Chapter 597: Palace Secrets

Although Zu An found it strange, he couldn't refuse an invitation from the Empress.

As he followed the two young eunuchs toward Kunning Palace, where the Empress resided, he decided to gauge their disposition. "Greetings, eunuchs. May I ask your names?"

The young eunuchs' faces immediately brightened. "Greetings, Lord Zu."

Due to their physical incapacitation, eunuchs were subconsciously regarded as lowly individuals. Many high-ranking officials in the palace would, at most, show some deference to the influential head eunuchs, but they looked down upon junior eunuchs like them, as if even speaking to them was a bad omen. The disdain in their eyes was palpable from a distance. Encountering someone with such a pleasant attitude was rare, and they naturally appreciated it.

"My name is Xiao Zhuozi," said the slightly plump eunuch.

"I'm Xiao Guizi," replied the other lean eunuch.

Xiao Guizi?

Zu An was instantly astonished. He carefully observed Xiao Guizi's aura, confirming that he was indeed a genuine eunuch, not a fake like Wei Xiaobao.

Nevertheless, hearing a familiar name made him quite happy. "Excellent names, truly excellent! You two remind me of home, making me feel quite familiar. Please accept this small token; it's nothing grand, but I hope you won't decline."

As he spoke, he slipped a luminous pearl into each of their hands. These were abundant in the Red Dragon's cave outside Brightmoon City, and he casually retrieved two to give away.

As a transmigrator, he naturally understood how formidable eunuchs could be. It was certainly wise to maintain good relations with them.

The two young eunuchs' eyes widened as they touched the large pearls in their hands. They quickly glanced around, and seeing no one was watching, discreetly tucked them into their sleeves. "Lord Zu is truly generous," they exclaimed.

"Your future prospects are clearly limitless."

"You flatter me, eunuchs, haha!" Zu An chuckled. The group then continued their journey, chatting amicably.

Seeing the opportune moment, he seized it and asked, "May I ask why Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see me?"

"As servants, how could we presume to question our master's intentions?" The two eunuchs, clearly feeling a bit awkward giving such a boilerplate answer after accepting gifts, added, "However, Her Majesty the Empress is always kind to people, so Lord Zu need not worry too much."

"Indeed, Her Majesty seemed to be in good spirits today."

"That's good, that's good," Zu An said, letting out a sigh of relief.

Xiao Guizi then lowered his voice. "Her Majesty the Empress is fine, but whatever you do, don't offend Eunuch Lü. He's very fierce."

"Eunuch Lü?" Zu An was momentarily stunned. It was only after their explanation that he understood the situation.

It seemed that Eunuch Lü was from the Empress's hometown and had entered the palace around the same time. The Empress trusted him implicitly, and he himself was quite capable, quickly rising to become the Grand Manager of Kunning Palace, overseeing all affairs within the Empress's domain.

"Eunuch Lü's cultivation is very high. He's widely regarded as one of the top two eunuchs in the palace in terms of cultivation, second only to Eunuch Wei."

"No, that's not right. He should be third. There used to be a eunuch surnamed Mi."

"That fellow disappeared decades ago. He doesn't count anymore."

Listening to their back-and-forth, Zu An's expression subtly shifted. The individuals they mentioned were likely Wei Dan and Old Man Mi. For Eunuch Lü to be on their level, his cultivation must be extraordinarily high.

Furthermore, the fact that Eunuch Lü was from the Empress's hometown and entered the palace at roughly the same time sparked a thought: could they have been a couple torn apart when the woman was conscripted to be a consort, and the man, unable to let go, chose to enter the palace as a eunuch to be near her?

Heavens, what profound devotion!

The more he thought about it, the more plausible this theory seemed. He knew from Chu Chuyan that the current Empress was not the Crown Prince's birth mother, but rather his birth mother's younger sister. When the former Empress fell ill and died, she recommended her sister to enter the palace and take her place, all for the glory of their family.

Thus, it was highly possible she had a beloved before entering the palace but was forced by her family to accept this fate...

Such palace secrets would be unknown to both Chu Chuyan and Sang Hong. Therefore, gaining the favor of two close eunuchs by the Empress's side with just two pearls seemed like a worthwhile investment.

