Chapter 21 mainly discusses a major step forward in the progress between land and land.
"Young Master, please go ahead. This servant will go take a look at the back." The little eunuch's voice rang out from behind the red wall.
Qin Song subconsciously gripped the fabric around Lu Youchuan's waist, her heart pounding even harder.
Lu Youchuan gave her one last, fierce kiss before releasing her lips.
Qin Song was rendered limp by his kiss, her cheeks still flushed, and her eyes filled with pity.
Lu Youchuan's clothes were crumpled at the collar and waist by her grip, but he didn't care. He stared at her dazed face with almost obsessive fascination, feeling a fire burning in his heart. After adjusting himself, he gently kissed her forehead and firmly held her hand: "Come with me."
The cold wind was biting, but his palms were burning hot.
A tall figure stepped aside, pulling her to the other side. Just as she took a step, a voice rang out from outside the wall, “Your Excellency, stop! I just came from there and saw nothing unusual. However, it seems that a distinguished person is in trouble outside Taihe Gate. Your Excellency may wish to go and take a look.”
Lu Youchuan and Qin Song immediately stopped in their tracks.
Their intended direction was to bypass the path and return to the Taihe Gate; continuing forward might lead them to bump into the eunuch.
"Miss Qin, the palace banquet is about to begin, and Yun Qian is looking for you everywhere." Li Yu's voice came from behind the red wall, her tone gentle, sounding even more casual than usual.
Qin Song breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that even though he had been here for quite some time, he had not discovered what was happening behind the wall, which made her feel somewhat fortunate.
Although Li Yu was beaten to the punch by the Gong family's daughter, he was sincere, polite, upright, and dignified. Even if he couldn't be included in the harem, he was still worth getting to know. We must not let him develop prejudices against her and break off contact.
Lost in thought, she unconsciously tightened her grip on her hand until it began to hurt.
She subconsciously withdrew her hand, only to see Lu Youchuan's face darken as he stared at the source of the sound, as if he wanted to pierce through the wall and slit the neck of the person who spoke.
Is he jealous?
Qin Song was secretly delighted. She looked at him seriously and whispered, "I'll go first. Remember to come and... kidnap the bride."
She took a step to leave, but he grabbed her wrist, looked down at her without saying a word, as if he only wanted to hold onto her.
What's going on? Now I can neither get married nor sleep with my partner.
Qin Song glanced at him, tugged at his collar to pull him closer, and placed a kiss on his lips, saying in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Good boy, see you tonight."
After speaking, she smiled brightly, lifted her skirt, and turned away, disappearing as lightly as a fish. But her cheerful tone was blown into Lu Youchuan's ears by the wind.
"We meet again, Xiao Liyu."
Qin Song walked out of the small side gate at the end of the palace road of the Imperial Household Department and saw Li Yu standing alone in the deep palace alley, looking down at the ground, lost in thought.
Qin Song's voice rang out, and he turned around, staring at her intently. "Miss Qin, are you lost?"
His tone was calm, without the slightest hint of abnormality. He even smiled slightly at Qin Song. Before Qin Song could answer, he stepped aside and said, "The palace banquet is about to begin. Miss Qin, please go in quickly."
Li Yu seemed to be in a hurry, so he didn't exchange many pleasantries with Qin Song, stepped aside, and watched Qin Song leave.
Qin Song had indeed taken up a lot of time, and she didn't want Yun Qian to worry, so she adjusted her cloak, nodded in acknowledgment, and steadily left.
Qin Song walked alone, but a question suddenly arose in his mind.
If Li Yu hadn't noticed her intimacy with Lu Youchuan, how would he have known that she was behind the red wall?
Once she entered the inner gate, the ethereal figure on the palace path finally shed her disguise.
Calm and breezy? Ordinary and mundane? Gentle and polite?
They're just trying their best to maintain it.
How could he tolerate that someone he cherished and valued so much being treated with such contempt and insult?
The lamplight illuminated the palace walls, and behind the spotless young man in white robes lay a grotesque and twisted black shadow. His eyes were dark and deep, unlike his true self at all.
He resolutely turned into the corner, but the tall, black figure was still there, as if deliberately waiting for him.
Li Yu was bursting with anger, and Lu Youchuan's face was equally dark.
Their eyes met, and a silent contest erupted in the shadows.
If it weren't for the palace, and if it weren't for adults, this conflict would never have ended.
As officials in the imperial court, the constraints of Confucian ethics and rituals prevented them from losing control and engaging in a confrontation.
After a long silence, Li Yu said sarcastically, "Does the Censorate only punish officials and not itself?"
"I have no ties to my family, so what's wrong with me marrying and having children? It's Li Shao, the young master of the Imperial Academy, who was previously engaged and later caught up in an assassination attempt. He can barely protect himself, so what right does he have to make such a fuss?" Lu Youchuan raised his head slightly, casually straightening his clothes that Qin Song had crumpled, as if showing off the medals on his shoulders.
Li Yu stared at his movements, her muscles tense, struggling to suppress her turbulent emotions, and sharply reminded him, "Marry and have children? Don't forget, she came with her fiancé. How dare you seduce her in such a setting?! Your thoughts are filthy and despicable. If you embarrass her, I will definitely kill you."
Li Yu was younger than Lu Youchuan, had a lower official rank, and was even slightly shorter, but at this moment he was like a brave wild dog, guarding against thieves who coveted his treasure, ready to pounce at any moment.
