Chapter 3: Scheming – The Sweetie Who Understands the Female Lead Best

Qiu Shuzhi dragged Qiu Qiushuang back home, recalling the scene of Jiang Si inviting her to enjoy herself at the brothel during the day. She was grateful that she didn’t agree at the time, thus narrowly escaping disaster.

For the Qin family, with their immense power and the Empress Dowager’s support, the killing of a male courtesan by the eldest daughter of the Qin family was a trivial matter.

But this trivial matter had become the talk of the town today, even mobilizing the Imperial Guards. It was evident that the situation was not simple; someone was deliberately trying to bring down Qin Shu.

If the Qin family wanted to clear Qin Shu’s name, they would certainly find a scapegoat.

But the one who was with Qin Shu at the Zuixin Tower was the daughter of the King of Dian, also a powerful figure who absolutely couldn’t be touched. Naturally, they couldn’t frame Jiang Si.

However, if Qiu Shuzhi had gone with them at that time, it might have been her who was now imprisoned in Zhao Prison.

Qiu Shuzhi drank a belly full of cold tea, still feeling uneasy. The court factions’ struggles were treacherous and unpredictable; one slight misstep could lead to irreversible consequences. She would have to be more careful and cautious in the future.

Yue Guanyi returned to the palace in a daze, riding in a carriage. The moon was waning, and the palace lanterns were lit.

“Your Highness, please rest early,” Chang’an said after bandaging his wounds.

Yue Guanyi held Qiu Shuzhi’s handkerchief, the menacing gloom in his eyes completely dissipating at this moment, gazing at it with infatuation.

Looking at the apricot blossom branch in the white porcelain vase on the table, it was wilting as its nutrients were exhausted. Apricot blossom petals covered the table, and the withered branches were falling.

Chang’an watched in shock as Yue Guanyi cradled the withered branch as if it were a priceless treasure, his reverent gaze mixed with the desire of a mortal, worshipping the deity in his heart.

Chang’an finally understood that anything related to Qiu Shuzhi, even if it was just a dead object, was an invaluable treasure in the Crown Prince’s eyes, as precious as his own eyeballs.

In the future, when encountering Qiu Shuzhi, he must be cautious in his words and actions, and must never offend her.

The next day at the morning court, the case of the lady scholar killing a man became the focus of debate among the officials.

The faction led by the Qin family made various excuses for Qin Shu, disregarding the public outrage, and even hinted at wanting to release her without charges.

The minority faction was weak and didn’t dare to confront the Qin family head-on, only repeatedly conceding, which further fueled the Qin family’s arrogance.

“These incompetent cowards!” In the Imperial Study, Yue Shen slammed the table in anger.

When Qiu Shuzhi arrived at the Imperial Study to give a lecture to the Emperor, she encountered Minister Wang, the imperial lecturer, who was being supported by the attendant Yu Ye, covering her forehead as she came out, blood seeping through her fingers.

“Minister Wang, what happened to you?” Qiu Shuzhi asked with concern.

Minister Wang took her hand: “Her Majesty is in a rage. Please take care of yourself!”

In a rage? It didn’t take much thought to know it was because of Qin Shu’s matter.

She pushed open the door and entered. The young Emperor, dressed in court robes, had collapsed on the steps, with no one around her. The vast Imperial Study was terrifyingly quiet.

Qiu Shuzhi boldly supported her hand and said softly, “The ground is cold, Your Majesty. Please take care of your health.”

“Qiu Shuzhi?” Yue Shen slowly raised her head. Having just vented her anger, her hairpin had slipped, and strands of hair fell around her cheeks.

“Let me help Your Majesty up,” she said, lowering her head. Her smooth long hair slid from her shoulders, a faint fragrance lingering around her.

Yue Shen slowly stood up with her support, her gaze somewhat peculiar.

If Yu Ye, who had just left, saw this, he would certainly be shocked.

