Chapter 67: Her Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness the Crown Prince

“Your humble servant pays respects to the Empress.” Qiu Shuzhi knelt on one knee and performed a salute.

Qin Zhengya had now become the leader of all the consorts, naturally attracting extra attention with his every move. As he stood up, the other consorts also hurried to pay their respects to her.

“Sir Qiu has just returned to the capital and has been tirelessly guarding the imperial city. You must be exhausted,” Qin Zhengya said, suppressing his excitement after not seeing Qiu Shuzhi for a long time.

“Thank you for your concern, Empress. Your humble servant is not weary of serving Her Majesty.”

The consorts surviving in the palace were all shrewd individuals. They knew that Qiu Shuzhi had the merit of capturing the assassin at the hunting grounds and was due for rewards. Now that the Empress was being so warm and attentive to her, perhaps she had received advance notice. Tomorrow, when the imperial edict was issued, she would rise through the ranks. That’s why they were trying to build a good relationship with her in advance. Therefore, the other consorts also stepped forward to flatter her.

“Sir Qiu, you are too modest. You have the merit of capturing the assassin at the hunting grounds, making you a meritorious official.”

“Indeed, Sir Qiu passed the spring examination and became the commander of the Yulin Army in less than a few months. You are truly young and promising.”

The consorts, adorned in gold, silver, and fine fabrics, had their clothes infused with various fragrances—sandalwood, floral, herbal—creating an overwhelming scent. Their charming and delicate voices surrounded her, and the golden hairpins, silver pendants, and pearl hoops decorating their hair swayed in the evening glow, resembling Tang Sanzang who had mistakenly entered the Kingdom of Women.

These were all the little emperor’s consorts. How dare she casually engage in conversation with them? She didn’t even dare to raise her head.

For some reason, while the little emperor remained calm and unperturbed when surrounded by a group of male consorts, no matter how depraved and unrestrained he was, Qin Zhengya felt particularly irritated seeing Qiu Shuzhi being flattered by these meticulously dressed male consorts. The pearl plum branch in his hand was almost snapped.

“Enough.” Qin Zhengya suppressed his unsightly expression and reprimanded in a low voice, “Sir Qiu still has important matters to attend to. You consorts should enjoy the flowers by yourselves and not delay Sir Qiu’s official duties.”

Seeing Qin Zhengya, who usually had a good temper, reprimanding them for the first time with the lofty demeanor of an empress, the consorts tactfully withdrew. They formed pairs of two or three and appreciated the flowers in the garden.

With the people around her suddenly dispersing, Qiu Shuzhi abruptly let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Empress, for rescuing your humble servant.”

Qin Zhengya’s clear eyes curved slightly. “Sir, there’s no need to be polite. I— This palace originally thought that with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching and the perfect weather tonight, I invited the consorts to the imperial garden to enjoy the flowers and the moon. I didn’t expect to be able to wait for you here.”

Cai Er kept his head lowered, not daring to speak. Wasn’t it because you had inquired about the Yulin Army’s nightly patrol route in advance and specifically arranged this location?

However, with his reminder, Qiu Shuzhi suddenly realized that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching soon. Time had passed so quickly.

“Empress—” A palace servant came running over, holding a broken bowl in his hands. “Empress, Consort Rong still refuses to eat anything. He hasn’t been seen eating much throughout the journey back from the hunting grounds. If he doesn’t eat soon, I’m afraid he won’t last.”

Upon hearing that it was about Lan Xuezhao, the consorts who were appreciating poetry and flowers immediately became interested. When Lan Xuezhao was favored, he was arrogant and unrestrained, offending many with his lack of self-control. Now that he had fallen from grace, who knows how many people would kick him while he was down?

“Won’t last?” A consort with blood-red painted nails sneered. “He has the strength to smash bowls, so how could he not last?”

“He’s probably deliberately using a pitiful act, wanting the news to reach Her Majesty’s ears and gain her pity, hoping to regain favor,” another consort added, harboring jealousy and resentment.

“You servant, you’re brainless. How dare you bother the Empress with such a trivial matter? Hurry and go down!” The consorts targeted Lan Xuezhao in unison, wishing for him to starve to death and never be able to turn the tables.

Qiu Shuzhi felt a tinge of pity. Although Lan Xuezhao was domineering and insufferable, he had a simple nature and was used as a pawn by the King of Dian without any scheming. His crimes did not warrant death.

“Consort Rong, after all, is a man who has served Her Majesty. You are all brothers serving Her Majesty together. Don’t be too narrow-minded,” Qin Zhengya said slowly, twirling the pearl plum branch in his hand.

The consorts had displeased expressions but didn’t dare to contradict the Empress.

“Cai Er, instruct them to prepare another meal. This palace will personally visit Consort Rong. Sir Qiu should be heading in the same direction. Why don’t we go together?” Qin Zhengya walked up to Qiu Shuzhi, his voice gentle and almost pleading.

