Yue Shen was shorter than her by a bit. When she hugged Qiu Shuzhi, her face was right against her chest, and with such force, she almost sank into it. And her still-developing body also rubbed against her through the thick ceremonial robes, making the tips of Qiu Shuzhi’s ears turn slightly red.

“Your Majesty, you’ve caught the wrong person.” Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head and said softly.

She shielded Yue Shen’s forehead with one hand to block the fine, dense rain, while her other hand reached behind her head to untie the red silk ribbon.

As the light gauze fell away, Yue Shen’s round almond eyes stared at her without blinking, gazing at her, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, with innocent clarity.

Whether it was due to the glow of the lanterns, Qiu Shuzhi felt that the little emperor’s baby-fat face seemed somewhat red.

The tender moment lasted only an instant. Yue Shen’s expression quickly changed as she pushed her away, wiping her hands with a look of disgust: “How unlucky!” The little emperor was indeed a national first-class face-changing artist, her emotions rising and falling with perfect control, even fooling the Yulin Army behind her.

Lan Xuezhao ran out from the flower bushes holding a white peony, his jade feet touching the ground, as white as accumulated snow.

“Your Majesty, you caught the wrong person. Tonight you must listen to your attendant,” he said coquettishly, leaning against Yue Shen.

Yue Shen’s eyes were full of tenderness: “Alright, I’ll do as you say, whatever my beloved consort says goes.” Lan Xuezhao gently tugged at Yue Shen’s clothing, his gaze falling on Qiu Shuzhi: “Your Majesty, who is this?” “This is Qiu Shuzhi, the Upper Cavalry Commander. Don’t mind her,” Yue Shen impatiently embraced Lan Xuezhao’s slender waist and said in a low voice: “Beloved consort, let’s go to the bedchamber.” Lan Xuezhao lowered his head shyly.

As the little emperor embraced her consort and gradually walked away, the Imperial Garden instantly became desolate.

Ji Mei felt indignant on Qiu Shuzhi’s behalf: “Madam, how could Her Majesty treat you like this?” “Do not discuss Her Majesty,” Qiu Shuzhi tilted her head slightly, letting the fine rain fall on her face. The reasons behind this couldn’t be explained to outsiders.

Ji Mei immediately closed her mouth.

She felt the fine rain falling on her face, from intermittent to increasingly urgent, as the rain grew heavier.

“This is bad, we didn’t bring bamboo hats or raincoats. We’ll have to patrol in this heavy rain,” said a Yulin Army soldier.

“Madam Qiu—” A familiar voice came from afar. Chang’an, leading a group of Imperial Guards, came carrying a large bundle of items.

“Young Master Chang’an, what’s this?”

“The rain has gotten heavier, and we Imperial Guards had extra bamboo hats and raincoats. Seeing you and the Yulin Army getting rained on, we brought them over.”

Ji Mei opened her eyes wide in surprise.

As confidants of the emperor and empress dowager, the Imperial Guards had always looked down on the Yulin Army, considering them just a bunch of people who only knew how to walk back and forth. The Yulin Army also despised the Imperial Guards, privately calling them notebook-keeping tattle-tales. In short, the two groups couldn’t stand each other. It was unexpected that today the Imperial Guards would take the initiative to show goodwill. It was truly rare.

Qiu Shuzhi looked at her nearly soaked troops behind her and smiled as she accepted: “Then many thanks to Young Master Chang’an. I will certainly come to return them tomorrow.”

Chang’an politely replied: “No need, no need.”

But in his heart, he thought, you’d better come quickly, and come alone, or else His Highness will wear out his eyes waiting at Fengyang Pavilion.

From the moment Qiu Shuzhi led the Yulin Army into the imperial city, she hadn’t escaped the eyes of the Imperial Guards. As soon as the light rain started, Yue Guanyi couldn’t sit still and prepared to go out personally to deliver an umbrella and raincoat to Qiu Shuzhi.

It was only Chang’an’s desperate efforts to stop him that prevented him from leaving Fengyang Pavilion, after all, nighttime was different from daytime.

Even though Yue Guanyi had immense power, he was still an unmarried man. It wasn’t appropriate for him to meet outsiders at night. If word got out, it would be bad for both His Highness’s and Qiu Shuzhi’s reputations.

After smilingly seeing Chang’an off, Qiu Shuzhi put on a bamboo hat. Ji Mei whispered as she approached: “Madam, could this be the Crown Prince’s intention?”

Others might not know, but Ji Mei deeply remembered the incident in Yanshun County where the unapproachable and fierce Crown Prince had cooked soup for her with his own hands.

“Shut up,” Qiu Shuzhi gripped her sword hilt tightly. “Let’s continue patrolling.”

The heavy rain poured down. Palace servants all sat under the eaves to avoid the rain, but the Yulin Army couldn’t. Their iron boots stepped on the bluestone slabs, crushing the rain as they advanced.

The bamboo hat covered half of Qiu Shuzhi’s face, her affectionate eyes hidden in the shadows. The lower half of her face was indistinct in the rain – her straight, delicate nose, thin lips like peach blossoms, and the superior, exquisite line of her jaw made the palace servants turn their heads and excitedly whisper among themselves about when the Yulin Army had acquired such a handsome guard.

