Gu Xinchao nursed while locking eyes with the female ghost.
The female ghost crouched on Noble Consort Lan’s shoulder, her dark hair hanging low and slowly creeping toward Gu Xinchao as if it possessed a life of its own.
In a split second, the hair was about to brush against his fair, tender cheek.
"Ah!"
Noble Consort Lan, holding Gu Xinchao and feeding him, abruptly turned her head and let out an angry roar at the female ghost crouching behind her with its head resting on her left shoulder.
Could she see it?
No!
She could only sense it.
People driven to madness like her were far more susceptible to strange and malevolent entities because their minds were already tainted.
*Whoosh!*
The dark hair pulled back like water weeds.
"Heehee..."
The female ghost giggled.
Perched on Noble Consort Lan’s shoulder, she stuck out her tongue, licked Noble Consort Lan’s neck, and inhaled deeply. Halos of light drifted out from Noble Consort Lan’s neck and were sucked into the female ghost, who emitted a satisfied moan a moment later.
Noble Consort Lan’s complexion turned even paler.
Her body swayed slightly, a flash of pain crossing her face.
Yet from beginning to end, her gaze never left Gu Xinchao, her eyes brimming with endless tenderness.
After drinking a few mouthfuls of milk, feeling a warmth in his lower belly, Gu Xinchao stopped.
"My child, have a little more..."
Noble Consort Lan looked anxious.
Gu Xinchao averted his gaze.
Sighing, Noble Consort Lan held Gu Xinchao with one hand while pulling her collar closed with the other, keeping her eyes fixed on him the entire time.
She was terrified he might vanish into thin air.
After a moment, she carried Gu Xinchao to the doorway and opened the food box on the floor. The food inside was already ice cold.
"I must live!"
She muttered to herself.
Staring at Gu Xinchao, she broke into a blissful smile.
"My child, for your sake, I must live!"
With that, she shoved the cold dishes and rice into her mouth.
In her arms, Gu Xinchao closed his eyes.
Yet the world remained within his field of vision.
However, this was through Xiao Guizi's perspective.
...
In the area of the Imperial Palace near the Golden Water Bridge lay rolling courtyards and side halls.
Aside from a small number of chief eunuchs who maintained private residences outside the Imperial City, most eunuchs lived here. Those without official ranks, like Xiao Guizi, could only sleep in large communal dormitories, while lower-ranking eunuchs with some duties were entitled to single rooms.
Wu Dafu held a rank—a head eunuch of the lower fifth rank.
He managed the affairs of the Cold Palace. Although it seemed like a post with few opportunities for embezzlement, he still commanded a private courtyard within the palace.
The courtyard was small, consisting of just a single compound, but despite being a sparrow, it was fully equipped, even featuring a dedicated kitchen where he could cook for himself.
Wu Dafu had several eunuchs serving him.
Xiao Guizi was one of them.
He completed his assigned tasks during the day and took turns serving Wu Dafu in the courtyard at night; when not on duty, he returned to the communal dormitory.
In the main room.
Wu Dafu sat on a chair, a teapot and teacups arranged on the table beside him. He picked up a teacup and took a light sip.
Before him, Xiao Guizi stood bent over with his head lowered, extremely respectful.
"Is the task done?"
Wu Dafu asked, lifting his head and rolling his eyes.
"It is done."
Xiao Guizi nodded in response, bowing his waist even lower.
"Are you certain there won't be any mishaps?"
Wu Dafu seemed somewhat uneasy.
"Foster Father, absolutely no problem. I handled him..."
"Hmm?"
Wu Dafu let out a cold snort and raised his hand to cut him off.
"There's no need to tell me the specifics of how you did it. I only need to know whether this matter will cause any trouble. Otherwise, if Her Consort asks me and I don't know how to answer, Her Consort will be unhappy, I will be unhappy, and you, brat, will certainly not be happy either!"
Wu Dafu set down his teacup.
He stood up and walked right up to Xiao Guizi.
Xiao Guizi hurriedly pressed his head down lower, fixing his eyes on the blue cloth shoes embroidered with longevity patterns that Wu Dafu was wearing.
"Xiao Guizi, what do you want?"
