Chapter 2, The Dead Eunuch

No, nothing much. I was just thinking, since you, big brother, do not like to marry a wife, you must have a keen interest in the girls from the brothel? This is it; a wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as hiring a prostitute. I didn't expect that you and I share the same aspirations, big brother. Since we are so compatible, I will treat you this time. When the time comes, I hope you will be satisfied, and after you have calmed down, I can accompany you to meet Lord Wang, how does that sound?

Brother Deng

Randomly thinking in a disordered manner, that the renowned Eunuch Wang is known for his cold and ruthless nature, what good could possibly come from falling into his hands

He felt a bit scared inside; he was merely an inconspicuous traveler, lacking both strength and background. As he ventured forth, he hoped that the dead eunuch would only tidy things up and would not take any serious action.

Xu Qian heard the sound and then focused his attention on the figure in a crimson robe sitting behind the desk beneath the inscription

Xu Qian was speechless, thinking to himself, aren't you just a lackey for the eunuchs? What are you talking about integrity for? I don't believe I can't fool you. With a quick glance, he reached into his money pouch, pulled out a piece of broken silver, tossed it onto the ground, and immediately shouted: "Wow, who is so lacking in public morals, casually throwing silver on the street? A piece this big could kill someone!"

At this moment, playing tricks with Lord Wang is tantamount to courting death. Xu Qian decided to honestly restrain his rebellious spirit and obediently act as a law-abiding citizen

After all, he is just a child; kneeling to pay respects is nothing. Compared to life itself, the so-called display of dominance and the intimidation of a powerful figure are merely jokes. Most of those who meet their end at the execution grounds of Caishikou are the kind of people who exude an excessive air of arrogance.

Xu Qian was in tears: "Heavens, my silver... my one, two, three taels of silver..."

Xu Qian felt something was off and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Ah... I see that you, elder brother, are composed and possess exceptional martial skills. Have you ever been married? With your qualities, I can only imagine that your wife must be gentle and graceful, a beauty of unparalleled charm. Ah, since you remain silent, could it be that you are still unmarried? Elder brother, you have finally found the right person. As for me, Xu, I may not have many talents, but I am well-acquainted with the young ladies of Qiantang County. Do you prefer a lively and charming young lady or a gentle and understanding lady, like the one from the eastern part of the city?

Be quiet

Dragged to the eunuch's office, Xu Qian found himself utterly at a loss, his heart sinking to the depths of despair. In the past, he had only engaged in deceit and trickery, but today he had unexpectedly fallen victim to a severe extortion by someone named Deng. He secretly thought to himself: "You must not give this young master a chance to turn the tables; otherwise, I will make you, Deng, pay dearly."

Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, and under the flickering candlelight, it seemed as if Xu Qian's face emanated a dim halo

Xu Qian secretly scoffed, having only heard of phrases like "The sea embraces all rivers," "Open and aboveboard," or "Heaven rewards diligence" being prominently displayed on walls. He had never encountered anyone who would hang a phrase like "Obedient and loyal" on the north wall of the main hall. This deceased eunuch certainly had an unusual taste

This person sat high above in a chair, appearing to be around forty years old, with a fair complexion and no beard. His skin was well-maintained; however, at this moment, he was staring at Xu Qian, and Xu Qian felt that his gaze was rather sinister, making him quite uncomfortable

Xu Qian is not a fool; what is referred to as safekeeping is essentially leading a sheep into a tiger's den. He quickly shook his head like a rattle drum and said, "No way, this is what I have worked hard to earn, why should I give it to you?"

The person has been brought in. Deng Jian dragged Xu Qian, restoring his utterly cold demeanor

On the wall to the north, there hung a beautifully framed calligraphy piece. Under the light, Xu Qian saw the four characters inscribed on the banner: 'Respectful, Obedient, Loyal, and Good'

Is this person Wang Gonggong

The scale of the eunuch's residence is incongruous - the courtyard is small, flanked by two stone lions. Under the subtle flicker of the lanterns, they seem to be coated with a layer of halo. The stone lions are fierce, their mouths wide open like blood basins, and their large eyes, resembling bronze bells, seem to mock the passersby.

