Chapter 6: Disguised as a Little Eunuch to Run Away
Sheng Qianheng and Chu Yi’s wedding date was set for the sixth of the following month. Chu Yi calculated that he had less than twenty days to make his escape.
Although the current plot was already vastly different from what was written in the book, staying by the tyrant’s side was always a nerve-wracking experience, detrimental to both mind and body. Running away was an inevitability.
At this moment, Chu Yi was standing beside the tyrant. It was late spring, and Chu Yi was fanning Sheng Qianheng.
His wrist was already incredibly sore, but he couldn’t complain.
Sheng Qianheng heard Chu Yi’s faint sigh with perfect clarity. He raised a hand and pretended to pinch the bridge of his nose, saying, “My head hurts. Come massage it for me.”
Chu Yi immediately put down the fan and flexed his wrist a little. Just as he was about to move, he felt as if his left leg was being crushed by a thousand-pound weight. A numbing sensation spread up from the sole of his foot.
He didn’t even have time to grab the desk for support before he pitched forward. Watching his body tilt, Chu Yi couldn’t help but panic.
Sheng Qianheng had just closed his eyes, waiting for Chu Yi to massage his head, when he heard a considerable commotion beside him. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Chu Yi about to fall.
He quickly sat up and extended his leg slightly.
“Ow! That hurts!” Chu Yi’s abdomen landed squarely on Sheng Qianheng’s thigh.
Sheng Qianheng raised a hand and patted Chu Yi’s lower back. “You’ve only just agreed to enter the palace as a consort, and you’re already so eager to throw yourself into my arms?”
Chu Yi winced in pain, his leg still numb, so he had no choice but to remain draped over him. This damn emperor actually patted me!
“Your Majesty, don’t you like it?”
Sheng Qianheng’s hand did not move from Chu Yi’s lower back; his palm gradually shifted downward.
Chu Yi didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he could actually feel the warmth from the tyrant’s palm, even though he was wearing three inner and three outer layers of clothing…
Chu Yi immediately stood up. Although the numbness in his leg lingered, it was much better than a moment ago. He faced Sheng Qianheng with a smile. “Your Majesty, do you still need this subject to massage your head?”
Sheng Qianheng closed his eyes again, leaning back against the chair.
Chu Yi stood in place for a moment to make sure his leg was no longer numb before walking behind the tyrant to massage his head.
Sheng Qianheng: “Zhen is currently drafting the edict for your consort title. What rank would my beloved Minister Chu like?”
Chu Yi couldn’t care less about such things. Firstly, the harem was empty except for him. Secondly, he had no intention of vying for the tyrant’s favor. A high or low rank was merely a title for him to survive. “This subject will listen to whatever Your Majesty decides.”
Sheng Qianheng continued, “If Zhen only grants you the rank of Daying or Guiren this time, and in the future, Zhen takes other consorts with ranks higher than yours, you will be left to be bullied by others.”
Chu Yi naturally knew this. He deliberately pitched his voice a little higher, feigning a wronged expression. “Your Majesty, this subject has not even entered the harem yet, and you’re already planning to take other consorts?”
Sheng Qianheng raised an eyebrow slightly and patted the dragon throne. “Come here and sit.”
“Ah?” Chu Yi was confused. He hadn’t noticed where Sheng Qianheng’s hand was pointing. “Sit where?”
There was only one dragon throne…
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to stand for so long fanning the tyrant earlier.
Sheng Qianheng patted the dragon throne again. “I told you to come and sit.”
Chu Yi shuffled to the side of Sheng Qianheng’s leg but didn’t dare to sit. “Your Majesty, this is the dragon throne… This subject dares not.”
Sheng Qianheng nodded silently and took Chu Yi’s hand. “Then there is another option.”
Chu Yi: “What?”
Sheng Qianheng patted his own lap.
Chu Yi instantly plopped down onto the dragon throne. Seeing the tyrant’s brows furrow, he reached up to smooth them. “Your Majesty, don’t always frown. It makes you look old and stuffy. Your Majesty is clearly only twenty-two, having already reached the age of capping, an age of high spirits.”
Sheng Qianheng’s expression instantly froze. He gently tossed Chu Yi’s hand aside, then picked up a brush from the desk and said, “Grind the ink.”
Chu Yi immediately stood up. “This subject obeys the decree.”
He took the ink stick and placed it in the inkstone, slowly grinding it.
Did I say something wrong again? Why does the tyrant suddenly seem unhappy? Is he giving me the cold shoulder?
He felt the lingering warmth from Sheng Qianheng’s touch on his fingertips and was truly baffled. Was praising him for being young not okay?
Sheng Qianheng wore a dark expression throughout the evening meal, and Chu Yi didn’t dare to ask.
