Chapter 345: The Eighteenth Prince, the Most Favored Prince in Xianyang Palace
Queen Afang washed her face and brushed her teeth. The rosewood bed gave off a sleep-inducing wood fragrance.
Her personal maid Ping'er walked to the basin with a silk towel and said respectfully:
"There are quite a lot of people in the Jingshifang recently."
Crash, crash~
Afang seemed not to hear anything and focused on washing her face. Water droplets were lifted up and then fell down again, creating ripples in the basin.
Taking the towel handed over by her personal maid, Afang wiped her face. Her voice came out from under the towel, and the timbre changed slightly.
"If you have nothing to do, go and look after Young Master Eighteen."
The eighteenth prince Ying Hu Hai now lives in Afang Palace and sleeps in a side hall next to the main hall.
Since the death of Concubine Hu, the youngest son of the First Emperor has been living here.
Ping'er lowered her head slightly and said "yes" in a somewhat humble manner, just like other palace maids and eunuchs in Afang Palace when responding to the Queen's orders.
Ever since Ying Chengjiao left Xianyang, the close relationship between master and servant has become much purer, just master and servant.
Ping'er walked to the third hall on the left. It was not very big, only about ten square meters.
As soon as the door was opened, tiny rustling and squeaking sounds were heard, as well as a strange and unpleasant smell that was a mixture of sour, smelly and fishy.
This small hall should not be called a palace but a house. It was originally the dressing room where the Queen of Qin drew her eyebrows and printed her lips. It exudes the fragrance of ambergris, sandalwood, rouge and other substances all year round.
After the Eighteenth Prince moved to the Afang Palace, the dressing hall became a place to store all kinds of insects, bottles and jars for raising insects, and all kinds of insect food.
The refreshing and fragrant air that she breathed into her nose turned into a fishy and sour smell. Ping'er did not frown unconsciously like the other palace maids and eunuchs. She held her breath.
Among the secret guards, her martial arts skills were not considered high, but she was not the worst either. Holding her breath for a while was not a big problem for her.
Picking up a can of insects at random, Ping'er quickly walked towards the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom.
Although she couldn't smell the odor here because of holding her breath, she still didn't want to stay here any longer. She felt psychologically disgusted with this place and closed the door much faster than she opened it.
He slowed down unconsciously, walked to the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom, and knocked lightly on the door.
"Enter."
A clear and loud boy's voice.
Pushing the door open, Ping'er, with a sweet smile on her face, handed the pottery jar in her hand to the beautiful palace maid who came over.
"What did Sister Ping'er send me again?"
The nine-year-old Ying Hu Hai smiled happily, trotted over, and couldn't wait to take the pottery jar from the palace maid.
Although the young man's bedroom was less than a hundred meters away from the small hall where the insects were stored, it was very convenient whether he sent someone to get them or took them himself. However, the queen had ordered that except for the personal maid Ping'er, even the Eighteenth Young Master himself could not enter the Insect Hall.
"Eighteenth Master will know when he opens it."
Ping'er smiled faintly.
She hadn't even opened the jar, so how could she know what kind of insects she had brought in.
The young man covered the lid of the pottery jar with his hand and said in a slightly coquettish manner:
"No, Hu Hai wants Sister Ping'er to tell you. Uncle said that if someone else tells you, it's called a surprise."
Young Master...
Ping'er's eyes softened a lot, and she regretted a little that she didn't take a look at what kind of insect she had picked up.
If she knew what kind of insects were in the jar, she would have told me now. But she walked in slowly and walked out in a hurry, so now she could only smile.
"Young Master Eighteen discovered it himself and was even more surprised. This is also what Lord Chang'an said."
"Then I'll wait until Sister Ping'er leaves before opening it. Will it be a bigger surprise?"
Ping'er smiled and nodded, her smile becoming a little more natural.
She shifted her gaze to a burly eunuch with a yellow face and no beard, at least eight feet tall.
Other eunuchs wore loose, long gray clothes made of coarse linen. This kind of eunuch clothing was comfortable to wear and made it easier for the eunuchs to serve people.
This tall eunuch was wearing a half-silk, close-fitting black eunuch uniform. This kind of eunuch uniform has many , such as being uncomfortable and feeling tight.
There is only one advantage - easy to act.
In the Xianyang Palace, the eunuchs who wore this kind of semi-silk close-fitting black eunuch uniform had a special name - Siren, who belonged to the Jingshifang.
They don't need to serve anyone, their job is to record and protect.
"Get out."
Ping'er said sweetly with a smile.
Gao Da Si Ren frowned, not knowing how he had offended the queen's personal maid.
As he came from the Jingshifang, his status was slightly higher than Ping'er, who was just a palace maid.
But Ping'er had the Queen's favor buff, which made Gao Dasi suppress his anger and said in a deep voice:
"I am here to protect the Eighteenth Young Master under the order of the Lord of the Chariot Office."
"Let Zhao Gao speak to me in person."
How dare she call the Lord of the Chariots by his name!
