Chapter 72: The Empress Dowager, His Highness, Qiu Niang

Qiu Shuzhi was pressed down forcefully by him, broken porcelain scattered around her. Her outer robes were disheveled and slipping off. Her hands were restrained on both sides, wrists locked in his death grip, veins bulging on the back of his hands. His eyes were full of resentment: “I can’t? Then why can he, but I can’t!”

“He? You mean His Highness the eldest prince?”

“If not him, who else could it be? Qiu Shuzhi, how many lowly men have you been hiding behind my back?” Qin Qing glared at her fiercely like a savage wolf, his long hair falling onto her chest.

“No one!” Qiu Shuzhi shook her head. Qin Qing’s grip on her wrists hurt.

In the matriarchal world, women’s physical strength far surpassed men’s, but she didn’t dare move too much for fear of hurting Qin Qing.

Qin Qing’s eyes were as thick as night, sinisterly intense and unyielding. He released one hand and slowly moved it down, tracing the soft curve of her waist, more unsettling than teasing.

“Empress Dowager-” She stirred.

“Qiu Shuzhi, don’t you dare. I, the Empress Dowager, command you not to move!” Qin Qing overbearingly used his status to press her.

Qiu Shuzhi lowered her eyes, feeling a light, blurry force lingering on her body at the waist. Then she felt a tug at her waist – the jade pendant tied to her belt was harshly pulled off by him, nearly ripping the belt.

Qin Qing half leaned over her, dangling the jade pendant Yue Guanyi had gifted her, its deep red color dazzling her eyes. “I’ll be taking this,” he said.

His tone was extremely forceful as he stared straight at her, unwilling to miss any traces in her eyes.

Qiu Shuzhi finally moved her eyelids and looked up at him. “The Empress Dowager can have anything he wants from this humble official, except this jade pendant.”

“Why?” He bent down urgently.

“This represents the love between His Highness and me.” Qiu Shuzhi laid it all out. Her relationship with Yue Guanyi was not something shameful to hide. Since Qin Qing was acting this way, she might as well be direct.

She knew Qin Qing had feelings for her. Better to take this chance to extinguish his hopes.

Just as she thought Qin Qing would back off in the face of difficulty, the sinister Qin Qing actually laughed – crazed, horrifying laughter, his usually gentle eyes burning violently.

Suddenly, his laughter froze and died out, leaving only a chilling coldness at the corners of his mouth. His gaze fell fiercely on the jade pendant in his hand, as if looking at an unforgivable criminal. The force in his hand grew stronger, his knuckles turning a deathly pale.

“Empress Dowager-” Qiu Shuzhi had a bad premonition and wanted to reach for the jade.

Who knew Qin Qing would go mad and fiercely throw the jade pendant at the door. Luckily, the jade was exceptionally sturdy. An ordinary piece would have shattered.

“You-” Qiu Shuzhi wanted to get up and retrieve it, but her chin was grabbed harshly.

“Look at me!” Qin Qing’s voice was even more torn and gloomy. “How dare you betray me and have an affair with that scoundrel!”

Qiu Shuzhi frowned slightly. “His Highness and I are in love. We are both unmarried. How is that an affair?”

“In love…” Qin Qing’s lips trembled, his eyes lonely and desolate.

Those words plunged him into a boundless hell. All the past honeyed times turned out to be his one-sided delusion. In Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes, only Yue Guanyi was her match.

Then what was he in her eyes? A lonely widower? Someone to visit and say a few sweet nothings to when he was useful, then cast aside, leaving him to wait for her from dusk to dawn?

“Yes, His Highness and I developed feelings in secret, but it is pure and aboveboard. We are both of marriageable age now and are planning to…”

“Enough, enough!” Qin Qing couldn’t help shouting, overcome by swift, violent grief. He shook with agitation, even the strength to support himself drained away. He buried his face deep in her bosom.

What right did that scoundrel Yue Guanyi have to marry her!

