Chapter Seventeen: Chief Steward Huang Xufu

Xu Boqing was jolted awake by a rank, briny stench.

As his senses returned, he found himself lying naked upon a bed, covered only by a coarse hemp cloth, his hands and feet bound tightly. He frowned, surveying his surroundings, and when his gaze fell upon the assortment of small knives hanging on the wall, a chill ran involuntarily down his spine.

The pungent odor lingering in the air, the presence of a young eunuch at the door—there was no need to wonder where he was.

Damn it… I’m in the Castration Chamber!

He tried to struggle free, but the more he fought, the tighter the ropes bit into his flesh—escape was impossible. For the first time, he cursed the original owner of this body.

Why hadn’t he trained in martial arts? What use were the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song? When trouble came, he couldn’t even run! Now, it seemed, he might not even remain a man.

“Well, well… Awake, are we?”

The young eunuch, hearing his movements, sauntered over with a sly smile and a delicate gesture. “Save your strength and stop struggling. It’s no use.”

Xu Boqing forced a faint, awkward smile onto his face. “Kind sir, I have five taels of silver in my pouch. Would you let me go, just this once?”

The eunuch snickered, “I searched you when you were brought in. Not only were there no five taels, there wasn’t a single coin to your name.”

Xu Boqing’s expression froze. He recalled being knocked out before arriving here—clearly, the last of his silver had been filched by either those damned constables or the wretched eunuchs.

“Don’t take it to heart,” the young eunuch consoled, raising his hand. “My godfather ordered me to knock you out again as soon as you woke. Forgive me.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than he brought the edge of his hand down hard on Xu Boqing’s neck. Whether from lack of skill or poor aim, Xu Boqing only felt a sharp ache, not the darkness of unconsciousness.

Thinking quickly, he let his eyes go unfocused and his body go limp, feigning a swoon—though in truth, his eyelids remained half-lidded, just enough to observe the room. All the while, he racked his brain for a means of escape.

But before he could think further, the door creaked open and in came two elderly eunuchs.

One was as withered as old paper, bent and ancient, seeming scarcely a step from the grave.

The other wore a gold-embroidered python robe; though his brows and hair were silver, his face was ruddy and full, betraying either some miraculous art of preservation or profound internal strength.

Xu Boqing sensed keenly that the gold-robed eunuch’s gaze swept over him, and so he quickly closed his eyes, keeping up the pretense of unconsciousness.

The young eunuch at the door bowed low in greeting. “Greetings, Godfather. Chief Steward Huang.”

“Go on, go on,” replied Dan Feng with a wave. The young eunuch bowed out, shutting the door behind him.

Once his godson had gone, Dan Feng turned to Huang with a grin. “Chief Steward, look—this one is blessed with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, well-shaped lips and a straight nose, a rare and handsome specimen. Moreover, he’s a good family’s son, his record as clean as can be. What’s more, his… endowment… is truly astonishing.”

Chief Steward Huang nodded with a wry, knowing smile, saying nothing, and walked straight to Xu Boqing’s bedside. He picked up a wooden stick, gently lifting the cloth draped over Xu Boqing.

Even prepared as he was, the sight of what Dan Feng had so often described as “unearthly” made even him flinch.

“Not bad. Quite impressive,” Chief Steward Huang remarked, tossing the stick aside. He looked down, lips curled, and said, “No need to pretend, boy. If you’re awake, then you’re awake. We’re not monsters that eat people.”

Dan Feng’s gaze sharpened at this.

Xu Boqing, hearing these words, found his breath catch. Yet, uncertain whether this was a ploy, he continued to feign his swoon.

“How bold,” Huang chuckled.

Dan Feng, meanwhile, put on a ghastly smile as he selected various implements from the wall, muttering, “In my forty years in the Castration Chamber, this knife has always been my favorite. I could do the job blindfolded, and not miss a cut.”

He punctuated his words with a strange laugh. “Alas, I’m getting old now, my eyes are failing, and yours is… quite out of the ordinary. Might take me eight or ten tries to get it all, hmm?”

“No, no, please!” Xu Boqing’s blood ran cold, and he could no longer keep up the ruse. He opened his eyes, seeing the ancient eunuch caressing a small knife with a sickly relish. Fear overwhelmed him.

“Let’s talk, honored sirs. Surely we can talk this through!”

“Oh? Now you’re willing to wake?” Huang said with a laugh.

“I’m awake, awake!” Xu Boqing craned his neck, pleading, “Your blade’s murderous aura is too much for a humble man like me. Could you put it away, just for now?”

Chief Steward Huang, amused by his display, waved a hand. “Put it away, lest you frighten him to death.”

Dan Feng’s smile was as chilling as ever as he returned the tools to their case, though instead of rehanging them on the wall, he set them on a nearby table, within easy reach.

Chief Steward Huang asked, “Is your name Xu Boqing?”

Xu Boqing nodded. “Yes.”

“Your ancestral home is Jianyang. Your father, Xu Zhong, is deceased. Your uncle, Xu He, serves in the constabulary, and is currently imprisoned in the Celestial Prison. Is this correct?”

“It is.”

“What brought you to the Castration Chamber?”

Xu Boqing was silent for a moment. There was no more use in hiding anything. Considering the old eunuch’s manner was not unkind, perhaps this was his chance to turn the tables.

He recounted everything that had happened in the constabulary’s dungeon, omitting nothing—even his “unusual talent.”

The two old eunuchs listened, stupefied. Even just imagining the scene left their hearts shaken; what must it have been like for those actually present?

Thankfully, they were long past such shocks.

Chief Steward Huang’s gaze flickered thoughtfully before he spoke. “Your… ‘talent’ is certainly unique.”

“I never asked for it,” Xu Boqing sighed with an air of resignation. “But since childhood, a divine teacher has instructed me in dreams—it’s not something I could refuse.”

“Oh?” Dan Feng murmured, his hand sliding again toward the tools on the table. “Then perhaps I should do you a kindness and remove this root of calamity, eh?”

“No, please, no!” Xu Boqing cried.

Chief Steward Huang, amused by his terror, could not help but laugh. Then, suddenly, he asked, “Would you like to save your second uncle?”

“With all my heart—every night I dream of it!” Xu Boqing nodded fervently. “My father is gone; my second uncle is my only living kin. When I learned of his imprisonment, my grief was beyond words. I would gladly take his place if I could.”

“Well said. A man of feeling.” Chief Steward Huang nodded, his tone sharpening. “I can see you leave the Castration Chamber unscathed. But from this day forward, you must follow me.”

He paused, then continued, “If you prove yourself, not only can you save your uncle—you may win unimaginable fortune for yourself.”

Xu Boqing was momentarily stunned. He replied earnestly, “I have wandered half my life, regretting only that I never met you sooner. If you’ll have me, I am willing to call you my foster father and serve you with all my heart, through fire and water!”

“...?”