Chapter 298: A Single Word Decides Life and Death

Long after Qin Haoxuan and Xing had left, the anger on the Seventh Prince’s face finally showed.

“Bastards! So what if there are immortals? All under heaven is the king’s land; all within its shores are the king’s subjects. Even immortals are just servants of our royal family. And now these slaves dare to step on the head of the royal family!” The Seventh Prince, who had been spoiled since childhood, could no longer contain himself. He said viciously, “No matter what, I must find a way to teach them a lesson. So what if they’re immortals? I am still the dignified Seventh Prince of the Soaring Dragon Nation!”

The young eunuch, his face pale and his body covered in a cold sweat from the pain of his broken legs, sensed the Seventh Prince’s rage. As if seeing a glimmer of hope for revenge, he thought for a moment, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He said to the prince, “Your Highness, do you still remember His Highness the Third Prince?”

“You mean my third brother?” The Seventh Prince frowned, thinking of his full brother, Li Jing.

Like the Seventh Prince, the Third Prince Li Jing was also not favored by the emperor. When Li Jing was sixteen, he had been sent away by his father to cultivate immortality. However, the Seventh Prince didn’t believe in immortals and certainly didn’t think his own brother had really gone off to cultivate. He assumed it was just a form of exile.

The young eunuch endured the pain and said in a weak voice, “Your Highness, do you remember two years ago, when His Highness the Third Prince was sent to cultivate immortality? At the time, we thought he was being exiled, and ‘cultivating immortality’ was just a nice-sounding excuse. But since there really are immortals in this world, perhaps His Highness the Third Prince really did go to cultivate.”

The Seventh Prince listened, feeling that the young eunuch’s thoughts coincided with his own. He nodded in approval and said, “Continue.”

To get revenge for his broken legs, the young eunuch grit his teeth against the pain and said, “His Highness the Third Prince is clever and intelligent. Since he went to cultivate, he must have made some achievements. Look at those two, and that Imperial Preceptor Xu Yu, they are not old, so they can’t have been cultivating for long. Perhaps His Highness the Third Prince is stronger than them! So this slave thinks that if Your Highness wants revenge, you can ask His Highness the Third Prince for help. After all, you are brothers born of the same mother. Now that he has become an immortal, he will surely help you!”

The Seventh Prince nodded repeatedly, thinking it was a good idea. ‘Since my imperial father doesn’t like me, and I have no chance of inheriting the throne anyway, I might as well be a bratty prince who gets his revenge. It wouldn’t be a waste of my royal status in this life! Since there are immortals in this world, then there must be an underworld. If there is a next life, who knows if I’ll be a pig or a cow? I’ve already committed many sins in this palace. If reincarnation is based on merit, I probably won’t even have the chance to be human again.’

‘My third brother and I are full brothers, and I am his only younger brother. We were both not well-liked by our father since we were young. In that case, he will definitely help me.’ The Seventh Prince’s eyes gradually lit up. He thought, ‘Perhaps I can ask him to help me achieve immortality, or even seize the emperor’s throne? Judging by my father’s respect for immortals, they must have some real abilities. If my third brother has become an immortal, can he help me become the emperor?’

Ever since he had learned that immortals existed, which had completely overturned his worldview, his mind had become active, and he began to think about how to gain some benefits from his third brother, Li Jing.

Those born into the royal family, no matter how mediocre their talents, always had stronger desires than the common people.

He called over a few passing eunuchs and had them send his personal attendant to the imperial hospital to treat his legs. He himself began to think about how to contact his brother.

In his eyes, his full brother was his future guarantee. He gritted his teeth, his resentment for Xu Yu and Qin Haoxuan cutting to the bone. He would definitely get his revenge.

‘So what if they’re immortals? Immortals must also be divided into strong and weak. Perhaps my brother is an even stronger immortal than them!’

