Chapter 208: In charge of Food
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The daytime wind had already grown as chilling as tiny knives slicing through the air. As night fell, the cold became even more pervasive, impossible to withstand.
Qu Chenzhou removed his official robe, leaving only a thin undershirt. He knelt on the stone steps outside the warm chamber, his scattered hair cascading around him.
When Emperor Yu and Yu Dexi left the warm chamber, they gave him a cloak—after all, what Emperor Yu wanted was his surrender, not his life.
Taking the cloak, he merely bowed and said nothing. Emperor Yu waited briefly and then, with an air of irritation, brushed his sleeves and departed.
No wonder Du Quan said he was both foul-tempered and obstinate. A personality like this was truly hard to like at any time.
The cloak couldn’t block the chill emanating from the ground, but it helped him remain clear-headed.
In truth, he knew what the best course of action was. Going against Emperor Yu’s wishes at this point would be foolish. Pleasing the emperor was quite easy; it was only a small compromise…
Yet he had suffered too much elsewhere. In this one matter, he wanted to treat himself well.
The note written in blood, the cold snow from that year, had completely severed his sentimental attachment.
Not to mention there were others who didn’t want him to sacrifice himself.
After being reprimanded and made to kneel outside, the warm chamber remained filled with ongoing debates.
In such circumstances, it was already a challenge for Zhongming to convince Emperor Yu to allow the Qu family to be housed in the separate courtyard. He couldn’t insert any more words. However, this time, they managed to get Cui Lao, the Chief of Dali Temple, who was about to retire to his hometown, to help. This provided them with a greater opportunity to persuade Emperor Yu.
In the letter left to him, Zhongming repeatedly instructed:
—”You must insist on not recognizing them. Leave everything to me afterward.”
Now, while he was kneeling openly, the covert battlefield had shifted to Wuan Prefecture.
After the flooding of Changshui Town, very few managed to survive and return. The household registration records of Changshui Town were directly managed by Wuan Prefecture.
And on these household registration records, in black and white, was the sole proof of the Qu couple’s origin.
Upon learning of manor’s attack, Zhongming had already dispatched Fang Wuyang with an emblem to quickly reach Wuan Prefecture.
Mu Jingyan was adept at striking painful chords in people’s hearts, and in this aspect, he had won perfectly. Zhongming ultimately couldn’t ignore his actions.
Next, they needed to be on high alert to prevent this potentially fatal news from reaching the Emperor’s ears.
With palace lanterns gradually illuminating him from behind, his shadow became clearer and clearer before him.
“Qu Sitian.”
He didn’t turn around but recognized the person by their voice.
“The night is cold,” the palace dress stepped closer, and Consort Yu motioned to the palace maid beside her with a tray, “Have a cup of ginseng tea to warm yourself.”
Qu Chenzhou lowered his gaze to the ground. “As someone under accusation, I dare not accept Niang Niang’s kindness.”
Consort Yu signaled for the palace maid to bring the tea closer, sighed with a touch of pity, and spoke.
“Qu Sitian, the Emperor always cared for you in the past. Now that the Empress Dowager has recently passed away, and the Emperor is overcome with grief, seeing your family reunite naturally makes him want to mediate. Why must you disappoint the Emperor’s intentions?”
“Thank you for Niang Niang’s consolation, but I don’t know them, and this ‘family reunion’ is out of the question. How can we recognize each other?” Qu Chenzhou didn’t reach for the ginseng tea, slowly raising his eyes.
Under his scrutiny, Consort Yu actually took a step back, then immediately realized it and scolded, “What are you planning?”
“It’s a cold night. Niang Niang should return early,” the pair of bewitching pupils glinted with an eerie light in the lantern’s reflection, forming a crescent shape, “I see… there are still people waiting for Niang Niang to go back.”
“Insolent!”
Just as Consort Yu’s hand was about to rise, a rebuke cut in, “Who’s there?”
The voice was even more familiar. She quickly put her hand down and gave a courtesy, “Niang Niang, I was sending some ginseng soup to warm Qu Sitian.”
“Ginseng soup?” Liu Qingru’s lips curved into a smile as she waved her hand, overturning the entire tray to the ground, “The Emperor ordered him to kneel here for self-reflection, not to enjoy luxuries. Get out of here!”
