After Being Reborn as the Chief Eunuch Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Ji Qingzhou genuinely had no idea what kind of clothing could be considered “uglier.” He even began to doubt his own sense of aesthetics.

In the end, with no other choice, he borrowed a coarse gray robe from Xiao Shan. The robe was clearly aged and worn to a faded white from many washes—it had absolutely no sense of style. Afraid that Li Zhan might have more opinions, Ji Qingzhou didn’t dare show it to him for approval. He just wore the gray robe and left.

When the Liang princess, Qi Jingheng, saw him, her gaze didn’t even pause on his clothes. Clearly, what Ji Qingzhou wore didn’t matter to her at all.

“Qingzhou, where are you taking me today?” she asked.

“Is there any place Your Highness wishes to go?” Ji Qingzhou returned the question.

Qi Jingheng thought for a moment, clearly without any ideas, then—surprisingly—turned to Qin Zheng and asked, “Hey, do you have any ideas?”

“Your Highness, my name is Qin Zheng,” he replied with a slight bow.

Qi Jingheng nodded. “Alright, then—do you have any good ideas?”

“Just outside the Imperial City, along the main avenue, is the most bustling part of the capital,” Qin Zheng began. “Since Your Highness has come from afar, I suppose you’d like to experience the local customs and culture…” His expression turned distant for a moment, then he added, “When your brother came to the capital years ago, he loved visiting the shops that sold trinkets and knick-knacks.”

Qi Jingheng gave a faint smile, then turned to Ji Qingzhou. “Let’s go take a look at that street he mentioned.”

Ji Qingzhou’s heart stirred at her words and he immediately nodded in agreement.

The group left the Imperial City and strolled leisurely along the main street of the capital. The guards Li Zhan had sent had already changed into plainclothes and followed from a distance, so as not to attract attention. But even so, Ji Qingzhou and his companions still drew the eyes of many passersby.

Not only were they all strikingly attractive, but the tall figure of Princess Qi Jingheng alone stood out enough to catch notice. With Ji Qingzhou and Qin Zheng walking on either side of her, she almost seemed petite by comparison.

“Which shop did my brother like best back then?” Qi Jingheng asked Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng glanced around, then casually pointed. “That one… and that one… and those few over there!”

Ji Qingzhou: …

Was he really about to be reduced to carrying the princess’s shopping bags today?

Before he could finish sighing to himself, Qin Zheng had already led Qi Jingheng into a jade shop. The shopkeeper immediately noticed their noble bearing and hurried over, ready to shower them with attention in hopes of a big sale.

But Qin Zheng, looking like a seasoned veteran, casually blocked him with a hand and said, “We’ll look on our own. If you want to make a sale, don’t talk.”

The shopkeeper, quick to read the room, obediently stepped aside without another word.

Qi Jingheng seemed genuinely interested in the jade items. She asked questions about nearly everything she saw, and Qin Zheng began explaining things to her. Ji Qingzhou looked around and estimated that if they kept up this pace, it would take at least an hour—if not longer—to finish just this row of shops.

So, he quietly slipped out of the store and approached one of the guards, whispering that he needed to find a restroom.

The guard initially wanted to follow, but Ji Qingzhou waved him off, saying his priority should be protecting the princess.

After leaving the jade shop, Ji Qingzhou jogged through the streets, relying on his memory until he finally found the secluded medical clinic tucked deep within a narrow alley. He glanced around and, seeing no one watching, quickly ducked into the alley.

Ever since he’d lost the medicine last time, Ji Qingzhou had been constantly on edge. Now that it was already July, if he didn’t find a way to deal with the “little one” in his belly soon, the longer it dragged on, the more trouble it would cause.

This rare opportunity to leave the palace was not something he would waste.

He strode quickly down the alley. It was empty, so he made a beeline for the clinic.

But when he reached the door, he found it tightly shut.

“Is anyone there?” Ji Qingzhou knocked on the door. No response.

He refused to give up and continued knocking, but no one ever answered.

A wave of frustration washed over him. Should he wait here a little longer, or find another clinic to get a dose of medicine? But he knew this wasn’t a trivial matter—if it went wrong, it could cost a life…

He couldn’t make up his mind for a while. Then suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.

Ji Qingzhou spun around—and froze.

The alley was dimly lit, and half the newcomer’s body was cloaked in shadow.

