[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - 6

In the second chapter of the second episode

, amidst his intense pain and pleasure, Princess Changping below was overjoyed. She tore his pants, picked up his manhood, and cried out, "A man! It really is a man!"
After a while, Princess Changping got up again, touched her genitals, and said with a seductive smile, "I didn't expect you, this fake eunuch, to have such a big thing. You infiltrated the palace to get intimate with the concubines, didn't you? You're willing to risk your life for beauty; you're truly a rare lecherous rogue!"
Amidst the intense pain and pleasure, Li Xiaomin's mind went blank. Suddenly hearing her slander, he hurriedly opened his mouth and loudly defended himself, "I only came here by chance, I didn't mean to..."
Before he could finish speaking, Princess Changping pounced on him, blocking his mouth with her small, fragrant breasts, and said with a coquettish laugh, "Why say so much? A moment of pleasure is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Let's have some fun!"
Li Xiaomin bit down hard on the tender, soft object in his mouth, as revenge for what she had done to him earlier. Princess Changping, her eyes gleaming with seductive allure, moaned softly, "Oh, oh, dear brother, you're so rough with your kisses!"
Li Xiaomin smiled bitterly to himself. He looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Whether she was fifteen or sixteen, or even three hundred, she was still older than him, yet she called him "brother." Such wantonness was truly rare.
Princess Changping straightened up, her hands moving like the wind. In a few swift movements, she tore her magnificent dress to shreds, revealing her snow-white, delicate body. Although only fifteen or sixteen, she already possessed all the curves she should have, her exquisitely shaped body dazzling Li Xiaomin's eyes like a blooming flower. Her face, which
should have been pure and beautiful, was now filled with a lewd smile. As she straddled Li Xiaomin, her body heaving, she wantonly ravaged him.
Li Xiaomin's clothes were torn to shreds, the tattered garments lying to the side. He suppressed the pleasure coursing through his body, reaching for his clothes. After rummaging around inside, he finally found the Underworld Pearl, secretly delighted, and clutched it tightly in his hand.
Princess Changping's youthful face was a mixture of excitement and pain. He was determined to seize her vital essence, having successfully cultivated a secret technique taught to him by his sect three hundred years ago. He intended to use this power to suppress Princess Changping's soul and seize her body. Suddenly, he heard the little boy beneath him say in a deep voice, "Consort Yi!"
Princess Changping's face paled with shock. She stopped, placing her jade-like hand on Li Xiaomin's bare chest, staring at him intently, and asking, word by word, "Who are you?"
Li Xiaomin smiled coldly, saying indifferently, "I am no one, just a lowly eunuch in the palace."
Princess Changping stared coldly at him, slowly saying, "You, in your current state, forcibly raped me..." "With such strong spiritual power, who would believe you're just an ordinary eunuch? Tell me! How did you know my true identity?"
Li Xiaomin coldly looked at the beautiful girl riding on his back and said indifferently, "I not only know you are Consort Yi, but I also know you poisoned You'er to death, and now you want to seize my body and steal my primordial yang!"
Princess Changping's expression changed drastically. Her hands suddenly transformed into sharp claws, swiftly grabbing at Li Xiaomin's throat, and she hissed, "No matter who you are, if you know my secret, you must die!"
Li Xiaomin's right hand, which had been hidden under his tattered clothes, suddenly rose, gripped the Underworld Pearl, and chanted an incantation. A ball of black light instantly emanated from the Underworld Pearl, spreading in all directions.
Princess Changping was terrified and cried out, "The Underworld Pearl!"
Knowing the power of the Underworld Pearl, she gritted her teeth and used the spiritual power she had cultivated for three hundred years to resist the corrosive effect of the Underworld Pearl's black light on her spiritual body.
Princess Changping screamed, her body suddenly turning red, gradually becoming crimson, resembling a naked woman sculpted from a ruby, her appearance both alluring and eerily strange.
Li Xiaomin was stunned, staring at the exquisitely beautiful, ruby-like naked princess, his desire rising again.
Suddenly, Princess Changping giggled, her face full of joy, laughing heartily.
She stood up from the bed, looked at Li Xiaomin, and smiled, "Indeed excellent! Although not a virgin, you possess even more abundant yang energy and spiritual power. With your help, my skills can be expected to reach great heights!"
Looking at this poisonous woman who had killed You'er, Li Xiaomin's eyes reddened with anger. He raised the Underworld Pearl in fury and shouted, "Break!"
A burst of black light instantly enveloped Consort Yi. Consort Yi couldn't help but cover her eyes, screaming loudly, her body curling into a ball in pain.
Li Xiaomin knew this was a matter of life and death. She had just tried to kill him; if he relaxed even slightly, she would recover and not spare his life. Therefore, he focused solely on chanting incantations, striving to unleash the black light, which surged towards Consort Yi in clumps.
Consort Yi's body shrank smaller and smaller until she was curled up in a ball. Suddenly, she let out a shrill scream, her body radiating a brilliant red light. Instantly, she broke through the black mist's encirclement, sprang from the bed, and shot towards Li Xiaomin like an arrow released from a bow.
Li Xiaomin felt a wave of energy crashing down on him like a tidal wave. His immortal power was unable to withstand it, and with a "poof," he spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward.
The surging energy, like sharp swords, sliced through his skin, leaving bloody streaks everywhere.
Princess Changping's body shot in like lightning. Her right hand swiftly scooped up the Underworld Pearl from his hand, her slender waist twisting as she landed lightly. Looking at the Underworld Pearl in her hand, her face was filled with excitement.
Li Xiaomin fell to the ground with a thud, looking disheveled, but dared not be careless. He waved his hand and unleashed a flurry of talismans at peak speed.
With a series of soft hissing sounds, countless golden talismans struck Princess Changping, leaving bloody marks on her delicate body. Some wounds were quite deep, and blood flowed from them. Consort Yi, however, paid no heed, merely raising the Underworld Pearl in her hand with a cold smile, saying in a chilling voice, "With the Underworld Pearl in my hand, what can your little tricks do to me!"
Seeing that the talismans he had unleashed with all his immortal power could only cause minor injuries, Li Xiaomin stopped, secretly gathering his strength, preparing to deliver a fatal blow when she was off guard.
Consort Yi, however, would not give him a moment to breathe. She raised the Underworld Pearl high with both hands, muttering an incantation. Black light spread, enveloping the room, mixing with the red light emanating from her body, presenting an eerie crimson-black color, like solidified black.
A crimson-black mist slowly approached Li Xiaomin. Li Xiaomin stared wide-eyed in terror at the mist, instinctively sensing the intense killing intent within. He dared not imagine what would happen to him if this blood mist landed on him.
Just as the mist drew near, Li Xiaomin leaped up, shooting towards the door.
With a bang, he crashed into the door, but instead of shattering as he expected, the door propelled him back with even greater force. Li Xiaomin somersaulted twice in mid-air before landing on a table, avoiding the mist.
Looking up, he saw that the walls, doors, and windows of the room were all covered in black mist. This mist, originating from the Netherworld Pearl, spread rapidly along the walls like vines, filling every possible escape route.
Li Xiaomin's heart pounded wildly as he retreated step by step, summoning his last bit of spiritual power for a desperate last stand. But he tragically discovered that his strength was no match for the slowly encroaching blood mist.
After the blood mist shattered his desperately poured-out immortal power, Li Xiaomin collapsed to the ground, utterly powerless to retaliate.
Consort Yi laughed shrilly, posing seductively in the body of Princess Changping she possessed, and said in a coquettish voice, "Little brother, it would be such a waste to kill you like this! But there's no other way; you're too much of a threat. Although keeping you alive could help me cultivate better, I'll eliminate you first, ridding you of this menace!"
Li Xiaomin stared in despair at the naked girl, desperately gathering all his remaining strength, knowing it was utterly inadequate against the terrifying blood mist.
