Volume One, Chapter 1: Willing to Marry the Emperor, but Unwilling to Enter the Bridal Chamber

The Great Zhou Dynasty, the third year of Kaiyuan.

Early winter.

Snowflakes fluttered down.

The imperial city, draped in silver-white, was adorned with lanterns and decorations, filling the air with festive joy.

Cao Mo walked along the palace path, glancing at the group of young eunuchs beside him, then surveying the magnificent palace walls around him. His heart skipped a beat.

Had he traveled through time?

And worse, transformed into a eunuch?

Hissing...

Two streams of memories intertwined—familiar yet awakening at this very moment, revealing the wisdom of his past life.

However, what both relieved and unsettled Cao Mo was that his body was somewhat unusual; he was not a genuine eunuch but a fake one!

Within the inner court of the palace, a fake eunuch—this was quite an explosive start!

If anyone discovered this...

He would lose his head no matter how many lives he had!

Suppressing his astonishment, Cao Mo tried to appear indifferent. The flood of memories in his mind soon made him understand his current situation.

He and the group of young eunuchs beside him were all idle servant eunuchs within the palace.

Today was the grand wedding day of the emperor and empress. Due to a shortage of staff, they had been drafted from various places to serve.

Even Cao Mo, who was currently mourning for his godfather, Grand Eunuch Cao, was no exception.

Once he understood the situation, Cao Mo steadied his nerves instantly.

As long as he survived today without revealing his fake eunuch identity, he could return safely to continue his mourning and plan his next moves carefully.

They proceeded forward.

Soon, the group arrived outside a splendid palace.

Looking out, the palace grounds were filled with artificial hills, ponds, pavilions, and towers arranged harmoniously. The plaque bore three grand characters adorned with dragons and phoenixes, exuding utmost opulence.

Huaqing Palace.

This was the emperor's exclusive bathhouse.

The group halted. Cao Mo cast a glance ahead and saw a striking figure standing before the palace—a beautiful person clad in white, face fair as snow, with a bewitching fox-like visage, androgynous and holding a sword.

Of course,

although androgynous,

it was clear at a glance that this enchanting fox-faced figure was a woman.

“You are the servants assigned to Huaqing Palace today, correct?”

The white-clad woman spoke with a cool, clear voice.

The lead young eunuch replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Highness.”

The woman's eyebrows shifted slightly as she examined each of the young eunuchs, finally resting her gaze on Cao Mo’s exceptionally handsome face.

“What is your name?”

Noting her gaze, Cao Mo suppressed the unease in his heart and answered respectfully, “Your Highness, my name is Cao Mo.”

“Cao Mo?”

The white-clad woman raised an eyebrow.

“Not bad looking. Go in and attend to His Majesty’s bathing and dressing.”

Cao Mo: “...”

He had an urge to curse but didn’t know if it was appropriate!

Normally, being chosen to serve the emperor’s bathing and dressing was a tremendous honor.

But he really didn’t want this honor!

As the saying goes, serving the emperor is like taming a tiger. If he displeased the emperor while serving, killing a young eunuch was easier than killing a chicken!

Yet, seeing the white-clad woman already heading inside without giving him a chance to refuse,

Cao Mo gritted his teeth and silently followed her.

The rest of the young eunuchs remained where they stood, each casting envious glances at Cao Mo.

To serve the emperor’s bathing and dressing was a rare privilege.

Perhaps if Cao Mo caught the emperor’s favor, he might be assigned to serve at the imperial court, rising swiftly in status.

Jealousy, pure jealousy!

Never thought being a eunuch depended on looks too!

...

Huaqing Palace was vast.

After following the white-clad woman inside,

they walked for nearly a quarter of an hour before arriving at a grandly decorated pool.

The entire palace was empty except for Cao Mo, the woman, and the emperor, who was bathing in the pool.

However, steam rose from the water, shrouding the scene in mist, revealing only the emperor’s back immersed within.

“Have you brought the person?”

The voice from the pool was calm as it spoke upon hearing footsteps.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The person has been brought.”

The white-clad woman nodded respectfully, then stepped aside silently.

“Are you Cao Mo?”

The voice from the pool asked indifferently.