In Qingning Palace, Qin Qing wore a long robe and stretched his hand out the window, feeling the coolness of raindrops falling on his palm.

The night was already damp and cold. Wearing armor and being rained on, she must be uncomfortable.

“When will she come?” Qin Qing leaned against the doorway. Outside the eaves, the heavy rain formed a curtain of water mist, making it impossible to see clearly outside.

Yu Ye held an umbrella: “Based on the usual timing, she should be here soon.”

The Yulin Army had always been on duty patrolling the palace, with patrols changing every two hours to ensure the safety of the imperial city.

Qin Qing walked towards the door, and raindrops blew into the room with the wind.

“Empress Dowager, it’s better to wait inside. The rain is heavy, be careful not to catch a cold,” Yu Ye hurriedly said.

Qin Qing opened an umbrella, his gaze fixed outside: “She’s still out there in the rain. I’m just getting splashed by raindrops. What does it matter?”

Yu Ye’s eyes wavered. The Empress Dowager had been eagerly waiting at the door for so long, but what could be done?

Qiu Shuzhi was followed by a large group of Yulin Army soldiers. Even if they met, they could only exchange a few polite words of greeting. It was impossible to say any heartfelt words, let alone show intimate gestures between lovers. After all, Qiu Shuzhi was an outside official, and her every move was watched.

The uniform footsteps of the Yulin Army gradually approached through the sound of rain. Qin Qing tidied his clothes and stood under the eaves holding an umbrella. The heavy rain had soaked the hem of his clothes and the tips of his hair. As the cold wind blew, his clothes fluttered, and his frail, thin body seemed as if it might ascend to heaven at any moment.

“This humble official greets the Empress Dowager,” Qiu Shuzhi led the Yulin Army to kneel on one knee together. Water flowed down from her shoulders; her clothes under the armor must be soaked through.

Qin Qing didn’t speak. As long as he didn’t open his mouth, the Yulin Army had to remain kneeling, their eyes fixed on the ground at their feet, unable to look elsewhere to avoid offending the noble consorts of the inner palace.

Although the Yulin Army’s discipline was lax, no one dared to violate this iron rule that could cost them their lives at any time, especially when facing the current Empress Dowager, the most powerful man in Da Qi. They didn’t have the courage to raise their heads.

Qin Qing moved the umbrella towards her, shielding her from the invading downpour, while half of his own body was drenched by the rain.

“Madam Qiu, are you accustomed to being the Upper Cavalry Commander?” he asked calmly, his tone showing no unusual emotion.

But his fingers mischievously lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head and look at him.

“Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. This official has become familiar with the affairs of the Yulin Army.”

Her rain-soaked face was revealed. Wind and rain brushed past her hair tips, and a raindrop flowed along her soft, beautiful contours from the corner of her eye down to her chin, finally dripping onto Qin Qing’s fingertip. She stood in the rain mist with an elegant posture, a hazy and enchanting beauty.

He lowered his eyebrows and smiled, taking out a handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiping the rainwater from her face. A faint sandalwood scent dispersed in the rain.

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise, but with the Yulin Army around her, she could only hide it without speaking.

“It’s good that you’re accustomed. Tonight’s sudden downpour must have been hard on you, Madam.” The faint sandalwood scent lingered around her as Qin Qing spoke the most proper words while his hands performed the most ambiguous actions.

“It’s not hard. This is what we should do,” Qiu Shuzhi leaned back slightly, trying to avoid the fingers moving lightly across her face.

This was still in the palace, with dozens of Yulin Army soldiers kneeling around. Where did Qin Qing get such courage? Was there anything he wouldn’t do?

“The Yulin Army is Da Qi’s elite force. Da Qi is truly fortunate to have you,” Qin Qing chuckled softly, pulling at her collar to prevent her from moving away. Behind him was the faint candlelight emanating from Qingning Palace, his eyes full of intense interest.

“The Empress Dowager flatters us,” she lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes.

Suddenly, Qin Qing bent down. Raindrops scattered from the umbrella’s edge, splashing up. The sandalwood scent pressed down like a mountain range. Qiu Shuzhi, kneeling on one knee, almost weakened, fortunately caught by Qin Qing grabbing her collar. He took the damp handkerchief and, bit by bit, stuffed it inside her collar. His rain-dampened knuckles brushed across her chest, the coolness seeping into her bones.

“All of you may rise. Tonight has been hard on all the soldiers. This grieving one has already ordered ginger soup to be prepared. When you’re off duty, each of you drink a bowl to ward off the cold.”

The Yulin Army soldiers behind were somewhat excited, shouting long live the Empress Dowager and thanking him for his kindness. Only Qiu Shuzhi, with the handkerchief pressing against her heart inside her clothes, couldn’t speak.

“Madam Qiu—” he called softly.

“This official is here.”

Qin Qing held the umbrella, the heavy rain like a pearl curtain reflecting his composed smile: “You should drink more too.”

Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head, her voice seeming hoarse.

“Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager.”