"Your majesty, her highness Princess Yin Xiulan has come."

The court lady outside the hall announced loud and clear.

"Come in." He answered.

The doors of the hall slid open and the princess general walks in with her chin up. Although she's the first princess of the eighth generation of the dynasty, she isn't wearing an elegant and luxurious hanfu nor headgears or headdress made up of expensive materials. Instead, she only wears her usual pink tai chi-fu, and a jade hairpin to keep her long hair into a bun. In her right hand, she holds her closed fan made up of bamboo and rice paper.

But what she saw made her eyebrows twitch.

The emperor and his newly hired eunuch are happily chatting as they have their morning meal. Xu Zhengming quickly put his chopsticks down and faced the princess with a bow.

"I was wondering what took you so long, and so I came here personally. It turns out you are still having your pleasant meal... with your servant."

She slightly raised her eyebrows as she continues, "It's not like you at all."

"My apologies, Xiulan. I didn't notice, the time flows fast." He was about to rise but the princess raised her hand.

"Come to Lotus Hall once you finish your meal." Princess Yin Xiulan didn't wait for a response and left the hall immediately together with her servants.

Xu Zhengming cleared his throat and said with a guilty tone. "Your majesty, I think I truly crossed the line. I should not have my meal with you."

In fact, he already ate his breakfast before coming into the emperor's hall. It's just he can't refuse these delicacies. And wouldn't it be rude to refuse his majesty's kindness? Well... he's not kind all day after all.

"What are you talking about? Don't mind her. She seems cold but I don't think she minds eating with our subordinates. In fact, she would love to have a banquet wherein her maids are the only guests." The emperor let out a sigh. "But then again, it's out of her reputation so she didn't dare to."

Despite being a princess, she's fierce and has a strong aura around her. Though she's elegant and graceful, the air that a warrior gives in the atmosphere dominates within her. So holding an exclusive banquet just for her maids is something one could call 'out of character'. Also, she doesn't want her authority over her people to decrease just because she showed her feminine side.

The two chatted for a meantime until they finished their meals. After that, Xu Zhengming assisted the emperor in getting dressed. He's his personal eunuch after all. Although he's exceptionally nice to him THIS TIME, he must still do his part as his servant.

After all the preparations, the emperor, his little eunuch, together with a number of maids, headed to the Lotus Hall where he and princess Yin Xiulan should meet.

By then, only the emperor entered, and the servants waited outside.

No one speaks for a while until the court lady clears her throat before asking, "Eunuch Xu, since the emperor has his personal eunuch now, you must memorize his fixed schedule and sort the activities he must attend. Make sure his schedule does not conflict."

"Yes, Court Lady Han." Xu Zhengming responded with his head bowed down.

She speaks again. This time, her voice has a hint of sadness. "The emperor must want me to retire already, and so he appointed a younger servant to be by his side. It must be for the best if this old woman would stop looking after his majesty sooner or later."

"I don't think that's the case, court lady Han." Xu Zhengming tried to comfort her.

"If not, then why would the emperor hire a new eunuch to serve him? Or could it be..." Court lady Han's eyes narrowed as she looks intently at the little eunuch. "Eunuch Xu, tell me the truth. What do you and his majesty's relationship?" With this topic being raised, the maids can't help themselves but look at him intently as well, waiting for his response.

Xu Zhengming gives them a puzzled look. "My relationship with his majesty? It's clear that we have a master-servant relationship."

"Nothing more?" The court lady still isn't satisfied.

"Nothing more, nothing less. Why did court lady Han ask?" His question made the old lady silent and the maids look at each other.

"..."

Just what are they thinking about? Is he the only one who doesn't know? Is he even supposed to know something?

Xu Zhengming realized something. His face's complicated.

"Could it be... you are referring to the rumor that I tried to seduce his majesty?"

"..."

"Okay? I guess I got it right." Xu Zhengming sighs. "What the royal concubines said is not true. I just happen to bump on his majesty. I'm straight, yes." He looks at the young maids with his killer smile on his lips one by one before he continues to speak, "In fact, I am more interested in beauties like yourselves."

The maids giggled and seemed to be interested in him as well. It almost seems like the mole under his left eye is a charm that could make ladies lift their feet from the ground towards cloud nine.

He winked at them and the maids almost lost it. They barely suppress their excitement. Like a mischievous butterfly that touches their hearts.

He faced them with his best angle. To the young ladies, it seems like this man is giving off a blinding light. A light that anyone wants to be enveloped by its warmth. Mingming then said in a husky voice, "Those who wish to go out with me, please fall in line."

To their ears, it's like an enchantment that makes them unconsciously obey his commands. This alluring voice that sounds so pleasant can actually control and order a lady around.

Court lady Han's eyebrows knitted and her lips twitched. "You cannot go out unless the emperor gives permission."

But then, no one paid attention to the salty old woman. She could only let out a sigh as she shakes her head slowly. "Youngsters these days."

"Do I have to fall in line as well?" A sweet voice of a lady's sounded behind them. Everyone turns their head towards the direction where it came from at almost the same time.

Once they confirmed who was it, they quickly bowed their heads and greeted. "Your highness."

It's actually the empress herself, her highness Xue Chi. Her maids followed her as usual.

Xu Zhengming is the only one who didn't know who this lady is but he knows she is a noble of high status so he bowed as well. They call her 'her highness'. He thought, is she a princess? He only knows that Emperor Yin Renshu has only one sister which is the princess general. He didn't even have a child yet, much more a daughter of the same age as her.

Her court lady stepped beside her and whispers, "Your highness, you cannot go out with this man. You're married to the emperor."

Empress Xue Chi laughed softly. "I only wish to have a word with him." She faced Xu Zhengming and advanced nearer. "Can this woman have a moment with Eunuch Xu?"

"Yes... yes, your highness." He didn't know why but he got nervous all of a sudden. Did he offend this noble? If not, why would she want to talk to him?

The empress looks around and lowers her eyelashes as if embarrassed. "I wish for privacy. Can we talk somewhere else?"