Chamberlain Zhang’s sharp, piercing question echoed through the bedchamber.
Empress He was completely stunned.
At this moment, her body trembled, her heart pounded violently, and she was filled with a mix of shock, joy, and immense panic.
Upon truly hearing that Zhang Shihao was not a Eunuch, Empress He was still unbelievably shocked, unsure if it was a pleasant surprise or sheer panic.
Chamberlain Zhang watched as Empress He grew even more flustered with his words, and the cold sneer on his face deepened.
On the sickbed, Liu Hong looked at the Empress’s expression and was even more shocked and enraged.
Originally, when Chamberlain Zhang spoke, he had been somewhat suspicious, but now, he couldn't help but believe it.
Could it be that the Empress was having an affair behind his, Liu Hong’s, back?
And furthermore, she had brazenly put Zhang Shihao forward to gain his trust?
Was she really trying to emulate Zhao Ji, the mother of Qin Shi Huang, who secretly colluded with Lao Ai to usurp the throne?
Thinking about how he had almost entrusted Zhang Shihao with the elite army he had been planning to build in the Northern Army for a long time, just yesterday, because Zhang Shihao knew how to train soldiers, Liu Hong felt a shiver down his spine.
His originally pale complexion flushed red with anger, and his chest heaved violently.
If Zhang Shihao truly was a fake Eunuch, controlling the Imperial Harem guards and an elite army, then wouldn't the Great Han…
Empress He, however, was in a panic and quickly explained anxiously to Liu Hong:
“Your Majesty, I truly did not know about this; I truly did not know that Xiao Haozi was a fake Eunuch.”
Immediately, Empress He turned to Chamberlain Zhang, who had a cold sneer on his face, and said angrily:
“Chamberlain Zhang, you are going too far! Is it because Xiao Haozi was reorganizing the Imperial Harem guards and touched your people that you want to frame Xiao Haozi? Are you even trying to eliminate me along with him? Everything must be based on evidence. If you cannot produce evidence, I will not let this go.”
Facing Empress He’s furious words, Chamberlain Zhang’s expression remained unchanged; in fact, his cold sneer deepened, and he sneered:
“Bring Xiao Yuanzi here.”
As Chamberlain Zhang’s words fell, two Eunuch guards immediately escorted the panicking, chubby Eunuch, Xiao Yuanzi, inside.
“It’s him!” Looking at the chubby Eunuch being brought in, Zhang Shihao’s eyes narrowed, and a hint of killing intent flashed within them.
“Quick, tell us what you know, so that the Empress can give up hope,” Chamberlain Zhang snorted coldly.
With Chamberlain Zhang backing him, the chubby Eunuch quickly knelt before Liu Hong on the sickbed, pointed at Zhang Shihao, and loudly declared:
“Your Majesty, this Xiao Haozi is definitely a fake Eunuch! Your servant personally saw him urinating while standing, and when he bathed, he always did so secretly. He is definitely a fake Eunuch.”
As the chubby Eunuch’s voice echoed, Empress He’s delicate body and face turned pale; Zhang Shihao truly was a fake Eunuch.
“Empress, what else do you have to say?”
Liu Hong, sitting on the bed with a ashen face, finally spoke, but his cold snort echoed.
It made Empress He feel a chill all over her body.
However, she truly didn't know.
Just then, Zhang Shihao’s calm and indifferent voice rang out:
“Your Majesty, this Xiao Yuanzi and Xiao Haozi have some grievances, and this is slandering me. Chamberlain Zhang is also fanning the flames. Your Majesty, you must not easily believe rumors and hurt the Empress Consort’s heart.”
“Hmm? Slander?”
Hearing Zhang Shihao suddenly speak, Liu Hong, whose face was grim and ashen, Chamberlain Zhang and Zhao Zhong, who were sneering, Empress He, and others were all taken aback, turning to look at Zhang Shihao in unison.
They saw that despite the room being filled with armed guards, and even arrows subtly aimed at Zhang Shihao, he showed no signs of nervousness in the tense atmosphere; in fact, his face was calm.
“You say these people are slandering you?”
Liu Hong, with a grim expression, looked at Zhang Shihao’s prominent Adam’s apple and the faintly visible thick stubble, along with other distinctly masculine features, and pointing at the chubby Eunuch, Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, and others, he coldly asked Zhang Shihao.