Consort Yi laughed triumphantly, releasing the resentment of three hundred years of torture and torment in her laughter.
Suddenly, from within the pile of tattered eunuch clothing on Princess Changping's embroidered couch, a white figure darted out with lightning speed, appearing behind Consort Yi and slashing out with a knife-like palm strike, slicing across Princess Changping's jade wrist.
Consort Yi's laughter abruptly ceased; her hands went limp, unable to hold the enormous pearl, which fell to the ground with a thud.
The blood mist in the room instantly dissipated. Li Xiaomin, seeing the red light vanish, didn't hesitate. Gathering his last bit of spiritual power, he roared and unleashed a huge talisman from his hand, striking Consort Yi in the chest with a thud.
Consort Yi groaned, sent flying backward by the blow, crashing heavily onto the bed. The talisman had penetrated her flesh several millimeters deep, leaving a deep mark.
Having delivered this final blow, Li Xiaomin was utterly exhausted, unable to fight any longer. He then saw Consort Yi, her body glowing red, slowly rise from the bed, blood trickling from her lips, and she grinned sinisterly, "You damned eunuch, you're ruthless indeed!"
Seeing her raise her claws, muttering something, Li Xiaomin was terrified. He knew that if she made the first move, he would be the one to die.
But all his strength, immortal power, and spiritual energy had been completely drained, leaving him unable to resist. Just as he was in a panic, he suddenly saw the white figure who had attacked Consort Yi pounce on the ground, pick up the Underworld Pearl, and throw it to Li Xiaomin with all her might, shrieking, "Master! Kill her quickly, don't let her finish the incantation!"
Li Xiaomin looked closely; the white figure was Yue Niang, her beautiful face deathly pale, already swaying precariously. With her current power, forcibly touching the celestial treasure, the Underworld Pearl, would still cause significant damage to her spiritual body.
Li Xiaomin, without a word, raised the Underworld Pearl and loudly chanted an incantation.
Under his full power, black mist rose, swirling wildly towards Consort Yi.
At this moment, Consort Yi had already jumped out of bed and rushed towards Li Xiaomin, preparing for a final blow. Seeing the black mist rushing towards her, she was terrified and only managed a scream before being heavily struck by the black energy, collapsing limply to the ground.
As the black energy struck Princess Changping's body, a pale red figure was blasted away from her. Her face was exceptionally beautiful; it was Consort Yi's spiritual body.
In mid-air, she turned to look at Li Xiaomin, her face filled with hatred, a gaze that chilled him to the bone.
The black energy didn't stop, rapidly swirling forward, striking Consort Yi's spiritual body with a hiss, instantly dissipating her, leaving only a scream before vanishing into the air.
Just as Consort Yi was struck and her soul was scattered, the swaying Yue Niang suddenly leaped into the air, grabbed the scattered red smoke, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Watching the beautiful woman in white devour Consort Yi's pale red spirit body, Li Xiaomin felt a chill run down his spine. He struggled to sit up, looked at the wounds covering his body, and sighed deeply.
This time, it had truly been extremely dangerous. You'er and her subordinates were all cultivating due to absorbing too much spiritual energy, and he himself had been dragged here by Consort Qin to fight the awakened Consort Yi, almost losing his life. If it weren't for Yue Niang's help, his life would have already ended in the hands of this three-hundred-year-old female ghost.
After inhaling the red smoke in the air, Yue Niang became much more energetic, her cheeks flushed. With a flick of her sleeve, she floated down and knelt before Li Xiaomin, respectfully saying, "This servant ate without permission; please forgive me, Master!"
Li Xiaomin said listlessly, "Forget it, she's finished anyway. It's no big deal if you ate her."
Yue Niang was startled and prostrated herself, saying, "Master, this servant didn't eat her! She was completely destroyed by the attack from the Underworld King's Pearl; her soul was scattered and she vanished without a trace. This servant only ate her spiritual energy..." Before it dissipated, it devoured some of her spiritual power, leaving no secrets! I hope Master will investigate!
Li Xiaomin was relieved and felt much better: "So it wasn't eating ghosts, just spiritual power. That's alright, since spiritual power is wasted anyway, giving her a little is a reward for saving my life."
He reached out and, with Yue Niang's help, stood up. Looking at himself, completely naked, he couldn't help but laugh. He had actually fought a naked female ghost.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at Yue Niang with astonishment, stammering, "I think I touched your hand just now?"
Yue Niang knelt down and smiled, "Thanks to Master, I had several times more spiritual power just now, enough to materialize!"
Li Xiaomin still couldn't believe it. He reached out to touch her hair and cheeks. They were smooth and slightly warm, just like the women in the palace.
His hands roamed over Yue Niang's body, reaching her chest and slipping inside her clothes to fondle and knead her wantonly. He thought to himself, "Having such a beautiful slave isn't bad. Not only can she help me with chores, but I can also fondle her when I'm bored. It's quite nice."
Yue Niang's cheeks flushed from his touch. She raised her beautiful eyes, her gaze seductive, and said in a sweet voice, "Master, my body was given to me by you. If you desire me, I will serve you with all my might!"
Hearing this, Li Xiaomin suddenly felt a surge of lust, but remembering that he had already slept with Consort Yi, he forced himself to restrain himself and waved his hand, saying, "No need. Let's take care of the important matters first. We can talk about the rest later."
He suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and looked down at Yue Niang, saying in a deep voice, "How did you manage to seduce someone with such magic? Are you Yue Niang or Consort Yi?"
As he spoke, his voice turned stern, and he raised the Underworld Pearl high in his right hand, ready to strike her with a spell if she made any move.
Yue Niang hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Master, please understand! That Consort Yi's soul has indeed been scattered, but the spiritual power she has cultivated over the past three hundred years is extraordinary, possessing a strong ability to induce lust. This servant's skills are too weak to resist, and thus I couldn't help but seduce you! Please forgive me, Master!"
Li Xiaomin was relieved, put the Underworld Pearl into his pocket, and sighed, "Alright, it's good that you're alright. You must learn to control Consort Yi's spiritual power; it might come in handy someday."
He walked to the unconscious Princess Changping, picked her up, and put her down by the bed. Looking down at the naked girl, he worriedly said, "What should I do! Her clothes and mine are torn. If someone sees us, they'll say I raped her! And if they want to verify my identity, I'm powerless to resist now. I'm afraid my head and my body will be chopped off!"
Yue Niang smiled and said softly, "Master, this is Princess Changping..." "In her bedroom, there must be some of her everyday clothes in those closets,"
Li Xiaomin exclaimed happily. "That's right! Quickly, help me find her some clothes!"
The two rummaged through the closets and finally found clothes similar to what Princess Changping had just worn. They walked to the bedside, about to help her change, when Yueniang suddenly chuckled, "Master, how about you do it with Princess Changping again?"
Li Xiaomin was startled and waved his hand, saying, "Doing that with the princess? I have enough lives to kill! Besides, we've been making a scene for so long, her mother must be getting impatient." Yueniang covered her mouth and
laughed, "Anyway, it's already been so long, another hour or two won't make a difference. Moreover, she is a noblewoman of the royal family. If you use her as a cultivation vessel, it will surely make your cultivation twice as effective, allowing you to reach a higher level. Once you leave, you may never have another chance to be intimate with her. Are you just going to let such a good opportunity slip by?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaomin couldn't help but be tempted. Looking down at Princess Changping, he saw her beautiful young body lying in front of him. Since it was the last time, he figured he might as well take advantage of it. So he didn't say anything more, picked up Princess Changping's body, and climbed onto the embroidered bed to have sex with her.
He played to his heart's content on the bed. Yue Niang knelt beside the bed, watching her master make love with the unconscious, innocent girl. Suddenly, she covered her face and wept softly, saying with resentment, "When people make requests, Master makes excuses; but when it comes to sleeping with the princess, he doesn't hesitate. Master is so biased!"
