Chapter 35: Pitiful
Page 1 of 3
Shen Quanyi tugged at the corners of his cold lips, drew his gaze back, and tightened his hold on Li Qian’s arm. Pouting, he said, “What sort of person could be so formidable?”
“Just the other day we lost Lady Zhang, and now a whole host of ‘Lady Zhangs’ have appeared in her place. They clearly don’t take your words seriously. The whole place is in an uproar.”
Li Qian chuckled softly and reached out to pinch Shen Quanyi’s nose. Then he turned his head, a trace of displeasure appearing in his eyes. He had been enjoying himself, yet these people had ruined his mood.
“It is this servant’s fault. I shall go below and receive my punishment in a moment.”
Zhang Desheng bent at the waist as he came forward, as was his habit whenever he came to confess his guilt. Behind him followed a eunuch somewhat younger than himself, whose family name was Huang. He had recently been transferred in to manage the estate.
“What are you waiting for? Go and see which heartless creature dared spoil His Lordship’s pleasure.”
Zhang Desheng cast a meaningful glance at the eunuch behind him. The latter understood at once and immediately led several men over.
The group was still making a great commotion, entirely unaware that anyone was approaching. The old woman was still feeling triumphant. Lowering her head, she gave a guttural cry and spat a mouthful of phlegm straight at Hu Shang.
Hu Shang seized the pendant and dodged aside.
Having missed, the old woman grew even more furious. With a wave of her hand, the people around her stepped forward and hoisted Hu Shang, who had been kneeling on the ground, to his feet. The old woman ambled over and reached up to seize him by the chin.
She lifted that face into view. His delicate, fair features were no less beautiful than a woman’s. The hand that held him had been stained red, like a vivid smear of rouge. Merely looking at him made a restless light flicker in the old woman’s eyes.
“Just look at this little temptress. He’s a eunuch, yet he’s prettier than any courtesan in the pleasure houses.”
With that, the old woman burst into laughter. Her rough palm was about to stroke Hu Shang’s face, but it veered away at the last moment and moved toward his collar instead.
“You’ve served Lady Zhang for so many years. I wonder whether you learned how to wait upon someone properly. She’s dead now, so why not follow me? Serving one person is no different from serving another, and I’ll certainly treat you well.”
Such lewd and filthy words failed to stir even the slightest emotion on Hu Shang’s face. His clear, luminous eyes stared straight at the old woman, making her itch with anticipation. Her hand had already seized his collar.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
“Be a good boy, and I’ll be very kind to you. It is strange, though—how did a rootless man like you serve Lady Zhang? Still, however you served her, serve me the same way. I’ve heard you were quite skilled, and Lady Zhang used to enjoy herself immensely.”
As she spoke, she pulled hard. The crisp sound of tearing fabric rang out, and his collar split open, exposing Hu Shang’s pale chest. But before she could admire it, cries of alarm rose from those around them.
The sight of the dense scars, old and new, covering Hu Shang’s body left their legs weak.
“Lady Zhang was a fool. She didn’t know how to cherish such a beauty. Just looking at you makes my heart ache. If you had followed me back then, you would never have had to suffer like this.”
The old woman clicked her tongue twice, plainly disapproving of Lady Zhang’s wastefulness.
At those words, Hu Shang, who had remained silent all this while, suddenly gave a soft laugh. That smile was like the warm sunshine of April appearing unexpectedly in the depths of winter—brilliant beyond measure.
The old woman stared, utterly transfixed. Before she could speak again, Hu Shang continued, “It is a pity that this servant has no such fortune. My life is too short.”
The mention of a short life brought the old woman back to herself. She gave a mocking chuckle. “How could your life be short? If it is, then I’ll simply go to the King of Hell and cross all the years allotted to me in the ledger of life over to you.”
How generous of her. A faint shadow passed through Hu Shang’s eyes, but his face remained smiling, or perhaps not. He asked, “Do you truly mean that, Mammy?”
The old woman nodded, tugging at the corners of her mouth as she prepared to laugh. But before the smile could settle on her face, someone suddenly forced her forward from behind and bound both her hands behind her back.
“Which reckless wretch dares lay hands on—”
Before she could finish, the old woman looked up and saw Zhang Desheng and the estate’s chief steward, Eunuch Huang, standing before her. She hastily reined in her arrogance, and her heart sank. Putting on an obsequious smile, she said, “What brings you gentlemen here? This servant has done nothing. Why am I being treated this way?”
One glance at Hu Shang’s pitiful appearance and disheveled collar was enough to tell them what had happened. In truth, it was not unheard of for older women and eunuchs to rely on each other for warmth. But forcing oneself upon another was vile.
Zhang Desheng cast a disgusted glance at the old woman kneeling on the ground, then turned and signaled to Eunuch Huang.
Eunuch Huang cursed inwardly. She truly must have been blind to cause such trouble. If only she had been more careful in her daily conduct and had not allowed herself to be caught before His Lordship, even he could not save her now.
His voice turned cold. “Madam Qin, how could you have become so foolish? Was Lady Zhang’s punishment not warning enough? And now you have overstepped again. Do you take His Lordship’s words for nothing?”
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Madam Qin’s throat tightened. She had never possessed Lady Zhang’s ruthlessness and had always been suppressed by her. Now that Lady Zhang was gone, Eunuch Huang had promoted her, and lately everyone had been fawning over her. For a time, she had become carried away by her own success.
She had long coveted Hu Shang, but Lady Zhang had kept a close eye on him, and Qin had never dared offend her. She had therefore suppressed her desires. Now that no one remained to restrain her, she could not resist laying hands on him.
“That is enough. Why should such filthy nonsense disturb His Lordship? Drag her away and deal with her at once.” Zhang Desheng pressed his lips together, clearly irritated, and waved for Eunuch Huang to handle the matter quickly.
Eunuch Huang ignored Madam Qin’s pleading gaze and merely lifted his chin toward the men behind him.
“You ungrateful wretch. A few days ago, you were spared your life, and that has gone to your head. Look at you now—taking it upon yourself to punish those beneath you. Who do you think you are?”
Madam Qin’s eyes widened in terror. She tried to cry out, but the men holding her swiftly stuffed a filthy rag into her mouth.
Eunuch Huang shouted, “Drag her out and give her fifty strokes!”
Madam Qin was dragged away, leaving furrows carved by her feet in the thick snow. The few servants who had followed her moments before also fell trembling to their knees, awaiting their punishment.
Zhang Desheng looked at the useless lot, rubbed his hands together, and raised his chin.
“Off with you. Just looking at you is enough to give me a headache. We’ll show mercy and play the good men this time. Send them all to hard labor.”
The frightened servants forgot even to rise. They remained kneeling, their lips pale with terror, and were dragged away in a daze.
“Look at this little estate. Everyone is fighting over one thing or another. But if you cannot keep them under control, there will always be capable people below you waiting to climb higher.”
Zhang Desheng adjusted the hat on his head and clasped both hands behind his back, his dark eyes fixed on the departing figures in the distance.
His voice had been mild when he spoke, yet an icy chill climbed up Eunuch Huang’s spine. He hurriedly bent down and knelt.
“To receive your guidance is this servant’s great fortune.”