Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Emperor's Secret

"Your Ladyship, I am only rubbing the outside. There's no need to be tense." "Mm-hm... No, I command you to come inside right now!"

The Daxia Dynasty. The Empress's chambers.

A comfortable moan with a lingering nasal tone echoed across the phoenix bed. Dugu Mingyue, the Empress of Daxia, had her phoenix robe slipped down to her slender waist, exposing a snowy-white back. At this moment, a pair of man's hands was stroking it.

"Then Your Ladyship must endure." "Hiss... Little Zhao, this feels so wonderful..."

Sitting beside the phoenix bed was a handsome eunuch. Seeing the Empress look as though she were floating in immortal bliss, Zhao Wujiang smiled inwardly.

How could it not feel wonderful?

Having transmigrated to this world three years ago, Zhao Wujiang had diligently practiced medicine under his Third Great Uncle. He was confident that his Taiyi Mysterious Needle acupuncture and meridian-regulating technique had already reached perfection.

In his past life, Zhao Wujiang had lived in a muddle for half a lifetime, with no money, no power, and a wife who cuckolded him. In this life, he was going to use this medical skill to dominate the imperial court and recline drunkenly in the laps of beauties.

Seeing the peerless woman before him, Zhao Wujiang crossed his legs to avoid letting anyone see his masculine vigor.

After all, he was a fake eunuch, but a real man.

The original owner's Third Great Uncle, Zhao Shou, held the position of Grand Eunuch within the inner palace. Upon learning that Zhao Wujiang, the sole remaining seedling of the Old Zhao family, had been sent into the palace, he pulled strings to have Zhao Wujiang assigned as a junior eunuch in the inner palace. Not only did this spare him from castration, but it also placed him under his protection.

Alas, Third Great Uncle had suddenly died of a violent death seven days ago. From then on, no one knew Zhao Wujiang's identity as a fake eunuch, but...

Zhao Wujiang had also lost his protection as a result.

*Deep within these palace walls, with no family left to rely on, I must be extremely cautious and tread every step with care!* *And as for the person who killed Third Great Uncle, who on earth is it?!*

With emotions surging in his mind, Zhao Wujiang withdrew the silver needles and continued massaging her jade-like back.

"Your mastery of acupuncture and massage truly makes me look at you in a new light. No wonder Old Zhao strongly recommended you to me." "This servant thanks the Empress for her high praise. Acupuncture, massage, promoting fertility and yang, and facial rejuvenation are all things this servant has mastered. If Your Ladyship has any needs in the future, you may call upon this servant. To be able to serve Your Ladyship is a blessing cultivated in my past life, and from now on, I shall pour out an endless stream of loyalty without holding anything back."

Flattery never fails. Zhao Wujiang knew that he urgently needed a backer right now.

And Dugu Mingyue was the biggest backer in the entire imperial palace.

The late emperor had passed away, the new emperor was incompetent, and imperial power had slipped into other hands. The Dugu Clan was a founding royal family whose power shook the court and the opposition; as Empress, Dugu Mingyue was just a step away from ruling behind a curtain.

Zhao Wujiang's hands rested on Dugu Mingyue's slender yet voluptuous waist, cupping a pair of full, pert buttocks.

*Let the roc rise on the wind in a single day, soaring straight up—uh—soaring straight up ninety thousand miles! I, Zhao Wujiang, will certainly not disgrace the name of a transmigrator!*

"Little Zhao." "This servant is here."

Dugu Mingyue waved her hand, and all the surrounding palace maids withdrew.

"You said you can promote fertility and yang. Then tell me, why has His Majesty never touched me?"

On the Empress's peerless face hung an involuntary charm born of comfort. After the affair, she had slipped into a silky, translucent inner garment that outlined her delicate and graceful body.

*Hmm?* *The Emperor has never touched the Empress?* *Such a stunning beauty, and her husband doesn't touch her?*

"Replying to Your Ladyship, this servant must examine His Majesty before I can say." "Then go have a look. I have repeatedly sent imperial physicians to diagnose His Majesty, yet none could discover the cause of the ailment—instead, His Majesty had them all killed."

