Chapter 6 – Boating on the Lake, The Aggrieved Male Protagonist

Chang’an hurried out of the palace in a fluster. He had never seen Yue Guanyi so furious before.

When Qiu was promoted, he anonymously sent a chest of gold.

When Qiu left the palace, he would take a detour just to stage a chance encounter, cherishing a brief moment of polite small talk.

As long as it involved Qiu, that living Yama, malicious and ruthless, would change, becoming no different from an ordinary delicate man, anxious and fearful, his heart and eyes filled with nothing but her, wishing he could tear out his heart for her.

Chang’an sighed as he ran.

Ah, a man in love!

As he exited the palace gate, it was the hour when officials left their posts, walking out in groups of three or five.

He glanced over. Although they were all women wearing similar official robes, Chang’an spotted Qiu Shuzhi at once. Even without looking at her face, her figure alone was strikingly eye-catching, like a lofty crane, fair-skinned, slender, quiet, and aloof.

No wonder His Highness the eldest prince was so enamored with her.

He passed by her and saw Jiang Si, now Minister of Personnel, approach her. “Qiu Niang, long time no see. Why don’t we go out for a drink?”

Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly. “Next time. My brother is still waiting for me.”

The matter of Qin Shu’s misfortune had not yet passed. She still felt apprehensive about Jiang Si, unsure if Qin Shu’s case had anything to do with her, and who had killed that ill-fated courtesan.

Jiang Si tugged on her official robe. “You and I are from the same cohort. Last time you used an excuse to skip our gathering. This time, you can’t refuse again.”

Afraid Qiu Shuzhi would decline, she quickly added, “Don’t worry, I know you’re chaste. We won’t go to a brothel. We’ll just have tea on an ordinary pleasure boat on the lake, alright?”

Seeing she couldn’t refuse, Qiu Shuzhi had no choice but to agree.

“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow happens to be a day off. We’ll meet on a pleasure boat at Bright Moon Lake.” Jiang Si set the time on the spot.

Chang’an silently made a mental note and bought the finest rouge and face powder to bring back to the palace.

Yue Guanyi sat at the dressing table, applying light powder in front of the newly delivered flower-patterned mirror. His already pale skin seemed to be enveloped in a layer of hazy mist.

The fine pearl powder evenly covered the dark circles under his pale eyes, concealing his haggard appearance. His thin figure looked coldly beautiful under his clear gaze, like light snow and frost, reviving the visage of the capital’s foremost beauty.

“How is it? Do I look very ugly?” Yue Guanyi asked him.

Chang’an was speechless. If Yue Guanyi was ugly, then men like himself would be monsters.

Yue Guanyi’s beauty was renowned throughout Great Qi. Even without makeup, he was the most stunning in the capital. Although days of toil had left him haggard and gaunt, it could not diminish his countenance and bearing.

“Your Highness’s appearance is peerless in the world. Any woman who sees you would be moved,” Chang’an said.

“No, she won’t,” Yue Guanyi murmured, gazing at himself in the mirror.

He felt nothing about himself in the mirror was good enough – his skin not delicate enough, his lips not red enough, his eyes not alluring enough, his figure not enchanting enough.

He was foolish, dull, lowly, humble. How could someone like him gain her affection?

Chang’an couldn’t bear to see his master sink into endless self-deprecation, so he told him about Qiu Shuzhi and Jiang Si’s appointment the next day.

“Jiang Si?” Yue Guanyi instantly became alert.

Sure enough, at the mention of someone else, the decisive eldest prince from before returned.

“Jiang Si is neither of the Qin faction nor close to the throne. What is she approaching Qiu Shuzhi for without reason? She must have some scheme,” Yue Guanyi grew tense.

“Do you know where they’re going tomorrow?”

“Bright Moon Lake.”

A sharp look flashed in Yue Guanyi’s eyes. “Pass down the order. Tomorrow, have the imperial guards disguise as commoners and keep watch by Bright Moon Lake. Report Jiang Si’s every move to me.”

“Yes.”

—

The waters of Bright Moon Lake sparkled like jade, the weeping willows and flowers casting layer upon layer of shadows. The spring scenery of the lake was breathtakingly beautiful, attracting countless literati to come boating and sightseeing.

A pleasure boat stopped by the lakeshore, its exquisite and luxurious decorations drawing the gazes of many passersby.

“Qiu Niang!” Jiang Si stood at the bow of the boat, calling out to Qiu Shuzhi.

As always, Qiu Shuzhi wore plain, light-colored robes, her ink-black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, ethereal and aloof.

Jiang Si, wearing a mandarin-collared everyday garment, descended from the pleasure boat.