That night, after bathing, Chu Yi simply draped an inner robe and a light-colored outer robe over himself and walked toward the bed. He glanced at the night sky outside the window; the tyrant should be coming in to rest soon.
Every night, he went to bed early, hoping only to fall asleep quickly so he could forget the fear of sharing a bed with the tyrant.
But on this day, he didn’t hear a trace of the tyrant even late into the night.
Ruotao, hearing Chu Yi tossing and turning in bed, couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master, are you having trouble sleeping?”
Chu Yi sat up, lifted the bed curtain, and looked at the closed palace doors. “A little. Light some calming incense.”
After agreeing, Ruotao lit the incense, then squatted by the bed and asked, “Young Master, are you waiting for His Majesty?”
Chu Yi shook his head. When had he ever waited for Sheng Qianheng…
But tonight, he felt no sleepiness at all, and he was someone who usually slept soundly through the night.
Ruotao asked again, “Then does the Young Master have something on his mind?”
Chu Yi sighed. His only worry was how to escape this deep palace. “Ruotao, do you know how one can leave the imperial palace?”
Ruotao: “Is the Young Master finding it dull after staying in the palace for so long?”
Chu Yi lay down again. “Of course. Is there any way to get out without being discovered?”
Hearing Chu Yi’s words, Ruotao sensed that he didn’t just want to go out for fun, but seemed to want to leave alone.
“Young Master, you’d best not say such things in the future. If an imperial consort escapes, it’s a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. Once you enter the palace and are recorded in the imperial register, it’s for a lifetime.”
Chu Yi pressed his lips together. It seemed he could only run away before the wedding ceremony. Otherwise, he would implicate “Chu Yi’s” family…
“Ruotao, you should go rest as well.”
For the following days, Chu Yi was arranged to stay in Jingyang Palace. Whenever he had free time, he would wander around. He had gained a general understanding of the palace layout but couldn’t find a single escape route.
Ruotao held an umbrella and followed behind Chu Yi. “Young Master, the weather is getting hotter, and the sun is scorching. Why don’t we go back?”
Chu Yi shook his head. He had always been bad with directions; he wouldn’t be able to remember the way without walking it a few more times…
Ruotao: “Young Master, the Cold Palace is just ahead… It’s better to walk around it. The people inside are either mad or deranged. I’m afraid the guards won’t be able to stop them if they rush out and bump into you.”
Chu Yi was forced to stop. He looked in the direction of the Cold Palace—the very place where Sheng Qianheng had suffered endlessly and turned into the tyrant he was today.
“Let’s go back,” Chu Yi turned around silently. “I’m tired.”
These past few days, Sheng Qianheng had almost never appeared by Chu Yi’s side. Chu Yi had a leisurely time; apart from his daily meals and walks, there was nothing much to do.
Chu Yi had stolen a servant’s uniform these past few days and hidden it under his pillow, planning to disguise himself as a servant to escape without attracting attention.
With less than ten days left until the wedding, Ruotao couldn’t help but complain while setting out the dishes, “Young Master, those dog servants who deliver the food must be shortchanging your meals… His Majesty has only been away for a few days, and they’re already acting like this.”
Chu Yi didn’t really mind, as long as the food wasn’t moldy or spoiled. “It’s fine. There’s meat and vegetables.”
Ruotao was indignant. His Majesty had only been gone for a few days, and those snobbish servants were already cutting back on the meals! She was about to go and cause a scene but was stopped by Chu Yi. “Ruotao, go and find out where His Majesty has been resting these past few days.”
Only then did Ruotao curtsy and withdraw.
Chu Yi stood up and walked to the palace door, pretending to watch Ruotao leave, but was actually checking to see if there were any guards outside.
He shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice, quickly changed into a eunuch’s uniform, and walked out of Jingyang Palace with his head bowed.
A few days ago, during his walk, he had discovered a secret passage in Yanxi Palace. Although he didn’t know where it led, he had to give it a try. What if it happened to lead outside the palace?
He mentally recited the route to Yanxi Palace as he walked quickly with his head down. He was just one turn away.
Suddenly, a palanquin entered his peripheral vision, causing him to immediately turn and run.
The head eunuch immediately called out to him, “What are you running for! You’ve encountered the Emperor, hurry up and kowtow.”
Chu Yi had no choice but to kneel, deliberately lowering his voice. “May Your Majesty have ten thousand fortunes and golden peace.”
Sheng Qianheng looked down at the small figure huddled on the ground, the corners of his lips turning up. “Rise. Which palace are you from?”
Chu Yi’s heart pounded. He stood up, his head bowed extremely low. “This servant is from Jingyang Palace.”
