Chapter 3: Scheme – The Cute One Who Understands the Female Lead Best
Qiu Shuzhi pulled Qiu Qiushuang back home. Thinking of how Jiang Si had invited her to have fun in the brothel during the day, she felt fortunate that she didn’t agree at the time, thus escaping a disaster.
For the Qin family, with their towering power and the backing of the Empress Dowager, the murder of the top courtesan by the Qin family’s legitimate daughter was a small matter.
But it was this small matter that had become known throughout the city today and even mobilized the Embroidered Uniform Guard, showing that the matter was not simple and that someone was determined to bring down Qin Shu.
If the Qin family wanted to help Qin Shu clear her name, they would definitely find a scapegoat.
But the one who was with Qin Shu in the Drunken Heart House was the daughter of the King of Dian, who was also a big shot that they definitely couldn’t touch, so naturally they couldn’t frame Jiang Si.
But if Qiu Shuzhi had gone with them at that time, the one being pushed into prison now would probably be herself.
Qiu Shuzhi gulped down a stomach full of cold tea, still feeling lingering fear. The court’s party struggles were treacherous and ever-changing. If one was slightly careless, they would be beyond redemption. She needed to be more careful and cautious in the future.
Yue Guanyi rode back to the palace in a daze. The moon was waning and the clouds were light as the palace lanterns were lit.
“Your Highness, please rest early,” Chang’an said after bandaging his wound.
Yue Guanyi held Qiu Shuzhi’s handkerchief, the intimidating gloom in his eyes completely dissipating at this moment as he stared at it with infatuation.
Looking again at the apricot branch in the first-class white jade porcelain vase on the table, it was blooming weakly as its nutrients were exhausted. Apricot petals covered the table, the withered branch declining.
Chang’an watched in shock as Yue Guanyi held the withered branch in his hands as if it were a precious treasure, his devout gaze mixed with his desire as a mortal, worshipping the deity in his heart.
Chang’an finally understood that as long as it was related to Qiu Shuzhi, even if it was just a dead object, in the eyes of the eldest imperial prince, it was an incomparably precious treasure, like the apple of his eye.
In the future, when encountering Qiu Shuzhi, he must be cautious in speech and action and never offend her.
The next day at the morning court session, the case of the Number One Scholar committing murder became the focus of debate among the officials.
Led by the Qin family, their party made every excuse for Qin Shu, disregarding the public outrage and even intending to release her without charge.
The weaker reformist faction didn’t dare directly confront the Qin family and had to make concessions repeatedly, which further emboldened the Qin family.
“Those incompetent rats!” In the imperial study, Yue Shen slammed the table and roared in anger.
When Qiu Shuzhi arrived at the imperial study to give a lecture to the emperor, she happened to run into the Attendant Reader Official Wang, who was being supported by the attendant Yu Ye while holding her forehead as she came out, blood flowing from between her fingers.
“Official Wang, what happened to you?” Qiu Shuzhi asked with concern.
Official Wang took her hand, “His Majesty is in a rage, please take care of yourself!”
In a rage? It was obvious without thinking that it was because of Qin Shu’s matter.
She pushed open the door and entered. The young emperor was sitting on the steps in court attire, with no one else around. The huge imperial study was frighteningly quiet.
Qiu Shuzhi boldly held her hand and said softly, “The ground is cold, Your Majesty, be careful of your health.”
“Qiu Shuzhi?” Yue Shen slowly raised her head. Having just vented her anger, her hairpin had slipped and her hair fell beside her face.
“This subject will help you up.” She lowered her head, her smooth long hair slipping from her shoulders, a light fragrance lingering around her.
Yue Shen slowly stood up with her support, her gaze a little subtle.
If Yu Ye who had just left saw this, she would definitely be shocked.
Yue Shen had a severe cleanliness obsession and most detested physical contact with others. Even her long-term personal attendants needed to wash from head to toe if they wanted to get close, and even use incense for an hour.
Even doing this, Yue Shen still found it very unpleasant.
Unexpectedly, not only did the newly arrived Qiu Shuzhi not provoke Yue Shen’s disgust, she could even naturally touch her, which was truly surprising.
