1 – The Dead Eunuch Can’t Possibly Have Mind Reading Skills (Revised)
“Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!”
In the Golden Luan Hall, the assembled ministers kowtowed, shouting “long live” three times.
On the Dragon Throne, the young emperor covered his mouth with a sleeve and let out a long yawn.
Having been here for a month, Jiang Lige had lost all interest in such scenes.
A month ago, she opened her eyes to find herself transmigrated, having become a female emperor disguised as a man.
The original host was named Jiang Lige, with Consort Zhao as her birth mother, who was not favored by the late emperor during his lifetime.
Eighteen years ago, when the Zhao family was implicated in a crime and the entire household was imprisoned, Consort Zhao forced an early delivery, hoping to turn the tide by giving birth to a dragon son.
Unexpectedly, she gave birth to a girl.
Consort Zhao, desperate to save the situation, stubbornly packaged Jiang Lige, who lacked the “right equipment,” as one who had it.
Eighteen years passed without exposure; instead, she defeated a host of princes to become emperor—truly a miracle.
The original host effortlessly gained an emperorship, perhaps becoming too complacent. On the day of the coronation ceremony, the original host got drunk and fell to the bottom of Longevity Lake. By the time she was pulled out, Jiang Lige had transmigrated into her.
“May Your Majesty issue a wise judgment!”
The loud voice of the Minister of Revenue startled Jiang Lige awake from her drowsiness.
“What wise judgment?” she asked casually.
“Your Majesty, following the floods in three southeastern cities last month, we have now received urgent reports from the southwest. The southwest has seen no rain for three months, and this year’s harvest may yield nothing. The southwestern prefect requests the court to reduce taxes for one year. May Your Majesty issue a wise judgment,” reported Zhang Jin, the Minister of Revenue.
“Since it is a natural and man-made disaster, and the people are suffering, the court should alleviate their hardships. Taxes should be reduced—”
“Ahem…”
Just as Jiang Lige was about to agree to reduce taxes, a light cough suddenly came from behind her.
Jiang Lige pursed her lips, glancing sideways at the handsome man in red standing beside her.
The man was extraordinarily beautiful, more so than anyone Jiang Lige had seen in her short 25-year previous life, including women.
Unfortunately, this man was the real-life version of Wei Zhongxian—a grand eunuch, the very one who had placed the original host on the throne.
Three months ago, Emperor Jiangwu suddenly died from excessive consumption of elixirs.
In his early years, Emperor Jiangwu had been relatively wise, but upon reaching middle age, he began pursuing immortality, treating elixirs like meals and growing increasingly muddled.
He neglected state affairs day after day, instead favoring the eunuch Shang Guanqi, bestowing upon him the title of Nine Thousand Years and entrusting all governmental matters to him.
After the late emperor’s passing, the Crown Prince unexpectedly fell from his horse and remained unconscious.
The previously obscure original host was chosen by Shang Guanqi and placed on the throne.
Shang Guanqi controlled the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guard, with eyes and ears spread throughout the empire. Civil and military officials dared not voice their anger.
Now, the court was divided into two factions: one was the Thousand-Year Faction, which followed Shang Guanqi’s lead, and the other was the Su Faction, which supported Empress Dowager Su and the unconscious Crown Prince.
Shang Guanqi held control over the state’s voice, but Empress Dowager Su had the backing of the 200,000 troops controlled by the Su family. The two factions were evenly matched in the court.
The political affairs in the court continued. Jiang Lige forced her eyelids open, struggling to keep listening.
The Minister of Rites, Zhang Jin, bowed and said, “This old minister, on behalf of the common people of the southwest, earnestly requests Your Majesty to investigate clearly. Since the beginning of spring, disasters have been occurring continuously across the nation, and there are many rumors among the people saying this is a warning from heaven.”
“Oh? What warning?”
Shang Guanqi spoke up, his red official robe moving away from the Dragon Throne as he descended the steps one by one.