What is wrong with my brain? Why did I have to say Jingyang Palace? Even saying the Laundry Service Bureau would have been better!
Sheng Qianheng had already sensed Chu Yi’s presence.
Logically, Chu Yi’s Rain and Dew Period was over, so his xìnxiāng shouldn’t be released for no reason. But Sheng Qianheng had still caught Chu Yi’s scent immediately. He figured it must be because their xìnxiāng were highly compatible.
“Zhen was just on my way to Jingyang Palace. Lead the way.”
Chu Yi wanted to slap himself twice. If he really led the tyrant to Jingyang Palace and he wasn’t there, the consequences would be unimaginable…
He stood up and had no choice but to walk ahead to lead the way for the tyrant…
As they were about to reach Jingyang Palace, Chu Yi racked his brain but couldn’t think of a way to deal with the tyrant.
Sheng Qianheng’s gaze was fixed on Chu Yi. Seeing the faint sheen of sweat on the back of his neck, he knew he must be terrified.
He sighed. “Zhen suddenly remembers there is a matter to attend to in Yangxin Hall. Go and inform your master to come to Yangxin Hall in half an hour.”
Chu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. “This servant obeys the decree.”
Only after the tyrant’s palanquin was far in the distance did he dare to look up. Did Sheng Qianheng realize it was him, or did he really have something to attend to?
But for now, the most urgent matter was to get back to Jingyang Palace, change clothes, and go to Yangxin Hall!
Keeping his head down, Chu Yi saw that no one in Jingyang Palace had noticed his movements. He then walked into the hall as if nothing had happened. Just as he was about to take off the eunuch’s uniform, Ruotao pushed the door open.
Both of them froze. Ruotao immediately turned and closed the door.
Ruotao: “Young Master, what are you…?”
Chu Yi gave an awkward laugh. “Ruotao, quickly help me change. His Majesty has summoned me to Yangxin Hall.”
Ruotao had already guessed most of it. She took the clothes hanging on the rack and carefully helped Chu Yi dress. “Young Master, this servant has found out that His Majesty has been resting in Yangxin Hall these past few days. It seems His Majesty has been in a bad mood. Perhaps his Passion Tide Period has arrived.”
Chu Yi, busy tidying his appearance, listened distractedly to Ruotao’s news about the tyrant’s whereabouts. Once his clothes were in order, fearing he would be late, he rushed out with the wind at his heels, finally arriving before Yangxin Hall within the half-hour.
Only after the eunuch at the door announced him was Chu Yi allowed to enter the hall.
He knelt according to protocol. “Ten thousand fortunes to Your Majesty.”
Sheng Qianheng saw the faint beads of sweat on his forehead and couldn’t help but smile. “My beloved consort, please rise. Why are you sweating so much?”
Chu Yi raised an eyebrow. Beloved consort? What kind of address is that?
“The weather is getting hotter, and this subject’s body is prone to sweating. Your Majesty, for what matter have you summoned this subject?”
Sheng Qianheng gestured with his hand, and a servant beside him presented the wedding attire. “See if you like it.”
Chu Yi watched as several maidservants, holding trays, walked to his side. He reached out and stroked the red wedding robe. “The fabric is soft, the embroidery is exquisite, and this pair of mandarin ducks is truly lifelike. Your Majesty, this subject likes it very much.”
Sheng Qianheng picked up the red bridal veil from the side, walked over to Chu Yi, and gently placed it over his head. “Zhen encountered a little eunuch in front of Yanxi Palace today. His figure was quite similar to yours.”
Chu Yi’s vision was instantly filled with red. He could vaguely make out the tyrant’s figure through the veil. “There are thousands upon thousands of similar people in the world. It is merely a resemblance in figure to this subject.”
Sheng Qianheng gently lifted a corner of the veil with his index finger. “Oh? Is that so?”
Translator’s Notes
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Daying and Guiren : These are ranks for imperial consorts. Guiren (Noble Lady) is a mid-to-low rank, while Daying (Attendant) is one of the lowest ranks in the Qing dynasty harem system, which is often used as a model in historical fiction.
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Age of capping : An ancient Chinese coming-of-age ceremony for men, usually held at the age of 20 (or 22 in some contexts), signifying their entry into adulthood.
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Laundry Service Bureau : The Xinzheku was a department in the Qing Dynasty palace responsible for menial tasks. It was often a place where disgraced officials, their families, or low-ranking servants were sent. Chu Yi mentioning it implies it would have been a more believable, low-profile place for a random eunuch to be from.
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Mandarin ducks : In Chinese culture, mandarin ducks are a symbol of love, devotion, and lifelong partnership because they are believed to mate for life.
