“Hm. No... this isn’t going to work.”

General Meng’s son had helped me put on the Golden Guard armor, only to shake his head.

It was obvious to anyone—it looked like borrowed clothing.

The loose-fitting upper garment sagged, and the sword at my waist was far too long.

Since I didn’t have an adult’s body, I looked far too young to pass as a Golden Guard.

In order to try what I’d proposed, I needed to get close to the Emperor, and to do that, I had to disguise my identity.

But clearly, disguising myself as a Golden Guard wouldn’t work.

There wasn’t any armor that fit, and the Golden Guard soldiers were all too burly—the difference in build was just too great.

If I approached the Emperor looking like this, even a fool would realize something was off.

As General Meng’s son wore a troubled expression, a voice cut in.

“Then bring the uniform of a eunuch. There are young eunuchs too, after all.”

“...What?”

Out of nowhere, Eunuch Wi Chung-heon suggested I try on a eunuch’s outfit.

The moment the idea of pretending to be a eunuch came up, I couldn’t help but feel an uncomfortable emptiness between my legs.

Before I could even object, Eunuch Wi Chung-heon gave the order to the eunuch who had followed him.

“Go fetch a young eunuch’s official robe.”

“Yes, sir!”

After a short wait, the eunuch’s clothes finally arrived.

A green robe and a headpiece without wings.

A eunuch’s attire I’d seen plenty of times before.

As I stared at the outfit in disbelief, Wi Chung-heon asked in a sharp voice.

“What’s the matter? Are you saying you don’t want to wear a eunuch’s robes?”

I quickly shook my head at his question.

Something told me if I said the wrong thing, he might sulk.

Isn’t there that saying—you shouldn’t look down on someone just because they live without attachments?

Those with nothing to lose are the scariest of all.

“Th-that’s not it at all! Eunuchs are, well, they hold high positions, don’t they? I was just taken aback since I’ve never worn these clothes before, that’s all.”

“Indeed. You’re someone who knows a thing or two. Not just anyone becomes an official eunuch.”

Wi Chung-heon looked quite pleased with my answer, but General Meng and his son covered their mouths, unable to stifle their laughter as I changed into the eunuch’s outfit.

A man wearing a eunuch’s robe—it was funny enough on its own.

‘Damn it.’

Grumbling inwardly, I finished putting on the eunuch’s attire when a voice spoke again.

“Hmmm...”

“This looks weird too, doesn’t it?”

“Your features are so delicate, it looks like a girl wearing a man’s clothes.”

Tilting my head at their words, I glanced at my reflection in a bronze mirror.

‘What do you mean, So-ryong looks like a girl? These people—!’

I tucked my hair neatly under the headpiece and examined myself in the outfit.

The real manly So-ryong was nowhere to be found—just some girlish-looking kid dressed as a eunuch.

‘Who... who are you?’

Ever since I ate that Woongjang last time, my skin had gotten smoother and my features a bit softer—maybe that was the reason.

Back when I disguised myself as a woman at Mount Putuo where the Princess resided, no one had doubted me. There must’ve been a reason.

“You have a pretty refined complexion, actually.”

“Truly...”

As the conversation continued, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

‘Wait... hold on. Is this atmosphere...?’

Just as déjà vu struck from their reactions, the conversation I dreaded began unfolding, as expected.

“In that case, perhaps...”

“General Meng, you were thinking the same?”

“Yes, maybe we should try it. It’d be easier to get close than as a Golden Guard or a eunuch.”

“To make this plan work, we’d need a palace maid anyway. This might be perfect. I’ll go look for a tight-lipped girl among the palace maids.

What are you standing around for? Go fetch someone useful. It must be someone who can approach the Emperor’s chambers without raising suspicion.”

“Yes, sir!”

It felt like I was going to have to crossdress again.

‘Sigh... I knew it.’

***

The two eunuchs who’d followed Wi Chung-heon returned after about two hours.

Trailing behind the Eastern Chamber’s eunuchs was a tightly-nerved palace maid, clutching a bundle tightly to her chest as she stepped into the room where we waited.

Having entered the Golden Guard prison under the escort of the Eastern Chamber’s eunuchs, she looked visibly tense.

Her hands were trembling.

“So, who’s this girl?”

“I-I serve under the Supervisor of Attire.”

“The Supervisor of Attire handles the Emperor’s wardrobe—so you serve beneath that eunuch. Seems none of the court ladies under the royal concubines were suitable, then.

Indeed, if it’s just about access, a maid under the Supervisor of Attire would be the best option.”

Seeing my puzzled look at her answer, Wi Chung-heon smiled and explained.

When I nodded, he turned his gaze back to the maid and warned her in a cold voice.

“From now on, remember what I say. From this point on, you neither saw nor heard anything. Do you understand? If you utter a word of this to anyone, you will no longer be a person of this world. Understood?”

