Chapter 26 He Doesn’t Deserve It He Doesn’t Deserve It

Qiu Shuzhi changed into an official uniform and walked to Yue Guanyi’s door. Chang’an had been waiting outside early, and seeing Qiu Shuzhi arrive looking refreshed and energetic, he secretly sighed: What a pity!

His own master had not slept all night, and had risen before dawn to prepare soup for her. That was the pampered Crown Prince; even the current Emperor and the previous Emperor didn’t receive such treatment.

Seeing his master grow increasingly thin since coming to Yanshun County, while Qiu Shuzhi looked refreshed and energetic, he felt rather uncomfortable.

“Has His Highness risen?” Qiu Shuzhi asked, slightly bending her knees.

Although Chang’an felt resentful, he didn’t want to pour all his grievances onto Qiu Shuzhi, so his attitude remained excellent: “In response to Madam Qiu, His Highness has not yet risen. Please wait a moment.”

His Highness hadn’t rested well last night, and the next day he got up early again to make soup for her. Hiding in the room, peeking through the window cracks, he watched Ji Mei carry the soup into the room. Only then did he finally feel at ease. At this moment, exhausted, he was lying on the bed in light sleep. Chang’an really couldn’t bear to wake him.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled slightly: “No hurry.”

She stood respectfully beside Chang’an, her long, fair neck and slender, straight figure making her look like a white plum blossom standing in the snow. Chang’an was very close to her, and when the wind occasionally stirred, he could smell a hint of cold fragrance from her body.

Unlike any flower scent he had smelled before, it was particularly refreshing.

Chang’an unconsciously took a deep breath, understanding why His Highness insisted on keeping her handkerchief close to his body.

This Madam Qiu was not only beautiful in appearance, but even her body fragrance was so pleasant. She was truly a divine being.

Chang’an forgot how long Madam Qiu had been standing with him outside. He himself was just a servant, doing the job of serving people, so he was used to it. But Qiu Shuzhi was different.

“Madam Qiu, it seems His Highness will take a while longer. You should go back first,” Chang’an said.

When Qiu Shuzhi’s cool eyes looked at him, they naturally revealed a tender affection, like crystalline jade snow melted and scattered in her eyes. Chang’an simply lowered his head, not daring to look at her anymore.

At this moment, suddenly there came a rustling sound from inside the room.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled slightly: “You go in, I’ll wait outside.”

Chang’an turned his eyes away and silently entered the room.

Inside, the windows were tightly closed, not letting in a breath of wind. Even in broad daylight, it felt a bit cold and dark.

Yue Guanyi’s long hair hung down, black strands casually falling to his sides, his robes disheveled, and his eyes still dark underneath, seeming he still hadn’t rested well.

Chang’an took the official robe hanging on the clothes rack and was about to drape it over him.

“What time is it? Is she awake?” His voice was low and weary from just waking up, but his first words were still about Qiu Shuzhi.

“It’s already the hour of Si… Madam Qiu is already awake.”

Yue Guanyi was sleepy and took a moment to react: “The hour of Si!”

He got out of bed barefoot, abruptly pushed open the window, and a flood of sunlight instantly poured in, filling the room with light and dispelling the darkness.

The dazzling sunlight rushed into Yue Guanyi’s suddenly constricted pupils, his amber irises flickering with panic.

“It’s already this late-” he mumbled in confusion. How could this be? He had only closed his eyes for a moment at Chang’an’s persuasion, and in this brief time, day had already broken.

Where was Qiu Niang? Was she awake? If she woke up and found out he had slept until this hour, would she think he was being arrogant and disrespectful with his princely airs? They were supposed to discuss official business together today, but he had deliberately overslept, making her wait in vain.

He grabbed the official robe from Chang’an’s hands. The heavy robe covered his body, the collar not yet fastened, the fierce beast embroidered on his chest now wrinkled and without its overwhelming aura.

“Is Madam Qiu awake?” he asked anxiously while trembling as he fastened his collar.

He frantically reassured himself that Qiu Niang had been drunk yesterday, so she probably wouldn’t wake up too early today. He still had time. He needed to quickly tidy up his appearance and wait respectfully outside her door with his best demeanor, so she could see him as soon as she opened the door.

“Your Highness… Madam Qiu has been up for a while and is waiting outside,” Chang’an said cautiously.

“What?” His hand tightened, almost tearing the fastening.

Qiu Niang was right outside?

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? What’s your mouth for!” Yue Guanyi shouted angrily, preparing to go out without finishing dressing.

“Your Highness, please put on your clothes properly first, then go see Madam Qiu. It’s not too late,” Chang’an pleaded, pulling on Yue Guanyi’s sleeve.

Yue Guanyi clenched his fists tightly, breathing deeply, trying to calm himself down, but his gaze kept looking outside.

“How long has she been waiting?” His lips trembled slightly, almost shaking as he asked this question, his quivering eyes looking at the slender silhouette outside the door, blurred by the refracted light.

“About half an hour, I suppose,” Chang’an said, kneeling on the ground to dress him.

Yue Guanyi could no longer hold back and pushed him away. Chang’an stumbled backward unsteadily, knocking over the brass washbasin. The water inside spilled all over the floor with a clang.

“Your Highness, Your Highness-” Chang’an called out as he struggled to get up from the ground.

Your Highness, you haven’t even dressed properly, your hair is still loose, you’re a man, no matter how noble your status, you can’t go out like this, what kind of propriety is this?

Chang’an wailed bitterly in his heart, feeling extremely anxious. Even if it’s Qiu Niang, you should be more sensible!

