Chapter 38: This Old Pervert

“By imperial decree, all eunuchs in charge must assemble outside the Chongming Hall immediately. Hurry, no one is allowed to delay!”
“Those still alive, have them carried here; the dead… humph, carry them here as well!”
“Quickly!!”

Liu, the palace eunuch who delivered the order, spoke harshly, as if suspecting everyone of rebellion. The crowd was terrified and dared not ask any questions.

In the Fourth Prince’s chambers, Huo Renli had just finished bandaging his hand when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Startled, he sharply demanded, “Who is it?”

A young eunuch replied, “Master, it’s me, Xing’er.”

“The emperor urgently summons all eunuchs in charge to Chongming Hall. Nobody knows what’s happening, but Liu said even the dead are to be carried there. It must be something serious. You should hurry and not get suspected.”

Huo Renli’s expression changed drastically, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

Earlier that day, he had encountered a beautiful woman in the imperial garden—could she be the emperor’s new favorite? Judging by her appearance, she was indeed unique within the palace.

But there had been no announcement of a consort’s elevation. Who exactly was she?

“I understand,” Huo Renli said.

Glancing at his freshly bandaged hand, he tore the bandage off without hesitation.

Next, he removed the delicate, translucent mask from his face. He placed the mask inside the Fourth Prince’s chamber and took out a bag of ice wrapped in sheepskin from within.

As he stepped outside, he happened to meet the returning Fourth Prince. Their eyes met.

Xiao Huaizheng asked suspiciously, “Uncle, where are you going?”

He asked where, not why he was leaving his room—proof the prince did not suspect him.

Huo Renli quickly replied, “The emperor summoned all eunuchs in charge. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“I originally wanted to tell you, but since you weren’t in your room, I took some ice.”

“It’s so hot now, and if I don’t return soon, at least it will keep my hand cool.”

The Fourth Prince had already learned the situation’s details but chose not to intervene. He was curious about how Huo Renli intended to survive this crisis.

“Then take it with you, Uncle,” he said.

Huo Renli bowed and hurried away.

Only then did Xiao Huaizheng enter the room and look around, finding nothing amiss.

Only the fragrant sachet hanging by the bed swayed gently, as if it had just been touched.

He approached and examined it, discovering something inside. Slowly opening it, he was shocked.

It was a mask.

There had been reports earlier of wild cats being brutally killed in the palace—could this old thing be responsible?

Such a twisted mind would surely be unable to resist acting again. He must burn this mask to see how he could hide behind it.

Xiao Huaizheng placed the mask over the flame but suddenly caught a faint scent of burning flesh. He recoiled in fear, wondering if it was made of human skin.

But now was not the time to investigate further. He gathered the remaining fragments and placed them back in the sachet, preparing to leave the palace to consult a doctor.

Meanwhile, all eunuchs in charge had gathered in the palace.

Since Zhou Dahai had not yet returned to duty, Liu the eunuch stood on a raised platform, commanding, “Silence! No one is to speak!”

Shortly after, the emperor and crown prince appeared.

Beside them stood a strikingly beautiful woman, radiating elegance.

Liu stepped forward, announcing, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Consort Ding are all present.”

Looking down, Lin Yue noticed all the eunuchs bowed their heads in silence, none daring to meet her gaze. Either their composure was exceptional, or they already knew her identity.

The latter was better—they were merely cunning dogs who knew how to hide.

If it were the former, then they were vicious and depraved villains.

Lin Yue commanded, “Bring Jin Yu out and help her to my side. We will identify her together.”

The emperor quickly said to Liu, “Go at once.”

Liu hurried away without delay.

Meanwhile, Huo Renli below was shocked to see the emperor seemingly protective of Princess Consort Ding.

He had assumed she was merely a newly favored noble in the palace, but now he realized his mistake.

Princess Consort Ding had been in the palace for two days and was favored by the Empress Dowager. He should have guessed sooner.

With the Ding King still at the border, the emperor had to show some leniency. Judging by the current situation, finding a scapegoat was inevitable.

Fortunately, he had already discarded the ice. By altering his voice, the princess consort would not recognize him.

Liu brought chairs for the lords to sit, and the emperor and others took their seats one by one.

Lin Yue and Jin Yu sat slightly forward, flanked by the imperial physician Lin, who remained standing.

Lin Yue instructed, “Step forward one by one. You need only say, ‘I do not know which palace Your Ladyship belongs to; I have never seen you before.’”

“Say nothing more. Then present your right hand to the imperial physician for inspection. Afterward, stand aside and wait. Understood?”

A chorus of voices responded affirmatively; nothing seemed unusual.

Lin Yue turned to Liu, “Begin.”

Liu stepped forward, “Princess Consort Ding has made herself clear. Do as she commands. Anyone who dares to feign obedience while disobeying will not be spared before the emperor and crown prince.”

The emperor’s voice rang out fiercely, “If anyone behaves suspiciously, no interrogation is needed—strike them down immediately!”

All eunuchs in charge nodded tensely, hurriedly pledging, “We dare not.”

The process began, eunuchs stepping forward one by one—voices sharp or soft, figures tall or short.

None seemed quite right.

Soon it was Huo Renli’s turn. He suddenly realized his injured hand now prevented him from harming someone else to serve as a scapegoat. He felt a pang of regret.

When he stepped forward, his unfamiliar face and gloomy aura made people uneasy.

Lin Yue said, “Look up.”

Huo Renli raised his head.

Seeing his unfamiliar features, Lin Yue frowned, “Speak.”

Huo Renli immediately said, “I do not know which palace Your Ladyship belongs to; I have never seen you before.”

His voice was different, but the tone was familiar.

Lin Yue said to the physician, “Examine his right hand.”

The physician approached and noticed some abnormalities, but many palace servants came from impoverished backgrounds and had deformed fingers from hard labor.

To avoid mistakes, he had a heavy bucket of water ready on site.

“If all five fingers are broken, the bucket cannot be lifted,” he said.

Without hesitation, Huo Renli lifted the bucket effortlessly.

The physician saw no cause for suspicion and told Lin Yue, “The hand is fine.”

There were still a dozen or so eunuchs to test. Lin Yue nodded, about to continue, when she noticed Huo Renli glance sideways at Jin Yu the moment he set down the bucket.

All eunuchs deliberately ignored Jin Yu’s presence—except him. He seemed to seek whether Jin Yu suspected him.

Lin Yue immediately said, “Wait. What is your name?”

Huo Renli was startled but answered calmly, “I am Huo Renli, eunuch in charge of the Fourth Prince’s chambers.”

An alarm rang in Lin Yue’s mind. So it was him.

This old pervert—the source of the sinister aura.

And he was skilled in disguise, which explained his differing appearance.