The Powerful Eunuch

Ruan Dian brazenly occupied the main seat in the hall of an official’s household, while the actual owner stood below the dais, only dared to be discreetly upset at Ruan Dian but not courageous enough to speak up. The owner’s surname was Wen1, an insignificant figure in the Yong Society2. Ruan Dian looked down at him condescendingly, “Aren’t you all tough bones, you men of the Yong Society?” He sneered, “Why are you already scared out of your wits?”

The man remained silent, so Ruan Dian waved his hand to his men and said, “C’mon, remind him of his involvement in hiding the fugitive.”

Three or four so-called “witnesses” came forth one after another. Judging by their outfits, they were street vendors, yet they were in fact thugs hired by Ruan Dian. Their testimony all pointed towards the same thing, that they saw the fugitive, who committed thirteen murders in a southern city last year, with their own eyes, and that he had entered Wen’s house in the middle of the night, around the hour of Yin3 yesterday. Obviously, Wen was harbouring a criminal, so by law, he was deemed to be equally guilty of the murderer’s crime.

“Hand over the fugitive,” Ruan Dian pointed at him with no mercy, “If you can’t produce him, you’ll come with us.”

Wen couldn’t be more familiar with the tricks of the eunuchs, “How much?” he enquired directly, “I don’t have much in my pocket.”

“One thousand taels4,” Ruan Dian had a shameless grin on his face. “For such an appalling crime, any amount lower than this won’t do you justice.”

Following that was a long period of bargaining. Clearly Wen didn’t want to deal with him any longer, so he asked straightforwardly, “Let’s both be honest. How much do you want?”

Ruan Dian saw that he understood the situation well, so his reply was decisive, “One hundred taels, in solid silver.”

Wen gestured to his family, and one of them immediately went to fetch the sum. Yet Ruan Dian suddenly shouted in rage. “Wait!” He stood up from his Taishi armchair5, “You all keep bragging about how eunuchs harm the people, but I think you scholars are the ones with evil hearts! To surrender one hundred taels of silver without blinking… How many bones of the common folks have you chewed on!”

Wen glared at him, but Ruan Dian sneered instead, “One hundred taels is too little to ask. Buy me another hundred horses by the end of this month!”

The silver quickly changed hands. In large strides, Ruan Dian stepped out of Wen’s house. He took a few taels and distributed them to his men the moment he exited the gate. Just as he was about to tuck the rest of the silver in his chest pocket, Aliu stopped him, extending his hand towards Ruan Dian and showing off his big sparkling eyes.

“Why do you need money?” Ruan Dian didn’t pay much attention. Aliu never asked him for money before, but this time he insisted, clinging onto him. “What’s the matter with you, kid…” He nagged like an older brother, and then he suddenly understood, “You want to give it to Guo Xiaozhuo?”

Aliu blushed and sniffed embarrassedly.

Ruan Dian’s expression became distorted. “You won’t learn the good things from me, but you have to learn how to keep a mistress?” He looked extremely distressed, “Have you seen what I’ve become after being with that bitch6?”

Aliu couldn’t care less about what he said, and insisted by stretching out his hand. Ruan Dian tried to persuade him earnestly, “Wake up from your daydream. You think you can afford him?” Yet as he spoke, he took out the silver, “For someone like him, how would he be willing to be with you?” He removed fifty taels from the pouch, and weighed them in his hand, “This pitiful amount is not even enough to touch his hand.” After a brief moment of consideration, he handed Aliu the entire pouch once and for all, “You fool!”

Aliu took the money and smiled adorably at him. Seeing how his face lit up, Ruan Dian felt both happy and concerned. He fiercely rubbed Aliu’s little cat-like face7, saying, “Alright, alright. Since it’s the money from corrupt officials, we shall spend it whatever way we want!”

As they walked, Ruan Dian cursed with hatred, “These hounds of Yong Society. They claim to fight against the eunuchs, but they don’t dare to confront us. Damn them, they only know how to torment the common folks!”

He turned around after finishing his sentence, only to see a bustling street behind him – Aliu had long disappeared. He smiled helplessly, “Heartless little one!”

Aliu was leaning against a large mulberry tree. It appeared like he had something in his chest pocket, as it was puffed up. He grabbed a handful of small stones in his left hand and flew them one by one towards the windowsill of the second floor across the street. He had lost count of how many stones he had tossed before the window suddenly opened. A tender and delicate face appeared behind it.

