"I beg Your Majesty to let him go. This man belongs in the distant martial world, not the imperial court." As Eunuch Gui spoke, he knelt before Duan Ziqian.
Duan Ziqian's expression darkened, but after a long deliberation, he finally nodded in assent. "Since this is your request, I have no reason to refuse."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Having spoken, Eunuch Gui suddenly drew an exceedingly fine, sharp iron needle from his sleeve and drove it viciously into his own neck. Blood gushed out at once.
"Eunuch Gui, what are you doing?"
Startled by Eunuch Gui's sudden action, Duan Ziqian instinctively reached out to support him, only to be shoved away.
The bloody hole in his neck made even speaking difficult for Eunuch Gui.
"Your Majesty, from the day this servant was imprisoned, I was already a ruined man. I am not worth such anguish on Your Majesty's part, nor should I let those people seize upon another fault of yours."
Eunuch Gui drew a great, gasping breath. After a pause, he continued, "Moreover, over the matter of the Marquis of Anguo's Heir Apparent just now, this servant defied his sovereign and threatened Your Majesty. That is a crime punishable by death!"
Eunuch Gui raised his head to look at Duan Ziqian, bloody froth spilling relentlessly from the corners of his mouth.
He gasped several more times and struggled to speak. "This servant deserves ten thousand deaths. From now on, please, Your Majesty, take... take good care of yourself..."
Before he could finish, Eunuch Gui's head slumped to one side, and he breathed his last.
A red haze rose in Duan Ziqian's eyes, and his hands clenched into fists.
Beside him, Eunuch Li urged softly, "Your Majesty, this is no place to linger. We had best leave at once."
After