After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 43

A sliver of shadow fell across Yang Fu’s face.

She looked up. The hem of her light cyan prayer gown, cinched delicately at the waist, flowed gracefully. The draped scarf and silk sashes hanging over her skirt, along with the loose strands of hair by her cheeks, swayed gently with her steps, further accentuating her ethereal and composed demeanor.

Qun Qing crouched down and handed Yang Fu a sugar bun. From afar, it appeared to be a gesture of care and concern.

But up close, it was anything but seeing who it was, Yang Fu’s face flushed as blood surged to her head. Shaking off the maid’s support, she glared at Qun Qing with unrestrained loathing.

If looks could kill, Yang Fu would have carved a gash in Qun Qing’s face, just to see her wince in pain. But Qun Qing met her gaze directly, her dark eyes unwavering as she spoke softly, 

“How does it feel? Leaning on a mountain only to have it crumble, relying on people only for them to run, trusting the wolves outside only to be bitten in return?”

Yang Fu froze. Qun Qing had never looked at her this way before. Realization struck— Qun Qing was angry, and her fury was chilling.

“How laughable. What right do you have to judge me? Even if my former master has fallen from grace, treating me like this—isn’t that disloyalty?”

“I died for you once. My loyalty is fulfilled.” Qun Qing looked at her calmly. “Now, I have nothing to do with you. I won, and you lost.”

Yang Fu choked, the words twisting a knife in her heart. The second sentence hurt far more than the first. It felt as though the gentle Qun Qing from before had truly died. Gritting her teeth, she hissed, 

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose who you really are?”

“Go ahead,” Qun Qing replied coldly, firmly pressing the sugar bun into Yang Fu’s hand. 

“Say it right here, in front of these imperial relatives. Once you’re done, we’ll both face execution. Can you bear to face your ancestors and the late Grand Tutor in the underworld, after ruining their legacy?”

Yang Fu was speechless. Clutching the sugar bun tightly, her face turned deathly pale. This reaction surprised Qun Qing. It seemed Yang Fu wasn’t entirely heartless. The teachings of the late Grand Tutor and the admonitions of the Princess Changping had left some mark on her.

Qun Qing’s purpose was clear: to ensure Yang Fu wouldn’t reveal her identity. But feigning friendliness with Yang Fu was beyond her. Discovering that Yang Fu still had this moral baseline, Qun Qing regarded her a little higher than before.

As Qun Qing walked away, she heard the sugar bun hit the ground behind her. Pausing for a moment, she lifted her skirt slightly to avoid stepping on the splattered red syrup.

“What’s the point of wasting kindness on someone who doesn’t appreciate it?” Zheng Zhiyi approached, pouting. She gestured for the maids to clean up the mess, then pulled Qun Qing along. “Come quickly, Minister Meng wants to meet you.”

The ceremonial lighting had concluded, and the ministers waiting outside the hall entered for the vegetarian meal. Among them was Minister Meng, who approached Zheng Zhiyi to congratulate her.

“Just now, I was outside and felt deeply moved,” he said. “The Crown Princess will surely become a virtuous support for His Highness in the future.”

As the Crown Prince’s tutor, Minister Meng’s words made Zheng Zhiyi blush with pride.

Watching Minister Meng speak, Qun Qing found it hard to reconcile his demeanor with his recent actions. Only the day before, he had openly supported Princess Bao’an’s bid for the position of Crown Princess. How quickly things changed.

As she pondered, Minister Meng turned to her, his gaze assessing. Qun Qing quickly lowered her eyes as a sign of courtesy.

Though over fifty, Minister Meng remained tall and dignified, with an elegant bearing. His eyes were sharp, and his bearded visage added to his refined appearance, earning him the title of “the Handsome Bearded Gentleman.” His gaze wasn’t intrusive but held a trace of amusement.

“I’ve long heard that His Highness has an extraordinary lady by his side. Seeing is believing—Lady Qing, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Qun Qing accepted the tea from Minister Meng with both hands, sipped it lightly, and bowed. 

“This servant merely looks after the Crown Princess’s daily needs within the palace. Minister Meng is overly kind.”

