Chapter 77: Disrupting Court Rules

“Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Majesty,” Qiu Shuzhi politely declined.

Although Yue Shen was not wrong – once one became the emperor’s favored consort, no one would dare comment on this matter – but how dangerous was the deep palace? Wouldn’t those consorts tear apart such a little lamb entering the palace? Or with a slight carelessness, wouldn’t he become a second Rong consort?

She really couldn’t feel at ease sending her soft and weak cousin who couldn’t speak well into the emperor’s harem. It was better to keep him in her own household, where she could take care of him if he encountered any minor troubles.

“There’s no need for thanks between us-” Yue Shen’s apricot eyes were dark. She was just an emperor who had been stripped of power, and there really wasn’t much she could do to help. So she wanted to try her best to help Qiu Shuzhi with this matter, to make up for the harsh treatment she had to give earlier due to circumstances.

The pearly moonlight enveloped them like a thin mist as they walked side by side, their slender shadows swaying slightly. Qiu Shuzhi, in her misty blue dew-soft smoke silk, looked as beautiful as a celestial consort about to ascend to immortality under the moonlight. Her light, thin clothes fluttered like startled swans’ feathers with her graceful steps, inadvertently brushing against her hand.

For a moment, Yue Shen’s vision seemed to blur, like layers of warm waves rising from a summer night’s deep sea, or as if the bright moonlight had seeped into her eyes, moistening them with a hazy mist, almost making her unable to walk.

“Your Majesty, this humble official has a request,” Qiu Shuzhi said in a low voice, seeing that there was no one around.

Yue Shen was brought back by her cool voice, her baby-fat face showing a slight flush: “Speak.”

“According to my cousin, this time he fell into the water because he was pushed by Li Liang’s husband Chen. The reason Li Liang did this was because I had executed Li Mian before, and she harbored resentment, waiting for a chance to retaliate. Although there is no evidence at present, I request Your Majesty’s permission to investigate privately, to clear my cousin’s name.”

“So it’s this matter.” Yue Shen smiled, looking into Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes: “We grant it.”

“This humble official thanks Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t I say we don’t need to mind these things between us?” Yue Shen smiled slightly under the moonlight, nervously hooking the misty blue soft smoke silk that kept brushing against her hand. The slightly cool sensation spread from her fingertips into the depths of her heart.

Her voice was slightly tense, as if something had touched the deepest hidden joy in her heart: “Come to think of it, I’ll have to call you sister-in-law in the future. There’s no need for formalities between aunts and sisters-in-law… right, sister-in-law?”

“……” Qiu Shuzhi stumbled, almost tripping on her skirt.

That soft, sweet ‘sister-in-law’ almost took half her life!

This little emperor, so formal and serious beyond her years in the court, then like a scoundrel incarnate using the consorts in the harem, and now so obedient and cunning.

Her round apricot eyes were slightly curved, her red clothes making her apricot eyes look innocent and bright. Her slightly chubby face was tender and exquisite, like a shyly half-open phoenix flower, timidly revealing its pistil, or like a little fox with a fire-red body, wagging its fluffy tail, exuding spirit.

“This humble official’s marriage to the prince has just been announced, the wedding will have to wait for some time. Moreover, you are the emperor, naturally we should first consider the relationship between ruler and subject, then kinship.”

“The Yue clan has few members, having a sister-in-law at last truly makes me happy,” Yue Shen said with a smile. Her clear, childish voice made her words seem not affected, but rather more sincere.

“By the way, Qiu Niang.” Yue Shen seemed to suddenly remember something important. One hand resting on her shoulder, the other grasping the ribbon tied at her waist, she stood on tiptoe and whispered in her ear: “The medicine you brought last time, I’ve almost finished it. Can you get me some more?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes gradually darkened, her expression becoming hesitant and grave.

“What’s wrong?” Yue Shen tilted her head to look at her, her chin resting lightly on her collarbone, looking as docile as a rich merchant’s pampered concubine.

“Your Highness, you should stop taking that medicine. You shouldn’t be taking it in the first place, taking too much will harm your sacred body even more.” Qiu Shuzhi’s brows were knitted with faint worry.

She was very concerned about Yue Shen’s health. She was not yet of age, how could she withstand such strong contraceptive medicine? If she took too much, she might never be able to conceive.

Although the current situation was not good, with various forces eyeing the throne covetously, it was indeed not advisable to let harem consorts become pregnant and give birth to royal offspring. But Yue Shen shouldn’t use this method that harmed her own body, hurting herself while trying to harm others.

Unexpectedly, Yue Shen shook her head very calmly: “I know you’re worried about me, but I know my own body, it’s fine.”

She had finally come this far, she couldn’t fail now and let all her previous efforts go to waste.

“But—” Qiu Shuzhi sighed helplessly: “Allow this humble official to speak out of turn, if you don’t take care of your body like this, even if the court stabilizes in the future, how will you continue the royal line?”

“We’ll talk about the future when it comes.” Yue Shen smiled slightly, her clear round apricot eyes showing no emotional fluctuation, but rather unusual calmness. Besides, this was the path she had chosen for herself, she had been prepared for the possibility of infertility from the beginning.

Sigh——

Qiu Shuzhi really couldn’t persuade Yue Shen, so she had to give up.

