Chapter 54

Old eunuch Luo Yuan was cooling off in the pavilion, holding a scroll filled with densely written names. He had been reading this scroll for a whole night and half a day, yet he still hadn't put it down. His eyes, already sunken and dark, were now bloodshot, and his sallow face was filled with a fierce expression. There were just too many, far too many people involved!

Little eunuch Manning leaned against a pillar of the pavilion, a fresh red handprint on his pale face. He looked aggrieved, pouting, and his eyes were full of defiance. He would occasionally use a boiled egg to roll over the burning handprint on his face, becoming increasingly agitated and restless.

After an unknown amount of time had passed,

Eunuch Luo turned his head to look at little eunuch Manning. His already high-pitched voice was now hoarse and even more unpleasant to hear: "Have you figured it out yet?"

Little eunuch Manning lowered his head and said, "Grandpa... I, I just can't understand."

"If you can't understand, then don't think about it! I shouldn't have let you go out!" Eunuch Luo sighed and continued, "I hit you for your own good! You are inexperienced and don't understand the treachery of the world. That boy, however, grew up in the streets, and before you knew it, he dragged you into this... Ah, forget it, forget it! Come here and let me see! Does it hurt?"

Little eunuch Manning blinked his eyes and hesitantly walked towards Eunuch Luo, looking very... very much like a little bird seeking shelter, snuggling into Eunuch Luo's arms...

Eunuch Luo was also somewhat helpless. He had schemed all his life, yet he hadn't outsmarted a mere young boy in this matter!

What does the Imperial Guard do? On the surface, it seems to have many responsibilities, but in reality? To put it bluntly, it's a butcher's knife, a knife used to maintain the face of the Great Sui Empire! The incident with the Maitreya Sect was equivalent to tearing open the face of the Great Sui Empire, exposing the bloody flesh beneath. With the face torn, the inner flesh was exposed, and the three guards under the Imperial Guard had to maintain and repair...

Eunuch Luo had heard of the Maitreya Sect's list and knew that some people were on it. But when a very comprehensive list was presented to him, it still made him tremble with fear. The number of high-ranking officials and nobles on the list was so numerous! Such a scandal, if known by others besides himself, would make Eunuch Luo uneasy. How could he not want to kill Wu Fan? But involving little eunuch Manning was equivalent to involving himself, Luo Yuan, and his Yellow Gate Guard! How could he take action? More importantly, Eunuch Luo was somewhat worried that Wu Fan might have altered the list, adding or concealing some names... Too many things made Eunuch Luo feel uneasy.

Little eunuch Manning was not a deep schemer, so he still couldn't understand why Eunuch Luo had slapped him. He thought he and Wu Fan had done a great deed and should be rewarded! But instead of a reward, he got a "Palm of Buddha," which still hurt.

"Grandpa..."

Little eunuch Manning looked up at Eunuch Luo and said, "Do you still recognize him as your adopted son?"

"Hmm?"

Eunuch Luo was taken aback, his face changing, but then he sighed and finally smiled.

Little eunuch Manning asked curiously, "Grandpa... Is what I said so funny?"

Eunuch Luo shook his head and said, "Not funny. I'm laughing at myself for forgetting this! Why did I keep thinking about killing him to silence him? He is my adopted son! Hahaha... Not bad! Not bad! With some polishing, he might have a great future!"

Little eunuch Manning was inexperienced, not stupid. By now, he vaguely understood that he had been slapped because Wu Fan had dragged him into this. He couldn't help but mutter angrily, "It would be better if he could be castrated and sent to the palace, to join the Yellow Gate Guard!"

"Grand Eunuch Luo! Grand Eunuch Luo!"

A hurried call came from a distance, and then Wu Fan's figure appeared.

Eunuch Luo rolled his eyes, patted little eunuch Manning, and gestured for him to get off his lap. When Wu Fan approached, he joked, "What's the matter? Were you chased by a dog?"

After catching his breath, Wu Fan clapped his hands and said, "I almost forgot about this! Grand Eunuch Luo! Where are my family members?"

Eunuch Luo stared at Wu Fan for a while and slowly said, "I am your adoptive father, and you are my adoptive son. Your family is naturally my family. How could I let them suffer? I will have them all released shortly! What? Are you still calling yourself a subordinate in front of your adoptive father?"

【Damn! Does he think I'm a three-year-old kid to be fooled so easily! He wanted to kill me before and said not to call him father, but to call him eunuch to avoid gossip about favoritism. Damn, he was just afraid I would embarrass him! Now he's changed his face, not afraid of gossip, and wants me to call him grandpa! What a good deal!】

Wu Fan cursed the old eunuch in his heart, then bowed and said gratefully, "Thank you, Father! I am deeply grateful!"

He glanced at the old eunuch and little eunuch, Wu Fan rolled his eyes and, suppressing the urge to give the old eunuch a "trembling voice," said, "I have no other business, so I will take my leave?"

Eunuch Luo waved his hand and said, "Wait a moment!"

Wu Fan had no choice but to stop.

Eunuch Luo looked at Wu Fan a few times and said, "This list seems to be missing a name!"

Wu Fan was greatly alarmed, quickly bowed, and swore, "I would never dare to hide anything from Father!"

Eunuch Luo smiled and said, "Commander Wu Yuanhao of the Eagle-Brave Guard! His eagerness to capture you proves he had something to hide!" The old eunuch, with a stern face, scolded, "Fan! Although you are my adopted son, you must never neglect your duties. Wu Yuanhao, that dog, is dead, but he must not escape punishment! Do not make this mistake again, or I will not be lenient with you!"

Wu Fan clasped his fists and said solemnly, "I understand, Father. Please rest assured!"

This was a despicable deal between two shameless people. In a few words, they had defamed an innocent person as a co-conspirator. Those who didn't know would think these two were extremely impartial!

Wu Fan had now regained his position as the commander of the Eagle-Brave Guard, but because he had killed fifty Eagle-Brave Guards and publicly executed Wu Yuanhao, he would not be well-liked by his colleagues. The incident with the fifty Eagle-Brave Guards could be explained by saying that some of them were spies of the Maitreya Sect who suddenly attacked to assassinate Eunuch Luo, and the rest died in the ensuing chaos. The latter was much harder to explain. Wu Fan had thought about adding Wu Yuanhao's name to the list, but he didn't dare, and it wouldn't have helped. Now that Eunuch Luo had spoken, everyone would be happy, and with his explanation, others would have to believe it, whether they wanted to or not!

Eunuch Luo yawned, looked at the sky, and said, "I am tired. You may go! Manning, take Fan to the prison and release everyone."

Little eunuch Manning grunted and, with a bad temper, led Wu Fan away.

After walking a long distance, out of Eunuch Luo's sight, little eunuch Manning asked with a frown, "Tell me, what did you do to me?"

Wu Fan grinned and said, "Nothing at all!"

Little eunuch Manning clearly didn't believe him, his eyes full of suspicion.

Wu Fan changed the subject and said, "Eunuch Manning, the thousand taels of gold are still in that inn! You should retrieve it when you have time! It shouldn't be taken by some sharp-eyed thief."

Little eunuch Manning nodded and said, "That makes sense! Don't you want it?"

Wu Fan chuckled and said, "Eunuch Manning has worked hard this time and is my savior. How could I reach out? Right?..."

Under Wu Fan's flattery, little eunuch Manning was once again fooled and forgot what he had wanted to ask.

...

PS1: Request for favorites, recommendations, likes, and support. This chapter might need some revision, but let's see for now.

PS2: Happy holiday.

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