*—???* *—Then why the hell are you sending me?!*

Dugu Mingyue's gaze fell upon Zhao Wujiang. "You are merely a junior eunuch; perhaps His Majesty won't be on guard against you. His Majesty is currently in the Council Hall. Follow Qinger and go there to investigate the cause."

Dugu Mingyue added one more sentence: "If you fail to find the cause, bring your head to see me." "This servant is going right now."

Zhao Wujiang's face twitched.

*I'm dead!* *I'm going to die!* *Third Great Uncle, I've let you down!*

Zhao Wujiang tucked his hands into his sleeves and left the Palace of Phoenix Roost with a stiff smile.

Outside the gates of the Council Hall, the doors stood wide open.

The Empress's personal maid, Qinger, walked in front, with Zhao Wujiang following behind. Looking at Qinger's graceful back, she was barely twenty years old yet was already a trusted confidante of Empress Dugu, possessing top-tier figures and looks.

As soon as they arrived, they heard bursts of reprimands coming from inside.

"Wait here first." "Understood, Sister Qinger."

He stood quietly outside the door, his eyes lowered, refusing to look at what was happening inside the Council Hall. Yet out of the corner of his eye, he had already taken in everything inside the hall.

One emperor, a crowd of ministers.

The slender and frail Emperor of Daxia, Xuanyuan Jing, sat upright on the dragon throne. His brows were handsome, exuding a scarce amount of majesty as he waved his arm in a display of venting anger.

"Where is the silver? I ask you all again, where is the silver? The disaster in Yunzhou—where is the disaster-relief silver ordered to be disbursed? Answer me!"

An elderly minister fell to his knees, burying his head deep: "Your Majesty, the imperial treasury is empty... The Ministry of Revenue... is currently raising funds..."

Wrath had already risen on the face of the Daxia Emperor. These ministers took advantage of his recent ascension and shallow foundation to embezzle from the imperial treasury. Right now, the Daxia court couldn't even disburse silver for disaster relief.

Another minister stepped out of line, his words lacking reverence and carrying a heavier tone of lecturing: "Your Majesty, matters have their priorities and urgencies. The affair in Yunzhou can be discussed later. Right now, General Zhao, who commands the Northern Frontier, has fallen ill. The court must dispatch a great general to guard the northern border to prevent those grassland scoundrels from creating chaos..."

"Indeed, Your Majesty, internal troubles will resolve themselves of their own accord. Right now, the focus must be placed on external border defense!" "Your Majesty, this old minister feels that Grand General Dugu is the only suitable candidate for the job." "This subject seconds that. Grand General Dugu has achieved towering military exploits. If he guards the Northern Frontier, those northern barbarians will never dare to violate our Daxia territory." "With Grand General Dugu's prestigious name, if Your Majesty issues an imperial decree immediately, the morale of the soldiers at the northern border will be stabilized!"

Courtiers continuously stepped out of line.

Emperor Xuanyuan's expression was gloomy. Since ascending the throne, he truly had no one he could use.

Many ministers intended to curry favor with the Dugu Clan, and the Grand General Dugu they recommended was none other than Empress Dugu's own elder brother, Dugu Tianqing.

In the vast Daxia Dynasty, the Dugu Clan possessed immense power, their branches spreading so luxuriantly they threatened to obscure half the sky. Many people whispered in private that the current reigning sovereign was nothing more than a puppet propped up by the Dugu Clan.

"This matter is of great importance. Allow Us to think on it further. My beloved ministers, withdraw."

Xuanyuan Jing rubbed his brow, speaking while suppressing his anger.

A minister immediately shouted, "Your Majesty, this matter is of the utmost ur—" "We said withdraw!"

Xuanyuan Jing glared fiercely, roaring.

The atmosphere froze instantly, and the officials hurriedly lowered their heads, retreating crestfallen.

One by one, the courtiers walked past Zhao Wujiang, not even glancing at this lowly, insignificant junior eunuch, continuing to chat leisurely among themselves.

Zhao Wujiang lowered his gaze to fixate on the bluestone slabs beneath his feet. After the officials had all left, Qinger led Zhao Wujiang into the grand hall: "Your Majesty, this maid has brought Little Zhao by the Empress's command to take your pulse."