He'd find an opportunity to connect with Xiao Xuzi and Xiao Hezi in the Eastern Palace...

Oh well, with my wealth, I can pretty much do as I please.

The group soon arrived outside the gates of Kunning Palace. The two young eunuchs respectfully announced, "Your Majesty, Lord Zu has been brought here."

"Come in," a soft voice responded. There was a faint trace of authority in her tone, likely a natural consequence of having served as the mother of the realm for so long, yet overall, her voice sounded quite gentle.

Zu An couldn't help but think of the Crown Princess. Her voice was actually pleasant, but unfortunately, she always sounded so fierce when she spoke. He thought, *Look at the true Empress's demeanor; she could learn a thing or two.*

The two young eunuchs pushed open the doors and gestured for Zu An to enter.

Zu An wasn't particularly afraid. Given that he was on a secret mission for the Emperor, it was highly unlikely the Empress would plot against him in her own chambers.

Upon entering, he noticed a scent of sandalwood mixed with rouge, which instinctively calmed him.

He had just dealt with Shi Kun, and a lingering aura of aggression still clung to him, but upon entering the room, that hostile energy quickly dissipated.

He looked further inside. A beaded curtain partitioned the room, behind which a woman in a phoenix robe sat on a high chair. The gently burning sandalwood made her appearance even more ethereal and indistinct.

However, with Zu An's current cultivation, he could just about make out an oval-faced, middle-aged beauty. Her skin glowed, and she possessed an elegant and dignified bearing. Although described as middle-aged, women in this cultivation world maintained their appearances very well; reaching a certain cultivation level allowed one to retain their youthful looks.

In cultivation worlds, you might encounter a young girl who appears to be eighteen, but is actually eighty-eight, or even eight thousand eight hundred.

This world wasn't quite as exaggerated; time still left some traces on women, but compared to the world before his transmigration, the effects were negligible.

Although her phoenix robe was spacious, it couldn't conceal her full and graceful figure. Most strikingly, the exaggerated curve of a mature woman's hips connected to her waist, appearing round and plump, like a full moon.

*What a big backside, Harden would surely appreciate that,* he thought.

While marveling, Zu An quickly bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

One advantage of this world was that officials only needed to bow to their superiors, not kneel or kowtow. Even forms of address were less strict than in the ancient dynasties of his previous life.

After all, everyone was a cultivator, proud and arrogant. Kneeling would be too humiliating and could easily harm their dao heart. Considering everything, the Emperor did not strictly enforce bowing or kowtowing rules.

"You have quite some nerve, staring at me for so long just now," the Empress's voice drifted out, though her words were laced with a chill.

Everyone else who came to Kunning Palace was respectful, not daring to meet her gaze. Yet this fellow brazenly stared at her, even sweeping his eyes up and down. *What does he take me for? A courtesan from a pleasure house?*

Rage points from Liu Ning +344!

As she flared in anger, a middle-aged eunuch suddenly emerged from the shadows, glaring coldly at Zu An, emanating a powerful oppressive aura.

This must be the Eunuch Lü the two young eunuchs had mentioned. He had been standing in the shadows, and Zu An hadn't even noticed him, indicating he was at least a ninth-grade cultivator.

Zu An broke out in a cold sweat. He hadn't actually stared for long, but he hadn't expected the woman to be so sensitive. He quickly said, "Before I came, I imagined Your Majesty would be a stern, imposing figure. I never expected to find you so exquisitely beautiful and gentle upon meeting you. That's why I couldn't help but glance a few more times. I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty."

"Beautiful and gentle?" The Empress behind the beaded curtain was startled, momentarily dazed. It had been a long time since anyone had praised her beauty. The Emperor was preoccupied with state affairs and rarely visited Kunning Palace throughout the year, and others certainly wouldn't dare speak such words to her. *For whom should she even be beautiful?*

*For Eunuch Lü? Hmph!*

However, not wanting to reveal her inner vulnerability, she pursed her lips and smiled. "You truly are a glib talker. I can vaguely understand how you managed to win over the Eldest Miss of the Chu family."

Despite calling him glib, her face was full of smiles. She wasn't an inherently fierce person, so her anger quickly subsided.