Chapter 34

As Luo the eunuch and the handsome young man who could make one's skin crawl appeared, Wu Fan was truly overwhelmed. So he decided to find someone to ask about these two people, wondering why they were so... so sinister? Without a doubt, Yu Xiang was a good person to ask. Therefore, Wu Fan's true purpose was not to go home, but to head to the teahouse where they met.

Arriving at the unremarkable teahouse, Wu Fan ordered a bowl of cool tea and sat there, waiting patiently. After a long wait, Yu Xiang still hadn't shown up, which made Wu Fan restless. He pondered for a moment, then bought two steamed buns and some cooked meat nearby, eating them to fill his stomach first.

Almost half an hour later, Yu Xiang's voice came from behind Wu Fan.

Yu Xiang's tone was stern, laced with deep concern: "Idiot! You're being followed! Do you know how much risk I took to come see you?... This place is no longer safe. We need to change our meeting spot. Wait for my notice!" As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Yu Xiang added, "Eat your food! Don't look around! Damn it!"

Wu Fan slowly chewed the steamed bun in his mouth, lowering his head and frowning. "I'm being followed? No way..."

"Don't say 'no way'! Do you think the Yellow Gate Guard is that simple?" Yu Xiang scolded in a low voice. "Do you think that old eunuch came to Luoyang from Chang'an all alone? What a joke! Anyone who wants his life could follow him from Chang'an to Luoyang! How could he take such a risk alone? From now on, put away your cleverness!"

Wu Fan's frown deepened. "Yellow Gate Guard? What's that?"

Yu Xiang was almost exasperated. She sighed and said, "Don't be so ignorant, okay? What's the full name of your Eagle Yang Guard?"

Wu Fan replied, "The Imperial Guard under the command of the Grand Marshal... Is the Yellow Gate Guard also under the Grand Marshal?"

At this point, Wu Fan's expression was quite interesting. Upon reflection, he realized he didn't even know what the other two guards under the Grand Marshal were!

Yu Xiang, with her back to Wu Fan, almost spat out the cool tea she was drinking, utterly shocked by Wu Fan's ignorance! After a moment, she sighed and said, "Well, it's not your fault. Among the three guards under the Grand Marshal, your Eagle Yang Guard has the largest and most visible structure, naturally enjoying the most glory. The other two guards have always been trying to downplay their existence. It's normal that you don't know. Let me put it this way: The Yellow Gate Guard, also known as the Eunuch Army, is entirely composed of eunuchs. There are never more than three thousand of them, and they directly serve your emperor, hidden within the imperial city. The old eunuch you saw today is the leader of the Yellow Gate Guard, the Chief Eunuch Luo Yuan! Your position is still too low, so some information..."

Seeing that Yu Xiang had stopped, Wu Fan digested her words and asked, "What about the person next to him... the plaything, do you know?"

Yu Xiang rolled her eyes and spat out three words: "Little ass! Bedmate! Dead eunuch!"

"Spit—!"

"Cough, cough, cough...!"

Wu Fan sprayed the cool tea far away, coughing and wiping his mouth, clearly shocked by Yu Xiang's words. He couldn't help but think to himself—[Eunuchs can be so romantic, hahaha... No, wait! It feels so weird! Eunuchs can have such preferences? I mean, do they even have those preferences? Indeed, the old eunuch should be castrated again!]

Yu Xiang, regardless of what Wu Fan was thinking, instructed, "I'll notify you about the new meeting place. Luo Yuan, that old eunuch, is suspicious by nature. If he asks you to follow him, be careful. Also, if you can get close to him, don't be too shy... you don't have much to lose anyway! Finally, you said you were going home, right? Finish eating and go home! I'm leaving first!"

After Yu Xiang left, Wu Fan sat there in a daze, pondering. Not for any other reason, but from what Yu Xiang said, he had gained three very useful pieces of information: First, the three guards under the Grand Marshal were not simple. The Eagle Yang Guard, despite its large and renowned structure, might be the weakest, just a front to take the heat. Second, Luo Yuan, the bearded eunuch, was a person who could reach the emperor and held real power, making him extraordinary. Third, there were indeed other spies from the Maitreya Sect around him! This was easy to deduce because only his fifty subordinates knew about his plan to go home, and no other Eagle Yang Guard members could have known.

After thinking for a long time with a grim expression, Wu Fan left a few coins and headed home.

In reality, he just stopped by to say he might not return that night, then obediently went to wait at the entrance of the imperial palace.

Luo the eunuch was a punctual person. He said one hour, and one hour later, he returned in his rickety carriage.

Getting off the carriage, Luo the eunuch glanced at Wu Fan, who was waiting, nodded in satisfaction, and walked towards the imperial palace, taking out a token from his chest and showing it to the guards at the gate, signaling them to open the gate.

Even without the imperial family residing there, the imperial palace was heavily guarded. Seeing the token in Luo the eunuch's hand, the guards bowed and waved to open the massive red-painted gate, revealing the grand buildings with green tiles and carved dragons, stretching endlessly, leaving the Eagle Yang Guard, who had never seen such imperial grandeur, speechless.

"Follow me!"

Wu Fan, being well-traveled, had seen true grandeur and was not easily shocked. But what truly left him speechless was... the little eunuch nestled in Luo the eunuch's arms! [Damn! Do you have to be so blatant? Showing affection leads to a quick death, you know? It's a famous saying!]

Following Wu Fan's command, the Eagle Yang Guard, blushing and excited, stepped into the imperial palace amidst the mocking and disdainful gazes of the guards. After all, although they were the emperor's personal guards, only those stationed in Chang'an had the chance to witness such imperial grandeur. Many would now have the confidence to boast about it!

It must be said that the imperial palace complex, built over two hundred years ago, was still so luxurious and magnificent that it drew attention. Just walking from the imperial gate to the iconic council hall took a full two hours!

At the foot of the ninety-nine white marble steps leading to the council hall, Luo the eunuch suddenly turned, his face stern and his voice shrill. "Wu Zongqi!"

Wu Fan was startled and quickly stepped forward, bowing. "Your subordinate is here!"

Luo the eunuch paced to Wu Fan, his eyes cold, and asked, "Can you tell me what you did during the last hour?"

Wu Fan's heart tightened, then he answered seriously, "I gave my subordinates a few dozen silver coins to get some food, told them they might not return home tonight, and asked those who needed to go home to inform their families. I also said I was going home, but on the way, I decided to eat first. I ate at a cool tea stall, stopped by home, and then waited for your orders at the palace entrance!"

Wu Fan's account was detailed and impeccable.

Luo the eunuch stared intently at Wu Fan's eyes, making him feel very uneasy. Wu Fan thought about Yu Xiang's warning about being followed, and his scalp tingled, fearing he would be found out.

Just as Wu Fan felt he couldn't bear it any longer—

Luo the eunuch squinted his eyes, patted Wu Fan's shoulder, and said, "You are honest, and I like honest people! But... there is a traitor among you!"

...

PS1: Please follow and recommend.

PS2: Thank you to Yang Yu 1314 for the 100-point coin tip. Thanks.

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