OBS Chapter 1343 Pledge of Allegiance to the Death
Chapter 1343 Pledge of Allegiance to the Death
Changchun Palace.
Concubine Zhuang was copying Buddhist scriptures by the window, her pen tip dipped in ink and her handwriting was neat.
Little Caizi approached quietly and reported in a low voice the whole story of how the imperial concubine Xiao Wuzi was severely punished and sent to the Ministry of Punishment, and how Concubine Dun failed to seize the emperor's favor and instead caused the emperor's displeasure.
Concubine Zhuang's hand holding the pen paused slightly.
She gently put down her pen, looked out the window, a hint of pity flashed across her eyes, and she sighed softly.
"Serving before the Emperor may seem glamorous, but it's also incredibly frightening."
Concubine Zhuang spoke in a gentle voice, tinged with compassion: "It's not easy for palace servants at the bottom of society to survive. They usually rely on delivering harmless news to earn some money to supplement their income or find support."
"Most of the palace masters know it well, but it's just like the saying that too clear water attracts no fish, so they just turn a blind eye."
"This little Wuzi... is truly pitiful. He happened to be in such a disaster at this very moment."
Upon hearing this, Little Caizi immediately bowed and agreed: "Your Majesty is kind and considerate of the servants."
Concubine Zhuang pondered for a moment, then looked at the words on the Buddhist scriptures and said, "A place like Xinzheku is not a place for human beings."
"After twenty strokes of the cane, little Wuzi is half dead. If no one takes care of him, I'm afraid..."
Having said this, she shook her head, as if she was extremely reluctant. She turned around and instructed Xiao Caizi, "Find a way to find an inconspicuous opportunity to privately pass some medicine and food over. Don't let anyone see."
Xiao Caizi's heart trembled, and an indescribable warmth and emotion instantly surged into his heart.
He immediately bowed, his voice choked with a barely perceptible sob: "Yes! Your servant...your servant obeys your command! I will do it properly and will not cause any trouble for Your Majesty."
The reason why little Caizi was so excited was not because of little Wuzi.
It was because he himself was once a eunuch struggling to survive at the bottom of society and was bullied by others.
One year, during a hot summer, he accidentally caught a heat stroke while on duty. It was the Imperial Concubine who specifically ordered the Imperial Hospital to prepare some cold tea, which helped him recover.
Later, by chance, he came to work in Changchun Palace and achieved his current status.
How could he not be overwhelmed with emotion when he heard that the Imperial Concubine was willing to secretly lend a helping hand to a little eunuch who had nothing to do with him?
Sure enough, in order to survive in the deep palace, the queen sometimes had to use some special means, but she always had a kind heart.
He didn't follow the wrong master.
Concubine Zhuang looked at little Cai Zi's emotional expression and just smiled gently, as if she had only done something insignificant.
She picked up the pen again and continued to copy the Buddhist scriptures with her eyes lowered. Her profile looked particularly peaceful and compassionate under the light coming in from the window.
……
A remote corner of Xinzheku.
The low and dilapidated row houses were filled with a musty smell.
Little Wuzi was lying on the cold hard bed, his buttocks and legs were covered in blood, and every breath he took was accompanied by piercing pain.
No one cared about him since he was thrown here.
The other criminal slaves all knew that Xiao Wuzi had angered the emperor and was banished here. They all avoided him as much as possible and even cast gloating glances at him.
The glory of the past as an emperor seemed like a dream. At this moment, he felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar, with only boundless despair left...
Just when Xiao Wuzi was becoming groggy and felt that he was really going to die silently in this dark corner, the shabby wooden door creaked slightly and a figure walked in gently.
The man was wearing the clothes of an ordinary eunuch, with the brim of his hat pulled down low. He moved swiftly to avoid the sight of others and quickly came to the front of Xiaowuzi Shop.
Little Wuzi struggled to open his heavy eyelids and vaguely saw the man take out a small cloth bag from his arms.
Inside were several bottles of fine-textured wound medicine and some soft and easily digestible snacks.
The man even brought a small pot of warm water, carefully helped him up, and fed him a few sips.
The dry throat was moistened, and Xiao Wuzi's chaotic consciousness became a little clearer.
He stared blankly at the uninvited guest, without feeling the slightest bit of vigilance.
Because he is now a dying man with nothing, what is there worth others' efforts?
"You...you are..."
Xiao Wuzi's voice was hoarse and broken, almost unintelligible.
The visitor lowered his voice, a barely perceptible sympathy in his tone: "Don't ask so many questions, the most important thing is to heal your wounds first."
"Apply this medicine externally twice a day and hide it before eating."
This insignificant concern is like a timely help to Xiao Wuzi who is in desperate situation at the moment.
He had struggled to survive within the palace walls for many years, but had he ever felt such unintentional warmth?
For a moment, a feeling of bitterness and gratitude surged into his heart, and turbid tears instantly filled Xiao Wuzi's eyes and slid down his dirty cheeks.
"Thank you so much, benefactor..."
Little Wuzi choked with sobs and grasped the visitor's sleeve with all his might, "Please tell me... who... who has pity on my worthless life?"
The man hesitated for a moment, looked around, and then lowered his voice and said, "It was the Imperial Concubine who was kind-hearted. She heard that you were in trouble and couldn't bear it, so she asked us to come here secretly."
"The Imperial Concubine has instructed that this matter must not be made public. Just keep it to yourself and don't cause any trouble for the Imperial Concubine. Remember that?"
The royal concubine?
Little Wuzi vaguely remembered that in her early years in the palace, the Imperial Concubine had a reputation for kindness and compassion. She often looked after the lower-ranking palace servants, and many of them had received her favor.
But after some incidents happened, the reputation of the Imperial Concubine gradually changed. People privately said that she was not as kind as she appeared...
But at this moment, when he was abandoned by everyone and waiting to die, only the imperial concubine remembered him, an insignificant criminal slave, and sent people to bring him life-saving medicine and food.
In an instant, all the bad rumors about Concubine Zhuang that Xiao Wuzi had heard in the past became suspicious in his mind.
Aren't there enough conspiracies and intrigues in the deep palace? Maybe... maybe the Imperial Concubine was schemed by a villain, which ruined her reputation.
At least when he was in trouble, only the imperial concubine extended a helping hand.
He couldn't be like others, being deceived and misunderstanding the imperial concubine.
"Slave...slave remembers it!"
Little Wuzi's tears flowed even more fiercely. He bit his lips tightly to prevent himself from crying out loud, and nodded desperately: "Your servant thanks the Imperial Concubine for her grace!"
"I will keep my mouth shut and will never bring trouble to Your Majesty!"
Seeing him like this, the visitor seemed relieved and whispered a few more instructions. Then, just as quietly and quickly as when he came, he left.
The shabby door closed again, and the musty smell still filled the room. However, Xiao Wuzi felt that the despair in his heart seemed to be dispelled a little.
He tightly grasped the medicine and food in his arms, as if holding his only hope of survival. His heart was filled with gratitude to the Imperial Concubine and the desire to swear allegiance to her until death!