13 The Careful Intentions of Eunuch Hai

Inside the study of the Crown Prince’s residence, Shang Wuxin leaned back in his chair, looking up, while Chief Eunuch Hai knelt on the floor. He didn’t know why the Crown Prince had suddenly summoned him. When he arrived, the Crown Prince remained silent. Now, the Crown Prince’s thoughts were beyond his understanding, but Chief Eunuch Hai felt that the lonely Crown Prince was even more heart-wrenching than when he used to cry and wail.

“Get up!” Shang Wuxin opened his eyes and pointed to the chair in the study, saying to Chief Eunuch Hai, “Sit!”

“Old servant…” The Chief Eunuch Hai wanted to refuse. He was not only a servant but also a eunuch, hardly qualified to sit alongside his master. Yet his master was so kind-hearted. Just thinking about it made the Chief Eunuch’s eyes slightly moist. Even if the Crown Prince were a ruthless killer, in the Chief Eunuch’s eyes, he was still kind.

“Sit!” Shang Wuxin said lazily. In recent days, she had been practicing martial arts day and night, not only integrating the original body’s skills into her own but also cultivating the most domineering martial arts secret techniques of the Shang family from her previous life. Now her martial arts were quite formidable—not the very top, but with few rivals. However, what made Shang Wuxin a bit helpless was the poison from her previous life, which was a huge problem. Moreover, the poison was congenital, carried from the womb, and her mother, Empress Qiu, had died from a poison outbreak.

Shang Wuxin knew she had to detoxify, but fortunately, the poison did not erupt immediately and there was still some time. So she didn’t need to be overly anxious. Besides, she had already suppressed the poison with her martial arts. Although it was somewhat harmful to her body and the poison outbreak might be dangerous, Shang Wuxin felt indifferent about it.

Chief Eunuch Hai sat there, but he was extremely nervous, his eyes filled with relief. His gaze was like that of a father. Shang Wuxin had grown more patient and tolerant toward this Chief Eunuch. In a way, he was a loyal fool, and Shang Wuxin needed such a loyal fool by her side.

“Grand Eunuch Hai, you are an elder by my side. Today I ask you, have you been hiding anything from me?” Shang Wuxin’s eyes looked at Grand Eunuch Hai’s eyes, which were so narrow due to his fatness that only a slit remained, filled with a strange expression.

Grand Eunuch Hai seemed to come down from his chair and knelt on the ground, his voice nervous. “Crown Prince… everything this old servant has done is for the Crown Prince’s good. I would never do anything to harm the Crown Prince!” He knew the Crown Prince was very clever now, but he never expected him to be so clever to this extent. However, whether such cleverness was good or bad, Grand Eunuch Hai felt a wave of worry in his heart.

“Speak!” Shang Wuxin showed no emotion at Grand Eunuch Hai’s words. Loyalty was acceptable, but self-righteous loyalty was betrayal, and what she needed was not self-righteousness!

“The Empress had a group of very loyal servants before she passed away. After the Empress died, this old servant secretly gathered those servants and trained them for a long time, thinking that if the Crown Prince ever encountered trouble in court or needed to escape, there would be people to protect him!” Grand Eunuch Hai said tearfully.

Shang Wuxin felt somewhat comforted for her previous life; in such a situation, there was still someone who had been planning for her so many years ago. It must be said that the former Shang Wuxin was fortunate.

“Replace all the servants and guards in the general’s mansion with our own people. Since those men have been raised and trained for so many years, it’s time for them to do their best!” A smile blossomed at the corner of Shang Wuxin’s mouth.

She didn’t have to worry about these people’s loyalty because they had originally been favored by the Empress Dowager, and later had been trained and taught by Eunuch Hai for a long time. Their loyalty was beyond doubt. Now was the time to employ people; although her own people had been trained well, they were still far from her standards. Eunuch Hai had solved a difficult problem for her.

“Your Highness!” Eunuch Hai looked at the Crown Prince sitting there in disbelief, then found his voice. “Does Your Highness intend to participate in the struggle for the throne?”

Shang Wuxin nodded, seemingly not feeling any pressure at all from having to join the fight for the throne.

“Eunuch Hai, do you not realize that many times, it’s not about not fighting to survive, but rather only by fighting and winning can you live without restraint? After all these years, haven’t you seen this clearly?” Shang Wuxin said with a sigh.