But Ji Qingzhou recognized him immediately. The man wore a deep crimson robe and gazed at Ji Qingzhou with an unreadable, faintly amused expression. Ji Qingzhou instinctively stepped back half a pace, his hand at his side unconsciously gripping the hem of his robe.

“Young Master Ji, what brings you here?” Prince Heng asked, looking at Ji Qingzhou.

Ji Qingzhou’s expression was full of caution as he replied, “Why would Your Highness be here?”

Prince Heng wore a faint, ambiguous smile as he said, “I have many hobbies in my free time. I enjoy concocting all sorts of strange medicines—things I’d rather keep from others. Naturally, it’s not convenient to have the imperial physicians or doctors from the Prince Residence prepare them… so I come here instead.”

Hearing this, Ji Qingzhou immediately thought of the poison Tu Dayou had once planned to use on the Regent. Could it have been prepared by this very doctor?

“I’ve answered your question. Now it’s my turn,” Prince Heng said. “Shall I take a guess?”

Ji Qingzhou frowned slightly, a faint sense of unease creeping in….

That doctor did seem to be quite skilled—likely the reason Tu Dayou had him come here. But Ji Qingzhou had overlooked an important clue: since Tu Dayou had once served under Prince Heng, then this doctor he recommended likely also had ties to Prince Heng.

“You’re now the Chief Steward of the Inner Attendant Department, a favorite in my third brother’s eyes. What illness could you possibly have that prevents you from visiting the Imperial Physician Courtyard, and instead brings you sneaking into a quiet alley to see some back-alley quack?” Prince Heng eyed him with scrutiny. “What shameful ailment is Young Master Ji hiding from my third brother?”

Cold sweat formed on Ji Qingzhou’s forehead. He averted his gaze, eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Prince Heng chuckled softly and said, “Ah, I suddenly remembered… back in Yan Court, you refused to take that medicine, nearly causing the Ministry of Appointments to get impeached! So what now, Young Master Ji—are you planning to stop being a eunuch?”

Upon hearing that, Ji Qingzhou quietly let out a sigh of relief. So Prince Heng hadn’t yet spoken to that doctor and still didn’t know his true purpose for being here. No matter how clever the man was, he could never imagine that a eunuch like Ji Qingzhou—a man—was actually pregnant.

“You’ve been in the palace nearly four months now, haven’t you? Before long, it’ll be time to take another dose,” Prince Heng said.

“Your Highness, I have matters to attend to. Forgive me for not staying longer…” Ji Qingzhou cupped his hands in polite farewell and tried to leave.

But Prince Heng suddenly spoke. “Qingzhou… don’t go.”

Ji Qingzhou paused, a little surprised, and looked back at him.

By now, Ji Qingzhou was used to Prince Heng’s odd demeanor. Every time they met, the man seemed unable to resist speaking with sarcastic ridicule. Yet, without fail, midway through, his tone would shift into something that sounded… almost tender.

“If you truly don’t want to be a eunuch, all it takes is a word from you,” Prince Heng said gently. “I’ll find a way to get you out of the palace. Why place your hopes on a back-alley quack? The medicine used in the palace isn’t something ordinary people can undo. Once you’ve taken it a few times, you can forget about ever becoming a man again.”

Ji Qingzhou saw that Prince Heng was under the impression he was here to counteract the medicine’s effects. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he played along and replied, “Thank you for the warning, Your Highness.”

He didn’t want to linger any longer, afraid he might slip up. But Prince Heng suddenly grabbed his wrist and said, “You and my third brother aren’t as close as I thought. If he truly cared, why would he ignore your suffering and force you to sneak out of the palace for a cure?”

“…..” Ji Qingzhou didn’t know how to respond, so he stayed silent.

Seeing his reaction, Prince Heng seemed convinced he was right. “I’ll wait for you to think it through. Just say the word, and I’ll arrange for someone in the Ministry of Appointments to tamper with your medicine. You’ll never have to drink it again. Then I’ll find a way… to bring you out of the palace.”

Ji Qingzhou gently pulled his wrist free. This time, Prince Heng let go without resisting.

As Ji Qingzhou turned to leave, Prince Heng stared at his back and said hoarsely, “You’ve changed…”

Ji Qingzhou’s steps faltered. His heart gave a sudden jolt. He instantly understood what Prince Heng meant—that he was no longer the same person as the original Ji Qingzhou.

