After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - chapter 22

Lu Jingchuan stood not far from Qin Yuqing, his face expressionless, yet his eyes surged with complicated emotions.

Tipsy, Qin Yuqing giggled, pointing proudly at the cage behind her. “I saved them,” she said, beaming at Lu Jingchuan.

He stepped forward and glanced at the cage. His tone was calm, but his words cut deep: “You even dared to light the wine lanterns.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!” If she had been sober, Qin Yuqing would have realized he was angry. But at this moment, she was the hidden “drunk version” of herself.

Knowing reason wouldn’t work with a drunk, Lu Jingchuan turned away coldly. “I’ll escort the Princess back to the palace.”

Yet, there were no footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw a certain woman glaring at him, cheeks puffed up in defiance.

“I won’t!” Qin Yuqing stood with hands on her hips, imperious yet strangely adorable—a side of her rarely seen.

Her pout practically demanded: You’d better coax me. If you don’t, I’m not leaving.

For some reason, Lu Jingchuan suddenly found her unbearably cute. His earlier frustration was swept away. This version of Qin Yuqing—this side of her—was his alone to see.

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but smile, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

“What are you laughing at!” Qin Yuqing stomped forward a few steps, puffing up with mock indignation. “You’re not allowed to laugh. If you laugh again, I’ll punish you! Believe it or not!”

Helpless, Lu Jingchuan nodded, his tone unconsciously softening with a tenderness he hadn’t expected. “I won’t laugh. Come back with me…”

Just then, a breeze stirred the bells in the room, their crisp sound echoing the beat of his heart.

Qin Yuqing reached out and poked the corner of his lips, lifting them upward with her finger. Like a sly little fox who’d gotten away with mischief, she grinned. “See? You are laughing!”

Then, cupping her own face, she looked at him with bright-eyed anticipation.

Lu Jingchuan sighed softly, though the smile wouldn’t leave his lips. “Ah Ruan, how do you want to punish me?”

Tilting her head, she thought seriously for a moment before declaring, “Then your punishment is to carry me back!”

“Alright, whatever Ah Ruan says.” He crouched down, smiling warmly, his voice gentle. “My princess, please.”

Qin Yuqing burst into silly laughter, leaping onto his back. “Heave-ho!” Wrapping her slender arms around his neck, she chirped, “Let’s go, take me home!”

Lu Jingchuan froze for a moment, as if doubting his own ears. Then, in a low murmur filled with emotion, he whispered, “Home… yes, going home.”

“Come on, Chuntao’s waiting outside,” Qin Yuqing murmured, resting her head against his shoulder, her voice soft with drink. “Do you still remember the way? If you get lost, I’ll punish you to carry me home every day.”

He chuckled under his breath. For a second, he almost believed her. But the scent of alcohol on her told him she was drunk; once sober, she would never say such things.

“I remember.” His steps were steady, his voice both to her and to himself: “And you, too—remember.”

On his back, Qin Yuqing hummed a little tune, simple and childish, like something a child might sing absentmindedly.

Lu Jingchuan’s eyes turned red. Looking up at the moon, he finally asked quietly, “Why does the Princess want to become Empress?”

“That…” Qin Yuqing hummed lazily. “Guess.”

“You want to go back?” he asked cautiously.

“Yes.” Her drunk voice brimmed with longing. “I want to return to a place far, far away. A place without constant fear, not as cut off as here.

“There, I can eat delicious food, play with fun things, and be with really, really good friends.”

Lu Jingchuan’s steps faltered. Pain pierced him as he closed his eyes. A tear slipped down his cheek. How could he not hear her yearning, her nostalgia? That place she spoke of—it must truly be wonderful.

“But don’t worry,” Qin Yuqing added softly, “I like you very much. So I’ll take you with me.”

His eyes flew open, disbelief flooding them. He almost couldn’t trust what he’d heard.

“Don’t tell me you forgot the way?” Qin Yuqing grumbled, pointing stubbornly in a direction. “See, you still need me. Come on, Ah Ruan will guide you.”

“…Thank you, Ah Ruan.” This time his steps grew heavier, steadier, yet carried a trace of peace.

Qin Yuqing patted his neck playfully. “Even if you don’t tell me all your plans, at least you always get things done. You’re dependable, someone who knows propriety—I feel very reassured with you.”

But then her tone sharpened, arms tightening around his neck. “Just like Wen Shan, Chen Yiyun, and that fake father you arranged—to cover up for Park Qinghe and stir up the exam scandal. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Ah Ruan—Ah Ruan—I can’t breathe,” Lu Jingchuan choked, patting her hands.

She loosened her grip, her voice sad. “You need to trust me. As your partner, I can understand your plans. I’ll stand with you. You must trust me, otherwise I’ll be very hurt.”

As a modern-day CEO, Qin Yuqing understood: trust was the foundation of any lasting partnership.

“…Alright, Jingchuan knows he was wrong.”

Satisfied, Qin Yuqing nodded, though resting on his shoulder made it look like she was nuzzling him instead.

