Chapter 88 Two Men, Two Men

Qiu Shuzhi watched Jiang Si’s hastily retreating figure and let out a soft laugh.

She turned and entered the room. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Yue Guanyi hugging the clothes she had changed out of this morning, leaning against the bed curtain. His thin, light robe was blown up by the early autumn evening breeze coming through the window. His long hair was casually draped, with a few strands of dark hair falling across his phoenix eyes, giving off a somewhat lonely and desolate air of a solitary husband keeping an empty house.

Hearing the door open, Yue Guanyi instinctively looked up. Seeing her return, his forlorn eyes instantly lit up with joy as he exclaimed, “Qiu Niang, you’re back.” Qiu Shuzhi felt as if she was looking at a large dog wagging its tail waiting for its owner to come home.

She nodded, restraining the urge to scratch under his chin like one would pet a dog, and replied, “There was some business at the military camp today, so I got off duty a bit late. How long have you been waiting?” She saw a table of exquisite and delicious dishes set out in the small hall of the bedroom, with water droplets condensed on the plates, as if they had been reheated over and over.

“I haven’t waited long. Are you hungry? I’ve prepared some food for you, have some to fill your stomach,” Yue Guanyi said, putting down her clothes that he had been holding and taking her hand.

Qiu Shuzhi shook her head, “I’ve already eaten.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes swept over the table full of dishes, his expression showing a hint of disappointment, but he tried hard to hide it from her. He pursed his lips and smiled faintly, “Qiu Niang, you’ve had a busy day. I’ve already instructed the servants to prepare hot water. Would you like to take a relaxing bath?”

“That sounds good,” Qiu Shuzhi replied. Wearing heavy armor and rushing about the military camp all day, her body was indeed quite tired.

A sweet expression flowed across Yue Guanyi’s face as he moved behind her. His fingers slipped into her collar, gently removing her outer garment. “Qiu Niang, let this servant help you undress…” His slightly husky voice was filled with infinite tenderness, bewitching to the soul.

Although they had been married for several days and had seen each other naked before, that had always been in bed. By the window, she was still not quite used to being undressed by someone else.

She coughed lightly, “I can manage on my own.”

Yue Guanyi quietly withdrew his hands, holding her outer garment in one arm, his voice slightly darkened, “…As you wish.” Soon after, the servants carried in the bathtub, and steam instantly filled the entire room.

Qiu Shuzhi undressed behind the screen, pinned up her long hair with a wooden hairpin, and sank her aching body into the hot water. The warm, clear water soaked her skin, and a loose strand of hair fell into the water, creating rippling waves.

The misty vapor transformed the entire room into a dreamy, ethereal realm of immortals.

A graceful white figure slowly emerged from the mist, the humid air muffling his already faint footsteps.

He gradually approached, kneeling on one knee beside the bathtub, gazing at Qiu Shuzhi through the swirling mist with fascination and longing.

Her entire body was submerged in the water, her silhouette hazy and indistinct, with only her collarbones and above visible. The mist had dampened the stray hairs at her neck, clinging to her long, swan-like neck.

Glistening water droplets rolled down her skin, her fair, creamy complexion even more delicate and translucent from the water’s moisturizing effect.

Yue Guanyi’s Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably, and his hands encircled her slender neck, her skin as soft and smooth as a piece of jade now in his grasp.

“Qiu Niang, you must be tired. Let this servant massage your shoulders,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm and gentle despite his excited heart.

Qiu Shuzhi turned her head slightly, the corner of her lips curving up gently, “Alright.”

With Qiu Shuzhi’s permission, Yue Guanyi’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Besides learning how to serve people at the flower house, he had also picked up some rudimentary massage skills.

He placed his ten fingers on her smooth, delicate shoulders and applied gentle pressure.

“Mmm…” A soft moan escaped from her lips.

Yue Guanyi’s body tensed, his knee on the ground almost giving way.

Biting his lip, he asked in a low voice, “Qiu Niang, does it feel good?”

A ripple of water dripped from her fingertips as Qiu Shuzhi reached out, wrapping her arm around his neck, forcing his chin to rest on her shoulder. His two hands supported him on the edge of the bathtub, his wide sleeves falling into the water. The water crept up his sleeves, soaking his wrists, like an elegant water bird with dew and mist clinging to its wings.

He met a pair of eyes shimmering like rippling water, as captivating as the bright spring waters.

“It feels very good,” Qiu Shuzhi kissed his cheek lightly, her voice seeming to have been made moist by the mist as well. “I didn’t know my prince had such skilled hands.”

Yue Guanyi blushed deeply, his heart overflowing with tender feelings. “As long as Qiu Niang enjoys it… Let this servant massage you some more…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Qiu Shuzhi grabbed his collar and pulled him into the bathtub with a slight force. Water splashed out noisily, his white clothes completely soaked through, clinging to his body, with even his eyelashes adorned with a drop of water.

“Qiu Niang…” Yue Guanyi called her name, his voice as low as a newborn puppy’s whimper, pitifully tender.

Qiu Shuzhi wrapped one arm around his slender, constrained waist, while the other hand supported herself against the inner wall of the bathtub behind him. She leaned in slightly, causing the water to surge.

Yue Guanyi closed his eyes, nervous yet excited.

“Knock knock knock… Family Head, Family Head,” a coquettish male voice called urgently from outside the door, breaking the cozy atmosphere in the room.