Thud.

The maid collapsed onto her knees.

With tears welling in her eyes, she answered.

“I-I don’t know what’s going on, but... if this is something that would bring harm to the Emperor, then even if it costs me my life, I cannot go through with it. Please—just kill me!”

Despite trembling, her words were full of loyalty, and the two soldiers and eunuchs exchanged looks of admiration.

In a situation where anyone would’ve panicked—dragged to a secret prison by eunuchs—she stayed loyal, even if it meant death.

Wi Chung-heon looked at her with deep admiration.

“Well now. Who would’ve thought a lowly maid could possess such heartfelt devotion to the Emperor. What is your name?”

“U-... Unmirang, sir.”

“I can’t tell you the full details, but don’t worry—it’s not anything bad. It won’t harm the Emperor, it’s actually for his sake.”

“For the Emperor’s sake, you say?”

“Yes. So just do as you're told, and don’t say a word to anyone. That’s all.”

The eunuch spoke with a warm smile, and the maid seemed to mull it over before nodding.

“A-alright. But... if you’ve lied to me, I swear I’ll become a ghost and haunt you.”

At her cute threat, General Meng and Wi Tae-heon looked stunned.

“You’ve brought back quite the spirited girl.”

“Ha... I never thought we’d meet a palace maid who’d talk to us like that.”

“She’s an amusing one.”

As everyone responded with interest to her behavior, Wi Tae-heon gave her instructions.

“Alright then, I’ll tell you what to do next. First, help that young man put on the outfit you brought, and assist in disguising him as a woman.”

“Excuse me?!”

The girl looked at me, then at Wi Tae-heon again after hearing his command.

Her eyes clearly asked—how is dressing him up as a woman supposed to help the Emperor?

And they asked loudly.

‘I mean... even I’d be suspicious.’

***

"So lovely. Delicate. If someone said you were a girl, I’d believe it. No—what’s a girl compared to this? I’ve never seen such a beauty in my life. Still looks a bit young, but if I presented such a beauty to the Emperor, you'd be basking in riches right now. Hahaha."

"Hoho, just be careful not to show your face too much to His Majesty. He might summon you to his bedchambers tonight."

Wi Tae-heon and General Meng laughed as they admired me.

It sounded like praise, but it didn’t feel like praise.

Even the girl who’d dressed me up as a palace maid covered her mouth in shock.

I sighed and addressed General Meng and Eunuch Wi.

“Haah... please, enough with the jokes. Let’s just focus on getting things prepared properly.”

“All right. Don’t worry. You, come with me for a moment. I’ll explain what you need to do.”

“Yes, sir.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

With that, Wi Tae-heon took the girl with him under the pretense of giving her her lines.

The girl followed him eagerly.

“I’ll be back fully ready!”

The reason for her newfound enthusiasm was that she’d agreed to help us after hearing the details.

She’d asked how dressing me as a palace maid could possibly help the Emperor, and in the end, we had no choice but to explain the situation in full.

She had such a firm stance that without a proper explanation, she wouldn’t have cooperated.

Normally, someone so bold might have been dismissed immediately, but her loyalty had moved the elders, and so she was permitted to hear the truth.

And once she understood the story, she became eager to help in the mission to expose Eunuch Heo, who might pose a threat to the Emperor’s life.

By the time the sun had set, the Golden Guards, the eunuchs, and the palace maid all reappeared—fully prepared.

It was clear everything was ready.

Eunuch Wi briefed me on the preparations.

“Now then. Tonight, everyone around the Emperor’s bedchambers has been replaced with loyal people from both our factions. Who would’ve thought the Eastern Chamber and the Golden Guards would work together like this?”

“Life sure takes strange turns. Well then, we’re counting on you, young master.”

“Understood, sirs.”

With the three of them watching me expectantly, I first # Nоvеlight # followed the Golden Guards into the inner palace.

Thanks to them, I passed through the initial checkpoints without a problem.

Then I continued deeper into the palace, following the eunuchs. It took about thirty minutes of walking before we arrived at the destination.

‘Why is this palace so damn big?’

Just as I started feeling tired, a voice echoed in my ear.

[That’s the rear garden behind the Emperor’s quarters. Follow her now.]

[Understood.]

[This way, young master.]

We were heading toward the rear garden behind the Emperor’s chambers.

After arriving there, the palace maid hid me behind a dense peony bush and spoke in a low voice.

[This is the path His Majesty always takes. Even if he changes course, the attendant from the Supervisor of Attire will steer him this way. Stay hidden here and show him ‘that’ when the time comes.]

[Got it. I’ll leave the rest to you.]

[Don’t worry.]

She disappeared in quick steps.

Once she was gone, the guards patrolling near the peonies glanced subtly in my direction as they passed.

There were two types of guards: those from the Eastern Chamber and those from the Golden Guards.

