"Thwack!"
The sound of a blade slicing through flesh rang out, piercing the silent night.
Hot blood sprayed out, scalding like boiling water.
Zhang Yang stiffly turned his head, only to see Steward Li tilting his head, completely devoid of breath.
"Thud!"
Zhang Yang collapsed onto the ground, his pale face smeared with blood. In the dim moonlight, he looked terrifying.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded, and the tightly shut door burst open with a "bang." Several soldiers rushed in.
One of the soldiers quickly went to the bedside, felt Steward Li's pulse, and then shook his head. "He's dead."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Yang, whose face was already pale, trembled with fear, then rolled his eyes and fainted.
...
At the same time, in the main courtyard of the Li mansion.
Eunuch Chang Gui was lying on his bed, asleep, but he hadn't taken off his outer clothes, nor had the candle been extinguished.
At this moment, the door was suddenly knocked upon, and a respectful voice said, "Your Grace, Steward Li is dead. The murderer is a servant from the mansion, and the person has been apprehended."
Eunuch Chang Gui's eyes snapped open, showing no hint of sleepiness.
He sat up directly from the bed and said lazily, "Bring the person in."
Before long, two soldiers escorted Zhang Yang, his face covered in blood and appearing to be in shock, into the room.
Eunuch Chang Gui curiously examined the youth before him, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
To kill his own father and mother, and then dare to kill someone in the middle of the night – quite ruthless!
Eunuch Chang Gui's expression remained unchanged. "Why did you kill Steward Li?"
The sharp voice echoed in the silent night, instantly bringing Zhang Yang back to his senses.
He looked up at Eunuch Chang Gui and suddenly knelt down. "Your Grace, spare my life! I... I was just too angry! That man surnamed Li forced my parents to their deaths and ruined my family. If he goes to Chongzhou, I will never have a chance for revenge. I beg Your Grace to uphold justice for me!"
Eunuch Chang Gui raised an eyebrow. "You killed Steward Li to avenge your parents?"
Zhang Yang nodded firmly. "Yes!"
Hearing this, Eunuch Chang Gui chuckled. "But I heard that you killed your father and mother to save your own life?"
Zhang Yang's face changed, and he appeared somewhat flustered.
After all, he was only a child in his teens, accustomed to a life of pampered luxury. Faced with such a major event, it was impossible for him to completely hide his true intentions.
"Your Grace, I... I was forced! That man surnamed Li forced us to take a knife. I couldn't wield it properly, and I accidentally used too much force, and... Your Grace, how could I possibly do something like kill my own parents? It was all an accident!"
Eunuch Chang Gui had grown up in the palace since childhood and had witnessed more schemes and tricks than Zhang Yang had eaten grains of rice. How could he not see through his little mind?
He smiled, not exposing him. "Killing incurs a debt of life. Steward Li is someone I was ordered by the Emperor to escort to Chongzhou for trial. You killed him, so how am I supposed to explain this to the Emperor?"
Hearing him mention the Emperor, a flicker of heat flashed in Zhang Yang's eyes.
Chongzhou... that was the heart of imperial power, where a thrown brick could hit a powerful person.
Zhang Yang regained his composure, his face filled with grief. "I was only avenging my parents! Since that man surnamed Li is to be escorted to Chongzhou for trial, I am willing to be a witness and explain to the Emperor myself. The Emperor is wise and discerning; he will surely understand my plight."
Eunuch Chang Gui was a shrewd individual and understood perfectly what Zhang Yang was plotting.
He couldn't help but laugh, his eyes showing a hint of pity. "Heh heh, little fellow, what kind of ability do you think you have to evade so many soldiers and kill Steward Li? When you killed him, did you not notice that Steward Li offered no resistance at all?"
Zhang Yang looked up in shock. "You... what do you mean?"
Eunuch Chang Gui looked at him as if he were a joke. "I never intended for Steward Li to reach Chongzhou alive. With you doing the deed, it saves me the trouble of doing it myself, and I don't need to find an excuse."
Zhang Yang's eyes widened in terror, and he trembled uncontrollably.
Eunuch Chang Gui leaned forward, his sarcasm undisguised. "If I hadn't sent someone to drug him, do you think Steward Li would have just lain there for you to kill?"
Zhang Yang slumped to the ground, cold sweat mixing with the still-wet blood, trickling down his cheeks.
How... how could this be...
Eunuch Chang Gui, in a good mood, waved his hand. "I am tired. Drag him away and deal with him!"
"Deal with him" again!
Zhang Yang detested those two words, but could do nothing.
"Your Grace, spare my life, Your Grace, spare my life!" He crawled forward with his hands and feet. "I... I shouldn't have been so clever, I shouldn't have tried to deceive Your Grace. I beg Your Grace to spare my life, I beg Your Grace to spare my life!"
Zhang Yang tightly grabbed Eunuch Chang Gui's pant leg, kowtowing in fear and humility. His forehead broke, but he didn't care.
Eunuch Chang Gui looked at him with a smile. "Given that you've put on such a good show for me, I can give you a quick end. Don't be ungrateful."
Zhang Yang shook his head repeatedly, completely panicked and chaotic. "No... Your Grace, save me! I will be your ox and horse in return! I... I will be your dog, you tell me to do anything, and I will do it. I will definitely be obedient!"
The soldiers nearby quickly stepped forward to pull him away, but Eunuch Chang Gui raised his hand to stop them, looking down at the person on the ground with a placid expression.
"You want to be my dog?"
Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly, no longer caring about dignity or self-respect.
But Eunuch Chang Gui was unfazed. "I am a trusted figure by the important people in the palace. I have no shortage of dogs. What makes you worthy of my protection?"
"I... I can be the most loyal dog by Your Grace's side." Zhang Yang seemed to have suddenly thought of something. "Yes, I will definitely be the most loyal and capable dog by Your Grace's side! I... I... Woof! Woof woof woof!"
Looking at him dejectedly imitating a dog's bark, Eunuch Chang Gui chuckled. "Hahaha! You are indeed a smart and obedient one."
With that, he reached out and scratched Zhang Yang's chin, as if he were scratching a puppy.
Zhang Yang's last shred of self-respect vanished with the sensation on his chin. All that remained was the desire to live and the ambition to seize power.
Eunuch Chang Gui seemed genuinely pleased by him, patting his head with satisfaction. "Alright, you will accompany me to Chongzhou and work for me from now on!"
Zhang Yang's pupils constricted, his mind reeling from immense joy, as if he had ascended from hell to heaven.
"Thank you, Your Grace, thank you, Your Grace! I will serve Your Grace well and be the most obedient dog! Woof woof woof!"
Hearing his barks, Eunuch Chang Gui felt an indescribable pleasure and couldn't resist teasing him for a while.
Finally, as it was too late and he was sleepy, he let Zhang Yang leave.
The soldiers present, having witnessed the entire scene, looked at Zhang Yang with contempt and disdain.
After Zhang Yang left, the soldier cautiously approached Eunuch Chang Gui. "Your Grace, are we really going to take this brat to Chongzhou?"