Xuanyuan Jing glanced at Zhao Wujiang, her brows furrowing. "You're the junior eunuch the Empress mentioned?"

*Phew, it seems the Empress told him. Thank goodness...* Zhao Wujiang lowered his gaze: "Reporting to Your Majesty, exactly this servant."

Xuanyuan Jing's face turned cold... *People from the Empress—even a dead eunuch doesn't kneel when seeing Us?*

"Get lost, We are not sick!" "Uh..."

*If I just leave like this, the Empress will chop my head off the moment I get back...*

Qinger seemed to have anticipated the Emperor's reaction and spoke again: "Your Majesty, the Empress said that while Your Majesty believes all imperial physicians are quacks, Little Zhao is no imperial physician, but rather possesses ancestral medical skills. Your Majesty labors day and night, exhausting the imperial body. The Empress worries for you, and you find no flavor in your food or rest..."

Xuanyuan Jing had wanted to continue flying into a rage, but upon hearing the Empress's words, a hint of wariness crept back onto her face.

"Ancestral medical skills? I'm afraid he's just a quack."

The Emperor glanced at Zhao Wujiang—aside from being rather good-looking, he was utterly useless. The Empress must simply be desperate and grasping at straws.

Initially, he had feared the imperial physicians would discover his secret, but this quack of a junior eunuch... perhaps he could be of some use to shut the Empress up.

"Very well. The rest of you, withdraw!"

Qinger nudged Zhao Wujiang's hand to signal him to step forward, while she turned and closed the door behind her as she left.

Inside the room, only Zhao Wujiang and Xuanyuan Jing remained.

Zhao Wujiang sat opposite her, placing a single hand on Xuanyuan Jing's pulse as his eyes narrowed slightly.

The emperor before him looked extremely young; his brows were handsome, and his cheeks and wrists were fair. More importantly, Zhao Wujiang could faintly catch a faint, lingering fragrance.

This fragrance was utterly enchanting—far surpassing any artificial, clinging perfumes, being exceptionally natural and crystalline.

"Hurry up. We have numerous memorials yet to read."

Xuanyuan Jing quietly watched Zhao Wujiang, the coldness in her eyes unabated.

Feeling the pulse, Zhao Wujiang's eyes suddenly rippled with waves.

*Boom—* *So that's how it is! No wonder you don't favor your consorts or share a bed with Empress Dugu. At first I thought you were just an emperor wary of the Empress growing too powerful in the palace—it turns out you, little emperor, are actually a woman!*

Chapter 2: The Empress Arrives

However, this female emperor was also utterly foolish, wasting such a gorgeous beauty as the Empress. Could two women really not "scuff tofu" together?

Zhao Wujiang's eyes trembled as he slowly let go of her wrist. Wearing a smiling expression, he tried his best to look calm. He finally understood why seven imperial physicians had died—when you discover a secret you shouldn't know, the Emperor is going to kill you, who else?

"If you can't tell what the illness is, you may withdraw."

Xuanyuan Jing stared warily at Zhao Wujiang, the chill in her gaze undiminished.

Zhao Wujiang gathered his words: "I can't tell, I can't tell at all. This servant will take his leave." "Wait."

Xuanyuan Jing's voice grew increasingly frigid. Her right hand slipped into her left sleeve, slowly drawing something out.

"Among those imperial physicians, some used to say the exact same thing as you."

*Which bastard stole my line?*

"Then they..." "They all died."

Zhao Wujiang's eyes darted around. What he was now catching wasn't just the crystalline, haunting fragrance—it was also an intent to kill.

The next instant, a cold flash cut through the room as the female emperor drew a short blade from her sleeve and stabbed toward Zhao Wujiang.

*Ah Zhen, you're playing for keeps...* Zhao Wujiang violently grabbed the female emperor's right wrist with both hands, forcing it downward as he whispered, "Spare my life, Your Majesty! I will definitely keep my mouth shut!"

"Whatever grievances you have, once you are dead, We shall grant peace and prosperity to your clan!"

Xuanyuan Jing snapped. At this moment, she no longer disguised her voice, which sounded both regal and milky-sweet.

