As soon as the words left his mouth, he inwardly cursed himself for being insatiable, greedy for more and more. He berated himself for being like a gluttonous beast, never satisfied, yet greedily longing for Qiu Shuzhi to be with him at all times.

Qiu Shuzhi paused her steps, looking at the fine beads of sweat on his forehead that had dampened his bangs. She felt somewhat puzzled – why did this person seem so nervous, yet still insist on detaining her?

Though she didn’t understand what was so frightening about herself, wasn’t he just tormenting himself by forcibly detaining her like this?

“Your Highness, men and women should maintain proper distance. It seems inappropriate for this official to enter your elegant residence,” she politely declined.

Yue Guanyi’s face flushed lightly as he forced himself to speak through his highly tense nerves: “It’s just to discuss official business. Official Qiu need not mind those worldly customs.”

Official business?

This reason she could not refuse: “Very well then.”

Yue Guanyi let out a sigh of relief, like a drowning man finally getting a chance to breathe.

They entered the villa together. Befitting the royal family’s grandeur, even this separate residence was a world unto itself. Within the capital, it recreated landscapes with flower shadows on walls, mountains, waters, and pavilions exuding refined leisure at every turn, as if an entire Jiangnan villa had been transported here.

Qiu Shuzhi sat on a zitan wood chair in the inner courtyard. In the spacious courtyard there were only the two of them, with Chang’an standing guard far outside.

“Please have some tea, my lady.” Yue Guanyi personally poured her a cup of tea, offering it with a red face.

Qiu Shuzhi accepted in a daze, watching the tea leaves float up and down in the cup as she asked, “What matter did Your Highness summon me for?”

Yue Guanyi sat in the chair beside her. Perhaps due to nervousness, he perched only on the very edge of the seat, sitting rigidly upright like a schoolboy left alone to face the teacher.

“I asked you here because of Her Majesty.”

“What about Her Majesty?” Qiu Shuzhi immediately tensed.

Seeing her so nervous about that puppet emperor, Yue Guanyi felt a twinge of jealousy, but still pretended to be calm as he said: “Your previous suggestion has made the Empress Dowager take special notice of you. Qin Shu will be exiled to Baiyue in a few days. The Empress Dowager now thinks very highly of you and will certainly want to recruit you as his protégé. Her Majesty’s meaning is to have you-”

“This official understands. This subject will remember the imperial grace and certainly not betray Her Majesty’s goodwill by allying with the Empress Dowager.” As soon as Yue Guanyi began speaking, she understood what the young emperor wanted to say.

She could understand – after all, no emperor could tolerate someone biting the hand that feeds them.

“No!” Yue Guanyi uncharacteristically interrupted her words: “That is only Her Majesty’s meaning.”

Qiu Shuzhi looked at him in confusion.

Yue Guanyi’s eyes burned intensely as he carefully analyzed the situation: “The Empress Dowager has great power behind him. If he knows he cannot win you over, he will certainly move to eliminate you.”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded, she certainly understood this point.

“There are not so many perfect solutions in this world,” she said calmly.

The path of an official was already treacherous at every step. Since she had chosen this dangerous road and chosen her master, she must remain unwaveringly loyal. Otherwise, swaying like grass in the wind would surely lead to a miserable end sooner or later.

As Qiu Shuzhi’s tone fell slightly melancholy, Yue Guanyi’s heart skipped a beat.

“You can comply with the Empress Dowager’s wishes and join the Qin clan,” he said.

Qiu Shuzhi felt somewhat dazed, staring at him in a stupor.

There were two major factions in the palace – one was the Qin clan, the other was imperial power.

She had always thought that as Yue Shen’s elder brother, Yue Guanyi should be on the imperial side. But she had forgotten that Yue Guanyi’s birth father was also from the Qin family – he had half Qin blood in him.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes gradually change, Yue Guanyi hurriedly said: “Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not asking you to betray Her Majesty.”

Qiu Shuzhi raised a delicate eyebrow.

Yue Guanyi slowly explained: “The Empress Dowager’s methods and schemes are extraordinary. You don’t need to butt heads with him at this time. I know you have ambitions to become a famous minister, and a famous minister must know how to endure… You needn’t worry about Her Majesty’s side, I will handle things for you.”

The air stagnated for a moment, the atmosphere became strange. Even breathing could be heard clearly. Yue Guanyi nervously awaited her response.

After a long silence, Qiu Shuzhi asked: “Why are you so kind to this official?”

Qiu Shuzhi was full of doubts, truly unable to understand the reason for Yue Guanyi’s eagerness towards her.

Yue Guanyi lowered his head, his curled fingers tightening again and again: “You are a capable minister. I want to preserve such a talented official for Da Qi.”

He spoke these insincere words brazenly. He only wanted her to fare well. If she wanted to pursue an official career, he would exhaust all his efforts, even if it meant being a stepping stone under her feet, to send her to a high position.

From the inside out, the roots of Da Qi were rotten. The whole country emitted an unpleasant stench. He cared nothing for country, people, or grand righteousness. Even if Qiu Shuzhi wanted to usurp the throne and declare herself emperor, he would willingly open the city gates and offer up the imperial seal.

“This subject thanks Your Highness!” Qiu Shuzhi knelt on one knee.

Yue Guanyi was greatly alarmed, his heart nearly stopping. Without thinking, he also knelt on both knees before her, supporting her with fingertips that were frighteningly cold: “Please rise quickly. How can I, a mere man, deserve such a bow from you?”

This bow from Qiu Shuzhi nearly frightened Yue Guanyi out of his mind. His hands supporting her arms were trembling, and he wished he could kneel at her feet and kowtow vigorously to alleviate a bit of the guilt in his heart.

Qiu Shuzhi grasped his hands in return, saying earnestly: “This official comes from a humble background. To receive such regard from Her Majesty and the Imperial Son, in the future I will certainly serve Her Majesty with all my heart and strength.”

Yue Guanyi’s hands were held by her, the warmth of her palms tightly enveloping his cold fingertips, as if he were basking in the warm spring.

He pressed his lips together, saying with personal motives: “The most important thing is for my lady to take care of herself.”

After their conversation concluded, he reluctantly saw Qiu Shuzhi off.

Chang’an entered at the appropriate moment and asked: “Will Your Highness return to the palace today?”

Yue Guanyi turned his back to him: “I won’t return. Close the door.”

Chang’an did not understand but dutifully closed the door.

The carved wooden door blocked out the outside light, leaving dappled window shadows interweaving light and dark on the inner courtyard floor.

Yue Guanyi slowly collapsed to the ground, his flawless white face pressed tightly against the spot where Qiu Shuzhi had knelt. He brought his bandaged hand to his lips, reverently and carefully kissing the gauze.

His Shuzhi, his Qiu Niang, she had wrapped his bandage today, she had held his hands. He was so excited he could barely contain himself.

His thin frame curled up like a young beast, like a fetus in the womb. He prostrated himself on the ground with his whole being, as if absorbing the warmth she had left behind.