Yue Guanyi opened his eyes to see Qiu Shuzhi withdrawing her hand, feeling as if the air around him had suddenly turned cold.

“Who is it?” Qiu Shuzhi asked.

“Family Head, it’s Yu Lian from the young master’s courtyard.”

“I’ll go see what’s happening.” Qiu Shuzhi gently patted his hand, picked up the clothes draped nearby, and quickly put on a simple robe before going out.

“What’s wrong with my cousin?” As soon as she opened the door, she saw Yu Lian anxiously kneeling at the doorway.

Seeing her was like seeing a savior. Yu Lian knelt forward and grabbed the hem of her clothes, “Family Head, please go check on the young master quickly. He’s in unbearable abdominal pain, and all the servants are frightened. Please go see him quickly.”

“I’ll go right away.” Upon hearing that Qiu Qiushuang was ill, Qiu Shuzhi didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“My cousin is sick, I’m going to check on him. I’ll be back soon.” She returned to the room, kissing his face with both guilt and affection.

Yue Guanyi pressed his lips together and forced a smile, “Cousin’s illness is urgent. Qiu Niang, go quickly and return soon. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Alright.”

With that, Qiu Shuzhi left without hesitation.

Yue Guanyi watched Qiu Shuzhi’s resolute figure disappear, feeling a chill seep into his bones.

Qiu Niang had left, and the warmth from earlier had vanished from the room. The water surrounding him now felt icy cold, with chilliness converging from all directions.

There were always people in this mansion trying to compete for Qiu Niang’s favor at any time. He didn’t believe Qiu Qiushuang was really sick; it was probably just a ploy to gain Qiu Niang’s sympathy after seeing him favored for several days in a row.

However, watching Qiu Shuzhi’s figure leave without any hesitation, he suddenly felt a chill run through him.

Qiu Qiushuang held such an important place in Qiu Niang’s heart that he could make her abandon him with just a small trick. If Qiu Qiushuang really wanted to compete for favor, he would have no means to fight back.

He lowered his head, wet strands of hair falling around him. The desolate autumn wind took advantage of the moment to invade. He masochistically soaked in the cold water, waiting for Qiu Shuzhi’s return.

“What exactly is wrong with my cousin? Tell me clearly,” Qiu Shuzhi asked in detail as she walked.

“Family Head, actually, the young master has been suffering from severe abdominal pain since this morning. I wanted to tell you, but the young master kept stopping me. He said he didn’t want to disturb you and the principal husband, so he endured it alone without a word. He held on until now, but I saw that he was in more and more pain, and I couldn’t bear it anymore, so I sneaked out to tell you,” Yu Lian explained everything in detail.

The more he spoke, the darker Qiu Shuzhi’s expression became.

Finally reaching Qiu Qiushuang’s door, she no longer cared about etiquette and pushed the door open directly.

As soon as she entered, she smelled an unpleasant medicinal odor. Qiu Qiushuang was curled up on the bed, his expression pained, his white clothes rumpled, his face as pale as paper. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and his jet-black hair was damp with sweat.

“Cousin,” Qiu Shuzhi stepped forward and embraced him. His body was very hot, but his face was as cold as if he had just been pulled out of water. She couldn’t help but say with a pained heart, “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick? Have you called for a doctor? What did the doctor say?”

“The young master kept refusing to let us call for a doctor.”

“Why didn’t you call for one? How could you let him have his way in such matters? Quickly, go call for a doctor!” Qiu Shuzhi sternly reprimanded.

Suddenly, Qiu Qiushuang grabbed her hand. His pale, bloodless lips moved slightly as he shook his head with difficulty, his fingers gesturing, “Can’t call a doctor… I’m… having my period…”

So it was his period.

Qiu Shuzhi let out a sigh of relief, but her heart still ached for him.

When they were young and the Qiu family had fallen on hard times, it was almost Qiu Qiushuang who had raised her. To earn meager wages to buy her more ink and paper, he often washed clothes for others, even during his periods. In the depths of winter, he would still soak in icy water to wash clothes, which left him with a chronic illness. Ever since then, when his period came, the pain was excruciating.

Later, as she progressed from scholar to higher positions, the family’s conditions improved, and his health had finally been nursed back. She didn’t know why it had suddenly flared up again today… Could it be because of being pushed into the water by Li Liang last time?

Qiu Shuzhi had experienced the pain of menstrual cramps in her previous life, so she could naturally empathize with Qiu Qiushuang. The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt, after all, he was in this state because of her.

“Shuzhi, I didn’t expect Yu Lian to act so presumptuously, making you come over so late, disturbing you and the Crown Prince’s rest… It’s all my fault… I’m sorry…” Qiu Qiushuang leaned weakly in her embrace, his sweat almost soaking through her clothes.

She had come wearing only a thin, smoke-blue robe, with just a light-colored silk sash tied around her waist. With Qiu Qiushuang leaning against her chest, their skin was almost intimately pressed together.

Qiu Shuzhi’s hand paused for a moment before gently comforting him, “Don’t say such silly things.”

“The Crown Prince is still waiting for you. He’s a prince, you absolutely can’t neglect him because of me… You should go back quickly.” Qiu Qiushuang nestled in her arms and shifted slightly, his dark hair sliding down. A pair of snow-white, slender legs were faintly visible beneath his thin nightclothes. Though his words urged her to leave, his eyes were as fragile as glass, full of reluctance.