Chapter Twenty-Three: Protecting the Empress Dowager

No! My heart has been unshackled now! I am not the same Cui Feng from eighteen years ago! He was in the Innate Realm, and so am I! We are equals, both in the Innate Realm—ten years ago, he was already like this, but now, surely he is old and weakened, while I am in my prime. Why should I run? Why?! Why should I fear him?!

Cui Feng’s face kept shifting, and without realizing it, his eyes became veined with a fine web of blood, turning crimson, as if he were possessed. Heart knot? Yes! It was he who caused me to be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for two years! I should kill him!

As the old eunuch reached out with claw-like hands, Cui Feng grinned, the bloodshot in his eyes deepening, and he sidestepped, raising his fist to meet him head-on.

Fist against claw.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment, the force released making their garments flutter. Cui Feng staggered back several steps, his face unnaturally flushed.

Chief Huang, after withdrawing his force and landing, also stepped back, his expression grim, muttering, “Innate Realm?”

“Hehehe… hahahaha…” Cui Feng licked his lips, his crimson eyes fixed on Chief Huang, and he spoke through clenched teeth, “Old eunuch, didn’t expect this, did you? Not only am I alive, but I’ve come back for you!”

Chief Huang was momentarily stunned, glancing at the Empress Dowager to confirm her safety before locking his brows and staring intently at Cui Feng. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Who are you?”

Cui Feng’s expression stiffened; seeing the old eunuch’s genuine confusion, he felt a surge of humiliation and anger. He bitterly reminded, “Eighteen years ago! Treasury Pavilion! Cui Feng!”

Chief Huang’s brow furrowed as he pondered, then seemed to recall something, asking uncertainly, “Are you the petty thief I sent to the Heavenly Prison?”

“That’s right, old man!”

Just then, Xu Boqing rushed in, shouting, “Empress Dowager, do not panic, your servant has come to protect you!”

When he entered the bedchamber, he found the Empress Dowager sitting at her bedside, clad in a white, sheer garment, her expression tinged with anger. The middle-aged man seen through his ‘Heaven’s Eye Technique’ stood by the window, while Chief Huang faced him a short distance away.

Chief Huang showed a hint of appreciation and said, “Boqing, I must subdue this thief. You protect the Empress Dowager!”

“Rest assured, Chief Huang. To get near the Empress Dowager, one must first step over my corpse!” Xu Boqing nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and bravely moved before the phoenix bed.

Cui Feng eyed Xu Boqing darkly and sneered, “Such big words for a little eunuch…”

His words were cut short as his wrist flicked, sending several silver blade-like hidden weapons flying from his sleeve, their speed so swift that the air itself whistled with a sharp sound!

But the blades were not aimed at Chief Huang, who faced him, but at the Empress Dowager on the phoenix bed, and Xu Boqing standing before her!

“Despicable!” Chief Huang cursed, his hand forming a claw that snatched at the air, the force unleashed roaring like a dragon’s cry!

Most of the hidden blades were seized in midair, only two remained, veering off course as they continued forward.

Xu Boqing, already fully focused with his ‘Heaven’s Eye Technique’ active, saw the world not only in faded colors, but as if all movement slowed several times over.

When the hidden weapons were unleashed, he considered fleeing.

But seeing Chief Huang intercept most of them, leaving only two misdirected blades, he wasted no time, shouting, “Empress Dowager, beware!”

He leapt, pressing the Empress Dowager down onto the phoenix bed. He could have easily avoided the blades, yet he deliberately delayed, letting one cut a bloody gash across his arm.

“Damn thief!” Chief Huang, seeing the thief’s merciless attack, roared furiously, his brows and hair flying as he lunged forward with far greater speed and momentum than before.

Cui Feng’s pupils contracted—before he could react, a palm struck his chest!

With a cry, he spat out a mist of blood, crashing through the window and out into the night.

“Still… want… to run!!” Chief Huang, transformed, his aura rising ever higher, pursued him without pause.

Inside the bedchamber, the Empress Dowager’s expression shifted oddly as Xu Boqing, feigning ignorance, scrambled up, standing protectively with arms wide before the phoenix bed.

“Empress Dowager, do not fear…”

Empress Dowager Chen was momentarily distracted by the bloody wound on his arm; when she saw the wound starting to darken, she spoke, “I am unharmed, but your wound seems poisoned.”

“Ah!?” Xu Boqing, startled, grabbed at his arm and saw the wound. Though shallow, the blood within was turning black.

He could even see thin black lines creeping inward.

Poison! And a potent one!

‘Have I been outsmarted by my own cleverness?’

He felt his mind grow foggy, shook his head, but the haze worsened. Before he could regret, his legs gave way, and he lost consciousness.

Empress Dowager Chen saw his vacant gaze and faltering steps, hastened to help him, but found she could not support him. Instead, she half-lifted, half-carried him onto the phoenix bed.

She gently wiped his forehead, finding it feverish to the touch. She thought to herself, this ‘little eunuch’ is quite handsome and loyal… Even with a raging fever, he rushed to protect me…

At that moment, the commotion drew the palace maids and eunuchs of the Hall of Compassion, who hurried in.

Seeing the chaos—the broken window, the bloodied young eunuch lying on the phoenix bed—they dropped to their knees, heads bowed to the floor in terror.

Empress Dowager Chen’s eyes narrowed as she coldly rebuked, “Why are you standing there? Don’t you see someone is injured?”

The eunuchs and maids quickly gathered at the phoenix bed to inspect the wound; seeing its darkening hue, someone suggested fetching the royal physician.

“No need for the physician,” Empress Dowager Chen looked at the young ‘eunuch’, remembering something, and after a moment’s thought, said coldly, “Lady Li, fetch my ‘Hundred Herbs Ginseng King Pill.’”

“Ah, but…” Lady Li hesitated, softly reminding, “Your Grace, you have only one Ginseng King Pill left.”

Empress Dowager Chen shot her a glance and snapped, “I told you to fetch it. Why so much nonsense?”

“Yes, yes, forgive my impertinence…”

Lady Li quickly bowed and departed; after a short while, she returned, cradling a jade box. Some maids poured water, others helped hold his jaw.

Empress Dowager Chen took the jade box, carefully removed the Ginseng King Pill, and gently placed it in Xu Boqing’s mouth.