Consort Qin paced back and forth in front of her daughter's bedroom door, filled with anxiety, wondering if Xiao Minzi's treatment of her daughter had been effective.
With a creak, the door opened. Li Xiaomin walked out, looking dejected. His clothes were tattered and torn, covered in wounds that were still seeping blood.
Consort Qin was shocked and asked in a trembling voice, "Xiaominzi, what happened? Where is Changping?"
Li Xiaomin sighed with a bitter face, "Princess Changping was possessed by an evil spirit. I just fought a fierce battle with the evil spirit and barely defeated it. I even used the magic of the Underworld Pearl to shatter its soul, but the precious Underworld Pearl shattered completely due to the dissipation of its magic power. I also accidentally injured the princess, adding some wounds to her precious body. I deserve to die!"
To make his words more impactful, Li Xiaomin... Li Xiaomin had no choice but to prostrate himself on the ground, kneeling before Consort Qin, inwardly cursing, "Why do I always have to kneel? Being a eunuch is truly inhuman! Bah! I kneel before you today, but one day I'll make you kneel on the bed begging for mercy, and I'll get my money back with interest!"
Consort Qin, unaware of his filthy thoughts, was preoccupied with her daughter and hurriedly ran into the room. Standing by the bed, she looked down at her sleeping daughter and, seeing her rosy complexion and steady breathing, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Xiaomin listlessly got up from the ground, walked behind her, and stole glances at her tall, mature, and sexy body, fantasizing hundreds of times about this sexy beauty who had forced him to kneel.
Neither he nor Consort Qin noticed that wisps of red smoke drifted above the bed—the remnants of Consort Yi's spiritual power, undetected by Yue Niang, yet causing Consort Qin, in her excited state, to inhale them little by little.
Consort Qin examined her daughter for a long time, thoroughly checking her body. She noticed several wounds and quickly summoned someone to apply medicine. She then led the young eunuch out.
Standing at the door, looking at the young eunuch who had saved her daughter, Consort Qin felt deeply grateful. Seeing his body covered in bleeding wounds, she quickly ordered medicine to be brought and applied to the young eunuch's wounds.
The young eunuch retreated to a nearby room where a palace maid applied the medicine. While applying the medicine, Li Xiaomin watched the palace maid, about sixteen or seventeen years old and quite pretty, as she applied it to his left arm. Li Xiaomin felt a surge of attraction and smiled, asking, "Sister, what's your name?"
The maid looked up, her eyes meeting the young eunuch's handsome features, and felt a surge of affection. She smiled and said, "My name is Tingqin. You must be Xiaominzi? We owe you a great debt of gratitude for saving the princess; otherwise, we would all have been executed!"
Thinking of the tragic fate of herself and her sisters after the princess's death, when they were sentenced to death for neglecting their duties, Tingqin shuddered. Her gaze towards Li Xiaomin was filled with gratitude.
Li Xiaomin smiled and said a few modest words, then secretly reached out with his right hand, the one not being treated, and touched Tingqin's small hand, gently stroking its soft back.
Tingqin glanced at him sideways, lightly slapped the back of his hand, and spat, "You little eunuch look alright, but this hand of yours is rather unruly!"
Li Xiaomin laughed, "My hand is usually very well-behaved, but it becomes unruly when I see you, sister."
Li Xiaomin took off his clothes, letting Tingqin's slender fingers roam over his body, applying medicine to him. The two exchanged flirtatious glances and said some suggestive words, gradually becoming interested in each other. Li Xiaomin's hand had already reached up to her breasts, gently kneading them. Just as he was about to boldly touch her body a few more times and take advantage of her, a palace maid suddenly ran in and said respectfully, "Eunuch Xiaomin, Her Majesty requests your presence!"
Li Xiaomin hurriedly withdrew his hand, fortunately Tingqin's delicate body blocked him from being seen by the palace maid.
By this time, Li Xiaomin's wounds had been treated, so he had to put on his clothes and follow the two palace maids out. Tingqin's face was already flushed, and she could only lower her head, afraid that Her Majesty would notice something.
Consort Qin, however, paid no attention to her, her face beaming with joy as she looked at Xiaominzi. She exclaimed, "Changping has woken up! Xiaominzi, thank you so much this time! I don't know how to thank you enough!"
Li Xiaomin hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this is what I should do. For Your Majesty, I would gladly die!"
Consort Qin smiled, calling him to her side. Looking down at the young eunuch, she saw his delicate features and handsome appearance, and grew increasingly fond of him. She thought to herself, "If Xu'er could grow up to be this handsome, would he not win the Emperor's favor?"
She sighed inwardly, took Li Xiaomin's hand, and smiled, "Good child, I said before that as long as you saved Changping, I would adopt you as my son. Now, you are my child!"
Li Xiaomin was shocked. He hadn't expected her to actually adopt him as her son; wasn't this taking advantage of him?
Reluctantly, he devised a plan, wiping away tears as he cried, "Your Majesty, although I come from a humble background, I swore before my mother's grave when she passed away that even if my father remarried, I would never call her 'mother.' Later, my father forced me to call his second wife 'mother,' but I refused to comply and was driven out of the house. I was destitute and nearly starved to death, which is why I entered the palace as a eunuch. I am unworthy, unable to be filial to my mother while she was alive, and this is the only way I can express my filial piety. I beg Your Majesty to understand my heart! If Your Majesty grants my request, I am willing to serve Your Majesty like a slave for the rest of my life, even to the point of death!"
Consort Qin hadn't expected him to refuse her proposal to recognize him as her son, but after hearing his words, she couldn't help but be moved. A lowly eunuch, able to resist the temptation of advancement and refuse to acknowledge the Imperial Concubine as his mother, choosing only to remain loyal to his birth mother, displayed a integrity comparable to the loyal ministers who died for their country throughout history and the filial sons of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars.
Moved, she gently stroked Li Xiaomin's hair with her warm hand, sighing, "Good child, it's so touching to have such a filial heart! Very well, though I cannot be your mother, I will still treat you as my own child. You saved Changping's life, so I will let her recognize you as her brother, is that alright?"
Li Xiaomin thought for a moment, recognizing a sister was better than recognizing a mother, and nodded, crying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting my request!"
Imperial Concubine Qin smiled, took Li Xiaomin's hand, and led him into Princess Changping's bedroom.
Princess Changping sat wrapped in a blanket in the bedroom, her body covered in wounds. Although the palace maids had applied medicine to her wounds, she still couldn't help but feel a dull ache. Even stranger, the pain between her legs was excruciating, yet she was too embarrassed to tell the palace maids, and could only ponder it silently.
She had heard that she had been bewitched by an evil spirit, possessed by a demon, and fought a three-hundred-round battle with a sorcerer who possessed magical arts. Finally, he displayed his divine power and exorcised the demon, leaving both of them with many wounds. But what kind of battle could cause such severe injuries to her lower body? Princess Changping thought and thought, but couldn't figure it out.
As she sat alone, puzzled, she suddenly saw her mother leading a young eunuch in. Princess Changping was slightly startled, looking up at the young eunuch, wondering why her mother had brought him.
Seeing her daughter in good spirits, Consort Qin was delighted and smiled, "My child, this is your brother. I have already made him acknowledge you as his elder sister. Come and greet him!"
Li Xiaomin, gazing at Princess Changping's beautiful face, felt a slight flutter in his heart. He knelt down and respectfully said, "Elder sister, your younger brother greets you!"
He hadn't originally wanted to bow, but he had already thoroughly enjoyed himself with her, recalling how she had been pinned down by him while unconscious, her soft moans as she made love. His heart was filled with desire, and bowing to her now was a way of repaying a favor. Although this girl was younger than him in his previous life, she was older than him in this one, so calling her "elder sister" wasn't inappropriate.
Princess Changping was taken aback and exclaimed, "Mother! What is this little eunuch? How can he be my brother? If people find out, won't they laugh me to death?"
