Qiu Shuzhi lowered her eyes, sighing lightly: “She is not a rebel, even if she made a mistake she shouldn’t receive such severe punishment. If the Emperor wants to be a benevolent ruler, implementing benevolent governance, she shouldn’t be treated thus.”

The refugee was arrested, everyone was happy, seemingly forgetting why an ordinary farm woman would rather lose her life to curse the ruler.

The drought in the north was severe, the south was not optimistic either, but it was all being whitewashed by local officials. But when these local officials could no longer suppress it, when starving corpses littered the ground and refugees fled to the capital, what then?

The emperor had the heart but no power, the Empress Dowager had power but aided tyranny and allowed the Qin clan free rein. Even if this person could be saved, what about later? This feeling of powerlessness pressed down deeply, turning into a knot of frustration in her heart.

When she first transmigrated, she thought she was the great female lead who could change this world at will.

But when the Qiu family rapidly declined, she understood that she too was just one of the countless grains of dust in the mortal world.

Even though she was a transmigrator, she had no advantages in ancient times.

Even the skills written in books, like casually composing a poem to become famous overnight, she didn’t have. The poetry here had different rules from her era.

She learned from scratch, no different from ancient scholars. The ancients’ intelligence wasn’t as simple as she had imagined. In her past life, her grades could only rank in the top 100 of the province. It was only with tenacity, not daring to slack off day or night, that she had her brilliant performance in the imperial exams.

After all, she was just an ordinary person.

Yet she had modern thoughts, and couldn’t bear to see the lower classes struggling to survive, feeling extremely conflicted.

“If Official Qiu wants to release her, I’ll release her.”

“You-” Qiu Shuzhi looked at him in surprise, her voice unconsciously rising a few notes: “I was just asking, I didn’t mean anything else, Your Highness doesn’t need to do such a thing because of me.”

Yue Guanyi lowered his head, his pale profile deep and distant: “It’s just one prisoner, I can still make that decision.”

“Your Highness!” Qiu Shuzhi held his shoulders, her long, strong fingers gripping his muscles and bones.

She gazed at him steadily, her voice deep and measured: “You don’t need to do this for me. I absolutely have no intention of using you.”

He didn’t need to jeopardize his future for her. As a man, it was already not easy for Yue Guanyi to reach this position. Who knew how many people were watching him from behind, hoping for him to make a mistake, to pull him down from his high position to trample and crush him. She didn’t want Yue Guanyi to fall into gossip because of her.

Yue Guanyi’s whole body stiffened, the fingers gripping his shoulders seemed to have hit an acupoint, blood and energy flowing backwards into his brain—if only Qiu Shuzhi really wanted to use him.

He had admired her all his life, he embarked on an official career also because of her.

He lived for her, would die for her, it would be his blessing if Qiu Shuzhi was willing to use him.

He lowered his head, the corners of his eyes carrying a hint of masculine shyness, his voice pressed extremely low like a soft moan: “I don’t mind.”

“What?”

“I don’t mind.” Yue Guanyi’s head drooped lower, his face burning red, his fingers curling even more.

Under Qiu Shuzhi’s stunned gaze, he took out a token and placed it in her hand.

“This is the token for entering and exiting Zhao Prison, you can come and go freely.”

“This- this is too precious, I cannot accept it.” The token in her hand was like a hot iron, she dared not accept it, hurriedly trying to return it to Yue Guanyi’s arms.

She was somewhat surprised, but more flustered and apologetic. Any words or actions were insignificant in the face of this sincerity, but she truly didn’t deserve Yue Guanyi treating her this way.

The more she thought this, the more urgent her actions became, as if what she was clutching in her hand was not a token, but Yue Guanyi’s burning heart.

“Please keep it, there will come a day when you’ll need it. If needed, the entire Imperial Guard will be at your command.” Yue Guanyi said gracefully, his eyes filled with deep affection like the shimmering waves of West Lake, cool and delicate, one look and you would be lost.

