“May Your Highness retire to bed. Your Highness has endured much today, and it is already very late,” Li Lan Se observed the Imperial Consort, who awaited His Majesty with fervent anticipation.

“No, I shall wait for His Majesty. Do you think I sang and played the guqin well today?”

“Your Highness possesses great talent. Today, Your Highness played the guqin exceedingly well.”

“Then His Majesty must surely come to me tonight.”

“Oh, Your Highness, today is but the first day of the new year!” Wan Ying knelt by her side.

“What does the first day matter? Before, whether it was the first or any other day, His Majesty would always visit my palace.”

“But today is the first day of the year, and His Majesty must, by custom, proceed to Kunning Palace. May Your Highness retire to your bedchamber. Perhaps tomorrow, His Majesty may visit Your Highness earlier,” Xi Ying coaxed.

“May Your Highness not feel disheartened. The Empress has far more cause for sadness than Your Highness, for in the entire year, there is but one night when His Majesty will reside with her,” Wan Ying spoke tirelessly, but the Imperial Consort remained stubborn.

“Your Highness, listen to your humble servant. Your Highness must possess a gentle heart, be benevolent, and magnanimous, not seeking to possess His Majesty alone. Your Highness should take the Empress as an example. Her Highness is exceedingly compassionate. Today, she even granted Your Highness the opportunity to display your talent! Her Highness is not jealous in the slightest. No matter how many consorts there are, the Empress rejoices with His Majesty. It is for this reason that the Empress has been able to maintain her position as Mother of the Empire for so long, Your Highness,” Lan Se patiently explained to her. “Your Highness may consider it a repayment of the Empress’s kindness. Let His Majesty reside in Kunning Palace tonight. Your humble servant has a feeling that in the nights to come, His Majesty will surely visit Jingren Palace.”

“And what if His Majesty does not visit my palace, but goes to Imperial Consort Lin Pin instead?”

“May Your Highness not think negatively yet. Has Your Highness seen the Chungongtu (erotic paintings) yet, Your Highness? Those are what will please His Majesty even more than Imperial Consort Lin Pin.” Li Lan Se had obtained the erotic paintings depicting relations between men and women from Brother Yunzhi. When he had looked at those paintings, he had felt a strange sensation, his face flushing red. He quickly admired them, closed the scroll, and brought them to the Imperial Consort.

Though she was uncertain of Yunzhi’s suggested method, there was no harm in trying.

“I… I have seen those paintings.”

“And does Your Highness remember how to perform them?”

“I remember,” the Imperial Consort replied shyly, quickly changing the subject. “But what about you? How do you, being so small, know of such matters? Moreover, as a eunuch, you need not… uh… you lack that, there’s no need to learn about relations between men and women.”

“Never mind your humble servant, Your Highness. It is better that Your Highness retires to bed. Tomorrow, you will awaken with a radiant countenance.”

“Mm. Very well.”

*****

The following night, the Emperor visited Jingren Palace, just as Lan Se had predicted. Lii Fei was overjoyed, disregarding the news from her Confidant Maid that His Majesty had just dined with Imperial Consort Lin Pin. The Imperial Consort quickly summoned Lan Se to help her choose her attire.

The young boy, seeing his mistress’s radiant smile, felt happy as well.

Now, it was up to Her Highness herself to perform well. Would she possess the allure to captivate His Majesty’s heart?

Thinking of those embarrassing matters, the young boy quickly left the palace before the Emperor arrived, returning to his room to continue transcribing scrolls. He had already saved several taels of silver, thanks to Imperial Consort Lii Fei who often rewarded him. She, too, understood that eunuchs did not desire ornaments like palace maids; Wan Ying and Xi Ying often favored hairpins, bracelets, rings, and necklaces, but for Lan Se, money was what he desired most.

“Has Your Highness awakened?” Wan Ying called softly. She heard Lii Fei summon her to help her wash and dress.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“His Majesty awoke early and has already departed for court, Your Highness,” Xi Ying replied.

“Did His Majesty order me to drink the anti-conception soup?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Alas. When I first entered the palace, I drank much of that soup. I wonder if it has affected my body. Even though I haven’t drunk the anti-conception soup since before accompanying His Majesty to the Summer Palace, there has still been no good news.” Lii Fei’s face clouded with sadness as she gently caressed her belly.

“Your Highness and His Majesty are both in robust health,” Lan Se offered comfort, selecting pearl earrings for her. “As long as His Majesty visits frequently, there will surely be good news soon, Your Highness.”

“Speaking of which… last night, I tried what you suggested. His Majesty seemed very pleased.”

“Excellent, Your Highness! Your humble servant has learned that certain postures can increase the chances of conception.” Though Lan Se felt embarrassed discussing such matters, for the Imperial Consort’s sake, he suppressed his shame.

“Is that true?” The Imperial Consort’s eyes widened. “What postures?”

“Uh… your humble servant is not yet certain. May Your Highness grant your humble servant time to study, and I will report to Your Highness immediately.”

It seemed he would have to spend money on Brother Yunzhi again.

*****

Sun Yunzhi possessed numerous Chungongtu (erotic paintings). By now, the young boy could gaze upon these images without embarrassment.

“Why does Brother Yunzhi have so many of these paintings?”

“I must find some amusement for myself, mustn’t I?”

“But Brother Yunzhi is a eunuch.”

“Yes, I know I am a eunuch.”

