Chapter 60 The Betrothal Gift of His Highness

“Please rise.” She supported his arm to help him up from the ground.

The warmth from her palm quickly transmitted through his thin clothes to his sensitive skin, causing Yue Guanyi to blush instantly.

Qiu Shuzhi looked at his dazed and silly appearance, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Shy and embarrassed, despite being a figure who could make the entire court tremble with a stomp of his foot, the rumored living Yama as fierce as a ghost, yet in front of her, he always appeared as innocent as a young master raised in seclusion who had never seen a woman before.

His pale, jade-like face would unconsciously flush with a bashful red, so delicate and soft, like a blooming camellia with petals so tender they seemed about to drip, adorned with glistening dewdrops. One touch would melt one’s heart.

“Since I’ve given my betrothal jade pendant to Your Highness, shouldn’t Your Highness give me something in return?”

Lovers always like to exchange items with special meaning, and Qiu Shuzhi was no exception. Having lived two lifetimes, the iron tree finally bloomed, and she wanted to learn from the ancients: I gift you a jade pendant, you return a jade hairpin, following the refined customs.

Yue Guanyi let out a muffled sound, his fingers trembling as if burned by warm jade, seemingly awakening from a grand dream.

What should he give to Qiu Niang?

Yue Guanyi tightly clutched the ice flower lotus warm jade, his eyes flickering with emotion. His amber phoenix eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if hiding the world’s deepest thoughts.

He carefully placed the ice flower lotus warm jade in his bosom, treasuring it at his heart. It was as if a gentle stream flowed through his entire body, threads of warmth penetrating his inner garments and nurturing his heart.

Then, he took out a white mutton-fat jade pendant from his sleeve. In the center of the white jade was a piece of deep red blood jade, carved with a special symbol.

Although the meaning of the symbol was unclear, it possessed a unique beauty.

“This is my personal item.” Yue Guanyi’s voice was extremely low with nervousness, his face flushing red all the way to the nape of his neck as he spoke. He lowered his head, his ink-black long hair falling from his neck to his chest, revealing a large patch of skin on the back of his neck, a snowy expanse visibly dyeing into a rouge color.

“Please accept it, my lady.” He respectfully offered the jade pendant, like an envoy from a small state presenting the most precious treasure to the celestial empire.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled silently, the curve of her lips gentle and gradual, but the smile reached her eyes, her cold gaze melting into utter tenderness.

She really wanted to pinch him! Resisting the urge to rub the back of his neck, she accepted the jade pendant from his hand.

The white mutton-fat jade with a touch of deep red in the center looked invaluable, but for someone of Yue Guanyi’s status, it was quite ordinary, so she felt at ease accepting it.

“Then I’ll accept it,” she said with a smile.

Yue Guanyi nodded, his head almost buried in his chest, the blush on the back of his neck even more evident.

Take it!

Yue Guanyi kept his head lowered, his long hair hiding his pitch-black eyes, his hands tightly clenched together, his heart pounding wildly as if it might break free at any moment.

He watched those perfectly exquisite hands holding the jade pendant, the deep red blood jade glowing with an unusual luster in her pale white hands.

Just as Qiu Shuzhi was about to tuck the jade pendant into her sleeve, Yue Guanyi suddenly spoke.

“My lady, I’ve always worn this jade pendant against my skin… No one knows except Chang’an…” His voice trembled with nervousness: “Perhaps you could wear it at your waist, carrying it with you always.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yue Guanyi seemed to have exhausted all his strength, thin sweat breaking out on his back, almost soaking through his clothes.

Qiu Shuzhi paused, observing Yue Guanyi’s nervous and timid demeanor, and instantly understood.

Just like how people madly in love in her previous life liked to have their partners wear matching outfits or wear small wristbands, it was probably a way to claim ownership.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi remain silent, Yue Guanyi suddenly panicked, fearing her disgust. Anxiety and unease raged in his heart like a violent storm, and he said with an unsteady, trembling voice: “If you don’t want to carry it with you, that’s fine too. This jade pendant isn’t anything important.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes were filled with panic and fear. He seemed terrified of seeing even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction or displeasure on her face. If she showed even a trace of such emotion, he would become anxious and use every method to please her – wealth, power, even his body.

