The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 3

In her past life, this woman had been tied up and left on the bed for two whole days without any issues. It had only been one day this time—far from enough.

With that thought, Bai Zhi returned to the spare bed nearby. Having been given a second chance at life, she needed to plan carefully. Survival was the top priority; she couldn’t afford to waste time on this troublemaker.

Wei Ziwan stared blankly as Bai Zhi walked away, her delicate brows furrowing subconsciously. This eunuch was truly unyielding, showing no trace of compassion or tenderness.

Was it because he was a eunuch, with nothing down there, that he remained so unmoved and expressionless?

As the autumn wind began to rise, Wei Ziwan struggled to move her body slightly, cursing inwardly at the heartless eunuch who hadn’t even given her a blanket. The cold made it impossible to sleep.

This autumn wind must be as cold and heartless as the eunuch’s soul.

As the first light of dawn broke, there was finally some movement in the room. Wei Ziwan woke up groggily and saw Bai Zhi preparing to push the door open to leave. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she called out in a plaintive voice, “Husband~”

Was this man made of stone? Shouldn’t his first priority be to untie her?

Bai Zhi, the stone-hearted eunuch, paused for a moment and turned back to ask, “Want to be untied?”

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Wei Ziwan replied softly, “I’d like to freshen up. Could you please untie me, husband? If you’re worried, you can tie me up again afterward.”

She was in the inner palace—where could she possibly run? Everything had to be taken step by step.

“That’s not a bad idea.” Bai Zhi said, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she walked back to the bed.

Wei Ziwan’s eyes lit up with joy, her alluring gaze filled with delight. “Husband, you’re so kind.” It seemed this eunuch wasn’t entirely unyielding; there was still a hint of kindness in him.

As she thought this, her eyes followed Bai Zhi’s movements. But then she saw her so-called husband stop by the bed, cross his arms leisurely, and show no intention of untying her.

Bai Zhi smirked coldly. “Did you think I’d just untie you like that? The sun may be up, but I suggest you stop daydreaming. Stay put on the bed until you’ve learned to behave.”

It had only been one night, and she still had the energy to squirm. If she were to be untied now, there was no telling what trouble this woman might cause. It was too risky.

Bai Zhi didn’t believe for a second that a princess of a fallen kingdom would willingly become the wife of a eunuch. All that talk about “following her husband no matter what” was just a lie. So, just like in her past life, she would wait until this woman had no strength left to resist and had accepted her reality.

Wei Ziwan lowered her head, a frown creasing her brow. She bit her lip hard in frustration, but when she looked up again, her face showed just the right amount of grievance. “Husband, I just want to freshen up.”

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, then turned and walked out without a second thought.

The door slammed shut from the outside, and from the sound of it, it seemed to have been locked as well.

“What a cold-hearted person.” Wei Ziwan muttered. Not untying her was one thing, but couldn’t he at least give her some water? Though, perhaps it was better not to drink anything.

Wei Ziwan let out a bitter laugh, enduring the soreness as she carefully moved her arms. Her fair wrists were already marked with bruises from the ropes. She struggled to turn over, shifting from facing the door to facing the wall.

Outside, Bai Zhi looked up at the sky. The morning sun was bright, but the sun in the cold palace was the same as the one outside.

As mealtime approached, the concubines from various rooms began to wander near her, clearly there to hurry her along with the food.

Bai Zhi quickly put on a polite smile and greeted them respectfully. Just as she was about to head to the kitchen to hurry along the breakfast, a middle-aged beauty in a red dress, accompanied by two familiar concubines, blocked her path.

“Greetings to Consort Rong and the other ladies.”

The red-dressed Consort Rong reached out and lifted Bai Zhi’s chin teasingly. “I heard our little Bai Eunuch married a beautiful bride yesterday. When will you let us have a look?”

Bai Zhi’s smile stiffened slightly, but she replied calmly, “My humble wife lacks manners and wouldn’t dare offend the ladies.”

Consort Rong’s smile deepened. “Don’t give me that. I heard she’s a princess. How could she lack manners? Unless, of course, our little Bai Eunuch was so… vigorous last night that the princess can’t even get out of bed.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the other two concubines’ eyes followed Consort Rong’s gaze, landing on Bai Zhi’s lower body with unmistakable curiosity.

Bai Zhi continued to smile. “Thank you for your concern, ladies. It’s her good fortune. I’ll bring her to pay her respects in a few days.”

Consort Rong was about to say more when a sharp voice scolded from behind, “What are you all gathered here for? Go back to your rooms!”

The concubines exchanged glances and reluctantly dispersed.

In the cold palace, aside from a former concubine from the previous dynasty who spent her days chanting Buddhist scriptures, there were only these three and a recently demoted Noble Consort who had once been the current emperor’s concubines—or rather, former concubines, now all deposed.

Apart from them, there were some low-ranking palace maids responsible for cleaning, as well as the cold palace’s head matron, Matron Jiang, and Bai Zhi, the eunuch in charge of the kitchen.

The one who had scolded them was none other than Matron Jiang.

Matron Jiang, nearly fifty, didn’t show much respect for these concubines, though she didn’t go out of her way to make things difficult for them either. She walked over and frowned at Bai Zhi. “How many times have I told you? Don’t give them any leeway, and don’t call them ‘ladies.’ In the cold palace, there are only deposed concubines. Now that you have a companion, you need to stay even further away from them to avoid any unsavory rumors.”

Bai Zhi’s eyes curved into a smile, and she nodded respectfully. “Matron is absolutely right.”

Matron Jiang snorted, muttering something under her breath like, “What a pity for such a fine appearance, but to be a eunuch—what a waste.” before turning and walking away.

Bai Zhi watched her leave, the smile in her eyes gradually fading.

She knew full well that the concubines in the cold palace had little chance of being reinstated. But her adoptive father had always said, “In life, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially in this palace that devours people without spitting out bones. It’s best not to offend anyone and to always wear a smile. That’s the only way to live peacefully.”

Especially since the day the Crown Prince would storm the palace wasn’t far off. She needed to make plans quickly and leave the palace as soon as possible—the farther, the better.

After arranging breakfast, Bai Zhi packed some food into a lunchbox, then let out a long sigh and removed all the dishes, leaving only a bowl of thin rice porridge.

When she returned to her side chamber, she saw a eunuch lurking suspiciously by the door.

“Who’s there?”

The man in eunuch attire turned around, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. He glanced around and approached, saying, “Are you Bai, the eunuch in charge of the cold palace kitchen?”

“That’s me. And you are?” Bai Zhi tightened her grip on the lunchbox handle, pretending to be puzzled while inwardly shocked. She had seen this man in her past life. If she wasn’t mistaken, this was none other than the Crown Prince, who had lost his senses over a woman.

In her past life, she hadn’t thought to bring Wei Ziwan any food and had only returned at night, so she hadn’t encountered anyone. She had no idea the Crown Prince had secretly visited the cold palace.

The Crown Prince scrutinized her for a moment, then stepped closer and whispered threateningly, “A noble has sent me to deliver a message. Treat Princess Ziwan well. Don’t lay a finger on her, or you might find yourself missing more than just one thing.” As he spoke, his gaze dropped suggestively to Bai Zhi’s lower body.

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Author’s Note:

Bai Zhi: Are you people even polite?