Gao Dasi was shocked and confused. In order to show his respect for Zhao Gao, he did not even dare to think the four words "Ling Chariot Officer" in his heart, and he was always determined that he was the Ling Chariot Officer.
And the palace maid in front of him actually called Zhao Gao by his full name - usually only those in higher positions and elders can call people by their full names, which is a symbol of status.
The people of Gaoda Temple couldn't figure it out.
No matter how much the queen favored her, her status was still just that of a palace maid, and there was no need to explain Zhao Gao's secret identity; in public, he was one of the Nine Ministers.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to Lord Chefu!"
The high monk shouted angrily.
"You want to show your loyalty, I'll help you do it."
Ping'er touched Ying Huhai's little head, turned around and walked out of the bedroom.
Jingshifang had only one leader—Zhao Gao.
Through the Jingshifang, Zhao Gao knew most of the secrets of the Xianyang Palace, including the Qin Shihuang's private affairs.
The Jingshifang was responsible for providing security for the King of Qin when he was at his weakest. Those who were in charge of the Jingshifang were the eunuchs most trusted by the King of Qin .
Gao Dasi's expression was uncertain. It was not a pleasant thing after all to have one's thoughts seen through.
Gao Dasiren ignored Ping'er's threats before she left. He was afraid of the queen behind Ping'er, not Ping'er herself.
The best revenge for a favored palace maid is to file a complaint, and then use the queen's favor to kick him out of the Afang Palace. This is the worst outcome.
He adjusted his mindset and continued to perform his duties to protect the safety of the Eighteenth Young Master, which was the new responsibility of the Jingshifang.
——Each princess and prince is equipped with a eunuch to protect their safety. This is Zhao Gao's order and has been implemented for several days.
Ying Hu Hai took the pottery jar and put it aside, where there were already a lot of pottery jars piled up.
The rumor is false, Young Master Eighteen doesn't like to play with insects... Gao Dasi thought.
From the first day he came to protect Ying Hu Hai, he had never seen the Eighteenth Young Master teasing insects.
Tap tap tap
The sound of quick, rhythmic footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and a group of officers filed in, with the tips of their bronze spears pointed at him.
The tall monk frowned and looked at Ping'er, the last person to enter. She was extremely beautiful and had a sweet smile.
Why can she even command the officials?
"The Queen has ordered that you capture him."
Ping'er smiled faintly.
Gao Dasi, who was very skilled and capable of breaking out of Afang Palace, did not move rashly and surrendered.
Compared to the profound martial arts of the eunuchs, their loyalty is higher. Moreover, compared to resisting and being killed, being expelled is undoubtedly a good result.
The queen was very kind to this woman... Gao Dasi was pushed and escorted out of the Afang Palace.
But when they arrived outside the palace, the eunuchs holding weapons did not untie him and let him go as Gao Dashi wished, but pressed him to the ground.
This is a punishment of caning... Gaoda Temple's monk raised his head and shouted loudly:
"I am a monk from the Jingshifang Temple. What are you going to do to me?"
The severity of the caning varied from mild to severe. The lightest punishment was minor injury, while the severest was instant death. The people in Gaoda Temple were a little panicked.
"I'll make your wish come true."
A sweet voice was heard, and the tall monk looked in the direction of the voice and saw a thick wooden stick used for caning standing next to the bootless little feet.
Looking up again, I saw Ping'er's smiling face.
"The Queen has ordered that he be punished with ten strokes of the cane."
When he saw that the one who was carrying out the caning was a favored palace maid, Gao Dasiren's heart, which had just risen a little, sank again. How much strength could a little girl have?
The Queen is very fond of this girl... Gao Da Siren thought so for the second time and clearly realized Ping'er's status in Afang Palace.
The queen, who had never looked at Gao Dasiren with respect, did not want Gao Dasiren to enter the palace. She would have expelled him on the day he entered the palace and would not have made trouble at this time.
The only explanation is that all of this is just revengeful behavior by some particularly beautiful palace maids in front of them.
——The ability to command the officials and carry out the caning proved that the queen gave the order to avenge the palace maid.
Even if I am punished with ten strokes of the cane, I can rest for half a month, and I can also get the favor of the Lord of the Chariot House. This is exactly what I wish for... Gao Dasi was thinking with some joy.
Suddenly, I felt a powerful aura rising behind me!
The man standing behind him and punishing him is as skilled in martial arts as him!
There is something wrong with this woman!
Bang!
As soon as this thought flashed through his mind, a sharp pain came from his buttocks like a tsunami. His pelvis cracked, his flesh tore open, and his tight black half-silk eunuch uniform was stained with blood.
"ah!"
Although he was prepared, the pain was still beyond his expectations, causing him to utter a scream that was not human.
Bang!
The second blow of the cane arrived.
The roar of the tall monk stopped abruptly, as if the second blow of the cane did not hit his buttocks, but was stabbed into his mouth.