The door was suddenly flung open. Qiu Shuzhi, hearing the sudden commotion inside, knew the person coming to open the door must be him. But when she saw Yue Guanyi, her eyes showed slight surprise.

His official robe was half-draped, half-worn, hanging loosely on his body. His black hair was in disarray, his collar not properly arranged, the solemn and dignified official robe somehow giving off a brothel-like appearance.

Breathing slightly due to nervousness and panic, the dark, ascetic official robe half-concealing, half-revealing, exposed a large patch of snow-white skin on his chest, rising and falling slightly with his rapid breathing.

“Your Highness, you-” Qiu Shuzhi turned her face away.

“I’ve kept you waiting. I didn’t know I had overslept. Please don’t be angry with me.” His thin lips trembled uncontrollably, his slender body shivering in the cool morning breeze.

“How could this lowly official be angry with you?” Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head and smiled slightly, thinking this person was really strange, always getting so nervous over small things in front of her.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on his loose robes at the bottom. He had run out barefoot, standing out starkly on the dust-covered ground.

When Qiu Shuzhi first met Yue Guanyi, she only thought he was like a deity from a snow-capped mountain. The most ordinary combination of black clothes and white base when worn on him had an indescribable charm and aesthetic. His appearance was beautiful to the extreme and also cold to the extreme, his entire aura somehow keeping people at a thousand miles’ distance, like a world of ice stretching a thousand miles covered with thick snow.

She had never imagined that such a snow-mountain-like beauty would one day be thrown into disarray because of her, the snow on the ice mountain melting into a pool of soft water.

“Your Highness, the ground is cold. Please go back and tidy up. This lowly official will wait for you in the courtyard,” she said.

Chang’an had also caught up.

“Alright,” he murmured, lowering his head.

Chang’an let out a sigh of relief. Qiu Shuzhi’s words were always more effective than his.

The main door closed again. Qiu Shuzhi sat quietly in the courtyard waiting. When he came out again, he had become the Crown Prince everyone was familiar with.

Unknown flowers were blooming in the courtyard. Petals fell on the back of his hand. He moved his fingertips hesitantly and asked, “Has Madam Qiu sobered up from the wine?”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded: “I have.”

Yue Guanyi lowered his head, his face slightly pale: “About last night…”

He nervously clutched his robe, thinking of his recklessness last night, wishing he could knock his head on the ground, kneel at her feet, and beg for her forgiveness for his sins.

“What about last night?” Qiu Shuzhi looked at him curiously, appearing as if she didn’t remember anything.

“You don’t remember?” Yue Guanyi murmured softly.

“Should I remember something?” Qiu Shuzhi asked in return. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she abruptly knelt before Yue Guanyi, repeatedly kowtowing.

“This lowly official deserves death. Did this lowly official do something inappropriate while drunk and offend Your Highness? This lowly official was reckless when drunk. Please forgive this lowly official, please forgive this lowly official.” Her action was so sudden that even Yue Guanyi couldn’t stop her in time. Her knees hit the stone slabs in the courtyard with a heavy thud.

“No, no, please get up,” Yue Guanyi was instantly thunderstruck and hurriedly helped Qiu Shuzhi up.

“Really?” Qiu Shuzhi looked up at him as if granted a great pardon.

A glaring red mark appeared on her forehead, with blood seeping from the damaged skin.

Yue Guanyi’s breath caught. He wanted to touch it but didn’t dare, fearing his movement would tear the wound. He wished he could slap himself hard, wished the wound was on his own body, even if it festered on his face.

How could he say such ambiguous words that made her misunderstand?

“Chang’an, quickly bring the wound medicine!” he shouted.

“Your Highness, the wound medicine is here,” Chang’an rushed over.

“Thank you, I’ll do it myself,” Qiu Shuzhi took the medicine, preparing to apply it herself.

“The wound is on your forehead. Let me do it,” Yue Guanyi applied a bit of the ointment evenly on her forehead. When he touched the broken skin, it separated, revealing the flesh and blood inside. His heart instantly felt as if it had been stabbed into a bloody pulp, rotting into a pile of meat scraps.

Struggling to control his wavering voice, like an intermittent wind, he said both distressed and self-reproachful: “You didn’t do anything last night. Your drinking etiquette is very good. You fell asleep directly in the carriage.”

Qiu Shuzhi let out a long sigh of relief: “As long as I didn’t offend Your Highness, that’s good.”

“It’s my fault for making you misunderstand,” Yue Guanyi said with a bitter smile, pressing his lips together.

What was wrong with him? Wasn’t this what he had hoped for, that she wouldn’t remember anything?

But why, when she truly forgot everything, did he feel as if something had severely cut his heart, hurting so much he could hardly breathe?

He clutched his chest, his eyes filled with endless suppression and despair. In his heart, he mocked himself for being greedy.

Even if she remembered everything, so what?

Could she marry him? How could his body, which had stayed in a brothel, be worthy of serving her?

She should marry a son from a good family, a legitimate son from a noble house. His reputation must also be excellent in the capital, raised in the inner chambers, having seen no women other than his mother and sisters. His personality should also be gentle, virtuous, and considerate. He should also be good at bearing children, preferably giving birth to a couple of daughters for her every three years. Only such a person is worthy of being her husband.

She is such a good person. Her path in the official circles will surely be smooth in the future. Her position will get higher and higher. He would do everything in his power to help her reach a position even higher than Qin Zheng’s, to make her life smooth and worry-free.

Which family’s son would she marry in the future?

The Qin family of Luohe? The Mo family of Longju?

No matter whom she marries, it would be that man’s blessing cultivated over ten lifetimes.

Not like him. He doesn’t deserve it.