Queen Afang cleanses her face and washes herself, and the rosewood wooden bed exudes the woody fragrance that lulls people to sleep.
His personal maid, Ping'er, walked to the basin with a silk towel and said respectfully:
"There have been a lot of people in the Jingsi Room lately."
Blah blah blah~
Afang seemed not to have heard and focused on washing his face. The water droplets were lifted up and then fell down again, creating ripples in the basin.
Taking the towel handed by the personal maid, Afang wiped his face, his voice came out from under the towel, and the timbre changed slightly.
"If you have nothing to do, go take care of Young Master 18."
The eighteenth prince Ying Huhai now lives in Afang Palace and sleeps in the side hall next to the main hall.
Since the death of Concubine Hu, the youngest son of the First Emperor has been living here.
Ping'er lowered her head slightly and said "Wei" humbly, just like other maids and eunuchs in Afang Palace when they responded to the Queen's orders.
Since Ying Chengyu left Xianyang, the close master-servant relationship has become much more pure, just master and servant.
Ping'er walked to the third palace on the left. It was small, only about ten square meters.
As soon as I opened the door, there were subtle rustling and squeaking sounds, as well as a weird and unpleasant smell that was sour, smelly, and fishy.
This small hall should not be called a palace, but should only be called a house. It was originally the dressing hall where the Empress of Qin painted her eyebrows and printed her lips. It exudes the aroma of ambergris, sandalwood, rouge and other substances all year round.
After the Eighteenth Young Master moved to Afang Palace, the role of the Dressing Hall became to store all kinds of insects, bottles and jars for breeding insects, and all kinds of insect food.
The refreshing and fragrant air that breathed into her nose turned into a fishy, sour and rotten air. Ping'er did not frown unconsciously like other palace maids and eunuchs, and she held her breath.
Among the secret guards, her martial arts skills were not very high, but she was not at the bottom either. It was not a big problem for her to hold her breath for a while.
Picking up a jar of insects from it, Ping'er quickly walked towards the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom.
Although she couldn't smell the smell here because she was closed, she still didn't want to stay here any longer. She was psychologically uncomfortable with it, and she closed the door much faster than she opened it.
Unconsciously slowing down, he walked to the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom and knocked on the door lightly.
"Enter."
A clear and loud teenage voice.
Pushing open the door and entering, Ping'er had a sweet smile on her face and handed the clay pot in her hand to the beautiful palace maid who came up to her.
"What did Sister Ping'er give me again?"
Nine-year-old Ying Huhai smiled happily, trotted over, and eagerly took the pottery pot from the hands of the palace maid.
Although the boy's dormitory is less than a hundred meters away from the small hall where the insects are stored, it is very convenient whether you send someone to pick it up or pick it up yourself. But the Queen has an order that except for the personal palace maid Ping'er, even the Eighteenth Young Master himself cannot enter the Chongzhi Palace.
"Young Master 18 will find out when you open it."
Ping'er smiled slightly.
She didn't even open the clay pot, so she didn't know what insects she had brought.
The young man covered the lid of the clay pot with his hand and said a little coquettishly:
"No, Hu Hai asked Sister Ping'er to tell her. My uncle told me, and what others tell me is a surprise."
Young Master...
Ping'er's eyes were much softer, and she regretted why she didn't take a look at the bug she was holding just now.
If she knew the species of insects in the jar, she would tell her right now. But she walked in slowly and walked out in a hurry. At this moment, she could only smile slightly.
"The Eighteenth Young Master is even more surprised when he discovers it himself. This is what Lord Chang'an said."
"Then I'll wait until Sister Ping'er leaves before opening it. Will the surprise be bigger?"
Ping'er smiled and nodded, her smile becoming a little more natural.
She turned her gaze sideways to a tall, beardless eunuch who was at least eight feet tall.
Other eunuchs wore loose linen long gray clothes. These eunuch clothes were comfortable to wear and made it easier for the eunuchs to serve people.
This tall eunuch was wearing a half-silk, close-fitting black eunuch uniform. This kind of eunuch uniform has many disadvantages, such as discomfort, sense of urgency, etc.
There is only one advantage - ease of action.
In Xianyang Palace, eunuchs wearing this kind of close-fitting black eunuch uniform made of half silk have a special name - eunuch, and they belong to the Jingshi Room.
They don't need to wait on people; their job is to record and protect.
"Get out."
The smiling Ping'er said sweetly.
The tall eunuch frowned, wondering how he had offended the queen's personal maid.
Coming from the Jingshi Room, he was a little taller than Ping'er, who only had the status of a palace maid in front of him.
But Ping'er had the queen's favor buff, which made the tall eunuch suppress his anger and said in a deep voice:
"I am here to protect the 18th Young Master under the orders of the Chefu Ling."
"Let Zhao Gao tell me personally."
How dare she call Lord Che Fu Ling by his first name!