The word "fiancé" tugged at Lu Youchuan's nerves. His fingertips paused at the folds of his clothes, but when he looked up, he had an arrogant look down on everything. "If I want her, I have a thousand ways to do it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored the wrinkles in his clothes, glanced at Li Yu with disdain, and walked steadily forward, heading towards the palace banquet without looking back.
·
"Ah Song, here."
As soon as Qin Song stepped into the women's area, Tao Yao stood up and waved to her.
The women's area is small, and a giant screen was placed in the direction facing the men's area, making it seem even more crowded.
Tao Yao sat at the table furthest from the entrance. It was a small square table for two people, but only Tao Yao was seated there, leaving an empty seat just for her.
Qin Song strode toward Tao Yao, but before she could get close, a noblewoman in a light blue, high-collared jacket sat down first: "Excuse me, I'd like to sit at the same table as Madam Tao. Miss Qin, please go to that table."
The girl pointed with her slender white orchid finger to the side of Qin Song, to the table where one seat was also vacant.
"Madam Su, you were already seated before the Empress's steps. Why did you give up such a good seat and come to snatch this one?" Tao Yao immediately argued with Madam Su beside her.
Lady Su just smiled and didn't answer, but everyone else covered their faces and laughed, as if they were watching something amusing.
Qin Song was quite puzzled. He looked at the empty seat that Su Niangzi had designated for him and felt relieved. She was actually being seated at the same table as Gong Shuling. What was so funny about that?
She shook her head reassuringly at Tao Yao, who was about to start a fight, and sat down without any hesitation.
As soon as she sat down, the crowd laughed even harder, their eyes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, mockery, and disdain, and they even began to whisper among themselves.
Gong Shuling, who was already in this situation, lowered her head and remained silent, sullen and oblivious.
At this moment, the Empress, who sat solemnly at the head of the table, seemed unaware of the situation around her. She was looking at the booklet handed to her by a palace maid and whispering instructions.
The eldest princess, sitting next to the empress, was lounging back in her mahogany chair, taking a nap with no interest in the situation. The two most powerful women had neither the time nor the inclination to pay attention to what was happening in the room.
The older women sat a little further away, chatting animatedly in small groups, and no one paid any attention to this side.
These people, inexplicably teasing and eyeing him, became even more unrestrained.
Qin Song seemed to have guessed what they were laughing about, but she didn't care. She glanced around the room and didn't see Yun Qian.
She could only communicate with Gong Shuling, "Miss Gong, you seem unhappy?"
Gong Shuling frowned, her pretty face showing no response, and instead moved away.
At this moment, Madam Su's voice came again, "Madam Qin, please don't be angry with Miss Gong. You should be understanding of her. After all, she doesn't have your good luck, and it's understandable that she's jealous of you."
Su Niangzi's tone was unpleasant, and Gong Shuling glanced at her lips upon hearing it, seemingly feeling even more aggrieved.
The way people around her looked at her and Qin Song became even more complicated, and she still refused to speak to Qin Song.
Qin Song turned to look at the aloof Lady Su, "Lady Su, is your yin and yang imbalanced? Should we see the imperial physician?"
Madam Su knew she was being sarcastic, but she didn't mind. She continued, "It seems Madam Qin hasn't grasped the point yet. Both of you have bad reputations, but you have General Tao's kindness in accepting you. She's not so lucky. Her dear cousin is making a scene, wanting to break off the engagement. It's already common knowledge in the city. Do you think she can be happy?"
Li Yu wants to break off the engagement with her? Qin Song was stunned, then turned to look at Gong Shuling. She couldn't quite put her finger on how to describe the question that welled up from the bottom of her heart.
That day at the Gong residence, what everyone saw was clearly the disgraceful behavior of the Lin family's son, but they kept asking who the woman he had "cohabited" with was, grabbing a woman who wasn't even there and hurling insults at her, wishing they could peel her skin off from afar.
But Gong Shuling is the victim!
This world seems very different from where she came from. If it's completely different, why is it that the princess can keep male lovers without anyone criticizing her? Of course, Tao Yao did scold her.
But others who didn't hurt anyone are being unfairly accused and blamed. How innocent they are!
Could it be that Li Yu is also bothered by Gong Shuling's relationship with the Lin family's son?
Qin Song couldn't understand these questions, but she still understood the importance the world placed on female chastity, and as the daughter of the Grand Secretary during a turbulent time, a wrong turn of events could easily plunge the Qin family into crisis.
As she was thinking this, Tao Yao couldn't take it anymore.
She raised her voice angrily and asked, "Lady Su, watch your words! Ah Song is the best woman in the world, please don't make unfounded speculations here!"
"Oh dear, I almost forgot. Madam Su is about to become Tao's sister-in-law. But I was just about to ask, what exactly happened that night when Madam Qin met her lover on the street? Some people are saying that she was having an affair with Young Master Lei, but General Tao beat her to it, and the Junior Chamberlain secretly helped her. How could it be such a coincidence? How come Madam Qin has connections with Young Master Lei, General Tao, and the Junior Chamberlain?"
Su Niangzi spoke gently, slowly, which caused the people in the room to whisper in astonishment.
"No way? The Junior Chamberlain broke off his engagement with Miss Gong, could it be because of Lady Qin?"
