Situ Zixian looked at Situ Chuanqiong's fierce expression, surprised that he had already harbored the thought of killing the Crown Prince at that time. His Imperial Brother was truly a man of grand ambition even from childhood!
However, he now felt differently about Chu Yulan. For years, he had believed that his Imperial Brother had saved him when he fell into the water and had protected him as he grew up. As he matured, seeing his Imperial Brother's lonely and difficult struggle in the bloody river of power.
His Imperial Brother often faced various dangers, and Situ Zixian genuinely wanted to do something for him. Thus, when his Imperial Brother mentioned the secret guard unit his mother had established and asked for his help in managing it, he agreed without hesitation.
These secret guards were originally trained by their mother's family, who found many orphans and subjected them to extremely harsh and bloody training in secret. They were all cold-blooded individuals capable of killing without batting an eye, cruel to themselves and even more so to others.
To become the leader of these secret guards and win the respect of such unruly individuals required overcoming numerous challenges. At that young age, Situ Zixian also underwent their training.
He endured countless hardships and suffered innumerable injuries, swallowing his tears of blood. Yet, Situ Zixian never once regretted his decision, as he wanted to support his Imperial Brother and be his strongest backing.
Fate, however, plays cruel tricks. Situ Zixian never imagined that to this day, he would learn that it was the now-outdated Empress, Chu Yulan, who had actually saved him back then.
If that were the case, hadn't he repaid kindness with enmity? The person who framed the Chu family was indeed his subordinate. Although he was acting under his Imperial Brother's orders at the time, he had played a very ignoble role in the annihilation of the Chu family.
As Situ Zixian thought about it, he began to feel an uneasy guilt. However, fortunately, given the current situation, Chu Yulan, his Imperial Sister-in-law, should still be unaware.
He would therefore keep a closer eye on her from now on and help her whenever he could, considering it a repayment for saving his life! Situ Zixian mused.
...
After their conversation concluded, the two brothers emerged from the study's secret chamber and returned to the table for tea.
"Your Majesty, Consort Leng Xian has prepared lunch and asks that you not forget to take care of your stomach, no matter how busy you are," Wang You's voice came from outside the door, relaying Leng Yuanxiang's message to the Emperor.
Situ Chuanqiong immediately smiled and stood up. "Zixian, I shall go for lunch then. It is getting late, so I will not ask you to stay for a meal today." He still addressed his younger brother as "I."
"Imperial Brother truly treats Consort Leng Xian differently; you go the moment she calls?" Situ Zixian joked.
"Haha, Zixian, you do not understand. When you find a woman who is close to your heart, you will understand my feelings now," Situ Chuanqiong said, patting his brother's shoulder and opening the door with a smile.
Situ Zixian shook his head helplessly. "Then I suppose I will never have that opportunity. I would not be loyal to just one woman; that would be a terrible waste!" He then followed them out.
Originally, Situ Zixian had intended to leave the palace directly. However, as he walked, his steps unconsciously led him towards the Cold Palace where Chu Yulan resided. Ever since he learned that she was his savior, he found himself thinking of her involuntarily.
However, this time the gate of the Cold Palace was tightly shut. Unlike in the morning, when an endless vitality seemed to emanate from within, it now appeared truly cold and desolate. He lingered at the entrance for a while, and seeing no activity, he left the palace.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wenqiang in the Cold Palace had quickly finished her lunch and was waiting in her room for someone's arrival.
"Miss, you asked me to give the note to Eunuch Wang, but he didn't even open it. Is he not coming?" Chu Li asked with a hint of anxiety.
Xiao Wenqiang, however, remained calm. "He will come! He will definitely come!"
"But Eunuch Wang is no longer the same as he was before. Our Chu family experienced such a great upheaval, and he didn't even speak a word for us?" Chu Li grumbled.
"Xiao Li, everyone has different positions at different stages. Regarding our Chu family's affair, it was clear that His Majesty was intentionally causing trouble. Anyone who spoke for us would have met with misfortune. Wang You has been in the palace for so many years; he understands the prevailing wind and the expressions on people's faces!"
In fact, Wang You was different from the usual eunuchs who were sent into the palace to serve due to poverty. He was a common soldier in the Chu family's army. Since he was only a few years older than the original Chu Yulan, General Chu Qian arranged for him to look after his beloved daughter and accompany her in practicing martial arts.
Later, when the Crown Prince and other princes arrived, Wang You was no longer exclusively attending to Chu Yulan and began to focus more on taking care of the newly arrived princes.
Most of the princes, including the Crown Prince, merely practiced some superficial moves before returning to the palace to report to the late Emperor. Only the Third Prince, Situ Chuanqiong, was exceptionally diligent, never slacking or neglecting his training, and often practiced on his own.
Therefore, Wang You was mostly an observer of the courtship and experiences between Chu Yulan and Situ Chuanqiong.
A few years later, when a small bordering country invaded and war broke out, Situ Chuanqiong and Chu Yulan also joined the battlefield.
However, it was their first time on the battlefield, and Situ Chuanqiong was not as formidable as he would become in later years. He was almost gravely injured by a sudden arrow from the enemy. At the critical moment, Wang You, who was watching from the side, lunged forward and pushed him away from the danger.
Wang You should have only been shot in the chest, and with his armor, and the arrow not being aimed at him originally, he shouldn't have been too badly wounded.
Unexpectedly, as he landed, he was right next to Situ Chuanqiong's warhorse. The horse, startled, bolted forward with a great stride. And unfortunately, that stride landed directly on a vital part of Wang You's lower body.
With a surge of intense pain and Wang You's agonizing scream, he instantly lost consciousness.
When Wang You awoke, he was in Situ Chuanqiong's tent in the military camp. The military doctor informed him that his male organ had been crushed by the horse's hooves and would never recover.
Wang You was an orphan, and he was the only one left in his family. Thus, he found it difficult to accept this reality and fainted again.
When Wang You awoke for the second time, he was much calmer. Situ Chuanqiong was also by his bedside, saying, "Wang You, you have suffered for me. I will never forget your life-saving grace. From now on, you will enter the palace with me and become my personal head eunuch. Will you agree?"
And so, Wang You completely left the military camp, escaped the jurisdiction of General Chu Qian, and became Situ Chuanqiong's personal eunuch, always by his side, helping him manage all matters, big and small.
Later, when Situ Chuanqiong returned to the palace and became Emperor, Wang You also became the Chief Eunuch, eventually becoming a trusted confidant of the Emperor, known to all.