YWTGU -Chapter 16 I, the Emperor, Am Actually Inferior to an Old Eunuch?

Half an hour later.

With his token in hand, Li An strode into the palace openly and confidently.

The guards at the gate immediately reported the news to Emperor Zhao Ling’er, who was still reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study.

“Hm? Li An has entered the palace?”

For some reason, Zhao Ling’er felt a flicker of excitement in her heart.

She was an emperor—yet she felt thrilled just because a minister had come to seek an audience?

Even she didn’t know what she was anticipating. But in her heart, Li An truly occupied a rather special place.

“He’s here! Quickly—have the Imperial Kitchen prepare the finest tea and refreshments. I will personally entertain this meritorious servant of the state!”

Zhao Ling’er sprang to her feet in excitement.

But…

She waited.

And waited.

A quarter of an hour passed, yet there was still no sign of Li An.

“That fellow… why hasn’t he come yet?”

Resting her chin in her palm, Zhao Ling’er pointed to a guard at the door. “Go! See where this Li An has wandered off to.”

The guard hurried out to inquire about Li An’s whereabouts.

After asking around, he learned that only the palace gate guards had seen Li An enter. But instead of heading toward the Imperial Study, Li An had gone deeper into the inner palace, according to a patrolling guard.

…

Meanwhile, in a dark and damp side chamber deep within the palace—

Eunuch Liu, feared by palace maids and eunuchs alike, was calmly sipping tea in his chair. His cloudy eyes stared blankly at the doorway.

This side chamber was practically his private territory, usually used to “discipline” disobedient young eunuchs.

In one corner lay several whips and torture clamps, creating an ominous atmosphere.

Before long, the door creaked open.

A handsome young official entered, wearing a polite smile—the very Li An who had apparently “lost his way” in the palace.

“Eunuch Liu, I have long admired your reputation. I am Li An, the newly appointed top scholar personally selected by His Majesty.”

Li An cupped his hands in greeting and sat directly across from him.

Eunuch Liu sized him up before speaking in a peculiar tone:

“Oh? So this is the famous top scholar? I hear you’ve been selling official posts quite successfully outside. What brings you to see me today?”

“Eunuch Liu is straightforward. I shall be as well.”

Li An took a seal from his sleeve and placed it lightly on the table.

“Prison Interrogation Commissioner of the Heavenly Prison. I would like to invite Eunuch Liu to assume this post.”

Eunuch Liu froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“Prison Interrogation Commissioner? Lord Li, are you joking with me? I’m just a eunuch—what would I do as an interrogation commissioner?”

“Why not?” Li An replied seriously. “There is no law in our dynasty forbidding eunuchs from holding office. As long as one has ability, who says a eunuch cannot achieve something in court?”

Eunuch Liu’s smile faltered.

That… actually made sense.

“Even if there’s no such rule, I have no interest in becoming an official. I lack for nothing in the palace, and my status isn’t low.”

“Lack for nothing? Not low?” Li An looked at him meaningfully. “May I ask you something, Eunuch Liu?”

“What?”

“Are you… happy here in the palace?”

Eunuch Liu’s expression shifted.

Li An stood and began pacing slowly.

“You’ve served in the palace for decades and witnessed the warmth and coldness of human nature. But no matter how high you rise, no matter how many years you endure—in others’ eyes, you are still…”

He paused, eyes sharp as he looked at Liu.

“…a eunuch who has lost his manhood.”

Eunuch Liu’s gaze turned instantly cold and vicious.

That was what he hated most—being reminded of it.

“Those ministers act polite on the surface, calling you ‘Eunuch Liu,’” Li An continued softly, each word cutting like a blade reopening old scars. “But behind your back? What do they call you?”

“‘Castrated dog.’ ‘Ball-less freak.’ ‘Old gelding’…”

“You know it better than anyone.”

Eunuch Liu’s breathing grew ragged.

“You!” He shot to his feet. “How dare you speak to me like that? Do you believe I can’t ensure you never leave this room?”

But Li An showed no fear. Instead, he smiled even more brightly.

“Eunuch Liu, I’m not here to insult you. I’m here to give you an opportunity—an opportunity to hold your head high and take revenge.”

“What opportunity?” Liu demanded through clenched teeth.

Li An pointed to the seal.

“The Heavenly Prison holds criminals—former high officials, powerful nobles brought down from their positions, wealthy merchants who have fallen from grace.”

“Many of them never even looked at you properly before. But once they enter the Heavenly Prison…”

Li An smiled meaningfully.

