Chapter 283: Offended
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chu Yi clapped lightly and called out, ‘Qin He.”
A young eunuch in his 25s and 26s, dressed in a green robe, took two steps forward. He was medium-sized and had an ordinary face. His slender eyes seemed to be unable to open, and there was a lingering hostility between his eyebrows that made one’s heart turn cold.
The young eunuch walked to He Lie’s side and bowed. “I’m here.”
His voice was sharp and sinister, as if a poisonous snake was coiling around him, giving off a cold and wet feeling.
Empress Dowager Yuan’s white porcelain teacup suddenly stopped in front of her chest. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Qin He.
Qin He, the eunuch in charge of internal affairs, was the second-in-command of internal affairs. His status was second only to the seal eunuch, Li Han.
Qin He was originally just a small eunuch of Feng Luan Palace. More than ten years ago, he served Empress Dowager Yuan and helped Kang Wang block a stray arrow 10 years ago. From this, he obtained Empress Dowager Yuan’s appreciation.
Empress Dowager Yuan supported Qin He with all her might and recommended him to the late Emperor. Qin He was also a smart person and could always figure out what he wanted. Not only was he thorough in his work, but he was also ruthless. He was even more valued by the Empress Dowager. In a full 10 years, he climbed from an ordinary eunuch to the position of eunuch in charge of internal affairs. Everyone in the inner court knew about him.
But why was Qin He here?!
Chu You and Yuan The’s expressions suddenly changed. Chu You’s eyes were cold, and the joints in his right hand were cracking.
‘Qin He, I’ll leave this matter to you to interrogate,” Chu Yi instructed calmly with a calm bearing.
He was as bright as the stars and as graceful as a breeze.
The corners of Qin He’s eyes raised slightly as he revealed a sinister smile. He slowly bowed and replied calmly, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Just a few words were enough to send a chill down one’s spine.
The palace maids beside her couldn’t help but swallow. They silently lowered their heads and stared at the tips of their shoes. Even the hair on the back of their necks stood up.
Chu Yi looked at Empress Dowager Yuan, who was sitting at the entrance of the cabin, and the corners of his mouth curled up into a faint smile. However, his words were directed at Qin He. “Qin He, if you interrogate them well, I’ll leave the Internal Affairs Directorate to you from now on.’
The words were clearly meaningful, and against the smile on his lips, it was more of a challenge to Empress Dowager Yuan and a show of force.
The teacup in Empress Dowager Yuan’s hand trembled violently. The boiling tea spilled out of the cup and left an eye-catching red mark on the back of her fair and delicate hand.
A burning pain came from the back of her hand. Empress Dowager Yuan’s expression instantly darkened, and her eyes flickered. She squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.
‘Very good. You planted a spy on me.”
Empress Dowager Yuan was certain that Chu Yi definitely didn’t know that the Emperor would fall into the water today. However, in just a moment, he had already planned and decided to attack the Internal Affairs Directorate.
Chu Yi, oh Chu Yi. He was really ambitious!
‘Smash!”
Empress Dowager Yuan flew into a rage and slammed the teacup in her hand onto the coffee table. Some tea and tea leaves splashed out, and the tea flowed to the ground.
This sound frightened the two palace maids serving beside her.
Empress Dowager Yuan reprimanded Chu Yi coldly, “Kneel!”
Chu Yi had a gentle smile on his face as he said indifferently, “The Empress Dowager is old and unwell. If you don’t want to watch the show, go back to the cabin and rest.”
The breeze brushed his hair gently. His calmness was a stark contrast to Empress Dowager Yuan’s anger.
There was silence, and the atmosphere on the deck had become tense in a few words.
Empress Dowager Yuan met Chu Yi’s eyes coldly from afar.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to stop for a moment.
Qin He turned his back to Empress Dowager Yuan and bowed to Chu Yi again. He said in a sharp and feminine voice, “Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
He didn’t hide the fierceness in his words. The four words seemed to be meant for the Empress Dowager.
Without needing Qin He to instruct him, the four haggard middle-aged eunuchs behind him casually ordered three eunuchs who had been taken down by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. The three of them didn’t even dare to breathe loudly as they were dragged into a small house beside them.
‘Bang!”
The door of the small house was slammed shut, blocking the gazes outside. It was also like a slap to Empress Dowager Yuan’s face.
It was undoubtedly a great humiliation for her trusted aide to betray her in public. Empress Dowager Yuan’s face was red, and her chest heaved violently. She questioned word by word, “Eldest Prince, are you trying to put me under house arrest?”
Empress Dowager Yuan wasn’t a powerless and helpless woman from the inner palace. Behind her were the aristocratic families of the entire Great Jin Dynasty.
Although these aristocratic families weren’t as powerful as the previous dynasty, when they joined forces, they could shake the Great Jin Dynasty.
Empress Dowager Yuan’s sharp gaze shot to the Emperor again. Instead, a slow smile appeared on her lips as she asked, “Could this be the Emperor’s intention?”
After being furious, Empress Dowager Yuan became very calm. As she chatted and laughed, she naturally had a high and mighty aura. Even when facing the dignified Emperor, her aura wasn’t inferior at all.
Even if Feng Yang was sitting beside her, Empress Dowager Yuan still felt a little guilty, and tried hard not to show any fear.
As the daughter of the Yuan family, this was her glory and her foundation. She couldn’t embarrass the daughter of an aristocratic family.
The Emperor acted as if he didn’t hear her. He drank tea and teased An Le.
There was a faint spark in the air.
Empress Dowager Yuan laughed in anger. ‘Emperor...”
A sharp roar suddenly sounded from the small room with the closed door. It was like a heavy hammer that struck everyone’s hearts, making them inexplicably panic.
The eunuch, Qin He, had long been known for being ruthless and especially good at extorting confessions through torture. There were 108 methods to pry open a person’s mouth and make them wish they were dead. The rumors were probably true.
A few timid girls leaned together with pale faces. Some people whispered all kinds of terrifying rumors about Qin He.
Empress Dowager Yuan’s eyes darkened. Her knuckles, which were holding the prayer beads, were so pale that there was no color in them.
Behind her, an old eunuch with gray hair was so nervous that his palms were sweating. The silver horsetail whisk in his hand trembled.
‘That’s too cruel.” Gu Yunrong looked in the direction of the small house and frowned slightly.
Her voice was low, and only Yu Chaoyun beside her could hear her.
Gu Yunrong was really puzzled. The Emperor had clearly only fallen into the water by accident and was unharmed. This was just a false alarm.
Although these eunuchs had failed in their duty, it was fine if they were fined some money.. Why did they have to use such torture?!