Aliu immediately stood upright and looked at him foolishly.

“Are you done yet?” Guo Xiaozhuo looked down from the upper floor, his sharp glare felt like raining knives. “You’re causing trouble every day, and don’t give me any money. You think you can walk away like that?”

Although Guo Xiaozhuo spoke provocatively, Aliu wasn’t angry at all. With a huge grin on his face, he fished out a hot paper package from his pocket – it’s the pastries and crispy biscuits from the Xiao Lin’s Family Shop8. Guo Xiaozhuo’s face softened a little as he spotted the package. He called his servant and shouted loudly, so that Aliu could hear, “Xiao Huan9, go and bring it up!”

The moment Aliu heard this, he dropped the paper package on the ground and trampled on it, crushing the biscuits to pieces.

Guo Xiaozhuo watched from upstairs, and he was furious. “You little mute, don’t mess with me!” He stomped and stormed downstairs as he spoke, and violently pushed Aliu twice.

Aliu was more than willing to be pushed. Very happily, he tightened his lips to hide his smile. Guo Xiaozhuo should have just woken up, as he had not combed his hair, nor did he have any makeup on. His lustrous long, black hair hung loosely down to his waist, and his robe was fresh and clean, exuding a childlike innocence. Aliu studied Guo Xiaozhuo eagerly, as if his gaze was penetrative, which made Guo Xiaozhuo so uneasy that he glared at him, cursing him “You little bastard”. Only then did Aliu untie the pouch of silver taels from his waist and show it to Guo Xiaozhuo.

“Where did you get this from?” Guo Xiaozhuo stopped pushing him. “Did you steal it? Or extorted it?”

Aliu tried to grab his hand, but Guo Xiaozhuo immediately shoved him away. “What?” He was very condescending, “You want to touch my hand with this poor amount of silver?”

Aliu’s hand didn’t meet Guo Xiaozhuo’s in midair, so he awkwardly brushed his empty palm on the side of his robe. Looking at his shabby appearance, Guo Xiaozhuo sneered arrogantly. “Every time you come here, you bring me either flowers or leaves. And when you finally bring some silver with you, you act like it’s precious, but that’s only a few dozen taels!”

Aliu lowered his head. Guo Xiaozhuo crossed his arms on the chest and asked, “Speak up. What do you want?”

Aliu didn’t lie to him and pointed to a nearby alley. As Guo Xiaozhuo’s eyes followed Aliu’s hand, he became appalled. “Oh my god! You little eunuch have a filthy mind!”

Aliu blushed shyly and clasped both of his hands into fists, only stretching out his two thumbs. He positioned the tips of the thumbs towards each other, and was just barely joining the two thumbs10 when Guo Xiaozhuo appeared as if he was experiencing tremendous insults. He pulled Aliu’s sleeve and forced him into the alley, mumbling, “Let’s go, you want a kiss, eh? You’ll have to do it today!”

The passersby on both sides of the street were watching. Although Aliu was taller than Guo Xiaozhuo by half a head, he was dragged into the alley like a young girl. The alley was dark, so dark that Aliu couldn’t see Guo Xiaozhuo’s face clearly. Yet all he felt was the warm, almost burning sensation of the person grabbing him. His hot breath was sprayed across Aliu’s face again and again, saying, “Where do you want to kiss? Go ahead!” Guo Xiaozhuo leaned in close and whispered softly and dangerously in his ear, “If you dare to kiss me, I’ll have Zheng Xian cut off your head!”

It was Guo Xiaozhuo’s expectation that Aliu wouldn’t dare, believing that he was exactly like those opportunistic patrons who were adept at assessing the situation. Yet he didn’t expect Aliu to suddenly hug him extremely tightly. His hug came so eagerly and fiercely, that the pouch of silver taels dropped to the ground with a clatter, spilling the contents all over the place.

“Hey what are you doing!” Guo Xiaozhuo struggled but couldn’t wrench free. Only then did he realise, that the little eunuch was very strong, even stronger than those rich and powerful men. He thought Aliu would take advantage of the situation to touch him and harass him, but he didn’t – all he did was to hug him tightly in his arms. After remaining in his embrace for a while, even Guo Xiaozhuo softened up. He pretended to be displeased, but acted coquettishly, “Hey, what are you doing…”

When Yishiha entered the chamber, Mei Azha was in front of the altar and worshipping the statue of Guanyin11. He took a sideways glance at Yishiha, stood up from the praying mat and casually greeted him, “You’re here.”