He originally didn’t want to get involved in Lan Xuezhao’s matter, but if he didn’t help now, Sir Qiu might think he was too cold-hearted. Suddenly, he remembered that Qianxi Wusuo, where Lan Xuezhao was confined, was located on the west side of the imperial garden, coinciding with the direction Qiu Shuzhi had to leave. The two of them could spend more time together.

Qiu Shuzhi nodded.

The two walked together on the quiet official road as the night gradually darkened. Palace servants carried lanterns to light their way.

Although there were many servants around them, monitoring their every move, Qin Zhengya was still unable to contain his excitement. Even if they didn’t exchange any words, just standing under the same sky, feeling each other’s steps in the same space, and occasionally catching a whiff of her cold fragrance, he was already content. Like a cat that had stolen a fish, every moment spent together was a stolen luxury.

Before even approaching Qianxi Wusuo, Qiu Shuzhi smelled an unbearable stench. The palace corridor was narrow and deep, and the dilapidated palace gate was securely locked with an iron chain and golden lock. Peering through the gaps in the door, one could see the overgrown weeds inside, showing a state of desolation and decay. The wind blowing through created gusts of eerie winds.

“Is this where Consort Rong is confined?” she asked.

Qin Zhengya also found it difficult to endure the smell and covered his nose with his sleeve. “That’s right. Qianxi Wusuo has always been used to confine palace servants and consorts who have committed offenses. It’s just that Her Majesty has recently ascended the throne, so only Consort Rong is confined here.”

In such a desolate place, with only Lan Xuezhao imprisoned alone, apart from the servants who delivered meals at regular intervals, he had no one to serve him or talk to him. It was no different from being in prison.

Qiu Shuzhi felt a little worried. If this continued for months or even years, Lan Xuezhao might go insane.

The palace servant unlocked the door with a key, and the sound of the lock being pried open echoed in the empty cold palace. The courtyard was pitch-black, without even an oil lamp for illumination. Only the crows, always considered an ill omen by the imperial family, circled overhead.

Qiu Shuzhi patrolled the courtyard and finally found him curled up weakly in a corner.

His once luxurious brocade robes had been stripped away, and the jingling silver ornaments he loved to wear were also gone. His clothes were tattered, and his appearance was haggard. He had become even more frail and pitiful due to not eating for several days. Only his eyes remained enchanting, with a hint of stubbornness amidst the allure.

“The Empress has arrived. Why aren’t you kneeling and bowing?” Cai Er stepped forward and kicked him, venting his past grievances of being bullied by him.

Lan Xuezhao had been deprived of food and drink for several days, and his body was already weak. He had no strength to resist and could only allow a servant to trample him underfoot. His thin back was stepped on, as if it would snap at any moment. Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t bear to watch and intervened on his behalf.

“Cai Er!” Qin Zhengya saw Qiu Shuzhi’s intervention and immediately reprimanded, “Consort Rong is already in this state. Don’t make things difficult for him.”

He placed the prepared dinner beside him, smiling with gentle kindness, portraying the perfect image of a virtuous empress.

Lan Xuezhao supported his barely surviving body and laughed coldly. He knew Qin Zhengya’s intentions. He was just trying to appear as a good person in front of her. He swept away the bowl in Qin Zhengya’s hand, shattering it on the ground. “Get lost! I don’t need your fake kindness!”

Qin Zhengya covered his hand that had been splashed by the hot porridge, asking in disbelief, “Why are you treating me like this?”

Lan Xuezhao glared at him fiercely, like a cat that had been provoked, bristling with hostility. “Qin Zhengya, stop pretending to be pitiful. If you want to torment me, just do it quickly. I’d rather starve to death than bow to you.”

“The Empress has no such intention,” Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t help but advise.

“You’re also taking his side? You’re a bad person too!” Lan Xuezhao’s enchanting watery eyes stared intently at her, considering everyone in this palace to be his enemy, treating him badly. They could scold and humiliate him all they wanted. But Qiu Shuzhi was the only person he had a good impression of since coming to the capital, naturally thinking that Qiu Shuzhi should side with him.

Qiu Shuzhi helping Qin Zhengya meant betraying him. He wanted to curse at her, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could only grasp the hem of her skirt as his last resort.

“Those servants bully me every day, finding ways to torment me. The food they send is rotten and spoiled, not even fit for dogs.” Lan Xuezhao’s eyes, originally filled with anger, suddenly turned red, as if he had suffered some great injustice, recounting the hardships he had endured during this period.

“This… This is impossible. I specifically ordered them to treat you well,” Qin Zhengya said in surprise, looking at his servant Cai Er.

Cai Er guiltily shouted at Lan Xuezhao, “The Empress, out of her kind heart, specially came to the cold palace to see you. If you continue to be ungrateful and distort the truth, beware of Her Majesty punishing you for your crimes. Besides, you are already a commoner banished to the cold palace. The treatment in the cold palace is like this. Do you still think you are the once-favored consort who could act arrogantly?”

