After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 34

The room was bathed in sunlight, ropes strewn around, and two women’s skirts overlapping, one pressing down on the other. When Eunuch Pei saw this, he was so shocked that his legs went weak, nearly unable to support himself.

He had only restrained one, so how did another one appear?

Lu Huating walked straight in, grabbed the collar of the woman in red, lifted her away, and inspected her face, confirming it was the person he was looking for.

“Yunu?”

Yunu, however, seemed disoriented, and with flushed cheeks, she clutched at his sleeve. Without having taken a sip from his cup of Yixing Snow Bud tea, Lu Huating poured it over her face to clear her head before setting her aside.

Half the tea remained, and Qun Qing reflexively shielded her face. When she looked at the other person on the floor, Lu Huating froze mid-action, spilling tea over his own hand.

Qun Qing propped herself up and saw a slender, bony hand holding a jade cup, tea dripping from slightly curled fingers.

Squatting beside her, he shielded her from view while observing her expression carefully. He turned to the person at the door, instructing,

“Leave.”

She quickly fastened her clothes and placed a silver hairpin in her hair.

When Lu Huating turned back, he was startled to see Qun Qing lowering her hand from her head, already resuming her usual composed demeanor.

The good news was that although she’d been caught red-handed, it was by someone familiar.

The bad news? That person was Lu Huating…

A lingering numbness spread through her limbs, and Qun Qing tried supporting herself but found she couldn’t stand. Lu Huating remained seated, studying Yunu intently before turning to her with a hint of amusement.

“You… couldn’t shake her off?”

The implication was clear—she, who could throw a knife to wound palace guards, couldn’t push away a delicate woman. Their gazes met, and his dark, bright eyes carried a trace of malice.

Already irked by her unexpected mishap, his chilling curiosity, or perhaps mockery, ignited a sudden flare of anger in her.

Observing the tips of her ears, Lu Huating’s cold gaze softened slightly. Although she didn’t respond, her ears were already flushed red.

Qun Qing suddenly leaned in, brushing against his sleeve, taking a sniff. Startled, Lu Huating drew his hand back, her nose grazing the soft fabric as his fingers recoiled inside the sleeve.

“The rosemary I gave you—it seems that Jiansu lit it for you.” Qun Qing straightened up, catching a whiff of rosemary. “For your swift recovery, it seems I deserve some credit, don’t you think?”

She had the audacity to bring it up, as if he didn’t know who had triggered his relapse. Lu Huating’s face paled, his eyes darkening, a touch intimidating.

“Qun Qing!” Eunuch Pei, recognizing her face, ignored Madam Zhang’s attempt to restrain him and barged in. “This is the Chief Supervisor’s Main Hall, and I locked the doors. What business do you have breaking in here?”

Qun Qing and Madam Zhang had conspired, thwarting his plans, and on top of that, it had to be when officials from the Ministry of Justice were around.

“Eunuch Pei, what intentions did you have, locking a palace maid in your main hall?” Qun Qing retorted sharply.

“Do you think your imperial appointment has raised you so high?” Eunuch Pei’s expression twisted, and he pointed at her. “I am a proper sixth-ranked Chief Supervisor. You are just a mere servant! Are you forgetting your place, daring to question me like this? I could charge you with insubordination right now!”

“To the Ministry of Justice official here—do you see this? Why don’t you take her back for investigation, to find out what kind of plot she had, sneaking into this restricted area!”

Qun Qing felt a chill. Eunuch Pei’s act of hiding a palace maid here gave her grounds to defend herself. But if word spread about her breaking into the palace records, it might raise suspicions with those watching from within the palace.

She turned to Lu Huating, who said nothing, calmly adjusting his sleeves, seemingly waiting to hear what she would say next.

“Eunuch Pei, the Ministry of Justice came to collect her last evening, yet you kept Yunu locked in here, delaying her transfer. The Ministry of Justice knows there’s risk in her staying with you, and they know your slippery ways.” Seated on the ground, Qun Qing smiled.