"Then let's not. General Tao has already been snatched up by Madam Qin. So many noble ladies in the capital have cried their eyes out. This young master is also a dragon among men, a rare good man with both talent and good looks. If he falls at Madam Qin's feet, then Madam Qin will be quite something."
The murmurs buzzed around her like hundreds of flies. At this moment, Gong Shuling couldn't help but look up and glance at Qin Song cautiously. But there was no sizing or malice in her eyes; instead, there was a hint of sympathy.
Qin Song happened to catch her gaze, looked up, and they smiled helplessly at each other.
Tao Yao, who was far away, had already darkened her expression, frowning and glaring at Su Niangzi at the same table, wishing she could start a fight.
Before she could speak, Madam Su covered her mouth and smiled, continuing to press, "This matter has spread throughout the streets, with all sorts of speculations. No one knows the truth better than Madam Qin, who was directly involved. But besides Madam Qin, the Tao family's daughter is the most likely to know the truth. Why don't you share with us how Madam Su bravely sought love?"
Qin Song didn't care about the noise, but Tao Yao couldn't hold back any longer. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up to scold them, but a sharp and authoritative female voice came first, "What's all this noise about?"
Everyone fell silent and looked in the direction of the sound. The old nanny beside the Empress was looking down at everyone from her high position.
The women all lowered their heads and no one responded, but Qin Song, oblivious to the danger, straightened his back and raised his head.
"So it's Lady Qin. What's the matter here?" the old woman asked, tilting her head back.
Qin Song was taken aback for a moment, "Replying to Granny, I also do not know why."
The old woman remained expressionless, calmly looking at her, "Then you are disrespectful and have offended the imperial family."
Before Qin Song could react to how such a huge accusation could be leveled against her, Gong Shuling, standing beside her, gently tugged at her sleeve under the table, signaling her to nod and remain silent.
Qin Song then realized his rudeness and quickly lowered his head to wait quietly.
The room quieted down, and Su Niangzi, who was sitting next to Tao Yao, raised her head and reported, "Reporting to Madam, Madam Qin just wanted to share with us some anecdotes about her relationships with the young men in the city."
The old woman's brows furrowed, and she said in a deep voice, "What kind of anecdote?"
Madam Su covered her mouth and chuckled, "It's...it's just an anecdote about her and Young Master Lei."
The old woman was even more arrogant, but before she could open her mouth, the Empress had already looked over.
She was beautiful, dressed elegantly, and exuded an aura of authority that commanded respect. Her hand was constantly resting on her slightly protruding belly, suggesting she was several months pregnant.
"So it's Sister Qin. Since you're talking about Ah Yang, why don't you tell me so that I, as the elder sister, can also hear it?"
The Empress's expression was gentle, and her tone was kind, but her words made Qin Song feel uneasy.
Qin Song slowly cupped her hands and cautiously said, "This humble woman dares not speak recklessly."
The Empress smiled and said, "Indeed, an unmarried young lady shouldn't say such things. However, I've often heard Ah Yang mention your private interactions, and I've long wanted to meet you, my sister."
Qin Song's lowered eyes trembled slightly. Was this some kind of attempt to intimidate her with the Empress's authority? Was the Lei family still plotting this?
After a moment's thought, Qin Song said in a steady voice, "Young Master Lei is outstanding in appearance and has an extraordinary demeanor, which has won the hearts of many women. It is a pity that I only met Young Master Lei a month ago."
“It was Ah Yang’s recklessness that caused you to lose your virginity in just one month. But don’t worry, the Lei family will definitely take responsibility for you.”
As expected of siblings, the Empress and Lei Heyang's ability to spout nonsense was unmatched; they could concoct lies without batting an eye. Just as they were pondering this, Tao Yao couldn't help but speak out, and Qin Song quickly knelt down first, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. For the past two months, I was punished by His Majesty for trivial matters and imprisoned in the Taixu Temple to reflect on my actions. Only after Young Master Lei was murdered was I allowed to leave the mountain. Censor Lu of the Censorate can testify to this. Your Majesty, please don't be deceived. Although Young Master Lei is your brother, you are, after all, the Mother of the Nation. If he were to deceive you, it would be a great disrespect. You must, you must…"
“He should be beaten to death,” Tao Yao immediately replied.
Qin Song and Tao Yao, both with their hands clasped and heads bowed, glanced at each other, relieved to have escaped unscathed.
Upon hearing the words "Imperial Censor Lu," the dignified Empress's smile froze for a moment, her eyes becoming unfathomable, yet she still maintained the demeanor of a superior. "I see. It seems there must be some misunderstanding. Let's not dwell on this matter. Today's palace banquet is informal; let everyone enjoy themselves."
As soon as he finished speaking, the women seemed to be relieved, raising their heads and whispering among themselves, and the room became lively again.
Qin Song relaxed his shoulders, straightened up, and his gaze met that of the eldest princess.
Although the eldest princess did not utter a word, she kept staring at her with a smile playing on her lips, her intentions malicious.
The palace banquet officially began, but Qin Song still hadn't seen Yun Qian. Tao Yao was also curious. "Before you came, Yun Qian came to me. I had already reserved a seat for you, so I sent her to find you quickly, but I didn't know you didn't meet."
The two discussed it for a while, and Qin Song suddenly felt a little scared. She only felt relieved after Tao Yao sent Aman to Tao Qingyang to deliver the message.
