Chapter 64 – Changing Situation

“This lowly official respectfully sends off Consort Rong.” Qiu Shuzhi performed a curtsy.

Lan Xuezhao pursed his lips, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn’t say it.

He tidied his cloak, took off the bell on his wrist, and taking advantage of the pitch-black night, he snuck past Yu Zhi who was secretly dozing off while guarding the tent, and slipped back into the main tent.

In the pitch-black tent, a childish voice devoid of emotion spoke: “Is it done?”

Lan Xuezhao took off his cloak. It was so dark in front that he couldn’t see his five fingers, and he didn’t dare to light a lamp to avoid attracting attention. He could only follow habit and shrink to the side of the soft couch, answering the boundless darkness: “It’s done, but it exhausted me.”

Busy for most of the night, and frightened out of his wits by the ghost of Concubine Jing, he was already exhausted and just wanted to sleep soundly.

Unfortunately, despite doing so much, he couldn’t even touch the corner of the bed and still had to sleep on the ground.

Suddenly, a huge force pulled his hair. Lan Xuezhao hissed in pain and said, “What are you doing?”

“You met Qiu Shuzhi?” Yue Shen’s tone revealed a hint of coldness.

Lan Xuezhao felt a chill down his neck, feeling like the temperature in the warm tent had plummeted in an instant.

“Yes, what about it?”

Yue Shen pulled his hair, her almond eyes hidden in the night flashing with a bone-chilling cold.

His body carried her scent, the scent she thought of day and night.

If their bodies hadn’t been pressed extremely close together, it would be impossible to leave such a distinct scent.

A flash of madness quickly passed through Yue Shen’s eyes, then was concealed by reason. In the vast darkness, it ignited without anyone’s attention and extinguished without anyone’s notice. From beginning to end, only she alone knew of this madness.

She slowly let go, her eyes deep. “It’s nothing, go to sleep.”

Lan Xuezhao rubbed his painfully pulled scalp, silently cursing her as a tyrant, then lay down on the cold ground and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

He had a long and fulfilling dream. In the dream, he was wearing Miao clothing, carefree as he shuttled through the long-lost Miao village – his Adu, his family, and that gentle woman.

He didn’t know how long he slept before he was suddenly awakened by a loud drum sound, like thunder on earth, almost shattering his eardrums.

He scrambled up from the ground in a panic, thinking it was the palace servants coming in. Out of instinct, he moved towards the soft couch, putting on the appearance of having just received favor.

But when his hand touched the quilt, it was icy cold inside.

He was still sleepy, his charming eyes trembling and so tired they could barely open. When he touched the cold quilt, he forced his eyes open. Yue Shen had gotten up at some unknown time, dressed herself, her red robe sleeves adorned with gold speckles. She sat at the table playing with a teacup, the corners of her lips curled in a faint smile, as if waiting for something.

The drumming grew louder and more urgent, making people’s hearts uneasy.

Lan Xuezhao suddenly had a bad premonition. He was about to speak when the curtain was suddenly lifted and Yu Zhi hurriedly ran in.

“How unruly, don’t you know to announce yourself?” He scolded coquettishly, putting on the airs of a favored consort.

Usually, Yu Zhi was always respectful to him, mindful of his status as a favored consort. But this time, Yu Zhi completely ignored him, clearly not taking him seriously.

“What an eyeless dog servant, who do you think you are!” He was about to make things difficult for Yu Zhi.

“This one also wants to see who you think you are, daring to put on airs in front of my people!” Qin Qing lifted the curtain, his complexion still sickly but not as haggard as before. His cold words were enough to subdue Lan Xuezhao.

“Imperial Father-” Lan Xuezhao shut his mouth, looking embarrassed.

Qin Qing’s cold eyes swept over him, the aura of a supreme ruler unshakable.

Yue Shen, however, unhurriedly put down the teacup. “Even Imperial Father has come. Has something happened?”

Qin Qing’s voice was chilling. “Yu Ye, please escort Consort Rong out.”

“Yes.”

Just like that, Lan Xuezhao was escorted out of the tent by Yu Ye in a daze, his clothes still disheveled with no time to tidy up, like an abandoned husband caught cheating and driven out.

However, in the instant the curtain was lifted, he saw an old man with a head full of white hair and a haggard figure. When their eyes met, the old man looked at him with eyes full of hatred.

He had never seen this old man before and didn’t know why she would look at him like that.

Holding his chest, the feeling of unease grew stronger and stronger.

He wanted to find Jiang Si, but when he arrived, he saw that the Imperial Guards had already surrounded the place, allowing no one in or out.

His knees instantly softened. He didn’t know what had happened. He wanted to find someone to ask but didn’t know where to start. He was like a helpless person floating in the sea, alone and with no one to trust, no branches to rely on. Feelings of despair slowly rose.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he saw Qiu Shuzhi not far away. He rushed to her without regard for anything.

“Lady Qiu, why have the Imperial Guards surrounded Jiang Si? What exactly happened?” He grabbed Qiu Shuzhi’s hand, like seeing a spark of fire in the darkness.

Qiu Shuzhi pursed her lips. “Qin Shu is dead.”

Lan Xuezhao instantly collapsed to the ground, his exquisitely maintained perfect hand still clutching her sleeve, his eyes glazed over with a layer of decay.

Qiu Shuzhi had also just heard the news from Yue Guanyi.

Qin Shu died at the border between Sichuan and Yunnan. Those who luckily escaped back said she was killed by bandits and outlaws.

But people with discerning eyes could see what was going on. Qin Shu was traveling on the official road, heavily protected by Imperial Guards and attendants, and never concealed her identity. No bandit would have the guts to provoke someone from the imperial court.

The most likely culprit was the King of Yunnan.

The moment Qin Zheng learned the news, she had Yue Guanyi tie up Jiang Si.

Qin Shu was Qin Zheng’s only daughter and future heir. Now that the heir was dead, the Qin family had no successor. How could Qin Zheng swallow this grievance? If the situation continued to worsen, the court was very likely to send troops into Yunnan to take the King of Yunnan’s head as a burial offering for Qin Shu.

By then, it would certainly be another scene of living beings suffering.

“Lady Qiu-” Lan Xuezhao tugged at her sleeve, the bell swaying alone. In an instant, his whole demeanor had become much more fragile.

“Consort Rong, go back.” She urged.

“Lady Qiu, Qin Shu’s death has nothing to do with us. Why did the Emperor lock up Jiang Si?”

Qiu Shuzhi sighed. Lan Xuezhao was much more naive than she had imagined.