Yue Shen pulled at the ribbon at Qiu Shuzhi’s waist. Without palace servants attending, she rarely showed her girlish side in front of Qiu Shuzhi. Even her body unconsciously drew closer to her. The two figures, one red and one blue, clung tightly together until they gradually separated as they approached the Imperial Garden.

At this time, the banquet was in full swing, with colorful lanterns reflecting on delicate flowers and buds, making the scenery suddenly enchanting and elegant.

As soon as Qiu Shuzhi sat down, a pair of hands quietly grabbed hers under the table: “Why were you gone for so long?”

His voice was somewhat muffled, seemingly displeased with her prolonged absence.

She smiled silently, her tone coaxing: “I was just discussing some matters with Her Majesty, so I was delayed. But Her Majesty has allowed me to investigate Li Liang privately.”

She wouldn’t let this matter go, nor would she let her cousin suffer wrongly.

Yue Guanyi’s long lowered lashes moved slightly, his eyes coldly looking at Li Liang sitting below, immersed in song and dance with a lewd expression, and said faintly: “I understand.”

“Understand what?” Qiu Shuzhi didn’t immediately grasp his meaning.

Just three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Li Liang was imprisoned for corruption and taken to Zhao Prison by the Imperial Guards for a thorough investigation.

When Li Liang received the news, she was nestled in the soft embrace of her pampered husband and beautiful servants. The Imperial Guards pulled her out from layers of flesh.

The Imperial Guards didn’t need to seek the emperor’s permission, they only needed Yue Guanyi’s nod. The dignified Assistant Minister of War was actually arrested from her own mansion and taken to the infamous Zhao Prison.

“It’s terrible, Lord Gu! Lord Li Liang has been taken to Zhao Prison for questioning by the Crown Prince!”

Inside the Shunting Prefecture, Lin Zhongyue hurriedly ran into the inner hall and fell to her knees before Gu Zheng: “The Crown Prince’s accusation is corruption, but he has no evidence and no imperial edict from Her Majesty. How can he just arrest people like this? My Lord, Li Liang is your person, you can’t stand by and watch her die!”

Gu Zheng calmly turned the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her turbid eyes lightly closed, unperturbed.

“Why are you so anxious about her corruption?”

“I, I…..” Lin Zhongyue trembled in fear, clinging to Gu Zheng’s leg. Which official in Da Qi doesn’t embezzle? Peeling back the layers, everyone has a layer of the people’s fat and grease on them. Lin Zhongyue was naturally no exception, but she was particularly in cahoots with Li Liang, having done many unscrupulous things behind the scenes.

With Li Liang entering Zhao Prison, she feared she would be next. The torture instruments in Zhao Prison could flay skin and break bones. She was afraid that Li Liang would confess everything and implicate her.

“You’ve followed me for so long, yet haven’t improved at all, losing your composure over such a small matter.” Gu Zheng’s aged voice carried a hint of amusement.

Hearing Gu Zheng say this, Lin Zhongyue knew there was still room for maneuver in this matter, and finally had a bit of confidence, not so panicked anymore.

“Then, my Lord, will you protect Lord Li Liang and get her out?” she asked, mustering her courage.

Gu Zheng slowly opened her eyes, her turbid eyes harboring a deep, unfathomable surging sea: “There’s no need to protect her, she will come out on her own.”

Lin Zhongyue finally breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good, that’s good.”

“Only, she will walk out with a layer of skin flayed off alive.” Gu Zheng said.

“What!” Lin Zhongyue’s voice lost control, becoming sharp and piercing, as if the torture was falling on her own body: “How can this be? How can they arbitrarily arrest a third-rank official of the court without evidence!”

Gu Zheng put down the Buddhist prayer beads, her eyes indifferent: “Do you think Yue Guanyi arrested her really because of a small matter of corruption?”

“Not corruption? Then why?” Lin Zhongyue was already shocked and at her wits’ end.

Because of Yue Guanyi’s personal motives.

That fool Li Liang, daring to touch even Qiu Shuzhi’s relatives, did she think she could swallow this bitter fruit herself? Moreover, behind her stood a mad dog that didn’t care for its life, even Gu Zheng herself was wary of it.

Gu Zheng had originally thought that as long as she instigated Empress Dowager Qin Qing to disrupt their relationship, she could cut off the honor Qiu Shuzhi had gained by selling her looks. Who knew that after her instigation, not only did it not make Qiu Shuzhi fall from her high position, but it made her rise even higher, becoming the future imperial consort, courted by everyone.

If the Empress Dowager’s feelings for Qiu Shuzhi were just infatuation and greed, then Yue Guanyi’s feelings for Qiu Shuzhi were crazy obsession.

Qiu Shuzhi had used some method to train the cold-hearted and unattainable Yue Guanyi into a mad dog that didn’t care for its life, willing to do anything to please Qiu Shuzhi.

This time, Li Liang’s imprisonment in Zhao Prison was Yue Guanyi’s way of pleasing Qiu Shuzhi. Even without evidence, based on mere suspicion, he had Li Liang thrown into Zhao Prison. Although he wouldn’t kill her, tortures like finger crushing, spine breaking, arm dropping, and finger nailing were unavoidable. If not completely stripped of bones, she would at least have her flesh rotted, a fate worse than death.

The corner of Gu Zheng’s mouth curled into a cold smile. If such a person wanted to disrupt the court order, it would be as easy as turning over her hand.