The eunuch Gao Da was shocked and confused. In order to show his respect for Zhao Gao, he did not dare to think of the word "Che Fu Ling" in his heart. He was always determined to be "Che Fu Ling" both physically and mentally.
But the palace maid in front of her actually called Zhao Gao by his first and last name - usually only the superiors and elders could call him by his first name, which was a symbol of status.
The tall eunuch couldn't understand.
No matter how favored the queen is, her status is still just that of a palace maid. Needless to say, Zhao Gao's secret identity is one of the Nine Qings.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to Master Che Fu Ling!"
The tall eunuch shouted angrily.
"If you want to show your loyalty, I will do it for you."
Ping'er touched Ying Huhai's little head, turned around and walked out of the dormitory.
There is only one leader of the Jingshifang—Zhao Gao.
Through the Jingshi Room, Zhao Gao knew most of the secrets of Xianyang Palace, including the affairs of the First Emperor's palace.
The Jingshifang is responsible for providing security when the King of Qin is at his weakest. Those who can take charge of the Jingshifang are the most trusted eunuchs of the Qin kings in the past dynasties.
The tall eunuch's expression was cloudy and uncertain, and having his thoughts read was not a pleasant thing after all.
Regarding Ping'er's threat before leaving, the tall eunuch just dismissed it as fart. What he was afraid of was the queen behind Ping'er, not Ping'er herself.
The greatest revenge for a favored palace maid is to complain, and then kick her out of Afang Palace based on the queen's favor. This is the worst result.
He adjusted his mentality and continued to perform his duties to protect the safety of the Eighteenth Young Master. This was Jingshi Fangxin's responsibility.
——Every princess and prince is equipped with an eunuch to protect their safety. This is Zhao Gao's order, which has been implemented for several days.
Ying Huhai took the pottery pot and put it aside. There were already piles of pottery pots there.
The rumors are false, the Eighteenth Young Master doesn't like to play with insects... thought the tall eunuch.
From the first day he came to protect Ying Huhai, he had never seen the eighteenth young master teasing Chongzhi.
Tap tap tap~
The sound of urgent and clear-paced footsteps interrupted his thoughts. A group of officials filed in, their bronze spears pointed at him.
The tall eunuch frowned and looked at Ping'er, who was the last to enter. She was extremely beautiful and had a sweet smile.
Why can she even command Lang Guan?
"The queen has an order, take it."
Ping'er smiled slightly.
The tall eunuch, who was extremely skilled and capable of breaking out of Afang Palace, did not act rashly and was captured without hesitation.
Compared with the eunuch's profound martial arts, the eunuch's loyalty is higher. Moreover, being kicked out is undoubtedly a better outcome than resisting and being killed.
The queen was very fond of this girl... The tall eunuch was pushed and escorted outside Afang Palace.
But after arriving outside the palace, the officials with weapons in hand did not go as expected by the tall eunuch. Untied him and let him go, but pinned him to the ground.
This is the duty of the staff... The tall eunuch held his head high and shouted loudly:
"I am the eunuch of Jingshifang, what are you going to do to me!"
The responsibilities of the stick ranged from light to heavy, ranging from slight injury to immediate death. The tall eunuch was a little panicked.
"Let you get what you wish for."
The sweet voice sounded, and the tall eunuch followed the sound and could see a thick wooden staff standing next to the little feet without boots.
Looking up again, there is Ping'er's smiling face.
"The queen has an order, and she will be punished with ten sticks."
Seeing that the person who was carrying out the duties of the staff was a favored palace maid, the tall eunuch's heart dropped again. How much strength can a little girl have?
The queen is very fond of this girl... Gao Da eunuch thought this for the second time and clearly realized Ping'er's status in Afang Palace.
The queen, who had never seen the tall eunuch with her eyes, did not want the tall eunuch to enter the palace. She would just expel him on the day he entered the palace, and would not raise an issue at this time.
The only explanation is that all this is an act of revenge by some exceptionally beautiful palace maids in front of them.
——The able commanding officer and the execution of the staff prove that the queen gave the order to avenge the maid.
It doesn't matter if I receive ten strokes of the cane, I can rest for half a month, and I can still be favored by Master Che Fu Ling. This is indeed what I want... The tall eunuch was thinking with some joy.
Suddenly I felt a majestic momentum rising behind me!
The person standing behind him to torture him is no less skilled in martial arts than him!
There is something wrong with this woman!
Bang~
As soon as this thought flashed across his mind, severe pain came from his buttocks like a mountain and a tsunami. His pelvis cracked, his flesh burst open, and his tight-fitting half-silk black eunuch uniform was stained with blood.
"ah!"
He was on guard, but the pain was still beyond his expectation, causing him to let out a scream that didn't sound like a human voice.
Bang~
The second stroke of the rod was enough.
The roar of the tall eunuch suddenly stopped, as if the second blow of the stick was not struck on his buttocks, but thrust into his mouth.