It seemed both rival factions were working together to protect the Emperor.

Normally, hiding within the inner palace was impossible—not even an ant could slip through undetected—but thanks to General Meng and the loyal men from both sides, it was possible today.

The guards were all pretending not to see me.

I stayed hidden in the shrubbery, and after a long wait, the sun had set, and just as the maid said, the Emperor began his stroll through the garden after dinner.

He approached the peonies—heading right toward me.

It was time to make my move.

‘All right... let’s begin.’

***

After finishing his meal, the Emperor once again took a stroll in the rear garden.

It wasn’t out of loneliness for the absent Empress or Princess, as it usually was.

Tonight, he walked to aid his digestion—but also to calm his troubled mind.

The reason for his turmoil?

Baek Mi-in, a woman strikingly reminiscent of the Empress in her youth.

Lately, she had helped ease his loneliness—but now, it was because of the report concerning her adoptive father, Eunuch Heo, that his thoughts were in disarray.

At first, he thought the report was born out of jealousy.

Perhaps the other consorts and the officials backing them had slandered Eunuch Heo out of resentment for Baek Mi-in's growing favor.

There had been no such palace intrigue when the Empress was alive, but now, with her gone, it seemed such power struggles among the women of the palace had begun.

“What? Ak Bulgun?”

But when he learned that the one who filed the report was Ak Bulgun, an officer of the Imperial Guard, the Emperor could not hide his shock.

The Ak family had always been loyal to the royal household.

They had never been involved in the inner conspiracies of the palace or royal court.

They were known as a model family of loyalty.

The Emperor deliberated—if the report turned out to be true, he risked losing Baek Mi-in, someone he cherished. So, he decided to give her a chance.

Before ordering an investigation, he would give her a chance to confess.

“They say Eunuch Heo, whom you think of as your adoptive father, is part of a sinister sect known as the Five Venoms Clan—an ally of the Blood Cult that attacked the Princess. Is this true?”

“There is no way our adoptive father would be involved with such a wicked group! Please believe in his innocence... sob...”

But her response was only denial, followed by a tearful plea as she collapsed at his feet.

To handle the matter cautiously, the Emperor ordered both his trusted groups—the Golden Guards and the Eastern Chamber—to investigate.

As they kept each other in check, he would compare the results from both and make a judgment.

But when the Eastern Chamber returned, they reported that Ak Bulgun’s suspicions had been confirmed.

They concluded that Eunuch Heo was indeed a member of the Five Venoms Clan—a martial arts faction allied with the Blood Cult, who had attacked the Princess.

Even the Golden Guards, who had always opposed the Eastern Chamber, agreed with their conclusion.

Though reluctant, the Emperor had no choice but to initiate formal interrogation.

If he ignored right and wrong because of a woman, who would ever trust the Emperor’s judgment?

“Begin the interrogation!”

But just before the interrogation could begin, the leader of the Blood Cult—a crucial witness—was found dead.

The death of such an important witness could mean two things: either Eunuch Heo had silenced her to hide his own crimes, or the Eastern Chamber had killed her to cover up that she was a false witness they had planted.

The Emperor's mind grew heavy with doubt.

If they had confirmed that Eunuch Heo and Baek Mi-in were part of this sinister alliance through the Blood Cult leader, he could have punished them with the heart of one who weeps while executing Ma Su—upholding justice despite personal grief.

But the turn of events now left room for uncertainty, and that faint possibility made the Emperor hesitate.

Maybe the Eastern Chamber had fabricated the witness and killed her before being exposed.

Maybe Eunuch Heo truly was guilty and killed her to hide it.

At court, the officials had already split into two camps, arguing fiercely.

As the Emperor wandered through the rear garden, pondering how to resolve the matter—

Suddenly, a sharp voice called out from behind.

“Ah! L-look over there!”

Startled by the palace maid’s alarm, the Emperor turned in the direction she pointed—only to see something unbelievable.

“Is that... centipedes?!”

Illuminated by the palace maids’ lanterns, right in front of his treasured peony bushes...

A swarm of centipedes had gathered in a writhing mass.

To see such a number of centipedes in the Emperor’s garden—it was unnatural.

“Your Majesty, please step back! They might harm you!”

The Golden Guards rushed forward, shielding the Emperor.

Then, another sharp voice rang out.

“T-the centipedes! They’re forming letters!”

The Emperor looked again toward the peonies. Just as the maid had said, under the lantern light, the centipedes were indeed forming letters.

The characters spelled:

Beware of Heo.

It was a warning.

“This—?!”

“Th-the heavens must be using even the smallest creatures to deliver their warning out of concern for the Empire...”

At someone’s murmured remark, the Emperor’s eyes widened with shock. Then, a moment later, his voice rang through the garden, resolute.

“Arrest Eunuch Heo at once!”

It was as if the heavens had sent their guidance to a foolish Emperor.