“Enough.” Qin Zhengya reprimanded. He had already understood what had happened and coldly glanced at the bullying Cai Er. “This time, it was Cai Er’s negligence. In the future, this palace will arrange for your daily meals properly.”

Lan Xuezhao coldly watched him, not believing there could be any good person in this harem. The only person he trusted was Qiu Shuzhi.

After leaving the cold palace, Qin Zhengya anxiously fidgeted with his handkerchief.

He wasn’t afraid of Lan Xuezhao’s accusations, but he was afraid that his words calling him sinister would leave a bad impression in Qiu Shuzhi’s mind.

“Sir, regarding Consort Rong’s matter, I really had no idea. I had carefully instructed them, but the servants…” He explained apprehensively.

“Consort Rong originally attracted jealousy from many people in the palace. It’s understandable that some would deliberately make things difficult for him now that he has fallen. The Empress doesn’t need to blame herself too much,” she comforted.

Qin Zhengya blushed and nodded. “As long as you believe me, that’s all that matters.”

As long as Qiu Shuzhi was willing to believe him, he didn’t care what others said.

“I never thought that Consort Rong, who was once so domineering, would end up in such a state,” Ji Mei sighed with some感慨 after returning to the army barracks to rest.

“Life is unpredictable. We also need to be cautious in our actions in the future, especially you. You must keep your mouth shut tight. By the way, how are things in the army?” Qiu Shuzhi took off her armor.

“Li Mian has been running around in the court since losing the military tally. Li Liang is even stirring up emotions in the army camp, seemingly preparing to cause trouble. Sir, do you think you should go back and manage the situation?” Ji Mei asked with some concern.

Qiu Shuzhi sat at the table, drinking tea unhurriedly. “Now is not the time. Let them make a scene and reveal their cards. It will be easier for me to uproot Li Mian’s accomplices.”

“Understood.” Hearing Qiu Shuzhi say this, Ji Mei was already itching with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the day she would make her move. “You haven’t had your evening meal after being busy all afternoon. Wait a moment, your humble servant will bring it to you.”

“I don’t know what’s going on recently. The food for our Yulin Army’s duty meals has been getting better and better. In the past, it was always clear congee with white vegetables and pickled vegetable buns, and they were all cold. Now, even our lowest-ranking soldiers have two dishes and a soup,” Ji Mei said gleefully as she brought her meal from the kitchen.

She was nominally the second-in-command of the Yulin Army, and her meals were even better than ordinary soldiers. Braised goose, egg custard with pine nuts, bamboo shoots, spicy lychee waist, soft-braised tofu, fried pearl shrimp, accompanied by a bowl of almond silver lung soup. Six dishes and one soup—this was a meal she couldn’t even dream of in the past.

Ji Mei was drooling at the aroma of these dishes. “In the past, no matter how much our Yulin Army complained, they wouldn’t even add an extra plate of pickled vegetables. When did it start getting better?”

She recalled, “Oh right, it seems to be since you joined our Yulin Army!”

Qiu Shuzhi’s hand holding the chopsticks paused, vaguely sensing something. She smiled silently to herself.

“You may go. I don’t need to be served here.” Qiu Shuzhi handed the spicy lychee waist and fried pearl shrimp to Ji Mei. “You haven’t eaten either, right? Take these back and give the people below an extra meal.”

She couldn’t eat so many dishes alone. In ancient times with distinct class divisions, soldiers rarely got to eat meat and seafood. It was better to take it down and do them a favor.

“Thank you for the reward, Sir!” Ji Mei left with a beaming smile.

After Ji Mei left, Qiu Shuzhi opened the window and gazed at the bright moon outside. The moonlight before the Mid-Autumn night was exceptionally bright, casting a clear radiance upon the world.

She moved the bowls and plates in front of her to the side, seeming to be waiting for someone.

“Come out, my prince,” she called softly, with the most intoxicating tenderness in this world.

Yue Guanyi almost lost his balance. He took a deep breath before sheepishly coming out from a hidden corner.

“It seems that every time Your Highness comes here, it’s always sneaking around at night, like a secret affair,” Qiu Shuzhi pulled him to sit down, teasing with a light laugh.

Yue Guanyi’s face turned bright red, extremely embarrassed.

But he couldn’t stop worrying about the Gu poison in her body. He had sent someone to investigate in Miao Territory and learned that this kind of Gu poison was called Shichong Lian, refined from the essence of five poisons. It could only be removed by the person who placed it. The Gu worms were small and formless, able to crawl into the flesh through a person’s wound. They fed on flesh and blood. The host would not notice anything under normal circumstances until the day the Gu worms matured. They would then burrow into the heart, tormenting the person day and night, making life worse than death, destroying both mind and body.

He didn’t dare tell Qiu Shuzhi about being poisoned. He speculated that Qiu Shuzhi must have been cut on the arm while pursuing the assassin, and someone took the opportunity to place the Gu.

However, he had already confined Jiang Si. The person who died was just a disguised puppet. He would definitely be able to force the method to remove the Gu out of Jiang Si’s mouth.