Zhang Shihao was appointed Regular Attendant, ennobled as a Marquis, and given command of the Commander of the Palace Guards. This sudden rise caught many off guard.
And the decision to reorganize the Imperial Harem Guards clearly touched the raw nerves of some, making them lose sleep.
That night, Luoyang, seemingly calm on the surface,
was already turbulent beneath the veil of night.
Luoyang, Zhang Rang’s Residence.
In the extremely luxurious residence hall, Zhang Rang sat in the main seat, with eleven other pale, beardless Eunuchs gathered.
If any other high-ranking officials were here, they would realize that the twelve people in the room were precisely the Ten Attendants who wielded immense power in the court: Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Li Song, Duan Gui, Gao Wang, Zhang Gong, Han Kui, and Song Dian.
“This Zhang Shihao must be Empress He’s person. How dare he reorganize the Imperial Harem Guards? Does he not put us in his eyes? Does he really think we are easy to bully?” Zhao Zhong, sitting in the first seat on the left, narrowed his eyes and spoke in a sinister tone.
“We cannot sit idly by. Most of the Imperial Harem Guards are our people. If they are replaced by Empress He’s people, our control over the Imperial Harem will significantly decrease. This is like cutting off our flesh!”
“Let’s fight them! Empress He has truly gone too far this time. If we don’t act, how can we Ten Attendants maintain our standing in the Imperial Palace?”
...
Inside the luxurious hall, sharp voices rose and fell, and everyone’s face showed shock and anger.
However, Zhang Rang, who was seated at the head, did not speak immediately. His prolonged silence gradually quieted the Court Attendants in the hall.
“Zhang Rang, why aren’t you speaking now? Are you really just going to watch our people in the Imperial Harem be replaced by Empress He’s?”
Zhao Zhong, seated first on the left, frowned slightly and said in a muffled voice.
Hearing Zhao Zhong’s words, everyone looked at Zhang Rang in unison.
“Tell me, isn’t this Zhang Shihao’s appearance strange? He just seemed to pop out of nowhere. Where did Empress He find him?”
“Highly skilled in martial arts, extraordinarily proficient in medicine, and also good at pleasing His Majesty. Furthermore, what I, your humble servant, has never understood is, with his exceptional martial arts and medical skills, he couldn’t possibly be starving, could he? Even if he were a bandit or a traveling doctor, he wouldn't starve! So why did he insist on entering the palace to become an Eunuch?”
The luxurious hall fell silent, with all eyes on him. Zhang Rang's faint voice echoed, instantly causing Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, and the others to freeze, their brows furrowing.
“That does sound a bit strange and doesn’t make sense… So, Zhang Rang, what do you mean?” Zhao Zhong frowned, not understanding what Zhang Rang was trying to say.
Hearing Zhao Zhong’s question, Zhang Rang, seated at the head, narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly:
“Tell me, is it possible that this Zhang Shihao… is not an Eunuch at all?”
Though Zhang Rang’s voice was soft, it exploded like a clap of thunder on a clear day.
“What!!! Zhang Shihao is not an Eunuch!!!”
Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, and the others instantly erupted in a clamor, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
“Indeed, the more I, your humble servant, looks at this Zhang Shihao, the more something feels off. His Adam’s apple is too prominent, and he has a very strong masculine aura. Every movement is filled with vigor. I, your humble servant, feels that this Zhang Shihao is not an Eunuch at all.”
“This matter involves Empress He and His Majesty’s reputation, so we need absolute certainty before acting. However, if this Zhang Shihao truly isn’t an Eunuch, I, your humble servant, will ensure he dies a gruesome death, and Empress He, having committed a grave offense, should not blame me, your humble servant, for being ruthless.”
Facing the shocked crowd, Zhang Rang’s expression was utterly cold as he spoke.
Hearing Zhang Rang’s words, Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, and the other Ten Attendants also realized the immense implications and slowly calmed down.
“Then, Zhang Rang, what are your plans?” Zhao Zhong took a deep breath and asked with a solemn expression.
“Wait, it should be very soon!”
Zhang Rang looked at the sky and said something that made everyone puzzled.
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants did not have to wait long. Soon, footsteps were heard outside the door. A Eunuch dressed as a Xiao Huangmen entered, leading a panicking, chubby Eunuch.
