Chapter 97: Desperate Situation, Qiu Niang Is Gone

Qiu Shuzhi felt she had a long dream. In the dream, there seemed to be constant whispers, both pleading and arguing, full of hostility. The malicious words were filled with killing intent. Only one voice consistently defended her, strong and stubborn.

When she finally opened her eyes with difficulty, she saw an unfamiliar bamboo house, with two people arguing incessantly.

“Jiang Si, you actually brought this foreign woman to our Miao territory. You’re truly mad!”

Jiang Si’s charming voice was tinged with coldness: “She is my wife-master. Of course I have to bring her back.”

“You—” Another elderly voice was shocked: “You actually have a wife-master outside?”

“Do you still remember what you promised us back then? You said you would make Miao prosperous again, not follow in your father’s footsteps, not indulge in love affairs. Look at yourself now, exactly like your father back then, easily swayed by a few words from the King of Dian. How can I trust you with the fate of Miao?” The old, weak voice was grief-stricken.

“Our Miao fell into such a despicable state because of your father Lan Yu’s betrayal. Lan Yu didn’t care about the lives of our people at all, only knew how to compete for favor and love. Are you going to be like that too?”

Jiang Si’s voice paused: “Chief, rest assured, I won’t become weak and useless like my father… But Qiu Niang is different from my mother. She has given me her true heart. She genuinely cares for me, not like my mother who was so cold and unfeeling.”

“Women will say anything to deceive men, it can’t be trusted!” The chief angrily struck the ground with his bamboo cane.

“Qiu Niang is different from other women!” Jiang Si shouted loudly, fury in his fox-like eyes.

Since she became the second-place scholar in the imperial examinations, he had been secretly watching her.

She kept herself pure. Those men he sent to her, she didn’t touch a single one. After marrying Yue Guanyi, she never had affairs outside.

She was a rare woman in this world. She would cherish her husband. No matter how the outside world humiliated and bullied him, she would protect him in every way, not letting him suffer any grievance.

These were all things he deeply yearned for.

Even though he had seen so many dirty and despicable things in the King of Dian’s mansion, and was accustomed to women’s fickleness, he still secretly harbored a glimmer of hope.

On the surface, he despised women and love, but in reality, his heart longed for warmth more than anyone else, longing for the feeling of being cherished in someone’s palm.

Until Qiu Shuzhi’s appearance, the warmth she brought him was the only light and warmth in his life, thoroughly uprooting all the thoughts hidden in the depths of his heart.

.

It was her appearance that made him understand that not all women in the world are fickle, and not all men are destined to be abandoned.

He had Qiu Niang now. His future life would not be as miserable and dim as his father’s.

He wouldn’t compete for favor with other men, wouldn’t be alone in a cold room waiting foolishly until dawn, tears flowing into his eyes.

The chief coldly snorted: “I hear she’s not only a government official, but also Yue Guanyi’s wife-master.”

A strong sense of possessiveness flashed in Jiang Si’s eyes: “Qiu Niang and him are just putting on an act. She only has one husband, and that’s me.”

“Then how will you explain your current identity to her? You’ve deceived her for so long. Can you guarantee she won’t change her heart when she knows your true identity?”

After a long silence, he slowly said: “I understand your concerns, Chief. Rest assured, I’ve planted Miao’s strange gu in Qiu Niang’s body. Only my blood can cure it. If… if I find she has betrayed my true feelings, we won’t even need to act. Her skin will rot, her liver and intestines will rupture, and she will die in agony.”

The chief finally relaxed, leaning on his cane and slowly leaving: “Take care of yourself then.”

The room returned to silence.

A pair of warm hands held her hand, and warm, low kisses fell on the back of her hand. Jiang Si’s voice was tender: “Wife-master, you surely won’t blame me, right? Don’t worry, I will definitely cure the gu for you.”

She timely moved her head slightly, pretending to open her eyes in a hazy state.

“Wife-master, you’re awake?” Jiang Si leaned on the bedside, saying excitedly.

He had taken off his Central Plains clothes and put on Miao attire. The traditional deep blue Miao cloth, narrow sleeves embroidered with the exquisite tin embroidery unique to the Miao people, a head of ink-black hair lightly hanging behind him, with only a few strands falling on his chest. On his head was a silver headdress with jingling bells that made a clear jade-like sound when he spoke, moving with his actions. The exotic style collided with his already bewitchingly beautiful appearance, truly a beauty beyond compare in this world.

“Where is this?” She pretended to be clueless, looking around.

This was an ordinary bamboo house in a mountain forest. Due to the dense forest blocking the light, it seemed even darker. Occasionally, a few children passed by outside, each holding a poisonous snake with a scarlet tongue in their hands to play with.

Jiang Si lowered his head slightly and gripped her hand tightly: “This is Miao territory.”

“Miao territory?” She pretended to be surprised: “How did we end up in Miao territory? Miao is the King of Dian’s domain. If the King of Dian discovers us, we won’t be able to leave.”