Li Xiaomin was secretly furious, but he lowered his head and remained silent. Princess Changping scrutinized him closely and exclaimed, "Hey, isn't he the little eunuch I saw on the road a few days ago? Why did Mother decide to make this little fellow my brother?"
Consort Qin's face darkened, and she said with slight anger, "Changping! If he hadn't risked his life to enter the Ghost Palace to retrieve the Underworld Pearl for you, and fought the demons for so long, how could he have saved your life! Now you're saying this, isn't that repaying kindness with enmity?"
Princess Changping had never heard her mother speak to her so sternly before, and she was startled. When she heard that this little eunuch was actually the sorcerer the palace maids had mentioned earlier, she was even more shocked. She jumped off the bed, flustered, and cried out, "So it was you who saved me! Good brother, don't be angry with your sister, your sister apologizes to you!"
She bent down to pay her respects, but suddenly cried out in pain and almost fell to the ground.
Li Xiaomin, feeling guilty, knew why she had suddenly cried out in pain. He hurriedly stepped forward to support her, carefully helping her sit down, and said with a forced smile, "Sister, you were seriously injured in the battle just now. You should rest quickly and not get out of bed."
Princess Changping felt a surge of emotion as his hand rested on her jade-
like arm. Hearing his caring words, she nodded gratefully, covered herself with the quilt, and sat on the bed, gradually feeling the pain lessen. Li Xiaomin chuckled dryly to cover up his embarrassment, saying, "Encountering evil spirits is most likely to damage one's vital energy. Sister, you must rest in bed for a few days before getting up and walking around, otherwise, I'm afraid you might develop a chronic illness."
Consort Qin believed him and hurriedly said, "Changping, your brother is right. You must not get out of bed casually. You should rest for a few more days and recover your health."
Hearing this, Princess Changping and Li Xiaomin both secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Princess Changping didn't have to get out of bed and suffer the pain, nor did she have to tell her mother about that shameful affair. Once her injuries healed, everything would be over. Li Xiaomin, on the other hand, had succeeded in his scheme. As long as Princess Changping didn't get out of bed, no one could tell that her gait was different from usual, and naturally, no one would guess what he had done to her in the room. The palace
maids in the Consort Qin's palace all came forward to congratulate Princess Changping on having such a good younger brother. Their gazes towards Li Xiaomin became even more ardent, and some of the young girls even had a hint of shyness in their eyes.
Li Xiaomin secretly rejoiced: "These palace maids are really young and beautiful, looking at me with such lustful eyes. Could it be that they've taken a fancy to me and want to 'share a meal' with me? Hehe, I already have Lan'er, so I can't dedicate myself to comforting you all for now. Sorry!"
He stayed in Consort Qin's palace for most of the day. Consort Qin insisted he stay for a meal before letting him return to his own palace.
Before his departure, Consort Qin repeatedly urged him to visit her often and spend more time with his sister, Changping, as this was how family should behave. She stressed he mustn't be like his brother, Li Xu, who, once enfeoffed as a prince, rarely returned to the palace to visit his mother and sister.
Consort Yun lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, silent and motionless, like a statue.
In her heart, she felt both relief and regret over Xiaominzi's death in the Ghost Palace; her heart was conflicted.
But no matter what, Xiaominzi had entered the Ghost Palace and could never come out. His actions against her were now beyond question, posing no further threat to her safety. She should forget everything related to him to live more peacefully.
Thinking this, Consort Yun breathed a sigh of relief, sat up, hugged the quilt, and smiled silently, feeling relaxed. She prepared to get out of bed and go out to celebrate her new life.
She got out of bed, stretched lazily, and was about to call the maids to help her put on her outer clothes when she suddenly saw the back window being pushed open. Xiao Minzi stood outside the window, looking at
her with a cold, sneer. Consort Yun turned pale with fright and was about to scream when she saw Xiao Minzi leap into the window, staring intently at her with icy eyes, and walking towards her step by step.
Yunfei stepped back, crying out in alarm, "You, are you a human or a ghost?"
Li Xiaomin laughed loudly, shouting, "What, do you really want me to be a ghost?"
Yunfei lowered her head, looking at his feet, where his shadow was still. She felt both sorrow and fear, thinking to herself, "So he's not dead after all! Even the Ghost Palace can't do anything to him. Just who is he?"
Li Xiaomin turned around, pulled a whip from behind his back, and cracked it in the air, shouting angrily, "You slut! I worked so hard to please you, and you want to betray me and kill me! Where is your conscience?!"
Yunfei was so shocked that she took a step back. Hearing that he had not only raped her but was also trying to twist the truth, she was so angry that she almost cried.
Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, coupled with her beautiful face and pitiful appearance, Li Xiaomin's heart softened. However, the thought that she had framed him and almost sent him to his doom reignited his anger. He lashed out with his whip, striking her shoulder with a loud crack.
Yun Fei screamed and fell to her knees at Li Xiaomin's feet, weeping bitterly.
Li Xiaomin gripped the whip handle tightly, determined to give her an unforgettable memory. Today, he would make her know the consequences of betrayal and selling him.

(Chapter 3, Episode 2: Promotion)

Li Xiaomin sat in his small hut, yawning boredly.
You'er, Feng Shuang, and the three hundred ghost guards were not with him. According to Aunt Feng, they had received an unimaginable amount of spiritual energy, so their main task for the foreseeable future was to refine it. This would take a long time, perhaps a year. During this period, they would be unable to fight powerful enemies, and even if they did, they would be unable to exert much power.
Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly. This meant he would have to stay in the palace for another year, serving as a lowly eunuch. His grand plan to become emperor would only have a chance after a year.
However, he wasn't too bothered. He was doing quite well in the palace now, with food, clothing, and several beautiful women to keep him company—a far cry from his previous life's lonely and miserable existence.
Besides, even with three hundred ghost guards at his disposal, he couldn't possibly control the world with them. Even if the three hundred ghost guards displayed their might, working themselves to death to wipe out the army in Jinling City, the other cities in the Southern Tang would certainly not obey him; each prefect would likely declare themselves king. Was he supposed to lead three hundred ghost guards from east to west, only to watch the cities he conquered rebel again?
To control territory, he needed an army composed of humans. Li Xiaomin was currently preparing for this, but the issue of military funding was giving him a real headache. Although the two gang leaders agreed to advance some funds, this wasn't a long-term solution. If they discovered he couldn't produce the money, they would likely become suspicious, and his first righteous army might crumble.
Consort Chen treated him well, agreeing to give him her savings to start a business. However, even with her considerable wealth, supporting an army was far too difficult. Li Xiaomin couldn't immediately think of a suitable business to start. At
this moment, he couldn't help but regret not paying more attention when reading alternate history novels back then, focusing only on the plot and neglecting to learn the methods of making money. If he had studied alternate history novels diligently like a textbook, he wouldn't be in such a predicament now.
He tried desperately to recall that a brother who returned to the Northern Song Dynasty used his own urine to distill and refine it, producing white phosphorus and making money by selling matches; another brother returned to the Three Kingdoms period, distilled liquor, produced high-proof spirits, and became the wealthiest liquor merchant of the time; but all of this required the technology of distillation, and Li Xiaomin, who had forgotten all the chemistry knowledge he had learned before, had long forgotten what distillation meant.
As for glassmaking and steelmaking, for Li Xiaomin, whose chemistry grades were quite good back then, it was now as difficult as recalling a foreign language. China's education system only trained students' problem-solving skills, enabling them to solve one incomprehensible problem after another, but it was utterly meaningless in practical terms.
Thinking of this, Li Xiaomin couldn't help but sigh. The fantasy novels he had read before were all products of the authors' wild imaginations. If you dragged someone from the 21st century to ancient times, unless they were an expert, an ordinary person wouldn't be trained beforehand to become a genius scientist living in ancient times. If he were actually in ancient times, the protagonists in those novels would probably have a huge problem just surviving and not starving to death.
