Chapter 46 The Empress Dowager’s Imperial Son – A Little Chubby Chapter

For a moment, Qiu Shuzhi felt as if she saw a fluffy little dog, left by its owner at someone else’s house, pitifully waiting by the window every day for its owner to take it home.

“Has Sir Qiu not eaten yet?” The long, slender fingers like cold jade, twisting the waistband.

Knowing that the night-duty Imperial Guards usually waited until leaving the palace the next day to have breakfast on their own, he deliberately said: “Why don’t we have a meal together at Fengyang Pavilion… is that alright?”

Qiu Shuzhi remained silent for a moment.

Yue Guanyi thought he would be rejected again, feeling disappointed but already used to it. A gloomy haze covered his eyes. Although it was always the same result, he was still full of hope every time, daydreaming that one day Qiu Shuzhi would agree to his small plea.

“If Sir Qiu is unwilling… then forget it.” He said softly, his voice more delicate than down feathers.

Although he was thick-skinned and obsessively wanted to be close to her, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

“Alright,” Qiu Shuzhi suddenly replied.

Yue Guanyi was stunned for a moment, his fingertips trembling as if in panic. His low voice instantly became lively, with excitement, shyness, and elation all mixed into one sentence: “Quickly, have the kitchen bring the meal! Hurry!”

Chang’an hurriedly responded with delight, busy going to the kitchen to arrange preparations. As he left, the smile on his face couldn’t be hidden.

As soon as Chang’an left, the hall suddenly became empty.

Yue Guanyi’s hand twisting his waistband tightened, his gaze falling on Qiu Shuzhi’s hand. Her palm was still bandaged with the cloth torn from his own body yesterday. The exposed fingers were pure white and flawless, making even the East Sea white silk lose its luster.

He hadn’t slept all night, and the absurd images of jealousy clouding his mind surged up. The tip of his tongue across her palm, the sweetness mixed with the taste of rust violently impacting his consciousness, burning like a branding iron, making his whole body hot, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating to near stopping.

He knelt humbly at her feet like a young male courtesan soliciting favor in a brothel. No, he was not even as good as a lowly male courtesan. He was just a dog wagging its tail and begging for pity, wishing he could kneel down and lick her toes. Even if she drove him away and whipped him, he would only wag his tail to please her, begging for a bit of mercy.

“Does Sir Qiu’s hand still hurt?” he asked with concern.

Qiu Shuzhi touched her palm: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The wound doesn’t hurt and it’s not a bother.”

Yue Guanyi lowered his eyes, seemingly hesitant. No matter what, he always went along with her wishes, not daring to defy her, but this time he still instructed the palace attendant beside him: “Go fetch the medicine box.”

Qiu Shuzhi guessed what he was about to do and quickly said: “It’s just a small wound, no need for such trouble.”

But Yue Guanyi didn’t think so.

Last night, in a hurry, he could only hastily tear off a piece of cloth from himself to bandage it, but the wound hadn’t been treated with medicine. The wound from the lake stone was both blunt and deep, and after soaking in rainwater for so long, it would definitely leave a scar if not treated.

The palace attendant quickly returned with the medicine box. Yue Guanyi sat beside Qiu Shuzhi, cradling her hand, his gentle and careful movements as if her hand was some priceless treasure.

“Sir Qiu was injured because of me. Even if it’s what you call a small wound, it’s enough to make me feel guilty to death. Sir, let me atone for my sin.” His heart pounding like a drum, he carefully untied the knot on her palm.

The gauze was unwrapped layer by layer, each layer revealing more red: light red, pale red, pink red, deep red, until the shocking blood red.

“Hiss—” Qiu Shuzhi drew in a sharp breath.

The last layer of cloth was already stuck in the bloody flesh. Blood had soaked through, and after being drenched in rainwater, the swollen, bloody mess enveloped the gauze deeply embedded, blooming into a decadent flower. Only then did she realize how deep the wound had been cut.

Yue Guanyi’s hand noticeably trembled, the gauze in his hand so heavy it seemed he could barely hold it. When she felt pain, he shuddered as if from cold, a chill sweeping from his feet throughout his body. His fingertips touching her hand were frighteningly cold.

“I’m sorry.” The light in his eyes instantly withered, his voice like his throat had been burned by a red-hot branding iron. His pale lips trembled for a long time before he uttered three words.

