My Full-time Servant/Lover

IX. This Beau, The Maids, And Court Lady Han

The time for a conference meeting with the emperor and high-ranking eunuchs has come. In the Pavilion of Literary Glory, not less than a hundred old eunuchs are present and are divided into two sides. The high-ranking eunuchs from the Yin clan and Xue clan.

The emperor who's currently sitting on his throne in the middle of the platform looks mighty in his usual gold yellow and black robes. It's Prince Yin Wenyan's turn to act as the emperor.

In every conference, Yin Wenyan acts as the emperor. Among the triplets, he was the most rational, collected, and matured after all. Little did everyone know, he's the real tactician behind the countless war victories led by his sister Princess Yin Xiulan.

The Grand Empress Dowager vested this position directly to him. Though Prince Yin Wenyan is reasonable, still she decides over certain matters. For example, the incident in the Town Square yesterday.

On the other hand, Xu Zhengming and the rest of the emperor's servants are patiently waiting outside the hall until the conference got dismissed.

The little eunuch tried to eavesdrop by leaning his ear on the hall's door but failed to understand a word. There are too many voices speaking and he can't recognize a thing.

Court Lady Han called his attention, "His majesty is holding a conference together with the high-ranking eunuchs every three days at exactly nine until eleven in the morning at its longest. Make sure to take note of that to avoid conflicts in his schedule."

"Yes, Court Lady Han." He responds.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, the conference has officially started. All the unnecessary chit-chats halted as the speaker of the Yin Clan talks in a loud voice. "Your majesty, a lowly official is guilty of currying favor with others through bribery. How will you deal with him?"

Yin Wenyan nodded twice. "What do you all think shall be done?"

Another eunuch from the Yin Clan speaks, "Confiscate the bribery and reprimand him. With this, the common people will be aware that his majesty is righteous and doesn't cover the mistakes of the palace officials."

However, it was immediately contradicted by the opposite party. "The emperor is not after fame nor merit. Your majesty, this matter should undergo investigation first. This is rather rational than reprimanding him promptly."

A eunuch from the Yin Clan rebutted, "I'm afraid, 'investigation' is just another way of saying 'let him off easily'. The official is already guilty, what is there to investigate?"

"Then, may I ask who interrogated him? I doubt it was the Ministry of Justice." The old eunuch of the Xue Clan looks at the emperor, "Your majesty, the person in question will not escape the penalty if he's truly proven guilty."

The emperor answered, "I will leave this matter to the Ministry of Justice for further investigation. While the investigation is ongoing, the official in question will be temporarily suspended and will undergo house arrest. After the investigation, the said official will receive a corresponding punishment if he truly deserves it. Any objections? None? If that's so, let us continue the issue next meeting."

"..." Some of the eunuchs present looks like they still have something to say but end up saying nothing. The emperor seems he won't allow objections after all.

"Next." His majesty demanded.

Then a eunuch from Xue clan forwarded a step before he speaks as he looks up to the emperor on the platform. "Your majesty, three days ago, her highness the empress got blocked somewhere in the market when she was on her way out to pray at the nearby temple. How will his majesty deal with them?"

"Empress Xue Chi left the imperial palace?" Yin Wenyan's gentle face slightly turns into a serious one. "How come I am not informed of this?"

'No one can enter nor leave the imperial palace without permission from the emperor.' That's a piece of common knowledge to everyone. Not even the lowest ranking maids and eunuchs are exempted. How come a significant and remarkable member of the royal family can sneak out of the palace?

As the emperor's wife, Empress Xue Chi can easily ask permission from either him or Yin Renshu.

Well, going out to pray isn't something big of a deal. However, what troubles Yin Wenyan the most is that, why would she leave the palace without notifying the emperor? Does she have an ulterior motive and the emperor is a hindrance to whatever she's plotting?

Or could it be that his twin brother gave her the permission?

Yin Wenyan clenches his hand into a fist as he tries to look indifferent. He realized that he is being tactless. He reacted too soon. What if that was really the case?

The old eunuch from the Xue Clan defended the empress, "Your majesty, the empress does not mean to offend you. It's the Grand Empress Dowager that granted her the permission to go out."

"The Grand Empress Dowager... huh." The gentleness left on Wenyan's face disappeared. All that's filled his face is a look of indifference. He may look indifferent outside but inside his head, his suspicion worsens.

He and his two siblings don't fully trust the Grand Empress Dowager as well as the Empress Dowager. They've got a strange feeling of uneasiness towards them. And the Empress has a good relationship with these two. That results in the triplets giving Empress Xue Chi a cold shoulder no matter what she does to gain their favor.

Yin Wenyan taps his fingers on the wooden table in front of him. "How would you want me to handle it?"