His eyes were bulging and bloodshot, and he stood upright, twisting and twisting wildly, struggling like a teddy in extreme heat.
"I am an eunuch! I am an eunuch!"
The status of the eunuchs in Xianyang Palace was higher than that of the ministers, who were mostly descendants of generals.
Having been trained by the Ying family since childhood, their future prospects are mostly not as good as those of the gilded Lang Guan.
But in the Xianyang Palace, when the First Emperor was happy and recorded, the lives of those who were protected were far more guaranteed than those of Lang Guan - only the First Emperor could grant them death.
The two lieutenants who were holding him down were almost knocked over by him, and they hurriedly called for help from their colleagues. It took six lieutenants to restrain the tall eunuch whose hands were tied.
Ping'er smiled lightly as always, as if she didn't know the eunuch's special nature at all.
She held the heavy wooden stick in both hands that Lang Guan had to use all his strength to swing, and she swung it up and down easily.
Bang~
repeat.
Bang~
Repeat again.
Bang~
…
Stupid... Queen Afang sighed, the screams outside the palace made her feel helpless.
"Go and see if Hu Hai is scared, and bring him to my place."
She softly ordered the palace maid in green to beat her legs and wait on her.
The cry is so shrill that children should be frightened.
"only."
The maid in green stopped, walked into the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom, knocked on the door and entered.
I saw the 18th Young Master cowering on the bed, surrounded by a circle of maids and eunuchs who looked pale and had a forced smile.
"Young Master 18, the queen is worried about you and wants you to come over."
Ying Huhai was wearing shoes and huddled under the brocade quilt. There were some stains on the clean quilt, and he looked like he didn't dare to go out.
The palace maid in green didn't dare to take the eighteenth young master out, so she tried to persuade him a few more times. Seeing that the Eighteenth Young Master didn't come out, he retreated into the quilt, so he could only turn around first to report the news.
Outside the quilt, I heard the shrill voice and was in danger. The eunuchs and maids who served Ying Huhai were still comforting me, but their expressions changed from warm smiles to panic, which looked very inconsistent.
The Eighteenth Young Master hiding under the blankets could not see their faces, so they could take off their facial disguises.
Inside the quilt, the nine-year-old boy was biting the quilt, listening to the soft words of comfort coming from outside, tears dripping from his eyes.
"Concubine, Hu Hai will stop making you angry. Hu Hai will read "Li Sao" to you.
"I took a long breath to cover my tears, lamenting the hardships of our people's lives... Hu Hai is so scared..."
Ying Huhai whimpered very quietly, just like the sound of an insect grinding its wings.
The eunuch and the palace maid can't see the boy's face outside the quilt, so the boy can take off his facial disguise.
His father loved him very much.
He hired an official to catch insects for him, so he no longer had to do it himself. He can go to Zhangtai Palace to find his father at any time. No one in Xianyang Palace will face him coldly, except for the cold-faced swordsman next to his father.
The queen mother dotes on him very much.
He freed up his dressing room to become the Chongzhi Palace, and appointed many more eunuchs and maids to serve him. If there is anything delicious or delicious to drink, I will bring it to him first and give him something to drink. He will almost always answer his request. I was worried that he would be afraid and immediately call the palace maid to take him there. Not letting him play with insects by himself was to prevent him from getting bored playing with things.
Overnight, Ying Huhai went from a little transparent young man who only his uncle would remember him and came to play with him to the most favored eighteenth young man in Xianyang Palace.
The sounds outside the quilt disappeared.
The brocade quilt covering the Eighteenth Young Master was slowly lifted, and the Queen Mother, who was of middle-class and upper-middle class but far less beautiful than his biological mother, Concubine Hu, gently wiped away the tears on his face and said softly:
"Hu Hai is not afraid, the queen is here."
He gently picked up Hu Hai and patted the boy's back gently.
The boy lay in Afang's arms, hugging his mother tightly, seemingly frightened.
Ping'er, the queen's personal maid, would bring him insects on time every day, but she never remembered what kind of insects she brought.
When the Queen Mother suspected that he was afraid, she would thoughtfully send a palace maid to visit him. When he dared not go to the ground, he would come to his bedroom, hold him and comfort him.
His mother-in-law never sends maids, she always goes there in person. While reprimanding him about how Chu people cry and cry, and asking him to stop crying, he held him in his arms and read "Li Sao" to him.
The queen's caressing was very comfortable, one after another, with a clear rhythm, like a routine...
The mother-in-law's caressing was not very comfortable, and it was light and heavy according to the language and emotion of "Li Sao" she was reading.
"Mom..."
Ying Huhai's voice was small.
"……Why."
Afang, who was thinking about something and was a little lost in thought, was a little slow to react when he heard unfamiliar words, and his response was a little slow.
These young masters and princesses in the harem have always called her Queen Mother.
The young man raised his smile, with tears in his eyes.
"Hu Hai is not afraid anymore."
(End of chapter)