She returned to her small table, where a palace maid brought her a fresh cup of hot tea. Just as she drank it, a kind-looking concubine approached her and said, "Lady Qin, there's a maid claiming to be from the Qin household who's been searching for someone all over the palace. Is she looking for you? If she keeps running around like this, the Imperial Household Department might punish her."
"Where is she?" Qin Song immediately stood up and blurted out.
"She was just at the entrance of the Imperial Household Department, and she should be in that area now."
"Thank you for informing me, Your Highness." Qin Song quickly left the inner area. Yun Qian must be very anxious because she couldn't find her.
She left in a hurry and didn't even take her cloak.
The palace walls were deep and cold wind swept across the palace road, making her clothes flutter and her hair dance wildly, but she did not feel cold at all. Instead, she felt restless and hot in her chest.
At first, she thought it was because she had walked too fast and was feeling hot, but after seeing only a few timid eunuchs around the Imperial Household Department, she suddenly realized—
We've fallen for their trap! There was something laced in that cup of hot tea!
How could she have believed what that unknown concubine said so casually?
Her first reaction was to run back.
But when she turned her head, she felt dizzy and weak all over.
However, the eunuchs had already spotted her and rushed towards her.
·
In the men's section, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged, accompanied by melodious music that was truly captivating.
After being led away for his disrespectful behavior in front of the Crown Prince's palace, the officials continued to flatter and converse among themselves without pause.
Tao Qingyang had previously paraded around with his fiancée, becoming a natural topic of conversation at the banquet. He was toasted repeatedly, and by the time the little messenger sent by Tao Yao arrived, he was already feeling dizzy and lightheaded.
Hearing the servant's whispers, Tao Qingyang remained calm, simply setting down the white jade porcelain cup and dismissing the servant.
Before he could make a move, the female official beside the Empress rushed over again, kneeling down in a panic, "Your Majesty, something has happened to the daughter of the Chief Minister Qin."
The commotion was so loud that the noisy men's area fell silent instantly, everyone staring at the female official and the emperor with a dark expression.
The crowd's expressions varied, and they all turned to steal glances at Tao Qingyang, who was wearing a mask.
Tao Qingyang glanced at Lu Youchuan without leaving a trace, only to see that his five fingers, resting on his knees, were clenched into fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh.
The female official gave a vague answer, which made the emperor impatient. He waved his hand and said, "Someone, take General Tao and the Imperial Clan Court to see for themselves."
The chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Gao, led Tao Qingyang and the Imperial Clan Court official away from their seats, following the female official.
Tao Qingyang's steps didn't seem to be in a hurry. The two gazes fixed on him wished they could strangle him and let this opportunity fall into their own hands.
But they could only watch from the corner, filled with despair and anxiety.
The female official, familiar with the place, led Tao Qingyang and the other two officials to a secluded courtyard behind the Cining Palace.
This was a desolate palace, rarely visited by people, and should have been quiet and lonely. But now, the rising and falling sounds of passion brought the courtyard back to life.
Several palace maids and eunuchs stood outside the hall, holding their breath, their faces flushed with embarrassment, not daring to utter a sound.
"Right here." The female official stopped at the doorway, stepping aside to make way for the officials. "Just now, Madam Qin ignored all advice and left her seat alone. After arriving here, she... she..."
She hesitated, stammering, deliberately leaving the reader to speculate.
Eunuch Gao and the Imperial Clan Leader frowned, their faces looking embarrassed.
Tao Qingyang glanced sideways at the female official who had brought them there, and without saying a word, kicked open the carved wooden door.
A strong, exotic fragrance wafted towards him, and Tao Qingyang immediately became alert, raising his sleeve to cover his nose and taking a few steps back.
Eunuch Gao was immediately shocked and grabbed the Imperial Clan Order, retreating in unison. "It's the Incense of Indulgence? What a vicious trick!"
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone present froze. The "Indulgence Incense" was a forbidden drug in the palace. The late emperor had become addicted to sex because of it and eventually died in his concubines' bed.
When this incense enters a woman's mouth, it arouses a man's passion. If the dosage is slightly out of control, it can become uncontrollable and also have an effect on the person who drinks it.
"This concentration is probably more than ten times the normal dosage." Eunuch Gao covered his mouth and nose tightly and took a few steps back.
"Ten times?" The Imperial Clan Commander was dumbfounded. "Even livestock couldn't withstand that..."
The cold wind dispersed some of the fragrance, and only then could everyone see the situation inside through the open door.
Even though I had expected it, I was still stunned by what I saw.
"Minister Lei... Minister Lei? How is it you?" The Imperial Clan Court Commander, who always valued his demeanor, was almost speechless when he saw the Minister of Justice, who was shirtless and holding a young eunuch, looking utterly disgraceful and lewd.
The Grand Eunuch Gao, who had been by His Majesty's side for many years, was already quite accustomed to matters of love and romance, but he was still astonished by this strange occurrence.
The emperor's father-in-law, lost in his passion, became like a beast, embracing the young eunuch as if he had entered another world. He was completely oblivious to the wide-open gates and the crowd watching.
Ten times the dosage, indeed remarkable, even the nearly sixty-year-old Minister can be so vigorous.
Before anyone could react, Tao Qingyang's eyes, hidden by a mask, were as cold as an ice cave. He nearly snapped the jade flute in two!
He strode forward and stood before the terrified female official, grabbing her by the back of the neck and forcing her to confront the filthy scene inside the room.
"You dare to use such methods against the people I brought in? How dare you, women as a whole, do this?!"
