Chapter 476 - My Surprise
Chapter 476 – My Surprise
As per the order of the Crown Prince, the spy somehow created a situation because of which Eunuch Zhen had to go out of the Palace. Eunuch Zhen was on the litter which was carried by the four people. A few Royal Guards were following the litter. "Walk fast. I cannot stay outside the Palace for long. I need to find out how that perfume shop could shut down!" Eunuch Zhen angrily told the carriers, who hastened towards the market.
The Perfume Shop was one of the favorite places of Eunuch Zhen in the market. Everyone knew his hobby of perfumes. But no one knew that it was a source of his indirect income, which was not recorded in the official account.
After thirty minutes, they reached the market, in front of the perfume shop. The carriers put the litter on the ground. Eunuch Zhen stepped down from it and went inside the shop. As he stepped inside, the door got closed.
"Why is it so dark here?" Eunuch Zhen complained and called for the shop owner. "Duxin! Duxin!" Eunuch Zhen called out his name loudly when his leg got hit against the table. "Ahh," he screamed because of the pain.
"Darn it! Why is there no light?" Eunuch Zhen murmured while wincing in pain when suddenly a dim yellow light illuminated from the far end of the shop.
Eunuch Zhen did not look towards the source. "Come here quickly, you idiot!" Eunuch shouted. The person started to move towards Eunuch Zhen, who was caressing his leg. "Aish! Why was there so much dark in the shop? And why did you close the sho…p?" Eunuch Zhen widened his eyes upon seeing the Crown Prince in front of him, with a paper lantern in his hand. The sweat appeared on his forehead, and he deeply bowed.
"Your Highness, please forgive me," Eunuch Zhen pleaded with him. He heard the sounds of anklets and found that the Crown Princess was also there. He slapped himself and said, "Forgive me, your highness. This mouth called you–" he paused and slapped a few times at his mouth. Sheng Li chuckled and put his hand on Eunuch Zhen's shoulder.
His grip was so tight that Eunuch Zhen screamed in pain. "Lower your voice else," Sheng Li put the lantern on the table and took the sword from Xiao Zhan, "else this sword will pierce directly through your heart."
Eunuch Zhen quickly pursed his lips tightly. Sheng Li threw him on the chair behind. "Eunuch Zhen, I think I am talking to you after many years," Sheng Li said while checking the blade of the sword.
"Y-Your H-Highness, wh-why are you angry at me?" Eunuch Zhen asked.
"When was I happy with you?" Sheng Li asked him and brought the sword's blade under his chin, horizontally.
"Y-Your H-Highness, that's sharp. P-Please put it away," Eunuch Zhen requested Sheng Li. Ying Lili told Sheng Li not to scare Eunuch Zhen. Sheng Li pulled his hand back and Eunuch Zhen heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Crown Princess," asserted Eunuch Zhen. "Why am I being held as a captive? Does the Crown Prince not know that he cannot treat head Eunuch from the Empress's manor this way. The Emperor might punish his highness," Eunuch Zhen reminded the Crown Prince of his position and limited power over the matters and people from the Empress's manor.
"Are you getting old, Eunuch Zhen?" Sheng Li questioned him, who with a confused expression peered at the Crown Prince.
"I did not get the words of the Crown Prince," Eunuch Zhen replied.
"I do not care for your rank. I thought that because of aging Eunuch Zhen is forgetting about my nature. I can kill you and bury you somewhere far. Will I get punished for that? No, right?" Sheng Li explained to him.
Eunuch Zhen gulped. "Bring the poison to me that you and the Empress have planned to feed to the Emperor," Sheng Li without beating around the bush asked Eunuch Zhen, who slightly laughed.
"What is his highness talking about? Poison? Eunuch Zhen acted as if he did not know anything. "Ahhh," he cried in pain when Sheng Li pierced the sword on his right hand. The tears poured down his eyes and he pleaded with the Crown Prince to not do that.
"I do not like when someone lies. I did not expect this from a Head Eunuch of the Empress's manor," Sheng Li kept moving the sword inside his hand. Xiao Zhan, on the other hand, had closed his mouth from cloth so that outsiders would not hear Eunuch Zhen's screams. Furthermore, because the perfume shop was in the middle of the market, and because the loud voices kept reverberating in the surrounding, it was impossible to notice the scream of Eunuch Zhen until someone came to shop.
Eunuch Zhen gestured from his other hand to the Crown Prince to stop. Sheng Li pulled back the sword and with a menacing expression said, "Eunuch Zhen, don't play with me. Got it?" He leaned towards him and patted his cheek. The tears had covered the cheeks of Eunuch Zhen.
Sheng Li removed the cloth from the mouth of Eunuch Zhen, whose cries were audible to them. "I did not know that Eunuch Zhen was weak. Ahh, I cannot stand when my opponent cries even before fighting with me," Sheng Li affirmed.
"F-Forgive me, your highness," Eunuch Zhen apologized and looked at his bleeding hand.
"I will indeed forgive you if you bring the poison to me. Try to over-smart me and you will be killed at that moment," Sheng Li threatened him. "Eunuch Zhen, my eyes are always on you. You know me better than anyone. After all, you also served the previous Empress. You are the Head Eunuch and I do not want to kill you. You have a long way to live," Sheng Li humbly said.
"I understand, your highness. Tonight, I will hand the poison back to you," Eunuch Zhen assured the Crown Prince. Before Sheng Li could threaten him more, Eunuch Zhen said, "Your Highness, I will hand you back the poison. Just spare my life." He started to cry as the pain in his hand kept growing.
"Indeed," Sheng Li stated.
"Your Highness, my hand…it's bleeding. Will it be okay?" Eunuch Zhen asked, squeezing his eyes tightly.
"You cannot move it for a week. Lucky you! I did not cut it else, you had to live without a hand throughout your life. Commander Sun will take you to the Royal Physician," stated Sheng Li.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you for sparing my life," Eunuch Zhen expressed his gratitude. Commander Sub came forward and took out Eunuch Zhen from the perfume shop. Xiao Zhan took the sword from Sheng Li and wiped the blood from it.
"Will he bring the poison?" Ying Lili asked him.
"He will," Sheng Li replied.
"Will you spare his life?" She asked another question.
"No. Tonight, something big will happen in the Palace. The Empress will like my surprise," Sheng Li said and grinned.
Ying Lili glanced at him and nodded. "The Ministers will be exposed today. Let's wipe them away from our ways."
Xiao Zhan came forward and handed a veiled hat to Ying Lili.. "Thank you, General Xiao."