บท 12: Chapter 12 To Save or Not to Save
Hong Chou's figure swayed slightly, her head lowered, not daring to show any emotion. She clutched her sleeves tightly, afraid, but more afraid of dying.
"Reporting to Eunuch, I did encounter Eunuch Yu the day before yesterday. I was ordered to pick flowers when Eunuch Yu kindly directed me towards the area around Xingqing Hall," Hong Chou slowly said, doing her best to control her trembling voice.
"Is that so?" Eunuch Kang Ning seemed somewhat skeptical. "And where did Eunuch Yu go afterwards?"
"This servant does not know. After thanking Eunuch Yu, I went to pick flowers. It seemed like Eunuch Yu headed in the direction of Ningze Garden, but I dared not ask," Hong Chou continued slowly, having rehearsed these words countless times in her mind, not daring to make any mistakes or speak out of turn.
"You truly do not know?" Eunuch Kang Ning's brows furrowed. Palace attendants who passed by had seen the two talking. He had inquired for two or three days, yet the only leads—thin as spider silk—had been severed here at Ningze Garden; no one had seen Yu Lihuai since then.
The account given by this minor palace maid held no immediate suspicion for the time being, furthermore, her frail figure matched the type his apprentice liked; that he would speak more with her was what he would do.
"You may carry on with your duties," Eunuch Kang Ning said with a wave of his horsetail whisk. Yu Lihuai's status in the palace was not such that he would vanish without a trace. He assumed these lowly palace attendants didn't have the courage for such action. Even if there was something amiss, it was not the time to startle the snake in the grass.
In the harem, the first thing Eunuch Kang Ning of significant status thought was that someone was targeting him through this incident.
Therefore, the investigation quickly extended from Bushou Palace, and news arrived swiftly. In just half a day, another eunuch had found something.
"That person?" Eunuch Kang Ning was even more puzzled.
"Master, my people found something belonging to Eunuch Yu on his servant, who was about to take it out of the palace to destroy the evidence. Now my people have detained him there. Master, we must act quickly, this matter requires your decision," Ling Qing, although not as eloquent as Yu Lihuai, was efficient and greatly trusted by Kang Ning.
However, Eunuch Kang Ning could not understand why Yu Lihuai would be involved with a hostage from Nanmen State.
Regarding the origin of this hostage, in just a moment, Eunuch Kang Ning had learned everything clearly, and he snorted coldly. A hostage was essentially half-dead in the palace, long forgotten, and yet dared to harm his people.
Without further hesitation, Eunuch Kang Ning led his men towards the southern side gate of Zheng Palace.
Eunuchs and palace maids typically left the palace through a small corner gate located at the most secluded part of Zheng Palace. With an exit token and a matching record for leaving the palace, one could freely come and go. In this regard, Nanzheng State's Imperial Palace was considered quite accommodating.
By the time Nanmen Yu arrived, his only servant had already been tightly bound and thrown onto the ground, the cloth stuffed in his mouth stained with spots of blood.
Nanmen Yu's complexion darkened, and he stepped forward to rescue his servant but was promptly grabbed and immobilized by several eunuchs.
"Let me go." The youth's slender figure twisted and struggled in the hands of the burly eunuchs.
"Master, the culprit has been caught," Ling Qing reported as he accompanied Eunuch Kang Ning. He had stationed his men on all sides, this secluded spot presumably unnoticed by others. "However, considering the hostage's status, if he were to die, it's feared..."
This Nanmen State hostage was sent to Nanzheng State during the time of domestic turmoil in Nanmen State. The Dongyu Three Kingdoms were of comparable strength, and initially, there shouldn't have been any issues with hostages. However, Nanmen State descended into chaos, Nanzheng State deployed troops to aid in suppressing the insurrection, and as a token of gratitude, Nanmen State sent a hostage to strengthen the ties between the two nations.