Wu Dafu's voice came from above.
"To serve Foster Father is Xiao Guizi's sole desire!"
Xiao Guizi said in a panic of reverence.
After a long pause, Wu Dafu let out a light laugh.
"You little rascal, still trying to play tricks on your foster father. Speak, what reward do you want? Your foster father isn't one to leave merits unrewarded..."
Xiao Guizi raised his head slightly.
"Foster Father, I want to enter the Martial Arsenal..."
He said cautiously.
"Hmm?"
Wu Dafu frowned.
"Foster Father, Xiao Guizi is in need of a cultivation technique."
"Oh!"
Wu Dafu glanced at Xiao Guizi.
"If I remember correctly, you cultivated your vital energy and entered the martial path two years ago, and the Inner Study also passed down the Body Tempering method of the Seventy-Two Breaking Jade Fists. How is it that you have already reached Body Tempering Perfection?"
Xiao Guizi shook his head.
"Foster Father, skin refinement, bone tempering, and organ refining are the three stages of Body Tempering. I am still at the Organ Refining Realm (Early) and have been stuck here for over half a year, unable to break through. Some say it is due to a deficiency of vital energy, so I wish to seek an auxiliary technique in the Martial Arsenal to strengthen my vital energy..."
"Is that so?"
Wu Dafu stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"Wait here..."
He turned around, bypassed the screen, and rustling sounds came from behind it, as if he were rummaging through something.
Xiao Guizi kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.
Curious though he was, he dared not stretch his neck to look.
Working in the palace, a sense of propriety was crucial.
Once, a junior eunuch had been more favored by Wu Dafu than Xiao Guizi, summoned every single night to serve him.
Just because he couldn't resist peeking behind the screen while Wu Dafu was back there.
Now, that fellow had turned into a pile of withered bones in the potter's field outside the city.
Before long, Wu Dafu emerged from behind the screen holding a book and a small porcelain vial.
He placed the book and the vial on the table.
He glanced at Xiao Guizi and said.
"There is no need to go to the Martial Arsenal. I have here a technique for refining vital energy from the Blood Shadow Sect, known as the Blood Shadow Divine Art. A century ago, the imperial court annihilated the Blood Shadow Sect and confiscated those techniques into the Martial Arsenal..."
"The vial contains Vital Energy Pills, which complement the technique..."
"Take them!"
Wu Dafu pointed to the items on the table.
"Foster Father."
Xiao Guizi raised his head, his face filled with emotion.
"Don't be so coy. Your foster father is old and frail, and after suffering a deviation in his training a few years ago that has never quite healed, these things are useless to me..."
"Take them away quickly!"
"Don't make me look at them and get annoyed!"
Wu Dafu feigned anger.
"Yes."
Xiao Guizi hurriedly stepped forward and picked up both items.
"The book has my annotations, all the tricks and tips are in there, along with instructions on how to take the pills accordingly. You're a clever person, you won't have any trouble..."
"However, you mustn't be reckless when practicing."
Wu Dafu frowned.
He thought for a moment and said.
"Sigh, I'll put in a bit of extra effort. For the next few nights, you can take the night shift and live in the side room. While you cultivate at night, I can keep an eye on things and guide you..."
"Thank you, Foster Father! Xiao Guizi kowtows to you!"
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Xiao Guizi dropped to his knees and kowtowed heavily.
"All right, you little rascal, cut the act!"
"Get lost, and remember to come back after your evening meal."
Wu Dafu waved his hand impatiently.
"Yes!"
"Foster Father, I'm getting lost right now!"
With that, Xiao Guizi cheerfully rolled on the ground twice, rolling all the way to the doorway before standing up and walking out the door.
Gu Xinchao witnessed this scene through Xiao Guizi's perspective.
The fellow hadn't been silenced?
He found it a bit hard to fathom.
Could it be that there were good people in the imperial palace after all?
Xiao Guizi stepped outside.
Behind the door, two figures suddenly lunged out, grabbing him from both left and right.
The incident happened with terrifying suddenness.
Gu Xinchao, sharing perspective with Xiao Guizi, was also taken aback.
Inside the swaddling clothes, his eyes snapped wide open.