Chapter 49 Jealousy Jealousy

The Empress Consort’s moist eyes timidly stared at her, and Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t refuse.

“Alright, Empress Consort, please mount the horse. This humble official will lead it for you.”

Receiving Qiu Shuzhi’s nod of approval, Qin Zhengya lowered his head and smiled shyly.

He stepped on the stirrup and, with Cai Er’s support, shakily mounted the horse. The small horse was very well-behaved and obedient, not moving at all, which quickly relaxed Qin Zhengya’s tense nerves.

“The view up here is really nice,” Qin Zhengya said with delight. The view before him suddenly broadened, and the cool breeze brushing his cheeks was refreshing, sweeping away all the gloom from being scolded by Qin Zheng earlier.

“Empress Consort, please hold the reins well. This humble official will lead you for a walk first. After you’re familiar, you can practice on your own.”

“You won’t accompany me?” Qin Zhengya’s hands holding the reins suddenly tightened, and he asked with reddened eyes.

“This humble official still needs to guard the hunting grounds and cannot accompany the Empress Consort all the time. But don’t worry, this humble official will find you a skilled riding instructor to teach you,” Qiu Shuzhi said as she led the horse and walked.

“……” Qin Zhengya didn’t speak, only the corners of his eyes were red.

He comforted himself, Qiu Shuzhi was the Chief of the Imperial Guard, her heart was filled with the Emperor’s comfort, with her subordinate soldiers. With her busy official duties, it was already good that she could spare time to accompany him for a while.

He should be content, he shouldn’t be too clingy, but his bright eyes still dimmed in an instant. The reins wrapped around his hand in circles, tightly pulling and hurting the small horse. The originally quiet small horse jumped unpleasantly.

“Ah—” Qin Zhengya was startled by the horse’s sudden movement, almost falling off the horse’s back. He hurriedly lay on the horse’s back, his hands tightly gripping the horse’s mane.

The more nervous he became, the tighter he pulled the horse’s mane. The more the small horse hurt, the more it struggled, wanting to throw him off its back.

“Empress Consort! Empress Consort!” Qiu Shuzhi shouted.

Falling from horseback was no joke. She immediately saw why the usually gentle small horse suddenly went wild. Disregarding etiquette, she quickly grabbed his hand, loosening his tightly clenched fingers one by one.

“Empress Consort, relax a bit, don’t be nervous. The small horse won’t hurt you. Relax your hand, don’t pull its mane, it will hurt.”

She stroked the small horse’s head back and forth to soothe it while gently calming him, letting him compose himself.

Qin Zhengya felt a gentle yet strong hand holding his own, and his panicked heart suddenly found ground, gradually letting go. The small horse also gradually calmed down.

“My lady…” Qin Zhengya’s eyes were slightly red, and his already delicate skin had red marks on both cheeks from the friction with the horse’s mane.

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid!” Qiu Shuzhi comforted in a soft voice.

Don’t be afraid!

When they first met, she had said the same words to him.

Qin Zhengya, already frightened, tightly bit his trembling lower lip. With reddened eyes, he could no longer hold back his tears, wishing he could throw himself into her arms to seek a bit of warmth.

“Young master, don’t cry. We won’t ride this damned horse anymore.” Cai Er hurriedly helped Qin Zhengya down, wiping away his pearl-like tears with a handkerchief. His already clear and beautiful face was like a delicate flower after spring rain, wet and soft, even more pitiful.

Qiu Shuzhi had heard about the Empress Consort’s situation in the harem. With a pure and gentle personality, he never fought or competed even when faced with the step-by-step pressure from Concubine Lan Xuezhao, always gently yielding. It was not at all like the Qin family’s style.

He was a flower cultivated in a greenhouse, unable to withstand any wind or rain. He should be cherished and protected in someone’s hands, yet he was pushed into the harem, a place that devoured people without spitting out bones.

“This humble official deserves death for failing to protect the Empress Consort well. Please forgive this humble official.” Qiu Shuzhi, feeling guilty, knelt on one knee to ask for forgiveness.

“Don’t—” Qin Zhengya was shocked and was about to help Qiu Shuzhi up.

“Empress Consort, you have such grand airs, making the Chief of the Imperial Guard kneel for you?” The cold tone showed no emotion, yet it made Qin Zhengya feel a tremendous pressure sweeping over him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Yue Guanyi approached step by step, leading a jet-black horse by the reins. With each step of the horse’s hooves, it was like a hammer striking his heart, making his body stiffen more and more.

Until Yue Guanyi dismounted, his official robe falling like a black crow at his feet. The sea waves and cloud cliffs embroidered on the hem of the robe seemed to roar with thousands of tons of seawater rushing towards him, heavy and oppressive, making him break out in a cold sweat.

The Yue family members were one more terrifying than the other. Just looking at them filled him with fear.

Qin Zhengya tightly gripped his sleeves, unconsciously moving closer to Qiu Shuzhi, and explained: “Brother, it’s not what you think. I wanted to learn horse riding, so I begged Lady Qiu to teach me.”

“It’s this humble official’s fault for letting the horse startle the Empress Consort,” Qiu Shuzhi said, kneeling on the ground.

Qin Zhengya blinked, looking gratefully at Qiu Shuzhi. The tears in his eyes turned into a crystal-clear teardrop and fell on her hand.

Qiu Shuzhi’s hand twitched slightly, as if startled.

“What fault do you have?” Yue Guanyi pulled her up from the damp ground, then turned to Qin Zhengya and said coldly: “If the Empress Consort wants to ride a horse, you can let a riding instructor teach you. Lady Qiu is, after all, the Chief of the Imperial Guard, leading the Imperial Guard. Having her teach you to ride is a waste of her talents.”

