Chapter 10: Offering Men, The Unyielding Jiang Si

Qin Qing unknowingly swallowed, his gaze shifting slightly downward, attracted by a touch of crimson on her fingertips.

A spot of congealed blood red stood out glaringly on the jade-like finger joints.

“The soft jade cream I gave you, why didn’t you use it?”

Qiu Shuzhi covered the wound on her hand. “The item bestowed by the Emperor Father is cherished by this humble servant. For such a minor injury, this servant does not dare to presume to use it.”

Qin Qing covered his lips with the fan and chuckled lightly. The ink-colored, gold-outlined fan made his fair skin appear even more luxurious.

If an ordinary official had said such words, Qin Qing would have found the flattery and toadying extremely disgusting, but the same words coming from Qiu Shuzhi’s mouth felt like a refreshing breeze, making him view Qiu Shuzhi more and more favorably.

“I rewarded it to you so that you could recover quickly. There’s no need for you to hide it. Did you bring the medicine?”

Qiu Shuzhi took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and respectfully presented it in her palm. “According to Young Master Yu Zhi, this soft jade cream is an extremely precious tribute, so this servant has been carrying it on my person.”

“No matter how precious, it’s still just an object. How can it compare to a pillar of the nation?” He picked up the soft jade cream, his fingertips accidentally touching her soft palm. The cold porcelain bottle was tinged with the warmth of her palm.

His face flushed, and he handed the soft jade cream to Yu Ye, who was attending to them.

“Go apply the medicine for Madam Qiu.”

Qiu Shuzhi was slightly surprised. “This servant—”

The fan pressed against her lips, and the subtle fragrance of aloeswood lingered around her. His gentle brows and eyes were as calm as spring water, with a hint of tenderness.

Yu Ye responded with a delicate voice and lifted her slender hand, applying the cold ointment to her finger bones.

Qiu Shuzhi turned her head slightly.

Seeing her rare bashful and pure appearance, Qin Qing’s eyes flickered.

“How old is Madam Qiu?”

“In response to the Emperor Father, this servant is twenty-three years old.”

Twenty-three? Looking at her peerlessly beautiful face, Qin Qing thought she appeared much younger than her age.

Back then, when he entered the palace to succeed as the empress, he was not even 20 years old.

At that time, he was the most renowned legitimate son of the Qin family in the capital, attracting countless noble ladies to flock to him. Yet, in the end, he was sent as a political tool to the senile old dragon.

Fortunately, the late emperor at that time was on the verge of decay and no longer had the energy to engage in bedchamber pleasures with him. Although he was the esteemed empress, he remained a virgin, preserving his chastity.

Yu Ye’s movements were extremely gentle. The milky white ointment applied to her hand resembled a layer of lustrous white jade cream.

Qiu Shuzhi’s face remained calm, but the tip of her ear revealed a hint of pink.

Seeing her pure appearance, Qin Qing smiled slightly and asked subconsciously, “Madam Qiu is young and beautiful. I presume the young masters in your family must be no less than eight or ten. How come you’re still feeling shy?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s face turned slightly red. “This servant has not yet taken a husband.”

Yu Ye’s hand paused.

Qin Qing was slightly surprised and couldn’t hide a trace of inexplicable joy. “Madam Qiu is young and promising. I’m afraid the matchmakers must have worn out the doorstep of your family. How come you haven’t taken a husband yet?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s voice deepened. “This servant wishes to establish a career before starting a family.”

The corner of Qin Qing’s lips curved up, his expression inscrutable. The way he looked at her was almost tender to the bone.

The soft jade cream was evenly spread on her fingertips. Yu Ye gently placed the small porcelain bottle back into Qiu Shuzhi’s hand and slightly bent his knees in a salute. “Madam, it’s applied.”

“Thank you, Young Master Yu Ye.” Qiu Shuzhi’s voice was gentle.

Although Yu Ye was much more steady than Yu Zhi, he couldn’t help but purse his lips slightly, his eyes curving.

“Now that Madam Qiu is the chief administrator of the Shuntian Prefecture, with numerous official duties, there’s no need to stay long in Qingning Palace. You may leave first. If there’s any matter, I will summon you.” Qin Qing glanced at him inconspicuously, his gold-outlined fan swaying lightly, sending a breeze mixed with the scent of aloeswood.

“Yes.” Qiu Shuzhi felt relieved.

As she exited Qingning Palace, the high-quality aloeswood fragrance dissipated by more than half. Fresh air rushed into her nostrils, making her feel refreshed and comfortable all over. She walked slowly towards the palace gate and saw the three characters “Imperial Study” from afar, feeling a sense of nostalgia for the days when she tutored Yue Shen there.

Since her transfer from the Hanlin Academy, the peaceful Hanlin Academy had been in turmoil. First, the Attendant Lecturer Wang was found to be corrupt. Then, a new scholar took her place as the tutor to the young emperor. At this hour, it was probably the time when she would habitually doze off and feel sleepy.

She wondered how the new tutor would react when encountering the lazy young emperor. She couldn’t help but want to walk in, but considering her current status, she had to keep her distance from Yue Shen. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Yue Guanyi striding out of the study.

Today, he was wearing an official robe. His hurried steps made the beads hanging from his gold-woven official hat sway slightly. With his reticent and taciturn nature, he exuded a steady and imposing aura, which was extremely rare in the female-dominant world.

He seemed to have not noticed her and walked straight past. His tall and jade-like figure, broad official robe tied with a jade belt, outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His handsome and lean face, despite his wretched reputation and gloomy eyes, made people can’t help but take a second look.

She couldn’t help but recall that day when the most powerful man in the world, aside from the Emperor Father, knelt before her with both knees, his humble and cautious appearance making her feel conflicted.

Yue Guanyi seemed to have some special feelings towards her, but what did that specialness entail? She didn’t dare to think deeply about it and turned to leave.

When Qiu Shuzhi returned to the rented courtyard, she was startled by the scene inside.

The originally quiet and tranquil courtyard actually had several good-looking young masters kneeling in front of Qiu Qiushuang. Their figures were alluring, their clothes thin and transparent as they knelt before Qiu Qiushuang. The strong scent of cosmetics made her cover her nose and mouth.

Looking at Qiu Qiushuang sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, his usually gentle and amiable appearance was nowhere to be seen. With a cold face and furrowed brows, his fingers kept tapping on the stone table as he glared at the men kneeling before him.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

Before Qiu Qiushuang could speak, those young masters kneeling on the ground swarmed over, kneeling before her as if their knees were rooted to the ground. They cried and clung to the hem of her skirt, refusing to let go.

Qiu Shuzhi was initially startled, then looked at Qiu Qiushuang in confusion.

Qiu Qiushuang angrily stepped forward and pushed away those young masters clinging to her one by one. Suppressing his anger, he gestured, “These were all sent by your colleagues.”

Qiu Shuzhi understood. Ever since her promotion to the chief administrator of the Shuntian Prefecture, there had been numerous flatterers eager to offer gifts. Seeing that she wouldn’t accept them, they started thinking of unscrupulous methods. Since she was still unmarried, they came up with this ploy of sending men.

Qiu Shuzhi quickly pulled the angry Qiu Qiushuang to sit down and said to the men kneeling on the ground and crying, “Our household does not accept men. Go back to where you came from.”

The men on the ground were in a panic and still wanted to cling to Qiu Shuzhi and beg for mercy.

Although Qiu Shuzhi had a good temper, it didn’t mean she had no temper at all. Seeing those who still dared to approach boldly, her cold eyes turned icy.