Chapter 48 Would You Hold My Hand?

Indeed, it was like this. When there were no major affairs at court, she would act tyrannically in the military camp; when there was actually a need for the Yulin Army, she would start feigning illness to avoid duty.

Once something went wrong, all the faults would be Qiu Shuzhi’s.

However, the Yulin Army did indeed need reorganization.

She couldn’t always hold the empty position of Cavalry Commander without any real power, always being inferior to others.

“This……” Qiu Shuzhi’s expression was troubled as she said: “This humble official has just entered the military camp and to lead the Yulin Army to accompany Your Majesty on a hunt, I’m afraid I’m not up to the task.”

Li Mian patted her shoulder: “What is there to be afraid of? Madam Qiu, you are fully capable of handling this.”

“But……”

“But what? Does Madam Qiu not want to help this sick person?” Li Mian’s voice changed, half pleading and half threatening.

“My lord, you misunderstand this humble official. That’s not what I meant,” Qiu Shuzhi explained. “It’s just that this humble official is worried that the soldiers under my command won’t obey. You know that the position of Cavalry Commander is after all an empty one. The Yulin Army all obey your orders. If you don’t go, those soldiers probably won’t submit to me.”

Li Mian laughed heartily. She had actually forgotten about this.

These Yulin Army people had all been working under her command. Over the years, they had gotten quite a lot of benefits. Suddenly changing to a new person would inevitably cause dissatisfaction.

“You don’t need to worry about this. I will temporarily entrust the Yulin Army tally to your control. With the military tally in hand, you can freely command the soldiers, and they will all obey your orders.”

The Yulin Army tally was divided into two parts. One half was in the hands of the General, and the other half was nominally in the hands of the young Emperor, but in reality had already been controlled by the Empress Dowager.

Of course, no matter what, since she wanted Qiu Shuzhi to replace herself in leading the team to accompany the Emperor on the hunt, she had to give her the half of the military tally in her own hands. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be proper.

Although it meant handing over the greatest reliance for commanding the Yulin Army, Li Mian wasn’t worried at all. The Yulin Army people had followed her for many years and had skimmed quite a lot of money from the military salaries. They could endure a short month-long hunt, but once Qiu Shuzhi was allowed to control the military tally for a long time, without her having to take action, those Yulin Army people would force her to voluntarily hand it over.

Qiu Shuzhi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: “With my lord saying so, this humble official is at ease. However, as it’s my first time leading troops, I still need my lord to put in a few good words for me in the army. After all, it’s working in front of the Emperor, it will inevitably be more strict than before. Everyone just needs to put on a show and endure for a month or so.”

Li Mian smiled knowingly, very satisfied with Qiu Shuzhi’s words: “You can rest assured about this. They are all my people. If I speak up, they will all give you face.”

“Then many thanks to my lord.” Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head, smiling faintly.

With the Yulin Army tally in hand, Qiu Shuzhi had more confidence.

Half a month later, eight thousand troops of the Yulin Army, plus the Five Cities’ troops and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, totaling tens of thousands of soldiers, followed the imperial entourage to the royal hunting grounds.

In addition to the tens of thousands of soldiers, there were also many court officials and their families. The Emperor even brought along the consorts from the three palaces and six courts, and Empress Dowager Qin Qing also came along. The extravagantly luxurious imperial procession looked like a moving palace from afar. Inside the palace, Yue Shen was surrounded by beauties, including the punished and confined Consort Rong.

“It’s truly a grand spectacle,” Ji Mei sighed, looking at the procession that stretched as far as the eye could see. “Since this subordinate entered the military camp, I’ve never seen such a grand display. It’s so magnificent!”

Magnificent?

Qiu Shuzhi, sitting on horseback, looked back at the endless procession, countless people, carriages, and horses. All of this was money, money.

At the beginning of the year, the national treasury had already been emptied. Although the silver mine in Yanshun County could temporarily alleviate the urgent need, the young Emperor’s wedding had cost a full ten thousand taels. This hunt required money for everything – the army, the officials’ families, the harem consorts’ food, clothing, and daily necessities. She didn’t dare to calculate how much more silver would be squandered. It was estimated that even the silver mine in Yanshun County would be emptied.

She felt some heartache. With such luxury and extravagance, how long could it be maintained?

After the silver mine in Yanshun County was exhausted, where would they find money? Increase taxes? But a large number of people in the south had already starved to death.

She looked up at the glaring sun, feeling that the great edifice was about to collapse, and everything before her eyes was just a fleeting illusion.

“My lord?” Ji Mei called carefully. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Qiu Shuzhi tightened the reins. “Go and urge those people to make sure they protect His Majesty’s safety while accompanying the army. Absolutely do not let any suspicious-looking people get close.”

“Yes.” Ji Mei spurred his horse forward.

Qiu Shuzhi watched Ji Mei’s back, touching the military tally in her bosom, her eyes gradually deepening.

Since the great edifice was about to collapse, she needed to arrange her own forces in advance, so that she could stand firm without relying on anyone.

The magnificent procession took a full seven days to reach the royal hunting grounds. Here, the rain was plentiful, the vegetation lush, the terrain flat and open, with dense forests surrounding it, making it a good place for hunting.

The grassland was soft and damp, unsuitable for building palaces, but there were countless luxurious tents that didn’t look like tents for the Emperor and officials to rest in. The Yulin Army set up camp within the hunting grounds, while the Five Cities’ troops were on standby in the outer areas. As for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they naturally provided close protection for the Emperor and his consorts. The closeness of relationships could be seen clearly at this moment.

The weather at the royal hunting grounds was cool and pleasant, sweeping away the sultry heat of the capital, instantly feeling comfortable.