“Had the Advisor not ordered me to sneak in, how would we have caught you in the act?”

Eunuch Pei’s face turned pale. These two… they’d played him like a fiddle!

Even Lu Huating looked over at her, astonished by her audacity. She was disheveled, seated on the floor, yet within a mere moment, she’d woven a seamless story, making it sound plausible enough to catch Eunuch Pei off guard.

The next moment, she turned to him and said softly,

“I don’t feel well.”

Propping herself up with one hand, her skirt trailing, her gaze carried a tender glimmer. Her pale cheeks looked nearly transparent, delicate as cicada wings.

She was pretending to be weak.

Lu Huating looked at her quietly. In the past, whenever Qun Qing saw him, she would avoid him at all costs, even burning her own handwriting or giving away items associated with him. One thing was certain—she would never surrender. Yet now, her demeanor was like an invitation, tempting him to walk into a trap.

Qun Qing felt her heartbeat in her throat, instinctively feeling this might work. Were their roles reversed, she, too, might feel inclined to pursue. But since she’d never acted this way before, her nerves were tense.

After staring at her for a while, Lu Huating finally murmured,

“What does it matter to me if you’re unwell?”

Qun Qing closed her eyes, embarrassment heating her temples, but her heart settled down.

Clearly, she wasn’t suited for this approach.

Eunuch Pei glanced between Lu Huating and Qun Qing, a flash of malice in his eyes.

“Lord Lu, don’t listen to her deceit. This servant is skilled at twisting the truth! Guards…”

Lu Huating suddenly smiled, as if amused.

“Eunuch Pei, I was merely joking with Miss Qing. Did you take it seriously?”

Eunuch Pei stood frozen in shock as Lu Huating rose to his feet and addressed him sternly,

“Eunuch Pei, follow me. Guards, escort Yunu and help Miss Qing up.”

“Wait.” Qun Qing caught her breath, quickly calling out, and Lu Huating actually paused. “Eunuch Pei gave Yunu the Hehuan Powder. She might die—please, cure her before you leave.”

Hearing this, Lu Huating’s expression turned strange. He turned back to Eunuch Pei.

“Is Hehuan Powder lethal?”

“N-no, it’s just an aphrodisiac!” Eunuch Pei stammered, trembling. “She wasn’t compliant, so I frightened her a bit. I wouldn’t dare harm a palace maid!”

“Did you hear that, Yunu?” Lu Huating gazed at his own knuckles, a faint smile on his face. “Don’t be afraid. You won’t die; you’ll just feel a little… unwell. Endure it.”

His implication was clear, and Qun Qing’s fingers tightened as Lu Huating left the room.

---

Two Ministry of Justice clerks entered to lift Yunu, and Madam Zhang helped Qun Qing up.

“What’s going on here?” Madam Zhang asked.

Qun Qing ignored her, turning to Yunu, who was visibly terrified. “Yunu, there are many principled people in the Ministry. Don’t be afraid; you’ll be safer there. Just answer whatever they ask.”

Yunu paused, then abruptly freed herself from the clerks and gripped Qun Qing’s wrist.

Her clothes were tattered, but her face was clean, her wide eyes holding a naive purity beyond her years.

“Have we met? Do you know me?”

After a long pause, Qun Qing pulled her hand away and replied indifferently,

“I’ve never seen you before. I don’t know you.”

Disheartened, Yunu felt lost. Why would Qun Qing be so kind to her?

In her experience, people treated her with initial respect, but as they grew familiar, they resorted to beatings and scorn. Except for Sister Chun, no one had ever shown her such kindness.

Suddenly, Qun Qing hugged Yunu and whispered in her ear,

“I’ll take care of what you asked.”

Yunu’s eyes widened, but before she could respond, Qun Qing pushed her away.

“Take her.”

Watching Yunu being led out, Qun Qing recalled what Yunu had murmured about “Sister Chun” while they were tangled on the floor.

