Chapter 15 Taking Office

Qiu Shuzhi was just about to thank Yue Guanyi when she saw Qiu Qiushuang’s fingers moving quickly, his gentle and quiet eyes flashing with a hint of displeasure.

He seemed very dissatisfied with Yue Guanyi’s presumptuous behavior.

Yue Guanyi couldn’t understand his sign language, but could see his reaction at the moment, and asked in return: “What, you’re not willing?”

Qiu Shuzhi hurriedly said: “My cousin’s chronic illness is quite severe, he has sought many famous doctors to no avail. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness.”

Yue Guanyi smiled imperceptibly: “Cousin need not worry, the Forbidden City gathers famous doctors from all over the world. Just because doctors outside the palace can’t cure it doesn’t mean the imperial physicians inside can’t.”

Seeing that Qiu Qiushuang still had objections, he said with some meaning: “Could it be that cousin doesn’t want to cure his own illness?”

Qiu Qiushuang immediately backed down. He glanced shrewdly at Qiu Shuzhi, and seeing that she was unaware, only then shook his head.

Yue Guanyi laughed softly: “Then I’ll take care of this matter, and soon an imperial physician will personally visit.”

Qiu Shuzhi knew that one should not accept favors without merit, but Qiu Qiushuang was her only relative. If his illness could really be cured, it would also be one of her worries resolved. She didn’t want to refuse.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Qiu Shuzhi was about to kneel down in gratitude.

From being rescued on the pleasure boat to guidance on the situation, even though she couldn’t figure out what Yue Guanyi’s intentions were, she had to admit that he was a benefactor in her official career, and she was genuinely grateful to him.

Before Qiu Shuzhi’s knees could even bend slightly, he grabbed her hand.

“Official Qiu need not be so formal.” The warm knuckles in his palm made his cheeks flush.

Qiu Qiushuang saw this, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the umbrella handle bulged. He coughed heavily, particularly jarring amidst the sound of fine rain.

Yue Guanyi suddenly let go, his slender fingers hidden in his wide sleeves, twisting together.

“It’s late, I’ll head back first,” he said, his slightly reddened face both embarrassed and flustered. His thin figure rushed into the rain, almost fleeing in panic.

Qiu Shuzhi watched as the carriage gradually moved away, until it completely disappeared into the rain curtain.

Qiu Qiushuang’s eyes instantly darkened, pulling her sleeve to bring her back inside.

Her long hair was half soaked by the rain, and her hair tie was also wet through. The damp ends of her hair clung to the sides of her face after the light rain.

He skillfully untied her hair tie, and her long hair instantly fell loose, dazzlingly beautiful in the dim candlelight.

Afraid she would catch cold, Qiu Qiushuang wiped her long hair with a dry towel, using some force with his hands.

Qiu Shuzhi was pulled a bit painfully, and wanted to remind him, but inadvertently saw his long, cold face: “Cousin, are you angry?”

Qiu Qiushuang was more than just angry.

When he saw her return in the same carriage with Yue Guanyi, he was so angry he almost broke the umbrella handle.

Back then, he had used every means to drive Yue Guanyi away. Now this lingering little male courtesan had run in front of Qiu Shuzhi again, wagging his tail and currying favor.

Even though Yue Guanyi now had the status of the eldest prince, it couldn’t change his foxy seductive appearance honed in the brothels, which was disgusting to look at.

If it weren’t for maintaining the image of a dignified and gentle cousin in front of Qiu Shuzhi, he really wanted to tear off his face and stop him from seducing his Shuzhi.

But no matter how angry he was, when asked in such a gentle and delicate tone by Qiu Shuzhi, half of the hatred in his heart melted away.

He sat down beside Qiu Shuzhi, his eyes filled with worry: “Why did you ride in the same carriage as the eldest prince?”

Qiu Shuzhi explained: “It was just that it suddenly started raining today, and His Highness couldn’t bear to see me return in the rain all the way, so we shared a carriage.”

Qiu Qiushuang sighed: “There are spies everywhere in the capital. If you get too close to him, you may be subject to criticism. I know things are innocent between you, but after all, you were alone together as an unmarried man and woman. If ill-intentioned people start rumors, you won’t be able to explain yourselves even with a hundred mouths.”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded faintly: “I understand.”

“Moreover, the eldest prince has a bad reputation. I heard that when he was among the common people, he was bought by a brothel madam and sold his body for many years, serving who knows how many customers. You’re just starting your official career now, you absolutely cannot be associated with such a person.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes darkened slightly. It seemed that everyone who mentioned Yue Guanyi would bring up his past in the brothel, fearing yet looking down on him. No matter how high he climbed, just because of falling into a brothel, he could be forever nailed to the chastity monument. Even the lowest person could spit on him and curse him as a whore.

But it wasn’t his fault.

How could a dignified prince have voluntarily gone to a brothel?

She wanted to explain to Qiu Qiushuang, but was afraid he would misunderstand that she and Yue Guanyi really had an improper relationship. Besides, Qiu Qiushuang was only concerned about her. He and the people of this era were all wrapped up in feudal thinking, so it was understandable for him to say such things.

She could only nod faintly, pretending to have taken his advice to heart: “I understand. I’ll be careful to keep my distance from His Highness in the future.”