“Their life and death, their honor and disgrace—all depend on a single thought of the Interrogation Commissioner.”

Eunuch Liu’s breathing halted for a moment.

A flicker of madness flashed in his eyes.

“You mean…”

“I mean…” Li An patted his shoulder. “Once you leave this palace and enter the Heavenly Prison—you will be king there.”

“Who would dare look down on you? You interrogate whoever you wish.”

“Whoever humiliated you before—you can let them taste humiliation themselves.”

“There, no one cares whether you’re a eunuch or not.”

“There, you are the rules.”

“You are heaven.”

Eunuch Liu’s body trembled slightly.

Not from fear—

But from excitement.

For decades, he had endured humiliation in the palace. No one had ever painted such a picture for him.

Those who mocked him…

Those who called him “castrated dog” behind his back…

One day, they would fall. They would be imprisoned. They would be dragged into the Heavenly Prison.

And then…

Heh heh heh…

Eunuch Liu let out a sinister laugh.

“How much?”

His voice was hoarse.

“Two hundred thousand taels.”

Li An held up two fingers.

Without hesitation, Eunuch Liu hurried to a hidden compartment in the side room, pulled out a stack of banknotes, and slammed them on the table.

“Deal!”

Ding!

【Eunuch Liu purchases the post of Prison Interrogation Commissioner!】

【A eunuch officially meddles in court office! Judicial integrity completely collapses!】

【National Fortune of Great Qi -200】

【Current National Fortune: 85,179】

That was his life savings—decades’ worth of retirement money.

But he didn’t feel the slightest regret.

Compared to the future Li An had described, what was a mere two hundred thousand taels?

…

After leaving Eunuch Liu, Li An was in exceptionally high spirits.

Two hundred thousand taels secured.

Only the final two hundred thousand remained.

He glanced at the system panel—

【National Fortune change today: -200】

【Total change: -2,821】

【Current National Fortune: 85,179】

【Estimated settlement reward: 2,821,000 taels of gold】

Over 2.8 million taels of gold!

Delightful!

As he walked toward the palace gate, he began planning his final target.

The Maritime Inspection Envoy.

An even more obscure post than Prison Interrogation Commissioner.

The Heavenly Prison was unpleasant, yes—but at least personal safety was guaranteed.

But a Maritime Inspection Envoy?

That meant risking one’s life at sea.

Pirates, storms, plagues, foreign tribes—any of these could cost a life.

Who would spend a fortune to buy such a deadly post?

Li An already had the perfect candidate.

The eldest young master of the Qian family.

Yes—

Qian Xiaohai, son of Minister of Revenue Qian Tong.

Young Master Qian was something of a legend in the capital.

His father was the Minister of Revenue; their family wealth flowed like oil.

Yet this young master… was somewhat abnormal.

While others sought office to bring glory to their ancestors, he shouted all day about “conquering the vast seas.”

It was said his room was filled with navigation logs and sea charts, along with expensive foreign sailors’ journals.

Recently, Minister Qian had been pressuring him to marry and take over the family business.

Young Master Qian was nearly driven mad, hiding outside daily to avoid going home.

Such a rebellious rich youth…

Li An’s lips curved into a sly smile.

A ready-made sucker.

…

Having settled on his plan, Li An left the palace and hurried off to find Young Master Qian.

Meanwhile, the guard who had been searching painstakingly pieced together Li An’s movements.

Just as he was about to head to Eunuch Liu’s side chamber to find him, he received word that Li An had already left the palace.

“What? Lord Li left the palace? Wasn’t he here to see His Majesty?”

The guard stood there, utterly bewildered.

Inside the Imperial Study, where Emperor Zhao Ling’er had waited until her patience burned away, she snapped:

“What’s going on? Still no news? Where on earth has Li An gone?”

The guard knelt nervously.

“Your Majesty! Lord Li… has left the palace.”

“What? Wasn’t he here to see me? He didn’t even have an audience before leaving?”

Zhao Ling’er’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Was he not intending to see me at all?”

“Speak! Why did Li An enter the palace? Whom did he meet?”

Trembling, the guard replied:

“Your Majesty! After entering, Lord Li went directly to a side chamber deep in the inner palace… to meet Eunuch Liu Xi…”

“Liu Xi? The chief eunuch who long served my late father? Why would Li An go to see him?”

The more Zhao Ling’er thought about it, the more angry—and strangely aggrieved—she felt.

“He went to see an old eunuch and not me?”

“I, the emperor, am actually inferior to an old eunuch?!”