After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 21

Qun Qing was taller and slimmer than Ruo Chan, standing like a silver spear rooted in place. The wind stirred her sleeves and hair, but it couldn’t move her like the bamboo shoots rising from the ground.

She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes shading her expression. Her porcelain-white face did show signs of distress, yet there was no visible sadness.

In Qing Xuan Pavilion, Zheng Liangdi had positioned herself directly opposite Princess Bao An. It was unclear whether there had been a lack of communication among the spies in Kingdom Chu or if the princess simply couldn’t see the truth, but she seemed to be making things difficult for Qun Qing.

Lu Huating’s gaze fell on the hands in which Qun Qing held the cat.

If she and the princess were truly at odds this time, holding tightly onto Yang Fu’s cat suggested a lingering connection.

If they weren’t genuinely at odds, then it must be a performance; perhaps the mission from Kingdom Chu had changed, preventing her from confiding in the princess.

This woman was known for her patience; even sadness could be expressed as indifference.

Lu Huating couldn’t understand the relationship between Qun Qing and the princess. He only knew that in this palace, where bloodshed was a daily occurrence, if even the princess humiliated her, it would bring unbearable pain.

How tragic, a faint, cold smile appeared at the corners of his lips.

“Did Princess Bao An hit her as well?” he asked Ruo Chan lightly.

Clearly, Qun Qing was right next to them, but Ruo Chan couldn’t understand why this lord chose not to converse with her and instead targeted Ruo Chan, perhaps because she was more familiar. 

Reluctantly, she replied, “She didn’t hit me, but the princess made my sister kneel as punishment and even had her wipe her sleeves…”

Ignoring the formalities, Qun Qing turned on her heel and walked briskly away.

She was standing there merely lost in her thoughts and not intending to embarrass herself in front of Lu Huating.

“Miss, please wait.” Lu Huating’s voice came from behind.

Through the shadows on the wooden floor, Qun Qing saw the shadow of a crowned figure approaching her until it merged with her own.

The distance… was almost too close. The cold scent of sandalwood mixed with citrus wafted around her, creating a slight chill on the back of her neck. What was he doing?

Lu Huating tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across Qun Qing’s raven-black hair and landing on a red mark behind her ear.

It was a mark he had placed on her during a previous encounter. This mark had been there since the first year of Sheng Lin.

Seeing this, he reached out and brushed a fallen leaf off Qun Qing’s cloak, stepping back two paces. 

“The cat in your arms seems unwell.”

Before Qun Qing could speak, he calmly added, 

“Could you turn around and talk to me?”

Standing with her back to him was indeed quite impolite. Qun Qing had no choice but to turn, her eyes fixated on the sash at Lu Huating’s waist. Standing in someone else’s shadow was uncomfortable; she discreetly glanced up, only to find him staring intently at the cat.

The cat trembled all over, its ears pinned back, making a low whimpering sound, revealing its ferocity.

Lu Huating extended two fingers, undeterred by the cat’s growls, and gently stroked its fur, saying to the cat, 

“Why are you so scared? Were you frightened by Prince Yan earlier?”

Qun Qing interjected, 

“The chief advisor stood too close; it was you who scared it.”

Lu Huating paused, withdrew his fingers, and after a moment, stepped back.

“Do you know my official title?” he asked.

Qun Qing’s eyes sharpened as she calmly replied, 

“I heard from the other palace maids when you last acted as a priest.”

“Qun Qing.” Lu Huating suddenly called her name from above. It rolled off his tongue as if he had said it a thousand times before, cracking a mystery wide open.

Qun Qing abruptly looked up at his face.

Lu Huating was backlit, his eyes, like deep pools, fixed on her for a moment before he expressionlessly glanced at Ruo Chan. 

“I also heard it from her.”

“Miss Qing, have we met before? Why are you so cautious?” He rolled up his sleeve, continuing to rest his left hand on the cat’s head, speaking lightly, 

“We’ve crossed paths a few times, there’s no need to be so cautious.”