Yue Shen had severe mysophobia and detested physical contact with others. Even her long-serving personal attendants needed to thoroughly wash from head to toe and be perfumed for an hour before they could approach her.

Even with all this, Yue Shen was still very disgusted.

Unexpectedly, the newly arrived Qiu Shuzhi not only didn’t provoke Yue Shen’s aversion but could even touch her naturally, which was truly surprising.

Yue Shen sat back in her chair, stroking the wrist that Qiu Shuzhi had just touched, watching her now serving respectfully by her side. Her gentle and quiet eyebrows were like a calm lake, soothing the irritation in her heart.

The imperial lecture was for explaining the Four Books and Five Classics to the Emperor. Qiu Shuzhi opened the Book of Changes, preparing to perform her official duties.

Yue Shen pressed down on the book in her hand, their knuckles touching. She asked, “Minister Qiu, do you know about the recent major event in the court?”

“Is Your Majesty referring to the matter of the top scholar Qin Shu?”

“Now the Qin family is advocating for Qin Shu’s release, but the people are furious and demand a life for a life. The Emperor’s crimes are punished the same as commoners. If We don’t give the people an explanation, how can We face being the Emperor! What do you think We should do?”

This was an unsolvable problem, and it shouldn’t be for a Hanlin Academy scholar to suggest a solution. Yue Shen asking like this was to test her attitude, to test whether the person before her was loyal to her.

The study fell into silence. Qiu Shuzhi remained silent for a while, then slowly said, “This subject thinks Qin Shu can be released.”

“Release Qin Shu?” Yue Shen’s eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of dangerous coldness.

“Qin Shu is the daughter of Minister Qin, her noble status naturally cannot be compared to the life of a male courtesan. If you want to appease the people’s anger, you can exile her to the Baiyue country. Coincidentally, the King of Dian has just defeated Baiyue, so Qin Shu can be sent to Baiyue to receive the surrender ceremony. When Qin Shu returns to court, she will be a great meritorious official, and her merits can offset her crimes.”

Yue Shen’s lips curled into a cold smile: “What a good way to offset crimes with merits.”

Is this the scholar she had tried so hard to retain! She thought she was an upright official of the minority faction, but it turns out she had already sided with the Qin family.

Yue Shen’s face darkened, anger rising, about to erupt. But seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s submissive appearance, that anger somehow couldn’t be vented on her.

She took a deep breath to suppress the rolling dark clouds in her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of fatigue and disappointment.

“You may withdraw!”

Qiu Shuzhi hesitated to speak.

There were many eyes and ears in the palace, the Emperor’s power was being undermined, and she was just a small official without real power. Going against the Qin family at this time would be seeking death.

She knew Yue Shen was eager to remove this imperial parasite, but the young Emperor was still too impatient.

Qiu Shuzhi withdrew from the study. Not long after she left, she heard the sound of things being smashed inside the Imperial Study.

She shook her head silently. She had said all she could say, hoping the young Emperor would understand the meaning behind her words.

“Did Qiu Shuzhi really say that?”

In Qingning Palace, Qin Qing reclined on a soft couch, his ink-black clothes making his skin appear as white as snow. His collar was slightly open, inadvertently revealing his delicate collarbone.

The attendant Yu Zhi respectfully answered, “In response to the Empress Dowager, Yu Ye heard clearly outside the study. Minister Qiu did say so, and Her Majesty was angered by it.”

Qin Qing’s lips curled into a smile: “Her Majesty thinks that by simply promoting someone talented, they can be used by her. How naive. However, this Qiu Shuzhi… seems to be a person who knows how to behave appropriately.”

Yu Zhi smiled slightly: “Lady Qiu is wise beyond measure. How could she not know who the real backer is? She must be on your side, Empress Dowager.”

Qin Qing’s eyes glanced lightly: “What’s this, are you interested in her?”

“This servant wouldn’t dare. It’s just that today, all the palace servants were talking about how the new Hanlin Academy’s Lady Qiu is exceptionally handsome and particularly kind to the servants. That’s why this servant…”

As he spoke, a faint blush spread across Yu Zhi’s face.

