Chapter Nine: The Weak Are Oppressed

Palace.

Liang Jin still stood guard and signed in every day.

In the past two days, Zhao Bao and Su Lian had not appeared.

This was somewhat unusual.

After all, Su Lian and Zhao Bao used to come to see Liang Jin every day.

It wasn’t until nearly the end of his shift that Su Lian finally showed up.

Upon meeting, she immediately began complaining:

“Brother Jin, you have no idea how hard our days have been lately.”

“A letter came from my aunt’s family back home. There’s an epidemic ravaging the entire clan—people are getting sick and dying. So they wrote to my aunt, begging her to find a way to help.”

“But what can my aunt do besides cry? She’s in such a bad mood that she’s tormenting us all the time.”

“She keeps finding ways to give us work, making sure we’re busy from dawn till dusk with no rest.”

Liang Jin noticed that the chilblains on Su Lian’s hands had worsened.

Although it hadn’t snowed these past few days and the temperature had slightly risen, the chilblains had started itching terribly, and she couldn’t stop scratching.

Liang Jin then took off a gourd from his waist:

“Here, take a sip. This will help ease your chilblains quite a bit.”

“That aunt of yours is really something. The emperor will handle the epidemic, so why is she tormenting you?”

Inside the gourd was a talisman water Liang Jin had made.

It was a semi-finished product, so its effects wouldn’t be immediate, but its therapeutic benefits were noticeable.

Su Lian took a sip, wiped her mouth, and whispered:

“Brother Jin, I heard from my aunt that the emperor doesn’t even know about the epidemic yet.”

Liang Jin was momentarily taken aback.

Letters regarding the epidemic had all been sent to the palace; even the palace maids were aware of it.

The emperor didn’t know?

But then he understood.

In the current Great Qian Dynasty, bureaucratic corruption was rampant. When something happened locally, officials first tried to cover it up; only when concealment was impossible would they report it.

That the emperor lagged behind even the palace maids in some information was not impossible.

Plus, the current emperor was known for neglecting state affairs, so it wasn’t surprising.

Liang Jin smiled:

“Your aunt’s old home—could it be in Qingzhou?”

Su Lian took another sip and nodded repeatedly:

“Yes! Brother Jin, you’ve heard about the epidemic too?”

“My aunt’s hometown is in Taiyang County, where the outbreak is worst.”

“I heard many people have died there!”

Hearing this, Liang Jin’s mind raced with thoughts.

At that moment, Su Lian returned the gourd to him.

Then she pulled a small handkerchief from her bosom, seemingly wrapping something precious inside.

She held it in her hands mysteriously, looking extremely valuable.

“Brother Jin, guess what good thing I brought you?”

Su Lian’s eyes sparkled as if they could emit light.

Liang Jin smiled and shook his head, signaling he couldn’t guess.

Su Lian immediately unfolded the handkerchief to reveal its contents.

It was a small piece of pastry.

Excitedly, Su Lian said:

“Surprised? It’s osmanthus cake!”

“This was a gift from a consort to my aunt, and I snatched two pieces while serving her.”

“Brother Jin, you have to try it—it’s delicious!”

“Just don’t let Bao know, or he’ll definitely blame me for not bringing him some.”

Liang Jin shook his head helplessly.

Still, he reached out, pinched the pastry, and popped it into his mouth.

Sweet and fragrant with a hint of osmanthus.

Truly delicious.

For people of the lower class in this world, it was rare to taste such exquisite pastries.

Su Lian grinned:

“I can’t steal too much at once, or my aunt will find out.”

“I’ll sneak you some more when I get the chance.”

“Hey? The chilblains on my hands aren’t itchy or painful anymore. Brother Jin, what’s in that medicine? It really works!”

Only then did Su Lian notice a refreshing coolness throughout her hands.

Especially the fingers that had been swollen like radishes—they had already started to reduce in size.

Liang Jin changed the subject:

“Do you know your aunt’s family’s address back home?”

“I have acquaintances in Taiyang County; I can ask them to send some medicine for your aunt’s family.”

Su Lian didn’t hesitate and immediately told Liang Jin her aunt’s old home address.

After noting it down, Liang Jin cautioned:

“If your aunt asks, just say it’s help from your distant relatives in Lu Family Village.”

Su Lian nodded, then said:

“Brother Jin, I have to go now. If I’m late getting back, my aunt will scold me again.”