Thinking about the plots in those books, they were all exaggerated. An ordinary person, once transported to ancient times, would be able to build guns and cannons, improve weaving techniques, and create clocks and glass. But Li Xiaomin not only couldn't remember how to transform the molecular structure of sand into the molecular structure of glass, but even with clocks, besides knowing that they had gears and a balance weight hanging underneath, he knew nothing more. The protagonists in those books not only possessed scientific knowledge completely useless in daily life, but they could also recite the most obscure ancient texts and histories of various dynasties fluently. Were they all superhumans?
"My grand plan to get rich is still very slim," Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly, having a terrible headache over money. Suddenly, he heard a melodious female voice calling loudly from outside the door, "Eunuch Xiaomin, are you in the room?"
Li Xiaomin stood up, pushed open the door, and saw a palace lady standing in front of the door with two maids, holding a bright yellow scroll in her hand.
The lady was very beautiful, with eyebrows like spring mountains and eyes like autumn water, her appearance bright and radiant. She was tall, with a full bust, and had the charm of a mature woman. The two maids behind her were both sixteen or seventeen years old, and were also quite beautiful.
Li Xiaomin emerged from the room and, upon seeing the three beautiful women, his eyes lit up. He bowed respectfully and asked with a smile, "Sister, what brings you here?" The
female official, around thirty years old, still possessed a captivating charm, befitting his address as "sister." Moreover, Li Xiaomin had been fantasizing about Consort Qin's mature and sexy figure inside the room, and seeing the mature bodies of these palace beauties only fueled his lust. Therefore, he tried to establish a closer relationship through his form of address.
Hearing this, the female official smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling, and said softly, "Everyone says that Eunuch Xiaomin is young and accomplished, handsome, and single-handedly stormed the Ghost Palace, retrieved the Underworld Pearl, and saved Princess Changping's life. Seeing him today, it's truly a testament to his reputation!"
Li Xiaomin couldn't help but feel secretly proud. Ever since his intrusion into the Ghost Palace, the entire palace had been buzzing with the news of this young hero who dared to venture into that eerie and terrifying abode of countless murderers. Even the palace maids in Consort Chen and Consort Yun's palaces looked at him with admiration, trembling with fear and hardly daring to speak to him.
Now, hearing this beautiful woman's praise to his face, Li Xiaomin felt delighted and humbly bowed, saying, "Sister, you flatter me. This is all thanks to the master's good fortune; I'm just lucky. May I ask your name, sister?"
The female official covered her mouth and smiled, "Eunuch Xiaomin is indeed clever; he knew my surname was Gao as soon as he saw me. You don't need to guess my name; just call me Gao Su'e."
Li Xiaomin looked up at her, thinking to himself, "She is indeed quite tall, much taller than me. She seems to have a similar figure to Consort Qin, both so hot and alluring."
He bowed and smiled, "So you are Sister Su'e. This humble brother greets you! Sister, you are also... " "Don't call me 'father-in-law' all the time. I'm still young, so please just call me 'little brother'!"
Gao Su'e knew about his recent heroic deeds and how he had won the favor of Consort Qin. She predicted a bright future for him, even a powerful and respected position as the chief eunuch. Therefore, she was eager to get closer to him. She took his hand and said with a charming smile, "Little Minzi, we hit it off immediately! I'm so happy to meet you today."
Li Xiaomin was also pleased, feeling the soft, smooth touch of her hand. He couldn't help but gently trace circles in her palm, teasing her playfully.
The female official giggled a few times, her heart itching with the handsome young eunuch. She quickly withdrew her hand, her beautiful eyes lingering on his face. After a while, she reluctantly looked away, cleared her throat, and said seriously, "Little Minzi, I've come with important business. Little Minzi, receive the imperial decree!"
Li Xiaomin had no choice but to kneel and listen to her read the decree.
He had been kneeling in the palace for so long that he was numb with it. Anyway, he was always surrounded by beautiful women, so kneeling to them wasn't a loss, as long as he could get his revenge later.
Consort Yun had already heard the commotion outside. When she came out, she saw a female official reading an imperial edict. She hurriedly led her maids to kneel down, heads bowed to the ground, her heart pounding wildly. She feared the emperor had discovered the commoner was a fake eunuch and sent men to arrest him, which would put her life in danger!
The female official unfurled a bright yellow scroll and read aloud:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Palace eunuch Li Xiaomin, loyal and courageous, risked his life to save the Emperor from dire straits, and repelled evil spirits, thus ensuring the safety of the Palace. Therefore, he is hereby granted the rank of a sixth-grade official to recognize his merits, and appointed as the head of the Imperial Kitchen. So be it!"
Li Xiaomin kowtowed several times to her, thinking to himself, "I'm kowtowing to a beautiful woman, not to some eunuch emperor's decree!"
Standing up, Li Xiaomin took the decree from Gao Su'e's hands, casually pinching her jade-like wrist. With his current popularity in the palace, no one would dare say anything if he flirted with a few female officials or maids, especially since Gao Su'e's beautiful eyes were constantly smiling as she observed him, seemingly quite interested in him.
Gao Su'e's heart fluttered at his touch, her high, firm breasts heaving slightly. Although she was a mature woman, she had never experienced such pleasure before. Her face flushed slightly, and she smiled coquettishly to hide her embarrassment, saying, "Brother Xiaominzi, the Imperial Concubine has bestowed upon you a residence not far from her palace. I'll take you to see it now, shall I?"
Li Xiaomin nodded hurriedly and smiled, "Thank you, sister!"
Consort Yun, who was prostrate on the ground, looked up in surprise at the smiling eunuch, her heart filled with bewilderment.
She had thought that Xiaominzi would finally get his just deserts and be executed by slow slicing, and that she might even be implicated and lose her life. Who knew that the Emperor would repay evil with kindness and actually appoint him as a sixth-rank steward eunuch, whose status was not much lower than hers. In terms of power, it was likely that everyone in the palace would rather curry favor with this rising steward eunuch than with her, a washed-up concubine. She couldn't help but feel jealous. She never imagined that this dog eunuch, who used to be beaten and kicked by her every day, could climb higher than her.
Xiao Minzi went back to his room, grabbed a few things, and then smiled as he bid farewell to Consort Yun and the palace maids. The maids hurriedly returned the greetings, congratulating Xiao Minzi on his promotion and hoping for his continued favor. Li Xiaomin smiled and agreed to each of their requests.
Seeing him about to leave, Consort Yun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she could finally escape the torment of this treacherous eunuch and live a peaceful life. She forced a bow in return, secretly hoping that once he reached his new residence, he would completely forget about her and stop tormenting her.
Li Xiaomin looked up at Consort Yun's beautiful face, slightly haggard from excessive indulgence, smiled slightly, bowed deeply, and said softly, "Please rest well for a few days, Your Majesty. I will come back to visit you often when I have time!"
Consort Yun was stunned by these harsh words and almost stumbled to the ground. It took her a while to recover, only to see that Xiao Minzi had already walked away with Gao Su'e and the others.
Thinking of her future miserable life, Consort Yun felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She couldn't help but sit down on the ground, her pomegranate-red skirt scattering across the floor, and she covered her face and wept bitterly.

In Chapter 4 of the second episode

, before the Imperial Kitchen of the Lingxiu Palace, hundreds of eunuchs stood in neat rows, welcoming their leader's inspection.
Li Xiaomin walked solemnly to them, stopping on the steps. Before he could speak, a group of eunuchs knelt down and shouted, "This servant greets Eunuch Li!"
Li Xiaomin was startled, and seeing so many eunuchs kneeling before him, he was momentarily overwhelmed.