His eyes were bulging and bloodshot, his body was upright, he was shaking and twisting wildly, struggling hard, like a teddy bear in extreme estrus.
"I am an eunuch! I am an eunuch!"
The status of eunuchs in the Xianyang Palace was higher than that of the palace officials, most of whom were descendants of generals.
They were trained by the Ying family since childhood, and most of them had a worse future than the gilded officials.
But in the Xianyang Palace, those who recorded and protected the First Emperor pleasures had a much more secure life than the palace attendants - only the First Emperor could sentence them to death.
The two eunuchs who were holding him down were nearly thrown over by him, and they hurriedly called for help from their colleagues. It took at least six eunuchs to hold down the tall eunuch with his hands tied.
Ping'er smiled as usual, as if she was completely unaware of the special nature of the temple servant.
She held the heavy wooden stick in both hands, which took the official all his strength to swing, and she swung it up and down easily.
Bang!
repeat.
Bang!
Repeat again.
Bang!
…
Stupid... Queen Afang sighed. The screams outside the palace made her feel helpless.
"Go and see if Hu Hai is frightened, and bring him to me."
She softly ordered the green-dressed palace maid to massage her legs and serve her.
The cry was so shrill that a young child would probably be scared.
"only."
The green-clad palace maid stopped, walked into the Eighteenth Young Master's bedroom, and knocked lightly on the door before entering.
Seeing the Eighteenth Young Master huddled in bed, surrounded by a circle of palace maids and eunuchs who themselves had pale faces and forced smiles, but still asked about his well-being and carefully comforted Ying Hu Hai.
"Eighteenth Young Master, the Queen is worried about you and wants you to come over."
Ying Hu Hai was wearing shoes and curled up in the brocade quilt. The clean bedding was stained with some stains and he looked like he was afraid to go out.
The green-clad maid didn't dare to grab the Eighteenth Young Master and tried to persuade him a few more times. But when he didn't move and burrowed into the quilt, she could only go back and report the news.
Outside the quilt, the eunuchs and palace maids serving Ying Hu Hai felt precarious after hearing the shrill voice, and they tried to comfort him with kind words, but their expressions changed from warm smiles to panic, which looked very incongruous.
The Eighteenth Young Master, hiding in the quilt, could not see their faces, so they could take off their facial disguises.
Inside the quilt, the nine-year-old boy bit the quilt in his mouth, listening to the soft consolation coming from outside, tears dripping from his eyes.
"Mother, Hu Hai will not make you angry anymore. Hu Hai will read Li Sao to you.
"I sigh deeply and wipe away my tears, mourning the hardships of my people's lives... Hu Hai is so scared..."
Ying Hu Hai whimpered very quietly, like the tiny sound of an insect rubbing its wings.
The eunuch was outside the quilt, and the palace maid could not see the boy's face, so the boy could take off his facial disguise.
The emperor dotes on him very much.
He specially hired a group of officials to catch insects for him, so he no longer had to do it himself. He could go to Zhangtai Palace to see his father at any time, and no one in Xianyang Palace would face him coldly, except for the cold-faced swordsman beside his father.
The queen mother doted on him very much.
She vacated her dressing room for him as the Insect Palace, and sent many eunuchs and palace maids to serve him. She brought him all the delicious food and drinks first, and almost responded to his every request. She was worried that he would be scared and immediately asked the palace maids to take him there, and did not let him play with insects by himself, so as to prevent him from losing his ambition.
Overnight, Ying Hu Hai went from being an unknown young man who only his uncle remembered and played with, to the eighteenth most favored young master in the Xianyang Palace.
The sound outside the quilt disappeared.
The brocade quilt covering the Eighteenth Young Master was slowly lifted. The Queen Mother, who was of above-average appearance and far less beautiful than his biological mother, Concubine Hu, gently wiped away the tears on his face and said softly:
"Hu Hai, don't be afraid, the Queen Mother is here."
He picked up Hu Hai tenderly and patted the boy's back lightly.
The young man lay in Afang's arms, hugging his mother tightly, seeming to be terrified.
Ping'er, the queen mother's personal maid, would bring him insects on time every day, but she never remembered what kind of insects she brought.
When his mother suspected that he was afraid, she would send a maid to visit him. When he was afraid to get out of bed, she would come to his bedroom, hug him and comfort him.
His mother never sent palace maids, but went in person. While scolding him for crying like a Chu person and asking him to stop crying, she held him and read Li Sao to him.
The Queen Mother's caress was very comfortable, one stroke after another, with a clear rhythm, just like a routine...
My mother’s gentle caress was not very comfortable, it became sometimes light and sometimes heavy depending on the emotion in the poem “Li Sao” she was reciting.
"Mother..."
Ying Hu Hai's voice was small.
"……Why."
Afang was thinking about something and was a little absent-minded. When she heard the unfamiliar words, she reacted a little slowly and was slow to respond.
The princes and princesses in the harem have always called her mother.
The young man smiled, with tears in his eyes.
"Hu Hai is no longer afraid."
