Chapter 44 Jealousy

“The Empress Dowager is truly kind.”

After patrolling the imperial city, the Yulin Army rested in the same room. The night patrol was uninterrupted, with one team seamlessly connecting with another upon return.

However, tonight was their last rotation. Everyone took off their bamboo hats and straw raincoats, hanging their soaked outer garments on the rack beneath their armor.

Steaming hot soup to ward off the cold was already set on the table before their return. The warm steam rose, and the frozen Yulin soldiers eagerly drank large gulps.

With the hot soup down their throats, the night’s chill was immediately dispelled.

One soldier licked her lips with satisfaction: “The palace’s warming soup is truly different, incomparably better than what’s outside. I’ll have to make my husband learn how to make it when I get back.”

Another teased: “Come on, how can our commoner skills compare to the imperial kitchen’s master chefs?”

“Exactly, just look at these ingredients. They’re clearly extraordinary.”

Qiu Shuzhi silently moved to her own room and closed the door, instantly muffling the lively voices.

It was already past midnight, with heavy rain pouring outside in pitch darkness. She removed her armor and took out the handkerchief from her drenched collar.

Pure white silk, with a ‘Qing’ character embroidered in one corner. The soft texture felt weightless in her hand, slowly releasing a familiar sandalwood scent that seemed to conjure Qin Qing’s tender gaze in the heavy rain.

“My lady—” Ji Mei pushed open the door.

Qiu Shuzhi was startled, almost dropping the handkerchief.

She hastily stuffed it back into her sleeve and turned around with a composed expression: “Why didn’t you knock?”

Ji Mei held a still-steaming bowl of warming soup: “My lady, please drink some soup to ward off the cold. If you don’t, those women will finish it all.”

Her hand hidden in her sleeve tightly clutched the handkerchief, afraid its edge might peek out and arouse Ji Mei’s suspicion. “Put it down,” she said coolly. “You’ve all been busy all night. Get some rest early.”

“Yes.” Ji Mei placed the warming soup on the table and closed the door as she left.

Qiu Shuzhi sighed in relief, holding the handkerchief like a hot potato.

Handkerchiefs were intimate possessions for men in ancient times. It was improper for her to keep it, and could potentially cause trouble.

But if she didn’t keep it, where could she put it? Return it to Qin Qing? He certainly wouldn’t take it back.

Throw it away? What if Qin Qing asked about it someday? How could she say she’d discarded it like trash?

Sigh—

She sighed, caught in a dilemma.

The voices next door gradually quieted down, with faint snoring now audible. They must have gone to sleep.

Qiu Shuzhi temporarily set aside her worries. Her long hair was still dripping, and without modern hairdryers, she could only roughly dry it with a towel before sleeping.

As for the handkerchief, she didn’t dare leave it anywhere carelessly, fearing someone might discover it. She even kept it in the sleeve of her undergarments while sleeping.

But she tossed and turned in bed, the sandalwood scent constantly lingering around her, invisibly teasing every nerve, making sleep impossible.

The rain grew heavier, with several thunderous roars from the sky. Lightning flashed across the night, momentarily illuminating the pitch-black windows, revealing a figure’s silhouette.

“Who’s there!” Qiu Shuzhi exclaimed sharply, having keenly sensed the presence.

The figure wavered and fled hastily.

Qiu Shuzhi threw on some clothes, drew her sword, and gave chase.

The figure moved with light, nimble steps and excellent qinggong, their black cloak blending into the night.

“Stop!” Qiu Shuzhi chased them to a nearby rockery, leaping forward with her sword at their neck.

The black figure immediately halted.

“Who dares to trespass in the imperial palace?” she demanded in a low voice.

Faint footsteps of the Yulin Army could be heard in the distance; the patrol must be approaching. “Remove your cloak!” she commanded.

The figure slowly turned, a pair of slender, distinct hands reaching up to remove the cloak. In the rain-soaked night, a face of unparalleled beauty in the capital was gradually revealed.

“Your Highness, it’s you.” Qiu Shuzhi withdrew her sword, shocked.

Yue Guanyi stood in the rain, allowing the downpour to soak through his clothes. He had always favored white garments; as the rain fell on him, the fabric seemed to melt and become translucent like fine snow meeting rain. The thin cloth clung to his body, revealing the contours of his masculine figure.

Raindrops clung to his thick, crow-black eyelashes, then fell from the corners of his eyes. In the misty rain, they resembled glistening tears.

The footsteps of the Yulin Army were now close by, about to arrive. But Yue Guanyi’s thinly-clad appearance absolutely could not be seen by them.

As the footsteps drew nearer, in a moment of urgency, Qiu Shuzhi pulled Yue Guanyi to hide in the nearby rockery.

“Qiu—” Yue Guanyi began to speak.

“Shh—” A slender, fair finger pressed against his thin, cool lips. “Don’t speak. Wait for them to pass.”