In his previous life, he had also hoped to become an official, but he could never achieve it. Now, no matter what, he had finally gotten his wish. Although he was only a head eunuch, he was still a sixth-rank official in the imperial court, comparable to the mayors and county magistrates who rode high above the common people.
Looking at the kneeling eunuchs, Li Xiaomin tried to comfort himself, thinking to himself with pride, "Those leaders used to be quite imposing, but now I can manage hundreds of eunuchs at once. Who's as powerful as me! Even the Grand Eunuch of Zhongnanhai and the Director of the Palace Museum can't control half a eunuch. I'm much more powerful than them now!"
Thinking of this, Li Xiaomin's mood immediately improved. He raised his hands and said authoritatively, "Comrades, you've worked hard! No need for formalities, get up!"
The eunuchs who were prostrating themselves were taken aback, but they understood "get up," so they got up in twos and threes. The higher-ranking eunuchs walked to Li Xiaomin's side, bowing and scraping, their faces full of smiles, congratulating Eunuch Li on his promotion.
Li Xiaomin coughed lightly and asked, "Since I'm in charge of the Imperial Kitchen, I should familiarize myself with the business. What dishes can you all make?"
The head eunuch in charge of cooking, looking smug, bowed and smiled, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the eunuchs in charge of cooking are all excellent. The chefs under my command are all very capable, and they can make a wide variety of dishes. Please let me list the dishes."
He spoke eloquently, detailing all the specialties of his kitchen to Li Xiaomin, making Li Xiaomin feel hungry and his mouth water.
He coughed lightly, stopping the eunuch's introduction, and said seriously, "Since that's the case, I'll name some dishes, and you'll cook them for me to taste, as a test of your culinary skills."
The eunuch, skilled and bold, confident in his years of culinary experience and the presence of his elite subordinates, bowed his head and smiled, "Please give your orders, Your Excellency."
Li Xiaomin's gaze swept over the faces of the eunuchs, and he said in a deep voice, "Alright, I'll tell you what I want you to cook. I want you to cook—"
He took a deep breath and rattled off the dishes in one breath:
"I want you to make steamed lamb, steamed bear's paw, steamed deer tail, roast duck, roast chicken, roast goose, roast pork, roast duck, soy sauce chicken, cured meat, preserved eggs, small sausages, dried meat, sausages, assorted cold dishes, smoked chicken belly, steamed eight-treasure pork, glutinous rice stuffed duck, stewed pheasant, stewed quail, braised assorted dishes, braised goose, pheasant, rabbit breast, vegetable rolls, silver fish, steamed hashima (a type of fried dough), braised duck kidneys, roast duck strips, cold-dressed kidney strips, and yellow..." Stir-fried pork heart tubes, braised white eel, braised yellow eel, catfish with fermented black beans, braised carp, stewed soft-shelled turtle, stir-fried carp, stir-fried prawns, soft-fried pork tenderloin, soft-fried chicken, assorted stuffed intestines, sesame oil rolls, stir-fried fresh mushrooms, stir-fried fish fillets, stir-fried fish maw, stir-fried fish slices, vinegar-smoked pork slices, smoked three delicacies, smoked pigeon eggs, stir-fried white mushrooms, stir-fried assorted dishes, stir-fried silver threadfin fritters, smoked knife fish, steamed ham, stir-fried white shrimp, stir-fried clams, stir-fried fish noodles, stir-fried bamboo shoots, hibiscus swallow's nest soup. Braised pork kidneys, braised sea cucumber, stir-fried tendons, braised sea cucumber in a pot, braised cabbage in a pot, fried wood ear mushrooms, stir-fried liver tips, osmanthus-flavored shark fin, steamed shark fin, fried poultry. Fried pork ribs, mixed shredded chicken, mixed shredded tripe, assorted tofu, assorted diced vegetables, pickled duck, braised fish slices in pickled sauce, braised crab meat, stir-fried crab meat, braised crab meat, cold mixed crab meat, steamed pumpkin, stuffed pumpkin, stir-fried loofah, stuffed winter melon. Smoked duck feet, braised duck feet, braised bamboo shoots, stir-fried water chestnuts, eggplant with roasted pork, duck soup, crab meat soup, chicken blood soup, three-delicacy osmanthus soup, red meatballs, white meatballs, fried meatballs, four-happiness meatballs, three-delicacy meatballs, poached meatballs. Meatballs, fish meatballs, fried meatballs, tofu meatballs, cherry meat, horse tooth meat, rice flour meat, premium meat, chestnut meat, jarred meat, braised pork, yellow braised pork, fermented bean curd meat, sun-dried meat, stewed meat, sticky meat, braised meat, steamed pork, braised pork belly, tender meat, pot-cooked meat, roasted pork, large pieces of meat, roasted meat, white meat, red pork hock, white pork hock, smoked pork hock, crystal pork hock, honey-glazed pork hock, pot-roasted pork hock, braised pork hock strips, stewed mutton, braised mutton, roasted mutton, roasted mutton, clear lamb, five-spice mutton, poached three kinds of meat, stir-fried three kinds of meat, fried rolled fruit, braised tripe, braised sour swallow's nest, braised silver thread, braised white offal, poached knots, braised knots, fried embroidered balls, three-delicacy shark fin, chestnut chicken, poached carp. Braised crucian carp, live carp, pressed duck, braised chicken, braised pork belly, braised water chestnuts, stir-fried tripe, salted pork hock, braised pig's trotters, mixed radish, stewed offal, braised liver tips, braised pork intestines, braised heart, braised lung, braised purple cap, braised pork belly, braised pork belly, fried lung, pickled cucumber strips, diced pheasant, mixed jellyfish, dragon beard vegetable, stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, magnolia petals, braised mandarin duck, braised fish head, braised areca nut, braised lily bulbs, fried tofu, fried gluten, fried soft noodles, sweet and sour fried dough sticks, stewed yam, sweet and sour lotus seeds, stuffed yam, almond milk, stir-fried crab, poached large shell, stir-fried meat and vegetables, assorted kudzu root rice, sole. Fish, octopus, sea bream, yellow croaker, shad, ribbonfish, braised sea cucumber, braised bird's nest, braised chicken leg, braised chicken pieces, braised meat, braised gluten, braised three kinds of meat, oil-splashed meat, soy-splashed meat, stir-fried shrimp roe, stir-fried crab roe, stir-fried baby crab, fried baby crab, Buddha's hand sea cucumber, fried and cooked, stir-fried water chestnut rice, milk soup, shark fin soup, three-shredded soup, smoked pigeon, braised pigeon, sea cucumber rice, braised pork kidney, roasted arrowhead, fried deer tail, braised fish head, mixed pork skin, poached pork intestines, fried purple cap, shredded chicken and bean sprouts, twelve kinds of vegetables, mutton soup, venison, camel hump, deer antler, shredded root, fried flower pieces, clear mixed rice noodles Lettuce, stir-fried leeks, osmanthus, stir-fried cloves, stir-fried pork belly, stir-fried pork slices, spicy pheasant, braised pickled mustard greens, stir-fried pork spine, shredded salted pork, shredded pork slices, water chestnut hot pot, stir-fried spring greens, braised lotus seeds, pickled mustard greens, braised radish, savory snowflake greens, braised white fungus, stir-fried silver twigs, eight-treasure hazelnut sauce, yellow croaker hot pot, cabbage hot pot, assorted hot pot, glutinous rice ball hot pot, chrysanthemum hot pot, mixed stew hot pot, boiled steamed buns hot pot, diced meat chili sauce "Stir-fried shredded pork, stir-fried sliced pork, braised sauerkraut, braised cabbage, braised peas, stewed green beans, poached edamame, stir-fried cowpeas, plus pickled kohlrabi! How about it, can you make it?"
Although he spoke very quickly, there were too many dish names. It took him quite a while to finish reciting them all. He took a short breath and looked around at the more than one hundred eunuchs, who were all dumbfounded and stunned by his rapid speech. They stared at him speechlessly.