“Sorry for the wait,” Qiu Shuzhi said.

“Not long, not long. I just arrived too.” Jiang Si led her onto the boat, the cabin inside still lavishly decorated.

The oars began to row, the surrounding scenery changing. The view of Bright Moon Lake unfolded like a scroll of classical painting.

“Is Qiu Niang satisfied with this pleasure boat?” Jiang Si personally poured tea for her.

Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t discern her purpose for the invitation, so she played along. “The pleasure boat is exquisite and very nice.”

The fragrance of tea slowly wafted out. The corners of Jiang Si’s lips curled up slightly. “There’s even better.”

She clapped her hands. The pearl curtain behind them tinkled, and several young, beautiful young men emerged in a line. The leader was an exceptionally charming youth with enchanting eyes.

“Rui Zhu, attendant, greets the two officials.”

“This is?” Qiu Shuzhi hadn’t expected Jiang Si to pull this stunt. She couldn’t help but feel nervous, as if she could already see Qin Shu’s fate beckoning to her.

Jiang Si laughed nonchalantly. “How can one go boating without the company of beauties? Don’t worry, he’s a entertainer who sells his art, not his body.”

“That’s not what I meant. Have him withdraw. I don’t enjoy song and dance,” Qiu Shuzhi explained.

Jiang Si sighed. “What a pity. I promised this entertainer that if he could dance for you, I would reward him with ten taels of gold. Since you’re unwilling, then never mind. Withdraw!”

Rui Zhu immediately knelt before Qiu Shuzhi, pleading in a delicate voice, “My lord, please allow this attendant to dance for you. This attendant’s family is poor and has a young sister. Mother said if I can’t earn money, she will sell me and my brothers to a brothel. Please save this attendant!”

Qiu Shuzhi understood that Jiang Si had set her up, but she really couldn’t bear to do something like ‘forcing the good into prostitution’. It was just a dance. She could explain to Her Majesty later.

“Get up,” Qiu Shuzhi said, pretending to help him up.

Rui Zhu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You agree?”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded. Rui Zhu was overjoyed. The other young men behind him prepared to pick up instruments to accompany him.

Taking this opportunity, Qiu Shuzhi asked him, “The name Rui Zhu sounds vulgar. It’s probably just a stage name. What’s your real name?”

Rui Zhu nodded timidly. “You are correct, my lord. Rui Zhu is the name given by the brothel owner. This attendant’s real name is Zhao Mei.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes froze. “What are your other brothers called?”

“Si Mei, Pan Mei, Lai Mei.”

She was instantly rendered speechless. Jiang Si took in her reaction, her expression pensive.

When all the instruments were ready, Rui Zhu stood at the bow, his posture graceful and lively, his youthful face carrying a mature and coquettish air that didn’t match his age.

Just as the music began and he was about to dance, several guards in full gear leaped onto the bow, golden imperial tokens hanging from their waists, clearly inscribed with the words ‘Imperial Guards’.

Jiang Si’s smiling eyes turned cold. She slowly walked to the bow and, seeing the approaching pleasure boat, bowed with her hands clasped. “Your Highness, eldest prince, what a coincidence!”

Qiu Shuzhi followed her out and saw Yue Guanyi standing on the opposite pleasure boat, the wind in his face. He was not wearing official robes today, his white garments standing aloof in the breeze, his ink-black hair loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin, his cold eyes slightly narrowed. He had lost some of his domineering fierceness from the court and gained a touch of ethereal elegance.

A path was laid out between the two boats. Yue Guanyi slowly walked over. He appeared cold and aloof, but no one knew how much his heart was burning with impatience at this moment. He had been sitting in the pleasure boat, watching the entertainer sing and dance on the bow, using every means to seduce Qiu Shuzhi.

In that moment, all his restraint and considerations vanished. He was just an irrational, jealous husband, heedlessly barging in no matter what.

“I was boating on the lake today and heard the sound of silk and bamboo music from afar. I wanted to enjoy it together. Do you mind, Lady Jiang, Qiu?” Yue Guanyi’s voice was cold and clear.

Jiang Si smiled ambiguously. “Your Highness, eldest prince, gracing us with your presence is our greatest honor.”

Yue Guanyi’s lowered gaze fell on Qiu Shuzhi, his tone unconsciously softening. “What about you, Qiu?”

“Of course I don’t mind. Please take a seat, Your Highness!”

She was more than happy for Yue Guanyi to intervene.

Yue Guanyi sat down at his leisure. Rui Zhu, knowing Yue Guanyi’s identity, was so frightened he didn’t know what to do.

