Chapter 37 Good Cousin Qiu Niang is Still Good at Coaxing Men

Qiu Shuzhi clearly felt the young male companions behind Jiang Si trembling. Compared to them, they probably hadn’t expected that this seemingly gentle and casual world lady would be so ruthless. For a moment, they didn’t dare to cling to her again.

Only Ting’er leaned against Qiu Shuzhi, his lotus-like arms encircling her neck as he said coquettishly, “Don’t worry, my lady. We young male companions all know our place. After serving guests, we all take contraceptive medicine.”

Qiu Shuzhi blinked, pretending not to understand: “How can there be a medicine that prevents pregnancy just by taking it? What is it made of?”

The corners of Ting’er’s mouth were slightly bitter: “What else could it be? Naturally, it’s made of sanleng, safflower, zedoary, plus a small amount of mercury. Although not fatal, it severely damages the body and makes it difficult to conceive again.”

“Mercury?” Qiu Shuzhi could hardly believe it.

Wouldn’t long-term use lead to mercury poisoning? This medicine was too harsh; it absolutely couldn’t be given to the young emperor.

“This medicine is too damaging to your bodies. Isn’t there one without toxicity?”

“There is. Saffron mixed with musk. Although it also contains toxins, it’s not as strong as the previous prescription. But these medicinal materials are too expensive; we male courtesans in brothels can’t afford them.”

Ting’er smiled faintly, his chin resting on her shoulder, his pomegranate-colored lip rouge smearing on her jaw.

Jiang Si leaned obliquely on the beauty’s shoulder, casting a faint glance at the frivolous Ting’er, her expression indifferent.

She poured a cup of rose liquor and brought the wine cup to Qiu Shuzhi’s lips, easily separating Ting’er from her: “Official Qiu, I, Jiang, offer you a toast.”

Although Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t hold her liquor well, fortunately, the rose liquor wasn’t high in alcohol content. She graciously accepted the wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

With one cup of clear wine down, the fragrance of alcohol lingered on her lips and teeth.

Jiang Si’s eyelids were half-raised, her demeanor languid yet with a hint of danger, very much like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

“Official Qiu is so curious about contraceptive medicine. Could it be that you’re hiding a beautiful young man outside and don’t want him to get pregnant?”

Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head with a smile: “The world lady is joking. I was just making casual conversation.”

Jiang Si poured another cup of rose liquor, her eyes full of interest: “Official Qiu, now that your career is successful, why haven’t you taken a husband yet?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s lips curved in a smile: “Isn’t the world lady the same?”

As the eldest daughter of the King of Dian, Jiang Si had no shortage of romantic affairs, yet she had never taken a husband nor had any children. Her back chambers were so empty it didn’t seem like the daughter of a prince.

A sharp light flashed in her eyes. Jiang Si laughed lightly, pulling a young male companion beside her close: “I haven’t had enough of the men in this world yet, how could I easily settle down? But Official Qiu has always kept herself pure. Could it be-”

She looked at her with a meaningful smile, laughing lightly: “Could it be that Official Qiu already has someone in her heart?”

“…No.”

“There are no other men in Official Qiu’s household, except for-” Jiang Si’s eyes rippled with interest as she looked at her intently. “Could it be your cousin?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s voice deepened: “My cousin and I are blood relatives. The world lady should not speak carelessly and ruin my cousin’s reputation.”

“I’m just talking casually. Surely Official Qiu won’t take offense at a drunk person like me?” Jiang Si’s laughter was low and thin. Her fingertip brushed across Qiu Shuzhi’s jaw, making the lip print there spread even more, the pomegranate red color vivid and alluring.

A flash of amazement passed through Jiang Si’s eyes.

“The customs in the capital are conservative, unlike in Dian. The world lady should not speak of such things anymore.”

“Alright.” Jiang Si propped her head up, smiling drunkenly: “Come, let’s continue drinking.”