“No need to be so tense.” One of the Crown Prince’s advisors, who didn’t regard Qun Qing highly, remarked dismissively, “Minister Meng has a daughter about your age. Perhaps he looks at you with the same affection.”

“Mind your manners,” Meng Guangshen interrupted, raising a hand. “Though young, Lady Qing is a capable member of the Eastern Palace. She is of the same generation as you and me. How can you treat her like a child? You should learn from each other.”

The advisor, embarrassed, quickly apologized to Qun Qing.

Receiving such high regard left Qun Qing uneasy. Compared to Meng Guanlou, Meng Guangshen seemed much more composed and inscrutable.

Meng Guangshen then retrieved a small dagger encased in a deerskin sheath from his sleeve. 

“This is our first meeting. I have little to offer, but this dagger is from the Kingdom of Qiuci, adorned with gemstones. Please accept it for self-defense.”

Li Xuan finally lifted his gaze and couldn’t help but interject, 

“What is the Chancellor doing?”

“Would I not assist someone His Highness intends to promote?” Meng Guangshen sighed. “His Highness is a man of strong convictions, while I, an old minister, have a motherly disposition.  Sometimes I take on too much, which inevitably makes people annoyed, but deep down I always wish the best for your Highness. I hope your Highness understands my sincerity.”

His heartfelt words left Li Xuan without a retort. 

“It’s my own narrow-mindedness. I ask for the Chancellor’s forgiveness.”

Holding the dagger in her sleeve, Qun Qing realized that Meng Guangshen’s gesture not only elevated her status but also eased tensions with Li Xuan. Observing the two deep in conversation, she excused herself.

Nearby, Jian Su knelt, stuffing himself with snacks. The vegetarian feast lacked flavor, but his hunger compelled him to eat.

Lu Huating pushed the plate of snacks in front of him toward Jian Su.

“Are you not eating, Advisor?” Jian Su asked.

Placing his jade chopsticks down, Lu Huating’s dark eyes flickered. After a pause, he smiled faintly. 

“I feel a bit nauseous.”

With that, he rose and left the table.

Qun Qing detected a faint scent of yellow grass as someone brushed past her, lightly grazing her sleeve. A crisp sound followed—the dagger in the deerskin bag had fallen to the ground. Reaching for her sleeve, she realized it was empty.

Lu Huating had already picked up the dagger, carefully wiping off the dust. When Qun Qing extended her hand, his eyelashes fluttered, and the dagger suddenly slipped from its sheath, falling into a pond with a splash.

Qun Qing glared at the water, her temper flaring. 

“That dagger was a gift from Minister Meng. Aren’t you afraid I’ll accuse you?”

She recalled the account book Lu Huating had scrutinized that day, particularly the two folded pages revealing Meng family records. It seemed Lu Huating had grievances with the Meng family, but she was caught in the crossfire.

“I lost my grip; it wasn’t intentional,” Lu Huating replied, staring at the pond. “If you wish to accuse me, go ahead. One more matter won’t make a difference.”

Walking along the pond’s edge, Qun Qing scanned for any chance to retrieve the dagger from the water plants.

When she turned, Lu Huating removed the dagger from his own belt and placed it on the stone railing. 

“If one is lost, it’s only right to compensate you with another. My apologies.”

The ceremony to officially confer the Crown Princess’s title was scheduled for the following January, coinciding with the elevation of several favored consorts.

Life in Qingxuan Pavilion remained largely unchanged. Rouchan frequently carried bundles of clothes in and out, while Lan Yue busied herself greeting visitors.

At dawn, a wax-sealed capsule containing a lark’s message was found in the grass beneath the window and brought inside.

Upon learning she had obtained the transcription, An Lin was astounded. The new “Elite” had barely understood the workings of Siye Tower’s inner structure.

Naturally, Qun Qing did not reveal that she had leveraged Lady Chun’s influence. Speaking in a composed tone, she informed An Lin that she would soon retrieve the genuine account book and requested his support after securing it.

An Lin grasped the weight of her words, remarking, 

“Lady Qing, in just one year, you’ve grown remarkably. To be frank, for this mission, our leader dispatched seven or eight individuals, most of whom perished. If you succeed, your merit could elevate you to the ‘Celestial’ rank. When that happens, I’ll be relying on you.”