However, this hostage was not so fortunate. With the King of Nanzheng State long ill, unable to manage palace affairs and having completely forgotten about the hostage, and with Nanmen State having experienced a rebellion a few years ago, all the hostage's power was eradicated, leaving him almost like a lone ghost in a foreign land.
As a result, to Nanzheng State, this hostage had no remaining value. Although there were no rumors of Nanzheng State mistreating the hostage, his life and death were now left to fate. In everyone's eyes, it mattered as little as the life of a grasshopper.
Nanmen Yu could sense someone approaching, someone with no small authority, evident from the actions of the eunuchs holding him.
"Steward Kang."
The youth suddenly stopped moving, hanging limply in the hands of several eunuchs as if he no longer had the strength to struggle, like a piece of broken cloth that could be thrown away at any moment.
Eunuch Kang Ning looked at the youth, who had his eyes open, a wild, bloodthirsty look in them, like an untamed wolf cub.
But that was all he was, a cub that had not yet grown into the ability to eat people.
"Don't be afraid; just tell me honestly where you got this from, and I will let you go," Eunuch Kang Ning said, raising the Jade Pendant that had been in front of Yu Lihuai. The item wasn't valuable, and this kid had no reason to kill Yu Lihuai.
The youth struggled again, his feeble strength akin to an ineffective push against a heavy cart.
"You won't speak?" Eunuch Kang Ning was somewhat surprised. Did he have a connection to him? What could he possibly have to do with that Yu Lihuai? Yu Lihuai certainly wouldn't bother bullying this hostage for no reason. "Just for your unlawful entry into the Imperial Palace today, I could kill you."
"Beat—" Eunuch Kang Ning stood up. The fact that he didn't readily get involved didn't mean he was afraid. As long as the boy wasn't beaten to death, what could go wrong?
With a gesture from Ling Qing, several eunuchs immediately surrounded the youth, kicking him all over like raindrops.
...
"Commandery Princess, we should go back," Nanny Yun said, her heart pounding with fear. They were enjoying the beautiful sunshine and the high vantage point for the scenery; she hadn't expected to witness such a scene, which greatly affected her mood.
Zheng Nianru turned to look at Nanny Yun. Not save the person?
Nanny Yun pouted her lips. Commandery Princess, with what shall we save him? Can you beat those eunuchs, or can I? Besides, Xing Yu isn't here.
Zheng Nianru still felt puzzled. Nanmen Yu couldn't be so weak as to be bullied so easily. Although at the beginning, she hadn't paid much attention to him, and she wasn't interested in how he completed the tasks she assigned to him, as long as he did. However, in her memory, Nanmen Yu was capable of killing; he couldn't be that weak.
Or was he now indeed very weak?
Zheng Nianru became uncertain. Indeed, at the beginning, he was miserable, often coming back half dead.
"Commandery Princess, we can't meddle in this matter. That's Noble Consort Wen's person. Besides, that hostage from Nanmen State, it seems he isn't much use."
Zheng Nianru glanced at Nanny Yun. This person was your choice at first, and you thought he was useful, ready to be discarded after his usefulness, and in the end, you even felt it was a pity to do so because he was too useful.
"Cousin, you are here," a joyful voice came in. Nanny Yun frowned as this ancestor had found them at Qishun Building after three days and ever since then clung to Qishun Building, showing up two or three times a day.
"Cousin, what are you watching?" Zheng Haoyuan didn't care whether someone in front of him responded or not; he approached on his own accord.
"Look over there." Zheng Nianru suddenly had an idea, but she hadn't decided whether to save him yet.
Save him, yes, this Nanmen Yu was rather useful, even with the troubles that followed. But, based on past lessons learned, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to not be so heartless this lifetime; he might actually be a good assistant.
Yes, Zheng Nianru indeed needed people she could use. She planned not to get involved with Zheng Congyuan in this life, so she needed to consider her next steps—how she could get out of the Imperial Palace, but then what to do once outside?
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