The young general, who was always all smiles and nonchalant, finally revealed his ruthless side.
The female official's face was contorted with terror. The shock of the scene before her eyes, the despair of her scheme backstage backfiring, and the panic of having her vital organs gripped—all these things dragged her into an abyss, leaving her suffocating and limp, collapsing to her knees with a thud.
"No, no, this wasn't done by Her Majesty! Her Majesty would never harm her own father! No, it's not the Incense of Indulgence, it's not the Incense of Indulgence, something must have gone wrong..."
Tao Qingyang's face darkened further. This was certainly not the work of the Lei family. How could the Lei family allow their patriarch to make such a fool of himself? Their target was Qin Song, and they actually wanted to make the daughter of a high-ranking official lose face in the palace and suffer eternal damnation!
That's utterly shameless!
Something must have gone wrong. I don't know how Qin Song escaped this calamity, but the palace walls are like a prison. If the empress of the harem intends to make things difficult for her, she will definitely face difficulties at every step.
Tao Qingyang stopped listening to the female official's nonsense, pressed down on her neck, and pushed her into the room, saying, "You might as well go and have a taste."
"Ah! No!" The female official was pushed into the room, her face pale with fear. "No, no, sir! I am Pei Niang, the Empress's personal maid..."
The Imperial Clan Court and Eunuch Gao were both quite astonished by Tao Qingyang's actions, but neither of them stepped forward to stop him. Tao Qingyang paid little attention to their expressions, lifted his robe, and strode away.
·
Half an incense stick's time later, Qin Song was grabbed by the wrist and led into an empty hall.
At the same time, a woman in luxurious clothes appeared in a flash, blocking the path of the eunuchs who were hot on her heels. "Halt! What brings you here?"
"This servant greets the Princess." A group of eunuchs knelt down.
Qin Song had no mind to listen to the sounds outside. In the pitch-black room, an adult male grabbed her chin and suddenly fed her several pills.
Caught off guard, Qin Song immediately covered his throat, trying to vomit.
At this moment, a male voice rang out, "Don't worry, Madam Qin, the tea you just drank contained three times the usual dose of aphrodisiac. Even the Minister of Justice, who is nearly sixty years old, could be aroused by you."
What? Qin Song wasn't so panicked just now, after all, Lei Heyang was already dying, but she never expected that the Lei family was plotting against her and that old man in his fifties!
How could the Empress Dowager resort to such underhanded tactics to force the Prime Minister's daughter to become her father's second wife?!
Damn it!
Qin Song was terrified and immediately asked, "Then what did you give me to eat?"
"The antidote." The man's voice was calm. "You'll regain your strength in a little while. Turn left when you go out, and walk along the second row of palace paths. You'll be able to leave the Imperial Household Department soon."
After the man finished speaking, he stepped aside and opened the door, gesturing for her to leave.
The candlelight shone softly in, illuminating the man's face. Only then did Qin Song realize that this was the handsome male concubine who had licked the princess's fingers clean at the Gongdu Military Governor's Mansion that day.
Qin Song took a step to leave, but stopped at the door. "Why are you helping me?"
"The eldest princess wishes to make friends with Lady Qin."
Qin Song was filled with countless doubts. She had long wanted to unravel the mysteries of this world. Perhaps the Eldest Princess was the female lead of this world. Since the Eldest Princess had taken the initiative to approach her, she was naturally extremely happy to do so.
However, now is not the time to delay; we must wait for a future opportunity. Qin Song nodded to the man, lifted her skirt, and went out. She glanced at the beautiful woman's back as she blocked the view of several eunuchs in the distance, then turned left and disappeared into the vast palace.
The carved wooden door of the empty room was closed, and the docile male concubine came up behind the princess and whispered, "It's done, three times the dosage as well."
The eldest princess stood under the eaves of the low pavilion, the shadow obscuring half of her face. She slowly adjusted her hair, gazed at the dark sky, and muttered to herself, "Lord Lu, you must thank me."
The dark night stretched on endlessly, and the palace lights burned eternally. Qin Song wandered through several alleys, but had not yet escaped the deep palace walls.
She didn't stop walking, and she was also highly tense, anxiously thinking about the current situation.
The fact that the empress, who is six months pregnant, would resort to such a dirty trick suggests that the Lei family has reached a dead end.
No, it's not that the Lei family has reached a dead end; it's that the Qin family is about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Minister of Justice also attended the palace banquet today, and the Empress is pregnant with the Emperor's child. Even if the Lei family's empire is on the verge of collapse, it won't crumble overnight.
The reason they were so eager to confirm her relationship with the Lei family was that they wanted to make things a done deal before her father left the Dali Temple.
At that point, her father would have no choice but to grit his teeth and accept his fate.
The situation today is increasingly dire, indicating that they don't have much time left, which means her father will soon be able to return home safely.
She felt both relieved and determined, vowing that if she could get through the night safely, she would make sure the Lei family was utterly destroyed!
But she was still thinking about Yun Qian, and kept turning back to look around, but she never found that familiar figure.
Her clothes were too heavy, making it difficult for her to walk, and soon several footsteps followed.
She wasn't sure if it was the same eunuchs from before. She had very little energy and wasn't familiar with the palace roads. Before long, the footsteps behind her grew closer and closer.
She was panting heavily when a carriage blocked her way.
Whose car is parked so haphazardly everywhere!
