Chapter 64 – Changing Situation

“This lowly official respectfully sends off Consort Rong.” Qiu Shuzhi performed a curtsy.

Lan Xuezhao pursed his lips, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn’t say it.

He tidied his cloak, took off the bell on his wrist, and taking advantage of the pitch-black night, he snuck past Yu Zhi who was secretly dozing off while guarding the tent, and slipped back into the main tent.

In the pitch-black tent, a childish voice devoid of emotion spoke: “Is it done?”

Lan Xuezhao took off his cloak. It was so dark in front that he couldn’t see his five fingers, and he didn’t dare to light a lamp to avoid attracting attention. He could only follow habit and shrink to the side of the soft couch, answering the boundless darkness: “It’s done, but it exhausted me.”

Busy for most of the night, and frightened out of his wits by the ghost of Concubine Jing, he was already exhausted and just wanted to sleep soundly.

Unfortunately, despite doing so much, he couldn’t even touch the corner of the bed and still had to sleep on the ground.

Suddenly, a huge force pulled his hair. Lan Xuezhao hissed in pain and said, “What are you doing?”

“You met Qiu Shuzhi?” Yue Shen’s tone revealed a hint of coldness.

Lan Xuezhao felt a chill down his neck, feeling like the temperature in the warm tent had plummeted in an instant.

“Yes, what about it?”

Yue Shen pulled his hair, her almond eyes hidden in the night flashing with a bone-chilling cold.

His body carried her scent, the scent she thought of day and night.

If their bodies hadn’t been pressed extremely close together, it would be impossible to leave such a distinct scent.

A flash of madness quickly passed through Yue Shen’s eyes, then was concealed by reason. In the vast darkness, it ignited without anyone’s attention and extinguished without anyone’s notice. From beginning to end, only she alone knew of this madness.

She slowly let go, her eyes deep. “It’s nothing, go to sleep.”

Lan Xuezhao rubbed his painfully pulled scalp, silently cursing her as a tyrant, then lay down on the cold ground and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

He had a long and fulfilling dream. In the dream, he was wearing Miao clothing, carefree as he shuttled through the long-lost Miao village – his Adu, his family, and that gentle woman.

He didn’t know how long he slept before he was suddenly awakened by a loud drum sound, like thunder on earth, almost shattering his eardrums.

He scrambled up from the ground in a panic, thinking it was the palace servants coming in. Out of instinct, he moved towards the soft couch, putting on the appearance of having just received favor.

But when his hand touched the quilt, it was icy cold inside.

He was still sleepy, his charming eyes trembling and so tired they could barely open. When he touched the cold quilt, he forced his eyes open. Yue Shen had gotten up at some unknown time, dressed herself, her red robe sleeves adorned with gold speckles. She sat at the table playing with a teacup, the corners of her lips curled in a faint smile, as if waiting for something.

The drumming grew louder and more urgent, making people’s hearts uneasy.

Lan Xuezhao suddenly had a bad premonition. He was about to speak when the curtain was suddenly lifted and Yu Zhi hurriedly ran in.

“How unruly, don’t you know to announce yourself?” He scolded coquettishly, putting on the airs of a favored consort.

Usually, Yu Zhi was always respectful to him, mindful of his status as a favored consort. But this time, Yu Zhi completely ignored him, clearly not taking him seriously.

“What an eyeless dog servant, who do you think you are!” He was about to make things difficult for Yu Zhi.

“This one also wants to see who you think you are, daring to put on airs in front of my people!” Qin Qing lifted the curtain, his complexion still sickly but not as haggard as before. His cold words were enough to subdue Lan Xuezhao.

“Imperial Father-” Lan Xuezhao shut his mouth, looking embarrassed.

Qin Qing’s cold eyes swept over him, the aura of a supreme ruler unshakable.

Yue Shen, however, unhurriedly put down the teacup. “Even Imperial Father has come. Has something happened?”

Qin Qing’s voice was chilling. “Yu Ye, please escort Consort Rong out.”

“Yes.”

Just like that, Lan Xuezhao was escorted out of the tent by Yu Ye in a daze, his clothes still disheveled with no time to tidy up, like an abandoned husband caught cheating and driven out.

However, in the instant the curtain was lifted, he saw an old man with a head full of white hair and a haggard figure. When their eyes met, the old man looked at him with eyes full of hatred.

He had never seen this old man before and didn’t know why she would look at him like that.

Holding his chest, the feeling of unease grew stronger and stronger.

He wanted to find Jiang Si, but when he arrived, he saw that the Imperial Guards had already surrounded the place, allowing no one in or out.