“It’s alright,” Qiu Shuzhi said gently. “Your Highness, please continue.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his gray eyes devoid of any color. His fingertips gripped the edge of the last layer of cloth, hesitating to remove it.

The blurry flesh filled his eyes, he trembled so much he could barely hold the cloth. The pain almost tore his heart apart. How could he be so useless, only caring about being jealous and envious, yet not carefully examining her wound, letting her suffer for a whole night. The threads of the gauze had already deeply embedded into the flesh; pulling it would tear the skin and flesh off.

Yue Guanyi had seen scenes more cruel than this countless times in Zhao Prison, hearing the prisoners’ heart-rending screams without being moved, but here with Qiu Shuzhi, he completely crumbled.

Seeing that Yue Guanyi still couldn’t bring himself to do it, Qiu Shuzhi simply took the initiative to tear off the last layer of gauze herself. The softened and rotted wound was like a piece of putrid flesh being forcibly torn off, revealing stark white bone.

“…I’m sorry.” At this moment, he could no longer hold back, his voice trembling, suppressed, embedded with guilt, almost wailing. If not for the palace attendants present, he would have knelt down.

“It’s alright,” Qiu Shuzhi raised her hand, gently stroking his thin, trembling back. “Your Highness, this is not your fault.”

“I…” He was so devastated he could barely speak.

Qiu Shuzhi continued to gently stroke his thin, shivering back. Never had anyone been so panicked and remorseful over a small injury of hers, as if they had committed an unforgivable sin. The desolation in his eyes made her mistakenly think he might commit suicide to atone for his crime the next second.

She sighed inwardly; he was too cautious, too humble.

After a long while, Yue Guanyi took a deep breath, his voice trembling: “Let me apply medicine and re-bandage it for you.”

Qiu Shuzhi smiled and nodded.

A cotton ball dipped in wound medicine was applied dot by dot on the wound. Afraid that any movement might hurt Qiu Shuzhi, Yue Guanyi held his breath in concentration, his hand movements so light they were almost imperceptible.

A strip of gauze in his hand, like a white silk ribbon, wrapped around her palm layer by layer. After carefully checking and securely bandaging every part, making sure nothing was missed, he finally let out a long sigh.

“Your Highness—” she called softly.

Yue Guanyi was still immersed in deep remorse. Hearing Qiu Shuzhi, he raised his head in confusion.

“Your Highness did very well.” Qiu Shuzhi leaned slightly, whispering in his ear, her low, gentle tone like lovers’ private words.

His fair and flawless face instantly flushed red, his crow-like eyelashes fluttering as he lowered his head. His shy appearance was exactly like a ripe peach, seeming as if it would drip water if poked.

“Your Highness, the kitchen has prepared everything. Shall we serve the meal?” As soon as Chang’an entered the room, he saw his master sitting obediently beside Qiu Shuzhi, a thin blush of shyness spreading across his face.

Chang’an’s voice seemed to wake him from his coyness. He straightened up: “Serve the meal.”

The imperial breakfast was consistently extravagant, with beef, mutton, donkey meat, and seafood, all available. However, eating these things so early in the morning was rather greasy.

But Yue Guanyi didn’t even glance at these. In front of him was just a bowl of plain porridge and a few small side dishes, while the feast laid out on the full table seemed like mere decoration.

She had previously thought Zhou Hu’s life was already luxurious, but she didn’t know that the imperial family’s extravagance far exceeded her imagination. These things that Yue Guanyi didn’t eat would mostly be thrown away. Today was like this, and in past years, countless breakfasts must have been the same.

Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t help but think of that refugee family who had starved to death, and inevitably felt some emotion.

“Sir?” Yue Guanyi called softly.

His voice pulled Qiu Shuzhi back. In front of her was a small bowl filled with various pre-cut meat pieces and a bowl of thick soup, all personally served by Yue Guanyi.

She hurriedly said: “Your Highness, this is not appropriate. My rank is low, how can I let you personally serve dishes?”

“You were injured because of me, Sir. Your hand is inconvenient to use chopsticks. What’s wrong with me being your hand?” He suppressed his excitement, using serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of red shrimp, personally peeling it and placing it in her bowl: “Sir, please try it and see if it suits your taste?”

Qiu Shuzhi looked at the ‘sumptuous’ breakfast in the white porcelain bowl, only tasting the shrimp he had just peeled: “It’s very delicious.”