Yue Shen sat back in the chair, stroking the wrist that Qiu Shuzhi had just touched, watching her now serving reverently by her side, her gentle and quiet brows and eyes like a tranquil lake, smoothing the irritation in her heart.
The imperial tutor’s job was to explain the Four Books and Five Classics to the emperor. Qiu Shuzhi opened the Book of Changes, ready to carry out her duties.
Yue Shen pressed down the book in her hand, their fingertips touching, and asked, “Qiu Qing, do you know about the major events that have happened in court recently?”
“Is Your Majesty talking about the matter of the Number One Scholar Qin Shu?”
“Now the Qin family is advocating releasing Qin Shu, but the people are outraged and demanding a life for a life. The Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners. If the people are not given an explanation, how can I have the face to be the emperor! What do you say I should do?”
This was an unsolvable problem that shouldn’t be decided by a scholar of the Hanlin Academy like her. Yue Shen asking like this was just testing her attitude, testing whether the person in front of her was loyal to her.
The study fell into silence. Qiu Shuzhi was silent for a while before slowly saying, “This subject thinks Qin Shu can be released.”
“Release Qin Shu?” Yue Shen narrowed her eyes, revealing a hint of dangerous coldness.
“Qin Shu is the daughter of Minister Qin, her identity is noble and naturally cannot be compared to the life of a courtesan. If you want to appease the people’s anger, you can exile her to the Baiyue Kingdom. It just so happens that the King of Dian has defeated Baiyue, so Qin Shu can be sent to Baiyue to accept their surrender ceremony. By then, when Qin Shu returns to court, she will be a hero who has made great contributions, and her merits can offset her crime.”
Yue Shen had a cold smile on the corner of her mouth, “What a great way to offset crimes with merits.”
This was the scholar she had gone to great lengths to keep! She originally thought she was an upright official of the reformist faction, but it turned out she had already sided with the Qin family.
Yue Shen’s face was gloomy, anger welling up and about to explode, but seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s lowered eyes and submissive appearance, she couldn’t vent that anger on her no matter what.
She took a deep breath to suppress the dark clouds rolling in her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of fatigue and disappointment.
“You may go!”
Qiu Shuzhi wanted to say something but stopped herself.
There were many eyes and ears in the palace, and the emperor’s power was being undermined. She herself was just a powerless minor official. Offending the Qin family at this time was just seeking death.
She knew Yue Shen was eager to remove this imperial pest, but the young emperor was ultimately too impatient.
Qiu Shuzhi retreated from the study. Not long after, she heard the sound of things being smashed coming from inside.
She silently shook her head. She had said all she could and hoped the young emperor could understand the meaning in her words.
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“Qiu Shuzhi really said that?”
In Qingning Palace, Qin Qing was reclining on a couch, his snow-white skin contrasting with his ink-black robe, his collar slightly open, unintentionally revealing his delicate collarbones.
The attendant Yu Zhi respectfully replied, “In response to the Empress Dowager, Yu Ye heard it clearly outside the study. Official Qiu indeed said this, and Her Majesty was even angered by it.”
Qin Qing’s lips curved up, “Her Majesty thinks she can casually promote someone and have them at her beck and call, how naive. But this Qiu Shuzhi… is quite a shrewd person.”
Yu Zhi smiled faintly, “Miss Qiu is exceptionally wise, how could she not know who her true backer is? She must be on Your Majesty’s side.”
Qin Qing gave a light glance, “What, are you interested in her?”
“This servant doesn’t dare. It’s just that the palace staff have been talking about how the new Miss Qiu from the Hanlin Academy is incomparably beautiful and exceptionally kind to subordinates, so this servant…”
As he spoke, a light blush appeared on Yu Zhi’s face.
Qin Qing recalled the elegant woman at the Qionglin Banquet, her every move graceful, still stunning him to this day. He lowered his eyes to conceal the emotions in them and said, “Qiu Shuzhi’s appearance is indeed unparalleled in the world. You servant boys better restrain your eyes and not stare at her like hungry wolves.”
He knew that the men in the palace were all lonely, and Yu Zhi and Yu Ye were young, at the age when young men fell in love easily. It was normal for them to admire Qiu Shuzhi.
