Friends 02

Lin Chengze still caused trouble from time to time, but now it was different—Fang Zhiyi shielded him, just like before. Fang Zhiyi didn’t even realize he had become a weapon in Lin Chengze’s hands, even covering for him among several women.

It wasn’t until the shrewd Xu Yan'er discovered the problem. But by then, she had already fallen in love with Lin Chengze and firmly believed he would achieve great things in the future. So, she directed her fury at Fang Zhiyi.

With just a simple frame-up, Fang Zhiyi was driven out. Then, Xu Yan'er’s people found him, offering to arrange a new job for him. Unsuspecting, Fang Zhiyi was led straight into the palace.

Only after entering did he learn that any man who entered the palace had to be castrated.

Pleading and struggling were useless. Fang Zhiyi became a eunuch.

Lin Chengze merely heard from Xu Yan'er that she had sent Fang Zhiyi into the palace. Thinking he was now secure in his position and that Fang Zhiyi had found a decent place, he didn’t pay it much mind.

Once inside the palace, Fang Zhiyi realized it was no different from the outside world—no, it was even crueler. As the lowest-ranking eunuch, he had no rights. He was beaten and strung up by older eunuchs for not knowing the rules, forced to do the filthiest and hardest labor, and fed spoiled food. At night, the pain kept him awake, and he began thinking of his parents.

Thinking of them, and of the villagers who had died, he suddenly found a purpose—to uncover the truth behind the massacre of their village.

Holding onto this belief, Fang Zhiyi grew patient, learning to read people. He silently noted every wrong done to him until, one day, he seized an opportunity to deliver a letter for a disgraced imperial concubine. From then on, he gained protection, but his personality also changed. He helped those who benefited him and repaid every slight a hundredfold.

Meanwhile, Lin Chengze thrived. Leveraging his "resources," he maneuvered his way into the imperial court, married Vice Minister Liu’s daughter Liu Ning, yet secretly maintained close ties with Xu Yan'er—even flirting with the daughter of another high-ranking official. More impressively, he swore brotherhood with General Zhenyuan, all while secretly courting the general’s concubine, whispering to her about his ambitions and struggles.

Fang Zhiyi, step by step, became the feared "Eunuch Fang," rising to the position of Chief Eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate. Ruthless and powerful, even the Empress had to yield to him. To uncover the truth about the Xinghua Village massacre, he extended his influence into the court, where he also discovered several assassination attempts and frame-ups targeting Lin Chengze. Out of loyalty to his old friend, he quietly resolved these threats.

But Lin Chengze had now joined the Huai faction, whose current target was Fang Zhiyi. After a brief struggle, Lin Chengze stepped forward, delivering a passionate speech at a palace banquet, denouncing Fang Zhiyi as a eunuch meddling in state affairs.

Fang Zhiyi looked up at him, staring at his once-brother, now so full of vigor. In that moment, he finally understood—the brother he remembered was long gone. What Lin Chengze wanted was glory.

The Emperor remained incompetent, and Prince Rui seized control of the court. Fang Zhiyi didn’t care. He continued investigating the past until, one day, Prince Rui slipped up. Fang Zhiyi learned the truth: Xinghua Village had merely been collateral damage. Prince Rui had sent men to assassinate a Prince, who happened to pass through the village. Afterward, Prince Rui sacrificed a few scapegoats to the executioner’s blade, and the Emperor didn’t bat an eye. To them, it was just the deaths of a few ants.

Rage burned in Fang Zhiyi’s chest, but seeing the armed guards around Prince Rui, he restrained himself.

In the past, he might have charged to his death.

With Prince Rui monopolizing power, the Emperor neglecting governance, and the court in chaos, rebellions erupted across the land. Even Lin Chengze, on Xu Yan'er’s advice, resigned and joined a rebel army. His reputation quickly elevated him to its leadership.

Fang Zhiyi remained the Chief Eunuch, using his intelligence network to leak information—the capital’s defenses, Prince Rui’s troop deployments, even the Prince’s body doubles. He didn’t care which rebel faction received the intel, as long as they fought the regime. He was already dead inside; now, he just wanted the dynasty to burn with him.

On the day the city fell, Fang Zhiyi stabbed the panicked Prince Rui to death, only to turn and see Lin Chengze striding in, sword in hand.

Lin Chengze glanced in surprise at the fallen Prince before shouting, "Fang Zhiyi! Surrender! Your crimes demand justice!"

Fang Zhiyi looked at him and suddenly laughed. "Ah, Chengze… You’ve won. You climbed over everyone—over the blood of Xinghua Village, over my bones—to become the great hero, haven’t you?"

For a fleeting moment, Lin Chengze faltered, glancing at his companions behind him. Then he pressed on, "Fang Zhiyi, why did you become this vile eunuch?"

Fang Zhiyi grinned bitterly. "Why? Because of hatred. I hate."

"You’re beyond saving," Lin Chengze lamented, pounding his chest. "Why couldn’t you see the beauty in this world? I always considered you a friend..."

Fang Zhiyi’s laughter turned hollow as he lunged with his dagger. Chengze must not have used a sword often—unlike him. Fang Zhiyi had practiced daily, gripping this dagger even in sleep. If he wanted, Chengze would die with him.

But in the end, the blade stopped at Lin Chengze’s throat. Looking down at the sword piercing his own chest, Fang Zhiyi closed his eyes. He was tired.

Lin Chengze became a hero. Though he didn’t ascend the throne, he was honored as a founding pillar of the new regime. Historians recorded how he charged into the palace, slaying the traitor Prince Rui and the treacherous eunuch Fang Zhiyi.

After reliving the story, Fang Zhiyi felt a chill below his waist.

Thankfully, there was still time.

Being a eunuch wasn’t ideal… but he’d adapt.

"Ah-Yi, let’s go!"

Fang Zhiyi studied Lin Chengze’s face. Truly, he had the looks of a protagonist. "Mm. Let’s go."

You’re in for it now. As Lin Chengze turned away, Fang Zhiyi’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

Not long after entering the city, Lin Chengze’s stomach growled. His eyes darted around before settling on a dumpling stall.

"Let’s eat." A sly glint flashed in his eyes.

Fang Zhiyi said nothing, simply following. They sat, and Lin Chengze boldly ordered two bowls. The vendor complied without suspicion.

Fang Zhiyi was hungry too. He lifted the bowl and dug in. Lin Chengze chuckled at him before doing the same.

As he ate, he calculated the best route to escape later. For two young men who had gone hungry for so long, a single bowl of wontons wasn’t nearly enough, so they ordered a second one. It was after finishing this bowl that Fang Zhiyi suddenly stood up, startling Lin Chengze, who was still sipping his broth.