If Zhang Shihao were here, he would immediately recognize this panicking, chubby Eunuch.
“Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng greets Master, and greets all Court Attendants!” Zuo Feng, dressed as a Xiao Huangmen, first bowed respectfully to Zhang Rang, then to Zhao Zhong and the other Court Attendants.
Then he said to Zhang Rang, who was at the head:
“Master, you were indeed correct. This Zhang Shihao might truly not be an Eunuch.”
“Xiao Yuanzi, quickly tell all the Court Attendants what you discovered!”
As Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng’s words fell, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others trembled violently.
Their gazes, sharp as an eagle’s, all turned to the chubby Eunuch.
“Honorable Court Attendants, Xiao Yuanzi initially didn’t dare to think of Xiao Haozi as not being an Eunuch. However, after being reminded by Master Zuo Huangmen, Xiao Yuanzi remembered that one time, Xiao Yuanzi saw that Xiao Haozi actually urinated standing up! At the time, Xiao Yuanzi even teased him, asking if he wasn’t afraid of splashing on his backside.”
“Also, Xiao Haozi never bathes with us. He always waits until late at night when everyone is asleep. Originally, Xiao Yuanzi didn’t think much of it, but now that I think about it, it’s indeed very suspicious. This Xiao Haozi is probably not…”
The chubby Eunuch was clearly a bit flustered at first, but when he started talking about Zhang Shihao not being an Eunuch, he immediately relaxed and spoke fluently.
“Urinated standing up!”
“Bathed secretly late at night!”
Listening to the chubby Eunuch’s words, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants narrowed their eyes, their gazes turning chilling.
“Zhang Shihao, oh Zhang Shihao, you truly seek death, daring to impersonate an Eunuch and infiltrate the Imperial Harem.”
“And Empress He, I’m afraid she’s not clean, is she? Since you dare to touch my, your humble servant’s, power, then don’t blame me, your humble servant, for being ruthless!”
Zhang Rang’s faint voice echoed through the silent hall.
...
The next day.
Imperial Palace, Changle Palace.
Inside Empress He’s bedchamber, which was filled with an extremely strong and unpleasant smell of medicinal herbs.
Thump-thump-thump~
One after another, Eunuch guards, armed with weapons and holding arrows, quickly rushed into the bedchamber under the frowning, surprised gazes of Empress He and Zhang Shihao.
A full thirty to forty Eunuch guards packed the entire bedchamber.
Zhang Shihao felt it clearly.
Not only did Eunuch guards rush into the bedchamber,
but even outside the bedchamber, hundreds of Eunuch guards, fully armed, were stationed.
An unprecedented atmosphere of 肅殺 filled the entire Changle Palace.
Zhang Shihao frowned tightly, looking at Liu Hong.
He saw Liu Hong lying on the sickbed, his face extremely grim and his mood fluctuating.
In front of Liu Hong stood Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, looking at him as if he were a dead man.
Zhang Shihao’s heart skipped a beat. Was this with Liu Hong’s tacit approval?
Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong had come with ill intentions.
“Your Majesty, what is happening? Why have so many guards suddenly come in? Have assassins arrived?”
Empress He was clearly stunned by the display and asked with a slight panic.
However, facing Empress He’s question, Liu Hong still maintained a cold face and said nothing. Liu Hong’s reaction instantly made Empress He inexplicably panic.
This grand commotion, was it related to her?
As Liu Hong remained silent, Zhang Rang stepped forward. He looked at the panicking Empress He, a cold sneer appearing on his face, and said coldly:
“Empress He, you have harbored a fake Eunuch, Zhang Shihao, in the palace, allowing him to gain His Majesty’s trust. What is your intention? Are you trying to emulate Zhao Ji, the mother of Qin Shi Huang, by having an illicit affair with Lao Ai and plotting to usurp the throne!!!”
Zhang Rang’s sharp voice suddenly echoed through the bedchamber. Zhang Shihao’s body trembled violently, and a glint flashed in his eyes.
Empress He, hearing this, felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue. Her delicate body trembled violently.
She turned her head to look at Zhang Shihao beside her, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and utter disbelief.
What had she heard?
Zhang Shihao was a fake Eunuch!!
Zhang Shihao, he, was not an Eunuch!!!