By the time everything was settled, it was nearly noon. The Emperor held a banquet at the hunting grounds, with all kinds of lamb, beef, and horse milk wine available. Except for the Empress Dowager who didn’t come, all the officials and their families present were full of praise.

And Lan Xuezhao was softly leaning against Yue Shen, alluring like a fox spirit.

The Empress’s confinement order became virtually ineffective because of this hunt. The officials were all from the Qin clan, and seeing Lan Xuezhao being favored and the Empress being neglected, they all had some opinions about Lan Xuezhao, secretly cursing him as a bewitching consort.

However, Qin Zhengya didn’t feel neglected at all. He would rather have Lan Xuezhao cling to Yue Shen all day long, which also meant some relief for him.

Watching Yue Shen and Lan Xuezhao being intimate in public, Qin Zhengya didn’t stop them, but shifted his gaze to the distance. Outside the banquet, Qiu Shuzhi stood silently outside the tent. Her high ponytail made her figure even more slender and tall, her waistband accentuating her delicate waist, a long sword across her back, and a few strands of hair brushing her forehead adding a touch of heroic spirit.

Qin Zhengya lowered his head slightly, couldn’t help but recall that day of danger when Qiu Shuzhi had protected him under her body with this long sword. The sharp blade was so close, yet he had never felt afraid, but rather a sense of security.

He laughed softly and quietly instructed his personal attendant Cai Er: “Go and send a bowl of milk tea to all the soldiers, to comfort them a little.”

He didn’t dare to let Cai Er send something to Qiu Shuzhi alone, so he decided to send to the entire army. There would definitely be one bowl of milk tea imbued with his feelings that could be delivered to her hands.

Sitting in a high place, he watched as Cai Er distributed bowl after bowl, finally reaching Qiu Shuzhi’s hands.

The distance between them was great, but the moment Qiu Shuzhi took the milk tea, she shifted her gaze in his direction. Her eyes, gentle yet with a hint of coolness, like a spring breeze wrapped in fine snow, crashed straight into his heart, causing his heartbeat to skip a beat.

She held the bowl, not drinking it immediately like others, but raised it high, knelt on one knee in his direction, and bowed deeply, as if saying: ‘Thank you for the Empress’s reward.’

She was always different from others. Qin Zhengya clutched his handkerchief, smiling silently.

“Big brother really has good tactics, making all the soldiers smile with just a bowl of milk tea,” Lan Xuezhao’s fox-like eyes rolled. “But His Majesty is sitting right beside you, yet you don’t care at all, so cold.”

Qin Zhengya was at a loss for words: “I just saw that the soldiers were tired and wanted to send them some milk tea to drink, that’s all.”

“The Empress is kind and benevolent, considering the hardships of the soldiers. She has the virtue of a phoenix ruling the world, truly a blessing for Da Qi,” Qin Zheng spoke up to defuse the situation, seeing her family member being cornered.

“Yes, all the accompanying soldiers who drank the milk tea sent by the Empress are full of praise, and their morale is even higher.”

Once Qin Zheng spoke, the officials began to chime in, and in a few words, they diluted the sharp edge in Lan Xuezhao’s words.

Seeing that his goal wasn’t achieved, Lan Xuezhao snorted lightly, shaking Yue Shen’s arm: “Your Majesty, the banquet is boring. This servant wants to ride a horse. Will Your Majesty accompany this servant?”

As he spoke, Lan Xuezhao was about to pull Yue Shen away from the seat, and Yue Shen showed no intention of refusing. The two rode on one horse, galloping across the hunting grounds, making all the concubines envious, except for Qin Zhengya.

With the Emperor gone, the banquet lost its meaning. The officials, tired from several days of carriage travel, all dispersed to rest.

Qin Zheng, however, slowly walked up to Qin Zhengya.

“Aunt,” Qin Zhengya called timidly. He both respected and feared this high-ranking relative who rarely smiled.

“Have you forgotten the reason you were sent into the palace? How long has it been since the Emperor visited Kunning Palace? You’ve lost the Emperor’s favor to a Miao man, yet you neither fight nor compete. Do you really think you’re the Empress?” Qin Zheng scolded in a low voice.

“…Nephew understands,” Qin Zhengya lowered his head, feeling wronged.

“Go now, win back the Emperor’s attention. I also want to hear good news from your belly soon,” Qin Zheng said coldly, looking at the two playing happily in the hunting grounds.

“Yes.”

Urged by Qin Zheng’s words, Qin Zhengya went to the edge of the hunting grounds, but he hesitated, not daring to enter. He didn’t know how to ride a horse at all.

“Does the Empress want to go in and play?” Qiu Shuzhi asked, leaning against the railing.

Their eyes met, and Qin Zhengya’s face reddened slightly as he nodded.

“What kind of horse does the Empress want to ride?”

“My master doesn’t know how to ride a horse,” Cai Er said behind him.

“So the Empress wants to learn to ride,” she smiled faintly, leading a small horse from the stable. The smile in her eyes was like a cool spring.

“This small horse has a gentle temperament and likes to stick close to its owner. It might be good for the Empress to try as a beginner.”

As she spoke, she handed the reins to Qin Zhengya.

Qin Zhengya shyly took the reins, his fingers accidentally touching hers. Having learned male virtues since childhood, he was extremely embarrassed by this slight skin contact.

He carefully glanced at Qiu Shuzhi, but saw that her expression was normal, as if she hadn’t felt anything just now.

He immediately felt relieved, looking at the small white horse beside him that reached his chest, but still feeling a bit afraid in his heart.

He looked at the small horse, then at Qiu Shuzhi, her gentle gaze almost making him sink into it. Finally, he gathered his courage, his voice so small it was almost inaudible.

“I’m still afraid. Would you hold my hand?”