In that moment, Ji Qingzhou finally realized why Prince Heng always seemed so inconsistent when speaking to him.

It must have been that, in the original story, Ji Qingzhou’s personality wasn’t this mild and gentle. Perhaps their past interactions had always been filled with cold sarcasm and mutual disdain. That would explain why, on the night Prince Heng got drunk, he had said those unexpected things to Ji Qingzhou.

Every time Prince Heng saw him now, he always started off with biting sarcasm. But Ji Qingzhou never responded to the jabs, which left Prince Heng at a loss. Eventually, he would switch back to a softer, gentler tone.

Ji Qingzhou sighed. He really didn’t have the mental energy to bother with whatever past entanglements Prince Heng and the original Ji Qingzhou had shared.

Prince Heng’s reminder just now made him realize what he should be worrying about…

Since he didn’t get the abortion medicine today, he could only hope to find another chance to leave the palace on the fifteenth.

But now that he knew the doctor was someone associated with Prince Heng, would the man reveal anything about him?

Given Prince Heng’s personality, if he found out about Ji Qingzhou’s secret… who knew what he might do?

Even if the doctor kept his mouth shut, Ji Qingzhou couldn’t guarantee that he’d actually be able to get the medicine on the fifteenth.

And if he couldn’t deal with the child in his belly before the Ministry of Appointments handed out the next dose of the sterilizing medicine…

He thought of the day Xiao Shan had been carried out of Yan Court covered in blood and was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of suffocation.

He had to come up with a solution—and fast. Otherwise, he’d be facing serious trouble.

“Where did you go?” As soon as Ji Qingzhou stepped out of the alley, he was grabbed by Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng looked him up and down in concern. “I thought you’d been kidnapped! How could you go off without bringing a guard?”

Ji Qingzhou was still a bit distracted and forced a faint smile. “I just went to relieve myself…”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Prince Heng stepped out of the alley behind him.

Qin Zheng’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Prince Heng.

Prince Heng didn’t try to avoid suspicion. In fact, he even raised his brows at Qin Zheng before striding off with the guard who had been waiting outside the alley.

“I…” Ji Qingzhou began, wanting to explain.

But Qin Zheng cut him off. “Later. Qi Jingheng is still waiting for us in the teahouse.”

Qin Zheng brought Ji Qingzhou back to the teahouse where Princess Qi Jingheng had been resting. She was lounging by the window, sipping tea. On the table beside her was a pile of boxes in various sizes—it was obvious she’d been shopping quite a bit.

Ji Qingzhou had wanted to apologize for suddenly disappearing, but Qi Jingheng didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, she even pulled him over to sit and drink tea with her.

That afternoon, the group had lunch at the most luxurious restaurant in the capital. Then they accompanied the princess through more shopping, nearly half the street’s worth of stores, before finally sending her back to the guesthouse at dusk.

“It’s time we talk about Prince Heng,” Qin Zheng said as soon as the two of them returned to the palace.

Ji Qingzhou had expected the question, so he wasn’t surprised.

“I understand that you’ve kept things from the Wang Ye,” Qin Zheng said. “Everyone has their own secrets and selfish concerns…”

Ji Qingzhou replied, “I had no idea Prince Heng would be there today, and I’ve never had any private meetings with him.”

Qin Zheng nodded. “I know. That’s not what I’m asking.”

Ji Qingzhou blinked, a little confused, and glanced at him. Qin Zheng looked particularly serious today.

“I’ve been trying to matchmake you and the Wang Ye lately. Are you sick of me?” Qin Zheng asked.

“Not exactly…” Ji Qingzhou answered truthfully. “I know you’re just teasing and don’t mean any harm. Of course, if you made fewer jokes like that, I’d probably find you more likable.”

Qin Zheng chuckled. “Do you know why I did it?”

Ji Qingzhou looked at him, genuinely curious to hear his explanation.

“Trust between people is fragile. No matter if it’s you or me, there’s always a barrier between us and the Wang Ye. He’s someone above all but one, so it’s inevitable that he keeps people at a distance,” Qin Zheng said. “Just like the late emperor. He valued your Ji family so highly when he was alive, but in the end…”

Ji Qingzhou frowned, surprised Qin Zheng would bring this up.