A polite compliment made the corners of Yue Guanyi’s lips curl up almost imperceptibly. His phoenix eyes showed no arrogance or haughtiness, only the secret joy of a puppy praised by its owner, the invisible tail behind him wagging frantically.

Qiu Niang ate the shrimp he peeled – the shrimp he personally peeled was put in Qiu Niang’s mouth, licked and chewed, slowly sliding down her throat and finally entering her stomach.

Just thinking about it made him too excited to contain himself. He looked at her adoringly. This was the life he had dreamed of – being the man behind her, serving her meals and daily needs, living for her.

He rolled up his sleeves, wanting to peel more shrimp for her, but was stopped by Qiu Shuzhi.

“One taste is enough. I don’t really like eating meat dishes in the morning.”

Yue Guanyi nodded dazedly, hurriedly removing the white porcelain bowl in front of her and replacing it with a small bone china dish, and picked up some pickled radish and pickled cucumber, his movements as skillful as if he wasn’t a pampered prince.

How could Qiu Shuzhi know that this scene had appeared in Yue Guanyi’s dreams countless times?

He never had grand ambitions; becoming the Commander of the Imperial Guards was also due to circumstances. The only thing he wanted to do was to be the man in her back courtyard, taking care of her meals and daily needs, warming her bed, and… bearing eight or ten children for her.

Thinking of these unrealistic obsessions, his pale face flushed with an unnatural thin blush.

He covered his burning hot face, fortunately not noticed by Qiu Shuzhi.

During the entire breakfast, Yue Guanyi barely sipped two mouthfuls of porridge, spending the rest of the time serving Qiu Shuzhi, especially that soft appearance as if he wanted to lean against Qiu Shuzhi and turn into a puddle of soft mud.

Chang’an: It’s unbearable to watch.

After breakfast, Qiu Shuzhi left on the pretext of needing to lead the Imperial Guards out of the palace.

Yue Guanyi felt somewhat disappointed, but still forced a smile to see her off.

“Sir, since you are often in the palace now, if you have time, why not come to the palace to sit more often… I’ll be waiting for you.” As the palace gate was approaching, Yue Guanyi finally couldn’t hold back.

Chang’an’s body shook. If the words ‘in the palace’ were replaced with other words, it would be exactly like the manner of a young male courtesan.

But Yue Guanyi didn’t care about these things now. He didn’t care if his words and actions were frivolous. Qin Qing’s threat was imminent. Even if Qiu Niang didn’t like him now, that old widower might use his seductive charms to tease her every day, and over time, Qiu Niang might inevitably be moved.

Now he only regretted that back then, full of resentment in the brothel, he stubbornly opposed the madam and refused to learn those tricks to please women, allowing that old widower to steal a march.

If frivolous behavior and wanton eyes could exchange for one more glance from Qiu Niang, he would be willing to go and pay respects to a brothel’s top courtesan as a teacher right now.

Qiu Shuzhi paused, said “Alright,” then turned and left with Ji Mei.

“Sir, it seems the Crown Prince really likes you. Such a great beauty loving you so wholeheartedly, aren’t you moved at all?” Once out of the Fengyang Pavilion area, seeing no one around, Ji Mei whispered in her ear.

Qiu Shuzhi glanced at her without saying a word.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s silence, Ji Mei began to analyze the pros and cons for her.

“Although the Crown Prince has a fierce reputation, to be fair, his appearance is unmatched as the most beautiful in the capital, his status is high, and more importantly, he’s willing to lower himself and carefully please you in front of you.”

“Don’t look at how civilian women are all disparaging his status in brothels as how degrading it is. If such a good thing were to happen to them, they would be scrambling to marry him.”

“After all, marrying the Crown Prince and becoming a consort in one step is a great opportunity to rise to prominence and bring glory to one’s ancestors. From then on, you’ll enjoy a life of luxury and splendor.”

“I know you despise His Highness’s cruel methods, but once you’re married, you’ll be his wife-master. The wife rules over the husband, and the wife-master is heaven.”

“If he displeases you, you can discipline him behind closed doors. Even Her Majesty the Empress Dowager can’t say anything about it. It’s natural and proper for a wife-master to discipline her husband.”

“Even in the worst-case scenario, if your married life isn’t harmonious, you can still take side husbands, household husbands, or outside husbands. You’ll have status, wealth, and men – what more is there to consider? If it were me, I would have agreed long ago.”