Zhang Jin glanced at the slowly approaching Shang Guanqi, his eyes darting away before quickly lowering.He suddenly looked up and spoke in one breath, “The people say that a demon has brought chaos to the court, the dragon’s majesty is no more, and thus heaven has sent a warning, urging Your Majesty to awaken…”
“Ah—”
Zhang Jin’s words were cut off by a sharp sword as Shang Guanqi pierced his body with a single thrust.
The officials were stunned, all stepping back in unison.
Duke Su stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger. “Shang Guanqi, how dare you kill a high-ranking court official in the imperial court! This is treason!”
A cold glint flashed as Shang Guanqi withdrew his sword and casually swung it, slicing off half of Duke Su’s finger.
“Ah! Shang Guanqi!!”
Duke Su clutched his injured, bleeding finger, crying out in pain.
Shang Guanqi paid no heed, casually tossing the still-dripping sword aside.
“I dislike it most when someone points a finger at me.”
He turned to glance at the Minister of Rites lying in a pool of blood. “Minister of Rites Zhang Jin, for uttering wild slanders and defaming this lord, he has been executed on the spot. In consideration of his age, he shall be granted a whole corpse.”
“Court dismissed!”
With these words from Shang Guanqi, the morning court session ended. Duke Su angrily flung his sleeve and left.
The officials followed suit and withdrew. Jiang Lige sat on the Dragon Throne, her fingers gripping the armrests tightly. She feared that if she loosened her grip even slightly, her body would go limp and she would roll right off the throne.
“Tsk,” a mocking voice sounded above her.
Jiang Lige looked up to see Shang Guanqi’s peerlessly handsome face, etched with disdain.
She finally understood what it meant to “kill without batting an eye.”
“Your Majesty, if someone falsely accuses this lord of bringing chaos to the court again, what will Your Majesty do?”
Jiang Lige steadied her mind. “Since it is a false accusation, I will sternly rebuke the slanderer.”
For good measure, Jiang Lige added, “Nine Thousand Years is the pillar of the court and the cornerstone of the nation. How could he possibly be a demon causing chaos in the court?”
Flattery never fails. Shang Guanqi curled his lips into a smile and nodded in satisfaction.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Lige said, “Nine Thousand Years, your hand is dirty. Let me wipe it for you…”
Her fingers moved subtly, the poison on her hand already prepared. As soon as Shang Guanqi touched it, he would immediately meet his end.
She didn’t want to be a puppet; she wanted freedom.
But Shang Guanqi seemed to read her mind. Seeing her raise her hand, he immediately took two steps back.
“Your Majesty must be hungry. Return to the palace for a meal. Today, I had the imperial kitchen prepare your favorite crispy pork.” He looked at her with a smile.
Yet Jiang Lige sensed a warning in his seemingly caring words.
Does this damned eunuch have mind-reading abilities? How does he manage to evade it every time?
Jiang Lige wondered inwardly but quickly stood up, humbly saying, “Yes! Thank you, Lord of a Thousand Years!”
Then, accompanied by the eunuch Li Fu, she left the Golden Luan Hall.
Watching the young emperor’s trembling, unsteady figure retreat, a flicker of satisfaction passed through Shang Guanqi’s heart.
Trying to poison him? He wouldn’t let her have her way.
In this second life, everything was under his control—and Jiang Lige was no exception.
In his previous life, he had also schemed and struggled through countless hardships to reach the pinnacle of power, placing the obscure Jiang Lige on the throne from the shadows.
How laughable that he, once so shrewd, had gradually developed genuine feelings after discovering the young emperor was a woman.
Yet Jiang Lige had repeatedly exploited his emotions, using him to balance the Su Faction and consolidate her own imperial authority.
In his previous life, no sooner had he eradicated the Su Faction and neutralized the threat of two hundred thousand troops to her rule than she lured him into the Moon Departure Palace, where three thousand Imperial Guards surrounded and slaughtered him.
He wouldn’t make the same foolish mistake twice!
“Lord of a Thousand Years, Lord of a Thousand Years…”The eunuch Li Fu rushed in in a panic, “Lord of a Thousand Years, the Emperor has been taken away by the Empress Dowager’s people!”
Before Li Fu could finish his words, a blurry shadow flashed past him…