…

Yu Sihai led Qin Haoxuan and Xing to the main gate of the Imperial Garden. From this gate, one could enter the garden, and passing straight through it would lead to the inner palace where the imperial concubines resided. A right turn would lead to the emperor’s bedchambers, and a left turn would lead to the Emperor’s Hall where he held court.

The old eunuch, Yu Sihai, finally mustered the courage to ask, “Supreme Immortals, this old slave has already brought you into the imperial palace. May I be so bold as to ask where you wish to go, so that this old slave may continue to lead the way?”

Along the way, they had been admiring the scenery of the palace and listening to the old eunuch’s wonderful commentary. After the incident with the Seventh Prince, Qin Haoxuan had forgotten that he hadn’t told the old eunuch his destination. He smiled apologetically and said, “I was so engrossed in your tour of the palace that I forgot to tell you where I was going. It was my oversight. Please don’t be offended, Eunuch.”

Yu Sihai was old and shrewd. How could he not hear the apology and gratitude in Qin Haoxuan’s words? This old eunuch, who had been ordered around like a beast of burden by nobles his entire life, had never been treated with respect. Yet now, an immortal who had just taught even the Seventh Prince a lesson was speaking to him with such apology and gratitude. It made him feel like he was a “person” again.

Yu Sihai had entered the palace as a eunuch at the age of seven. From the moment he lost his manhood, his life had been more worthless than that of a pig or a dog. No one had ever treated him as a human being; he didn’t even know what dignity was.

But for an immortal, whom even His Majesty the Emperor greatly respected, to speak to him like this—at this moment, he felt that even if he were to die right now, it would have been worth it!

Yu Sihai was moved to tears, and a faint mist clouded his turbid eyes. He still hadn’t used the medicinal powder Qin Haoxuan had given him, so the bruises on his face had not faded, which made him look rather comical.

“Immortal, you are too kind. Please tell this old slave where you wish to go, and I will take you there!” Feeling that these words were not enough to express his gratitude, he added, “To be able to lead the way for you is a blessing this old slave has cultivated for eight lifetimes.”

Qin Haoxuan smiled slightly. He couldn’t quite understand the old eunuch’s feelings. His principle was simple: if others don’t bother me, I won’t bother them; if others respect me, I will respect them. Although this old eunuch had offended him earlier, he had repented, had been diligent in leading the way, and had even given him a tour of the palace. Since he had shown him such respect, there was no reason for him not to return it.

Whether for a mortal or an immortal, respect was always mutual.

Qin Haoxuan said, “Eunuch Yu, I want to ask about someone. I wonder if you have heard of an immortal named Xu Yu? She is my junior sister and is said to be in the imperial city.”

“The Imperial Preceptor?” Yu Sihai’s voice rose an octave. He looked at Qin Haoxuan and Xing in astonishment, then it dawned on him. The Imperial Preceptor Xu Yu was an immortal, and these two were also immortals. It wasn’t strange that they knew each other.

“I know, I know! The Supreme Immortal Xu Yu was appointed as the Imperial Preceptor by His Majesty the Emperor a few months ago and resides in Qinghua Hall. You two, please follow me!”

Yu Sihai’s attitude towards them became even more respectful. He did not enter the Imperial Garden but led them to the left.

The area to the left was where the Son of Heaven handled state affairs and held court. It was also the most heavily guarded area in the entire imperial city.

Yu Sihai was just an old eunuch with no power or status. As they walked towards Qinghua Hall, they were stopped by the Imperial Guard before they had even gone a li.

“Halt! Don’t you know this is a forbidden area of the deep palace?” an Imperial Guard shouted, his voice full of vigor. His gaze swept over Qin Haoxuan and Xing, finally landing on the old eunuch, Yu Sihai.

This old eunuch looked unfamiliar, and from his eunuch’s uniform, it was clear he was not successful. Although he was old, he was still a low-ranking eunuch.