The more she spoke, the more enthusiastic she became, trying hard to promote Yue Guanyi as if she had received a commission from him.

Qiu Shuzhi gave her a cool glance: “There are many eyes and ears in the palace. Be careful not to have your tongue cut out for talking too much.”

“I’m just considering your future prospects,” Ji Mei said resentfully.

“In the future, speak less about His Highness, or you’ll face military punishment,” Qiu Shuzhi said with rare sternness.

Ji Mei immediately straightened her face and respectfully said, “Yes.”

But in her heart, she thought that with such a good opportunity right in front of her, the fact that her superior remained unmoved proved that the rumors were indeed true.

Rumors said that Qiu Shuzhi and her cousin Qiu Qiushuang were childhood sweethearts. Later, when the Qiu family fell on hard times, her cousin voluntarily washed clothes for wealthy families, did needlework, and even performed in teahouses to support Qiu Shuzhi’s studies. Over time, his oriole-like voice became hoarse.

But this also deepened the feelings between the cousins until they became inseparable. Qiu Shuzhi vowed to marry Qiu Qiushuang once she passed the imperial examinations.

Although Qiu Shuzhi hadn’t officially married Qiu Qiushuang yet, all the internal affairs of the Qiu household were managed by Qiu Qiushuang, who was already like the master of the house. The wedding was just a step away.

At first, Ji Mei didn’t believe it, but now seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s attitude of not allowing others to discuss her and Yue Guanyi, the rumors must be true.

A woman from a humble background who had risen to prominence, yet remained unmoved by the temptations of money, power, and beauty offered by the current Crown Prince, only wanting to repay her humble husband – her cousin.

Ji Mei sighed, thinking that this was indeed the superior she had decided to follow, truly a model woman of the times!

The journey from Fengyang Pavilion back to the Imperial Guards’ quarters was not short. When passing through the Imperial Garden, Qiu Shuzhi saw a group of palace servants and maids gathered inside. In theory, when the masters weren’t present, there shouldn’t be so many servants gathered in the Imperial Garden.

As they got closer, they saw a group of strong palace maids wielding chisels and hammers, pounding away at a lake stone rockery among the blooming peonies. The once exquisitely carved rockery was now unrecognizable, and the cave where they had taken shelter last night had been completely split open. A fragment of stone with faint traces of blood lay silently scattered among the peony bushes.

Ji Mei curiously stopped a palace servant and asked, “What’s going on? Why are you smashing this perfectly good lake stone?”

The servant replied angrily, “You’re asking me? Why don’t you go ask the Crown Prince? Early this morning, we received orders from His Highness the Crown Prince that we must smash this lake stone to pieces and throw it out of the palace by any means necessary today, or face severe punishment. So we’ve been busy here since early morning, smashing and prying, working all morning to barely break the stone. We still need to transport it out later.”

Ji Mei found it strange: “It’s a perfectly good lake stone, with an elegant and unique shape. Why suddenly destroy it?”

“With the Crown Prince’s gloomy and peculiar temper, he only torments us servants. One slight mistake and we’re either beaten or scolded. It’s not surprising he’d do something like this,” the servant grumbled.

Ji Mei glanced at the silent Qiu Shuzhi from the corner of her eye.

Gloomy and peculiar is only towards you servants. The Crown Prince is as obedient as a puppy in front of Sir Qiu.

“It seems it’s not without reason,” another servant suddenly explained. “I heard that this stone was too sharp and cut His Highness’s hand. His Highness got angry and that’s why he gave the order.”

Cut His Highness’s hand?

Qiu Shuzhi listened from the side, touching the bandage on her hand, the corner of her lips curling up silently.

After seeing Qiu Shuzhi off, Yue Guanyi returned to Fengyang Pavilion.

The breakfast on the table had not been cleared away as per Yue Guanyi’s instructions. He dismissed the servants.

In the empty room, there was only the morning light and himself. Yue Guanyi sat at the table, in the chair where Qiu Shuzhi had sat, his slender fingers caressing the back of the chair she had touched. The cold morning air had long since chilled the chair, erasing any trace of her body heat, but as he sat down, he had never felt so warm. It was like soaking in a warm, bubbling hot spring in the depths of winter, as if surrounded tightly by her body heat.

In front of him, a bowl of leftover porridge had gone cold. His eyes moved slightly, as if bewitched, and he picked up the spoon and ate it all, spoonful by spoon.

