Chapter Fifteen: The Eastern Bureau Needs Talents Like You

"His performance was mediocre," Xu Boqing commented as he pulled up his trousers and casually tossed the axless wheel prop aside. Noticing the men in the dungeon still gaping in shock, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

There is no harm without comparison...

Except for Eunuch Li, all present were grown men. His "personal art" had surely left an indelible shadow in their hearts! In future dealings, whenever they recalled this moment, even the most domineering among them would be deflated in spirit.

I am your nightmare!

He affected a cough, clasped his hands, and smiled. "This humble one’s unique skill is unfit for refined company. I beg your pardon for offending your esteemed eyes."

Eunuch Li was the first to recover. He looked Xu Boqing up and down, his sullen face inscrutable.

Sun Sheng, regaining his composure, also coughed lightly and asked, "Did you possess such extraordinary 'personal skill' since childhood?"

"Not at all," Xu Boqing shook his head. "Though this 'art' was taught to me by a deity in dreams, it was inconspicuous in my youth. It grew stronger with time, likely due to talent and diligence as well."

Sun Sheng seemed lost in thought, then coughed again and said, "Ahem, I have quite an interest in the culinary and cultural practices of Jianyang. Later, write out your diet from childhood for me."

"Master Sun, I too am interested in Jianyang's culinary customs. Make a copy for my research," another official chimed in.

"And me—make a copy for me as well!"

"Me too!"

Just then, a cold snort silenced them. The officials from the Inspectorate, sensing something, fell quiet, embarrassment flickering across their faces.

"You call that a unique skill?" Eunuch Li’s eyes were shadowed as he stared at Xu Boqing, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Your talent is indeed extraordinary. I am green with envy, but I saw no supernatural manifestations!"

He paused, his pale, beardless face lengthening as he barked, "Xu Boqing, how dare you make a fool of me! You have some nerve!"

"I... I would not dare!" Xu Boqing was stunned, but quickly came to his senses and protested his innocence. Seeing the eunuch’s fury, he thought things were taking a dire turn...

Eunuchs, after all, had been castrated. In stories and dramas from his past life, eunuchs were notoriously unpredictable and difficult to read, all because of this. Not only did he still possess it, but his was remarkable, and he had flaunted it before the eunuch to save his life.

On one side, it was something once present but now lost; on the other, a formidable, imposing presence, almost inhuman. Such a comparison could only breed jealousy!

"Not dare? As if!" Eunuch Li smiled cryptically, flipping his horsetail whisk over his arm, his voice chilling. "But I appreciate your boldness. Not only will I spare your life, I’ll find you a position."

"What?" Xu Boqing was taken aback. Seeing the eunuch’s sinister smile, he instinctively clamped his legs together and pleaded, "Please, have mercy, sir."

"Heh heh, quite clever," Eunuch Li tittered, his fingers forming a delicate gesture. "The Eastern Depot needs talent like you."

The dungeon fell silent. The Inspectorate officials shivered at Eunuch Li’s words, not daring to breathe too loudly; even their manhood seemed to shrink in fear.

Xu Boqing’s face turned blue, then white. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the dungeon exit—so close.

Run?

But this was the imperial capital. Even if he escaped the dungeon, he’d never make it out of the city—his chance of survival was less than one percent. If castrated and sent to the Eastern Depot, he might live, but what kind of life would that be? Worse than death!

Damn that eunuch—if I become a ghost, I’ll haunt you forever!

Having made up his mind, Xu Boqing hesitated no more and dashed toward the exit in a desperate bid for freedom.

The officials and Eunuch Li were momentarily stunned by his audacity. Then Sun Sheng, the fat, big-eared official, sneered.

"Trying to run in here?"

With that, he stamped his foot and shot forward like an arrow.

Xu Boqing had barely run a few steps when he heard a rush behind him. A large shadow swept across the ground, and he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Sun Sheng hefted the limp Xu Boqing back, grinning. "Chief Li, how should we handle this boy?"

Eunuch Li resumed his seat, sipped his tea, and said coolly without even glancing up, "He’s an eyesore. Send him to the Purification House—immediately!"

"Yes!" Sun Sheng nodded. Even with his experience, the mention of the Purification House—a place without manhood—made his skin crawl. He glanced at the youth in his hand and muttered, "What a pity..."

"Hmm?" Eunuch Li’s hand paused on his teacup.

Sun Sheng blanched and hurriedly explained, "I mean, all his silver was taken by those bandits—it’s a shame."

"Humph. Go."

"Yes!"

...

In these troubled times, ordinary people who could not survive or support their families would hand their children over to the Purification House, hoping they’d be chosen to serve in the palace and receive imperial rations. But palace service was not easily attained. Beyond cleverness, one needed an unblemished appearance and sound limbs, so not all eunuchs were selected.

Inside the Purification House, a boy of eleven or twelve lay naked on a specially designed bed, terror etched on his face. His hands and feet were bound with hemp rope, and a thick cloth was stuffed in his mouth.

The ropes restrained his instinctive fear and struggle, while the cloth prevented him from biting through his tongue in agony.

The "chicken butcher" eunuch wielded his knife while another eunuch held the boy down. Though mishaps were rare, the lack of hygiene and medical knowledge meant the mortality rate in the Purification House remained high.

Suddenly, the boy’s bloodshot eyes bulged, his hands clenched, his teeth grinding the cloth as tears and snot streamed down his face from the excruciating pain.

"It’ll be over soon, just a little longer," crooned the old "chicken butcher," his hands deft and his voice comforting, offering words like, "Your little bird is gone," and, "Soon you’ll enjoy palace life."

The old eunuch had wielded the knife for decades, with countless victims to his name. Over ten years ago, he’d been promoted to head of the Purification House, and nearly every eunuch there was trained by him. He could have retired in comfort, but idleness did not suit him; he often took up the knife to relive old habits.

Unknowingly, another ‘chicken’ was dispatched.

He waved his hand, and his assistants untied and carried the boy away. The old eunuch carefully wiped the blood from his knives, then baked them over the fire, waiting quietly for the next "unfortunate soul."

In the firelight, a sickly satisfaction flickered across his face...

Just then, a young eunuch hurried over, panic written all over him. "Godfather, godfather—something terrible has happened!"

"Such panic—what manners are these?" The old eunuch, savoring his post-work satisfaction, was annoyed at the interruption. "What is it?"

The young eunuch quickly whispered in his ear. At first, the old man paid little mind, thinking the boy exaggerated, but hearing the earnest details, his interest was piqued.

He washed his hands in a bronze basin, while the young eunuch deftly handed him a dry towel.

"Take me to see!"