Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Eunuch Gao!

Hualala!

Wang Chong woke up to the sound of several pairs of footsteps . Of these footsteps, there was a particular set that sounded exceptionally powerful and clear . Lifting his head, he saw a bright radiance at the very end of the dark passageway of the imperial prison .

Wang Chong had never felt such an aura before . Grand, powerful, and radiant, like the sun that illuminated the world .

“Who are they?”

Wang Chong widened his eyes in astonishment .

In just a short moment, a pair of cloud-embroidered shoes appeared before Wang Chong . The owner of the shoes was a towering eunuch dressed in a cloud-embroidered yellow robe . He was extremely plump, reminiscent of the Maitreya .

(Maitreya -> 彌勒佛; the Chinese interpretation of Maitreya’s appearance is very different from other locations)

Standing behind him were several other eunuchs, Chamberlains of Imperial Insignia, and prison guards . All of them seemed to regard him as their leader .

“This person…”

Wang Chong’s eyebrows twitched as he stared at this plump and amiable eunuch in bewilderment . Regardless of whether it was his previous life or his current life, he had never met this person before .

Nevertheless, Wang Chong’s instincts told him that this person had a massive background .

“Hehehe, Wang gongzi has suffered . I’ve come to visit you as a representative of His Majesty . ”

That plump eunuch walked up to Wang Chong’s cell with a warm smile on his face . He seemed to possess a mysterious quality that made one feel intimate with him, as though one was his kin or bosom buddy .

“Gonggong, you’re being too polite . ”

Wang Chong replied with composure, but a bizarre feeling was welling up in his heart .

“Hehe, gongzi, how do you find the conditions here?”

That plump eunuch asked .

“What does gonggong think?”

Wang Chong flashed a bitter smile .

“Hehe, it’s not a big deal for youngsters like you to suffer a little . Only after suffering some pain will one mature to shoulder huge responsibilities . ”

The plump eunuch looked around the gloomy and dark ‘imperial prison’ as he chuckled .

Of course it’s easy for you to say so!

——This was the only thought Wang Chong had in mind .

Despite that, Wang Chong had a good impression of this eunuch .

“Gongzi, is the food still alright?”

The plump eunuch continued asking .

“The food is not bad . ”

Wang Chong nodded . Despite the standard prisoner meals in the imperial prison being leftovers, even moldy at times, Wang Chong had never suffered such injustice .

Zhou Xing would always have a separate meal delivered specially for Wang Chong . This was also the main reason why Wang Chong was still able to cope in here .

“That’s good . ”

The plump eunuch nodded . He continued asking a whole bunch of things, and even though Wang Chong was confused, he answered the questions one by one patiently . This head eunuch felt very different from anyone he had met before .

“Hehe, since that’s the case, I’ll report these to His Majesty then . Men!”

The plump eunuch suddenly clapped his hands, and a commotion broke out among the guards behind him . Only at this moment did Wang Chong notice the two palace maids hidden behind the group .

Their short figures were hidden behind the Chamberlains of Imperial Insignia, so Wang Chong failed to notice them earlier on .

“This person… He actually managed to bring palace maids in here!”

Wang Chong stared at the eunuch before him in astonishment . His curiosity over the other party’s identity heightened . Even the prison in the Bureau of Punishments forbade one from bringing women in, needless to say, the stricter imperial prison .

Just the fact that this eunuch was able to bring palace maids in meant that he wasn’t anyone ordinary!

“Wang gongzi, the imperial prison is cold . These pills are a gesture of goodwill from His Majesty, so don’t be shy and feel free to consume them . ”

The plump eunuch said .

The two palace maids held a silver plate in their hands each, and placed on top of the silver plates were silk boxes used for storing pills . Even though the lids were tightly shut, Wang Chong could sense that the pills within were anything but ordinary .

Wang Chong’s intrigue deepened . He couldn’t understand the meaning behind the presence of this plump eunuch . Was he here just to deliver these two pills to him?

“Thank you, gonggong!”

However, Wang Chong didn’t stand on ceremonies . Stretching out his hand, he grabbed the two silk boxes on the silver plates .

Dah dah dah!

Just as Wang Chong took the silk boxes, flurried footsteps sounded . From the end of the passageway, a Chamberlain of Imperial Insignia rushed over .

“Gao gonggong…”

The Chamberlain of Imperial Insignia looked around the prison, and upon seeing the plump eunuch, he swiftly walked up and whispered into the latter’s ear .

Weng!

Hearing the words of the Chamberlain of Imperial Insignia, Wang Chong’s heart jolted . Raising his head, he assessed the eunuch before him once more .

“To think it would be him!”

A huge storm raised in Wang Chong’s mind . He finally knew the identity of the person before him . It was no wonder why he said that he could represent His Majesty .

It was no wonder why he could bring palace maids into the ‘imperial prison’ .

Wang Chong didn’t expect to see this legendary figure in the imperial prison .

“Gonggong!”

Wang Chong suddenly spoke up .

“May I request something of you?”