“Why is the world lady’s alcohol tolerance so good?” Cup after cup of rose liquor went down, and she was already dizzy, but Jiang Si seemed to be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. It should be noted that she had already had a round of drinks before.

“My birth father was Miao. The Miao are good at drinking, and I take after my father.” Qiu Shuzhi nodded hazily, seeming to remember something like that. However, Jiang Si’s father had long since passed away, and the current Queen of Dian was only a stepmother.

No wonder Jiang Si always had a strange kind of beauty about her. Thinking about it now, it must be that mysterious and slightly wild exotic charm.

The beauty that the King of Dian had offered to the young emperor was said to be a Miao youth. Even though she hadn’t seen the person yet, she seemed to already hear the tinkling sound of Miao cloth and silver ornaments.

After several rounds of drinks, Qiu Shuzhi really couldn’t hold on anymore and fell onto the table, pretending to be drunk.

Ting’er helped her up, his face flushed: “The lady is drunk. This slave will serve her to the room.” Jiang Si stared at him, her languid smile slowly fading: “That won’t be necessary.” She took Qiu Shuzhi from Ting’er’s hands, helped her to the bed, and dismissed all the fluttering beauties.

Jiang Si’s body reeked heavily of alcohol, but her eyes were clear, more sober than someone who hadn’t touched a drop.

Outside the room, music and singing continued, occasionally a vulgar word would drift in, making the silence inside the room even more profound.

She gradually moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze lingering on her drunken face.

Qiu Shuzhi closed her eyes, unable to see Jiang Si’s gaze but with nerves taut, not knowing what Jiang Si would do next.

Suddenly, she felt darkness before her eyes, as if something was blocking her view.

Jiang Si’s hand stopped in mid-air, hesitated for a long time, and finally withdrew.

After a while, her low voice sighed, and she left.

Hearing the sound of the door closing, Qiu Shuzhi finally opened her eyes. Although drunk, her mind was clear, only her limbs were a bit weak. She stumbled out through the window.

Although the rose liquor wasn’t high in alcohol content, it had a strong aftertaste. The world spun before her eyes, and for a moment she couldn’t discern the direction home. She fumbled around the street for quite a while. By this time, there were few people on the street, only a few scattered vendors packing up their things to go home.

It was already late at night, but the main gate of the Qiu residence was wide open, with lights burning inside, clearly showing that the people inside had not yet retired.

“My lady, you’ve finally returned. Quickly notify the young master, the lady has returned,” the servant said eagerly upon seeing Qiu Shuzhi return reeking of alcohol.

“What’s all the shouting about just because I’m back?” Qiu Shuzhi called out groggily.

Qiu Qiushuang had been waiting alone in the hall, and after waiting so long for Qiu Shuzhi to return, this was the scene he saw.

Her clothes were in disarray, her hair bun loose and disheveled, and she reeked of alcohol. That was bad enough, but the blurred yet vivid lip print on her jaw was like a rose thorn stabbing into Qiu Qiushuang’s eyes.

A low pressure instantly spread.

The servants all saw that Qiu Qiushuang’s face didn’t look good and didn’t dare to speak anymore.

Only the drunken Qiu Shuzhi remained oblivious, speaking nonsense and trying to walk forward with weak, unsteady steps.

There was a threshold right in front of her, and just as Qiu Shuzhi was about to trip over it, Qiu Qiushuang hurriedly supported her.

“Cousin?” She looked at him with drunken, hazy eyes.

Qiu Qiushuang’s lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes fixed on the lip print on her face.

“Cousin, you’re not happy?”

“……”

“Who made you angry again? Tell me, I’ll punish her right away!”

The servants looked at each other, wanting to laugh but not daring to. Wasn’t it you, my lady?

“Cousin, don’t be angry anymore. Look what I brought back for you?”