Chang’an stood quietly outside the door. After about half an hour, Yue Guanyi slowly opened the door, everything as usual except for a lingering blush on his face.

He hurriedly instructed the palace servants to clear away everything on the table, but when he saw the bowl on the table, he made a strange sound of surprise.

He clearly remembered that Sir Qiu had only drunk half a bowl of porridge, how had her bowl suddenly become empty, and clean as if it had been washed?

However, he only wondered about it for a moment and didn’t dwell on it, turning instead to continue serving Yue Guanyi inside.

Yue Guanyi took off his ethereal white clothes and changed into official robes. Black robes with fierce beasts, a cold thin face, and eyes devoid of emotion – away from Qiu Shuzhi, his true nature was exposed again.

“How are the spies planted in Qingning Palace?” he sat in front of the diamond-shaped mirror, adjusting his collar.

“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager’s side is guarding very strictly. None of the people we sent managed to return alive. However, fortunately, those who were captured didn’t reveal any details. I’ve already sent people to silence them,” Chang’an lowered his head, not daring to look at him out of guilt.

Yue Guanyi’s hand sank, his long, sharp phoenix eyes flashing with a hint of viciousness: “They’re just a few baits sent out. There’s no need for you to act. When the time comes, they’ll naturally die from poison.”

Fear flashed in Chang’an’s eyes. Having been by Yue Guanyi’s side for so many years, he thought he had become his right-hand man and understood everything about him. He didn’t expect that Yue Guanyi’s depths were far beyond what he had glimpsed.

Yue Guanyi’s cold-heartedness was even more terrifying than he had imagined. He was a demon from hell, and perhaps Qiu Shuzhi was the only person who could make him retain a shred of humanity.

“Then, about the Empress Dowager’s side…”

“No matter,” Yue Guanyi’s lips curled into a cold smile, the curve contemptuous and dangerous. “Does he think catching a few small fish and shrimp means he can rest easy? Qingning Palace will eventually be entirely in my hands.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

“Let’s go,” Yue Guanyi rose gracefully from the dressing table. In his official robes, he was tall and slender, his exquisite and beautiful features cool with a hint of otherworldly detachment, stunningly beautiful.

“Where to?” Chang’an was somewhat confused. There was nothing scheduled at Zhao Prison today, and the court was quiet with no disturbances. In this peaceful situation, he didn’t understand where Yue Guanyi was planning to go.

Yue Guanyi’s lips held a cold smile as he said languidly: “Qingning Palace.”

Qin Qing had just woken up, leaning softly against the bed, his eyes lazy. The palace servants attending to him entered one by one, those responsible for rinsing his mouth did so, those for dressing did their job, the entire process not requiring him to even lift an eyelid.

After dressing, Qin Qing sat at the dressing table, chin resting on his hand, watching Yu Ye comb and style his hair.

He yawned boredly: “Where is my premium bird’s nest? Bring it quickly.”

“It will be here shortly, Empress Dowager. Please wait a moment,” Yu Ye said with a faint smile.

“This servant is late in delivering it. Please forgive me, Empress Dowager,” a young palace servant hurriedly ran in carrying the premium bird’s nest.

Qin Qing turned and looked back, coldly regarding the trembling young servant kneeling below: “Raise your head.”

The young servant raised his head tremblingly. He was fifteen or sixteen years old, so tender one could squeeze water from him, with doe-like eyes that were wet and glistening.

“What a delightful person, in the flower of youth, with such a fresh and tender body. What woman wouldn’t be moved seeing this?” Qin Qing said gently.

This overly gentle tone, however, made the young servant tremble all over: “Please forgive this servant, Empress Dowager. I will never dare to be late again.”

Qin Qing sipped the bird’s nest soup in his bowl, one spoonful at a time, deaf to the pleas of the young servant on the ground.

Yu Ye hurriedly gave a look and pulled the sobbing young servant out.

Ever since meeting Qiu Shuzhi, the Empress Dowager, who had never cared about appearance or age before, began to pay attention to maintenance. Every morning, he must drink a bowl of bird’s nest soup to nourish his blood and maintain his appearance. Not only that, he became jealous of other young men in the palace. Almost all the good-looking servants in Qingning Palace had been demoted to do hard labor in the laundry, all to prevent these young men from stealing his spotlight in front of Qiu Shuzhi.