She was furious, but had no time to waste, so she had to walk around it. Just as she was about to squeeze past, a tall figure emerged from the carriage.
The man leaned down, put one large hand around her waist, and grabbed her arm with the other, as if he were gently scooping her up, effortlessly pulling her onto the carriage.
She lifted the curtain and entered the carriage, where she was embraced tightly. With a quick lift of the large cloak, only one person could be seen inside the carriage.
Qin Song's breathing, still ragged from running, had barely calmed down when the intense heat finally dissipated.
"May I ask whose carriage this is? A lady from the palace has gone missing, and we servants are searching for her. We request your cooperation, sir." The eunuch's shrill voice rang out from outside the carriage.
Qin Song lay motionless in Lu Youchuan's broad arms, able to hear his strong, thunderous heartbeat, and smell the strange fragrance mixed with the scent of alcohol.
The fragrance was strangely strong and intense, even overpowering the reassuring pine scent emanating from Lu Youchuan, which aroused Qin Song's suspicion.
After Lu Youchuan covered Qin Song, he slightly opened the side window, allowing the eunuch outside the carriage to clearly see the situation inside.
Qin Song held his breath and unconsciously tightened his arms around the waist of the person in front of him.
To the people outside the carriage, the cramped space contained only the Left Censor-in-Chief, draped in a cloak. The man, usually as cold as ice, now appeared like a ghost, sending chills down their spines.
The young eunuchs remained silent, too terrified to utter a word.
Lu Youchuan slightly turned his head, looking down at them condescendingly, "May I ask, how do you require my cooperation?"
His words were quite respectful, and his tone contained not a trace of anger, yet it carried the contempt of someone in a superior position and an understated sense of authority.
The eunuchs quickly lowered their heads and retreated tremblingly, saying, "So it's Lord Lu. We were the ones who offended you."
They stooped and backed away, trying to slip away.
"Stop." Lu Youchuan said calmly.
The eunuchs immediately stopped in their tracks, and Zhang Hu, who had rushed over, arrived just then.
Zhang Hu came from the other end, circled the horse's head, and stood before the four eunuchs. "How dare you! You have the audacity to offend the Chief Censor! Which palace are you from? Why are you rushing around the palace in such a hurry? What are you trying to do?"
The four eunuchs were so frightened that they immediately knelt down and said, "Please forgive us, sir. We had no intention of offending you and no malicious intent whatsoever."
Those people kowtowed repeatedly, desperately trying to explain.
Lu Youchuan's breathing seemed erratic. He reached out to protect the waist of the woman who was bowing and leaning in front of him, and said coldly, "Issue the order that the Imperial Household Department is interfering in court affairs. Immediately arrest and interrogate the palace servants involved."
As Lu Youchuan spoke, he gave Zhang Hu a look.
Zhang Hu immediately understood, detained the leader, and returned to the Imperial Household Department.
The voices faded away, leaving only Lu Youchuan's heartbeat and breathing in her ears, disturbing Qin Song's thoughts. She suddenly recalled the deep and lingering kiss at the palace gate, her mind filled with tender emotions. She tightly hugged his waist with both hands, pressing her whole body against him.
Lu Youchuan let out a heavy sigh, his warm hands gently untying the sash of the cloak, like opening a treasure box, carefully pulling open the two sides of the cloak to reveal the beauty hidden in his arms.
"And Yun Qian, help me find Yun Qian."
The rosy little face that had appeared countless times in his dreams peeked out, nervously clutching Lu Youchuan's clothes, and her first words were to beg him to find someone.
She opened and closed her lips, exhaling warm breath, and a strange fragrance wafted over him, making his heart warm.
"Don't worry, Zhang Hu has gone to search." Lu Youchuan's voice was unusually gentle.
Qin Song suddenly realized that the so-called "apprehending the palace servants involved" was actually to find Yun Qian, and Qin Song's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was relieved. A smile appeared on her face, and her dimples seemed to be filled with wine, making Lu Youchuan stare at her intently.
The exotic fragrance grew stronger and stronger, seemingly filling the entire carriage.
Qin Song sniffed and took a sniff at Lu Youchuan: "What's that smell? It smells so good."
As soon as she finished speaking, she was met with a burning kiss from Lu Youchuan.
He kissed her lips lightly, then released her. "You smell so good."
Qin Song was still savoring his incredibly gentle kiss when he heard the sound and realized that it was his own breath that was making him feel sweet.
Was it the pills that the princess's male favorite fed her? They actually had this effect.
As she was thinking, Lu Youchuan put his arm around her arm and made her sit in his previous spot. "Sit tight. The palace must be in chaos. The Meridian Gate will soon increase its patrols. We need to leave the palace through the Xihua Gate before the Imperial Guards are mobilized."
As he spoke, he was about to bow and step out from behind the curtain, but Qin Song grabbed his hand.
His palms were burning hot. When the two hands touched, he seemed to be burned and abruptly pulled back, instinctively avoiding the contact.
His reaction was so strange that Qin Song was slightly taken aback. She had no choice but to withdraw her hand and look up at him, saying, "Don't go."
Tonight was truly terrifying, and she's still shaken, so she's not ashamed to show weakness to him.
Lu Youchuan was breathing rapidly, avoiding looking directly into her eyes. He took off his cloak and tied it around her waist.
“I’m right outside the curtain. Zhang Hu has gone to the Imperial Household Department and needs someone to drive him. Judging from the weather, it looks like it’s going to snow. It’s too cold outside, you won’t be able to stand it.”
