Chapter 93 Seducing in Front of One’s Face

“Moon, give me a child.”

A low murmur struck deep into Yue Guanyi’s heart, making his soul tremble.

His lips quivered, hot tears welling up in his reddened eyes, continuously overflowing.

Yue Guanyi tightly embraced Qiu Shuzhi, constantly meeting her advances.

Night fell completely, and Yue Guanyi fell into an uneasy sleep, his eyes still rimmed with damp tear stains.

Even in his sleep, he was extremely restless. His dreams were very unsettled. Curled up like a baby in the brocade quilt, he had a long dream. In the dream, his abdomen was warm and moist, as if nurturing a life, a burning life belonging to him and Qiu Niang. That joy made him so excited that his whole body convulsed even in the dream.

He instinctively reached out to feel for Qiu Shuzhi, but instead of warm embrace, he felt only coldness.

Yue Guanyi woke up almost instantly, terror spreading throughout his body in an instant, cold sweat soaking him completely.

“Qiu Niang-” He lifted the bed curtain, anxiously calling her name.

It was already bright outside. The cold air gushed in through the gap in the lifted bed curtain. Qiu Shuzhi had dressed, her long hair casually draped as if she hadn’t had time to put it up. Hearing his voice, she slowly turned her head: “Did I wake you?”

Seeing that Qiu Shuzhi was still there, Yue Guanyi’s emotions finally calmed somewhat: “No, I just…”

He had just woken up and, not seeing her, instinctively felt an inexplicable panic rise up.

He got out of bed, his nightclothes hanging loosely on his body, revealing patches of blue and purple on the delicate skin of his collarbone.

He stroked her soft, smooth long hair, murmuring: “Qiu Niang, let me help you put up your hair.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes, like clear ink, moved slightly: “Alright.”

She sat by the dressing table. The flower-shaped bronze mirror reflected her blurred features. Though not very clear, one could still see that the person in the mirror had extraordinarily beautiful contours and temperament.

Yue Guanyi took a strand of soft hair in his palm. The hair still retained her faint, elusive body fragrance, lightly lingering nearby.

“Qiu Niang’s long hair is so soft, like silk soaked in water.” He cherished the long hair in his hands like a treasure. Husband and wife at eye level, the husband serving to put up the wife-master’s hair – this was the happiness he yearned for most in this life.

Since Qiu Shuzhi joined the Yulin Army, she had only worn simple hair buns. Though simple, it further highlighted the woman’s imposing heroic spirit.

Before marrying Qiu Shuzhi, Yue Guanyi often hid in the shadows, watching her ride a tall horse with vigor and vitality. At that time, even Qiu Niang’s hair strands were vibrantly blooming.

The long hair he once infinitely coveted was now held in his own hands. Yue Guanyi’s heart was full to bursting.

“Qiu Niang, are you satisfied with how it looks?” He put down the jade comb in his hand, very nervous as it was his first time doing her hair.

Qiu Shuzhi pursed her lips in a faint smile: “A hairstyle Moon personally did for me, of course I like it.”

She took his hand and pressed him down in front of the dressing table. Yue Guanyi sat with his back to the flower-shaped mirror, hands propped on the dressing table, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly: “In ancient times, Zhang Chang drew eyebrows for his husband. I want to try it too.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Yue Guanyi’s eyes, then he became flustered.

“Don’t be nervous.” Qiu Shuzhi picked up an eyebrow brush from the side and carefully drew on his pale eyebrows.

Since coming to the Great Qi country, she had never put on makeup, and didn’t know if her skills had become rusty.

Yue Guanyi’s nails tightly gripped the edge of the dressing table, his lips pressed together, not daring to even breathe heavily.

“Knock knock knock-” There came a knocking sound from outside the door, then a creaking sound as it opened.

The two who were in the middle of drawing eyebrows both looked towards the door, meeting Jiang Si’s surprised expression.

With a splash, he accidentally knocked over the water basin onto the floor.

Jiang Si hurriedly knelt on the ground: “Please forgive this servant, Your Highness. This servant didn’t know you were with the Mistress…”

Yue Guanyi’s expression darkened somewhat, about to flare up, when he heard Qiu Shuzhi calmly continue to finish the unfinished eyebrow for him, saying indifferently: “It’s nothing, get up.”

Jiang Si tremblingly stood up from the ground, holding the water basin and shrinking by the door.

Yue Guanyi had just gotten out of bed, his face unmade up, clothes light, expression cold yet bearing the weariness of having experienced human affairs.

Jiang Si, however, was wearing a bright red outfit, his waist so slender it seemed it could be grasped with one hand. In his cloud-like hair was pinned a gold-inlaid red jeweled thousand-petal peony hanging pearl hairpin, the pearl tassel swaying slightly with its owner’s small movements.

Such an extravagant hairpin was certainly not something someone of Jiang Si’s current status and position could wear.

Thinking of what Qiu Niang had told him yesterday, Yue Guanyi’s eyes moved slightly, his thin lips coldly parting: “The hairpin on Lan Er’s head is quite nice, looking even more luxurious than the sons of official families.”

Lan Er instinctively glanced at Qiu Shuzhi, then said smugly: “How could a servant of my status and position afford such a hairpin? It was given to me by a good friend of mine.”

“Good friend?” Yue Guanyi smiled coldly: “Such a precious hairpin is probably not from an ordinary friend. It must be from a woman who fancies you, right?”

A proud smile lifted the corners of Jiang Si’s mouth, but he pretended to be shy and said: “Your Highness misunderstands. There’s nothing between me and that friend. We are purely platonic.”

