An Dequan changed tack. "Still, it isn't entirely impossible."
Hearing that there was clearly still hope, Hu Xiaotian hastily bowed with his hands clasped. "Please, honored elder, help me."
An Dequan narrowed his eyes and looked Hu Xiaotian over. "Until I've seen His Majesty, I can't claim any certainty. Even if I can persuade him to abandon the idea of executing your entire Hu Family, your father will still face punishment. As for you..."
"As long as you can save my family's lives," Hu Xiaotian said, "I will weave grass and carry rings to repay your great kindness, even beyond the grave."
An Dequan slowly nodded. "I'll remember those words. Does that mean that if I save the Hu Family, you'll willingly do anything for me?"
Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted. What difficult task was An Dequan going to demand of him? Whatever it was, he could only agree for now. Apart from An Dequan, there was no one else who could save the Hu Family. He nodded. "Yes. I'm willing to do anything for you, Eunuch An."
An Dequan broke into a rasping cackle, his gaze roaming over Hu Xiaotian with an indescribable strangeness that made his hair stand on end.
"Good! Good! Good!" An Dequan repeated the word three times, then asked, "Are you willing to enter the palace and serve His Majesty?"
Hu Xiaotian immediately understood. This old eunuch wanted him to follow in his footsteps-to have himself castrated and become a eunuch. He had never imagined An Dequan would make such a demand. Cold sweat covered his head. If it would save the Hu Family, he could even consider dying, but becoming a eunuch made him hesitate.
An Dequan stared into his eyes. "Are you willing?"
"Er..." Hu Xiaotian looked troubled. "Could there be another option?"
"If