Qin Song could only cover the sash of his cloak at his neck and nod with pursed lips.
Lu Youchuan added, "I have already asked Zhang Hu to inform the second young lady of the Tao family to leave the palace, so you don't need to return to the palace banquet."
Qin Song understood his meaning. Female relatives leaving the palace needed to pay their respects to the nobles before taking their leave, but the palace was already in chaos. As long as the names matched, it would be clear when the officials' wives left.
If the criticism is directed at her, she can simply find any excuse to claim that she and Tao Yao left the palace first.
Qin Song did not stop him again and let him leave the carriage.
The wheels turned, and it drove away into the cold wind.
·
The news that the emperor's father was a eunuch in the harem caused chaos at the palace banquet.
On the palace path surrounded by vermilion walls, a young general in a red robe came alone.
The elegantly dressed woman, who had been waiting on high ground to overlook the scene, stood in the cold wind, watching the red-clad figure with satisfaction, lost in thought.
Her male concubine handed her a fox fur cloak and helped her put it on. "General Tao should have already seen the show. With ten times the dosage, Minister Lei probably won't survive tonight."
"They're nothing but ants, so what if they die?" The princess curled her lips, her pale face accentuated by her snow-white fox fur coat, her smile chilling. "One is the handsome General Tao, and the other is the dashing Imperial Censor Lu. What do you say, let them fight?"
The male concubine's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood the princess's meaning. He bowed and took his leave, saying, "I will go and do it right away."
Tao Qingyang walked briskly forward, asking everyone he met if they had seen Qin Song and Tao Yao. Everyone said they had only heard that Tao Yao was unwell and had left the palace first, and no one knew Qin Song's whereabouts.
When Tao Qing stopped a man with a very handsome face but cunning eyes, she looked up and paused for a moment. It was the dog beside the princess.
He swallowed the question that was about to slip out, gave him a disdainful look, and walked away.
The man suddenly spoke up, "General Tao, are you looking for Lady Qin?"
Tao Qingyang paused for a moment, but did not turn around.
"Miss Tao Yao was notified to leave by a minor official of the Censorate, while Censor Lu's carriage had stopped at Zhendu Gate a short while before the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
The man behind her raised his voice to remind her, and Tao Qingyang, who had been pretending for many years, immediately suppressed the corners of his lips that habitually curled up.
But he still didn't respond, and started walking again, faster than before. When he arrived at Zhendu Gate, he called on a few city guards and said, "Quickly investigate the whereabouts of the Left Censor-in-Chief."
The city guards left after receiving their orders, and Tao Qing stood by the palace wall, staring intently at a branch of red plum blossoms.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, the city garrison reported, "Imperial Censor Lu's carriage has just left the palace through the Xihua Gate."
Red plum blossoms covered in snow, a sight so beautiful it's almost blinding.
Tao Qingyang raised his hand and snapped off the glaring red plum blossom, causing the accumulated snow to fall to the ground in a flurry.
He mounted his horse, the cold wind blowing his hair and red robes fluttering, his expression seductive: "The Left Censor-in-Chief has been attacked. Immediately follow me out of the palace and search the entire city."
He tightened the reins, the red horse raised its front hooves high, then brought them down again, crushing the plum blossom on the ground. He didn't even glance at it before riding away.
·
The carriage traveled at the maximum speed permitted within the palace towards Xihua Gate. Whenever it encountered a patrol, the guards would let it pass as long as they recognized Lu Youchuan. The journey was relatively smooth.
As soon as we left Xihua Gate, the wind grew stronger, occasionally lifting the carriage curtains and letting in a gust of cold air, but it couldn't dispel the rich, exotic fragrance inside the carriage.
Qin Song raised his hand to his mouth and breathed softly, the fragrance seeming to grow stronger.
Just as he was trying to figure out what kind of substance was emitting the smell, the carriage suddenly lurched, and Qin Song swayed and bumped into the wooden planks of the carriage.
Before I could even settle in, a dark figure returned to the car.
Lu Youchuan's long, slender hand caught her head as she nearly hit the wooden board. "Sorry, I've run into a bit of trouble."
As he spoke, he shielded her in front of him, led her out of the carriage curtain, and sat side by side on the throne outside the carriage.
He put one hand around her shoulder to grab the reins, and with the other hand he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, and said in a deep voice, "Hold on tight to me."
Qin Song had no idea what was happening. Yi Yan hugged his waist tightly, burying half her face in his chest. He was burning hot, his heart was pounding, and his breathing was erratic. Qin Song even wondered if he had caught a cold. She peeked at him with one eye and saw that he was staring straight ahead, on high alert, with a serious expression.
She couldn't help but follow his gaze. The carriage drove away from the palace, and the lights went out. But somehow, countless snowflakes had already begun to fall. Under the dim streetlights, the snow shadows rustled, and the night was beautiful.
Before Qin Song could take a closer look at the night snow, three masked men in black, armed with knives, stood at the end of the long street, blocking his way.
Qin Song was alarmed. "There's an ambush outside the palace? How did they know we'd be coming through the Xihua Gate?"
Lu Youchuan tightened his grip on her shoulder, staring coldly at them. "I'm afraid it's not just Xihuamen that's resorting to such a deadly move. The Lei family's methods are nothing special."
A hint of ruthlessness flashed across his face, and as soon as he finished speaking, the sword at his waist was already silently drawn.