His actions seemed casual, yet he was patient and gentle. With both silent, the cat gradually calmed down, no longer bristling but instead playfully licking his hand.

At that moment, Lu Huating took something from his sleeve and quickly hung it around the cat’s neck. The cat screeched in fright, and Qun Qing’s hand clamped down heavily on his wrist.

Realizing he meant no harm to the cat, Qun Qing quickly released her grip, but it was too late. The cat opened its mouth and bit down on Lu Huating’s finger, reaching out with its claws, and Qun Qing gasped, gripping its canine teeth. 

“Pull your hand out.”

Lu Huating withdrew his hand, glancing at it; blood oozed from the tip of his finger.

Hanging from the cat’s neck was a small, delicate purple sachet embroidered with a silver fish, jingling gently with the sound of coins inside.

“Just pay back the money; why bother with teasing the cat?” Qun Qing, feeling no guilt, remarked, “This cat doesn’t understand human emotions. It just bites when scared.”

Perhaps because her previous grip had been too tight, when Lu Huating looked at her again, there was not a trace of amusement on his face, and the sharpness in his dark eyes was evident.

He truly despised being touched by others.

Qun Qing said nothing, rubbing her fingers in her sleeve, cursing her misfortune for having touched him.

Lost in her thoughts, she watched helplessly as the red thread of the sandalwood beads on Lu Huating’s wrist snapped, sending the beads scattering like rain.

Immediately, Qun Qing reached out to catch them, but it was in vain; the beads slipped through her fingers. Lu Huating was equally surprised and looked down to see the beads bouncing across the floor, impossible to recover.

They had shattered; she hadn’t even applied that much force, had she?

Crouching down to collect the beads while holding the cat, Qun Qing felt a surge of anxiety: she remembered that Lu Huating had nearly perished in childhood and had been sent to a temple for nurturing. The sandalwood beads on his wrist were a gift from Master Jia Zeng, serving a similar purpose as a life-saving talisman, and had not left his side for many years. Breaking them today was a terrible omen.

This man was already rebellious, and she didn’t want to incur his resentment.

Lu Huating stared at his empty wrist, lost in thought, and then brushed past her without a word.

“Lord Lu.” Qun Qing called out from behind him, her voice clear and crisp, like rain falling from the eaves, “How many beads were there? I’ll collect them for you. Please do not blame the palace servants.”

Having reached a corner, Lu Huating, draped in a white robe like a night-blooming cereus, responded after a moment, his tone unreadable: 

“Seventeen beads; if you can’t collect them, then forget it. I never blame others; those who shift blame to others are different.”

Qun Qing glanced at her palm, then tightened her grip.

She and Ruo Chan counted together and found they had only picked up sixteen beads; the last one was nowhere to be found, not knowing if it fell into the grass or rolled into a ditch.

“It’s important; I’ll come find it later.” Qun Qing placed the sandalwood beads in her bag, then looked at Ruo Chan’s face and hands, seeing her face had swollen up. 

She said, “I’ll take you back; you should rest first.”

“The wooden tray is broken, and the soup is spilled; how can I report this to the Crown Prince?” Ruo Chan protested, “Sister, wait for me. I’ll go get another serving.”

Qun Qing had already hidden the sachet. She stroked the cat in her arms for a long time, calming it, before calling over a passing maid from the Luanyi Pavilion. She handed the cat over to the maid and said, 

“You may go. I’ll take care of the rest.”

When no one was around, Qun Qing picked up the half bowl of soup and leaned it close to the stone bench. *Ding!* A crisp sound rang out.

The white porcelain bowl with gold inlay had a broken chip.

—

Shouxi wasn’t around, and the Crown Prince was in the main hall discussing matters. Only a young eunuch was guarding the entrance of the main hall.