Xu Qian felt nervous, thinking to himself, is this fellow going to kill me to silence me? He was blocked by the imposing figure of the official and could only lean against the back wall, watching the official warily, and said: "Aren't we supposed to meet Lord Wang?"

This is clearly a case of black eating black. Xu Qian had just thought that this person was not motivated by fame and profit, but it turns out that he looked down on the meager benefits that Xu had promised.

"Alright, with such a righteous brother, what more can I say?" Xu Qian gritted his teeth and immediately unfastened his money pouch, generously handing it over. This was all the silver he had saved from selling medicinal recipes. However, he had no choice but to give it; after all, they were only attempting to abduct him for now. If the abduction failed, it would soon turn into outright robbery. It is better to be sensible in such situations.

Good brother! The official patted Xu Qian on the shoulder, speaking with genuine emotion.

The official looked at Xu Qian with a seemingly friendly expression, while Xu Qian returned a gaze that conveyed a sense of defiance. Their eyes met, and Xu Qian suddenly felt as if he were a little girl lured by a strange uncle holding a lollipop.

The official's face was expressionless

The doorman nodded slightly and led Xu Qian into the attic. The attic had the layout of a hall, but it was clearly not a formal hall; it was more akin to a flower hall in the backyard. Xu Qian was taken aback, thinking that he must be brought here to face some form of private punishment. He was shoved to the center of the hall, glancing around. The decorations here were surprisingly elegant; the east wall was adorned with numerous paintings and calligraphy, while the west wall displayed swords and an ancient zither. In the corner stood a lamp with chrysanthemum patterns, its flickering candlelight covered by a red gauze shade, casting a faint glow throughout the hall.

"If you are unwilling to marry, then so be it; why resort to physical actions?" Xu Qian shrank his neck and murmured softly.

The official remained indifferent, continuing to drag Xu Qian along as usual

Tsk tsk, I didn't expect such tender and delicate flesh to be quite handsome

Xu Qian, without saying a word, quickly smiled and bowed, saying: "I am Xu Qian, at your service, Your Excellency."

Good brother... Xu Qian's eyes were red, with tears glimmering faintly.

I acknowledge you as my brother. My name is Deng Jian, and from now on, you may call me Brother Deng. Brother Deng is known for his righteousness and is famous in Qiantang County for his eagerness to help others. Rest assured, I will not let you suffer any losses.

"What is this? Although we haven't burned yellow paper, with just this one sentence from you, Brother Deng, there is no need for so much formality. It is my principle, as Deng, to stand by my brothers. By the way, Brother Deng has one more thing that I believe will be beneficial for you. Come, come, just leave your fingerprint here. " With the money pouch tucked into his sleeve, Deng Jian was in a very good mood, chuckling as he pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve. The paper was densely filled with small characters, which he handed to Xu Qian, then took out a box of red clay, and said with a laugh: "Come, just make a mark in the lower right corner."

It is unknown how many corridors and moon gates were traversed, having fully entered the triple gates of the ceremonial hall. Holding the attendant Xu Qian, they finally stopped under a long corridor outside a certain loft. Just then, a young servant in a blue robe and cap approached, casting a cold glance at Xu Qian, and said to the attendant, "Take him in; Lord Wang has been waiting anxiously."

Oh dear, my stomach hurts... Big brother, there are three urgent matters for a person. I see that you are noble and righteous, with high moral character, entrusted by others, and loyal to your duties, which is truly admirable. However, I...

Upon entering the eunuch's residence, with its numerous archways and ceremonial gates, Xu Qian inwardly cursed: What is the purpose of erecting so many archways, you dead eunuch? Do you think you are a courtesan?