The small fruits wrapped in oiled paper were round and plump. Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t stand steadily, leaning on his shoulder and whispering in his ear: “I secretly climbed a tree to pick these.” “Do you like them?” Her words were full of the scent of rose wine, the hot breath spraying on his earlobe, the alcohol fumes dyeing his ear tip pink.

Qiu Qiushuang’s moist eyes flashed.

His fingers trembled as he gestured: “How could you do such a thing?”

She was so drunk she could barely walk straight. What if she had fallen while climbing the tree?

Qiu Shuzhi laughed softly, her smile softer than usual under the influence of alcohol.

When people are drunk, many things don’t follow common sense.

“I came across them on my way back. I remember you like them… Is it enough? I have more.” She pulled out several more fruits from her robe, smiling ingratiatingly: “Cousin, don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Qiu Qiushuang’s lips trembled. Even when she was drunk, she still thought of him.

He reached out and wiped clean the lip print on her jaw. Forget it, it was just a visit to a brothel, he wouldn’t hold it against her.

Qiu Qiushuang magnanimously supported Qiu Shuzhi’s body into the bedroom. Her waist was very soft, even more so when drunk, as if boneless. It seemed that one hand could easily grasp her waist.

The servants behind were about to follow, but seeing the two so intimate, they all silently stopped.

Qiu Shuzhi had never taken a husband, so the Qiu residence had never had a male master. All the affairs of the household, big and small, were managed by Qiu Qiushuang, in every way like a proper principal husband.

Everyone knew that these cousins had relied on each other since childhood and had deep feelings for each other. People with discerning eyes could see what was going on, and they all guessed that Qiu Qiushuang would be Qiu Shuzhi’s future principal husband.

Qiu Qiushuang helped her to the bed and took off her clothes and socks. Her clothes were full of the scent of rouge and powder from the men of the brothel. Although he didn’t show it on his face, he was still jealous in his heart, especially when he imagined the scene of her seeking pleasure with those men in the brothel. His heart ached.

His Shuzhi had grown up.

In the past, he had used the talk of revitalizing the Qiu family to restrain her from going to brothels, not getting close to men, and not rushing to start a family and have daughters.

Now that Qiu Shuzhi had a successful career, enjoyed a high official’s salary, and had an imperial-bestowed mansion, going to brothels for social occasions was inevitable. The unmarried men in the capital were all eyeing her covetously.

He himself didn’t have outstanding looks, nor a presentable family background, and was even a mute who couldn’t speak.

The better Qiu Shuzhi became, the more humble he seemed in comparison, the more unworthy of her.

He had even maliciously thought that if only Qiu Shuzhi hadn’t passed the imperial examination, they would still be a poor family in the water town of Jiangnan, without the dazzling flowers of the capital, and she would still have only him as the only man by her side.

If he used some tricks to make her marry him, he would bear children for her, and they would be an ordinary couple.

Qiu Shuzhi always said she couldn’t leave Qiu Qiushuang, but she didn’t know that it was Qiu Qiushuang who couldn’t leave Qiu Shuzhi.

Without Qiu Shuzhi, he would have long ago become just a tool for revenge. It was Qiu Shuzhi who helped him regain his humanity, gradually wearing away his hatred, even wanting to let go of everything and wholeheartedly be her husband.

He carefully covered her with the quilt, sitting sideways on the bed and gesturing rapidly with his fingers.

Qiu Shuzhi had been drinking, and everything was already spinning before her eyes. At this moment, Qiu Qiushuang’s sign language looked as fast as ninja hand seals in her eyes, with multiple afterimages.

“Slower, slower.” Qiu Shuzhi grabbed his hand and held it to her chest.

The strong, rhythmic heartbeat transmitted through his fingers, and all the blood in Qiu Qiushuang’s body seemed to freeze for a moment.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes full of drunkenness, his ear tips turned blood red, as if burning. The hands she held to her heart had nails digging deeply into the flesh.

He struggled to control his almost boiling blood, bent down, and using the force of withdrawing his hand, quickly kissed her fingertips.