Jealousy was ignited by gnawing hatred, soaring uncontrollably. The intense jealousy and hatred burned, making his heart ache as if being torn apart. The more it hurt, the tighter he held her, burying his face deeper, wishing their souls could crash together as one. Only that could extinguish his endless desire.

“Is he threatening you? Using his power to coerce and lure you?” Qin Qing’s thin lips moved, his voice broken and hoarse. Without waiting for Qiu Shuzhi’s reply, he said a bunch of remaining bargaining chips as if afraid of being denied: “What he can give you, I can too. Military power, I can give you that. Even the Qin clan can be yours.”

Qiu Shuzhi sighed helplessly.

It was this sigh filled with too many emotions that made Qin Qing keenly realize these bargaining chips meant nothing in her eyes.

The faint redness on his thin lips completely faded. Like a drowning man clutching at an intangible straw, unwilling to let go even as he sank to the bottom of the sea.

He had entered the palace as the Empress at sixteen. His every word and deed was monitored. The slightest misstep in the treacherous harem could push him into an abyss. He finally made it through until the old Emperor’s death, only to face years of fierce battles.

Only when he helped Yue Shen ascend the throne did the court gradually stabilize. But Yue Shen was wary of him, always mindful he would usurp power. The Qin clan relied on him, and he was restricted by the Qin clan.

Exhausting himself with schemes and power plays day after day, life in the harem was either scheming or fighting to the death, a murky quagmire.

Everyone said the Empress Dowager held great power, not knowing how many fearful times were behind that power, nor did anyone ask if this was the power he truly wanted.

He was merely pushed and driven by a group of people and circumstances towards the pinnacle of power, no different from a sheep whipped by the shepherd into the pen.

He had painstakingly endured this life for nearly twenty years. Finally, the light that was Qiu Shuzhi appeared, but before he could grasp it, it became someone else’s.

How could he accept that!

Qiu Shuzhi was his life’s salvation, the only bit of warmth in his long dark years. He only wanted to drown in the warmth brought by this light. He would not allow anyone to take her away.

Qin Qing took in her cool fragrance, absorbing warmth. His gaze gradually turned gloomy and deep, as if coated with a layer of poisonous venom: “You think you and Yue Guanyi are a match made in heaven, in love, with endless vows. But you don’t know how many women he has said the same words to. Just in his youth, when he was toyed with in brothels…”

“I know all about His Highness’s experiences in his youth. That was not his fault. I sincerely like him. I do not dwell on the past,” she said, displeased by Qin Qing’s insinuations about Yue Guanyi’s past in brothels.

“You-” Qin Qing gritted his teeth, the viciousness in his eyes gradually twisting.

He pressed close to her ear, lightly biting her earlobe, each heavy breath spraying her neck. “You are sincere to that scoundrel, but unfortunately, you love the wrong person. Have you even thought about how a weak man with no support in the palace climbed step by step to his current position?”

“Naturally by selling his body, using his flesh to sleep his way up, layer by layer. Even Qin Zheng enjoyed him.” Qin Qing was like a venomous snake, flicking a scarlet forked tongue, each sound an enticing tune, filled with torn, raging resentment, determined to bring Yue Guanyi to his death.

“I believe His Highness is not that kind of person. Please do not say things that damage his reputation, after all, he is still your son,” Qiu Shuzhi said slowly.

Qin Qing said coldly, “I would disdain to have a son who ruins the family reputation like him. If being toyed with in brothels only sullied his body against his will, after returning to the palace, he willingly offered himself. Even his heart is rotten.”

“Perhaps he feels that since his chastity is already lost, being slept with by one woman or a group of women makes no difference. He can gain power while at it…Qiu Niang, you want to save him from that life, but he willingly debases himself…” His voice was low, resentful, and full of obsessive love.

“Qiu Niang, he is not worthy of you.” Qin Qing raised his head slightly from her neck, brushing aside the hair sticking to her skin in the summer heat. His tongue slid from her neck, the cool sensation making her shiver.

Feeling her reaction, Qin Qing laughed softly.

He let go with one hand and sat up, but kept the other hand interlocked with hers.

