"Yes, Your Majesty, there is a secluded path leading to the outside of Guangyang Palace's dungeon. This old servant will lead you there," Jiang Cheng immediately responded without hesitation. He ordered several capable senior eunuchs to accompany him.
The other junior eunuchs secured the palace chambers, forbidding any slightest bit of news from escaping. Everyone complied and closed the doors of the chambers.
As the Grand Eunuch of the harem, Jiang Cheng had lived in the imperial palace for many years, growing alongside this new dynasty. Therefore, he was intimately familiar with this vast harem; wherever he wished to go, he could find a way.
Jiang Cheng’s residence had a back path. This secluded path had clearly not been used for a long time, covered in moss, with broken stones lining its sides, extremely dim. As Jiang Cheng walked beside Liu Liu, he couldn't help but cautiously remind her, "Your Majesty, please be careful."
"Just lead the way," Liu Liu instructed softly.
Although she appeared to be a delicate woman to outsiders, she possessed unparalleled martial arts. How could she possibly slip on this green moss?
It was Cui'er who kept slipping, requiring Liu Liu's support. To prevent Jiang Cheng from seeing through her facade, she had him lead the way.
Eunuchs held lanterns fore and aft, resembling ghostly flames in the dark night. The group proceeded silently towards the dungeon of Guangyang Palace.
The dungeon was soon reached. A dim, yellow palace lantern hung before the gate, flickering intermittently. In the silent dark night, faint groans could be heard from the dungeon, accompanied by the laughter of eunuchs.
These eunuchs, having undergone castration and become eunuchs, harbored extremely dark sides. Consequently, most of them were violent and showed no mercy when torturing others.
Upon hearing the sounds, Liu Liu recognized them as Cai Xia's voice from Huaqing Palace. Anger surged within her, and with a shift of her body, she pulled open the prison door and walked in.
Inside the long barred gate, there wasn't even a eunuch on guard. It seemed these fellows assumed it was late at night and no one would come, thus emboldening them to do as they pleased. Lanterns were hung on both sides of the long corridor, flickering with their movements.
Walking to the very back, they saw mottled prison cells. Bound to a tall wooden frame was the palace maid Cai Xia, her palace attire torn in half.
The eunuchs were jeering at her, devising ways to torment her. Cai Xia's head hung low, clearly having fainted. The others were also injured or unconscious, slumped on the prison floor.
Yet, even with these people unconscious, these perverted servants had no intention of letting them go. One eunuch was taking a whip dipped in saltwater from the wall, preparing to strike Cai Xia. Liu Liu's heart burned, and tears almost fell as she issued a stern command.
"Stop?"
A sharp cry startled the few eunuchs in the prison, causing them to drop the whip and turn around, exclaiming in shock, "Who?"
Due to the lanterns' tilt, Liu Liu and her entourage were cast in shadow. The others stood in the light, unable to discern who was before them, and called out to inquire.
Jiang Cheng's old face turned ashen. He never expected these scoundrels to resort to private torture within the deep palace; they were too audacious. Stepping into the prison, he raised his hand and slapped the eunuch who had spoken.
"You dog-like slave, have you lost your eyesight? The Empress is here, and you are so disrespectful! What is going on? Who sent you to torture palace maids and eunuchs here?"
Liu Liu led Cui'er inside. Cui'er had already rushed to Cai Xia's side with concern, trying to untie the iron chains around her. In her haste, she couldn't unlock them.
Jiang Cheng waved his hand, signaling the senior eunuchs behind him to release those who were bound. The junior eunuchs who had been beating others, witnessing the scene, had already turned pale and knelt down with thuds.
Liu Liu's face, flushed with blood, her eyes like a demon's, gleamed with bloodshot veins. Her slender hand gripped the collar of the junior eunuch on the ground and she spoke coldly.
"Who ordered you to capture them?"
"This slave does not know. This slave was merely following orders?" The junior eunuch kowtowed fervently, pleading repeatedly. Liu Liu kicked him towards the wall.
The force of the kick was greater than anyone had expected. The junior eunuch let out a cry, vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, and fell to the ground.
As everyone's attention was focused on the injured eunuchs and palace maids, they hadn't paid much heed to Liu Liu's abilities, which were not what a frail woman should possess.
Liu Liu stopped and turned to look at Jiang Cheng, "Immediately report to the Emperor and have him come to see what this harem has become. The abuse of torture, and the methods are chilling."
Upon hearing this, the junior eunuchs who had been beating others nearly fainted. The Emperor detested private torture the most. They feared their lives were forfeit. Hearing that the Empress was usually extremely kind-hearted, they decided to beg her, repeatedly kowtowing and shouting in unison.
"Your Majesty, spare our lives, Your Majesty, spare our lives."
Grand Eunuch Jiang Cheng hesitated upon hearing Liu Liu's words. If Her Majesty were to act like this, she might make enemies of these women in the harem. The suffering of these palace maids and eunuchs was insignificant, but what if Your Majesty suffered?
"Moreover, these eunuchs who were beating others should all be executed."
"Your Majesty, this may not be wise. Why not have all these dog slaves executed? If this reaches the Emperor's ears, it will inevitably lead back to Consort Shu.
If anything happens to Consort Shu, the Jin family will inevitably retaliate. At that time, the Emperor will certainly be troubled and will surely vent his anger upon Your Majesty."
Liu Liu knew Jiang Cheng was looking out for her, but all of this was caused by the Emperor. How could she let him remain uninvolved? At the very least, she had to seek justice for the abused servants. Furthermore, if this harem was not disciplined, it would become increasingly chaotic, eventually harming more people.
"I know your concerns. That is my affair. You order someone to summon the Emperor," Liu Liu stated with an unyielding and determined expression.
Seeing Liu Liu's insistence, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to say anything further. He turned and ordered the senior eunuch behind him, "Immediately go to Yongyuan Hall and invite the Emperor here."
"Yes," the senior eunuch went to invite the Emperor. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng had already ordered people to fetch imperial physicians. Almost simultaneously, everyone in Guangyang Palace awoke. The lights were bright, and the noise was incessant. A crowd rushed into the dungeon, led by Consort Shu, Jin Jiali. She stared at the scene before her, dumbfounded, and took a while to recover.
She pointed at the injured eunuchs and palace maids on the ground and asked the eunuch in charge of the dungeon.
"What is happening here? Why are the eunuchs from Huaqing Palace in the dungeon of Guangyang Palace and beaten like this? On whose orders did you do such audacious things?"
Jin Jiali coldly stared at the eunuchs on the ground with solemn authority, her face filled with anger. She was clearly quite shaken.
Liu Liu stared coldly at her, wondering if this Jin Jiali was naturally good at acting or truly unaware. She suspected the former was more likely.
However, in her memory, although Jin Jiali was spoiled and arrogant, her mind was not so sharp. Why was she employing such devious schemes now?
"This slave deserves death. We were following the orders of Consort Zhao to capture them. We beg Your Majesty to spare us."
Upon hearing the junior eunuch's words, Jin Jiali's face darkened. She swiftly ordered the palace maid Wanyong standing behind her, "Go and summon Consort Zhao, and tell her to come to the dungeon immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Wanyong curtsied and walked out. Just then, a eunuch's sharp voice rang out from the dungeon gate, "The Emperor has arrived."