A prince of high position and great power, beautiful and city-toppling, using his body as bait, power as temptation, both wealth and beauty laid out before her, what woman wouldn’t be moved? On the contrary, she would be confident in her own charm.

But Qiu Shuzhi didn’t feel that way. Yue Guanyi’s words almost took her life. Perhaps he had no other meaning, but it scared her so much her heart nearly stopped.

“Absolutely not, absolutely not-” She hurriedly said while returning the token, seemingly also reminding herself to stay clear-headed.

Yue Guanyi persisted stubbornly, determined to dedicate all his worth to her. After some back and forth, her little finger caught on his sleeve, pulling hard, her whole body fell towards him. Yue Guanyi tried to steady her, but was thrown off balance by her force, both table and chairs falling down together.

Chang’an had just reached the door when he saw Qiu Shuzhi’s entire body pressing down on Yue Guanyi, that snow-white figure lying lightly on the ground, like a deity descending to earth.

Qiu Shuzhi’s waist was slender and graceful, her shapely curves gently sinking onto Yue Guanyi’s chest, undulating between them like endless mountain ranges.

One hand propped on the ground, the other gently cradling the back of his head, her three thousand strands of black hair falling at her sides, landing on Yue Guanyi’s clothes white as soft clouds, like light feathers teasing.

The cold orchid fell by his ear, a faint cool fragrance wafting over. Yue Guanyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he blushed furiously, his arms embracing her willowy waist, the heavy weight on his chest causing surging waves in his eyes. Even just touching through clothes made him surge with emotion.

Yue Guanyi blushed, gritting his teeth, his thin lips almost bitten bloody.

Miss Qiu’s body… so soft… so fragrant…

His lowered gaze could easily see into her collar. The sudden change had disheveled her clothes, the neckline slightly loosened, revealing fair skin like jade and snow extending downwards. The cool fragrance turned warm, heating his cold blood, scorching hot like boiling oil sweeping through his entire body. It was like a thousand-foot wave surging on a calm sea surface, infinitely high, infinitely wide, infinitely many, never seeing an end, washing away his reason, lifting his soul high then smashing it hard against the reefs, shattering it in an instant.

He gritted his teeth tightly, his gaze frantically avoiding yet unwilling to look away.

Qiu Niang… Qiu Niang…

The more he wanted to let go, the tighter his arms wrapped around her waist, the more reluctant he was to release.

He wanted to press his lips to hers, to kneel at her feet and serve her, to be the mud under her feet, a wisp of wind brushing her temples. These lowly fantasies were like maggots in his bones, impossible to remove. Desire grew wildly like weeds, infinitely magnifying his obsessive thoughts that bound him. He wished he could immediately bury his soul in her body, drown in her softness, never to be separated for lifetimes.

“Your Highness, are you alright?” After a brief moment of physical contact, Qiu Shuzhi got up from the ground.

The soil from the orchid pot was scattered everywhere, dust staining his white clothes. She reached out to brush away the dust on him, seeing Yue Guanyi’s face flushed red as blood, his body stiff and strange.

“Did you hurt yourself somewhere?” she asked anxiously.

Yue Guanyi, red-faced, got up from the ground: “No.”

Qiu Shuzhi straightened the table and chairs, then tidied up the orchid and put it back in its place. She saw Chang’an at the door, neither entering nor leaving.

“Young Master Chang’an, you’re here too?” She smiled, her hand naturally picking up the token from the ground and placing it in Yue Guanyi’s hand.

“Your Highness, Official Qiu, the meal is ready. Why don’t you dine together?”

Chang’an was just repenting for his earlier words. Upon learning the visitor was Qiu Shuzhi, he immediately arranged for the kitchen to add more dishes. Tonight, he had to keep Qiu Shuzhi a while longer no matter what, to make amends.

“That won’t be necessary.” She still remembered the Empress Dowager’s words, not to stay too long in Yue Guanyi’s separate courtyard, lest he become suspicious.