Yishiha appeared casual as well. He nodded his head and kneeled down on the praying mat, which was still warm, and muttered a Buddhism prayer in the Jurchen12 language. The altar was built for a statue of the Black Guanyin13, which was dressed in a black robe, holding a black bottle14 in her hand, and had a silver aura behind her. This type of statue was a popular choice of worship among the eunuchs in Jiangnan15.

“I’ve discussed it with Qi Wan.” Mei Azha picked up his teacup with his prayer beads wrapped around his hand. He rested his back against the table.”Wait for his message”, he said.

Yishiha was silent, as if he was still ambivalent about his choices. Mei Azha considered for a moment, “You’re aiming high, but have you ever thought of Zhang Cai?”

Yishiha lowered his head and mumbled, “Jin Tang doesn’t like me anyway16.”

Mei Azha’s stare at him was intent, which reminded Yishiha of an elder who had been through numerous vicissitudes, or a person burdened with grievances that he couldn’t bring himself to disclose. “Young man, you will surely regret this.”

“As a Jurchen, what else can I do?” Yishiha stood up from the praying mat, adjusted the wrinkles on his Yesa17. “Either I climb up, or remain mediocre and be stepped on by the others.”

It would be unfair to claim that Mei Azha didn’t understand him, rather, he may have understood Yishiha much too well. “Don’t be always fixated on your identity as a Jurchen. You are a human being first of all. So long as we are humans, we all inevitably have desires and emotions. There are no exceptions, even for us, eunuchs.”

Presently, someone outside knocked on the door. “Grandfather18.” It was Mei Azha’s servant calling. “There’s a woman looking for Yishiha, waiting at the back door in the west.”

Mei Azha’s hand, which was counting the prayer beads, stopped, and directed his gaze towards Yishiha. Yishiha avoided his gaze nervously like he was guilty of something, and left the chamber after irritably pushing the door open.

He hastened and arrived at the back door facing west. Indeed, there was a woman standing outside. She had a tall stature and a face in the shape of a melon seed. She wore her hair in an exquisite style that befit a royal maid, and was dressed in the finest palace robe – the same girl Yishiha and Xie Yilu saved in the Qinhuai River19.

When she saw Yishiha, her eyes lit up, but Yishiha only replied ruthlessly, “Didn’t I tell you not to come again?”

The radiance in her expression instantly dimmed. Her body tensed up as she invested all her strength in maintaining her composure – she was clearly arrogant in her daily life. “I am a registered maid of the Kaipingwang Mansion20,” even her voice was trembling in her effort, “For you, it’s not an unfair match21.”

“It’s nothing about fairness.” Yishiha didn’t even bother to spare her a proper glance, “I have someone else in my heart.”

She wasn’t convinced, “You’re just…” The words were on the tip of her tongue, but with the two gatekeeping eunuchs nearby, she altered the words. “Don’t find faults in me only. You’re also nothing but a rootless22 servant.”

Yishiha glared at her with abhor. “I should have left you to drown that day!”

He possessed such a cold heart of stone. Upon uttering those harsh words, he didn’t even bother to look at her pale expression. He flicked his sleeves and was ready to leave. Just as he turned around, he noticed someone with Danfengyan23 and an oval face standing several steps away — it was Zhang Cai.

Zhang Cai looked at him, and then at the woman standing outside the gate. He asked, “Who is she?”

Yishiha was silent for a moment. The woman, unaware of their relationship, interjected in a fit of pique, “I am his woman. My bite marks are on his hand!”

Zhang Cai’s face immediately turned solemn, which was followed by a fierce expression of someone eager to spill blood. He growled at the gatekeepers, “Close the gate!” and paced back and forth anxiously. “If anyone ever spots this woman again, whoever dares to open the door and take her message, I will flay his skin!”

The door was shut right away, but the intense pounding on the door followed immediately. Amidst the noisy clamour, Yishiha approached Zhang Cai and softly explained, “She came to me on her own. I didn’t return her feelings.”

Zhang Cai forced himself to not look at him, but perhaps he placed himself too low in front of Yishiha, so he couldn’t resist to steal a look. He was fully planning to glare fiercely at him, even if it meant he had to pretend. However, when he lifted his eyes, the supposedly fierce glare transformed into a gaze full of sorrow and agony, which shattered Yishiha’s heart. “Let’s go,” Yishiha reached for Zhang Cai’s hand, “and change our clothes. We had a deal, remember? Every year on the thirtieth day of April24, we shall wear red and ride horses shoulder to shoulder through the Stone City Gate.”

