Chapter 9 Another Promotion and Time Alone with the Empress Dowager

As night deepened, palace lanterns lit up one by one, and dozens of exquisite dishes from the imperial kitchen were laid out before Yue Shen.

Yu Zhi carefully served her, afraid of making any mistake in attending to this difficult emperor.

Without Qiu Shuzhi, Yue Shen seemed like a cold ice cellar. Her slightly childish face wore a thin frost of unspoken authority year-round. Even though Yu Zhi knew she was just a puppet emperor, he never dared to be negligent in his service to her.

“Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal,” Yu Zhi said respectfully, placing the bowls and chopsticks before Yue Shen.

Yue Shen frowned, constantly wiping her hands with a handkerchief. “Dirty.”

Yu Zhi explained, “Your Majesty, rest assured, these bowls and chopsticks have been thoroughly washed inside and out more than ten times by the servants before being presented.”

Yue Shen made no effort to hide the disgust in her eyes. “I said you’re dirty.”

Yu Zhi’s fair face reddened, embarrassment hanging on his delicate features.

“It seems Your Majesty’s cleanliness obsession is getting worse. At this rate, you might not even be able to handle the imperial edicts!” A casual voice sounded from outside Baohe Palace, accompanied by the soft closing of a folding fan. Qin Qing approached slowly, his handsome and refined features bearing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Yue Shen lowered her gaze. “Greetings to Father Empress Dowager. My cleanliness obsession is not severe, it’s just that the servant has been serving outside all day, so the smell is unclean.”

Yu Zhi’s face flushed red, angry but not daring to speak.

To cater to Yue Shen’s cleanliness obsession, he bathed five times a day and washed his hands and used fragrances countless times. How could he be unclean?

Qin Qing sat down gracefully beside her, looking ethereal in a casual white robe. His gentle eyes were unreadable. “Oh? So you’re saying that since I just walked over from Qingning Palace, I’m unclean too?”

Yue Shen’s eyes darkened slightly. “Father Empress Dowager is naturally different from servants.”

Qin Qing’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Yu Zhi has been serving me since he was young. I’m quite fond of him, which is why I let him serve Your Majesty. If Your Majesty doesn’t like him, I can send Yu Ye to serve you instead.”

Yue Shen’s hand tightened on her chopsticks, and she answered through gritted teeth, “That won’t be necessary. Yu Zhi is fine.”

Yu Ye was Yu Zhi’s elder brother, who had served by Qin Qing’s side for years as his confidant. He was observant and sharp-minded. With Yu Zhi serving her, she could still manage some small movements under Qin Qing’s nose, but if Yu Ye were to replace him, it would likely be much more difficult.

Having received his master’s support, Yu Zhi curled his lips in a smug smile.

What does it matter if you’re the emperor? In front of the Empress Dowager, you still have to be as respectful as a dog.

Qin Qing’s smile turned mocking. “If that’s the case, then Your Majesty must treat Yu Zhi well.”

Yue Shen’s face paled, anger and helplessness evident in her compromise. “Yes.”

Qin Qing’s smile became even more blatant as he picked up his chopsticks and placed a fatty piece of Dongpo pork in her bowl. “Your Majesty probably hasn’t started eating yet. Here, have some more.”

Fury flashed in Yue Shen’s eyes, her fingers turning white from her grip.

The entire palace knew she disliked eating greasy pork the most, yet Qin Qing dared to…

“Thank you, Father Empress Dowager.”

She took a deep breath, quickly adjusting her expression, and put the piece of Dongpo pork, which was almost entirely fat, into her mouth. The greasy oil immediately made her face turn pale. Her empty stomach churned, almost making her vomit on the spot. She forcefully suppressed the nauseating feeling and swallowed the fatty meat whole, her heart and lungs feeling as if they were being clawed at, sick and uncomfortable.

Seeing the ruler of the country in such a miserable state, Yu Zhi felt his desire for revenge satisfied, almost laughing out loud.

Qin Qing leaned back in his chair casually, saying nonchalantly, “Your Majesty need not thank me. By the way, I just received news that the Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture has fallen ill suddenly, leaving the position vacant. We need a talented person to fill the vacancy.”

Yue Shen, still struggling with the churning fat in her stomach, said, “The position of Zhizhong carries great responsibility. Does Father Empress Dowager have someone in mind?”

“Hanlin Academy Scholar, Qiu Shuzhi.”