An old eunuch from the Xue Clan immediately answered, "Your majesty, that was clearly an act of opposition towards the royal family! The people involved should get punished."

However, the eunuchs from the Yin Clan seem hesitant about the other party's suggestion.

The speaker of the Yin Clan then voiced out their thought, "Your majesty, isn't it a little too rush to punish the civilians? The idea lacks further understanding. Why not investigate it first? Why did these people try to block her highness?"

Another eunuch from the Xue Clan exclaims, "What nonsense is that? It's her highness we are talking about. The emperor's wife! Anyone who dares to block her way is the same as blocking his majesty. There is no need for investigation, it is clearly an opposition against the imperial palace!"

And another eunuch from the Yin Clan rebutted. "Our point is that they must have a reason why they did that. There must be some misunderstandings. Please be more reasonable."

"Does the Yin Clan thinks our clan is being unreasonable?"

Then countless voices started to echo in the four corners of the hall. The poor Prince Wenyan could hardly understand what's said by who. He even had a hard time thinking the matter for himself.

This scene isn't new to everyone present in the conference hall. In fact, the conference isn't complete if this kind of scene does not occur.

He glances at a eunuch sitting beside the platform. His right hand holding a calligraphy brush and his left hand pinning sheets of paper on the table. This eunuch has been staring at the emperor, waiting for its command.

Upon receiving the meaningful look, the eunuch nods and focused his vision on the blank paper, ready to write a character anytime.

"Alright. Alright. I demand silence." Yin Wenyan raised his hands and the argument quickly dispersed." This is the royal verdict: The incident will be investigated thoroughly first. While the investigation is ongoing, the involved civilians shall be confined for the meantime. I will hand the responsibility for the investigation to the Ministry of Justice under Minister Yin Xiulan. I believe this is reasonable."

Just a mere seconds after his announcement, the eunuch sitting beside the platform also finished writing every character of every word of his majesty's verdict.

"Yes, your majesty." All the eunuchs bowed their heads as they agree on the emperor's judgment.

"Anything else?" Yin Wenyan asked.

A eunuch stepped forward. "Your majesty, about the incident that happened yesterday... we are aware that you personally went to the area and dealt with the chaotic event. However, the families of those captives that you brought and isolated in the dungeon are asking for their condition. How should we answer them?"

Yin Wenyan responded, "As we all know, people are starting to act strangely after they got bitten by an infected person. Unfortunately, if these victims cannot consume blood for a certain period of time, they will die of thirst."

"Your majesty, are you saying... the victims that are held captive in the dungeons are all dead?"

"Yes." Wenyan confirms.

The eunuchs shake their heads and disbelief filled their person. They all started to whisper with their faces dark.

"It's a highly contagious disease." His Majesty added. "If one got bitten by those creatures, they'll become bloodthirsty as well."

Then another eunuch spoke, "Speaking of which, your majesty. Just this morning, the news says that there are similar incidents in the neighboring towns. It has become an epidemic."

Upon hearing the news, he subconsciously rises from his seat. He was about to descend the platform but the eunuchs stopped him.

"Your majesty, please calm down. They are now being cared of Fenghuang Sect. Rest assured, the matter is now under control."

Only by then did Yin Wenyan relaxed a little. He took his seat again and his mind filled with thoughts.

Fenghuang sect, after the downfall of their Wan Moli Hua Palace, this sect became the biggest and most renowned sect in the lower cultivation world. Back then, Fenghuang Sect and Wan Moli Hua Palace had always been on bad terms. However, it has changed when their shizun, Zhao Yangguang, took over the position as Sect Leader. In the present, the two sects have a good relationship with each other and even formed an alliance.

Yin Wenyan thought they might get some information about the incidents from Fenghuang Sect's Leader.

"I will meet Fenghuang Sect's leader regarding the matter. In the meantime, tell the families of the captives that the investigation is still undergoing. Do not tell them that they are dead. I haven't checked them myself so I could not be so sure and we might still have a way to save them. Do not leak unnecessary information."

"Yes, your majesty."

This epidemic indeed is a serious matter and should be handled immediately and correctly. Even a small mistake might cause a big impact on how it goes. In just a day, many got infected, and many lives were lost. And now, multiple same incidents are happening.

Yin Wenyan thought, there are two ways why this epidemic spread towards the neighboring towns. First, it could be Yin Renshu and others who failed to capture all the infected persons and there are some who escaped and caused havoc in the neighboring towns. Second, it could be the vicious ghost of that dead eunuch who started the same incident as what occurred in the town square yesterday.

Despite being crowded inside the Pavilion of Literary Glory, it was surprisingly quiet. It took some time before someone speaks and breaks the silence.