Yue Guanyi clutched the token in his hand, his fragmented gaze and expression full of loneliness.

“Oh, right.” Qiu Shuzhi took out a small box from her sleeve: “This is what I promised to give Your Highness before. A small token, please don’t think poorly of it.” Yue Guanyi’s eyes were full of surprise; the box contained a perfectly intact hundred-year-old ginseng. He thought Qiu Shuzhi was just making polite conversation, not expecting her to actually take it to heart.

“How could I think poorly of anything you give me.” Yue Guanyi smiled softly, treasuring the box against his chest. The loneliness in his eyes swept away instantly, his eyes and brows rippling with tender affection like spring water.

Qiu Shuzhi’s thin lips pursed slightly, thinking he was truly easy to please.

Consort Lan Xuezhao was favored for a whole night, momentarily basking in unlimited glory.

His soft, delicate body gently blew in Emperor Yue Shen’s ear, and even the most irritated fire was extinguished for a moment. There were no more sounds of things being smashed in Qianqing Palace, only occasional low, broken, melodious sounds from the main hall, more bewitching than his face.

The next day, when the palace servants came in to change the emperor and consort’s clothes, they were shocked and blushed at the chaotic scene before them as soon as they entered.

Lan Xuezhao’s eyes were seductive as silk, lazily nestled in Yue Shen’s arms, the tear mole under his eyes infinitely alluring. His wrist jingled with silver bells as he lazily twirled her neck hair. Yue Shen wore a face of complete satisfaction, seeming to still be immersed in last night’s service.

Even when the Emperor Consort served before, the palace servants had never seen Yue Shen’s expression so gentle.

Yue Shen still had to attend the morning court, reluctantly getting up, as if unwilling to leave this paradise of tenderness.

Lan Xuezhao casually draped a piece of sheer gauze around himself, his jade arms encircling Yue Shen’s waist from behind, his voice so sweet it seemed dipped in syrup: “Your Majesty, this servant is reluctant to part with you.” Yue Shen turned back, her fingers caressing his alluringly red lips: “Don’t worry, as soon as We finish court, We’ll come find you right away.” “Then this servant will wait for you in Qianqing Palace.” Lan Xuezhao pressed against her chin, his tone indescribably spoiled and arrogant.

Throughout history, it was already a great honor for consorts to serve one night in Qianqing Palace. Lan Xuezhao not only refused to leave but wanted to continue staying in Qianqing Palace. He truly came from a small place and didn’t know the rules, the palace servants thought.

They reckoned that with Yue Shen’s unpredictable temper, she would get angry sooner or later. Just as they were waiting for Yue Shen to lose her temper, her reaction was completely out of character.

She lifted Lan Xuezhao’s chin, her eyes full of tenderness: “Alright, as you wish.” The palace servants looked at each other, utterly shocked.

What methods did this Miao man use? In just one night, he had Yue Shen wrapped around his finger.

Amidst their shock, they also sighed for the gentle and reserved Emperor Consort.

It seemed the Emperor Consort was about to fall out of favor.

Due to the sweet dalliance with Lan Xuezhao causing a delay, Yue Shen, who was always punctual, actually arrived late for the first time today.

A crowd of ministers gazed expectantly at the dragon throne. Half an hour later, Yue Shen finally arrived fashionably late, with an ambiguous kiss mark on her chin.

“If there’s business, speak up. If not, let’s end the court session,” Yue Shen said, sitting on the dragon throne, looking uninterested.

Although Yue Shen was a puppet, a mascot for the morning court, she had always been diligent. Such a lazy attitude was unprecedented.

Faced with this uncharacteristic Yue Shen, the officials all looked towards the pearl curtain behind which sat Empress Dowager Qin Qing.

Behind the slightly swaying pearl curtain, a faintly visible snow-white fan waved slowly, the slanted sitting figure as immovable as a mountain.

“All beloved ministers may proceed with normal discussions,” Qin Qing said languidly.