“No!” Yue Shen immediately said, “She’s just a musty scholar, how can she bear such a responsibility? Besides, she was promoted just three months after passing the imperial examination. It’s been less than a month since then. How will the officials feel about another promotion so soon?”

Qin Qing raised an eyebrow indifferently. “Hanlin Academy Scholar is a fifth-rank position, and so is the Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture. It’s not considered a promotion.”

Yue Shen sneered. Even a ghost wouldn’t believe Qin Qing’s words.

Shuntian Prefecture governed five regions and twenty-two counties, and even managed the capital. It was a center of power that countless officials aspired to their entire lives. They would willingly accept a demotion just to squeeze into Shuntian Prefecture. One can imagine what a lucrative position it was. Even though the Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture was officially a fifth-rank position, the power behind it was far beyond that.

However, since Qin Qing was willing to elevate Qiu Shuzhi, who had no significant achievements, into Shuntian Prefecture, it actually suited her wishes. She was happy to go along with it.

But on the surface, she still had to put up a show.

“But Qiu Shuzhi has no foundation in the court and no achievements. Letting her into Shuntian Prefecture might be hard for others to accept. It’s better to let her stay in the Hanlin Academy,” she said, pretending to be troubled.

Qin Qing lightly fanned himself. “Qiu Shuzhi is Your Majesty’s personally appointed imperial scholar, and she was once the imperial tutor. Who would dare to object to her entering Shuntian Prefecture?”

Yue Shen remained silent for a moment. “If that’s the case, then let’s do as Father Empress Dowager says.”

The next day, when the imperial edict was issued, the officials were shocked and discussed it privately.

Qiu Shuzhi, who came from a humble background, had been promoted twice in just over a month, and even entered Shuntian Prefecture. That was Shuntian Prefecture!

Some were envious, while others were green with jealousy.

All the officials knew that the emperor had no real power, and that Empress Dowager Qin Qing held sole control over the court. This edict was undoubtedly issued at Qin Qing’s behest.

And Qiu Shuzhi?

She was young and beautiful, the dream woman of many men in the capital. The Empress Dowager was still young…

Some recalled the Empress Dowager’s praise for Qiu Shuzhi at the previous Qionglin Banquet, calling her “the epitome of enchanting beauty.” Rumors that Qiu Shuzhi was serving the Empress Dowager with her beauty, being his favored courtier, began to spread.

However, this malicious rumor, intended to tarnish Qiu Shuzhi’s reputation, was intercepted before it could spread to the common people, forcefully extinguishing this spark of negativity.

Qiu Shuzhi herself was still unaware of this rumor. She was being led by Yu Ye into Qingning Palace, the true pinnacle of power in the Great Qi nation.

“This humble official, Qiu Shuzhi, pays respects to the Empress Dowager,” she knelt on the ground, about to kowtow when her chin was lifted by the cool handle of a fan.

Following the force of the fan, her gaze slowly moved upward. Agarwood burned quietly, its fragrance filling the entire palace. She felt slightly intoxicated by the scent as she met Qin Qing’s gentle, smiling eyes.

“Minister Qiu, there’s no need for such formality,” he said in a low, husky voice.

This was Qiu Shuzhi’s first time interacting with Qin Qing alone, and she couldn’t gauge his temperament. She spoke with utmost respect, “The Empress Dowager has shown great kindness to this official. I dare not be disrespectful.”

Qin Qing chuckled softly, his peach blossom eyes shimmering with subtle light. “Knowing that I’ve shown you kindness, yet you’re still so afraid of me?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes filled with determination. “This official is not afraid of the Empress Dowager. I am willing to lay down my life for the Empress Dowager.”

Qin Qing’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. The fan slowly moved upward, its cool frame tracing the soft contours of her face. His words carried a strong allure, “There’s no need to lay down your life. I didn’t help you to claim your life. You just need to serve me well, and I will help you rise to the highest positions, making you the most powerful official.”

“This official will not disappoint the Empress Dowager’s expectations,” Qiu Shuzhi raised her eyes, her clear gaze as lustrous as water, reflecting his refined features.

Qin Qing paused, looking into those eyes as bright as stars, his jade hand gripping the fan handle tightly.

Ever since their first encounter at the Qionglin Banquet, he had been inexplicably unable to forget Qiu Shuzhi, even tossing and turning at night, involuntarily thinking of her.

He had been puzzled until today, when he finally understood. It was these clear, warm eyes. In the Forbidden City, people’s hearts were gray and clouded, as if covered by a layer of dark clouds blocking out the sun. It had been too long since he had seen such clean, pure eyes.