His fingertips lingered at the collar of her robe. Qiu Shuzhi grabbed his hand. “Empress Dowager, what are you doing?”

Qin Qing slowly curled his lips into a smile. Ignoring her resistance, he pulled open his own tightly wrapped collar, revealing the red mark of his chastity below his collarbone.

Qiu Shuzhi hurriedly closed her eyes. If she had known Qin Qing would go this crazy, she should not have come.

She struggled to get up, not caring if she hurt him. But Qin Qing grabbed her hand and lightly bit her index finger, leaving a neat, distinct ring of teeth marks.

“If you dare push me away, I will call people in right now and say you disregarded imperial authority and insulted me!” He tightly gripped her shoulders, his eyes burning.

Only when Qin Qing felt he could not control her would he put on airs as the Empress Dowager, using his power to bully – whatever it took to achieve his goal.

Qiu Shuzhi indeed dared not move, but the clear disgust and displeasure in her eyes, like a sharp needle, pricked his heart bit by bit. The pain spread and deepened, aching to the bone, with no cure.

In his heart, Qiu Shuzhi was always gentle and smiling, soft and tender no matter what happened, like a deity in the distant clouds, with no obvious joy or anger, impossible to touch her true feelings.

But he had touched them and stepped on her bottom line.

Qin Qing suddenly felt as if something was strangling his throat, making it extremely difficult to breathe, as if some poison was poured into his organs, corroding them. Qiu Shuzhi was the poison poured into his body, but he was crazy for her, wishing to drink more and more, but it was all quenching his thirst with poison.

The longer he interacted with Qiu Shuzhi, the thicker and more scorching this thirst became, constantly wanting more. He had been enduring and restraining himself, relying on the paintings and fans she left behind to vent the crazy love he could not express in front of her. But it was precisely this restraint that led to his current end.

He softened his body and leaned against her bosom, cozying up to her ingratiatingly, like a male peacock desperately displaying his beautiful feathers to seek favor. He pulled her hand and placed it on his chastity mark, his gentle eyes wet with charm: “Qiu Niang, what he cannot give you, I can. At least I am pure. I also only have you by my side. I will serve you with all my heart.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s hand retracted vigilantly, not wanting to touch his chastity mark.

She hated being threatened the most. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly, cold and aloof with a hint of anger: “What, does the Empress Dowager want the son to pay for the father’s debts?”

“You-” Qin Qing bit his lip. He had never said such humiliating things, but he clearly felt she was angry, her icy manner keeping people a thousand miles away, as if just waiting for him to get fed up, lose his temper and push her away.

But he knew that if he pushed her away now, their relationship would only grow more distant.

He anxiously grabbed her hand tighter, his soft body pressing even closer against her, skin tightly pressed together. “Paying the father’s debts – it’s not impossible.”

Qiu Shuzhi: “…?”

She had thought saying something so sarcastic would finally make him feel humiliated and angry, and lose interest in her. Who knew Qin Qing would actually…

What she didn’t know was that Qin Qing had already thrown all caution to the wind, disregarding his status as the Empress Dowager and the etiquette of a noble house.

He was even thinking, how could a gentle nobleman like Qiu Shuzhi fancy a sordid type like Yue Guanyi who came from a brothel? Perhaps it was precisely because Yue Guanyi was sordid and shameless, going all out to seduce her, that she was moved.

If the father could do it, so could the son. What Yue Guanyi could do, he could do too, and he would do it better than Yue Guanyi. He would firmly grasp her heart, make her addicted to him, unable to leave him.

A sickly flush surged on his face. His thin lips lightly kissed her neck behind her ear, hot kisses falling on her skin in a dense pattern, low panting sounds echoing ambiguously in the quiet private room.

“Qiu Niang,” he called her name obsessively and dotingly. His wet, hot kisses meandered upwards, finally landing on her lips.

Qiu Shuzhi instinctively lifted her head, looking at him coldly. “Empress Dowager, please restrain yourself.”

