The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 63

Chief Eunuch Bai led Bai Hongmo and her daughter Bai Zhi directly into the palace to see the emperor.

According to protocol, Bai Zhi needed to be officially recognized by the emperor before she could be acknowledged as part of the imperial family. The empress had just sent word through Imperial Physician Jiang that the emperor had awakened.

The journey was smooth, and Chief Eunuch Bai guided them to the door, announcing loudly, “The Noble Consort Bai and her daughter request an audience.”

“Enter.” came the empress’s voice.

The guards on either side pushed the doors open. Bai Shu, ever considerate, turned and closed the doors behind them, standing guard outside.

Inside the room, Bai Zhi immediately noticed the empress, whose gaze was fixed on Bai Hongmo.

Bai Hongmo stepped forward, gently touching the empress’s hair. “Why did you do something so foolish?”

She was about to enter the palace, so why had the empress cut her hair?

The empress smiled faintly. “It’s nothing, just a gesture.”

She had endured twenty years of hardship, but since meeting Bai Hongmo, each day had become more unbearable.

She no longer wanted to deal with anyone or anything in the deep palace, so she had impulsively cut her hair and secluded herself.

Bai Zhi stood to the side, watching the two women with reddened eyes. She averted her gaze and noticed something amiss with the figure on the bed.

The quilt was pulled up too high, completely covering the emperor’s face. Beneath the quilt, there was a slight movement, as if someone were struggling weakly.

Bai Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t remain silent any longer and quickly reminded, “Mother, has His Majesty awakened?”

Bai Hongmo and the empress turned their attention to the bed, observing the slight movements under the quilt. Both fell silent.

Bai Zhi took a step forward, but Bai Hongmo shot her a cold glance.

She paused, her initial intention to investigate dissipating.

The three of them silently watched the bed. After a long while, the quilt stilled. The empress squeezed Bai Hongmo’s hand, walked to the bed, and lifted the quilt, placing a finger under the emperor’s nose to check for breath.

Seeing the empress suddenly step back, Bai Hongmo quickly moved to support her shoulders.

The empress shook her head gently. There was no breath.

Bai Hongmo closed her eyes for a moment. “Summon my elder brother for a private audience.”

Bai Zhi was stunned. Was this what she thought it was?

Summon Bai Shu for a private audience with the emperor? The emperor who had already stopped breathing? Her mind was in turmoil. There seemed to be some unresolved past between her mother and uncle, a past she knew nothing about and had no right to interfere with.

Bai Zhi lowered her eyes in silence, secretly supporting Bai Hongmo. An inexplicable intuition told her that her mother had her reasons for whatever she was doing.

She recalled a previous scene where Bai Hongmo had said to Bai Shu, “Elder brother, you ruined me back then. Are you going to ruin my daughter now?”

To ruin someone…

Bai Zhi glanced quietly at the empress, then at Bai Hongmo, beginning to understand the deeper meaning. What did it mean to ruin someone?

After Bai Hongmo and Bai Zhi left with the empress, Chief Eunuch Bai hurried out of the palace with the emperor’s edict.

Half an hour later, Bai Shu, filled with confusion, entered the palace.

“Chief Eunuch Bai, what does His Majesty wish to see me about?”

Chief Eunuch Bai glanced at Bai Shu and smiled. “His Majesty has just met with Noble Consort Bai and her daughter, acknowledging the princess. Summoning you must be good news.”

Bai Shu breathed a sigh of relief. This Chief Eunuch Bai had always been loyal to the Bai family, helping him leave the capital and secretly sending Zhou Luor away. He was trustworthy.

Chief Eunuch Bai walked ahead, his mind still on Bai Hongmo’s expression when she mentioned Bai Shu.

It was the first time he had seen Bai Hongmo show such coldness and hatred, even more intense than her feelings toward the emperor.

“He deserves to die. I wish I could kill him myself.”

He didn’t know what had happened between the siblings, but no matter the circumstances, he would always stand by Bai Hongmo’s side, so he didn’t try to dissuade her.

Chief Eunuch Bai stopped outside the door and announced loudly, “Your Majesty, Bai Shu requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

A faint male voice came from inside. The guards outside, hearing the emperor’s response, pushed the door open.

Chief Eunuch Bai stepped aside, and Bai Shu entered alone. The doors closed behind him.

Bai Shu walked toward the dragon bed. The midday sun was bright, but the room, with its closed windows, was dim.

He knelt a few steps away from the bed and said, “Your servant, Bai Shu, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

Times had changed, and the throne was undoubtedly Bai Zhi’s. By calling himself a servant, he was testing the emperor’s attitude toward the Bai family.

The room was silent. Bai Shu knelt with his head bowed, waiting for the emperor’s response.

No sound came from the dragon bed. Bai Shu’s heart skipped a beat. Was the emperor displeased with him?

“Your guilty servant, Bai Shu, pays his respects to Your Majesty.” he retreated slightly, calling himself a guilty servant.

Fine, he would endure. Once Bai Zhi ascended the throne, the Bai family would be vindicated, and he would become a powerful royal relative, restoring the family’s former glory.

Bai Shu thought to himself, but his heart grew more anxious as the emperor remained silent.

He mustered his courage and looked up, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The expected gaze did not come. The emperor on the dragon bed lay still, unmoving.