Spring Sister had taught her to hide a blade, each technique a Southern Chu assassination skill identical to her own training.

In her last days, Lady Chun gave Yunu something, with instructions to pass it on to someone who could recognize her if she were to die. The method of validation involved a technique that An Ren had taught her.

This was enough for Qun Qing to deduce Lady Chun’s likely identity as a spy from Southern Chu, a pawn adrift in the turbulent world.

–
In the side hall, before Lu Huating could speak, Pei Jianzuo immediately dropped to his knees.

Lu Huating did not publicly criticize him but chose a private conversation, a gesture that Pei Jianzuo, having been in official circles for years, recognized as an opportunity to defend himself.

However, Lu Huating’s next words shattered any hope: “Abusing a palace maid—is that not a crime? But attempting to silence witnesses? That alone warrants exile. In such cases, I tend to be severe. Since both Miss Qing and Yu Nu are witnesses, perhaps a beating to death is in order.”

The Prince Yan’s manor was known for swift and decisive actions, and with Lu Huating holding the token of the the Court of Judicial Review, Pei Jianzuo was terrified, pleading,

“The Court of Judicial Review summoned her. Seeing Yu Nu’s beauty, I had improper thoughts, but as a eunuch, I could not violate her chastity. The advisor can attest to that! Besides, nothing has happened yet, so what destruction of evidence could there be?”

Lu Huating looked at him for a moment before replying, “A low-ranking eunuch supervisor, overstepping his boundaries, dares to act on his lust. And before a witness is sent to the Justice Department, you detain and handle them. Are you not afraid that Yu Nu’s first act upon arrival would be to accuse you?”

Pei Jianzuo broke into a cold sweat. “I…”

“Or is it that you’re well aware Yu Nu would never reach the Court of Judicial Review or have a chance to speak?” Lu Huating brushed his fingers over an orchid leaf in the room.

“Did someone order you to kill her before she could be questioned?”

The words struck Pei Jianzuo like a thunderbolt, his expression changing drastically, shocked that Lu Huating had guessed the underlying motive.

“You see, did I accuse you wrongly of destroying evidence?” Lu Huating said, “The Court of Judicial Review can determine the cause of death. Even if you try to label her death as sudden, it will be hard for you to avoid responsibility. Yunu died in Yeting, and as the supervisor of that place, who else would be held accountable if not you?”

Pei, the supervisor, understood the reasoning and quickly replied, “I was only following orders and momentarily lost my sense. I was indeed instructed to get rid of Yunu, but seeing that she was rather attractive, it felt like a waste to just kill her. So, I thought it would be better to… take advantage first. If I had known she was so important, I’d never have agreed… In fact, you could say I spared her life.”

“Who ordered you?” Lu Huating pressed.

“Please, Advisor, don’t make things difficult for me…”

“I’m trying to offer you a way out,” Lu Huating replied, a faint look of disdain crossing his eyes. He leaned against the cabinet. “Let me guess. Was it the older Meng or the younger Meng who ordered you to kill Yunu?”

If Pei was merely afraid before, he was now as pale as a ghost. Lu Huating had already deduced his connection to the Meng family. As a political rival, Lu Huating wouldn’t let him off easily.

Pei hesitated, “I don’t understand. Aren’t they part of the same family?”

“Brothers may turn against each other. Between father and son, there’s bound to be some friction,” Lu Huating observed, noting Pei’s keen attention.

He added with a smile, “Yunu is Meng Guanlou’s beloved concubine. As far as I know, Meng Guanlou cherishes his women and would hesitate to kill them. So, it must be the Prime Minister Meng. If you followed his orders to kill Yunu, imagine how much Meng Guanlou would resent you for it. He might not defy his father, but he certainly wouldn’t hesitate to kill a eunuch like you.”

“The Prime Minister is at his peak, but he will age and die one day. When that happens, all his power will transfer to Meng Guanlou. From the moment you agreed to this task, you were on a path to certain death.”