Cao Mo was startled, puzzled how the emperor knew the name of a mere young eunuch. Still, he replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty, I am indeed Cao Mo.”

“Cao Mo, I have a matter I wish you to assist with—”

The voice from the pool grew soft and distant.

“Today is my wedding day to the empress. I want to become a father, but I do not wish to enter the bridal chamber. What do you suggest?”

Cao Mo was stunned.

Someone didn’t want to enter the bridal chamber? Could it be because the empress was too ugly?

But he dared not say this aloud.

“Your Majesty, I do not know.”

“Don’t know?”

The voice from the pool sounded meaningful.

“You should know.”

Cao Mo shook his head vigorously like a rattle.

“Your Majesty, I dare not know.”

“Simple—”

The voice suddenly turned cold.

“You will go in my place to the empress’s bridal chamber.”

“Me?”

Cao Mo felt as if struck by thunder.

“Your Majesty, I... am a eunuch.”

“But you are a fake eunuch.”

The voice directly pierced through his disguise.

Not a buddy?

Cao Mo’s heart chilled.

No more acting? How was this supposed to work?

“Your Majesty, I don’t even know how I became a fake eunuch. I entered the palace very young, but no one ever castrated me...”

Cao Mo confessed everything immediately. Before he could finish, the figure in the pool suddenly rose from the water.

The dragon robe hanging nearby was swept up and wrapped around that figure’s body.

This scene made Cao Mo’s gaze freeze.

This emperor was also a martial arts master?

However,

compared to the emperor’s martial prowess,

what happened next shocked Cao Mo even more!

The figure draped in the dragon robe stepped out of the mist, and instead of a man’s physique, it resembled a graceful woman.

Her chest was full and firm, her figure tall and slender, her waist curved exquisitely.

Her hair was like a waterfall of black silk, still damp, flowing behind her fair neck. Her alluring collarbones gleamed pure white and crystal clear.

Above those snowy collarbones was a face of unparalleled beauty, breathtaking beyond words!

Cao Mo’s eyes widened.

What was going on?

The emperor who had ascended two and a half years ago was actually a woman—and an extraordinarily beautiful one at that!

“I will tell you why—”

The woman in the dragon robe looked directly at Cao Mo.

Seeing the mixture of surprise and doubt on his face, she parted her cold lips and spoke softly:

“Do not be so fearful. The matter of you not being castrated was by the late emperor’s order, intended so that on my wedding day, you would stand in for me and consummate the marriage with the empress.”

Hearing this, Cao Mo’s mind twisted and turned, astonished yet relieved.

He quickly pieced it together.

In other words—

The current Great Zhou Dynasty’s newly enthroned emperor was female.

The late emperor had deliberately instructed Grand Eunuch Cao to raise a fake eunuch like him, so that on the new emperor’s wedding day, he could substitute for her in the bridal chamber with the empress.

“Do you understand?”

The woman’s gaze fixed on Cao Mo.

She revealed her true female identity openly to let him know that the summons disguised as drafting servants was actually a covert call for him.

The sole purpose was for this fake eunuch Cao Mo to share the bridal chamber with the empress!

He understood, but—

Cao Mo struggled to steady his emotions.

Being a fake eunuch was already explosive enough.

Now, being asked to replace the emperor in the bridal chamber with the empress—this was utterly shocking!

“This is a serious matter. If you are unwilling, you may refuse. I will not force you.”

The woman spoke again.

Refuse?

Cao Mo did not feel he had that luxury.

Glancing sideways at the silent fox-faced woman holding her sword, if he dared refuse, he would probably be done for immediately!

Just then,

Cao Mo suddenly felt his vision blur:

[Empress Xiao Rulong has issued you a mission: Replace her in the bridal chamber with the empress to complete the covert operation.]

[Mission completion rewards: Celestial-grade martial art “Kuí Yuan Inner Classic,” thirty years of martial cultivation.]

[Do you accept?]

Damn, mods?!

But it seemed this was his own personal mod!

Cao Mo instantly calmed down.

“Your Majesty, is the empress... beautiful?”

“I have never seen her.”

“...”

“But I hear she is a national beauty.”

“Face danger and hardship, Your Majesty!”