Chapter 13: Eating Together, The Male Protagonist Falls into Self-Denial

“Without merit, this humble official cannot accept such rewards. Please take them back, Your Highness,” Qiu Shuzhi pushed the gold in front of Yue Guanyi.

His eyes flickered slightly, and his fingertips involuntarily tightened.

He couldn’t understand why Qiu Shuzhi accepted gifts from those flattering minor officials, yet uniquely refused his own.

“Is it because what I’ve done has displeased you?” He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes drooping with a hint of grievance, like a puppy that didn’t receive a response from its owner.

Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t stand this kind of pitiful gaze, especially when it came from Yue Guanyi. Such puppy eyes appearing on his snow-mountain-like cold and arrogant face created a strong contrast that nearly made her firm beliefs waver.

Beautiful person scheme, beautiful person scheme, she silently chanted in her heart.

“No, it’s just that this official has no interest in these things,” she took a deep breath and said.

“But… alright then.” Yue Guanyi wanted to say more but stopped himself. On the surface, he agreed, but in his heart, he thought that since vulgar gold, silver, and jewels couldn’t catch her eye, next time he would send some antiques and paintings, which she would surely like.

“It’s getting late, this official shall not disturb Your Highness any longer.” Qiu Shuzhi stood up, preparing to leave.

Chang’an seized the opportunity to enter and racked his brains to create a chance for his master, “Your Highness, Lord Qiu, the kitchen has already prepared the meal. I wonder if Lord Qiu would like to stay and dine with Your Highness?”

“There’s no need. The night is deep, and it’s improper for this official, a mere woman, to linger in Your Highness’s residence. I shall take my leave now.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes were full of reluctance, but he had no choice but to watch her leave.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s figure gradually receding, Yue Guanyi mustered up his courage and caught up to her. The jade pendant hanging from his belt made a crisp clinking sound, “I’ll escort you.”

The setting sun sank, its afterglow sprinkling on the rippling water surface. Yue Guanyi’s reflection in the water was like the ice and snow at the peak of a snowy mountain melting into a pool of spring water, dyed by the setting sun like an oil painting.

He followed beside Qiu Shuzhi, his steps slow, the evening breeze blowing on her face, tranquil and natural.

Come to think of it, since Qiu Shuzhi was promoted to the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, he hadn’t formally congratulated her.

But now, she was the Empress Dowager’s favorite. Naturally, countless people were flattering and fawning over her. To her, he was just a dispensable person. She must have never cared about him.

“The governor of Shuntian Prefecture, Gu Zheng, is a disciple personally taught by Qin Zheng. He’s meticulous in his thoughts and seasoned in his methods, a difficult person to deal with. Lord Qiu must be careful when taking office tomorrow.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s steps paused slightly. Although the governor of Shuntian Prefecture was nominally a third-rank official post, due to its special status, it had always been held by officials of the second rank or above in the imperial court. Those who could sit in this position were feared even by the imperial relatives. Moreover, Gu Zheng was also Qin Zheng’s disciple, clinging to the Qin family’s high branch. His status in the court was also among the top.

It was impossible for someone to reach this position without some capability. Even if she now had the Empress Dowager’s power to back her up, Gu Zheng might not necessarily give her any face.

After all, her reputation in the court was not good at the moment. The Empress Dowager’s special promotion had caused many people to gossip that she used her beauty to serve others. However, not long after, these voices disappeared without a trace.

Instead, it was replaced by the news of Wang Qing being thrown into prison for corruption.

She knew that Yue Guanyi’s power was behind this, but she didn’t know where to begin, so she simply pretended not to know.

“Thank you for your reminder, Your Highness.”

The afterglow of the setting sun completely sank, the night curtain fell, lanterns were lit, and crowds gradually gathered in the night market.

Passing by some street vendors, Qiu Shuzhi casually glanced around. Her gaze fell on a small stall selling fresh fruits. Qiu Qiushuang loved to eat these.

“Boss, give me two jin of fruits.”

“Sure thing!” The stall owner beamed with joy.

“Do you like eating these?” Yue Guanyi asked subconsciously, wanting to remember each and every one of Qiu Shuzhi’s preferences.

Qiu Shuzhi shook her head, her smile gentle, “My elder brother likes to eat them. He’s a gentle man who doesn’t like to show his face in public, so I often bring him some when I’m off duty.”

Elder brother? Qiu Qiushuang?

Yue Guanyi recalled the night when Qin Shu was arrested, the man who trembled and shrank in Qiu Shuzhi’s arms, that snake-hearted mute. Only Qiu Shuzhi would think he was a gentle and quiet man.