He stepped forward to stop her, but Qun Qing pushed past him and barged into the hall.

The sound of the door opening caught Li Xuan’s sharp attention, and he turned to look at Qun Qing. Across from him, behind a curtain, were the silhouettes of a few people — likely three advisors.

Li Xuan saw that not only had she barged in, but she also looked disheveled and furious.

Qun Qing set down the tray. 

“Your Highness, please forgive me. I was delayed by Prince Yan, which is why I arrived late.”

Sure enough, the moment Li Huan, the person Li Xuan hated more, was mentioned, Li Xuan’s anger shifted. He scrutinized Qun Qing and, noticing the damaged bowl, his gaze deepened. 

“Did he trouble you?”

“Prince Yan blocked my way when he learned I was heading to the Eastern Palace. He refused to let me pass and even grabbed my shoulder, intending to act violently. Fortunately, the chief advisor of the Prince’s estate arrived and persuaded him to leave.”

Today, since Li Huan had dared to appear in front of her, she would take the opportunity to retaliate and calm her heart. Before entering, she had even purposely messed up a few strands of her hair.

Sure enough, her words were like pouring oil on the fire.

One of the advisors exclaimed, “Prince Yan, whose days are numbered, still dares to provoke like this. How arrogant!”

“He even dared to mess with the Crown Prince’s bowl — clearly showing no regard for the Eastern Palace! Isn’t it obvious what he’s trying to do?”

Li Xuan’s face grew grim, but he said nothing. After a moment, he raised his hand to stop the discussion. 

“I don’t believe Third brother would act like that.”

As he spoke, his chilling gaze landed on Qun Qing.

Qun Qing lowered her head and said, “Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare deceive you. It was Princess Bao’an who first came to make trouble when she saw me. However, Prince Yan misunderstood the situation and believed I was the one causing trouble for the Princess, so he intervened…”

Before she could finish, Li Xuan had already taken a sip of tea in annoyance. The advisors exchanged glances, and most of them believed her. 

They sighed, “Prince Yan always loses his mind when it comes to Princess Bao’an. It’s just as they say — desire can cloud one’s judgment. Who knows what kind of spell this princess from the former dynasty has cast on him.”

“The Crown Prince should marry Princess Bao’an sooner, to sever Prince Yan’s attachment.”

“No, no, that’s not a good idea. It’s better to stay far away from this Princess Bao’an. Judging by Prince Yan’s behavior, he seems to prefer beauty over power. If he holds a grudge, and one day covets his sister-in-law, wouldn’t that lead to future disaster?”

One advisor brought the topic back, saying, 

“According to this maid’s words, Zheng Fu led Prince Yan to the Emperor, but Advisor Lu was already waiting in the palace. How do we know he isn’t assisting from behind the scenes? Prince Yan has avoided disaster several times, and each time it was this man who saved him.”

“If I’m not mistaken, at the autumn banquet, the Emperor will announce an edict. Lu Hua Ting has a talent for reading the Emperor’s intentions. If he intervenes again this time…”

“He might not even need to intervene. The Ministry of Revenue controls the city’s permits, but I’ve heard it’s actually Advisor Lu who handles the verification process. If he doesn’t hand it over, the permits will collapse, and we won’t be able to ensure there are no spies entering or leaving the city. If he uses this to threaten the Emperor, even His Majesty would hesitate. Your Highness, should we submit that secret report and remove Seventh Young Master Lu from Prince Yan’s side first?”

Li Xuan thought for a long while and nodded slightly.

Qun Qing then saw a eunuch take a book from a box. This document was smaller than usual memorials, with a red gauze cover stuck to stiff paper — a secret memorial.

Secret memorials usually concerned officials with severe moral failings.

So the Crown Prince had leverage over Lu Huating.

Qun Qing hadn’t expected that her attack on Prince Yan would instead be directed at Lu Huating.

She wondered what crimes Lu Huating had committed…

Suddenly, Qun Qing noticed that Li Xuan was staring at her.