The words struck Pei like icy arrows, and he nearly collapsed, realizing he had been thoroughly manipulated. He pleaded with Lu Huating for a way out, promising gratitude and loyalty.

“The Meng family is at odds with Prince Yan’s faction. Since you are with the Mengs, helping you would only harm you,” Lu Huating remarked with a smile. “By sparing Yunu’s life, you can be considered to have ‘performed a service.’ I will report to have you removed from office and demoted back to servitude in Yeting. The Meng family will know I had a hand in it and likely won’t hold a grudge against someone so minor. In the meantime, you can empty chamber pots in the residence. How about that?”

Compared to flogging or exile, emptying chamber pots seemed acceptable. Pei bowed repeatedly, his official cap rolling off and revealing his graying temples.

Lu Huating nudged the cap aside with his foot, distastefully stepping past Pei.

“Pack up and make way.”

---

“Advisor, that was incredible,” Jian Su said. “Just a few words, and he’s grateful to be dismissed.”

But Lu Huating suddenly stopped, nearly causing Jian Su to stumble into him.

Under the eaves, facing away from them, was a familiar silhouette.

Qun Qing hadn’t left after all.

“You go back first,” Lu Huating said.

Hearing footsteps approach, Qun Qing turned to leave.

She looked down at her shadow on the ground. The sun cast a long, slanted shadow, hers and Lu Huating’s following at a deliberate distance.

As Qun Qing’s hem trailed through the corridor and greenery, a faint clinking sound followed. It was the sound of the tokens and dagger hanging from Lu Huating’s sash.

She always knew Lu Huating enjoyed playing cat and mouse. But only today did she realize the one holding the string also felt a surge of adrenaline.

With a quick move, Qun Qing vanished.

Lu Huating found himself in front of a jagged rock formation.

He paused, then bent to enter the rock tunnel.

Inside was a tiny stone chamber. As he entered, a sharp silver hairpin pressed against his neck.

“It seems you’re in much better shape now,” Lu Huating remarked coldly after a moment. Though threatened, he leaned lazily against the stone wall.

A shaft of light illuminated him fully, though Qun Qing remained hidden in the shadows.

Propping herself against the wall, Qun Qing’s arm felt weak. She eyed Lu Huating’s face bathed in the golden glow, giving her the thrill of having subdued a powerful beast.

She cut to the point. “Advisor, last time, you said we had nothing to do with each other, that you had no reason to respect my wishes. I remembered that. But at the Western Market, you borrowed my influence. It’s only fair we’re even after today.”

Her words seemed focused on severing ties.

A hint of darkness flickered in Lu Huating’s eyes.

“It seems you remember my words well,” he said, a faint cold smile at his lips.

“And if you were plotting my death, shouldn’t you compensate me?” He moved his neck against the sharp hairpin. “Or perhaps I should be owed something?”

His dark eyes approached hers, but she didn’t relent. The hairpin pierced his skin, leaving a thin red line.

“You’re investigating Yunu to find something belonging to Lady Chun, correct?” Qun Qing’s voice was cold, like rain striking jade.

“Yunu told me its location. Is this information worth a jab at you?”

Unlike Yang Fu, she wouldn’t drop her weapon.

Startled or pained, Lu Huating’s eyelashes fluttered, and he remained still.

“If you want, you could try interrogating Yunu again,” Qun Qing continued, unfurling a slip of paper. “She knows only so much. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and test it.”

The paper bore an old rhyme:

“September’s hibiscus bloom, marry four families soon.”¹

Lu Huating glimpsed the cryptic verse.

“Breaking this case will take time. Given that you came straight to this case after recovering, time must be pressing for you.” Qun Qing added, “I can solve it.”

“What’s your connection to Lady Chun?” Lu Huating asked after a pause.

