Chapter 66: The Replica
Smoke circled in the air of the main chambers of Wushan Abode, such a familiar sight that Xiao Fu derived a strange sense of comfort from seeing it curling out from behind the lattice screen where their godfather was currently taking a bath.
Lately, Xiao Fu's dreams had taken a haunting turn, no longer filled with sultry laughter and coy glances from knowing eyes. Instead, the smoke that was ever-present had turned into the mists that covered the West Lake in the south and their godfather had become lost in its depths, distant like the blue mountains that lingered out of reach.
In his sleep, Xiao Fu would try to get to him, clutching with desperate hands at thin air until he realised he was too far out into the water and had forgotten how to swim.
It was never a good feeling to choke awake, chest heaving with the exertion of coughing up water that didn't exist.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Queeniecat
Queeniecat (1) Roots: This is the literal translation but also has the dual-meaning of progeny/descendants, and of course, the male reproductive organ that eunuchs don't have.
(2) Snap of the fingers: A traditional time measure that is approximately 10 seconds. If you're wondering why snapping fingers took so long back then, it's because this is a very poor translation. XD It's not snapping as we know it, it's a complicated historical gesture that is done as a sign of respect and it involves "using the thumb and middle finger to hold down the index before flicking the index out...?" I have no idea ...ORZ.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading! <3 For anyone confused about the different eunuch departments, please refer to the 'Inner Palace: Departments' chapter uploaded in the auxiliary volume!
Special thanks to: HLewis35, NumberOnePiggy, Nadine_Linter, and everyone who gifted me a golden ticket but whose names I cannot see :( !!! <3 And to Lavendelius, Fialova, Shooky_VSiga, Fluffyflirt, HLewis35, Okami_Aquila, Morganita3, Nadine_Linter, pratikshapawar2541, TillTheWeeHours, SmolBabyBun, lijffu, jesse_ just, KrystalKlear, lenuser, AmeTora, Phoenix_Dream, bubble_bunny, Snow_fox, Jazz_Labadesos, Mary_Emmanuel_5065, Daoist714801, shinonwater, rodnialba, Bossyjls, Frooza, Ndattsay, Evanna236_otaku, PeaceOut, Asmi_Vs, Dawnlore, Mohamed_Yasser_3639, saidessa, and Lueee_06 for the power stones/comments! <3
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone