Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 526: Rise, Housekeeper An!

Chapter 526: Chapter 526: Rise, Housekeeper An!

Doctor Chen walked into the room and saw that the person he was to examine was a young eunuch. Noticing his extremely pale complexion, he immediately approached with his medicine chest.

Little Xianzi looked at Doctor Chen with sincere trepidation. Were it not for the Empress’s Imperial Decree, someone of his lowly status would not be entitled to receive medical attention from an Imperial Physician.

Doctor Chen sat on the wooden stool by the bed to check Little Xianzi’s pulse and examine his body.

A moment later, he looked towards Zhan Lan and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this young eunuch has been poisoned with something that causes weakness and exhaustion. Furthermore, he has multiple injuries on his body, including bruises, bite marks, and other needle-inflicted wounds that are not visible on the surface."

In the court of Nanjin, the abuse of newly inducted eunuchs by the Direct Room manager has been going on for some time, inflicting both physical and mental torment.

However, newly inducted eunuchs need to be disciplined, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is nitpicking on purpose or just disciplining them.

After Doctor Chen finished speaking, the sound of someone kneeling came from behind Zhan Lan. Manager Liu, pale-faced, pleaded for mercy:

"Your Majesty, this servant knows his mistake. This servant... in my daily life, I have no particular hobbies, except for being fond of men. I truly like Little Xianzi, so I kept him in my room last night. Little Xianzi seemed unwilling and struck me, defying his superior. I was annoyed and punished him, not realizing his body was so weak. Before I even struck him twice, he was at death’s door. Apart from hitting him, I did nothing else wrong. I vow to turn over a new leaf! Please, Your Majesty, spare me!"

Zhan Lan had witnessed all sorts of strange occurrences in the harem in her past life.

She was not surprised by Manager Liu’s fondness for men. In the palace, some eunuchs and palace maids were in relationships, and others preferred the same gender.

Their lives were monotonous and dull, except for serving their masters, and they relied on these affairs to relieve their boredom.

When palace maids and eunuchs exchanged favors privately, it was fine if undiscovered, but once exposed, it violated palace rules and would surely result in punishment.

Little Xianzi silently shed tears in bed. Since the new emperor ascended to the throne early that morning, Manager Liu, fearing a fatal incident, only tortured him last night without doing anything more excessive. He had heard that a young eunuch had previously been toyed with to death by Manager Liu.

Zhan Lan did not ask Little Xianzi about his experiences last night, especially with so many people present.

Though already crippled, he still had his dignity as a human being.

Zhan Lan looked towards the Imperial Army, "Take Manager Liu to the Internal Affairs Office, and hand him over to Chief Li for disposal."

"Yes!"

The Imperial Army dragged away Steward Liu, who was crying his eyes out and sniveling.

Little Xianzi swallowed the antidote pill brought by Doctor Chen while lying on the bed.

He looked towards Zhan Lan and gratefully said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life."

A group of new eunuchs also breathed a sigh of relief. Manager Liu was promoted by Si Yun and had always been arrogant and fearless. Unexpectedly, he stumbled here with the Empress.

Little Anzi watched Zhan Lan’s back and felt as if every vein in his body was boiling with excitement. How invigorating!

Had the Empress not visited today, Little Xianzi would probably have faced a grim fate, likely tormented to death by Manager Liu.

Zhan Lan turned and met Little Anzi’s gaze.

Frightened, Little Anzi immediately knelt down.

As servants, they were not allowed to look their master directly in the eyes.

The group of eunuchs also noticed the Empress looking at Little Anzi, and it seemed she trusted him particularly. This young man was lucky to be able to summon Doctor Chen without the Empress’s token.

Just moments ago, they were waiting to see Little Anzi make a fool of himself, but now all they felt was envy.

With his peripheral vision, Little Anzi saw Zhan Lan take one step after another toward him. The golden phoenix embroidery on her clothes was unusually dazzling.

Little Anzi didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, only hearing Zhan Lan say, "Is your name Zhou Linting?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes, that is my full name. In the palace, I’m called Little Anzi!" Little Anzi was surprised. How did the Empress know his real name, once he entered the palace, he hadn’t used it!

Zhan Lan continued to ask, "Where have you been serving these past few years?"

Little Anzi respectfully replied, "For the past five years, I’ve been serving in the Restroom."

Zhan Lan frowned, no wonder she hadn’t found him before. It seemed that some events had changed between her previous life and this one.

Zhan Lan looked at Little Anzi. Last life, the head eunuch Zhou Linting, who had been by her side, was now right in front of her.

After being reborn, she had someone search the eunuch registry but hadn’t found his name.

She sent people to inquire in various palaces, but still no sign of him.

Zhan Lan smiled at Little Anzi, "From today onward, you will be the manager of the Direct Room!"

The eunuchs were in an uproar. Wasn’t Little Anzi just a lowly eunuch who cleaned chamber pots? How could he replace Manager Liu and become the new manager of the Direct Room!

Zhang Mian, who had just been flogged, was shocked!

His whole body was covered in welts, and his eyes burned red as he looked at the eunuch he had just looked down upon, becoming the new manager of the Direct Room!

Why!

How could such a lowly eunuch suddenly rise to become a manager!

And why was he flogged sixty times by the Empress!

Amid the eunuchs’ shock, Little Anzi met Zhan Lan’s gentle and trusting gaze.

He knelt down and kowtowed with sincere trepidation, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust."

"Rise, Housekeeper An!" Zhan Lan looked at him.

Little Anzi was extremely excited internally, yet outwardly he stood up calmly, nodding towards Zhan Lan, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhan Lan appraised Little Anzi. Although young, he already had calluses on his hands, indicating he’s been through hardships.

Working in the restroom, cleaning chamber pots, regardless of season, day in and day out, dealing with the intense stench of the summer, and flies and mosquitoes everywhere.

In winter, the chilling water for washing chamber pots likely gave him frostbite. Little Anzi persevered for five years.

The sharpness of a sword comes from hone, and the fragrance of plum blossoms from the bitter cold!

Little Anzi’s bitterness has come to an end.

Zhan Lan’s thoughts returned to her previous life. Little Anzi in the last life used his wit to gradually work his way to her side and become a chief eunuch.

Take today, for example, she gave Little Anzi no token, yet he was able to summon Doctor Chen. This too was a manifestation of his abilities.

There are many capable people, but those who are both capable and loyal are most rare and valuable.

In her past life, she was accused of treason by Si Jun. While in the Heavenly Prison, it was Little Anzi who secretly brought food and delivered messages to her before her death.

If it weren’t for Little Anzi using every method to send messages while she was imprisoned, more members of the Zhan Family Army would have been slaughtered by Si Jun.

It was Little Anzi who used his connections to spread the news of her and her father and the Zhan Family Army’s deputy generals being captured.

The retreat of the Zhan Family Army’s main forces not returning to Ding’an City spared them from the fate of execution.