"No way! I'm the only one left in the Old Zhao family, you vicious woman!"

Refusing to back down, Zhao Wujiang kicked straight toward the female emperor!

"You dare hit Us!" "You're already trying to kill me, why wouldn't I dare!" "Insolent!"

Zhao Wujiang used his knee to knock the short dagger out of Xuanyuan Jing's hand. Xuanyuan Jing clenched her left fist, intending to pound Zhao Wujiang's lower abdomen, but Zhao Wujiang simply turtled into a ball and shoved his upper body an inch forward to dodge the fist.

*Holy shit, monkey steals the peach... You fight dirty!*

The next moment, Zhao Wujiang let out a muffled grunt.

Frozen in place right along with him was the female emperor.

She blankly stared at her own left hand, then grabbed it again on sheer reflex.

Instantly, Xuanyuan Jing's brain short-circuited in confusion. With a cry of alarm, she let go, her face turning crimson with shame and fury. "Such a lewd scoundrel, daring to cause chaos in the inner palace! With a single word from Me, the imperial guards will rush in and shoot you full of arrows!"

Those seven dead imperial physicians had likely either been preemptively eliminated by the female emperor or threatened through family members of the nine familial clans. But he, Zhao Wujiang, was different—he was entirely alone, with no living relatives left in this world. Would he be afraid of her?

Zhao Wujiang threw caution to the wind: "Your Majesty ought to speak a bit more politely. You wouldn't want the secret of your female identity to get out to others, would you?"

"Filthy man!" "Vicious woman!"

Suddenly. *Thump, thump, thump.*

At last, the door was knocked upon. "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."

Xuanyuan Jing's expression turned panicked, her pearly whites grinding audibly. But Zhao Wujiang was hugging her on the floor, holding her so tightly that neither of them could move.

"Let go!" "Not letting go. Promise me first that you won't settle scores after the fact, otherwise I'll die before I let go—at worst, we die together!" "You dare threaten Me!"

Xuanyuan Jing thrashed about wildly, trying to break free of his binding, only to find she couldn't budge. *How does this dead man have so much strength?*

"Your Majesty?" Outside the door, Dugu Mingyue's voice had already rung out.

"We are still examining the patient, wait!"

A flush spread across Xuanyuan Jing's face as she ground her teeth and whispered helplessly, "We promise you! Let go already!"

"A sovereign never breaks her word. Liars turn into little dogs!"

Zhao Wujiang released his grip. Xuanyuan Jing let out a cold snort, her face still flushed as she scrambled to her feet. Ignoring the tattered state of her inner garments, she hurriedly threw on her dragon robe.

Once everything was in order, Xuanyuan Jing swept her three thousand strands of dark hair into a jade crown, returning to her imposing, handsome, and dignified appearance. Only then did she clear her throat twice, dropping the regal-milky tone and shifting back to a deep, masculine voice: "Come in."

Chapter 3: I'm Going to Attend to the Empress?

With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Empress Dugu Mingyue glided gracefully into the room.

Seeing Zhao Wujiang standing quietly beside the Emperor in a picture of sovereign-subject harmony, ripples immediately stirred within Dugu Mingyue's bright eyes.

Over the past few days, the imperial physicians she had sent to examine Xuanyuan Jing had died one after another. She hadn't expected this junior eunuch, Zhao Wujiang, to come through unscathed.

"Little Zhao, is His Majesty's imperial health sound?"

Dugu Mingyue first bowed toward Xuanyuan Jing with a charming smile before turning to ask the handsome eunuch beside him.

Zhao Wujiang's brain raced at lightning speed, his words already brewing in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, Xuanyuan Jing let out a light cough and cut in ahead of him:

"Little Zhao's medical skills are exquisite, far superior to those trashy physicians. Thanks to him, We are already much better. From now on, let him stay by Our side to tend to Our health until We are fully recovered."

Hearing Xuanyuan Jing's words, Dugu Mingyue smiled brightly, joy welling up in her heart.

*Since His Majesty's health has improved, doesn't that mean he can finally favor me?*

At the same time, her gaze drifted toward the silent, handsome junior eunuch. Her appreciation for Zhao Wujiang deepened—it seemed this little eunuch was actually useful; she shouldn't kill him casually in the future.

