the old eunuch said.

"Such a good-looking child, yet the parents are so ruthless," the old eunuch sighed.

"My mother isn’t ruthless! Let me go, and I’ll give you money!" Young Master Su shouted.

The old eunuch was stunned for a moment, and the other little eunuchs urged, "Stop dawdling and get on with it."

Su Yang was bound and shouted in fear, "Wait! Let’s talk this through first!"

"Whatever you have to say, say it later," the little eunuch said.

"Don’t turn down money! Missing this chance might not come again!" Su Yang shouted.

"I have silver on me!"

"Let’s talk money!"

Su Yang felt aggrieved.

His father often heard these words when robbing; those kneeling and begging said them.

Though he hadn’t knelt, pleading was the same.

The little eunuch considered it; indeed, it made sense.

No reason to turn down money.

He reached out to search, "Where’s the silver?"

Su Yang belatedly realized he’d been knocked out; the money must be gone.

But no money, no matter; he still had the jade pendant.

"There’s something more valuable in my shoe," Young Master Su said.

The little eunuch searched his shoe.

After a moment, he pulled out a jade pendant.

Upon seeing the pendant, the old eunuch’s face turned paper white.

For palace elders, few wouldn’t recognize this pendant.

This was the Emperor’s personal pendant, worn for over a decade.

How did it end up on this child?

"Is this your jade pendant?" the old eunuch asked.

"It’s my sister’s," Young Master Su said.

"Who’s your sister?" the old eunuch asked.

"My sister is the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion," Young Master Su replied truthfully.

With the Emperor’s pendant, surely they’ll fear.

The old eunuch’s hand shook, nearly dropping the pendant.

The other two eunuchs turned pale in fright.

Oh dear.

They nearly... harmed Marquis Dongxiang’s youngest son.

"Quick, release him," the old eunuch shouted.

A little eunuch scrambled to release him.

Another little eunuch pulled him aside, whispering, "Did you forget who had him sent here? Letting him go, we might not survive."

Releasing him, Duke Chong wouldn’t spare them.

Not releasing, Marquis Dongxiang certainly wouldn’t spare them.

What seemed a boon turned out to be a life-threatening charge on both sides.

"What to do now?" the two eunuchs fretted like ants on a hot stove.

The old eunuch looked at the jade pendant, Su Yang sat on the table watching him, and said, "Is it that difficult?"

The old eunuch smiled wryly.

After struggling for years in the palace, he’d faced numerous difficult situations, long since accustomed.

The old eunuch returned the pendant to Su Yang, "Child, go home."

Su Yang prepared to leave.

But leaving the Cleansing Room, he looked at the towering palace walls and asked, "Is this the Imperial Palace?"

"Yes," the old eunuch replied.

"I was planning to visit the palace!" Su Yang exclaimed happily.

"Didn’t expect I’d already be here. I won’t leave immediately; I’ll play for a few days," Su Yang decided firmly.

"...."

The old eunuch gave a bitter smile.

This child doesn’t know what he nearly went through?

The little eunuch suggested, "How about sending him to the Nine Emperors Palace? He’s so young, wandering in the harem is fine, and we might avert disaster."

"That might be a perfect solution," the old eunuch said.

Su Yang looked around and asked, "Where are the other two with me?"

The little eunuch said, "Over there, not awake yet."

Su Yang went over, patted their faces, waking them up.

"Where is this?" the little beggar asked.

"This is the Imperial Palace," Su Yang said.

"Imperial Palace?"

"How did we enter the Imperial Palace?" the little beggar asked.

"We were sold into the palace, and they stole all my money," Su Yang said angrily.

If he knew who it was, he’d hang them for three days and nights.

Su Yang was young, unaware of what entering the palace meant.

The older ones understood and felt beneath them.

Thankfully.

"Let’s leave the palace quickly," the little beggar said.

Su Yang said, "You go ahead, I want to play in the palace for a few days."

The little beggar said, "...."

Is the palace a place to play?

Playing could risk life itself.

Thinking they had no money, only begging to survive, Su Yang relented, looking at the little eunuch, "Lend me some money."

The little eunuch said, "...."

Are they familiar?

It’s their first meeting today.

He’d never been borrowed money from by a stranger on first meeting.

But faced with Su Yang’s extended hand, the little eunuch dared not refuse.

This was a bandit from Qingyun Mountain.

Money lent was a one-way transaction, never to return.

The little eunuch pulled out his ten taels of silver, reluctantly handing them to Su Yang.

Lending some money was one thing; it’s like resolving disaster with money, but risking life was another matter.

When gods fight, little devils suffer.

Su Yang handed it to the little beggar, "You go out first; I’ll find you after I leave the palace."

"The palace is very dangerous," the little beggar said.

The little eunuch thought: It’s dangerous for others, not him.

Thinking of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion entering the palace.

She caused trouble every entry into the palace.

Even the Emperor feared her visits.

Duke Chong not only hated Marquis Dongxiang, he wasn’t fond of the Emperor either; why else send Marquis Dongxiang’s son to ruin the palace?

May the palace withstand it.