These words were completely unexpected . In an instant, everyone’s gazes immediately gathered on Wang Chong . Even the Chamberlain of Imperial Insignia who had just rushed in subconsciously turned his head over in shock .

“Oh? Gongzi, feel free to speak . ”

The eyebrows of the plump eunuch twitched slightly . A surprised look appeared on his face, but it slowly turned into one of interest .

“Gonggong, can you find a way to bring him out?”

As he spoke those words, Wang Chong pointed to Zhang Munian who was locked just right next to him .

These words left Zhang Munian dumbstruck . The other prisoners who were surveying the situation curiously were also stunned .

“Don’t! I’m here as well, Wang gongzi, ask them to let me out too!”

“Why should he be let out? Let me out instead . I deserve it more!”

“Lord, save me! I didn’t commit any mistake, I don’t deserve to die . I want to go out!”

…

The prisoners immediately flew into an uproar, and they started bellowing frenziedly .

“Hm?”

The eyebrows of the plump eunuch shot up, and he harrumphed coldly . Suddenly, the temperature in the ‘imperial prison’ plunged . The rowdy prisoners abruptly fell silent and fear surfaced in their eyes .

“Gongzi, can you tell me why I should save him?”

The plump eunuch turned around to survey Wang Chong in interest . Clearly, Wang Chong’s words had attracted his interest .

Despite being locked in the imperial prison, he was thinking about saving another person instead of saving himself . This had piqued his curiosity .

“That’s because this person will contribute greatly to the empire!”

Wang Chong replied earnestly .

“Oh?”

Graveness finally appeared in the eyes of the plump eunuch . For the first time, he assessed Zhang Munian carefully . The latter’s eyes were widened, and his astonishment didn’t seem to be any less than anyone else here .

“Gongzi, can you tell me the reason?”

The plump eunuch asked .

If it was anyone else who said those words, he might have just laughed it off . However, this youngster… After witnessing the other party’s astonishing deeds, even he did not dare to underestimate his words .

Especially after Wang Chong had said that ‘this person will contribute greatly to the empire’ .

“I can’t explain it clearly now so I can only hope that gonggong will believe me . On top of that, he shouldn’t have been here . It’s all because of King Qi’s selfish act that he was sent here . ”

Wang Chong replied calmly .

Wang Chong and Zhang Munian had talked about this matter . The latter should have been locked at the Bureau of Punishments .

Some time ago, Zhang Munian was about to be released when, for some reason, the decision was retracted . Eventually, he ended up being brought to the imperial prison .

This matter remained a mystery to Zhang Munian . He couldn’t comprehend the bizarreness of the situation . However, he was a prisoner on the death row in the first place so he didn’t give it much thought .

However, Wang Chong had a completely different view of this matter .

After asking Zhang Munian on the details of the incident back then, Wang Chong could roughly deduce the happenings .

King Song had indeed helped him, and Zhang Munian’s punishment had been annulled . However, someone seemed to have undone everything that King Song did later on .

Judging from the time, it was during the period that King Song was demoted and King Qi laid his hands on the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments .

King Qi didn’t know who Zhang Munian was, but opposing to those supporting King Song and supporting those opposing King Song would never be a wrong move .

Thus, he canceled the annulment and even sent Zhang Munian to the more strictly guarded imperial prison .

So, to speak of it, Wang Chong was probably the main reason why Zhang Munian was brought here .

“King Qi?”

The plump eunuch frowned, and he seemed to have recalled something .

“I understand!”

“Tell your warden that His Majesty wants this person . Take him out . ”

The plump eunuch casually flashed the token by his waist . Wang Chong didn’t catch a clear look on it but deference immediately appeared on the faces of the other prison guards .

As though the token was an incredible object .

The prison guards immediately rushed forward to unlock the cell . They walked in and took off Zhang Munian’s cuffs before grabbing both of his arms and pulling him out . Putting aside Zhang Munian and the other prisoners, even Wang Chong himself was dumbfounded . He became even more sure of the plump eunuch’s identity .

“Unfair! This is unfair!”

“Why did you release him instead of me? I want to go out as well!”

“Let me out too!”

Zhang Munian’s release was like a ray of hope amidst of the desolate future they could already see before them, and it incited all of them into action . With reddened eyes, they grabbed the iron bars locking them and bellowed loudly .

“Shut up! All of you, shut your mouths!”

The Chamberlains of Imperial Insignia roared ferociously .

“I still have some things to attend to so I’ll be leaving now . Lord Sun, I’ll leave the rest up to you!”

Leaving behind a few subordinates, the plump eunuch brought Zhang Munian out of the imperial prison . At the same time, a middle-aged official walked up to him .

“Lord Sun!”

Wang Chong stared at the other party in shock . The person before him was Lord Sun Qian, the finance minister of the royal court .

“Gongzi, you spoke of the usage of customs gold unit (jinyuan notes) to replace gold as a currency . Under His Majesty’s decree, I’ve come forth to understand a little more about the matter . I hope that gongzi can cooperate with me!”