“I’ll come see you again when I get the chance.”

Liang Jin watched Su Lian leave.

He resumed his guard duty but still did not see Zhao Bao.

He wondered how Zhao Bao had been these past few days.

Soon, it was time for the shift change.

After handing over duty, Liang Jin followed the team out of the palace.

…

In another corner of the palace,

a small courtyard.

An elderly eunuch leaned back in a chair while several young eunuchs massaged his legs and back.

His name was Ma Shenggui, the shift supervisor in charge of cleaning.

He lifted a purple clay teapot to his mouth, took a leisurely sip, then smiled and asked:

“Zhao Bao, eunuch Zhao, how’s our family’s excrement tasting these days?”

Before him, Zhao Bao was being pinned to the ground by two young eunuchs, who stuffed feces into his mouth.

Only after Ma Shenggui spoke did the two young eunuchs release Zhao Bao.

Zhao Bao lay on the ground, unable to stop retching.

“Ugh! Ugh—!”

He vomited even the bitter fluids, but the foul taste still made him want to throw up.

At that moment,

Zhao Bao wanted to cry.

Though not a man by birth, the humiliation he suffered was unbearable and filled him with rage.

He had had enough of everything here!

When one is insignificant, one must endure humiliation!

Yet he quickly knelt properly, forcing a servile smile:

“Master, before your honorable presence, how dare I call myself a eunuch? I’m nothing but a fart!”

“I received your leftover food, Master, and truly feel refreshed all over. Thank you for bestowing me with your excrement!”

Ma Shenggui slapped his thigh and pointed at Zhao Bao, shouting loudly:

“Good!”

“What a lowly dog eating shit!”

Zhao Bao’s face stiffened slightly.

But then he opened his mouth and barked like a dog:

“Woof! Woof, woof!”

This made Ma Shenggui burst into laughter.

The surrounding young eunuchs also joined in mocking.

Zhao Bao knelt on the ground with a forced smile.

But his heart overflowed with endless hatred.

He knew that if he did not abandon his pride, what awaited him was a life worse than death.

Especially with a pervert like Ma Shenggui.

They had been slaves their entire lives, tortured for decades.

Hence, they would torment those beneath them even more cruelly.

If it were another elderly eunuch, they might show some restraint, fearing some apprentice might rise to power someday.

But Ma Shenggui was ruthless and vicious.

Once he decided to punish a young eunuch, he’d never let that eunuch live to see such a day.

Several young eunuchs previously tortured by Ma Shenggui had already hanged themselves.

In this palace,

if the emperor died, everyone had to wear mourning clothes for a month, wail loudly, cease all entertainment, forbid slaughtering, suspend ancestral rites, and kneel daily in mourning. Sometimes, large groups even followed the emperor in burial.

If a royal family member died, the entire palace fell into mourning, and a batch of imperial doctors and eunuchs might perish from the sorrow.

If a minister died, the palace would quietly discuss and pay respects.

But if a lowly young eunuch died, what would happen?

Nothing at all.

It would be as if the person had never existed.

Because the lives of young eunuchs were worthless; no one regarded their lives as lives.

Zhao Bao accepted this lowly fate.

But he refused to submit!

He wanted to live, for only in living could he have a chance to reclaim his dignity.

Ma Shenggui laughed for a long while before stopping and sternly addressing the group of young eunuchs:

“Listen up, all of you! When I take your tributes, am I taking silver?”

“Nonsense! I’m teaching you!”

“Once you enter this palace, you must learn to serve, and never speak wrongly or err. Otherwise, you’ll lose your head.”

“I take you as apprentices to teach you how to conduct yourselves and your duties. So isn’t it right to take your tribute silver?”

The young eunuchs hurriedly agreed and flattered him profusely.

Ma Shenggui nodded in satisfaction.

Then he suddenly pointed at Zhao Bao and shouted:

“That dog who eats shit dared to say he lost this month’s tribute silver?”

“If I don’t teach him a lesson today, he might turn into an ungrateful white-eyed wolf.”

“Beat him! Beat him until he remembers this lesson!”

At his order, the young eunuchs immediately surged forward, beating Zhao Bao with fists and kicks.

Zhao Bao curled up on the ground, clutching his head and screaming miserably.

His hatred was boundless.

He gritted his teeth and vowed that one day he would climb up.