But Qin Qing was already terminally ill, his entire being falling into a morbid obsession. Not only did he not listen to Qiu Shuzhi’s words, he took advantage of her opened mouth and plunged his tongue inside, stirring wildly, sucking and licking, igniting a scorching flame wherever it went.

Faintly, he let out a sigh of satisfaction, only to fall into an even deeper emptiness. His greed kept expanding, seemingly unable to be satisfied no matter what. Only by continuously taking from her, continuously drawing warmth from her body, could he temporarily suppress his almost absurd possessiveness that was in chaos.

“Enough!” Qiu Shuzhi pushed him away. Shards scattered on the ground pierced his palms.

“His Highness the eldest prince-” Before Yu Ye could finish announcing, the door was suddenly pushed open and a gloomy, sullen face walked in.

Yue Guanyi looked at the mess on the ground. Qiu Shuzhi and Qin Qing had fallen together, their clothes disheveled. Especially Qin Qing, his collar was wide open, the chastity mark on his chest a glaring red. His thin lips were also swollen red, clearly sucked on fiercely. There was even an ambiguous silver thread at the corner of his mouth.

Yue Guanyi was livid. This shameless old widower.

“Your Highness.” Qiu Shuzhi hurriedly stood up from the ground. She never expected Yue Guanyi to come back, barging in directly without allowing an announcement. Could it be that the Imperial Guards got the news in advance?

“Oh, why has His Highness the eldest prince graced us with his presence?” Qin Qing leaned his body softly, wiping away the silver thread at the corner of his mouth right in front of him, his eyes provocative.

Yue Guanyi couldn’t be bothered with him. His gaze was entirely focused on Qiu Shuzhi. The first thing he noticed was that the jade pendant at her waist was gone. Glancing at the chaotic ground, their token of love was lying there all alone.

He silently picked up the jade pendant but didn’t dare return it to Qiu Shuzhi in front of Qin Qing. Seeing the mess in the room, he knew what had just happened. He wasn’t even sure if Qiu Shuzhi had feelings for Qin Qing too.

“Empress Dowager, please get up.” Just seeing Qin Qing’s disheveled and casual appearance made her uneasy. He looked exactly like he had been caught in the act.

Right now, she just wanted to help him up, dress him properly, break this ambiguous atmosphere, and then go back and explain properly to Yue Guanyi.

“Help me up.” Qin Qing extended his hand for her to support him and smugly raised his eyebrows at Yue Guanyi to show off.

Qin Qing finally sat down and stretched out his hand that had been pierced by the porcelain shards. His tone was coquettish. “Look how rude you were just now, rushing in such a hurry that you didn’t even care my hand got cut.”

Qiu Shuzhi was stunned for a moment and instinctively looked at Yue Guanyi.

Sure enough, hearing Qin Qing’s ambiguous words, Yue Guanyi’s entire body was shaking, nearly unable to stand steady. He even lowered his head, not daring to look at her.

In this situation, she should be the one feeling guilty, but Yue Guanyi was as humble as an intruder who had interrupted someone else’s intimate moment, as if she and Qin Qing were a couple and he had become the third party, weak and subservient.

“Your Highness.” Qiu Shuzhi grabbed Yue Guanyi’s hand and held it tightly.

She pulled Yue Guanyi to kneel directly in front of Qin Qing. She even respectfully performed a full formal bow. “Empress Dowager, this humble official has admired His Highness for a long time. I am fortunate to have His Highness’s favor. The two of us have been in love for a while. Please give us your blessing!”

“…Qiu Niang…” Yue Guanyi looked at her in disbelief, his voice choked to the point of hoarseness.

Qiu Niang said she admired him. Yue Guanyi could hardly believe his ears. He knew this was just her way of protecting him.

But in this situation, Qiu Niang was still willing to protect him, even willing to marry him. He was so choked up with emotion that he couldn’t speak. Even the corners of his eyes turned a moist pinkish-red, glistening with tears that rippled out in layers.

If Qin Qing wasn’t here, he really wanted to pounce on her, bury himself in her bosom, prostrate at her feet like a dog, break down and sob, crying as he poured out his near-obsessive adoration and love that had started since his youth.