“I don’t know her,” Qun Qing replied without hesitation. “But I know Yunu. She once helped me with water buckets when I was young and impoverished. Today, she gave me this information, asking me to help her sister Chun. If the case is resolved quickly, Yunu will be free, and I will have repaid her. This rhyme is an old palace verse from Chu. I heard it often from the nannies in the Consort’s Residence, so I can give it a try.”

This explanation sounded sincere. Lu Huating sneered, thinking that the gratitude was fake, and Kingdom Chu’s mission was real. He just didn’t expect that she had the courage to seek the skin of a tiger:

“You want to cooperate with me, what are the conditions?”

“First, when searching for evidence, I will go to Si Ye Lou with you. I promised Yunu to fetch it myself, so you should be able to arrange it. Second, the palace rules are strict, and I don’t want to alert others when I leave the palace. Since you are in charge of the talisman, then ask the chief secretary to give me a temporary talisman for two days. Second, after the matter is done, send Yunu to a place where Meng Guan Lou can’t find her.”

“Okay.” Unexpectedly, Lu Huating agreed without hesitation.

Things went more smoothly than expected. He neither questioned nor pestered her. It seemed that this thing was really important to the Prince of Yan’s Mansion. He was eager to get the result, and her conditions were nothing.

Since the goal is the same, cooperation is the most efficient way, and Lu Huating understands this..

Her goal was achieved, and now she had a way to go to Si Ye Lou to get the account book.

Relieved, she lowered the hairpin—only for Lu Huating to suddenly seize her hand, pinning her against the cold stone. His movements swift, he cut a piece of her scarf with his dagger.

Qun Qing pulled back her scarf, only for him to press her firmly against the stone wall, their breaths mingling with a faint metallic scent.

The two of them were breathing rapidly, mixed with a hint of blood. Qun Qing heard his voice ringing in his ears: “Sorry. I’m really not used to people pointing with a blade at my throat and talking to me.”

He wrapped his hands around the shawl in circles, and then put them around her neck. His fingers did not exert any force, but Qun Qing felt as if a cold poisonous snake was clinging to her, pressing the back of her neck against the cold stone wall.

There was no one here, so it was easy for her to let out her murderous intent. Because of her resentment for him, Lu Huating must have hated her, right? This man was originally a cruel official. If he was going to settle accounts with her, she would be unable to resist him now…

Qun Qing had no choice but to look at his own secret button.

There was nothing in the secret button, but Lu Huating followed her gaze, his eyes were filled with fear, and his hands tightened.

The memory of his last life before death came back to him, and a cold sweat rolled down his face, but there was no sharp pain in his waist and abdomen. A line of tension came from the right bun, seeping from the scalp into the spine. It was the silver hairpin that he pushed into the bun bit by bit.

Then, all the shackles suddenly left her like the receding tide.

Lu Huating lowered his eyes and looked at his hands, his fingertips were cold and wet.

Before he could use any force, his fingers were soaked with her cold sweat again.

This chaotic feeling also made him feel bad, but there was no handkerchief here.

Qun Qing finally took a breath, only to hear Lu Huating say something inexplicably:

“It seems you fear all men, not just Prince Yan.”

After hearing this, Qun Qing broke free from the shawl and pushed him away. Lu Huating was completely unprepared and her back hit the jagged rock wall. It must have been painful, but she didn’t care about that anymore and quickly walked out of the cave.

She was anxious to leave this place.

It was still a brisk autumn day outside. The wind rustled the paulownia leaves in the garden and brushed against Qun Qing’s hot cheeks and neck.

As she walked forward, she felt a force pulling her from behind.

Looking back, the shawl on my arm seemed to be caught in the crack of the stone.

Qun Qing turned back. In the dark, Lu Huating was leaning against the stone wall, his sleeves hanging down, covering the back of his hands. Qun Qing saw that a corner of the silver-red shawl was caught between his two fingers.

“I was merely restraining you earlier. Nothing more,” Lu Huating said when he saw her come back.

The words were sincere, but it turned out to be an explanation.