The fragrance from her fingertip nearly intoxicated him. His wet eyelashes trembled slightly as he pursed his lips, carefully extending the tip of his tongue to lick where she had touched. His hand hidden in his sleeve clenched tightly—so sweet.

The space inside the rockery was small, barely able to contain two people. Their wet bodies pressed tightly together, yet burning hot. Even the rise and fall of their chests pressed against each other, their breaths low and warm, creating a secretive and ambiguous atmosphere in the pervasive moisture.

The footsteps of the Yulin Army passed almost right by them, less than a meter away, causing her to hold her breath involuntarily.

Only when they had gradually moved away did Qiu Shuzhi finally exhale in relief. Fortunately, they hadn’t been discovered.

She looked down at Yue Guanyi’s flushed face, his disheveled long hair soaked by the rain, wet strands clinging to his cheeks. He blinked somewhat uncomfortably.

She asked in a low voice: “Why did Your Highness appear in the Yulin Army’s quarters?”

His eyes trembled, showing slight unease: “I wanted to see you.”

Chang’an had firmly blocked him, reminding him to mind propriety between men and women.

But he couldn’t do it. His reputation was already ruined; he didn’t care about such things anymore. However, he feared his wanton behavior might tarnish Qiu Shuzhi’s reputation.

He sat restlessly in Fengyang Palace as the rain outside grew heavier, seeming endless.

The palace servants guarding the door were half-soaked by the splashing rain. What about Qiu Shuzhi?

Useless, useless. Those straw raincoats he had sent out were of no use at all. They couldn’t block the wind or stop the rain. The cold would seep through the gaps into the icy armor and penetrate her body.

Disregarding etiquette, he ran out, committing this base act of peeping. He knew what Qiu Shuzhi would think of him, but he just couldn’t help it. It was as if the rain was falling on his own body, invading him inch by inch.

“To see me?” Qiu Shuzhi chuckled softly. “There’s nothing worth seeing about me. Your Highness should return to the palace and rest early. If the palace servants discover you’re not in the palace, it could become a big issue.”

The rockery was pitch black, with only a faint orange glow from a stone lantern not far away.

“I know my behavior is improper. You must look down on me for this… I’m sorry.” He lowered his head, his voice as hoarse as if his throat had been damaged, the corners of his eyes red and wet.

“I’ve never thought that way. Your Highness, please don’t overthink.” She reached out her hand, brushing away the wet hair from the corner of his eye.

Unexpectedly, this movement caused the handkerchief hidden in her sleeve to slip out.

Qiu Shuzhi’s internal alarms blared. She tried to grab it, but forgot they were in the narrow crevice of the rockery. The sharp edge of the hard lake stone immediately cut her palm, and blood began to flow.

Meanwhile, the handkerchief floated lightly to the ground, landing at Yue Guanyi’s feet.

In the deep, impenetrable darkness of night, that white handkerchief was blindingly conspicuous.

Yue Guanyi reached out his hand, a pair of extremely beautiful hands with long, fair fingers.

“Don’t pick it up,” Qiu Shuzhi hurriedly said.

But she was still a step too late. Yue Guanyi had already picked up the handkerchief. A drop of rain fell on it, wetting the embroidered character.

The light handkerchief suddenly became unbearably heavy because of that single ‘Qing’ character.

Yue Guanyi’s eyes twisted with sour jealousy, his trembling wrist seeming unable to believe it.

“This is… Father Empress’s handkerchief… isn’t it?”

Such fine silk, such exquisite needlework, and a name that no one in the palace would dare to offend—who else could it belong to but Qin Qing?

Though there was clearly no other possibility, he still desperately asked:

“This isn’t Father Empress’s, right?” He asked, obsessive and agitated, almost crushing the handkerchief in his grip.

Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head, saying nothing.

Yue Guanyi staggered back a step in disbelief.

He had always known about Qin Qing’s filthy thoughts, but he naively believed that Qiu Shuzhi would never fall for an old, vicious widower.

But in the moment of Qiu Shuzhi’s silence, all his beliefs were shattered in an instant.

Even though he tried to control himself, the vicious fire of jealousy still engulfed his entire body in a moment, like countless dense worms burrowing into his flesh, gnawing at his heart bite by bite.

“Why?” The pain, as if his heart was being scorched, made his voice break, almost tearing.

“The Empress Dowager, he—” Qiu Shuzhi was about to explain the circumstances of the handkerchief to prevent Yue Guanyi from misunderstanding, but was interrupted by his continuous stream of words.

“Why? Why is Father Empress allowed, but I’m not?”

“Qiu Niang, please tell me, what’s wrong with me? How am I inferior to him?”

“What do you like about him?”

“His power? His appearance?”

“Qiu Niang… my Qiu Niang…”

“I’m clearly better than him in every way—why? Why?”

He pressed his head against Qiu Shuzhi’s neck, each suppressed word like the weak, sorrowful cry of a dying animal, tugging painfully at one’s heartstrings.

The corners of his eyes burned crimson, and he had so many more words left unsaid.