Bai Shu quickly lowered his head again. “Your Majesty, your guilty servant, Bai Shu, has come to confess his crimes.”

Silence, eerie and terrifying silence.

Bai Shu’s heart raced. He slowly rose and looked at the seemingly sleeping emperor, a vague thought forming in his mind.

His hand moved instinctively.

His fingers froze under the emperor’s nose. Bai Shu’s mind went blank, and his legs gave way as he collapsed to the floor.

The emperor had passed away!

But when? How could this be? This must be a trap.

At that moment, Chief Eunuch Bai’s voice came from outside again. “Your Majesty, it’s time for your pulse check.”

Silence filled the room.

Chief Eunuch Bai patiently repeated, “Your Majesty, your health is paramount. It’s time for your pulse check.”

Still, silence.

“His Majesty said he has urgent matters to discuss with Noble Consort Bai and her daughter. The pulse check can wait.” Bai Shu’s voice came from inside.

It must be his sister’s doing. No wonder she had agreed so readily. He had to drag her and her daughter into this.

Bai Shu’s only thought was to involve Bai Hongmo and Bai Zhi, so they would all be in the same boat.

Unexpectedly, Chief Eunuch Bai pushed the door open and walked in, saying, “Your Majesty, your health cannot be delayed. This servant dares to beg you to have your pulse checked first.”

The imperial physicians exchanged glances but didn’t rush in. Soon, they heard a cry from inside.

“Your Majesty! Bai Shu, how dare you harm His Majesty! Guards!”

It was Chief Eunuch Bai’s wailing voice.

In an instant, guards and physicians rushed in, finding Chief Eunuch Bai and Bai Shu grappling. The physicians quickly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty…”

The physicians shook their heads, and the guards had their target. They subdued Bai Shu.

“It wasn’t me! This is a conspiracy…”

“Gag him! Quickly, fetch the empress. When you entered, we all heard His Majesty’s voice. No one else has come in since. Who else could it be? Your Majesty, what should this servant do…”

Chief Eunuch Bai collapsed by the dragon bed, weeping. The guards gagged Bai Shu and sent someone to fetch the empress.

The empress arrived quickly, followed by Noble Consort Bai and her daughter, then Consort Lin, and the court officials who had received the news.

The physicians concluded that the emperor had died of respiratory failure due to his weakened state, within the last hour.

Chief Eunuch Bai and the guards’ testimonies were consistent: Bai Shu was the murderer.

The empress, maintaining her composure, took charge. “His Majesty had just acknowledged Noble Consort Bai and her daughter, yet Bai Shu committed this heinous act. I hereby sentence him to immediate execution.”

She paused, then turned to Bai Hongmo. “Sister Noble Consort, do not plead for him, or I will not allow your daughter to ascend the throne.”

Bai Hongmo sobbed softly, her head bowed, seemingly overcome with grief.

Bai Zhi knelt to the side, hesitating as she declined, “Your servant fears… she may not be fit for such a responsibility. Please reconsider, Empress.”

The empress’s expression hardened. “The nation cannot be without a ruler. Starting tomorrow, you will learn how to handle state affairs from the senior officials. As for the coronation, we will discuss it later.”

Bai Zhi remained silent, glancing at Bai Hongmo.

Bai Hongmo gave an almost imperceptible nod, and the matter was settled.

With the emperor’s passing, Bai Zhi was the only eligible and unproblematic heir. The empress, as the head of the palace, personally appointed her to the throne, making everything seem natural.

The officials had no other choice but to do their best to assist her, hoping that this princess—no, this empress—would prove capable. Otherwise, the Baiyue Dynasty would face turmoil.

However, within a few days, the court officials began to grow restless.

This empress seemed to be a hands-off ruler, delegating everything to Princess Anguo.

Princess Anguo was Zhou □.

On her first day in court, Bai Zhi had restored her status.

It turned out that Zhou □ was the daughter of the former crown prince. During the struggle for the throne, the former crown prince had been killed, and the emperor, to eliminate any threats, had executed all his brothers and their descendants. Only the former crown prince’s youngest daughter, Zhou □, had survived, raised under Noble Consort Bai’s care and tutelage.

She was more adept at handling state affairs than Bai Zhi, who had come to the throne halfway.

The court officials were concerned. This empress was the opposite of her father, placing too much trust in her cousin.

Not only had she granted her the title of princess, but she also allowed her to attend court and assist in governance. Most absurdly, no matter the issue, Bai Zhi would ask, “What does Princess Anguo think?”

Whatever Zhou □ suggested, Bai Zhi would follow without question.

“Proceed as Princess Anguo suggests.”

Although Zhou □ had never made a mistake and had even performed well, the true ruler was Bai Zhi. What kind of arrangement was this?

The officials discussed and decided that perhaps this empress had little ambition for power. They should hasten the coronation to solidify her position and avoid further complications.

Prime Minister Chu, the elder statesman, took the lead in proposing this: “Your servant respectfully requests Your Majesty to set a date for the coronation.”

Bai Zhi glanced at him coolly, her tone ambiguous. “Prime Minister Chu, who do you think would make a better emperor—me or Princess Anguo?”

Prime Minister Chu’s heart sank. A sudden, absurd premonition filled him.