Fear flashed in Qin Zhengya’s eyes, and he stammered: “It’s my fault, I—”

“It’s good that you know your mistake. Empress Consort, don’t think you can do as you please just because you’ve left the palace. You are the Empress Consort, your every word and action must follow the rules. Crying and sniffling, where is the dignity of an Empress Consort?” Yue Guanyi casually interrupted him, his eyes looking down at him, cold and devoid of any human warmth.

“Brother’s teachings are right.” Qin Zhengya was full of grievances, his nose red, wanting to cry but not daring to.

None of the Yue family members were good people. They didn’t like him, yet they wanted to marry him, and they targeted him at every turn.

“Oh, why are so many people gathered here? How lively!” Yue Shen and Lan Xuezhao arrived, sharing a blood-sweating horse. The jolting on horseback had slightly disheveled Lan Xuezhao’s hair bun, and the messy strands brushed by the clear wind of the hunting grounds added several points of allure.

He dismounted and looked over Qiu Shuzhi and Qin Zhengya, the bells on his ankles jingling. His voice, however, was more soul-stirring than the bells: “Why is brother crying? Did Lady Qiu offend you? Just say it, and this concubine will let Her Majesty punish her severely.”

“Lady Qiu is very good. You don’t know the truth, so don’t falsely accuse others with your loose tongue.” For the first time, Qin Zhengya spoke harshly to Lan Xuezhao.

Previously, no matter how Lan Xuezhao acted, Qin Zhengya could turn a blind eye, only because Lan Xuezhao’s ultimate goal was just to compete for favor. Qin Zhengya never cared about Yue Shen, so naturally, he could ignore it. But this time, he shouldn’t have aimed his spear at Qiu Shuzhi.

Qiu Shuzhi was one of the few good people in the palace, and also one of the few who could protect him, making him feel safe and happy just thinking about her. He would never allow Lan Xuezhao to cause trouble for Qiu Shuzhi.

“…Brother, how can you say that? This concubine is truly concerned about you. How can you dismiss this concubine’s good intentions?” Lan Xuezhao was shocked for a moment. When did this soft persimmon, Qin Zhengya, become tough?

“Enough.” Yue Shen suddenly interrupted him, her eyes fixed on Qin Zhengya: “I heard the Empress Consort wants to ride a horse?”

Qin Zhengya couldn’t help but shudder.

“Yes.”

“Qiu Shuzhi is often in the military and doesn’t know the importance of nobles. If you want to learn horse riding, I can teach you.”

Qin Zhengya immediately raised his head in panic, meeting Yue Shen’s eyes as black as an abyss.

“Your Majesty, if you accompany brother Empress Consort, what about this concubine?” Lan Xuezhao tugged at Yue Shen’s sleeve.

Qin Zhengya hurriedly lowered his head: “Yes, Concubine brother is right. He has a delicate body. Your Majesty should spend more time with him. This humble servant can learn by himself, there’s no need to trouble Your Majesty.”

A barely audible cold sneer came from above.

Yue Shen grabbed his sleeve and walked straight towards the blood-sweating horse: “Empress Consort, no need to be polite. You are the officially married consort. If I don’t accompany you, who should I accompany?”

Qin Zhengya was at a loss, wanting to break free, but Yue Shen’s hand was gripping too tightly, giving him no chance to resist at all. He kept looking back at Qiu Shuzhi, his panicked and struggling eyes full of plea for help.

But Qiu Shuzhi was casually blocked by Yue Guanyi, not only cutting off all of Qin Zhengya’s line of sight but also making him see Yue Guanyi’s eyes, cold enough to freeze bones. That gaze was freezing and trembling, full of warning.

Qin Zhengya’s steps faltered, and he followed Yue Shen resignedly.

“Your Majesty—” Lan Xuezhao called out unwillingly.

Watching Yue Shen roughly push Qin Zhengya onto the tall blood-sweating horse and gallop away, Lan Xuezhao, intent on competing for favor, also mounted a horse and chased after them.

Qiu Shuzhi watched the blood-sweating horse’s wind-breaking, rain-cutting posture, worried in her heart whether the pampered Empress Consort could endure it.

He was afraid even of riding a small horse. Suddenly being forced onto such a spirited horse, would he cry?

“Lady Qiu.” Yue Guanyi’s voice sounded a bit muffled.

“Hmm.” Qiu Shuzhi responded faintly.

“The Empress Consort has gone far.” Yue Guanyi said again in a suppressed voice, sour and bitter.

Only then did Qiu Shuzhi catch his meaning and smiled: “Why didn’t Your Highness go horse riding too?”

Yue Guanyi shook his head: “I won’t disturb the couple’s private time.”

“That’s true, but I wonder if Her Majesty knows how to comfort a man. The Empress Consort seemed a bit scared.” She expressed her concern.

Qiu Shuzhi’s every word was about Qin Zhengya, making him feel a bit jealous. He took a deep breath: “The Empress Consort has been spoiled by the Qin family. It’s just horse riding, why make such a fuss?”

Qiu Shuzhi was a bit surprised: “Your Highness is too harsh on the Empress Consort.”

“You seem to care about him a lot.” The tone of old vinegar was bubbling with sourness.

Qiu Shuzhi chuckled softly.

Yue Guanyi was stunned, then realized what he had just said out of jealousy. His body immediately stiffened, his heart pounding wildly.

“I-I didn’t mean that.” His eyes were full of panic, his pale face flushed with a floating redness.

“The Empress Consort is the Empress Consort of Da Qi. This humble official respects and cares for him naturally,” Qiu Shuzhi said, her tone subtly tinged with amusement.