“Purely platonic wouldn’t involve giving you such a special token as a hairpin.” Yue Guanyi’s tone was unreadable.

“Alright.” Qiu Shuzhi had been silently listening, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifting in a smile: “Moon, take a look. Are you satisfied with the eyebrows your wife drew for you?”

Yue Guanyi instantly fell silent, turning to look at himself in the flower-shaped mirror. Long eyebrows lightly swept, full of charm.

“The eyebrows drawn by my wife-master are naturally excellent.” He said, unable to contain his joy: “Lan Er, what do you think?”

The smile on Jiang Si’s face cooled a few degrees. He put on a fake smile, but his gaze couldn’t help falling on Qiu Shuzhi: “The eyebrows drawn by the Mistress are truly beautiful… The Mistress really dotes on Your Highness…”

Yue Guanyi was only focused on admiring himself in the mirror: “That’s natural.”

But Jiang Si looked dejectedly at Qiu Shuzhi, his slender fingers playing with the pearl tassel hanging by his temple, his tone slightly seductive: “If only Lan Er could have such a gentle wife-master like the Mistress in the future. This servant’s status is lowly, and I dare not hope she would be as devoted as the Mistress is to Your Highness, only marrying you alone. With such a gentle wife-master, even if this servant were to be a nameless bed-warmer, this servant would be content.”

Only Jiang Si had the guts to deliberately say such ambiguous, seductive words in front of Yue Guanyi.

Even knowing he was acting out a play with Qiu Niang, Yue Guanyi was truly angered by Jiang Si’s lowly, fawning manner. How dare he openly seduce his wife-master right in front of him! Did he think he was dead?! He would eventually chop this cheap hussy into mincemeat!

The malice in Yue Guanyi’s eyes was almost uncontrollable.

“With Lan Er’s beauty, being a bed-warmer would be a waste. If you have someone you like, you can just say so. Moon and I could help match-make. It’s a pity I’ll be leaving the capital soon, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend your wedding.” Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly.

“Qiu Niang-” Yue Guanyi spoke up to stop her, indicating she had said too much.

“Leaving the capital?” Jiang Si’s nerves instantly tensed: “Where is the Mistress going?”

Qiu Shuzhi suddenly realized she had said too much: “It’s nothing. Moon and I will be leaving the capital together for a while. We’ll be back soon.”

Ever since marrying Yue Guanyi, Qiu Shuzhi’s position in the court had risen dramatically, and she had even become the Emperor’s confidant. She commanded twenty thousand Yulin troops, and Yue Guanyi held important power as well. Something that could make both of them leave the capital at the same time must not be a small matter.

Now that the border was restless, their departure was very likely to quell the unrest in the Dian border region.

Jiang Si’s eyes rolled, and he fell to his knees with a thud, pulling at Qiu Shuzhi’s clothes: “Mistress, this servant has served you and Your Highness for so long. This servant is reluctant to leave you. Please be merciful and let this servant follow you, to serve you with tea and water along the way.”

Yue Guanyi slammed the table fiercely: “Absolutely not.”

Yue Guanyi glared angrily. He knew Jiang Si’s true identity. Once allowed to return to the Dian border, it would be like a fish back in water. He must be kept trapped in the capital.

Seeing Yue Guanyi’s reaction was so strong, Jiang Si became even more certain of his guess.

Unable to persuade Yue Guanyi, he turned to plead with Qiu Shuzhi. He knew Qiu Shuzhi had always coveted him and had feelings for him. As long as he begged her, she would certainly agree.

Sure enough, Qiu Shuzhi softened: “Moon, Lan Er is your personal servant. Moreover, he’s male. Chang’an can’t accompany you. Having Lan Er serve by your side would be convenient. Otherwise…”

“Qiu Niang-” Yue Guanyi’s face showed difficulty.

“Mistress…” Tears welled up in Jiang Si’s eyes, his pitiful appearance making Qiu Shuzhi even more determined.

“It’s decided then. Let Lan Er go with you. It’s good for you two men to look after each other on the road.” After speaking, Qiu Shuzhi picked up the sword hanging on the wall and left.

“Cheap whore!” After Qiu Shuzhi left, Yue Guanyi finally stopped concealing the anger in his heart. He slapped Jiang Si’s flower-like face hard, causing the corner of his mouth to bleed.

“I spared your cheap life for you to remove the gu from Qiu Niang, not for you to seduce her. Don’t think you’ll regain your freedom once you reach the Dian border. Don’t forget that Lady Jiang is already dead. There’s no place for you in the Dian Prince’s mansion. Moreover, you’re now just a man whose martial arts have been crippled. You can’t escape my grasp.” Yue Guanyi’s eyes were filled with venom as he spoke fiercely.

Jiang Si wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered disdainfully: “So what? As long as the gu poison in Qiu Shuzhi’s body isn’t removed, you can’t kill me.”

“Hand over the last medicinal catalyst quickly, or else even if I disobey Qiu Niang, I’ll imprison you in Zhaoyu, flay the face of a cheap thing like you, and make you wish you were dead!” Yue Guanyi’s eyes were full of malice.

Jiang Si snickered and took out a packet of medicine powder from his bosom: “This dose of medicine can keep her safe for a month, but the gu worms have already been born. If you dare to harm me, she will be tortured by the gu worms. Your dear Qiu Niang will truly wish she were dead.”

“Oh, right.” Jiang Si proudly showed off the hairpin on his head, his fox-like eyes bewitching: “You can’t flay this face of mine. After all, your dear wife-master is quite fond of it… Even this hairpin was given to me out of her affection.”