Zhang Cai didn’t move. “You’re getting bad influences from Ruan Dian and the rest. Keeping mistresses outside…” As he spoke, he wiped his eyes with his sleeves, ashamed of his tears.

“Come,” Yishiha held him in his embrace, like a big brother, or a lover, and gently coaxed him, “Get your spare change ready. If those beggars outside the city gate couldn’t meet you, they would probably starve.”

At the end of the day, Zhang Cai couldn’t resist him for long, so he obediently turned around. As he did so, he stole a glance at Yishiha’s left hand, and there was indeed a faint bite mark between his thumb and index finger.

Footnotes

The Chinese character for Wen is 闻.  

Yong Society, or Yong She, 咏社, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ‘real men’ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch’s party. 

In ancient China, a day was divided into twelve internals. Each interval is two hours and has a special name. Starting from the first hour, the hour of Zi, which is 2300-0100, the third hour, Yin, is 0300-0500.  

As some of the poems mentioned in the book were written in the Wanli Emperor’s reign in the Ming Dynasty, I looked up some information on how much money is one tael of silver during that period of time. One tael of silver could purchase 188.8kg rice in ancient China. 

Taishi armchair, Taishi Yi, 太师椅, is a type of carved wooden chair often found in traditional Chinese households.  

This is the young harlot a few chapters back. She will appear again in future. 

When Aliu was sent to assassinate Xie Yilu, Xie Yilu also thought that Aliu looked like a cat.  

Xiao Lin’s Family Shop, Xiao Lin Jia Dian, 小林家店, the name of a bakery.  

Xiao Huan, 小环, the name of Guo Xiaozhuo’s servant.  

This action looks somewhat like this, but the thumbs should be stretched upwards, with the fists slanting towards each other so that the tip of the thumbs touch. I’m not sure whether this hand gesture is universal, but when I was younger, kids would use this action to indicate “kissing” or “being in love”. 

Guanyin, 观音, is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She was first given the appellation “Goddess of Mercy” or “Mercy Goddess” by Jesuit missionaries in China. Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World.” 

Jurchen, or Nvzhen, 女真, lives in northeastern China. They are East Asian Tungusic-speaking. Jurchen people are now known as Man Zu, 满族, and have the second largest population among the 56 ethnic groups in China. The Jurchen people were at war with the Han people in the Ming Dynasty, so it’s safe to say that Yishiha was not welcomed by the majority of people in this story. Eventually, Hong Taiji won and established the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty in China with Man Zu royals.  

The Black Guanyin, Hei Guanyin, 黑观音, is a type of Guanyin statue that is mostly or all black. This is different from the usual colour of Guanyin statue, which can be in the copper colour or painted in multiple colours. Scroll down to see the picture of bla 

There is a bottle in Guanyin’s left hand containing the purest water, and the right holds a willow branch. 

Jiangnan, 江南, is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of its delta. The region encompasses the city of Shanghai, the southern part of Jiangsu Province, the southeastern part of Anhui Province, the northern part of Jiangxi Province and the northern part of Zhejiang Province. Nanjing is one of the cities in Jiangnan. 

Jin Tang is like a big brother to Zhang Cai.  

Yesa, 曳撒, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here.  

Grandpa is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors.  

In ancient China, Qinhuai River, Qinhuai He, 秦淮河, was known for having numerous harlot houses and other forms of entertainment.  

Kaipingwang Mansion, or Kai Ping Wang Fu, 开平王府. Wang Fu is the residence of a prince. Kai Ping is the royal title of the prince.  

As mentioned in my foreword, eunuchs and palace maids can form relationships called Duishi, or Caihu. This was allowed in the Ming Dynasty, the era of our story.  

Root, or Gen, 根, is used as a metaphor here. Just as how plants can’t grow strong or reproduce without taking roots, similarly, eunuchs lacking their “root” cannot father children or establish a family, so they’re considered to be inferior to real men.  

Danfengyan, 丹凤眼, an Asian eye shape describing long and narrow eyes, with the tail of the eye slanting slightly upwards. See an example here.  

April here refers to the fourth month of the lunar calendar.