"But how did they know I was with you?" Qin Song kept her arms around his waist, looking at him anxiously.
Lu Youchuan lowered his eyes to meet her bright gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously. "I'm sorry, they came for me."
Qin Song's mind was buzzing. This... she should have gone with Tao Yao!
But now is not the time for regrets. The other side is menacing and outnumbers them. Qin Song can't just cower in fear, so he props his head up and remains vigilant.
The carriage didn't stop for a moment, rushing straight into the crowd. The man in black in the middle held a knife and tried to cut off the horse's head. Lu Youchuan couldn't swing his knife in time, and Qin Song took the lead by using a hidden arrow. This time she had changed the arrow, which was made of ordinary refined iron and whose origin was unknown.
Although the aim was poor, it still hit the back of the man's knife, deflecting the blade by an inch and saving the horse's life.
But the horses were startled, and the carriage suddenly lurched. The three men rushed forward, Lu Youchuan exuding a murderous aura, his appearance mirroring the bloodthirsty and domineering look they had when they first met.
He swiftly swung his knife, slit the throat of one of them, and blood spurted out, dissolving the thin layer of snow on the ground.
The other two rushed up, and Lu Youchuan gripped the reins tightly, pressing Qin Song's face into his arms with his wrist.
With her view blocked, all she could hear were the sounds of the wind, horses' hooves, and the clashing of swords, reminding her that she was in a very dangerous situation.
But the thunderous heartbeat of the person in front of her made her feel at ease, and the burning body temperature made her feel warm, so she couldn't help but get closer to him.
Just then, a muffled groan, barely suppressed, reached her ears, like morning dew falling into spring water, stirring up ripples.
Qin Song was stunned. "Are you... injured?"
Qin Song couldn't look up and could only anxiously press for answers.
After a long pause, the other party finally replied with two words, "It's alright."
His voice trembled and his breathing was unsteady.
His knife-wielding movements caused his abdominal muscles to tense up, and her heart began to flutter slightly.
The carriage kept bumping along, but before long the sounds of swords and spears stopped, and Lu Youchuan's stiff body gradually relaxed.
The force protecting the back of her head loosened, and she immediately straightened up. The carriage had already driven away from the main city.
The murderous intent had finally passed. Qin Song looked up at Lu Youchuan and couldn't help but smile, a smile of relief at surviving a disaster. His shallow dimples made it impossible for him to look away.
"Can I take a look?" Qin Song's big, dark eyes showed unusual anticipation.
Lu Youchuan was completely unable to respond to her request, but her question was so vague that he couldn't understand her needs. He could only force himself to remain calm and look at her with suspicion.
Qin Song glanced down and said, "I touched it."
Lu Youchuan's mind went blank for a moment.
His robes were heavy, and his posture peculiar; he had tried his best to conceal it, but under her probing gaze, it became impossible to hide, and even more so…
He couldn't understand why she could be so shameless as to say such shocking things. His already exhausted body had just gone through a fierce battle, and this sentence made his blood surge to the point of almost suffocating.
Her intense gaze made his muscles tense, his temples throbbed, as if he were being roasted over a fire…
He subconsciously raised one hand and made a loose fist, then coughed violently, his eyes darting away, not daring to look at her again.
This area is sparsely populated, and the road ahead is silent, with only large snowflakes dancing in the sky. Red plum blossoms in the farmhouses peek out and entwine with the white snow.
Lu Youchuan didn't know where to look, but the snowy night was truly beautiful.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he changed the subject in a hoarse voice: "I'll take you home."
Then he frantically tried to hook the horse's reins, but Qin Song wouldn't let it go and reached out to grab his wrist.
She had just been nestled in his arms when she inadvertently sensed his unusual behavior, which overturned her previous assumptions about him, and she couldn't help but want to find out what was going on.
However, the moment their skin touched, they both froze.
His wrists were burning hot, while her fingertips were icy cold, and the back of her hands were already red from the cold.
Without a second thought, he grabbed her hand, reined in the carriage, and scooped her up in his arms. As he bent down to enter the carriage, Qin Song's back occasionally brushed against his, making her increasingly aroused.
He placed her on the cushion, squatted down beside her feet, and rubbed her hands to warm them.
"Do you have a fever?" Qin Song was startled by her burning temperature and raised his hand to touch his forehead.
Upon touching her, Lu Youchuan let out another muffled gasp. He grabbed her hand and stared intently at her, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a black pool.
"It's alright." His voice tonight was often heavy with breathing, almost panting, which was particularly alluring, but he himself was completely unaware of it.
Qin Song had always felt that something was wrong with him tonight. She bent down, cupped his face, and looked down at his usually aloof face for the first time. This gave her an inexplicable sense of pleasure, and she wanted to humiliate him, crush him, and keep him in her private pool.
Thinking of this, she didn't say a word, but lowered her head and kissed him.
Lu Youchuan froze for a moment. More than ever, he wanted to kiss her. He stopped struggling, slowly raised his hand to hold her shoulder, and kissed her passionately...
Everything is reasonable and natural, like snowflakes covering red plum blossoms, a mutual agreement.
The cramped carriage was filled with a strange fragrance, and the panting breaths spread like wildfire.
At the end of the long street, the sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer. The city defense captain rode his horse beside Tao Qingyang and reported in real time: "Imperial Censor Lu's carriage is less than two miles ahead."
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