Thinking of the humiliation from many years ago, the hatred engraved in his bones surged like the tide, stirring up towering waves.

“Does Your Highness like this?”

Under the shroud of night, Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t see the thick resentment in Yue Guanyi’s eyes. She only saw him staring at the chilled cakes on the small stall, so she asked accordingly.

Yue Guanyi’s eyes flashed, and he hastily concealed the hatred in his eyes, casually responding, “…Mm.”

Only when he focused his gaze did he see that the chilled cakes had been skillfully shaped into cute little white rabbits by the stall owner.

“Boss, give us two bowls of chilled cakes.”

“Sure thing! Please come this way, you two.” The stall owner grinned from ear to ear.

The chilled cakes had a lot of syrup and couldn’t be taken away. They could only be eaten at the table and chairs beside the small stall. The boss’s business was very good. It had just opened, and besides them, there was another table of people eating chilled cakes.

Before Yue Guanyi could react, he was pulled to sit down by Qiu Shuzhi. The stall owner swiftly brought over two bowls of chilled cakes, the plump pink little rabbits wobbling, causing the tips of his ears to redden slightly.

“This is for me?” The corners of Yue Guanyi’s mouth couldn’t help but curve upwards.

“Of course. The food of the common folk can’t compare to that of the palace. Your Highness, please don’t mind.”

“How could I mind?” The smile on Yue Guanyi’s lips deepened. He was overjoyed.

He scooped a spoonful into his mouth. Although it was just an ordinary bowl of chilled cakes, because it was related to Qiu Shuzhi, it made him feel that it was wonderful in a myriad of ways. The cool and refreshing texture, mixed with a hint of brown sugar’s sweetness, teased his taste buds with a fresh and sweet sensation.

“How is it?” Qiu Shuzhi asked.

Under her attentive gaze, Yue Guanyi lowered his head in embarrassment, “Very sweet.”

Sweet and only sweet. The sweetness, along with the hint of tenderness Qiu Shuzhi bestowed upon him, seeped into his long-parched heart, moistening and alleviating the bitterness he had experienced over the past decade.

“Boss, check please!” The woman at the next table shouted.

The boss ran over with a smile, “Ten wen.”

The woman readily placed ten wen on the table. As she walked away, she frowned tightly and said, “Boss, what’s that smell at your stall? Clean it up properly.”

The boss took the money and sniffed the air, muttering, “There does seem to be a strange smell, like rust.”

Yue Guanyi’s hand holding the porcelain spoon handle suddenly tightened.

Looking at the clothes on his body, it was exactly what he wore when interrogating prisoners in the Zhao Prison. It was filled with the stench of human flesh and blood, nauseating and unpleasant, and it lingered for a long time without dissipating. When one had contact with many prisoners and dead people, a kind of unpleasant odor that couldn’t be washed away would also cling to the body.

After leaving the Zhao Prison, he had wanted to change his clothes, but at that time, his attendant hurriedly informed him that Qiu Shuzhi was waiting for his news. He was flustered and all he could think about was not making Qiu Shuzhi wait. He wished he could rush back on a swift horse, unexpectedly forgetting such an important matter.

Yue Guanyi’s face instantly turned pale as paper. He had actually come to see Qiu Shuzhi wearing clothes stained with prisoners’ blood and filth.

That overwhelmingly foul odor must have reached her nose. No wonder she didn’t want to stay long in his residence, no wonder she didn’t want to dine with him.

In this state, even he himself felt extremely disgusted, let alone Qiu Shuzhi.

She must have endured it with great difficulty.

His heart, which had just become lively, instantly withered into a thoroughly dead pile of ashes.

“I’ll go back first.” He staggered, wanting to stand up, but his legs seemed to have lost blood and didn’t obey, causing him to fall back down. He felt extremely embarrassed and wished he could bury his head deep into the ground.

Too dirty, he was too dirty.

His background, his experiences, even his scent were all filthy. He felt utterly ashamed and only wanted to escape, unwilling to let Qiu Shuzhi’s disgust towards him deepen further.

Qiu Shuzhi pressed down on his hand, “You haven’t finished eating. Why does Your Highness want to leave?”

Yue Guanyi’s ghastly pale complexion deepened, and his thin, bony shoulders trembled, “The smell on my body… it’s disgusting.”

“I don’t think Your Highness’s scent is any different from others,” Qiu Shuzhi said slowly.

Her warm palm covered his cold hand, and her gentle voice nearly made his mind go numb.