Eunuch Qin chased off the young eunuch attending the emperor and cursed, "You little wretch! How dare you be so careless while serving His Majesty? Do you have a death wish?"
The young eunuch immediately dropped to his knees, knocking his head against the floor with loud thuds. "This servant was wrong! This servant was wrong! Your Majesty, please have mercy!"
He dared not look at his master. Eunuch Qin cursed him while giving him a couple of kicks.
The display was fierce, but the blows were light, leaving not a single mark.
The emperor could not be bothered with such a trivial matter either and waved the young eunuch away.
Eunuch Qin personally helped the emperor wash and dress. With something else on his mind, the emperor asked again, "How much longer until the titled ladies come to pay their respects?"
"The audience begins in another half hour. Besides, the titled ladies won't be coming to Qianqing Palace. If Your Majesty wishes to see the Marchioness of Zhennan, you could visit Her Majesty."
"Wouldn't that go against protocol?"
The emperor said it went against protocol, but excitement seeped into his voice.
Having served at his side for years, Eunuch Qin naturally understood the emperor's little schemes.
"How could that go against protocol? You and Her Majesty are husband and wife. It would be perfectly normal for you to appear together and receive their obeisance. Who could possibly find fault with that?"
"You're right. No one can find fault with me! Make me look sharp. We'll head to the Empress's Palace shortly."
Eunuch Qin thought that the emperor already wore the yellow robes; no one in all of Great Zhou could look sharper than he did.
"By the way, what's that girl doing now? Any gossip?"
"Well..."
One look at