His knees instantly softened. He didn’t know what had happened. He wanted to find someone to ask but didn’t know where to start. He was like a helpless person floating in the sea, alone and with no one to trust, no branches to rely on. Feelings of despair slowly rose.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he saw Qiu Shuzhi not far away. He rushed to her without regard for anything.

“Lady Qiu, why have the Imperial Guards surrounded Jiang Si? What exactly happened?” He grabbed Qiu Shuzhi’s hand, like seeing a spark of fire in the darkness.

Qiu Shuzhi pursed her lips. “Qin Shu is dead.”

Lan Xuezhao instantly collapsed to the ground, his exquisitely maintained perfect hand still clutching her sleeve, his eyes glazed over with a layer of decay.

Qiu Shuzhi had also just heard the news from Yue Guanyi.

Qin Shu died at the border between Sichuan and Yunnan. Those who luckily escaped back said she was killed by bandits and outlaws.

But people with discerning eyes could see what was going on. Qin Shu was traveling on the official road, heavily protected by Imperial Guards and attendants, and never concealed her identity. No bandit would have the guts to provoke someone from the imperial court.

The most likely culprit was the King of Yunnan.

The moment Qin Zheng learned the news, she had Yue Guanyi tie up Jiang Si.

Qin Shu was Qin Zheng’s only daughter and future heir. Now that the heir was dead, the Qin family had no successor. How could Qin Zheng swallow this grievance? If the situation continued to worsen, the court was very likely to send troops into Yunnan to take the King of Yunnan’s head as a burial offering for Qin Shu.

By then, it would certainly be another scene of living beings suffering.

“Lady Qiu-” Lan Xuezhao tugged at her sleeve, the bell swaying alone. In an instant, his whole demeanor had become much more fragile.

“Consort Rong, go back.” She urged.

“Lady Qiu, Qin Shu’s death has nothing to do with us. Why did the Emperor lock up Jiang Si?”

Qiu Shuzhi sighed. Lan Xuezhao was much more naive than she had imagined.

Now the relationship between the King of Yunnan and the court was tense, and Jiang Si had been sent to the capital as a concubine. If the two sides were at peace, it would be fine, but once a conflict broke out, Jiang Si would be the first to be sacrificed.

“This lowly official does not dare to speculate on His Majesty’s thoughts.”

Lan Xuezhao helplessly lowered his head, the enchanting and beautiful flower withering in this instant. He asked with a last glimmer of hope, “Then will Her Majesty kill Jiang Si? She is a concubine after all.”

“Maybe.” She gave an ambiguous answer.

Lan Xuezhao closed his eyes in despair, almost fainting.

It’s over, it’s all over. Everything was still fine yesterday, how did everything change in the blink of an eye?

Jiang Si was in imminent danger. He might never be able to return to the Miao territory.

“Why is Consort Rong still here? Hurry and take him away!” Yue Guanyi walked over at some unknown time, glaring at Lan Xuezhao’s hand clutching Qiu Shuzhi’s with a vicious look.

Lan Xuezhao dejectedly lowered his head and allowed the Imperial Guards to take him away. Yesterday he was an infinitely glorious favored consort; today he had become a dog that everyone drove away.

Qiu Shuzhi was a little worried, not for Lan Xuezhao, but for the three people secretly discussing in that tent.

“I feel Qin Shu’s death was a bit sudden.” She had already confided in Yue Guanyi and no longer concealed these things from him. “The King of Yunnan’s position at court is not yet solid. He shouldn’t have eliminated Qin Shu so rashly. By the way, how does Your Highness plan to deal with Lady Jiang?”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes revealed a trace of complexity. “Qin Zheng is furious and ordered to make her life worse than death.”

She sighed. “According to the Imperial Guards’ punishments, the pampered Lady Jiang is in for some suffering.”

Qiu Shuzhi felt some pity. Such a beautiful and charming woman, falling into the hands of the Imperial Guards, her fate might not be better than Concubine Jing’s.

If it was really the King of Yunnan choosing to act at this time, it was clear that Jiang Si had already been treated as a discardable pawn… Perhaps Lan Xuezhao as well.

Qin Shu’s death cast a shadow over the entire court, even more so than when she was assassinated.

Because of this, the hunting trip ended abruptly. The young Emperor ordered to set out for the return to the capital the next day.

That night, the lamp in Jiang Si’s tent burned bright. The charcoal fire crackled red. She was tied to a chair, her long hair loose, her crimson outer robe torn and disheveled. Several whip marks lashed across her delicate, smooth face. The firelight projected her shadow on the tent, winding and extending like a ghostly painted skin.

“Your Highness, she still won’t say anything.” Chang’an put down the chili oil-soaked whip.

