Chapter 600: Palace Secrets

Though Zu'an found it odd, a summons from the Empress was not something he could refuse.

Following the two young eunuchs to Kuning Palace, where the Empress resided, he decided to subtly gather information from them. "Good sirs," he began, "may I inquire about your esteemed names?"

The young eunuchs immediately beamed. "Hello, Lord Zu," they replied.

Due to their physical condition, eunuchs were often subconsciously treated as inferiors. Many high-ranking officials entering the palace would only show deference to powerful head eunuchs. However, they typically held younger eunuchs in contempt, acting as if even speaking to them was a bad omen, with their disdain evident from a distance. Encountering such a polite and respectful attitude was rare, and they naturally appreciated it.

"My name is Xiao Zhuozi," said the slightly plump young eunuch.

"I'm Xiao Guizi," replied the other lean young eunuch.

Xiao Guizi?

Zu'an was instantly struck with wonder. He carefully scrutinized the eunuch's aura and confirmed he was indeed a genuine eunuch, not an impostor like Wei Xiaobao.

Nevertheless, hearing the familiar name made him quite pleased. "Excellent names, truly," he exclaimed. "You two remind me of home, making me feel quite close. Please accept this small token; it's a humble offering, so don't refuse."

As he spoke, he slipped an East Pearl into each of their hands. These were abundant in the Red Dragon's cave outside Brightmoon City, and he had simply taken two and handed them over.

As someone who had transmigrated, he naturally understood how formidable eunuchs could be, and he knew it was always wise to foster good relationships with them.

The two young eunuchs' eyes widened at the feel of the large pearls in their hands. They quickly glanced around, and seeing no one was watching, discreetly tucked them into their sleeves. "Lord Zu is truly generous," they remarked.

"It's clear your future prospects are limitless."

"You two flatter me, haha," Zu'an chuckled. For the rest of the journey, they conversed amiably.

Sensing the opportune moment, he seized it to ask, "May I know why Her Majesty the Empress has summoned me?"

"How dare we servants pry into our master's thoughts?" The two young eunuchs seemed slightly embarrassed, having just accepted gifts yet offering only platitudes. So, they added, "However, Her Majesty the Empress has always treated people kindly, so Lord Zu shouldn't worry too much."

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress seems to be in good spirits today."

"That's excellent, excellent," Zu'an replied, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Xiao Guizi then lowered his voice. "Her Majesty the Empress is one thing, but you absolutely must not offend Eunuch Lu; he's very formidable."

"Eunuch Lu?" Zu'an paused, and only after their explanation did he grasp the situation.

It seemed Eunuch Lu was from the same hometown as the Empress, entering the palace around the same year. The Empress trusted him implicitly, and he himself was highly capable, swiftly rising to become the chief steward of Kuning Palace.

All matters, big and small, within the Empress's palace fell under his purview.

"Eunuch Lu has very high cultivation," they explained. "He's widely considered one of the top two eunuchs in the palace in terms of cultivation, surpassed only by Eunuch Wei."

"Wait, no, it should be top three. There used to be a Eunuch Mi as well."

"That person disappeared decades ago; he doesn't count anymore."

As he listened to their exchange, Zu'an's expression subtly shifted. They were likely referring to Wei Dan and Old Man Mi. The fact that Eunuch Lu was on par with them suggested his cultivation was remarkably high.

What's more, Eunuch Lu was from the Empress's hometown and entered the palace around the same time. Could they have been a couple forced apart when she was conscripted as a consort, with him, unable to bear the separation, choosing to become a eunuch and enter the palace alongside her?

My goodness, what devotion!

The more he pondered it, the more plausible this theory became. He knew from Chu Chuyan that the current Empress was not the Crown Prince's birth mother, but his birth mother's younger sister. When the previous Empress fell ill and passed away, she recommended her sister to enter the palace and succeed her, all for the sake of her family's honor.

Therefore, it was highly probable that she had a beloved before entering the palace but was forced to accept this fate for her family's sake.

Neither Chu Chuyan nor Sang Hong could possibly know such palace secrets. Thus, winning over two trusted eunuchs by the Empress's side with just two pearls seemed like an excellent bargain.

He considered finding an opportunity to build rapport with Xiao Xuzi and Xiao Hezi in the Eastern Palace as well.

