FID – Chapter 1041

Chapter 1041 — Don’t Even Check if He Has That Function

But where was she supposed to find a courtyard to hide in?

Breaking into someone’s home? That would get her thrown out immediately back in ancient times.

She certainly couldn’t do the foolish thing of revealing her identity.

Liu Yusheng grimaced as she mingled in the crowd, slowly leaving the square, deliberately slowing her steps to the bare minimum, thinking to wait for Xue Honglian and Feng Qingbai to come find her.

Both men were meticulous and thoughtful; it was impossible they hadn’t considered this. They must have already made arrangements, just hadn’t told her yet. All she needed to do was wait.

And wait she could—there was no way she could go looking for them herself.

Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Liu Yusheng turned around and saw a man dressed like a guard. He bowed slightly and said, “Saintess, please follow me.”

Saintess? Her?

Liu Yusheng pointed at her own nose, reacting half a beat too slowly.

The guard didn’t offer any explanation. He simply turned and walked, leaving Liu Yusheng no choice but to follow.

Soon she realized that the path he was leading her along gradually moved away from the crowd, heading deeper into the village.

In the Saintess Village, most of the villagers’ homes were clustered near the entrance. The further inside one went, the higher the status of those living there. This, too, was something Xue Honglian had told her.

Liu Yusheng watched the man’s back and felt a surge of doubt. She wasn’t one of the chosen saintesses, just an inconspicuous newcomer who had sneaked in. At a time like this, why would anyone be looking for her? And who exactly was looking for her?

“Brother Guard, where are you taking me? Is it the elder who wants me? It’s already so late. Why would the Elder want me now?” Of course, she knew it wasn’t the elder.

The man’s attire clearly marked him as a guard of the old eunuch. How could a eunuch’s guard be delivering a message on behalf of the elder? Her words were a small test, to see if the guard would answer honestly.

“Saintess, just follow me,” the guard replied respectfully, but Liu Yusheng wasn’t satisfied with this answer. It was clearly evasive.

She guessed that the one looking for her was the old eunuch, but she had no idea what his intentions were.

By all rights, she was just a nondescript young woman in the crowd. There was no way she should have attracted the eunuch’s attention… Unless she had somehow shown a flaw, been noticed, and her identity exposed.

As she hesitated, a bamboo building appeared in front of her. Lights glowed from inside, a warm yellow spilling from the doors and windows, casting dappled shadows across the small courtyard.

The surroundings were completely silent.

In that silence, as she stepped into the small courtyard, Liu Yusheng felt a sudden shiver run over her. It was as if a pair of eyes were watching her from somewhere, dark and sinister, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, fixated on its prey.

Malicious and dangerous.

Guided by the guard, she ascended to the second floor and pushed open the door of a room lit from within. The light spilled outward, illuminating her small frame and making her appear even more fragile.

As the person inside looked out, Liu Yusheng took in the room as well.

She had guessed correctly: it was indeed the old eunuch, the envoy, who had summoned her.

The eunuch sat at a bamboo table, a jar of fine wine on it, the faint scent of alcohol filling the room.

His eyes, sharp and hawk-like, rested on her, making her feel like a tiny, vulnerable prey.

The same pair of eyes that had been watching her from the shadows earlier belonged to him.

Liu Yusheng’s chest tightened slightly. She kept silent, watching him carefully.

She had no idea why the eunuch had called her here. She would not make a move unless he did, to avoid revealing any flaw.

Right now, what worried her most was that the old eunuch had probably already noticed something was off about her.

Where exactly had she given herself away to attract his attention?

“Come in.” The soft, almost feminine voice reached Liu Yusheng’s ears, breaking her train of thought.

She pressed her lips together and stepped into the room, still standing stiffly.

At this moment, she knew she should first bow to the old eunuch.

She was just an ordinary village woman, and he was an imperial envoy; showing respect was basic etiquette.

But damn it, she had no idea what the proper bow of a Saintess Tribe woman even looked like!

The flicker of uncertainty in her eyes only seemed to amuse the old eunuch further. A soft, sinister laugh echoed, ‘heh-heh-heh heh, making the hairs on her neck stand on end.

She had no idea that her reactions made her appear, in his eyes, like a pure spirit accidentally wandering into the mortal world—more captivating than she realized.

“Come, sit down,” the old eunuch said again.

Liu Yusheng’s eyes darted briefly. She hunched her shoulders, trembling slightly as she sat down, bowing her head. “Gonggong, may I ask what important matter you have summoned me at this late hour for?”

“What is your name?”

“…Qian Mei.” Fortunately, before giving her the mask, Xue Honglian had mentioned this name to her, and she still remembered it.

“Qian Mei? Interesting name,” the old eunuch said.

Liu Yusheng forced a smile. If you talk like that, it’s even more interesting.

The old eunuch picked up the wine jug and poured two full cups, sliding one toward Liu Yusheng.

“Gonggong?”

“Have a drink with me,” the old eunuch said, lifting his cup and sipping, his eyes fixed on Liu Yusheng’s face. A faint, unsettling gleam shimmered in his gaze, which had grown increasingly suggestive.

Liu Yusheng was no naive girl. At that moment, she finally understood the meaning flickering in his eyes and immediately wanted to slam her cup over his head.

This was by far the most absurd thing she had ever encountered in her life!

A eunuch was actually leering at a woman?

He may have been castrated, but that didn’t stop his desires! He didn’t even think about whether he had the ‘capability’!

Hiding a cold smile under her veil, Liu Yusheng calmly picked up the cup and, imitating the old eunuch, took a small sip. “If Gonggong has matters to discuss, please instruct me. I must later report to the elder on the maids’ preparations so that everything will be ready for tomorrow’s departure.”

She deliberately mentioned the elder.

Although the old eunuch was an imperial envoy, the elder of the Saintess Village was no inferior in status.

Especially since the women of the Saintess Tribe held a unique and special position. The clan’s women were almost all reserved for the emperor. Even those permitted to stay and bear children were not people to be treated lightly or lewdly.

If the old eunuch really dared to lust after her and try anything here, he’d see if he could even make it back to the capital on time tomorrow!

Sure enough, when he heard the elder’s name, the old eunuch’s gaze flickered. He drew back from Liu Yusheng’s advancing figure and leaned against the chair, his eyes on her deepening slightly.

“You are one of the maids accompanying the saintesses?”

“Yes.”

“I called you here with no other intention,” the old eunuch said, his voice tinged with amusement. “I only noticed just now that your dance was unusual and quite captivating. If such a performance were presented before His Majesty, it would surely delight him greatly.” He chuckled softly, heh-heh. “Since you are a maid accompanying the saintesses into the palace, you must take good care of them along the way. I admire you, and I will look after you a bit in return. If any difficulties arise, you may come to me at any time.”

“Thank you, Gonggong.”