Chapter 7, Little Pervert

At present, being called "Grandfather" by Tian Qi did not feel out of place for Sheng Anhuai. He gently tapped Tian Qi's head with his whisk and said with a smile, "You little rascal, you really have some skill."

I have never seen such an easily embarrassed eunuch. As the emperor, the servants around Ji Heng are naturally well-trained. Not to mention the eunuchs, even the palace maids can face him in the nude without batting an eye, continuing to do what they need to do.

"Wherever it may be, it is all thanks to the master's guidance, as well as your instruction," Tian Qi scratched his head and asked, "If I may be so bold, why has His Majesty summoned me to the palace?"

Tian Qi quickly smiled ingratiatingly and said, "I thank you for your great kindness... Thank you, Grandfather Sheng"

Close your eyes and listen, one might think that the Emperor is engaged in some discordant activity

Inside, Ji Heng removed the remaining clothing and stepped into the bathtub, first washing one of his calves. Just moments ago, that little pervert had touched him, causing a shiver to run across his skin. The sensation was indescribable; it was neither revulsion nor affection. His fingers were delicate and soft, cool to the touch, resembling high-quality silk woven into smooth satin. The moment they made contact with his skin, a distinct feeling surged from his leg straight to his heart, making him unable to resist the urge to escape immediately

And at this moment, his pants are still on, yet this androgynous little thing is so shy. Is it that they do not regard him highly enough, or do they regard him too highly?

Aren't you a pervert, only liking men?

At this moment, a dense spring rain is drifting in the sky. Looking into the distance, the entire world seems to be enveloped in a soft veil of clouds and mist. Sheng Anhuai must be busy attending to various matters and handling unexpected situations at any time, so he cannot remain constantly within Ji Heng's line of sight. Therefore, the task of holding the umbrella is entrusted to Tian Qi.

Tian Qi shook her head. Seeing Sheng Anhuai looking at her with suspicion, she hurriedly defended herself, "How much weight do I have to bypass you and directly find a way to the Emperor? Even if I could really say a word or two in front of the Emperor, but you are like this in front of him," as she spoke, she raised her thumb, "You really have no idea at all?"

However, suddenly, this enjoyment turned into a strange torment

Ji Heng has a wonderful voice, clear and melodious, with a warm and pure tone. The officials from the Dali Temple who followed him generally believe that listening to him read the sacrificial texts is a pleasure

Tian Qi was unaware that his umbrella was tilted, causing all the rainwater on the surface of the umbrella to accumulate and pour into Ji Heng's collar

These flattering remarks were delivered perfectly, which eased Sheng Anhuai's doubts. He gave her a few instructions and led her to the Qing Palace to carry out her duties

Tian Qi said "As you command" and decisively exited, showing no signs of reluctance. After stepping out, she let out a sigh of relief, but soon felt a bit uneasy, increasingly perplexed. The Emperor's temperament is indeed too unpredictable; she had no idea why he was angry earlier at the royal tomb, and now it is the same, truly leaving one at a loss.

Many were astonished, wondering how the Emperor could read the eulogy with a tremor in his voice... Moreover, the tremor was very rhythmic, not the kind of rhythm that comes from pauses in the text, but rather... Every equal interval of time, he would pause, the final notes wavering, shaking like waves.

Ji Heng was not possessed. His mind was very clear, and he was quite angry. Because water was dripping from above in a very regular pattern onto his neck, the droplets gathered and flowed into his collar, the sensation was indescribably intoxicating

After waiting for a few days, the Qingming Festival has arrived. This day is filled with various activities, the foremost being the tomb-sweeping and ancestral worship. Early in the morning, Ji Heng set out with his attendants, guards, and officials from the Dali Temple responsible for the sacrificial rites. The imperial tombs are located in the Tianshou Mountain, over eighty miles north of the capital, surrounded by mountains and boasting picturesque scenery, making it an ideal site for eternal rest. Ji Heng's father, grandfather, and ancestors all lie here. The imperial tombs are located in the Tianshou Mountain, over eighty miles north of the capital, surrounded by mountains and boasting picturesque scenery, making it an ideal site for eternal rest. Ji Heng's father, grandfather, and ancestors all lie here.

Sheng Anhuai, in his forties, appears to be in his thirties due to his lack of facial hair. However, there are countless eunuchs in the palace who call him "grandfather," including the eighteen-year-old Tian Qi, which is not an exaggeration, and even a thirty-eight-year-old who shamelessly addresses him this way. After all, he is the chief eunuch in attendance, and they must curry favor with him

Tian Qi, not understanding the reason, could only follow closely behind

He cast a sidelong glance, while the culprit appeared completely bewildered and innocent

After reading the eulogy and performing the farewell ritual, Ji Heng snatched the umbrella from Tian Qi's hand and strode forward holding it himself

Ji Heng let out a cold snort, yet the umbrella unconsciously shifted a few inches towards Tian Qi. He felt that he was truly a benevolent and magnanimous ruler

Many people began to feel uneasy ... ... Could it be that the Emperor has been possessed by the ancestors who have passed by ... ...

As soon as this thought emerged, Ji Heng's body tensed up. At that moment, Tian Qi had already prepared himself mentally and decisively unfastened his belt, causing his pants to simply fall down.