That old man’s figure and appearance were clearly inferior to his in every way. What right did he have?

Was it his bedroom skills?

He gritted his teeth, his throat burning with the taste of rust. He could learn, couldn’t he?

Qiu Shuzhi’s nerves were shocked by his continuous stream of words.

She hadn’t expected Yue Guanyi to misunderstand that she and Qin Qing were having an affair.

Being misunderstood as having an affair was one thing, but his first thought wasn’t to question why she would commit such a treasonous act, nor to expose the sordid affair between her and Qin Qing.

He was actually comparing himself to Qin Qing?

She was at a loss for words, all the explanations she had prepared suddenly seeming pale and weak.

Yue Guanyi… he truly seemed to like her.

She let out a deep sigh, raised his face with her uninjured hand, and said word by word: “There is nothing between the Empress Dowager and me. This handkerchief was forced upon me by him. Don’t overthink it.”

Qiu Shuzhi watched as a flicker of uncertainty passed over Yue Guanyi’s pale face. His wet phoenix eyes blinked. “Really?”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded, her cool brow and eyes carrying a hint of warmth: “Really.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes burst with joy, and also a sense of relief as if having survived a calamity.

The pallor of his face slowly turned to a rosy blush. Seeming to recall his earlier outrageous words, he quickly lowered his head. Even the fair skin at the nape of his neck was suffused with a light red. If not for witnessing his earlier state, one might truly believe he possessed a soft, delicate, and shy beauty at this moment.

“You say this handkerchief was given to you by Father Empress?”

Qiu Shuzhi made a sound of agreement. Strictly speaking, it was forcibly given to her.

“This is Father Empress’s personal item. If it stays with you, it might invite trouble. Why don’t I return it to Father Empress?” Yue Guanyi stared at the handkerchief in his hand, filled with hatred.

“That won’t do. The Empress Dowager doesn’t know about our relationship. If you return it, it would be too conspicuous.” She pulled back the handkerchief while wiping away the blood from her other hand.

This unintentional statement caused Yue Guanyi’s face to burn red… their relationship?

These words were too ambiguous, causing him to indulge in flights of fancy.

If that old widower could, if those little boy toys from the brothels could, why couldn’t he?

This identity was a burden, requiring him to maintain propriety and chastity while keeping his distance from her. Watching other beauties get close to her was like a knife twisting in his heart.

Why was he still carrying this burden?

Qiu Niang came from a Confucian background, practicing self-restraint and propriety. If he didn’t use some tactics, he wouldn’t even have the qualifications to get close to her.

Even though his reputation was tarnished and the outside world said he had lost his chastity, wasn’t what he wanted just to prostrate himself at her feet, to offer her his body and soul, to be her stepping stone, begging for her occasional gentle gaze?

Qiu Niang was kind-hearted. If he lowered himself and acted humbly and devoutly, perhaps she wouldn’t mind his past and would take him as her private male companion, Qiu Niang’s private male companion.

This phrase caught in his throat, swelling and bubbling, making him almost weep with happiness.

What else should he be concerned about?

He lowered his gaze, looking at the wound on Qiu Shuzhi’s hand caused by the lake stone, and made up his mind.

He knelt on the ground, reverently holding her hand like a devotee: “Your hand is bleeding.”

“It’s just a small flesh wound, nothing to worry about.” Qiu Shuzhi said dismissively, but Yue Guanyi kneeling before her made her feel somewhat undeserving. She tried to help him up from the ground.

Yue Guanyi didn’t move an inch. He had a pair of exquisitely beautiful hands. Even with calluses on his palms, it didn’t detract from their beauty at all, forming a stark contrast with her bleeding hand.

His phoenix eyes fixed intently on the wound, wiping it with his sleeve. Blood pearls seeped out one by one; as he wiped away a bit, more would emerge, instead staining his white clothes red, like the red dot on a crane’s head, beautifully ambiguous in the night.

“The wound from the lake stone is very blunt, so the bleeding won’t stop, but it’s not serious. When I return, I’ll use— mmph—”

Qiu Shuzhi drew in a sharp breath, her eyes widening like a bolt from the blue.

Yue Guanyi actually…

She stared in shock at Yue Guanyi kneeling beneath her, too stunned to utter a single word.

A warm, moist sensation gently and lingeringly brushed across the wound on her palm. Fresh blood stained the corner of his lips, tinting his pale lips red.

“Your Highness… You… You can’t…” She stared blankly at the kneeling prince, her whole body as if electrified. He was a prince, after all.

Yue Guanyi looked up, and in an instant, his phoenix eyes brimmed with allure, a beauty that could devastate the world.

“There’s nothing that can’t be done.” He chuckled softly as he tore his own clothes. The nationally treasured East Sea white silk gauze became a bandage for her wound. “That’s better now.”

Qiu Shuzhi stood stiffly, taking a good while to recover from Yue Guanyi’s actions.

That warm sensation still made her palm burn even now.