Qin Qing recalled the elegant lady from the Qionglin Banquet, whose every move was refined and still amazed him. He lowered his eyes to conceal the emotions in them and said, “Qiu Shuzhi’s beauty is indeed unparalleled in the world. You servants should keep your eyes in check and don’t 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 fall in love. It was normal for them to admire Qiu Shuzhi.

But all women in the world are fickle, especially a renowned beauty like Qiu Shuzhi. She must have no shortage of male confidants around her. If one gives their heart to her, it will surely be broken in the future.

Yu Zhi lowered his head shyly: “This servant understands. This servant just thought that since Lady Qiu has shown goodwill towards us, we should reciprocate.”

Qin Qing nodded slightly: “That’s natural.”

He had long wanted to win over Qiu Shuzhi. Now that Qiu Shuzhi had shown goodwill, he would not waste this opportunity.

Qin Shu had been spoiled by the Qin family and was a complete fool, not only useless but also causing such a big mess.

Jiang Si was also a force planted in the capital by the King of Dian, constantly opposing the Qin family.

He urgently needed an assistant to strategize for him. In the imperial examination papers, Qiu Shuzhi’s political theories and scholarly abilities were all first-class. If she could be used by him, he was willing to help her rise rapidly.

In the Imperial Guard’s Zhao Prison, dark clouds gathered, and miserable screams were shrouded in a layer of shadowy darkness.

Qin Shu was imprisoned in a cell, watching the prisoner next to her being skinned and dismembered alive, her face pale with fright.

Yue Guanyi’s long, narrow eyes slowly narrowed, his gentle smile almost dangerous: “Top Scholar, have you rested well?”

Qin Shu had lost all the arrogance she had when first imprisoned, cowering in the corner and begging: “Crown Prince, I really didn’t kill anyone. I was framed. Let me see my mother. My mother will definitely get me out of here.”

Yue Guanyi curled his lips in contempt. She was already so frightened without him even doing anything. The Qin family truly had no worthy 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 vented a great deal of anger in the Imperial Study.”

Yue Guanyi’s attitude was cold: “It’s just a bit of temper. You needn’t mind it.”

Chang’an hesitated, then said softly: “The spy reported that Her Majesty’s anger was because of Minister Qiu.”

Qiu Shuzhi?

Yue Guanyi’s eyes immediately tightened: “Let’s go!”

In the Imperial Study, books were scattered all over the floor. Yue Guanyi knelt respectfully before Yue Shen, pretending to be deferential: “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?” Yue Shen’s cold eyes swept over him. They were siblings, and Yue Guanyi also had Qin family blood. Her relationship with him was closer than with others.

This time, Qin Shu’s arrest was also done under her instructions to Yue Guanyi.

“I heard that you were in a great rage in the Imperial Study?”

Yue Shen pressed her lips tightly: “It’s all because of that Qiu Shuzhi, eating from our bowl but helping others, actually suggesting that I send Qin Shu to Baiyue to make up for her crimes with merits.”

Yue Guanyi’s long, narrow eyes furrowed slightly: “Your Majesty, I believe Qiu Shuzhi’s plan is excellent.”

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 must pass through the King of Dian’s territory. The Dian territory is full of miasma and poisonous insects, extremely dangerous. If anything happens on the way, it would have nothing to do with the court. Instead, it would provoke conflict between the Qin family and the King of Dian. It’s an excellent plan to kill two birds with one stone,” Yue Guanyi explained slowly.

Yue Shen suddenly understood, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

A moment later, she frowned slightly, recalling Qiu Shuzhi’s hesitant look as she left. She murmured in a childish tone: “So it seems I misunderstood her.”

She silently covered her wrist, the place where Qiu Shuzhi had touched earlier seemed to be faintly burning. Her eyelashes fluttered guiltily, and she thought to herself: Qiu Shuzhi, I will definitely make it up to you in the future.