“Yes, Your Highness has suffered too many injustices over the years, and since the Crown Prince is the rightful heir to the throne, he must fight!” Eunuch Hai was completely won over by the Crown Prince’s words, forgetting entirely that the Crown Prince was a tomboy. But even if he knew, he wouldn’t think much of it—his Crown Prince was the best and would be the future ruler of the Shang Kingdom!

“Go down and send all the spies in the mansion away. If anyone refuses to leave, just kill them on the spot!” Shang Wuxin waved her hand and said. She was never a merciful person; human life had long become cheap in her eyes. In fact, many times she didn’t even know if she was afraid of death herself.

Eunuch Hai nodded and left. Although he looked like a Maitreya Buddha, his mind was still not easy to deal with. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to protect the Crown Prince for so many years as just a eunuch, and even taught the Crown Prince excellent martial arts.

“Your Highness!” Wuwei entered the room, looking at the Crown Prince who seemed like a celestial being with reverence. Over these days, his martial arts had improved greatly by practicing the martial arts manual given by the Crown Prince, and all of this was thanks to the Crown Prince.

Wu Wei looked at the Crown Prince without making a sound, not even opening his eyes. He stepped aside and stood there waiting for two hours before seeing the Crown Prince finally open his eyes. But at the very moment the Crown Prince opened his eyes, Wu Wei realized that the Crown Prince had not been asleep at all; those eyes were too clear and bright.

“Crown Prince, the Emperor has issued an edict appointing two Grand Tutors for you!” Wu Wei reported the Emperor’s decree from today.

Because Shang Wuxin had been timid and fearful since childhood, she had never attended the academy with the other princes and princesses. The only characters she knew were taught by Eunuch Hai, so in a sense, the Crown Prince had no Grand Tutor. However, throughout history, every Crown Prince needed a Grand Tutor who possessed both virtue and talent. Unexpectedly, the Emperor had now appointed two Grand Tutors for her, a move that would make everyone think twice about the Emperor’s true intentions.

“Oh? Who are they?” Shang Wuxin asked casually, showing little interest.

“A Grand Tutor is currently the First Young Master of the Shang Kingdom, Huan Mo Che. He is the only son of the Left Prime Minister’s residence and holds great influence in the Shang Kingdom. Moreover, he is accomplished both in literature and martial arts. However, the Emperor has tested him several times, and he has refused to enter the court. Even several princes and princesses have tried to persuade this young master to become the Grand Tutor, but he has declined, and he is quite aloof! But this time, the Emperor wants to select a Grand Tutor for the Crown Prince, and this First Young Master has unexpectedly volunteered himself. Your Highness, there must be something suspicious about this!” Wu Wei said with some doubt. Such a proud man suddenly wanting to be the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor is definitely suspicious.

“No matter, once they enter the Crown Prince’s residence, just treat them well!” Shang Wuxin toyed with a jade pendant in her hand and said. No matter who comes or what their purpose is towards the Crown Prince’s residence or herself, she is not afraid. In fact, she fears they might not make a move.

“There is also a Grand Tutor who is a young general, Leng Yufeng, who just returned from the frontier. Although he is only twenty-four years old, he has already attained the rank of general. At the frontier, he commands great authority in the eyes of the soldiers, and his long years of campaigning have earned him a formidable reputation in various countries. This man is a good stepping stone for the Crown Prince, but he is unruly and difficult to control!” Wu Wei came to the Crown Prince’s side and poured tea for him.

Shang Wuxin smiled, then looked at Wuwei standing beside him and said, “Not bad, you’ve improved quickly recently!” At first, Wuwei was hesitant and cautious in his actions, but now not only is his martial arts excellent, more importantly, his thinking is organized and methodical. If he were a man, he would definitely be able to establish a gang and build a career.

“Thank you, Crown Prince, for the compliment!” Wuwei said happily. All the efforts of these days were worth it because of the Crown Prince’s praise. If the Crown Prince hadn’t often guided her and given her great trust and opportunities, she wouldn’t have grown to this point. The Crown Prince could be said to be like her reborn parent.

“Mm, come with me to see the people Captain Hai is training!” Saying this, Shang Wuxin got up and left the study.