She had nothing to do with Lu Huating, yet lingering there and staring thoughtfully at the memorial made her seem highly suspicious.

After hesitating for a moment, her eyelashes fluttered. 

“Your Highness, this servant… bumped into Princess Bao’an on the way. The maids beside her are always twisting the truth, and they intend to complain about this servant to Your Highness. I am really scared…”

Li Xuan’s sharp gaze softened into confusion, as if realizing he might have been mistaken. He pointed toward the door, 

“Leave.”

The tall palace doors shut forcefully before Qun Qing’s eyes.

She brushed off her clothes and quietly left the hall, walking back in silence.

—

There was a banquet in the evening, and the senior maids in Qingxuan Pavilion were all busy. Lan Yue was helping Zheng Zhiyi change into her court attire.

Emperor Chenming disliked extravagance. After ascending the throne, he gradually abolished the frequent evening banquets of Chu and only kept the grand celebrations for festivals. At the end of each season, he held the “Four Seasons Banquet” to celebrate the harvest and strengthen the bonds between the royal family and their close ministers.

Tonight’s banquet at Hanyuan Hall was the autumn banquet, the grandest of all since autumn was the season of harvest. The dress code for the occasion was also the most elaborate.

Zheng Zhiyi placed the coronet atop her bun. She had always felt quite pleased with herself in the past, but now, looking in the mirror, a sense of insecurity arose. 

“I’m going to see so many people today. Do I really look good like this? Isn’t the crown too large? Does it make my face look too dark? Last time, they secretly laughed at me, saying I looked like a country girl.”

When Qun Qing entered with flowers, Zheng Zhiyi nearly jumped up. “That golden chrysanthemum has only bloomed one flower, and you’ve cut it off!”

Qun Qing held not just chrysanthemums, but also osmanthus and roses, a bouquet of bright yellows and soft golds.

Lan Yue ran out to check and found that the flowerbed had been picked over, leaving it in a pitiful state. She returned, disheartened, and said, 

“You people from the Yeting Courtyard, aren’t you all so ruthless?”

Qun Qing didn’t understand the connection between Yeting and ruthlessness.

Zheng Zhiyi and Lan Yue had cultivated that flowerbed with an unexpected level of affection, making Qun Qing feel guilty. Her voice softened. 

“Liangdi, tonight is your time to shine. There’s no time to wait for the flowers to bloom.”

As she spoke, she ruthlessly placed the still-unbloomed flowers into the prepared warm water, then began styling Zheng Zhiyi’s hair.

“Liangdi, you’re still young, and wearing a coronet might look a bit old-fashioned. I’ll add fresh flowers to the crown later to make you look more vibrant.” 

Seeing Zheng Zhiyi’s doubtful gaze, Qun Qing lifted her chin from behind. 

“Hold your head high. Weren’t you always confident before? Liangdi, your face is balanced and brings good fortune. Many empresses in history had this kind of look. If anyone mocks you, just scold them loudly.”

“Hmm?” Zheng Zhiyi was half-convinced. “Didn’t you all say before that it’s vulgar to curse at people and that I shouldn’t speak carelessly?”

“I said to scold, not curse. There’s a difference between everyday behavior and a banquet. When you wear this court attire, you are the consort. What is there to fear when you have me backing you up?” Qun Qing maintained her sincere expression.

Lan Yue glanced coldly at Qun Qing. The audacity of this girl! But Zheng Zhiyi believed her, and even smiled like the setting sun. 

“If Lady Qing says I am, then I am.”

Once the high bun was done, the golden chrysanthemum and other flowers had bloomed fully under her care. Zheng Zhiyi watched as Qun Qing trimmed the flowers and added them one by one to her temples. She felt as though, like the flowers being forced to bloom, she herself was slowly transforming, with the help of her attire, into the magnificent person she once doubted she could be.

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