Like a battered, homeless stray dog that finally found a willing owner, he had no sense of security. Every move was cautious; even when bullied, he wouldn’t make a sound, just wagging his tail incessantly to please, terrified the owner might abandon him again.

Qiu Shuzhi sighed softly and embraced him, her palm constantly soothing his trembling back. “Your Highness, you needn’t be like this.”

Yue Guanyi raised his eyes tremblingly, his tall frame weak and thin, the light in his eyes flickering and broken.

“I’m sorry, I… shouldn’t have spoken out of turn… I shouldn’t have…” he stuttered, each word seeming to take all his strength.

The gentler Qiu Shuzhi was, the more terrified Yue Guanyi felt in his heart. He truly believed he was unworthy; he didn’t deserve Qiu Shuzhi’s kindness.

Qiu Shuzhi didn’t know how much of his unsightly, filthy side he had hidden. He had merely donned a beautiful human skin, but inside he was rotten and disgusting.

The kinder Qiu Shuzhi was to him, the deeper his guilt became. He felt increasingly lowly and vile, unworthy of the bright, warm moon. Even the moonlight shining on him felt like something he had deceived her into giving. He feared that one day when the truth was revealed, he would be exposed for what he truly was, turned back into the worthless, dirty stray dog in the gutter.

“Your Highness, I truly like you. You don’t need to humble yourself like this in front of me. You can treat me just like you would any ordinary woman.” She spoke softly, each word firm and resolute.

She wanted to give him a sense of security.

She wanted to remove the collar chaining his neck, allowing him to be normal, unrestrained, like an ordinary man, rather than a wretched little dog confined to a small space by heavy iron chains.

Yue Guanyi’s body swayed, his slender frame seeming about to snap in two.

Treat Qiu Niang like an ordinary woman? His very soul shook, as if he had heard something outrageously absurd. The beast caged within his soul howled frantically.

“Qiu Niang… has never been an ordinary woman.” He suppressed the scream about to burst from his heart, painfully forcing out a few words from his throat.

His Qiu Niang had never been an ordinary woman. How could she be lumped together with those people? She was the bright moon at the edge of the sky, the Bodhisattva he worshipped in his heart, the only deity in heaven.

He longed to dedicate everything to her, to curl up at her feet like a dog, to serve her as his master.

Qiu Shuzhi sighed heavily.

She had intended to remove his shackles, to lift the yoke that had been pressing down on his head, so he wouldn’t have to live like a wild dog with a heavy chain around its neck. She didn’t expect him to live carefree and unrestrained, but at least to live a little more easily.

But she hadn’t anticipated how severe Yue Guanyi’s insecurity was. Even if she personally removed the collar from his neck, he would voluntarily pick it up in his mouth and run back, wagging his tail, begging her to chain him up again, crying and pleading not to be abandoned.

With another sigh, knowing that no matter what else she said would be useless, Qiu Shuzhi simply stepped back.

Creating some distance between them, she tied the jade pendant to her waist in front of Yue Guanyi. The mutton-fat jade, white as jade cream, hung at her skirt hem, occasionally revealing the deep red blood jade in the center as it swayed slightly.

“I’ve put it on, and I’ll always wear it from now on. Does it look good?” She simply went along with him, wearing the jade pendant.

Yue Guanyi nodded quickly.

It looks good!

Qiu Niang looks good wearing anything!

Sure enough, as long as she went along with him and showed no hesitation, he wouldn’t become insecure and terrified like a servant.

The atmosphere eased considerably.

“Oh, right.” Qiu Shuzhi suddenly seemed to remember something. She lifted his chin, a faint smile in her eyes. “Did Your Highness just call me… Qiu Niang?”

Yue Guanyi was shocked, nearly falling off his seat.

How had he let slip the term of endearment he used for Qiu Niang in his heart?

His face turned bright red, embarrassment and anger at himself nearly melting him.

This was an intimate term used between lovers. He had used it without Qiu Niang’s permission. Would she think him frivolous and disrespectful?

Qiu Shuzhi’s dark eyebrows curved slightly, her eyes bright.

Qiu Niang was probably similar to how ancient women would address their lovers as Gu Lang or Zhou Lang.

Although it felt a bit novel, it wasn’t something she couldn’t get used to. On the contrary, seeing Yue Guanyi’s reaction when he unconsciously called her Qiu Niang, she found it quite interesting.