Saying this, she grabbed Jiang Si’s hand, struggling to sit up from the bed, pulling him to walk outside: “We must quickly sneak out. It’s very dangerous here. Lan’er, don’t be afraid. I will take you away.”

Even though she was in dire straits herself, she still protected him without regard for anything else.

Jiang Si inexplicably smiled, his stunningly beautiful face showing a smile that was both moved and bitter. The guilt in his heart towards her grew deeper and deeper.

The overwhelming sense of guilt made him fall to his knees in front of Qiu Shuzhi with a thud, crying uncontrollably: “Wife-master, there’s something I must confess to you.”

When Chang’an received the news and rushed to Yue Guanyi’s side, it was half a month later.

The Divine Machine Camp made a night raid, literally running three horses to death to deliver the news to Chang’an, who was currently in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing the news, Chang’an instantly turned pale, nearly unable to stand steady. Others might not know Qiu Shuzhi’s importance in the Crown Prince’s heart, but he knew it all too well. Such reckless and crazy infatuation, if anything happened to Qiu Shuzhi, the Prince probably wouldn’t want to live anymore.

But at such a critical moment, Yue Guanyi, who held great power, absolutely could not have anything happen to him. If something happened to him again, the King of Dian would truly be unstoppable.

“Your letter was vague. What exactly happened to His Highness?” As soon as he met up with the Divine Machine Camp, he hurriedly dismounted and asked Zhang Xiao about Yue Guanyi’s recent situation.

Zhang Xiao sighed: “Since discovering the Prince Consort’s corpse, the Crown Prince coughed up blood and fainted. He’s been unconscious for half a month. Midway, His Highness woke up once, but as soon as he regained consciousness, he sought death.”

“Slitting his throat, taking poison, biting his tongue, even swallowing broken porcelain pieces. Fortunately, he was stopped by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but then he started refusing to eat or drink. He hasn’t had a grain of rice for several days. A few days ago, his body finally couldn’t take it anymore and he passed out.”

“You bunch of useless fools! The Crown Prince’s life safety concerns the fate of the court and country. How could you let him harm himself like this!” Chang’an was furious, almost whipping her with his horsewhip.

Zhang Xiao’s expression was helpless: “The Crown Prince holds great power. We’re already risking being beheaded by stopping him from harming himself. If we obstruct His Highness, he will order our execution. If we don’t obstruct him, the court will also order our execution. It’s already not easy that we’ve held on until you arrived. He just woke up earlier. To prevent him from doing something foolish, I risked giving him sedatives. Anyway, please go in and persuade His Highness quickly.”

There were priorities in matters. Chang’an could only glare at Zhang Xiao resentfully for now.

“Oh, one more thing.” Zhang Xiao stopped him: “There’s another matter.”

Chang’an slowly pushed open the door. The old wooden door made a creaking sound.

Although it was broad daylight, this room was always gloomy. The light entering the room illuminated the swirling dust, everything grey and hazy.

He slowly approached, saw the person lying on the bed, and immediately cried out in grief.

In less than a month, Yue Guanyi had become emaciated beyond recognition. Haggard and gaunt, his eyes were lifeless, without a hint of light. His lips were pale and chapped, his neck wrapped in a layer of gauze, with fresh blood constantly seeping through. The arms exposed from his sleeves were also covered in horrific wounds, deep enough to see bone.

He had truly tortured himself to death. In such a dying state, one would even doubt if he could last a few more days.

He no longer had any desire to live. Once the most beautiful person in the world, unparalleled in grace, he had aged several decades. Like a piece of paper written full of bitterness, crumpled up, even the bitter words were messy.

His Highness’s life has been too bitter.

Chang’an cried as he crawled to kneel by the bed, the sword and dagger at his waist pressing deeply into his waist: “Your Highness, Your Highness, please think positively. If you torture yourself like this, Madam Qiu will be heartbroken even in the afterlife.”

Yue Guanyi’s empty, spiritless face showed no reaction, even his breathing carried a heavy air of death.

Chang’an suddenly seemed to think of something and tightly gripped Yue Guanyi’s hand: “Your Highness, I know you miss Madam Qiu in your heart and want to follow her. But think about the child in your belly! That’s Madam Qiu’s only bloodline left in this world!”

Yue Guanyi’s deathlike eyes finally stirred slightly.

“Child?” He slowly caressed his own abdomen, his voice hoarse and rough.

“Yes, you must hold on for the child’s sake!” Hope gradually rose in Chang’an’s heart. His Highness loved Madam Qiu so much, her posthumous child would surely make him pull himself together.

“Child… my child with Qiu Niang—” Affection welled up in Yue Guanyi’s eyes.

Seeing Yue Guanyi become gentle, Chang’an finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, in a flash, Yue Guanyi grabbed the dagger from his waist and violently stabbed it into his own abdomen. Fresh blood instantly splattered all over the curtains.

“Qiu Niang is gone, what use do I have for this child!” Yue Guanyi screamed heart-rendingly, hatred boiling and surging.