The Demon Queen’s Little Eunuch (GL)

Xi Bao, a woman from the twenty-first century, transmigrates into the body of Sun Xibao, a young woman in an ancient feudal society. She finds herself trapped in a miserable existence with her greedy brother, Sun Ergou, and his lazy wife, Liu. For two years, she has worked as a servant in their household, enduring abuse and exploitation. When Sun Ergou accumulates insurmountable gambling debts, he and Liu plot to sell Xi Bao to a wealthy, elderly man as a concubine to settle their obligations. Xi Bao fiercely resists, driving away matchmakers and threatening self-harm to deter them. Despite her efforts, Liu and the matchmaker, Ma Po Liu, decide to kidnap her and force her into the arrangement.

Simultaneously, in the imperial palace, a low-ranking eunuch named Liu Fu serves in the Siyuan Bureau. After ten years of stagnant service due to a lack of connections, he is approached by Meng Delai, the powerful head of the East Factory. Meng reveals that Yao Xian, the son of a political enemy, died unexpectedly after castration. To maintain a facade and continue his vendetta against Yao Xian's family, Meng orders Liu Fu to find a replacement boy who resembles the deceased Yao Xian within three days. Liu Fu, desperate for promotion and fearing for his life, accepts the dangerous task. He visits a prostitute for advice, who directs him to a matchmaker in the capital. Meanwhile, Xi Bao attempts to flee her home to find work in the capital, but is intercepted by Liu and Ma Po Liu, drugged, and sold to Liu Fu.

Liu Fu discovers that Sun Xibao is not a eunuch but a woman, yet her physical resemblance to the portrait of Yao Xian and her apparent disability make her a viable substitute. He smuggles her into the palace, where she is renamed Yao Xi and assigned to the Siyuan Bureau. Yao Xi lives in constant fear of discovery, binding her chest and hiding her true identity. She lacks a patron, leaving her vulnerable to bullying, though she maintains a friendly relationship with Zheng Dayun, an adopted son of a high-ranking eunuch who views their bond as romantic. Yao Xi’s primary goal is to save enough money to open a shop and escape the palace, but her chances are slim given her low status.

Her situation deteriorates when she accidentally offends the Empress Dowager, Wan Yi, known as the Witch Queen. While waiting for a transfer to a less dangerous post, Yao Xi complains about serving in Ning’an Palace, unaware that Wan Yi is present. Wan Yi, amused by Yao Xi’s boldness and appearance, orders her to serve in Ning’an Palace despite Yao Xi’s protests. During her first night duty, Yao Xi gets lost in the palace grounds and encounters Long Yi, the eldest princess and daughter of the late queen. Long Yi, who harbors deep resentment toward Wan Yi, initially plays with Yao Xi before revealing her identity. She attempts to help Yao Xi by taking her to Ning’an Palace, but Wan Yi remains suspicious and determined to torment the eunuch.

Yao Xi faces a choice between suicide and serving the formidable Empress Dowager. Long Yi intervenes, claiming responsibility for Yao Xi’s lateness, but Wan Yi refuses to let the matter drop. She orders Yao Xi to be brought before her, intent on breaking the eunuch’s spirit. Yao Xi, realizing the gravity of her situation, resigns herself to her fate, knowing that survival in the palace depends on navigating the treacherous politics and the whims of powerful figures like Wan Yi and Long Yi. Her journey in the palace has only just begun, with her secret identity and precarious position posing constant threats to her life.