But women in the world were all fickle, especially a peerless beauty like Qiu Shuzhi. Bosom friends of the opposite sex were certainly plentiful around her. If they gave their hearts to her, they would definitely have them broken by her in the future.
Yu Zhi lowered his head in embarrassment, “This servant knows. This servant just feels that since Miss Qiu is willing to get close to us, we should also reciprocate the kindness.”
Qin Qing slightly nodded, “Naturally.”
He had long wanted to win over Qiu Shuzhi. Now that Qiu Shuzhi was showing goodwill, he definitely wouldn’t waste this opportunity.
Qin Shu had been spoiled rotten by the Qin family and was a complete good-for-nothing. Not only was she useless, but she had also caused such a big mess.
And Jiang Si was the King of Dian’s planted force in the capital, always opposing the Qin family.
He was also in urgent need of an assistant to strategize for him. On the imperial examination papers, Qiu Shuzhi’s political discourse and talent were all first-class. If she could be of use to him, he was also willing to help her rise to the top.
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In the prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dark clouds gathered, and miserable screams were shrouded in a layer of shadowy darkness that couldn’t see the light of day.
Qin Shu was being held in a prison cell, watching the prisoners next to her being skinned and dismembered alive, her face turning pale with fright.
Yue Guanyi’s narrow eyes slowly narrowed, his gentle smile almost dangerous, “Number One Scholar, have you rested well?”
Qin Shu no longer had the arrogance she had when she was first locked up. She cowered in the corner and pleaded, “Eldest Prince, I really didn’t kill anyone. I was framed. Let me see my mother. My mother will definitely save me.”
Yue Guanyi contemptuously curled the corner of his mouth. She was so scared without him even doing anything. The Qin family really had no successors.
Of course, he wouldn’t do anything to Qin Shu right now. He was just putting on a show for the Qin family to see.
Chang’an entered the cell and whispered in his ear, “Your Highness, Her Majesty flew into a great rage in the imperial study.”
Yue Guanyi’s attitude was indifferent, “She just got a bit angrier. You don’t need to pay attention to it.”
Chang’an paused and said softly, “The spy reported that Her Majesty’s anger was because of Official Qiu.”
Qiu Shuzhi?
Yue Guanyi’s eyes instantly tightened, “Let’s go!”
In the imperial study, books were scattered all over the floor. Yue Guanyi pretended to be respectful and knelt before Yue Shen, “Greetings to Your Majesty.”
“What is it?” Yue Shen’s cold gaze swept over him. They were biological siblings, and Yue Guanyi also had Qin family blood. Her relationship with him was also a bit closer than ordinary people.
This time, Qin Shu’s arrest was also done by Yue Guanyi at her instruction.
“I heard that you flew into a great rage in the imperial study?”
Yue Shen tightly pursed her lips, “Isn’t it all because of that Qiu Shuzhi? Betraying us and siding with the Qin family, even suggesting that I send Qin Shu to Baiyue to atone for her crime with merit.”
Yue Guanyi’s narrow eyes slightly furrowed, “Your Majesty, this subject thinks Qiu Shuzhi’s plan is quite clever.”
Yue Shen frowned, “What do you mean?”
“Sending Qin Shu to Baiyue is just to appease the Qin family. On the way to Baiyue, she will have to pass through the King of Dian’s territory. The Dian territory is full of miasma and poisonous insects, extremely dangerous. Even if something happens to her on the way, it has nothing to do with the court. Instead, it will provoke conflict between the Qin family and the King of Dian, a perfect plan to kill two birds with one stone,” Yue Guanyi slowly explained.
Yue Shen had a sudden realization, a smile appearing on the corners of her mouth.
A moment later, her brows slightly furrowed as she recalled Qiu Shuzhi’s hesitation before leaving, her childish tone muttering, “So it was I who misunderstood her.”
She silently covered her wrist. The place Qiu Shuzhi had touched just now seemed to be burning. Her lashes trembled as if in remorse as she thought to herself: Qiu Shuzhi, I will definitely make it up to you in the future.
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*Spotlight on Finished Novel Translations*
He Said He’s Pregnant, and It’s My Child (Female-dominant)
Intro 1
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro 2
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
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