“Qiu Niang is a nice term. Your Highness should address me like this more often in the future,” she said, her voice tinged with amusement.

Yue Guanyi’s face reddened even more, the hot temperature nearly melting his skin into a puddle of water. The flickering candlelight cast a warm hue over his pale complexion, his blushing face resembling a newlywed bride on her wedding night.

Qiu Shuzhi was in high spirits and couldn’t resist teasing him a bit, but it was already dawn. If she didn’t leave soon, others would know that Qiu Daren of the Imperial Guard had stayed in the Crown Prince’s tent for a long time.

He was, after all, an unmarried man, and she had to consider his reputation.

She gently stroked the soft skin under his chin, her smile faint and tender as she playfully teased him: “It’s almost dawn, Qiu Niang will take her leave now.”

Yue Guanyi’s face reddened even more, even his breath scorching hot enough to burn someone. His fingers gripped the table surface tightly.

He watched Qiu Shuzhi’s departing figure, his eyes full of reluctance and attachment. He even wanted to rush forward recklessly and tightly embrace her waist, sobbing and begging her to stay, to bestow upon him a little more warmth.

But he couldn’t. His fingertips dug into the table surface, biting his lip hard, suppressing the madness that threatened to burst forth, silently watching her leave.

Until the heavy curtain fell, blocking his view, the tent once again became empty and desolate, as cold as an icy hell, without a trace of warmth.

Chang’an had been guarding outside the tent the whole time. Although their voices were very soft, the tent wasn’t soundproof, and occasionally he could hear some low murmurs from inside, especially Qiu Shuzhi’s voice, as gentle as the softest verses in ancient poetry. Just hearing her tone was enough to make one feel intoxicated.

Chang’an felt a warm, swelling sensation in his heart and made a decision: if he were to marry in the future, he must find someone like Qiu Shuzhi.

Even if her beauty and talent couldn’t compare, at least her voice should have a trace of similarity. This way, even in dreams, the taste would be a bit sweeter.

Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and Qiu Shuzhi walked out from inside. Chang’an instinctively smiled, then realized she was the person His Highness liked. If any man dared to recklessly try to seduce her, his fate would be worse than Concubine Jing’s.

Chang’an immediately suppressed his smile, his expression returning to its usual indifference, neither distant nor close.

Qiu Shuzhi noticed his quick change of expression and paused slightly, then nodded faintly before leaving.

Chang’an watched her leave, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, he heard a faint sound of jade pieces clinking, unlike the sound of ordinary jade pendants, causing his whole body to shudder.

He looked towards the source of the sound. Qiu Shuzhi’s slender figure was almost transparent in the morning light, surrounded by a light, misty haze, like an immortal about to ascend at any moment. The long wind blew, making her skirt flutter lightly, revealing a jade pendant between the folds, white as jade and red as blood, emitting a clear, crisp sound.

Chang’an was instantly shocked to his core!

He directly lifted the curtain and hurriedly rushed into Yue Guanyi’s tent.

In the flickering candlelight, he cradled an ordinary warm jade, almost trembling, his eyes filled with infatuation and attachment as if bewitched, deeply immersed in it, seeming to want to offer his very soul to it.

“Your Highness!” Chang’an struggled to control his voice as he walked up to him, his breathing more rapid and heavy than ever before: “Your Highness, did you give the jade token to Qiu Daren?”

“Yes.” Yue Guanyi replied very calmly, his fingertips tracing the patterns carved on the ice flower lotus warm jade.

Chang’an was shocked and anxious, frantically grabbing his hair: “But that’s the jade token! Your Highness, that’s something you’ve been scheming for ten years!”

“I know.” Yue Guanyi didn’t even raise an eyelid, his eyes focused only on the warm jade.

Chang’an wasn’t resigned, momentarily forgetting his place and crying out: “That’s the jade token you use to protect your life!”

“Qiu Niang’s life is more important.”

Chang’an looked incredulous: “Qiu Daren’s life is a life, but isn’t your life a life too? Your Highness, you’ve given her everything, have you thought about what if one day she changes her heart?”

“Women are all fickle, they’ve never taken men seriously. If she changes her heart later and kicks you aside, at that time you’ll have no power, nothing to protect your life, how will you survive?”

“It doesn’t matter, none of that matters.” Yue Guanyi tilted his head back, closing his eyes, his expression almost sickly: “Whatever Qiu Niang wants, I will give her.”

