Chapter 30:
Twin Misfortunes
BY THE TIME Shen Jue had escorted Wei De to the Liuli Gate, the sky was completely dark, and stars hung high above. Xiao Yan knelt by the carriage; stepping on his knee, Wei De climbed inside.
Even the Eastern Depot’s second-in-command was nothing more than a stepping stone for Wei De.
A procession of agents followed Wei De’s carriage as it departed. Shen Jue’s eyes darkened as he adjusted his robes and hat, then made his way along the path back to the inner palace. Since he’d been busy making a report in the duty room, he hadn’t yet eaten. He hadn’t seen Xiahou Lian since he left the Fourth Qianxi Courtyard many days ago. Tomorrow was the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the Ghost Festival, and there was a mountain of tasks to handle in the palace.
After some thought, Shen Jue packed two meals. Now that his status had changed, the kitchen reserved meals for him, and he didn’t have to fight with other eunuchs for food. He grabbed a helping of Xiahou Lian’s favorite crystal shrimp dumplings and headed to the Fourth Qianxi Courtyard.
The cold palace remained as desolate as ever. The lanterns hadn’t been replaced in a long time; their aged parchment was coated in a thick layer of dust, bestowing their light with a hazy, dreamlike glow. The plants along the path had grown wild with neglect, their tendrils sprawling across the walkway to tug pitifully at the robes of passersby.
The eunuchs who had once worked alongside Shen Jue in the Fourth Qianxi Courtyard greeted him joyfully and led him in.
“Shen-gonggong, you’re a truly nostalgic person! Even after moving to the Document Office, you still remember our Sixi?! He’s unwell today and went to bed early. Shall I wake him for you?”
Shen Jue tilted his head slightly and frowned. “He went to bed without dinner?”
“That’s right,” the eunuch said. “Actually, he hasn’t felt well for a few days now, but he didn’t pay it any mind. You know how it is—people like us can’t summon the imperial physicians. We just have to tough it out. But with you here to check on him, Sixi’s sure to recover!”
Shen Jue grunted in acknowledgment and quickened his pace. Xiahou Lian was as strong as an ox, daring to wash with well water in even the coldest weather. How could he have fallen ill? Shen Jue furrowed his brow as he realized that he had no medicinal herbs, and he made a mental note to fetch honeysuckle from the imperial physicians’ office the next day.
He and the other eunuch walked single file down the dim corridor. Faint light reflected off the intricate patterns on Shen Jue’s robe, the fabric swaying like floating clouds as he moved. The young eunuch watched with envy.
“Shen-gonggong, your rise to the Document Office has been meteoric,” he remarked. “Everyone knows that the inner palace’s Document Office is like the outer court’s Hanlin Academy. Only those who pass the imperial exams may enter the Grand Secretariat, and only those who enter the Document Office can join the Directorate of Ceremonial. As Wei-gonggong’s godson, it’s only a matter of time before you become the next head of the Directorate—”
“Silence!” Shen Jue shot him a cold glare, his usually gentle face now sharp as winter frost. “If you can’t keep your mouth shut, don’t blame me when you get into trouble with someone else.”
“Yes, yes—you’re right, Shen-gonggong!” The young eunuch trembled and quickly lowered his head.
When they reached Xiahou Lian’s room, Shen Jue gave the eunuch a slight nod. Then he turned and entered, closing the door tightly behind him and leaving the eunuch outside. Recalling Shen Jue’s earlier look, the eunuch touched his nose and walked off, still fearful.
Xiahou Lian hadn’t lit any lamps, and the room was pitch-black. When Shen Jue entered, Xiahou Lian didn’t make a sound. Shen Jue stood awkwardly by the door, unsure how to start the conversation.
Their last meeting had ended on bad terms.
Xiahou Lian had vehemently opposed Shen Jue acknowledging Wei De as his godfather, even threatening to wield Jingtie in a fight against the other boy. He’d always been hotheaded and stubborn, acting recklessly when angered. He’d never considered that Shen Jue was no longer Xie Jinglan—Xie Jinglan could study and become an official, remaining upright, but Shen Jue couldn’t.
But as long as Xiahou Lian stayed, Shen Jue would tolerate his tantrums.
Shen Jue sighed deeply and tapped the doorframe. “Xiahou Lian, I brought crystal shrimp dumplings. Do you want some?”
Xiahou Lian didn’t respond.
The room was silent. Shen Jue peered through the darkness at the closed bed-curtains; behind them lay Xiahou Lian’s figure like a heavy cloud.
Shen Jue lowered his thick lashes. Placing the meal box on the table, he lit a short candle. “Why can’t you understand, Xiahou Lian? In the palace, eunuchs are slaves to their masters, bound by layers of dependence. Beyond relying on the emperor and his consorts, the only option is attaching oneself to a powerful eunuch. It’s the most convenient shortcut. Acknowledging that villain as a godfather is just a temporary humiliation. Once I’m powerful, won’t today’s shame be avenged?”
The curtains remained still. Growing increasingly agitated, Shen Jue raised his voice. “Xiahou Lian, are you even listening?”
He strode forward and yanked open the curtains, only to find Xiahou Lian lying there with his eyes closed, drenched in sweat, his hair sticking to his face as if he’d just been fished out of water. Shen Jue panicked and shook Xiahou Lian. “What’s wrong?” he shouted. “How did you get so sick?”
Xiahou Lian finally stirred, barely able to open his eyes. Weakly, he asked, “How come you’re here?” His head spun, and he was still fixated on Shen Jue acknowledging Wei De as his godfather. “Don’t call that eunuch ‘Father,’ Shaoye...” he murmured.
Shen Jue put his hand to Xiahou Lian’s forehead; it was burning. He frowned. “You have a fever. Wait here—I’ll get you medicine.”
As he turned to leave, Xiahou Lian grabbed his wrist with surprising strength and pulled him back, gritting his teeth. “Don’t go!”
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t go anywhere! Listen to me!” Xiahou Lian panted. “Studying is still the right path, Shaoye!”
Shen Jue laughed bitterly. “I’m a eunuch now. How could I take the imperial exams? Have you ever seen a eunuch scholar?”
“Who’s going to pull down your pants to check?!” Now slightly more alert, Xiahou Lian struggled to sit up and speak to Shen Jue. “If you’re worried about money, don’t be. I’ve saved up silver for the past two years. It’ll be more than enough to support your studies.”
Xiahou Lian began to ramble.
“I’ve saved a hundred and twenty taels of silver. Renting a small house in the capital will cost twenty taels. Food and other expenses will be thirty-six taels a year at most. You can’t cook or do laundry, so hiring a maid would cost another twenty taels. Hmm… It seems like I may not have enough...”
Shen Jue didn’t interrupt.