A smile hung on Zhao Wujiang's face, while inwardly he cursed Xuanyuan Jing: *The Empress was clearly asking me, yet you learned how to jump the gun and answer for me?*

Taking in all of the female emperor's prior actions, Zhao Wujiang understood the underlying meaning behind her words.

The female emperor was afraid he would leak the secret of her gender.

Yet Zhao Wujiang understood an even greater truth.

*Serving the ruler is like sleeping with a tiger!* Furthermore, this was a high-ranking, volatile tigress—he must never stay by her side for long!

Thus, feigning extreme excitement and joy, he cried out loudly: "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The female emperor Xuanyuan Jing and Empress Dugu Mingyue both paused. Why was this little eunuch so passionate?

"Just now, through this servant's diagnosis and treatment, coupled with Your Majesty's boundless heavenly blessing, you are now completely free of ailments and your imperial health is fully restored. This servant may now take his leave..." Zhao Wujiang cupped his fists.

*Want to leave?*

Xuanyuan Jing also grasped Zhao Wujiang's intentions. Her expression grew slightly cold at the moment, her brows freezing into frost.

"Our own body, We know best!"

Zhao Wujiang's heart skipped a beat. *Not letting me go?*

"His Majesty's body... this servant knows it rather better." "Insolent!"

Xuanyuan Jing waved her hand to cut off whatever Zhao Wujiang was about to say. "We still feel numerous discomforts. Since you were assigned to treat Us, you will treat Us. This is an imperial edict—are you going to disobey an imperial decree?"

Empress Dugu Mingyue's eyes flashed. This was her first time seeing such an assertive, fierce emperor.

*Little Zhao's medical skills are truly remarkable indeed! Even His Majesty favors him so much that he refuses to let him leave!* *Leaving him here is good too. Having him constantly by His Majesty's side will make it easier for him to gather intelligence for me at any time!* *Besides, he can keep an eye on His Majesty's imperial health for me so I can give birth to a dragon seed sooner. From then on, the Dugu Clan's position in Daxia will be as steady as Mount Tai!*

Dugu Mingyue's thoughts turned smoothly, her red lips parting: "His Majesty's health is of the utmost importance. Little Zhao, you shall stay by His Majesty's side."

*Damn it!* *You old hag is selling me out too?* Zhao Wujiang cursed inwardly.

Hearing Dugu Mingyue say the same, Zhao Wujiang knew he had no way of declining.

"Whatever His Majesty and the Empress say, this servant will do..."

The frozen atmosphere thawed. The emperor and the empress exchanged quite a few words, acting unusually harmonious—nothing at all like the undercurrents Zhao Wujiang had witnessed earlier today in the Council Hall.

Idling by the side, Zhao Wujiang casually felt Qinger's pulse while massaging her hand, then glanced a few times at the emperor... *What a master pretender.*

The dome of the sky darkened, night gently descending, and Dugu Mingyue rose to take her leave.

"Little Zhao, you shall escort Us—escort this palace out." "Understood."

The two of them walked out the door under the seemingly tranquil gaze of the female emperor Xuanyuan Jing.

After walking a few paces, Dugu Mingyue lowered her soft, milky voice, her red lips moist and parting slightly: "Why did His Majesty say he hasn't recovered yet? How is his body really doing?"

Zhao Wujiang smiled faintly, though the corner of his eye had already caught sight of the interior of the room.

Xuanyuan Jing looked leisurely as she sipped her tea, but her mind and gaze were actually fixed entirely on him.

Thus, instead of lowering his voice, he spoke with absolute confidence: "Reporting to Your Ladyship, His Majesty's imperial health has fully healed. Earlier, under this servant's acupuncture, he even displayed the majestic prowess of a soaring dragon."

*Displayed the prowess of a dragon...* Hearing this, a hazy, intoxicating blush bloomed across Dugu Mingyue's face, and joy overflowed her expression:

"Little Zhao, this palace is going to reward you!"

With that, her graceful steps carrying a hint of brisk eagerness, she turned and left.

Along the way, Dugu Mingyue's heart surged with turbulent waves!