Li Xiaomin coughed lightly, wiped his face with his hand to remove the smile, and said calmly, "Gentlemen, can you all make the dishes I just mentioned?"
The head eunuch beside him seemed to wake from a dream, and knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, and said in a trembling voice, "I never imagined that Eunuch Li had such high attainments in culinary arts. Most of the dishes you mentioned are ones I have never even heard of. I have been showing off my limited skills before an expert, please forgive me, Eunuch Li!"
Li Xiaomin was extremely pleased by this flattery, and laughed with his head up, "Not at all, not at all. This is just a little skill I learned in the past, nothing to mention! In fact, when it comes to culinary skills, I am far inferior to you gentlemen!"
The eunuchs were not convinced, and all thought he was just being modest. They surrounded him, bowing and scraping, showering him with flattery, saying that Eunuch Li was a genius, and that under his leadership, the Imperial Kitchen would surely become the most famous kitchen in the palace, appreciated by all the masters.
Li Xiaomin laughed heartily and led them into the kitchen, ordering them to prepare and taste each dish he had just recited. He secretly gloated, "Luckily I practiced this tongue twister before, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to impress these eunuchs!"
Knowing their new superior was testing their cooking skills, the eunuchs dared not slack off. They racked their brains, preparing most of each dish from the given names, and presented them to Eunuch Li for his tasting. The
enticing aroma of the food made Li Xiaomin's mouth water. He tried to maintain his elegance, smiling as he picked up his chopsticks and began to savor each dish.
The imperial chefs were indeed exceptionally skilled, creating delicious dishes that were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Li Xiaomin ate with great relish, and by the time he finished the last dish, his stomach was so full he could barely walk.
Looking up, he saw a group of eunuchs still watching him expectantly, awaiting his evaluation. Li Xiaomin tried to speak, "That's right, but there are still some minor details that need improvement. In the coming days, you should make each of these dishes I mentioned several times, constantly improving them until they are perfect!"
Supported by several eunuchs, he emerged from the imperial kitchen, belching loudly. Suddenly, an idea struck him: "Hey, since I know so many dishes, why not open a restaurant? Let the chefs in the imperial kitchen instruct chefs outside the palace. Wouldn't that allow me to surpass all the restaurants in Jinling and become the number one? It might not be as lucrative as selling glass marbles or making clocks, but if I do it well, I can still make a fortune!"
Thinking this, Li Xiaomin became excited and, supported by several eunuchs, swayed as he walked towards his residence.
After a few steps, he saw several junior eunuchs approaching from behind, carrying several food boxes. They bowed to him and then dispersed in different directions.
Curious, Li Xiaomin stopped one of the junior eunuchs and asked, "What are you carrying? Where are you going?"
The junior eunuch bowed respectfully and replied, "Reporting to Eunuch Li, I'm going to Consort Xiao's room to deliver lunch."
Li Xiaomin looked up at the sun and realized that lunchtime had already passed. But delivering lunch so late suggests that Consort Xiao isn't exactly favored, hence the eunuchs' disdain and the slow delivery.
He walked for a while, digesting some of it, and wanted to walk a few more steps to allow the food to be digested as much as possible. Besides, he didn't want to go back to his room so early and just sit there blankly. Even Yue Niang was diligently cultivating in the Soul-Gathering Jade, hoping to refine and absorb the peach-colored spiritual energy soon. Going back would be pointless, so he reached out and took the food box from the little eunuch, casually saying, "Alright, I'll deliver it for you. You can go back."
The little eunuch knelt down in fright, pleading, "Eunuch Li is a noble person; I dare not trouble you! Please let me deliver it!"
Seeing his fear, and realizing he didn't know the way, Li Xiaomin returned the food box, saying, "Alright, you lead the way, I'll go with you!"
The little eunuch couldn't refuse and had to walk ahead. Li Xiaomin dismissed the other eunuchs and strolled along the stone path, digesting his food as he walked, admiring the blooming flowers of the palace. He chatted casually with a young eunuch, feeling quite at ease.
He followed a winding path to a small courtyard surrounded by peach, plum, and apricot trees, their branches laden with blossoms. The courtyard, far from the main road, nestled in the center of the flowering trees, appeared rather quiet and elegant.
The young eunuch knocked on the door. Li Xiaomin, holding the food box, stood before the door, looking around, thinking to himself, "This place is quite nice. Although the room isn't as big as mine, the environment is much better."
With a creak, the door opened. A young girl stood in the doorway, smiling, "Young eunuch, thank you for bringing the meal!"
The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed elegantly in a simple silk skirt. Her features were delicate and refined, her beauty exquisite—a truly captivating woman. What was even more remarkable was her breathtaking elegance, as if the essence of Jiangnan's millennia-long creation had been infused into her.
Upon seeing the girl, Li Xiaomin's heart skipped a beat. He felt a refined air wash over him and exclaimed in surprise, "How can there be such an elegant girl here, and so beautiful? I've never heard of her before! Such a serene and graceful temperament is rare indeed. If I had known her in my past life, I would have definitely made her my wife!"
The young eunuch bowed and said, "Your Highness, the Imperial Kitchen was quite busy today, so the meal was delivered late. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
From the courtyard behind the girl, a gentle voice came: "Is that Eunuch Chen? Thank you so much for bringing the meals every day."
The young eunuch hurriedly bowed and said, "I dare not accept such praise, Your Highness!"
Beside the girl appeared a beautiful woman, seemingly in her early twenties, with a beautiful face and a striking resemblance to the girl, appearing almost like sisters.
Li Xiaomin stared wide-eyed at the mother and daughter, utterly astonished by their beauty.
He hadn't expected Consort Xiao to be so stunning. On the way here, the young eunuch had told him that Consort Xiao had been a favored concubine over a decade ago, a renowned talented woman from Jiangnan. Selected for the palace, she had fallen out of favor due to her inability to charm the emperor, and now
lived a quiet life in this secluded corner with her only daughter, Qingling. Li Xiaomin imagined a concubine who had been out of favor for over a decade to be aged and pitiful, but Consort Xiao looked remarkably young, radiating elegance and grace. If he hadn't seen her daughter first, he might have mistaken her for Princess Qingling herself.
Speaking of Princess Qingling, she too was an out-of-favor princess. Although she was learned and talented, Li Yu might not even remember her. Furthermore, she had never received a formal title, never been officially granted the title of princess; the title was merely a polite way of addressing her by the palace maids and eunuchs.
Li Xiaomin carefully observed Consort Xiao. She was slender, with a high, full bust, and possessed a mature feminine grace that was in no way inferior to Consort Qin. Her gentle and refined temperament far surpassed that of Consort Qin. At a glance, one could tell she was a gentle, virtuous, and captivating beauty; this refined elegance, honed by time, was something no young girl could possess.
Her soft, beautiful face held the delicate charm of a woman from Jiangnan. Standing in the peach blossom grove, Li Xiaomin stared at her, feeling as if her gentleness and the beauty of the peach blossoms had merged into one. An extraordinary emotion welled up within him, and for a moment, he forgot everything else in the world.
Consort Xiao noticed the young eunuch wasn't carrying a food box and was slightly surprised. Her gaze passed over him and landed on Li Xiaomin behind him. Seeing his distraught appearance, she couldn't help but chuckle, but fearing to embarrass the boy, she smiled gently and said softly, "This young eunuch is quite a sight. Are you new to the Imperial Kitchen?"
The young eunuch hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, this Eunuch Li is the new head chef of our Imperial Kitchen. He has come specifically to pay his respects to Your Highness."
Li Xiaomin hastily stepped forward and bowed, saying gently, "This humble servant, Li Xiaomin, greets Your Highness and Princess!"
Although he was bound by his eunuch status and had to perform this bow, Li Xiaomin's sincerity was genuine. Consort Xiao was so beautiful, with such a gentle and elegant demeanor, and her daughter also possessed a refined air; clearly, she was a rare talent. Such a person only existed in legends. How could he not pay his respects upon seeing her today?