Chang’an staggered back two steps, nearly knocking over the candlestick, feeling that the person before him was crazier than a madman. At least a madman would value his life, but he didn’t even care about his own life.

Your Highness, you’ve truly gone mad, you’re beyond help!

Yue Guanyi knew what he was worth. Apart from his appearance, his only redeeming quality was his power.

In terms of looks, Qiu Niang didn’t particularly favor male beauty, and moreover, his humble origins meant no woman wouldn’t despise his filthy background.

If it weren’t for the power he still held in his hands, Qiu Niang would find it disgusting to even touch him.

Qiu Niang giving him the warm jade as a token of love, and teasing him just now, was already demeaning herself.

He could already imagine Qiu Niang in some corner right now, wiping every place their skin had touched with a handkerchief.

He clutched the warm jade tightly, his eyes filled with a smile, sorrow and love twisting together. Even he wasn’t so foolish as to not know that Qiu Niang had come for power.

When Qiu Niang gave him the warm jade and then asked for something in return, he became even more certain.

But what did it matter? That Qiu Niang was willing to use him was already a blessing he had cultivated.

To be Qiu Niang’s stepping stone, to ensure her lifelong peace and prosperity, no matter the cost, even if it was his worthless life, he was willing.

He just hadn’t expected that his love and desire for Qiu Niang would grow deeper and deeper, more and more pathological. During their brief moment alone just now, he had almost been unable to control himself.

He couldn’t imagine what he would become on the day when he could no longer offer Qiu Niang any power, when he had been thoroughly used up, and Qiu Niang completely abandoned him and left him.

He painfully clutched his chest, his whole body as cold as if he had fallen into an icy cave, a pain that even the warm jade against his heart couldn’t alleviate. It was as if a rasp was stirring back and forth in his heart, sharply and bone-deep, turning his heart into a mess of rotten flesh with each cut. All the painful sensations were infinitely amplified by imagining the arrival of that day, and he convulsed with trembling fear.

He suppressed it with all his might, restraining himself, his eyes suddenly overflowing with boundless greed. A great flood broke through the dikes, raging and roaring in his eyes, on the verge of collapse.

Power!

He wanted more power!

After the assassin incident, the hunt scheduled for today had to be canceled. The young Empress, accompanied by her favored consort Lan Xuezhao, aimlessly wandered around the inner hunting grounds. Even the officials hardly dared to leave their tents, let alone Jiang Si, whom the Empress Dowager had instructed her to keep an eye on, who hadn’t left her quarters all day.

To ensure the Empress’s safety, Qiu Shuzhi and Mo An, the leader of the Five Cities Military Command, remained by her side.

Suddenly, Lan Xuezhao cried out: “Blood! Your Majesty, there’s blood!”

“Where’s the blood from? Could it be the assassins have come again? Come—mmph—” Mo An was about to shout loudly but was silenced by Qiu Shuzhi’s hand over her mouth.

“My apologies for alarming Your Majesty and the Favored Consort. This is just blood left from the lingchi execution of Concubine Jing last night. It must be that those clumsy servants didn’t clean up properly, thus disturbing Your Majesty’s dragon body.”

Hearing Qiu Shuzhi’s explanation, something seemed to stir in Yue Shen’s calm eyes, but they quickly returned to normal. Her voice carried disgust and aversion: “What an unlucky thing. Have them clean it up quickly!”

“Yes!” Qiu Shuzhi knelt on one knee.

With that, Yue Shen left with a flick of her sleeve, and Mo An hurriedly followed.

However, what Qiu Shuzhi didn’t expect was that Lan Xuezhao, who had been inseparable from Yue Shen, remained behind. His alluring fox-like eyes flickered, his delicate fingers twisting a handkerchief, the silver bells on his wrist tinkling.

He stared at the remaining blood on the ground, biting his lip and hesitantly asking: “Concubine Jing, did he… die peacefully?”

Qiu Shuzhi knelt on the ground, sighing heavily. The palace was fraught with danger; even if one didn’t cause trouble, disaster would still befall them.

“Concubine Jing suffered over a hundred and thirty cuts before his death, each cut piercing to the bone, a fate worse than death.”

The snow-white silk handkerchief fell silently to the ground. When she looked up again, she only saw Lan Xuezhao’s panicked figure running away.