Normally, if he were scolded by the Imperial Guard, Yu Sihai would not dare to take another step. But things were different now. He was being followed by two immortals, and these two were the senior brothers of the Imperial Preceptor Xu Yu!

With immortals backing him, why would the old eunuch be afraid of a few Imperial Guards? These two had even dared to strike the Seventh Prince’s personal eunuch, let alone a mere Imperial Guard.

“Insolence! How dare you shout so loudly in front of immortals? Are you looking for death?” Yu Sihai made a gesture of introduction, pointing at Qin Haoxuan and Xing. “These two are the senior brothers of the Imperial Preceptor, the Supreme Immortal Xu Yu. How dare you block their way?”

“Ah!” The Imperial Guards were clearly startled, but their duty held them fast. One of them respectfully bowed to Qin Haoxuan and Xing and said, “We are bound by our duty, please forgive us. May I ask if you two have an immortal’s token?”

Qin Haoxuan thought for a moment and revealed the jade pendant hanging from his neck, which was carved with the two characters “Taichu.” “Does this count as a token?”

The Imperial Guards, who had been somewhat suspicious, no longer dared to doubt. The immortals who had entered the palace a few months ago all wore such a jade pendant around their necks, even the Supreme Immortal, the Imperial Preceptor Xu Yu. They immediately knelt and saluted, then personally escorted the three of them to Qinghua Hall.

Qinghua Hall was located behind the Emperor’s Hall. It was the bedchamber of past emperors who had abdicated. In terms of status, Qinghua Hall was even a cut above the Emperor’s Hall. For His Majesty the Emperor to have the Imperial Preceptor Xu Yu reside there was a clear sign of his respect for her.

Qin Haoxuan looked up at the tall and majestic hall and smiled slightly. ‘Little Sister Xu Yu is doing quite well for herself!’

Now that they had arrived at Qinghua Hall, Yu Sihai’s task was done. He should have taken his leave, but instead, he suddenly knelt on the ground.

Qin Haoxuan asked in surprise, “Eunuch Yu, what is the meaning of this?”

“This old slave begs the Supreme Immortal to save my life.”

Qin Haoxuan was even more surprised. “Save your life? Who wants to harm you? Tell me.”

“Just now, outside the Imperial Garden, you broke the legs of the Seventh Highness’s personal eunuch. His Highness does not dare to resent you, but he will surely hate this old slave. In the future, he will definitely find an excuse to have me killed…”

“Oh, so that’s how it is,” Qin Haoxuan said with a nod. He could see from Li Jing’s character that the royal family was cold and ruthless. It was a normal thing for a prince to kill an old eunuch. Once he was killed, no one would speak up for him.

Qin Haoxuan said, “Since I was the one who brought this trouble upon you, I will help you resolve it. By the way, what is Junior Sister Xu Yu’s status in the palace? Is her title as Imperial Preceptor just for show, or does she have real power?”

Hearing that the immortal was willing to help him, Yu Sihai felt as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. He quickly answered, “The Imperial Preceptor’s power is immense. She can review memorials, decide state affairs, and promote or demote officials. She holds the power of life and death, comparable to His Majesty… Her power is even greater than His Majesty’s.”

“Comparable to the emperor, or even greater?” Qin Haoxuan smiled. It seemed Little Sister Xu Yu was doing even better than he had imagined. He said, “Then you don’t need to worry. When I see Junior Sister Xu Yu in a moment, I will put in a good word for you. By the way, do eunuchs in this imperial city have official ranks?”

Hearing his words, Yu Sihai seemed to have caught on to something. His heart pounded violently as he said, “Yes.”

“What is the highest official rank for a eunuch?”

“Replying to the immortal, the highest rank is the Chief Steward of the Grand Interior.”

Qin Haoxuan thought for a moment, his eyes shining as he stared at the old eunuch. “If I were to make you the Chief Steward of the Grand Interior, would you embezzle, treat human lives carelessly, play power games, and oppress the innocent?”

(End of Chapter)

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