The official rarely revealed a hint of cunning in his smile, as he patted Xu Qian's shoulder and said: "In this world, we are all brothers. Now that my brother is in trouble, can I stand by and do nothing? You should entrust this money pouch to me for safekeeping, so it won't be searched by others. I am doing this for your own good. We have only just met, yet we seem to have a good rapport; I cannot just stand by and watch you die. Rest assured, I will go and speak to the person who is to execute you. While I cannot guarantee that you will escape physical suffering, I can ensure that your life will be spared."

Xu Qian shouted, saying: "Hey, hey, money... there are a full two or three coins, big brother, why aren't you picking it up"

... ...

Cough cough ... ... the sound of coughing emerged

So it is you?" Grand Eunuch Wang scrutinized Xu Qian, though he seemed somewhat surprised that the person selling the medicine recipe was so young.

The official clearly had no interest in listening to Xu Qian's nonsense and continued to move forward while holding Xu Qian's arm

"Yes, that is correct. I am to meet with Lord Wang. However, before that, there are some matters I need to discuss with you." The official smiled coldly at Xu Qiansen, and although his demeanor remained as indifferent as before, he spoke more than he had previously.

After turning a street, the residence of the eunuch in charge was already in sight. The official pulled Xu Qian and dragged him into a small alley.

Xu Qian widened his eyes as he looked at the words on the paper, unable to suppress a gasp of cold air. Indeed, it was a good brother. This was a letter, addressed to his father, stating that he had already fallen into the residence of the eunuch in charge of the garrison. He asked his father to find a way to rescue him, preferably by raising a sum of silver to be handed over to the official, Deng Jian, for arrangements.

This ... is truly a case of skinning the bones. This bastard actually had the letter prepared in advance, probably having already decided to take advantage of me before I even approached him.

Xu Qian felt an overwhelming sense of indignation; if only he were a bit older, he would not be so easily bullied by these fellows. Now, being brought in like this is truly quite unbecoming.

The two doormen glanced at Xu Qian and nodded in unison

Xu Qian did not notice that a hint of coldness had inadvertently flashed in the eyes of the official.

The door: https://www.hetushu.com. The two doormen are both robust in stature. Although they are dressed in blue garments and small hats, they do not appear to be easygoing individuals

One of the servants had already seized Xu Qian's hand, and only then did Deng Jian release Xu Qian. He fulfilled his mission and, with a cheerful smile, said to Xu Qian: "Brother Xu, we shall meet again."

Ka ... ...

"I wish that this self-righteous bastard gets run over by a cart tomorrow," Xu Qian cursed inwardly, but he wiped his eyes, squeezed out a few tears, and grasped Deng Jian's hand, saying: "Brother Deng has been so kind to me; I will certainly remember it in my heart"

The official coldly laughed and said: "It's nothing, didn't you just say you wanted to treat at the Lichun Courtyard, and then mentioned losing some silver? I noticed your money pouch seemed quite heavy earlier, so you must have quite a bit of loose silver left. Ah, I know very well the temperament of Lord Wang; do you think he will let you off this time? Just as you said earlier, we are fated to meet, so how about this: you hand over your money pouch to me for safekeeping."

Xu Qian cursed inwardly: "Do not let me see you again." Yet, with a smiling face, he said: "Brother Deng... take care."

What did you say?" the stern official snapped

Mending clearly had no interest in allowing Xu Qian to continue dawdling; one of them had already lifted Xu Qian and was dragging him into the residence

This sentence made Xu Qian feel somewhat uneasy; he had always known that the tastes of the deceased eunuchs were rather peculiar. Could it be that this deceased eunuch...

"You need not say any more." Deng Jian placed his hand on Xu Qian's shoulder, stopping him from continuing, and said with deep affection: "You and I are brothers; your matters are my matters. Hurry and sign, and after signing, we will go to see Lord Wang. Yes, just like that... Ah? You refuse? Young man, Brother Deng is clear about enmities and friendships. He treats his brothers like a gentle breeze, but if it is Brother Deng's enemy, then it is drawing the sword and spilling blood within five steps..."

A large knife was once again pressed against Xu Qian's neck, while a cold face was faintly illuminated by the lantern light on the street.