Consort Xiao hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "Please rise, Eunuch Li! I didn't realize you were the head of the Imperial Kitchen. My apologies for my disrespect!"
Li Xiaomin wanted to wait for her to help him up and perhaps touch her delicate hand, but then he remembered she was a palace concubine, and it wouldn't be right for her to help a mere eunuch. He stood up awkwardly and smiled, "Your Majesty flatters me. I'm only being granted a sixth-rank position thanks to the Empress's good fortune; I don't actually possess any special skills."
Princess Qingling, hearing this, couldn't help but feel curious, her beautiful eyes scrutinizing Li. Xiao Min smiled and said, "Eunuch Li is so young, yet he's already in charge of the Imperial Kitchen. He must have extraordinary abilities. Why be so modest?"
A little eunuch beside him interjected, "The princess is right. This Eunuch Li is incredibly brave and possesses extraordinary skills. The other day, he bravely stormed the Ghost Palace and snatched the Underworld Pearl from the evil spirits, saving Princess Changping's life. It's already the talk of the palace. Your Highness and the princess must have heard about it, right?"
Consort Xiao and Qing Ling were shocked, staring at Li Xiao Min. They never imagined he was the legendary, incredibly brave eunuch.
After a long pause, Consort Xiao sighed, "Ambition knows no age. Eunuch Li is indeed a young talent, worthy of admiration."
After her initial surprise subsided, Qingling looked at Li Xiaomin with interest, a faint smile on her lips, and said softly, "It's already noon. Eunuch Li hasn't eaten yet, has he? If you don't mind, please have your meal here. Qingling would like to ask you about what happened that day."
Li Xiaomin, embarrassed, ate his fill first before remembering to bring them food. He also wanted to spend more time with the two beautiful women, so he gave the young eunuch a wink, sending him away.
Having spent a long time in the palace, the young eunuch was adept at reading people's expressions and dared not disobey his superior's wishes. He quickly bowed and took his leave.
Consort Xiao invited Li Xiaomin into the room to sit for a while. Li Xiaomin went in, put down the food box, and looked around. The room was indeed simply furnished, but the bookshelf in the corner was filled with books, the fragrance of which mingled with the woman's delicate scent.
Inside the room, there were three or four palace maids who came to greet him. Seeing that they were old and young, Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly that those who had fallen out of favor were neglected, and those sent to serve them were all people who were too weak to do any work.
The three of them sat down around the table. Li Xiaomin took a few dishes from under the large food box and gave them to the palace maids to eat in another room. He then set the dishes on the table in the room and earnestly invited Consort Xiao and Qingling to start eating.
Consort Xiao smiled and invited Li Xiaomin to eat with her, while Qingling curiously asked about the events of that day. The three of them ate and talked, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Li Xiaomin casually recounted how he had practiced immortal arts since childhood, continuing even after entering the palace. He claimed to possess resistance to the attacks of ghosts and demons. He described how he had forcibly broken into an abandoned palace that day, braving the danger to retrieve the pearl. Ghosts and monsters had attacked him, but he had escaped by running fast enough to avoid being captured and eaten. The two women couldn't help but show concern when he recounted the harrowing experience. Upon hearing of his escape, they breathed a sigh of relief, feeling fortunate for him.
Li Xiaomin had been in the palace for so long and had never seen a master willing to eat with a eunuch. Of course, it was different when Consort Chen treated him as her man and thus drank and made merry with him. He felt grateful to the two approachable women, and although he was already full, he still forced himself to eat some more with them.
They chatted as they ate, and by the end, the meal was almost finished. Li Xiaomin looked up at the bookshelf full of thread-bound books and smiled, "Your Majesty, are these all the books you usually read?"
Consort Xiao shook her head and smiled, "These are all Qingling's books. She loves reading and writing most of all."
Li Xiaomin put down his chopsticks, walked to the bookshelf, and flipped through the books. They were all poems and lyrics. Suddenly, an idea struck him: "Since I've come to this world, I should learn some poetry and lyrics, lest people say I'm uncultured. In my previous world, I did attend school for a few years, so learning these poems and lyrics shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
Thinking of this, he turned around and bowed deeply to the two women.
Consort Xiao was startled and hurriedly stood up, wanting to help him up, but not daring to break the rules, she could only step aside and say, "Please, Eunuch Li, get up quickly. Speak your mind."
Li Xiaomin squeezed out a few tears and sobbed, "I have been poor since childhood. Although I have learned the ancestral immortal arts, no one has taught me poetry and literature, which has always been a regret. Today, seeing the princess's book, I am deeply moved. I only beg Your Highness to grant me permission to teach me poetry and literature. I am willing to serve you like a slave to repay your great kindness!"
Qingling, who was also a studious person, was now standing aside, avoiding his kowtow. Seeing that he was willing to go to such lengths to learn poetry and literature... Li Xiaomin, eager to learn, felt a sense of kinship and said softly, "Qingling usually has nothing to do in her
spare time. If Eunuch Li wishes to learn poetry and literature, Qingling will certainly help." Consort Xiao also smiled and said, "Eunuch Li, there's no need for that. Qingling loves those who are eager to learn. If you wish to learn poetry and lyrics, you can come here whenever you have free time. Qingling will teach you everything she knows, so you can rest assured."
Li Xiaomin was overjoyed and bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Princess! Please, Your Highness and Princess, don't call me 'Eunuch Li' anymore. Just call me Xiaominzi, that will suffice!"
The two women smiled and had no choice but to call him Xiaominzi. Only then did Li Xiaomin rise and bow deeply again in thanks.
Several palace maids came to clear the table, and Li Xiaomin bowed deeply to Qingling, asking her to teach him poetry and lyrics.
Seeing his eagerness to learn, Qingling couldn't bear to refuse, so she took out several books of poetry and gave a general overview of the development of poetry and lyrics throughout history.
Li Xiaomin listened intently, secretly astonished. Since the ancient *Classic of Poetry* and *Li Sao*, poetry has evolved through various forms, from classical poetry to parallel prose, before finally transforming into the popular *ci* (lyric poetry) of today. Many *ci* titles were created in recent years, written by famous *ci* poets, set to music, and played by female musicians, resulting in exquisite *ci* poems.
After listening for a while, Li Xiaomin couldn't help but ask, "Isn't there any Tang poetry?"
Qingling exclaimed in surprise, "Tang poetry? Most of the literati of our Great Tang Dynasty now prefer writing *ci*, very few write poetry!"
Li Xiaomin then remembered that there was no Tang Dynasty before; only the Southern Tang, where he now lived, was the first dynasty to bear the name Tang, and naturally, there was no Tang poetry from before. If that's the case, then those Tang poems that have been passed down through the ages will never be written again.
Through subtle questioning of Qingling, Li Xiaomin confirmed his suspicions. He couldn't help but
sigh inwardly. So many beautiful Tang poems had been lost before they were even written, a great loss to Chinese literature. Fortunately, besides memorizing tongue twisters for crosstalk, Li Xiaomin had also memorized a few Tang poems. He immediately resolved that if given the opportunity, he would write down the Tang poems he had memorized, determined to save this national treasure from extinction.
However, compared to saving national literature, Li Xiaomin preferred being with Qingling. Consort Xiao smiled elegantly to the side, quietly watching her daughter teach the young eunuch to read. Looking at the handsome young man and beautiful young woman, they seemed like a perfect couple. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This young man was so studious and intelligent; if he weren't a eunuch, he would truly be a perfect match for her daughter.
But being in the royal family, she had little say in who her daughter married. And she had long since fallen out of favor, and her family had long since declined; it was unlikely that any nobleman would be willing to marry her daughter. Thinking of her daughter's uncertain future,
Consort Xiao couldn't help but feel a little saddened.

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