Qiu Shuzhi knew Yue Guanyi had a bad reputation among the commoners, so she said softly, “Continue. Just dance as you normally practice.”

Rui Zhu smiled at Qiu Shuzhi gratefully. Beside them, Yue Guanyi’s face turned cold, his slender, sharp eyes flashing with a threatening aura, scaring Rui Zhu into not daring to look at Qiu Shuzhi again.

The interrupted music slowly started up again, the melody melodious and graceful. Rui Zhu’s dance was peerlessly superb, soft yet strong, vividly dynamic. Even Qiu Shuzhi, who had seen many dance masters’ programs on TV in her previous life, was not as stunned by them as she was by Rui Zhu’s live performance.

Yue Guanyi saw the appreciative look in Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes and felt both sour and jealous. He envied a dancer for stealing her attention and felt sour and aggrieved that Qiu Shuzhi had never noticed him.

He so wanted to tell Qiu Shuzhi that he could dance this too, that he could dance it better than Rui Zhu.

Back when he was stranded in the brothel, the madam forced him to learn those fawning, lowly dances. His figure was much more supple than Rui Zhu’s. He would certainly look better dancing.

At this moment, he hated his identity to the extreme. He wished he was also a dancer, displaying the most beautiful dance moves before her with all his might to gain her favor, just to have Qiu Shuzhi look at him more.

When the dance ended, Jiang Si applauded continuously. “Truly deserving of being the capital’s top dancer. What does Your Highness think?”

Yue Guanyi’s hands were clenched tightly, his cold, thin eyes narrowed arrogantly. “The dance was stiff, like a piece of wood bloated from soaking in water. The capital’s top dancer is merely this.”

Jiang Si was stunned for a moment, the smile in her eyes deepening inexplicably. “What does Qiu think?”

Yue Guanyi also nervously awaited Qiu Shuzhi’s answer. If he heard a word of praise from her mouth, he would definitely order someone to chop off that wretch’s hands and feet.

Qiu Shuzhi did not directly answer her, only saying indifferently, “Lady Jiang, it’s time to fulfill your promise.”

Jiang Si smiled. “Of course.”

She opened a small box beside her. Inside lay ten gold ingots. “Take it!”

Rui Zhu happily accepted the gold. “Thank you for the reward, my lady.”

He put away the box and was about to withdraw when Qiu Shuzhi suddenly spoke. “Don’t give all this money to your mother. Leave some for you and your brothers. You are human too. In the future, you should consider more for yourselves.”

Rui Zhu’s arms tightened around the box, his voice tinged with a hint of crying. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Qiu Shuzhi respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, my lady. This attendant will remember it in my heart and never forget it for life.”

Jiang Si’s gaze towards Qiu Shuzhi grew even more profound.

The pleasure boat docked on shore. Both Qiu Shuzhi and Yue Guanyi disembarked. The imperial guards disguised as grooms had been waiting with a carriage for a long time. Yue Guanyi pretended not to see and directly walked past.

He cherished the feeling of walking side by side with Qiu Shuzhi on the city streets, like an ordinary couple.

They finally had a chance to be alone together. How could he bear to just leave like this? He wished he could walk slower and slower, making this road stretch on until the end of time, never ending.

“Your Highness, you should get in the carriage,” Qiu Shuzhi said, looking at the waiting carriage not far away.

Yue Guanyi gazed at her in a daze.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly. “The imperial guards can change their clothes, but they can’t change their noble bearings.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes darkened. In the end, he couldn’t even obtain this little bit of extravagance.

He still had so many things he hadn’t told her. He had changed into the plain white clothes she liked. He had applied light makeup. He was prettier than yesterday. So many words were stuck in his heart, wanting to burst out like crazy, yet unable to be expressed, lodged in his heart, neither going up nor down, making his heart panic and ache, his face turning pale in an instant. Only the last thread of sanity in his mind was pulled taut.

“I respectfully see off Your Highness.” Qiu Shuzhi slowly bowed behind him.

The distant, calm tone made Yue Guanyi instantly freeze in place, the sourness in his heart spreading endlessly. Why could a dancer receive her gentle treatment, yet he was treated so distantly?

Was it because of the dancer’s humble origins?

He could do that too. He was also willing to crawl at her feet like a dog, wagging his tail and begging for mercy!

The string that had been tightly stretched in his mind suddenly snapped. Rationality and clarity mixed together in a muddle. At that moment, he cared about nothing else.

“I can dance better than him.”

His voice trembled, his lowered eyes not showing his expression, but his lashes quivered.

Qiu Shuzhi was stunned, not knowing how to react.

Chang’an silently tightened the reins, playing the role of a qualified deaf man.