Qiu Qiushuang smiled smugly. A man’s chastity was most important, and his Shuzhi was famously self-disciplined. As long as his stain remained, even if Yue Guanyi turned the heavens upside down, he could forget about entering Qiu Shuzhi’s body.

To become her husband was even more wishful thinking.

The Shuntian Prefecture was located at the Drum Tower of the capital. The main hall was solemn and dignified, with a plaque personally inscribed by the late emperor hanging above, and a painting of seas and cliffs hanging below the plaque. Stone lions stood majestically on the left and right.

Qiu Shuzhi stood in front of the Shuntian Prefecture government office wearing a dark official robe, feeling the overwhelming power and prestige.

Inside the office, a woman in her thirties had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Qiu Shuzhi arrive, she immediately greeted her with a smile.

“Official Qiu, I’ve finally been waiting for you.” She had a pair of smiling eyes, looking extremely gentle.

“And you are?”

“I am Lin Zhongyue, the assistant magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture. Please come with me quickly, the prefect has been waiting for you for a long time.”

The first thing she had to do as a newly appointed official was to pay respects to the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, Gu Zheng.

However, she didn’t expect that Gu Zheng would come to the government office early to wait for her. She immediately followed Lin Zhongyue.

Shuntian Prefecture held a unique position in the capital, and its government office was much larger than others, with a total of fifty-eight rooms.

She followed through the second gate, arrived at the central hall, and came to a closed room.

Lin Zhongyue knocked on the door and said softly, “My lady, Official Qiu is here.”

The door slowly opened a crack, the morning sunlight shining on the floating dust, and she walked in.

As soon as she entered, she saw several landscape paintings hanging inside. A woman in her early fifties sat in the main seat, fingering a string of Buddhist prayer beads, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealing the traces of age.

Before coming, Qiu Shuzhi had investigated Gu Zheng’s past. She was also from a humble background, later became a disciple of Qin Zheng, and married a son of the Qin family, becoming tied to the Qin clan. She rose through the ranks and finally became the envied prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

Qiu Shuzhi had thought that a person who had climbed up step by step from the bottom would have eyes as sharp as swords, but unexpectedly, Gu Zheng looked very kind. Her benevolent appearance almost made one forget her current illustrious position.

“So you are Qiu Shuzhi.” Her voice was slightly aged, and the rolling Buddhist prayer beads made a faint sound.

Qiu Shuzhi knelt respectfully before her: “Qiu Shuzhi, Deputy Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, pays respects to the Prefect.”

Gu Zheng slightly raised her hand: “No need for formalities. I hear you were this year’s third-ranked scholar?”

“That’s correct.”

Gu Zheng’s eyes were deep, her tone slightly reminiscent: “Back in the day, I also entered officialdom as the third-ranked scholar. Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I remember spending five years as an editor in the Hanlin Academy before being transferred to Shaanxi as a prefect. You’ve been appointed to Shuntian Prefecture in less than two months after entering officialdom. This was unimaginable in my day. The young are truly formidable.”

Qiu Shuzhi frowned slightly. There seemed to be some criticism in Gu Zheng’s words about her rapid promotion.

However, this path of promotion had indeed been quite fast, which she had never anticipated. Who knew she would inexplicably be drawn into the vortex of struggle between imperial power and the Qin clan. If she went along with it, there might still be a possibility of survival in the cracks between the two forces. If she chose sides now, she would only set the record for the fastest death of a transmigrator.

All she could do was take it one step at a time.

“I heard that sending Qin Shu to Baiyue was your idea?” Gu Zheng suddenly changed the subject.

“Yes.”

Gu Zheng’s hand fingering the prayer beads stopped: “This strategy is indeed a good open gambit. No wonder the Empress Dowager thinks so highly of you. However, this plan has a major flaw.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes darkened: “Please enlighten me, my lady.”

“Baiyue borders Dianjing. To go to Baiyue, one must pass through Dianjing. The King of Dian is the only non-imperial king of Da Qi, with deep grievances against the Qin clan. Sending Qin Shu to Dianjing is like sending a sheep into a tiger’s den, with no return.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s heart sank into an ice cave, and she immediately knelt on the ground: “I absolutely had no such intention. Please investigate clearly, my lady.”

Gu Zheng chuckled, the prayer beads clacking: “Get up, young one. You’ve just entered officialdom and don’t know the intricacies of relationships and depths of power. This is not your fault.”

“Since it’s dangerous for Qin Shu to go to Dianjing, why not recall her quickly?” she hurriedly said.

Gu Zheng waved her hand casually: “No need. She’s already on the road. If we recall her now, what will the common people think? Her Majesty will also be displeased.”

“But-”

“Don’t worry, Qin Shu won’t be in danger this time in Dianjing.”

A trace of doubt flashed through Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes.

Old ginger is spicier, and Gu Zheng saw through her confusion at a glance: “You don’t understand why the King of Dian won’t make a move?”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded.

“Qin Shu enters the tiger’s den alone, but isn’t Jiang Si in the same situation?” Gu Zheng smiled slightly, her kind face like hidden reefs in a calm sea, dangerous to touch.

Qiu Shuzhi suddenly realized that she had overlooked such an important factor.

No wonder, despite being the heir apparent, she came to take the imperial examination. Leaving the hereditary throne behind, she insisted on coming to the distant capital to be under others’ constraints.

She, who seemed so brilliant on the surface, was actually just a hostage.