Consort Yu dared not cause trouble anymore and cast a resentful glance at Qu Chenzhou before leaving.
It was only when the people behind Liu Qingru dispersed, creating a quiet circle, that Qu Chenzhou spoke softly, “Thank you, Niang Niang, for resolving the situation for me.”
Liu Qingru sighed gently, “Chenzhou, Zhongming told me that you have reconciled. I’m truly happy for you. If you don’t mind, just call me sister along with him.”
“… “Qu Chenzhou’s eyes turned slightly watery as he softly called, “Sister.”
“Good, my dear younger brother,” Liu Qingru refrained from reaching out to help him. She dabbed at the tip of her nose with her handkerchief and glanced around before speaking softly, “Zhongming asked me to tell you something.”
“After you left the warm pavillion today, the Chief of Dali Temple, Cui Lao, questioned them about some matters. They said they had been imprisoned for several years, provided for with food and clothing, but they don’t know who was behind it.”
“Cui Lao asked them some tricky questions, and they couldn’t answer them.”
“Emperor Yu didn’t say much at first, but Cui Lao and Ling He both said there was something suspicious. They’re usually very cautious in their actions. Later, Jingchen and Lin Xiang also agreed with them, so Emperor Yu sent someone to Wuan Prefecture.”
“Zhongming also helped them establish new household registration records elsewhere, making it easier to explain things later. He will do his best to protect them, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Where are they…” Qu Chenzhou asked in a low voice.
“They had no place to go at first and were like a hot potato. Zhongming took charge next, and Emperor Yu also agreed, saying that he must not act recklessly,” Liu Qingru replied.
Qu Chenzhou nodded softly.
Liu Qingru sighed, “You don’t need to persist so stubbornly. If you need to faint, then faint. The Emperor was contradicted by you during the day, making him furious, but he can’t be without you. Give him a way out, and he will take it. It’s not a time for conflict now. Don’t let others take advantage.”
Seeing her about to leave, Qu Chenzhou hurriedly caught the hem of her dress. “Sister, I have something to tell Zhongming.”
Liu Qingru halted. “What is it?”
“They sold me into slavery. I will never acknowledge them. But my siblings…”
Qu Chenzhou slightly lowered his head, his throat tightening. “They are innocent after all. Our matter with Zhongming might not escape Huai Wang’s notice. If Huai Wang can’t win against Zhongming in Wuan Prefecture, then the two who are still in Huai Wang’s hands before the yellow registry arrives might lose their lives…”
Liu Qingru understood and reassured softly, “I will inform Zhongming and Shiyan to figure out a solution.”
“Sister, today I tried to cast divination for them. Please tell Zhongming – ‘In the southwest of the capital, small liu fireworks follow the moon.’ He should be able to deduce where to search.”
“Rest assured, I will tell him,” Liu Qingru asked cautiously, “Chenzhou, what do you plan to do next?”
“… Send them far away… never see them again…” Qu Chenzhou swiftly wiped his face with his sleeve, avoiding this topic. “Sister, do you have a Shuoye in your possession?”
Liu Qingru’s eyes flickered slightly. “Yes, what do you plan to do with it?”
***
“Consort Yu… I’ll trouble you with this, sister.”
Hurriedly, Consort Yu returned to Chaoyang Palace, feeling suffocated and nervous, making her breath quicken.
Qu Chenzhou’s words echoed like a curse in her ears – “Someone is waiting for Niang Niang still… someone is waiting for Niang Niang still.”
She let out a small, shrill scream, stumbled a step, and stepped on her gown’s hem, nearly falling forward.
A palace maid quickly held her, and on the other side, another pair of hands steadied her.
Indeed, someone was waiting for her. Every now and then, someone would be here waiting for her.
“Niang Niang…” The hoarse voice was devoid of the man’s magnetic charm, like shards of shattered porcelain scraping against the ground. “Niang Niang, be careful.”
The palace maid recognized the person and naturally let go, allowing him to support the trembling Consort Yu into the inner chamber.
“Three Blessings…” Consort Yu’s quivering voice called him, as if seeking a touch of reality in that sound. But when the person answered with a faint “Yes,” she suddenly turned from fear to anger. She kicked out at him, striking his chest.