Facing Liu Hong’s cold questioning, Zhang Shihao still showed no change in expression; he bowed to Liu Hong with an impassive face and said:
“Yes, Your Majesty. Xiao Haozi is willing to take off his trousers on the spot to prove the innocence of Xiao Haozi and the Empress Consort, and I ask Your Majesty to seek justice for Xiao Haozi and the Empress Consort!”
“What! Take off his trousers on the spot to prove his innocence!”
As Zhang Shihao’s words fell, Liu Hong, Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, the chubby Eunuch, Empress He, and others were instantly shaken.
Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, and the chubby Eunuch looked at the calm and composed Zhang Shihao with shock and suspicion, and an unbelievable thought surfaced in their minds:
Zhang Shihao is so confident, could he truly be a Eunuch?
Empress He, who was originally panicked, was now both surprised and delighted, suddenly feeling as if the clouds had parted to reveal a clear sky.
Liu Hong, on the sickbed, looked at the confident and composed Zhang Shihao, and a hint of doubt couldn't help but surface in his eyes. His grim expression also relaxed slightly, but his voice was still cold:
“Since you say someone is slandering you with this, then prove it. If someone truly is slandering you, I will certainly see that justice is done for you!”
Liu Hong’s authoritative voice echoed through the bedchamber, and immediately, Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, and the chubby Eunuch became flustered.
“Impossible, Zhang Shihao is absolutely not a Eunuch! He’s bluffing, he must be bluffing, preparing to make a break for it at the critical moment!”
Zhang Shihao’s calmness and confidence clearly unnerved Chamberlain Zhang, but he still tried to reassure himself.
At the same time, he made a preparatory gesture to the guards nearby.
“Understood!” Zhang Shihao bowed to Liu Hong in agreement.
Under everyone’s tense gaze, Zhang Shihao placed his hand on his waistband, preparing to take off his trousers.
Zhang Shihao’s face was calm and expressionless. As he took off his trousers, he secretly thought to himself:
“Use the Substitute Doll, enter the Substitute Space!”
As the thought flashed, like a single frame of a movie, Zhang Shihao’s true body appeared in a dark space, with only a silent projection screen in front of him, showing the Empress’s bedchamber.
At this moment, a Substitute Doll identical to Zhang Shihao in appearance, clothing, and even demeanor, under the conscious control of Zhang Shihao, continued to take off its trousers.
Although Zhang Shihao hadn’t expected to have his true identity checked so early.
However, Zhang Shihao was not flustered; in fact, he was very calm.
Because he had a Substitute Doll.
That’s right, it was a Substitute Doll, obtained through a sign-in on that momentous day when he underwent a complete transformation after acquiring Li Cunxiao’s physical talent.
【Substitute Doll】: Can be used three times, a perfect and flawless substitute. After substitution, the host’s body enters the Substitute Space, and the Substitute Doll can be controlled by consciousness!
Long before this, he, Zhang Shihao, had already castrated the Substitute Doll and kept it ready at all times; this was his life-saving item.
In ancient times, especially in front of an emperor who held the power of life and death, he had always felt a strong sense of crisis.
Now, it was proving useful.
Inside the Empress’s bedchamber, everyone—Liu Hong, Empress He, Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, the chubby Eunuch, and even dozens of Eunuch guards—watched Zhang Shihao take off his trousers without blinking, their faces a mix of tension and anticipation.
Han dynasty trousers were not difficult to remove. Zhang Shihao unbuckled his belt, and the wide trousers slid down.
Silence!
Utter silence!
What met their eyes was only a large scar.
“This… he truly is a Eunuch!” In that instant of surprise, looking at the incision, everyone instantly came to their senses. Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, and the chubby Eunuch were completely dumbfounded.
Liu Hong’s grim, ashen face softened, and the next moment, he erupted in fury, roaring:
“Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, look at the fine mess you’ve made, this is simply preposterous!”
“Guards, take this chubby fellow out and behead him!”
Liu Hong’s roar echoed, and Chamberlain Zhang, Zhao Zhong, and the chubby Eunuch’s legs went weak as they all knelt down. The chubby Eunuch was even more panicked, repeatedly kowtowing and crying out for mercy, but he was directly dragged away by two Eunuch guards.
“Your Majesty, your servant was misled by that Xiao Yuanzi…”
“Your Majesty, your servant truly did not know that the Marquis of Yiyang was a Eunuch…”
As the chubby Eunuch was dragged away, Chamberlain Zhang and Zhao Zhong were in utter panic, repeatedly explaining to Liu Hong, their voices filled with extreme alarm.
The Empress’s bedchamber was in chaos. Seeing the crisis resolved, Empress He finally let out a sigh of relief.