Tang Yuan entered a long and narrow corridor and was led to a room at the end of the passage by a young palace eunuch. The room's temperature was quite low since the thick curtains were blocking out the Autumn Sun.
Tang Yuan stood paralyzed in the freezing room, his fat trembling under the cold.
The thick curtains blocked out the sunlight, making the chamber eerily dim.
And before him, standing like a specter of doom, was Old Zhu. Dressed in spotless white robes, with a ghostly pale complexion, the man's mere presence sent chills down Tang Yuan's spine.
"Tang Wan Li's grandson?"
Old Zhu's voice was flat, emotionless, and colder than winter frost. "Shed them off."
Tang Yuan's soul nearly left his body. He gulped, his chubby fingers gripping his robes tightly.
The eunuch then pointed at the white cloth on the floor.
"Strip naked and stand on top of that."
STRIP?!
If there had been a beautiful woman present, Tang Yuan would have disrobed faster than a rabbit on fire.
But in front of an old eunuch?!
His pride as a man—no, his very soul—revolted against the idea!
His entire body froze. His fat refused to budge and his mind screamed in resistance.
"Ah?"
Old Zhu's eyebrows twitched. He didn't move, but a powerful wave of pressure exploded from his body.
Tang Yuan suddenly felt as though he had been buried under an avalanche. His knees wobbled. His gut churned violently and his stomach rumbled ominously.
"Eunuch… uh… can you… please… turn away?" Tang Yuan pleaded, his face twitching.
Old Zhu's expression didn't change. He simply blinked once, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Take 'em off."
His voice carried absolute authority.
And worse... he was starting to enjoy this.
"Quickly."
There was no room for negotiation.
Tang Yuan whimpered. His stomach pains were reaching unbearable levels.
The storm inside was on the verge of eruption.
If he moved even slightly, there was a real risk that.
NO!
He had to hold it in!
"As you say…"
His hands shook as he untied his belt, his face filled with misery.
But just as he was about to beg one last time.
Shing!
A cold glint flashed in front of him.
Old Zhu's hand moved like lightning.
The blade of a small knife danced through the air.
Chi chi!
In one swift motion, his robes were sliced apart.
Before Tang Yuan could even react, his bare, rotund belly spilled forward like an avalanche.
Fwump!
His skin trembled. His fat wobbled dangerously.
And worst of all, everything he had desperately tried to keep hidden was now completely exposed.
Tang Yuan shrieked in horror. His hands instinctively shot down but there was too much belly in the way.
Oh thank the heavens.
His own fat protected his dignity… at least, partially.
Old Zhu's face remained completely impassive as he began circling around him. His sharp, piercing gaze scanned every inch of Tang Yuan's voluptuous, trembling body.
From his bloated arms to his sagging chest to the sheer magnitude of his stomach…
It was a sight to behold.
Old Zhu's expression didn't change, but deep inside.
What in the name of the Emperor's ancestors is this monstrosity?!
Tang Yuan, meanwhile, was on the verge of collapse. His stomach was rebelling. His legs were trembling.
His pride was shattered.
And the worst part?
He could feel it coming.
No… No, not now…!
He squeezed every muscle in his body and held his breath.
He clenched his entire soul.
But the inevitable was about to happen.
The Final Explosion… was imminent.
To make matters worse, Old Zhu forced Tang Yuan's massive body to bend forward. His unforgiving hands gripped the two wooden strips and parted the fatty's backside with surgical precision.
Then, he leaned forward.
His face was right there and his eyes were wide open.
His expression was serious, focused, and utterly unguarded. He was about to inspect the fatty's most forbidden depths.
POP~~~~~!
The sound of doom echoed.
Tang Yuan had finally lost control and just focused on controlling the voice from his throat as his body contracted and the tragedy took place...
Tang Yuan's body spasmed and a blazing golden torrent erupted like a volcanic explosion.
It happened too fast and too violently.
Old Zhu known for his unshakable composure, was caught completely unprepared.
His face was just mere inches away and his eyes were wide open.
By the time his brain registered the danger…
It was already too late.
SPLAT!
A golden wave of hell engulfed his entire face.
The viscous, steaming-hot substance smeared across his mouth, nose, and eyes with unforgiving intensity.
"AAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A scream that shook the heavens tore through the Imperial Palace.
----
Outside
Minister Tang sat leisurely, sipping on fine imperial tea, his confidence unshaken.
As a high-ranking official, he had already pulled the necessary strings—the ministers, the officials, and the nobles had all been spoken to. His son's selection was all but guaranteed.
The only remaining hurdle?
Old Eunuch Zhu's medical examination.
An unnecessary formality, Minister Tang thought, smirking to himself. Once he passes, my son is set for life!
The other candidates, many from influential families, had already lost hope. Seeing the unshakable confidence on Minister Tang's face, they knew the battle was lost before it even began.
Some had even begun leaving in quiet defeat, their escorts departing with grim expressions.
The victory was within reach.
But just then, a roar suddenly erupted from inside the chamber.
It wasn't just any roar—it was a howl of unimaginable suffering.
It was filled with pain—the kind that makes death seem like mercy, regret—as if one had just made the worst mistake of their life and, hatred—burning so fiercely, it could scorch the heavens.
The entire palace trembled under the weight of that cry.
It was unmistakable that the voice belonged to Old Eunuch Zhu.
A second roar followed, even louder, even more furious:
"GET OUT! YOU'RE DISQUALIFIED!!!"
The four earth-shattering words echoed across the entire Tian Xiang City, like heaven's decree.
Thousands of people, from nobles in their residences to commoners on the streets, froze in place, their expressions turning pale.
Minister Tang's hand stopped mid-air, his teacup trembling.
His smug smile faded.
His entire body stiffened.
The other noble families who had given up earlier suddenly turned to look at him. Some tried to hold back their laughter, while others simply stared in disbelief.
Minister Tang's mind spun chaotically.
What… just happened?
The roar carried as far as Jun Mo Xie's house.
Hearing the deafening scream, Jun Mo Xie's eyebrows arched in surprise.
Then, realization dawned and a slow grin spread across his face as he leaned back lazily, a smug gleam in his eyes.
Reaching for the teapot, he poured himself a drink and took a leisurely sip.
Satisfied, he nodded to himself.
"Fatty Tang, you actually pulled it off! Now you're truly worthy of being Jun Mo Xie's future partner! I will never doubt your abilities again!"
His voice carried a mix of pride and amusement.
Then, he paused for a moment—imagining the scene that had just unfolded in the palace.
The image of Old Eunuch Zhu's horrified expression flashed in his mind, and he could no longer hold back his laughter.
"Hahaha! I really wish I could have seen the look on that old eunuch's face…!"
His shoulders shook as he chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
If Jun Mo Xie had actually witnessed the scene, he would have realized that Old Eunuch Zhu's face wasn't just angry.
It was contorted in pure, absolute fury.
And worse... It looked a million times more horrifying than Jun Mo Xie could have ever imagined.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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