Ah, well, when you're this wealthy, you can indulge your whims.

The group soon arrived outside the gates of Kuning Palace. The two young eunuchs respectfully announced, "Your Majesty, Lord Zu has been brought."

"Come in," a gentle voice responded, carrying a subtle air of authority—a natural bearing likely cultivated from years as the empress regent. Yet, the overall tone remained quite tender.

Zu'an couldn't help but recall the Crown Princess. Her voice was actually quite pleasant, but regrettably, she always sounded so stern. He mused that she could learn a thing or two from the true Empress's temperament.

The two young eunuchs opened the door, inviting Zu'an inside.

Zu'an felt no fear. He was currently on a secret mission for the Emperor, making it highly improbable that the Empress would scheme against him within her own chambers.

Stepping through the main door, he was met with a blend of sandalwood and rouge scents, which instinctively calmed him.

He had just dealt with Shi Kun, and a lingering aura of killing intent still clung to him, but upon entering the room, it quickly dissipated.

He peered inside, where a beaded curtain partitioned the room. Beyond it, a woman in a phoenix robe sat on a high chair. The gently burning sandalwood nearby lent an increasingly ethereal and indistinct quality to her features.

Yet, with Zu'an's current cultivation, he could just barely make out her features: a beautiful, middle-aged woman with an oval face.

Her skin glowed with a crystalline luster, and she exuded elegance and dignity. Though described as middle-aged, women in this cultivation world retained their beauty exceptionally well; reaching a certain level of cultivation allowed them to preserve their youthful appearance indefinitely.

In worlds of cultivation, one might encounter a young woman, assume her to be eighteen, only for her to be eighty-eight, or even eight thousand eight.

This particular world wasn't quite so exaggerated; time could still leave some faint traces on women. However, compared to his previous world, this effect was negligible.

Although her phoenix robe was quite voluminous, it failed to conceal her voluptuous and graceful figure. Most strikingly, the exaggerated curve of a mature woman's hips joined her waist, appearing round and full, like a perfect moon disc.

What a magnificent derrière; James Harden would surely approve.

Amidst his admiration, Zu'an quickly bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty," he said.

One advantage of this world was that officials merely bowed to their superiors instead of kneeling. Even forms of address were less rigid than in the ancient dynasties of his previous life.

After all, everyone was a cultivator, often proud and arrogant. Kneeling would be seen as excessively humiliating and could easily compromise one's dao heart. Taking all this into account, the Emperor did not strictly enforce rules of prostration.

"You are quite bold, staring at me for so long just now," the Empress's faint voice remarked, though her words carried a distinct chill.

Everyone else who came to Kuning Palace showed utmost respect, not daring to meet her gaze. Yet this man had the audacity to stare intently, even scanning her up and down. What did he take her for? A woman from a pleasure house?

Rage value from Liu Ning: 344!

As her anger flared, a middle-aged eunuch suddenly emerged from the shadows. He fixed a cold gaze on Zu'an, exuding a formidable aura of pressure.

This had to be the Eunuch Lu mentioned by the two young eunuchs. Zu'an hadn't even noticed him standing in the shadows just now, indicating he was likely at least a ninth-rank cultivator.

Zu'an broke out in a cold sweat. He hadn't actually stared for long, but he hadn't anticipated the Empress would be so sensitive. He quickly explained, "Before I came, I imagined Her Majesty to be a stern, imposing figure. I never expected to find you so beautiful and gentle upon meeting you, which is why I couldn't help but gaze a few extra moments. I humbly beg your forgiveness."

"Beautiful and gentle?" The Empress behind the beaded curtain paused, momentarily lost in thought. It had been a long time since anyone had praised her beauty. The Emperor was preoccupied with state affairs and rarely visited Kuning Palace throughout the year, and others certainly wouldn't dare utter such words to her. For whom, then, was this beauty meant?

Eunuch Lu? Hmph!

However, unwilling to betray any inner vulnerability, she pursed her lips and smiled. "You are truly a smooth talker," she said. "I can vaguely understand how you managed to charm the eldest daughter of the Chu family."

Although she called him a smooth talker, her face was full of smiles. She wasn't an inherently fierce person, so her anger quickly dissipated.