“Your father was once the late emperor’s teacher—he even saw him as a lifelong confidant… much like how the Wang Ye treats you now,” Qin Zheng said. “But as time passed, everything changed. Suspicion, closeness, choosing one over the other… Monarchs are always faced with these decisions.”

Ji Qingzhou said, “I still don’t fully understand.”

“When the late emperor was on his deathbed, he turned against the Ji family,” Qin Zheng said. “But the Wang Ye, Prince Heng, and even the Qiu family remained completely unharmed.”

Ji Qingzhou slowly began to piece it together. What Qin Zheng meant was: no matter how close a friend, mentor, or confidant one might be… they would always come second to blood ties.

“Wang Ye may seem aloof, but he’s someone who values emotions. Otherwise, he wouldn’t insist on keeping you by his side,” Qin Zheng said. “But have you ever considered… if it came down to choosing between you and Prince Heng, could you be sure the Wang Ye would abandon his own younger brother to choose you?”

Ji Qingzhou stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “So what you’re saying is… if my relationship with the Wang Ye grew deeper, the chances of him choosing me would increase?”

“I just think, if the Wang Ye chooses you, he’ll likely still keep Prince Heng around. He wouldn’t go so far as to bear the crime of killing his own brother,” Qin Zheng said. “But if the Wang Ye chooses Prince Heng instead—how confident are you that you’ll come out of it unscathed?”

Ji Qingzhou fell silent. He had never considered that possibility before.

He always believed that as long as he behaved himself, he’d manage to survive.

But Qin Zheng’s reminder made him realize—did the Ji family back then really commit some unforgivable crime?

Judging from the attitudes of Li Zhan and Prince Heng, Ji Qingzhou began to doubt that.

From that angle, his situation truly was dangerous.

Because Prince Heng refused to let him go, it meant Li Zhan would eventually have to take a stance on the matter.

And Ji Qingzhou—being the chief steward of the Inner Attendant Department, personally appointed by Li Zhan—if he continued to be entangled with Prince Heng, how could Li Zhan possibly remain free of doubt over time? When that day came, Prince Heng could still rely on the bond of brotherhood. But Ji Qingzhou? In Li Zhan’s eyes, all he had was the lingering connection from Grand Tutor’s days as his teacher.

Ji Qingzhou thought for a moment and said, “Even putting aside whether I could truly become closer to the Wang Ye, even if it came to that point… I’m not sure I could retreat unscathed like you said.”

“That’s why I suddenly thought today—if you agreed to Princess Qi Jingheng’s proposal, it might not be a bad idea,” Qin Zheng said.

Ji Qingzhou: …

Qin Zheng must be sick—and seriously so!

Ji Qingzhou turned to look at him and saw the faint smile on his face, realizing that last remark was a joke.

Qin Zheng held his gaze for a moment, then dropped the smile and said seriously, “When I said I see you as one of my own, I wasn’t trying to flatter you. No matter what you decide for yourself, let me say this one last time—when it comes to you and Prince Heng, if you’re not absolutely sure the Wang Ye will choose you, then don’t openly break with Prince Heng. Be careful he doesn’t drag you down with him in a mutual destruction.”

Ji Qingzhou nodded solemnly, recognizing that Qin Zheng was speaking from the heart.

He truly hadn’t thought about it from that angle before…

Even though Prince Heng once tried to kill Li Zhan, Li Zhan had never retaliated against his brother.

Ji Qingzhou had assumed it was because Li Zhan wasn’t ready yet, but now, after Qin Zheng’s reminder, he realized that Li Zhan’s inaction might not be due to lack of confidence—but because of brotherly affection.

When the two returned to Yinghui Pavilion, they found the place in a state of commotion.

Ji Qingzhou caught someone to ask what was going on and learned that the Old Wang Ye was dying, and Li Zhan was preparing to head to the outskirts of the capital that very night.

The Old Wang Ye had fallen seriously ill last month, and everyone had mentally prepared for this. They just didn’t expect the day to come so soon.

“Wang Ye…” Ji Qingzhou and Qin Zheng entered the main hall and saw Li Zhan dressed in a fitted martial robe, clearly ready to depart.

“Why do you look so pale?” Li Zhan glanced at Ji Qingzhou briefly and frowned. “Did something happen?”

