Chapter 41 His Wife-Master His Wife-Master Should Be Like Qiu Shuzhi…

“Hehe, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you don’t know how terribly angry Her Majesty was this time! This servant has never seen Her Majesty’s face look so bad before, I estimate she’s probably smashing vases in Qianqing Palace right now!” Yu Zhi ran to Qingning Palace, gleefully recounting Yue Shen’s reaction in detail to Qin Qing.

Qin Qing leisurely fanned himself with a folding fan, his slender fingers picking up the blooming roses by the window. The brilliant flower color reflected on his snow-white jade fingers as he spoke unhurriedly, “I heard this assassination attempt was a false alarm from the Imperial Guard?”

Yu Zhi leaned against his brother Yu Ye’s side and said with a smile, “That’s right, those Imperial Guards are jumpy about everything, making a big fuss over a small matter. I heard they all rushed to capture the assassin in a swarm, neglecting the Emperor’s safety. It was Qiu Daren who rushed up to protect Her Majesty and the Emperor Consort.”

“Qiu Shuzhi? What was she doing there?” The jade fingers suddenly tensed, and Qin Qing’s casual tone instantly became tense.

Concern breeds confusion. Whenever Qiu Daren was mentioned, the Empress Dowager’s usually calm demeanor would change immediately.

“She’s the Deputy Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, not an imperial guard. These matters shouldn’t involve her at all. She doesn’t know how to avoid trouble, why does she foolishly rush forward?”

“What about the assassin? Did the assassin hurt her?”

“And the Imperial Guard? Are these people all dead?”

He shouted in a low voice. The thorns broke Qin Qing’s porcelain-like skin, and blood mixed with crushed flower juice slowly seeped out, but he was unaware.

Yu Ye quickly said in a soothing voice, “Please don’t worry, Empress Dowager. It was just a vagrant, not an assassin. Qiu Daren is perfectly fine.”

As he spoke, he handed over a snow-white handkerchief.

“It’s good that she’s alright.” Hearing that Qiu Shuzhi was unharmed, Qin Qing’s worried heart finally relaxed, and he accepted the handkerchief.

Yu Ye smiled slightly, “Qiu Daren’s selfless protection of Her Majesty further proves her passionate loyalty to the court. This is a good thing.”

The thick, brilliant juice, as vibrant as red beans, covered Qin Qing’s fingertips. His eyes darkened, “She doesn’t need to be loyal to the court. She only needs to be loyal to this grieving one.”

Yu Ye was slightly stunned. This sentence revealed too much information, with a chilling possessiveness that made one’s blood run cold.

Yu Zhi, completely oblivious, still smiled and said, “Empress Dowager, you’re right. Qiu Daren must certainly be loyal to you.”

Qin Qing smiled faintly and asked casually, “Was the Emperor Consort frightened?”

“The Emperor Consort, raised in the inner palace, has never seen such a situation. The vagrant’s blood splattered on the imperial carriage’s long curtains, and he was so scared his face turned pale. If it weren’t for Qiu Daren’s comforting, the Emperor Consort would probably have cried.”

Qin Qing’s eyes turned cold, looking at him sinisterly.

Yu Zhi vividly described the day’s events, completely unaware

Yu Ye’s breath caught, terrified half to death. Before Qin Qing could react, he kicked Yu Zhi hard.

Yu Zhi, caught off guard, was kicked to the ground. Just as he was about to coquettishly demand an explanation from his brother, he saw Yu Ye drop to his knees with a thud.

“Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager. Yu Zhi is still young and speaks nonsense.”

Yu Zhi was utterly bewildered and still hadn’t figured out what was happening. Although he didn’t understand, seeing Yu Ye kneeling on the ground in fear and trepidation, he immediately quieted down.

The air stagnated for a while.

The more silent it became, the more fearful Yu Ye felt. His arms trembled involuntarily, and he seemed to feel Qin Qing’s oppressive, captivating gaze on his back.

His younger brother really needed to be taught a lesson. How could he be so insensitive?

Outsiders might not know about the Empress Dowager’s feelings for Qiu Daren, but how could the Yu brothers not know?

Whether it was the exceptional promotion of Qiu Shuzhi to Hanlin Academy Scholar or letting her enter Shuntian Prefecture, every sign reflected the Empress Dowager’s favoritism.

Not to mention that day when the Empress Dowager and Qiu Daren were alone.

He stood guard outside, occasionally hearing low conversations from inside.

Yu Ye had followed Qin Qing for so many years, serving the unmarried young master all the way to his current position as the Empress Dowager. He had never heard Qin Qing’s tone as low and seductive as it was that day. That voice was nothing like an Empress Dowager’s; it was clearly that of a man writhing and begging for pleasure beneath a woman.

Yu Zhi clearly knew how special the Empress Dowager’s feelings for Qiu Shuzhi were, yet he had to emphasize how she comforted the Emperor Consort today. Wasn’t this obviously upsetting the Empress Dowager?

When men become jealous, even women have to give way. If the Empress Dowager became angry, not only would insignificant people like them suffer, but even the innocent Emperor Consort would be implicated.

“This grieving one isn’t angry. You servants are always so jumpy.” Qin Qing’s lips curled into a faint smile, his expression unfathomable.

“It’s this servant’s fault, all this servant’s fault.” Yu Ye lowered his head in fear.

Qin Qing waved his hand and said to Yu Zhi, “Go down now. The Emperor is still angry, you’d better hurry to attend to her.”

“Yes.” Yu Zhi left with a worried glance at Yu Ye.

After he left, Qin Qing’s expression suddenly sank, his deep eyes bottomless.

Yu Ye crawled to Qin Qing’s feet: “Empress Dowager, there’s no need to worry. Qiu Daren and the Emperor Consort don’t know each other. It was just a polite exchange of words.”

Qin Qing’s eyes were dark and unclear. After a long while, he finally spoke, “Yu Ye, what do you think of the Emperor Consort?”

Emperor Consort?

The son of Qin Qing’s cousin, raised in the inner palace, pampered and spoiled. His appearance was delicate and charming, his skin fair and translucent, so tender it seemed water would ooze out if pinched. His personality was pure and harmless, with a hint of timid youthfulness.

Good family background, good looks, and an easily manipulated personality – he was exactly what women liked most.

But Yu Ye dared not say this directly.

“The Emperor Consort’s appearance is not outstanding in the palace. It’s only because he’s the Empress Dowager’s nephew that he was able to enter the inner palace, benefiting from the Empress Dowager’s influence.”

Qin Qing remained silent for a long time.

Yes, Qin Zhengya was his nephew, and he was Qin Zhengya’s uncle. He and Qin Zhengya looked somewhat similar, but Qin Zhengya’s appearance was far inferior to his.

Back then, his fame in the capital was even higher than that of Yue Guanyi, who is now known as the capital’s number one beauty.

But that was only back then.