Yue Guanyi sat slanting opposite her, his thin, cold eyes lowered. “It’s just a whipping. You underestimate Lady Jiang too much.”

Jiang Si’s face was pale and weak, her seductive red lips devoid of color. She laughed in a low, wretched voice, her eyes full of despair. He had been completely abandoned.

“But to be able to endure a whipping without making a sound, this palace is truly impressed.” Yue Guanyi slowly stood up and took out a branding iron that was burning so hot it was almost melting from the scarlet charcoal fire. His thin lips uttered lightly, “I wonder if you can bear this?”

Jiang Si’s body instantly chilled, but she bit her lower lip tightly, refusing to beg for mercy.

Yue Guanyi chuckled. He had seen many people like this. The branding iron was just a trifling toy for minor torment. What was truly terrifying was the endless torture, each time more unbearable than the last. No matter how tight-lipped, he could pry her open.

“Take off the lady’s clothes. Be careful not to burn the fine Shu silk.” The corners of Yue Guanyi’s mouth slowly curled into a playful smile, as if he was holding a cat toy instead of a terrifying branding iron.

“Yes.” Chang’an was well-versed in these things. Just as he was about to unbutton the collar of her stand-up collar, Jiang Si, who had always been calm, suddenly resisted violently.

“Get lost!” He cursed in a low voice.

“It’s just taking off clothes. Why is the lady so agitated?” Yue Guanyi’s eyes gradually filled with a layer of coldness. He put down the iron and strode forward, tearing open his collar in one pull. The agate buttons instantly scattered.

The neck that had always been concealed was exposed to him for the first time. Chang’an looked at the slight bulge in his throat in astonishment. “You… You’re actually a man?”

Yue Guanyi stared at his Adam’s apple in disbelief, prying open his collar until he saw his completely flat chest before finally believing the fact that he was male.

The most secret place of a man was exposed to them without any defense. Jiang Si’s face was deathly pale as if he had been greatly humiliated, blood oozing from his mouth.

Yue Guanyi grabbed his chin, his eyes deep. “I never thought Lady Jiang turned out to be Young Master Jiang.”

No wonder he always felt that Jiang Si looked masculine despite her enchanting appearance.

No wonder Jiang Si had an inexplicable fondness for Qiu Shuzhi, repeatedly trying to get close to her, please her, and send men to her.

He couldn’t figure out the reason before, but now he understood everything.

Jiang Si snorted coldly. “Now you know.”

“I was still curious how the King of Yunnan could be so ruthless as to send his own daughter to the capital as a concubine. Turns out it’s a male body. No wonder he’s treated as a discardable pawn. Even his death is considered a pity.” Yue Guanyi narrowed his eyes and said ominously.

Jiang Si gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, his mouth covered in blood, his eyes boring into him like sharp blades.

Yue Guanyi looked at him and smiled. “What do you think will happen to you if Qin Zheng finds out you’re a man?”

Jiang Si’s body shook. He had long heard about Qin Zheng’s methods in her youth. A man falling into the hands of a powerful official often suffered the most heart-wrenching and bone-scraping humiliation, unable to even keep his chastity, living worse than the lowest-ranking prostitute.

“Yue Guanyi, you dare-” He gritted his teeth, his voice almost a low growl.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Jiang Si stared at Yue Guanyi. Suddenly, he laughed, his enchanting eyes flashing with a hint of knife-like ruthlessness. “If I die, Qiu Shuzhi will definitely not live either.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes violently shook. He grabbed Jiang Si’s neck, his voice icy cold and bone-chilling as if he had come from hell. “What did you do to her?”

Jiang Si smiled fearlessly. He had guessed correctly. Yue Guanyi liked Qiu Shuzhi. It was not in vain that he had tampered with the hidden weapon, using the rarest poisonous Gu from the Miao territory.

Enduring the suffocating pain of his neck almost being strangled, he met Yue Guanyi’s terrifying eyes that were like a fierce ghost. His bloody lips curled into a mocking smile. “If I die, no one can cure this poison. The Qiu Shuzhi you think of day and night will suffer the pain of ten thousand insects gnawing at her bones every day, making her life worse than death.”

Yue Guanyi instantly paled. His eyes fixed on Jiang Si were filled with undissolvable viciousness and malice. His fingers, like an eagle’s claw grasping a withered bone, almost embedded into his flesh. His hatred was sky-high, but he was restrained. The force of his fingers almost broke Jiang Si, but he finally withdrew his hand.

“Release him.” He said coldly.

Chang’an obediently untied the ropes binding Jiang Si. Free from restraint, Jiang Si immediately tidied his clothes, covering his chest that Yue Guanyi had torn open. The crimson robe under the charcoal fire exuded an enchanting, ghostly beauty.