“Qiu Shuzhi!” Qin Qing suddenly roared.

What did she take him for? They had just done the most intimate thing in the world. He had given her his first kiss, all his tenderness and affection. He didn’t expect to gain her wholehearted affection, but he hoped to at least gain a shred of pitying love.

But not only was she not moved in the slightest, she even asked to marry his son right in front of him.

Qin Qing gripped the edge of the table tightly, the wounds on his hand tearing open more and more, the flesh a hideous sight. But this was nothing compared to the morbid hatred in his eyes. Extreme hate and extreme love twisted together, converging into the thickest, darkest resentment.

He looked at Yue Guanyi’s blissful face with loathing.

It was all him.

All him.

This kind of smile should have belonged to him, but it was snatched away by that lowly Yue Guanyi. His eyes were full of sinister deadliness. The crazily surging hatred tore violently at his heart. He wished he could dismember him right now, throw him into an insect pit, let bugs and snakes crawl into his body, let him also taste the heart-gnawing, bone-scraping feeling he had now.

“Imperial Father, this son also sincerely likes Official Qiu.”

Yue Guanyi tightly held Qiu Shuzhi’s hand. The tears brimming in his eyes were dyed a scarlet peach blossom color by the redness at the corners. His heart was wildly overjoyed as if all the fireworks in the world were blooming at this moment. The sky full of light illuminated his lightless sky. The beautiful dream he humbly begged for day and night, not daring to hope for, had actually come true at this moment. He just wanted to kneel and thank the heavens for their mercy, for bestowing this blessing.

No, he should thank Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang was his deity. It was all because of Qiu Niang’s pity that he had this delirious joy he didn’t dare hope for, his heart so full it felt heavy, to the point he forgot what had happened in this ambiguous room just now.

He even forgot he should be jealous of her having an affair with the Empress Dowager.

Yes, jealous of the Empress Dowager who could be intimate and affectionate with Qiu Niang, gently licking her soft, smooth skin. Jealous that person wasn’t himself, hostile to Qin Qing who shared her favor.

Not feeling resentful and angry at Qiu Niang.

But now, Qiu Niang was openly asking to marry him, making an indescribable pleasure and secret darkness rise in him. He wanted to compete for favor. He wanted to show off.

The one Qiu Niang liked was him. The one she openly asked to marry was him. Didn’t that mean she liked him more than others, at least more than the Empress Dowager?

Yue Guanyi’s burning, scarlet phoenix eyes gradually turned peculiar. He raised his head, his posture humble, but his expression that of a victor. “Imperial Father, I have long admired Official Qiu. Didn’t you always say before that you wanted this son to find a good person to marry soon? Official Qiu is this son’s destined partner. Please arrange our marriage. This son will marry no one but her!”

“How dare you!” Qin Qing was indeed provoked by Yue Guanyi’s defiant, flamboyant smile. His hands started shaking uncontrollably. His voice was hoarse, like someone trampled underfoot still struggling desperately, heartbreaking and pitiful.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to angrily rebuke, “Marriage is a major event that should follow the orders of one’s parents. You and Qiu Shuzhi having a private understanding is simply a disgrace, ruining the imperial family’s dignity!”

“Imperial Father, you always said before that this son was too preoccupied with court affairs, spending all day in the judicial hall without caring about his own lifelong event. How come now that this son has found his destined partner, Imperial Father is unhappy?” He smiled, his beautifully red lips an eye-catching, glaring sight, as if mocking his incompetence.

Even if the Empress Dowager disagreed, so what? As the head of the Imperial Guards, could he not control his own marriage?

He was merely deliberately provoking Qin Qing, wanting to see his ugly expression when he was forced to arrange the marriage between him and Qiu Shuzhi.

Even if you temporarily gained Qiu Niang’s favor, so what? Even if you had just been intimate with Qiu Niang, so what? The one Qiu Niang was marrying was him. The one Qiu Niang liked more was him.