Her humming grew softer, until only the long rhythm of her breathing remained.

Lu Jingchuan stepped outside, spotting Chuntao in the distance. With a shake of his head, he signaled her to stay silent.

Chuntao nodded and carefully took the Princess. She was about to place her in the carriage, but Lu Jingchuan shook his head. Tapping another carriage hidden in the grass, he revealed a wider, softer ride.

Chuntao started to carry Qin Yuqing there, but Lu Jingchuan silently stopped her. Understanding, she placed the Princess in his arms instead and went off to drive with Lu Jiu.

“Xiao Jiu, don’t you think the stars look especially bright tonight?”

Lu Jiu looked carefully, then muttered, “There aren’t any stars tonight.”

Chuntao laughed and swatted his back. “You idiot.”

Inside, all the seats had been removed, replaced with a carpet of white fur.

Lu Jingchuan gently laid Qin Yuqing down, covering her with a blanket.

“Sweet dreams, Ah Ruan.” His gaze lingered on her rosy lips as he leaned closer, breaths tangling, the air heating between them.

“I’ll take you home.” He stopped with just a fist’s distance remaining, eyes heavy with restraint, before pulling back and closing his eyes.

In her sleep, Qin Yuqing smacked her lips, as if dreaming of something delicious.

The next morning, she woke with a pounding headache. She regretted drinking at all—no wonder this dynasty prided itself on wine, it was far too strong.

Looking around at the familiar palace furnishings, she realized she’d somehow returned from Chunshan Pavilion.

But… how exactly had she gotten back?

She tried recalling the night before, but her mind was blank—only a blurry glimpse of Lu Jingchuan lingered.

She’d blacked out.

“System, what happened last night?” Qin Yuqing clutched her head.

【?】

【The system does not monitor the host 24/7.】

Frustrated by the answer, she gave up. Still, she trusted Lu Jingchuan wouldn’t have crossed any lines. Leaving her drunken self to him was safe.

“Princess, you’re awake. Do you feel unwell?” Chuntao entered with a bowl of porridge.

“My head hurts.” After washing up with Chuntao’s help, Qin Yuqing sipped the porridge and asked, “What happened last night?”

“You don’t remember?” Chuntao hesitated. If the Princess learned how she’d clung to the master like a spoiled child, she might very well chop the master into pieces…

“It was the master who brought you back.”

Qin Yuqing nodded. As long as it was Lu Jingchuan, she was reassured.

“Princess, there are two people outside. They were sent from Chunshan Pavilion. I wasn’t sure whether to accept them, so I had them wait in the courtyard.”

That jogged her memory—the twin siblings she had saved last night with the wine lantern ritual. Reclining on the chaise, she said, “Bring them in.”

Two children were led in, bound in old-fashioned stocks and coarse ropes.

“Indeed, you twins do have some charm,” Qin Yuqing remarked, chin resting on her hand as her eyes fell to the rope dragging along the floor. “Do you still remember what we agreed upon yesterday?”

The twins exchanged a glance, wary but not hostile toward her personally.

“Introduce yourselves. What are your names, where are you from?” Her gaze softened on the girl peeking timidly from behind her brother. “Little one, you first.”

“My name is Xiaolu—like the deer,” the girl said, her voice as sweet as a songbird’s.

“Xiaowu. Like the number five,” her brother muttered, clearly disinclined to talk.

…How much he resembled someone. Someone around Lu Jingchuan.

“Do you still remember which part of Alhan you’re from?” she asked next. Though she hadn’t studied every detail, she at least knew the general geography since arriving here.

Alhan, in modern terms, was like Xinjiang or Tibet.

“Alhan,” Xiaowu answered flatly.

“I know you’re from Alhan. I mean which part?” Qin Yuqing rubbed her aching temples, Chuntao stepping up to massage gently.

The twins shifted uneasily, glancing at each other again in silence.

“Then I’ll change the question. How old are you?”

Another round of silent glances.

“Stop. Both of you, look at me.” Qin Yuqing cut them off. “Which one is older?”

“Me,” Xiaowu answered this time.

She felt like she was squeezing toothpaste with every question. She was about to dismiss them when Xiaolu finally stepped forward, trembling.

“Benefactor…” she began, trying to kneel. Qin Yuqing’s sharp look stopped her. Clenching her teeth, she explained, “My brother and I woke up at the bottom of a cliff. Except for our milk names and knowing we’re siblings, we remembered nothing else.”

“Do you remember where you fell?” At last, something useful.

“The people who took us said… that place was Bìzhou.”

“Bìzhou…” Qin Yuqing searched her memory of the book’s contents but found nothing. It seemed these twins and their fate were entirely outside the original story.

“You’ll stay in the side hall for now. Later, I’ll take you somewhere.” With a wave, she dismissed them, and Chuntao led the siblings away.

“Keeping them here in the palace won’t do…” She tapped her teacup once, then firmly declared:

“Send them there. That will be just right.”