"Your majesty..." A eunuch in Xue Clan called. "This is somehow off-topic but we heard the grand empress dowager's health is now better. It is worth celebrating."

"Now that it's mentioned, your majesty, why won't we open a banquet for the recovery of the grand empress dowager?" Another eunuch from the Xue Clan added.

"..." The rest of the high-ranking eunuchs didn't say a word. However, they've exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

These eunuchs in Yin side thinks this isn't the right time to celebrate now that an area near the imperial palace is facing an epidemic, and the whereabouts of the vicious ghost of that eunuch is still unknown. However, opposing this proposal may sound like one does not wish for the grand empress dowager to feel better. Everyone is being tactful not to offend the emperor and his grandmother. No one dares to comment about the suggestion.

It's the same for Yin Wenyan. It seems neither of the choices is a good option. He takes in a deep breath then lets out a silent sigh. At times like this, he must balance the current situation as well as its circumstances.

"Let's open a small banquet tonight. Invite the most necessary guests. Do not make it grand, just a simple banquet will do."

"Tonight? Your majesty, I'm afraid we do not have enough time to prepare." The eunuchs start to get anxious.

However, Yin Wenyan is still firm on his word. With his tone that lacks excitement, he sticks to his idea. "You heard me. The banquet will start at dinner. I am not expecting much that is why I told you not to make it grand."

"But your majesty, the banquet is dedicated to her highness the grand empress dowager!" An old eunuch opposed.

Yin Wenyan gives him a small reassuring smile. "With the current crisis we are facing, I am sure she'll understand it. I will talk to her personally."

The eunuchs bowed their heads as they say in unison, "Yes, your majesty."

Meanwhile, outside the Pavilion of Literary Glory, everyone's faces are decorated with wide smiles.

"Eunuch Xu, one more! Do it again, please?" Aside from Court Lady Han, all the emperor's maids are giggling.

Xu Zhengming sighs in a 'handsome' way that made these young women's hearts skip a beat. They tried so hard not to create loud noise as to not disturb the official matters inside the pavilion.

"Why would you want me to do it again? I just tied back my hair." Xu Zhengming tries to smile in a bashful manner. No one knows that deep inside, he's trying his best not to laugh in victory. He's just too proud of himself.

He thought, "Ah, Xu Zhengming, Xu Zhengming. You are truly favored by the ladies. Men are jealous of thee. Why am I so good-looking? I've been through ups and downs because of this fate. Now, I do not know if this is a blessing or a curse!"

"Okay. Okay." Xu Zhengming uses his killer smile. "I can't resist beautiful maidens." He then winks at them, and in an instant, the maids blushed.

He untied the red ribbon at the end of his braid and lets his hair slowly loosens and undo itself. With that signature smile on his lips, Mingming strokes his hair from its roots down to its ends almost in slow motion. He made sure to face the young ladies with his best angle.

This very scene gave the maids the illusion of twinkling lights around him. Too gorgeous, too alluring.

This man's facial features are carefully chiseled by the divine hands. His slender body looks delicate yet enchanting. The atmosphere around him is dream-like. His smiles, his winks, even his slightest movement makes the young maids' hearts skip a beat.

"Eunuch Xu!" The maids suppressed their giggles yet their admiration towards this little eunuch is too evident.

"I'm not doing it again." He then smiles mischievously as he gathers all the strands of his silky, soft, and long hair to braid it once again.

A maid gathered all her courage to speak to the beautiful man in front of them. With rosy pink cheeks, she said bashfully, "Please let me braid it for you, Eunuch Xu."

Before Xu Zhengming could even respond nor draw a wide smile on his lips, another maid speaks, "No, let me do it instead."

Then the latter is getting followed by another, "No way, let me do it!"

"I was the one who asked first!" The bashful maid complains.

The later two maids answered in chorus, "It doesn't matter."

If her cheeks were pink earlier because she's shy, now it turns red out of rage. "Have you ever heard of the phrase, 'First come, first serve?'"

"Whoa, whoa, ladies, calm thyself! Didn't I say you fall in line if you wish for my attention?"

Court Lady Han couldn't tolerate it any longer. Just like an Asian mother disciplining her son, she pinches Xu Zhengming's waist. "Aren't you done yet? The wind is getting stronger around here."

The more he struggles, the more her fingers squeeze his 'baby fats'. Mingming's face twisted in pain and became impossible to draw. "AWW... AAAAAAHHH!! Sorry! Sorry! I won't speak further! Court Lady Han, have mercy!"

Then the door of Literary Glory Pavilion opened and the scene is the first thing the emperor saw.

Confused, Prince Yin Wenyan asked, "Um... What's happening here?"