Ji Heng wore a sullen expression, contemplating how to deal with this servant. To kill him would make him seem too harsh as an emperor, after all, it is a human life; to spare him, however, was also unsatisfactory. As he pondered, Ji Heng turned his head and saw Tian Qi following him with his head down, looking at a loss, a picture of helplessness. This servant dared not come under his umbrella, instead scurrying along with his short legs, his shoulders soaked by the rain, droplets dripping from the brim of his hat, wet and messy, causing Ji Heng to wipe his face from time to time.

When Tian Qi heard that she had been transferred to the imperial court, she could hardly believe it. She had not relied on anyone, nor had she spent any money. Recently, she had been having a streak of bad luck, and suddenly hearing that a great opportunity had fallen from the sky, her first reaction was to wonder whether this opportunity was too good to be true.

To speak frankly, there was a moment when Ji Heng truly wanted to end the life of this eunuch directly. He is the emperor; as the master, if he wishes to take someone's life, he need not even lift a finger; it is merely a matter of a glance.

In fact, Sheng Anhuai's decision not to assign tasks to Tian Qi is not a deliberate attempt to target her or to intimidate her. Sheng Anhuai is a shrewd individual; since the Emperor personally issued a decree requesting someone, it is possible that the Emperor still has some regard for this eunuch. He must consider that the Emperor might summon Tian Qi at any time, which is why he has not allowed her to engage in any other tasks in the past few days, and she has only been waiting in the duty room.

Tian Qi certainly did not notice—this was the first time she had personally taken off a man's clothes. She was extremely nervous, and had no time to think about anything else. With each piece of clothing she removed from Ji Heng, her face reddened a little more, and by the time she had finished undressing his upper body, her face had already turned as red as a ripe tomato

Tian Qi crouched down, wanting to take off Ji Heng's pants, but he stood there motionless. She had no choice but to support his calf with one hand while tugging at his pants with the other, "Your Majesty, please lift..."

Some instincts are beyond the control of reason, and thus, as the cold rain fell, his voice trembled in response

Ji Heng moved his leg, shook off her hand, and said, "Go out."

Sheng Anhuai found it somewhat strange, "You don't know?"

Ji Heng: "... ..."

Due to the lack of understanding regarding Tianqi's background and the emperor's unclear instructions, Sheng Anhuai was uncertain about what duties to assign to Tianqi. Therefore, he decided to place him in the duty room to take on light tasks, awaiting further orders. If the emperor remembered him and required his services, it would be convenient to summon him.

Tian Qi obediently followed Ji Heng into the bathhouse, and the palace maids set down their things and left.

Considering the height difference between himself and the Emperor, Tian Qi could only raise his arms high to hold the umbrella. Although his arms ached, he dared not utter a single complaint

Someone had already gone to the palace in advance to make preparations. By the time Ji Heng arrived at the palace, the bathing water had already been prepared. Several palace maids inside the palace were holding utensils, ready to assist Ji Heng with his bath, but Ji Heng pointed at Tian Qi and said, "You, come here." He decided to give him another chance

By this time, her arms had long since become sore and numb

Ah?

Tian Qi followed the other eunuchs closely, being cautious and not daring to breathe too loudly. Whenever matters were related to the deceased, the atmosphere was always solemn. However, Tian Qi's mood was more cheerful than her expression suggested, for today she had finally been assigned a task—to hold an umbrella for the Emperor

Tian Qi is someone who has golden eyes and a mouth embedded with jade, and she is particularly skilled at making money. Now, being idle and watching others accumulate wealth is unbearable for her

Well, it is indeed leisurely, but being idle is equivalent to not earning any money. Even if one is just running errands or delivering messages for the various palaces, it is impossible for someone from the imperial court to return empty-handed, even if the other party is just a favored attendant

However, Sheng Anhuai said, "This is a decree personally issued by His Majesty. There are so many eunuchs in attendance, and few are fortunate enough to receive this honor. You, young man, should quickly accept the decree and express your gratitude. Come with me at once"

Go out

His mind was occupied by a strange emotion, and Ji Heng forgot all about dealing with Tianqi.

The duties of the imperial eunuchs can be broadly categorized into two types. One type involves clearly defined responsibilities, where they are expected to perform specific tasks without interfering in matters that do not concern them, such as those related to the management of the kitchen, serving meals, or guarding the gates at night. The other type, exemplified by Tian Qi, lacks a definite scope of work; they are directly assigned to handle any temporary tasks as needed.

Ji Heng stood beside the bathtub, raising his arm, waiting for Tian Qi to step forward and help him undress. He was curious to see if this person could discover the good deed he had done

Sheng Anhuai has already learned the reason behind the matter, but he will not plead for Tian Qi, as he does not yet consider Tian Qi to be one of his own and feels it is not worth his effort to be concerned about this person

She did not know, but some people could see clearly. This scene was captured in the eyes of a few individuals who were close to the platform; some were dumbfounded, some were terrified, and there were also a few soft-hearted ones who secretly felt a pang of anxiety for the little eunuch's life

On the first day, Tian Qi only saw the Emperor once, paid his respects, and then remained in the duty room waiting, with no tasks assigned to him.

The imperial entourage did not return to the palace, but instead went to a temporary palace not far from the royal tomb. My clothes were soaked, and returning like this is truly uncomfortable

As a person of supreme status, even a simple tomb sweeping is more elaborate than that of others, with a complex process. One must first pay respects, complete the formalities of greeting, and then proceed to read the eulogy.