“Does Brother Yunzhi feel lust?” This fifth month, the boy had turned nine. He now understood matters between men and women, and also knew that eunuchs were castrated precisely so they could not engage in relations with His Majesty’s consorts.

“Unless you weren’t completely castrated, that is,” Yunzhi winked. “If a stump remains, one can still have fun.”

Li Lan Se was stunned.

“That part doesn’t become stiff enough for penetration, otherwise all eunuchs would be completely castrated,” the eunuch of many years explained further. “Besides, pleasure isn’t found only in the front.”

“What do you mean, Brother Yunzhi?” Li Lan Se frowned.

“Never mind. Consider that I didn’t say anything. Forget it. I’ve already corrupted you enough.”

“Understood, Esteemed One.” The young boy was obedient. “By the way, does Brother Yunzhi have any other paintings? I don’t know what else to tell the Imperial Consort.”

Since the beginning of the new year, Imperial Consort Lii Fei had regained favor. In a single month, His Majesty would visit Jingren Palace three or four times. It was clear that Lan Se’s plan to captivate the Emperor with the arts of love in the bedchamber had worked.

“You! You’ve taken all my paintings!”

“Well, there are no such scrolls in the Imperial Library Department.”

“Alright, take this painting. I suppose I’ll have to find more next time I go outside the palace,” Yunzhi handed the young boy a Chungongtu, a new image Lan Se had not seen before. Gazing at the man and woman in the painting, he couldn’t help but wonder,

“Brother Yunzhi, will the Imperial Consort be able to perform this ‘Pushing the Cart’ posture?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you secretly observe the Imperial Consort tonight? Then you’ll know.”

“H-How can I… how can I secretly observe the Imperial Consort and His Majesty?! If I’m caught, I’ll be lashed to death!” Li Lan Se cried out in alarm. He had stood guard twice on nights when the Emperor stayed with Lii Fei, but the young boy had stood far from the door, covering his ears and eyes, not daring to glimpse the fleeting shadows from the candlelight.

“Just don’t get caught!”

“No! I won’t talk to Brother Yunzhi anymore. I’d rather go find the Imperial Consort.”

“Suit yourself, Confidant Eunuch to the Imperial Consort,” Yunzhi teased from behind.

Lan Se arrived at the palace and presented the new Chungongtu to the Imperial Consort. Lii Fei frowned, but said nothing. Just then, Gonggong Zhou arrived to inform Lii Fei that His Majesty would reside in Jingren Palace tonight. Lii Fei then ordered Lan Se to choose her attire, while Wan Ying and Xi Ying assisted her with bathing.

Late at night, it was a moonlit night. The moonlight was bright, illuminating the path without need for a lantern.

Li Lan Se knelt and bowed his head when the Emperor arrived. Wan Ying and Xi Ying followed to serve for a short while. When it was time, they retreated, closing the palace doors with practiced ease.

“You and Xi Ying listen carefully for the Imperial Consort. Should Her Highness require anything, you must respond immediately,” Wan Ying instructed. Tonight was their shift, along with two other servants, standing guard around the palace. “I will return to change shifts at Yin hour (3:00 AM - 5:00 AM). Then you may return to rest.”

“Understood.”

Xi Ying leaned back, resting her chin on her hand on the steps before the palace’s main door. Li Lan Se, meanwhile, walked to the east wing of the palace to stand guard as usual.

As the young boy gazed at the moon, wondering what Auntie Haiya would prepare for breakfast tomorrow, his ears suddenly caught faint moans coming from the bedchamber.

Lan Se’s eyes widened. Yes, the east wing of the palace was the Imperial Consort’s bedchamber.

Normally, the boy would have walked away. Yet today, he stood still, his mind contemplating the risky suggestion from Brother Yunzhi. In truth, he himself wanted to know how men and women engaged in such relations. He had only seen paintings; he had never witnessed it firsthand. And could the Imperial Consort truly perform that ‘Pushing the Cart’ posture?

Curiosity made his small feet slowly move, climbing a stone. It was perfectly aligned with a slightly ajar window, allowing him to peer inside.

The stunning beauty, in her disheveled, thin robes, was in the posture Lan Se had suggested that afternoon. Lii Fei arched her back, supporting herself with her hands on the floor, her slender arms outstretched. Her lower body was uncovered by silk. Her legs entwined around the Emperor’s waist.

Lii Fei actually did it!

Li Lan Se’s eyes were wide, his lips dry. His left chest pounded so violently he feared his heart might leap out. His ten fingers dug into the windowsill.

Though he knew what he was doing was against the rules, the young boy still did not retreat. His round eyes fixed upon the scene of intercourse between a man and a woman, the first he had ever witnessed in his life.

“Ah! Your Majesty, you are too rough!”

“Beloved consort, you yourself suggested this posture, did you not? Is it not to your liking?” The Emperor grasped her slender waist, thrusting heavily, the shameful sound of flesh hitting flesh audible. Her full breasts quivered.

Lan Se watched the point of contact. As the Emperor withdrew, he saw a long, plump shaft, which could not be compared in the slightest to what lay between his own legs. If one were to compare, it would have to be to a baby’s arm.

This, then, was what truly made a man.

As the young boy stared, unblinking, the Emperor’s sharp eyes suddenly met his. Lan Se flinched violently, managing to stifle his gasp just in time. He quickly pulled back his head and climbed down from the stone as silently as possible.

Oh no! He was in trouble! The Emperor had seen him! Tomorrow, he would surely be lashed to death! What should he do?!