Three Blessings was crouched on the ground, and using that kick, he caught her ankle and slowly helped her remove her shoes and socks.
Consort Yu struggled a few times but eventually gave up resisting. Tearfully, she sat down on the bed and watched as those rough hands moved along her calf.
Although her palace gown hadn’t been removed, her undergarments had been discarded on the floor.
This person was so familiar with her habits, her movements. Even the soft support placed behind her was positioned perfectly.
With her head tilted back, she took shallow breaths, completely ignoring the hairpin that was still tangled in her disheveled hair.
Having spent so long in the palace, the Emperor’s visits were few and far between. She was a woman too and had no other comfort. At least there was someone who had seen her most intimate parts.
This was her most hidden secret, unknown even to her son. Yet, those enchanting eyes seemed to mock her, as if they could see through everything.
She couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t help but think. What should have been happiness had turned into torture, yet she couldn’t bear to let it go.
After a while, upon hearing her deep sigh, Three Blessings emerged from beneath her palace gown. His face, devoid of the usual playfulness, seemingly reluctant to part from her. Yet, with a sudden kick, he was brought down to the floor.
“Get out! Get out!”
Perhaps at her most vulnerable, Consort Yu suddenly covered her face and sobbed, “What have I become? What have I turned into?”
Three Blessings acted as if he hadn’t witnessed her breakdown, and fetched water from the table. “Niang Niang, are you thirsty?”
The tea cup was knocked over, and through choked words, she struggled to speak, “Leave… you get out of here…”
Seeing this side of her frequently, Three Blessings was unfazed and didn’t leave, merely sighing as he cleaned up the spilled tea.
“Niang Niang, why are you crying? After all, there’s nothing you lack. Look at me.”
“What about you?” Consort Yu suddenly shouted, “It’s not because of me that you’ve turned into this! Didn’t I arrange for you to hide properly? It’s your own lack of ambition!”
“Am I lacking in ambition? If it weren’t for you, how could I have ended up in this state, neither human nor ghost!”
Three Blessings raised his voice, growing more impassioned. “Now that I’m useless, you despise me! In the beginning, you clung to me night after night! You never spared any lewd or lascivious words! Could that other person do that?”
“Shut up!” Consort Yu had seemingly gone mad too. She threw the soft support behind her at him. “Shut up!”
The room fell into an immediate silence, only the muffled sobs beneath the blanket remained.
In the depths of the palace, there was an abundance of pent-up hysteria and nowhere to vent it.
Three Blessings seemed to have become numb, and he approached without hesitation. He helped her remove her clothes and guided her into bed, standing by for a moment. Suddenly, he asked, “Did you meet someone tonight?”
Consort Yu’s anger surged, and she slapped him across the face. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
He held his face, stepping back a few paces, and continued in a daze, “I’ve become useless now, that person won’t come either. Did you go to see someone tonight? Was it the palace guards, or that Qu Chenzhou? I’ve heard people say he’s very handsome…”
“Zhou Huaishan! Have you lost your mind?” Consort Yu was so furious her entire body shook. Only after her foot touched the ground did she realize her legs were too weak. “In your eyes, am I just a wanton woman?”
Three Blessings looked at her. “But tonight, I spent a very long time…”
Consort Yu’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she knew that with his stubborn suspicion, no explanation would work. If she told the truth about meeting Qu Chenzhou, she wouldn’t be able to explain clearly. So, she forced her expression to turn cold.
“Zhou Huaishan, get this straight. I am a concubine, not your personal servant in charge of food! Where I go is none of your business!”
Three Blessings stared at her like a wolf, a look that made her involuntarily think of her son—indeed, they were truly father and son, both equally terrifying.
“These past few days…” Fearing she might provoke him further, Consort Yu softened her tone and asked, “Has Jingyan come to see you?”
As soon as she mentioned that name, Three Blessings’s predatory gaze relaxed. His eyes became cloudy, his lips moved for a while, and then he suddenly smiled.
“Jingyan… good, good, good.”
He repeated “good” three times, and after a long silence, he sighed. “If not for Jingyan, why would there be any meaning left in my life? But he… when will he finally call me ‘father’…?”
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