Ji Qingzhou quickly replied, “Nothing… Will Your Highness need me to accompany you to the outskirts?”

Li Zhan hesitated for a moment, then said, “No need. I won’t stay long—perhaps I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Ji Qingzhou acknowledged him with a quiet sound, then took a cloak from a young eunuch nearby and personally fastened it for Li Zhan.

Li Zhan lowered his gaze to watch him, and after a moment, placed a hand gently on Ji Qingzhou’s arm before turning and leaving the hall.

“Wang Ye seems troubled,” Ji Qingzhou said.

“The Qiu family has yet to be punished, and now the Old Wang Ye is gravely ill. He may speak up on their behalf…” Qin Zheng said.

Ji Qingzhou asked in confusion, “Why would he?”

“You’re smarter than me, but still quite naive when it comes to court affairs,” Qin Zheng said. “Do you know why the Old Wang Ye once wanted the Wang Ye to marry someone from the Qiu family? Don’t forget—the Qiu family is the maternal side of His Majesty. That young lady from the Qiu family is the emperor’s aunt.”

Ji Qingzhou was taken aback and began to understand. “The Old Wang Ye was afraid that if Wang Ye married and had children, it might threaten the emperor?”

“That’s one way to put it,” Qin Zheng said. “Unless Wang Ye marries someone from the Qiu family, that relationship would make him more cautious, more restrained.”

Ji Qingzhou frowned slightly, feeling a bit sorry for Li Zhan.

Li Zhan clearly had no intention of coveting the throne, yet everyone kept projecting their fears onto him.

“So what will  Wang Ye do? Will he really marry the Qiu family young lady?” Ji Qingzhou asked.

“That I can’t say… But if he defies the late emperor’s decree and insists on rejecting the proposal, the censors alone will give him a headache,” Qin Zheng sighed.

That night, Ji Qingzhou tossed and turned, and by dawn, he made a trip to the Office of Judicial Review.

There were now people loyal to Li Zhan in the office, and since they recognized Ji Qingzhou’s identity, they didn’t stop him.

Tu Dayou looked relatively well, mentally stable, seemingly unharmed. But after being locked up for so long without sunlight, he appeared somewhat gaunt.

As usual, Ji Qingzhou brought him wine and dishes, which made Tu Dayou very happy.

“I went to that medical clinic yesterday and saw Prince Heng,” Ji Qingzhou said.

Tu Dayou froze, then slapped his forehead. “I forgot to tell you—he occasionally goes there too. What bad luck to run into him!”

“I don’t know.” Ji Qingzhou shook his head. “Do you think that doctor will tell him about me?”

Tu Dayou frowned. “If Prince Heng doesn’t ask, the doctor might not be able to connect the dots. But now that he’s seen you, he’ll definitely be suspicious. So you can’t go back there again!”

Ji Qingzhou nodded. “I thought about it all night… At this point, I’m nearly out of options. Do you think if I took a gamble and confessed everything to Wang Ye, he might spare my life?”

“Are you crazy?” Tu Dayou exclaimed.

But he quickly calmed down—and realized it might not be completely hopeless.

Given Ji Qingzhou’s current relationship with Li Zhan, things were very different from before.

In the past, he would’ve thought Ji Qingzhou had no chance of survival. But now… maybe.

Back then, Ji Qingzhou would never have entertained such a thought. But things had reached a crisis point. If he didn’t make a choice soon, his only path left would be to throw himself at Prince Heng.

More importantly, after spending so much time with Li Zhan, Ji Qingzhou felt that—even if Li Zhan were to get angry—he might not actually kill him. After all, that night, Ji Qingzhou had also been a victim.

There was one thing Qin Zheng had said that was true: Li Zhan was a man who valued deep emotions.

And if that was the case—if he cared that much about familial bonds—maybe, just maybe, he’d spare Ji Qingzhou for the sake of the child he carried.

Ji Qingzhou didn’t ask for much. As long as he could keep his life—even if he were kicked out of the palace or exiled to the northwest—he’d be grateful. In fact, he thought that would be far better than spending the rest of his life as a eunuch in the palace.

He wasn’t afraid of hardship!

The only real risk… was that he’d have to give birth to Li Zhan’s child.

On that matter, Ji Qingzhou still struggled to accept it in his heart.

But if it was a matter of life or death… he figured he could grit his teeth and endure it.

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