Even if you gave Evelyn Smith another hundred years, he still wouldn’t believe it.

Thirteen

Dafeng Gorge was the stronghold of the rebels from the two Guang provinces. The government troops renamed it “Broken Vine Gorge.” With its many ravines, even after the battle, soldiers searching everywhere were still able to capture a large number of prisoners.

Evelyn Smith followed the soldiers throughout the entire gorge and saw with his own eyes the place where Thomas Reed self-immolated. It was a flat mountaintop, the traces of burning still visible. No one dared to approach. Evelyn Smith observed alone for a long time but didn’t notice anything unusual.

Unwilling to give up, he continued his investigation, chatting with everyone he met—from the generals in command to the porters carrying loads. He believed the truth lay somewhere amid the conflicting accounts.

When Evelyn Smith returned to the military camp, twenty days had already passed. The main army had been disbanded, leaving only a few to garrison the area. The imperial edict had arrived, and all the officers and soldiers were handsomely rewarded. The camp was filled with joy.

Ignoring his travel-worn state, Evelyn Smith immediately requested an audience with the commander-in-chief, Owen Grant, upon entering the camp.

Owen Grant, a civil official overseeing military affairs, had pacified the two Guang provinces in one campaign and was highly esteemed by the court, currently at the height of his influence. Yet he still made time to meet with this anxious centurion.

After the formalities, Evelyn Smith said, “I’ve heard that the army intends to castrate several thousand boys and send them to the capital. Is this true?”

“It is true. These children are all sons of rebels. By law, they should be executed. Granting them mercy is their good fortune.”

“This isn’t your true intention, is it, sir?”

Owen Grant’s brows furrowed slightly, beginning to feel this lowly centurion was being a bit insolent. “The court appointed me to oversee military affairs in the two Guang provinces. Naturally, I am in charge of everything in the army.”

Evelyn Smith cupped his hands and said, “Please don’t be offended, sir. I’ve heard some rumors claiming that the eunuchs in the army, under the pretense of presenting prisoners, are actually trying to make ‘Descendant Soup.’”

“Descendant Soup?” Owen Grant’s brows knit even tighter. He truly did not wish to get involved in eunuch affairs.

“It’s a medicinal soup that supposedly allows eunuchs to regrow their manhood.”

“Ha.” Owen Grant couldn’t help but laugh. “Absurd.”

Evelyn Smith did not laugh. “It is absurd, but the eunuchs believe it, and they’re actually doing it. The… parts of those thousands of boys are one of the key ingredients.”

Owen Grant put away his smile. “It’s not just boys. There are girls as well.”

“The girls are just a cover. What the eunuchs really want are those boys. And not all these children are sons of rebels—many were bought or kidnapped from other places. Eunuch Diana Young has been investigating this, but after arriving in Guangxi, he colluded with the other eunuchs.”

Owen Grant was silent for a long time. “You’re too late. I’m afraid those boys have already been mutilated.”

“Save as many as we can. Most importantly, we can’t let the eunuchs succeed.”

“Descendant Soup… could it really work?”

“Of course not. But once the eunuchs try it once, they’ll use even more brutal methods to try again.”

Only now did Owen Grant realize how serious the matter was. He said slowly, “I was ordered to oversee military affairs in the two Guang provinces. Matters outside of suppressing bandits are not my responsibility. But you can act—you have the emperor’s personal edict.”

Fourteen

Evelyn Smith sat in his room, quietly waiting for a visitor.

Without any announcement, Diana Young barged in, his face flushed, all traces of scholarly elegance gone. He rudely pointed at Evelyn Smith, “How dare you!”

Evelyn Smith stared at the eunuch. “You found out too late.”

Diana Young’s face turned from pale to red and back again. “Don’t think that just because you’re in favor for now, you can do whatever you want. You’re just a lowly centurion, separated from His Majesty by several layers. Once we return to the capital, I can see the emperor anytime. Can you?”

Evelyn Smith had to admit, although he was heavily relied upon, he had never been granted an audience with the emperor. For all matters, big or small, he had to go through his superior Benjamin Foster, and Benjamin Foster was not always in favor.

“I can produce indisputable evidence. Can you?” Evelyn Smith had suffered greatly from lack of evidence before. Since being transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was especially careful about it.

Diana Young’s face grew even redder. “You’re challenging all of us. Remember my words: when His Majesty becomes interested in immortality, that will be your death sentence.”

Diana Young turned and left.

Evelyn Smith sat for a while longer, then got up and left the room, summoning a group of soldiers. These men had all been assigned to him by Owen Grant and were under his command.

“Go to the eunuchs’ storeroom and confiscate all the ‘medicinal ingredients.’ They are evidence for the investigation. Not a single bit is to be lost, and absolutely no one is allowed to take anything away.”

The soldiers accepted the order. As long as someone took responsibility, they were willing to carry it out.

Evelyn Smith led a small group of soldiers to a nearby military tent.

Dozens of children were crowded inside, the youngest five or six, the oldest no more than fourteen or fifteen. They sat or stood woodenly, their eyes filled with fear.

Evelyn Smith could only save these children; the others had already been mutilated and were recuperating, preparing to be sent to the capital.

“You are a unique group of people.” Evelyn Smith looked at the children, a surge of uncontrollable sympathy and anger rising in his heart, but his voice remained calm and gentle. It was this voice that would stay with these children for life.

“Rumor has it you were born of fox spirits and raised by the Ghost Mother. Let’s just say the rumors are all true. From today on, you must forget your original origins and background. You will all take the surname Hu—‘Hu’ as in ‘ancient moon Hu’—with the middle name Gui, as in ‘osmanthus flower,’ and one more character, which I’ll think of in time.”