Of course, she would need to succeed first to earn An Lin’s support.

Li Xuan’s trust in Qun Qing deepened further. Previously, she only assisted with seal impressions, but now, during his bouts of insomnia and headaches, he even handed her a pen to draft responses himself.

From then on, Qun Qing dared not lose focus during night duties. She suspected Li Xuan had intentionally sought someone to bear this pressure for him.

When instructing her on memorials, Li Xuan was particularly irritable, criticizing her for hesitation or lack of precedence, or berating her for failing to grasp priorities.

Since she had never dealt with such matters, she faced constant obstacles. To avoid making mistakes in haste, she slowed down, nearly delaying the Crown Prince’s affairs.

After days of scolding, Qun Qing began losing sleep.

One day, as Li Xuan slammed down his wine cup and prepared to speak, Qun Qing preemptively asked, 

“Your Highness, may I ask what would happen if you made a mistake?”

Li Xuan sneered, “If I jeopardize the nation’s fate, I’ll lose my salary, kneel in penance, and shame my ancestors.”

“And if I, a servant, caused such a loss?”

Li Xuan froze, softly uttering, 

“Death.”

Anticipating her argument, he didn’t expect her to dare say it outright: 

“Your Highness acts decisively because you’re the Crown Prince, with others to share your burdens. But I hesitate because one mistake leaves me only death, forcing me to be cautious. Were Your Highness in my position, you might not act so boldly.”

“You’re truly audacious,” Li Xuan’s expression darkened. “Are you comparing yourself to me?”

“So, Your Highness,” Qun Qing, pale-faced, looked at him, “please stop reprimanding me. I wish to be faster too.”

Never before had a servant dared to confront him so directly. Li Xuan was so furious his head spun, but seeing her visibly worn appearance, he unexpectedly held back.

The memorial in Qun Qing’s hands concerned a Ministry of Revenue official’s submission.

It criticized Lu Huating’s token verification system, claiming the frequent inspections disrupted civilians and soldiers alike. Since the situation had stabilized significantly compared to the first year of the Shenglin era, the official requested its abolition.

Upon reading it, Qun Qing inwardly agreed wholeheartedly.

If not for the rigorous inspections, she might have already left the palace.

Before she could speak, Li Xuan had snatched the memorial, likely displeased with her slow pace. He quickly scanned it and marked it with a large red cross using his vermilion brush.

“Lu Huating’s methods align perfectly with mine,” Li Xuan said grimly. “A year ago, how many died at the hands of Kingdom Chu spies? I still find his measures insufficiently strict. Anyone caught should be executed on sight. Kingdom Chu could send a thousand agents, and…”

“There will eventually come a day when all will be eradicated.”

Qun Qing lowered her gaze, concealing the rapid pounding of her heart.

“This memorial comes from Princess Consort Yan.” Li Xuan tossed her the next one, his expression weary. “Matters of the inner palace, you handle it.”

The issue concerned the ritual for welcoming the Buddha’s relics. After reading, Qun Qing’s heart raced. 

“According to tradition, for such ceremonies, fifty palace maids should be dismissed. But the Princess Consort suggests otherwise?”

If the palace maids weren’t dismissed, how could she leave the palace?

“The inner palace is already short of staff. If not, you wouldn’t have been transferred from the Ye Ting department. Releasing more maids would leave them even more shorthanded. She manages the household; of course, she won’t agree.”

Li Xuan smirked. When it came to matters of Prince Yan’s residence, he always observed from a distance, sipping his wine leisurely. 

“That sister-in-law of mine, born of a noble family, acts so stingy in her decisions. Does she not fear public criticism?”

Looking at the memorial, Qun Qing felt the lofty image of Xiao Yunru, a woman she had once seen as a paragon of virtue, crumble completely overnight.

“Your Highness, the Princess Consort’s decision is inappropriate. Palace staff who’ve served over ten years must be released.” Qun Qing dipped her brush into ink and began drafting a report, also fighting for her own future.

“Most of these women served the previous dynasty and know many secrets of the inner palace. They could easily harbor spies. Expulsion is a matter of security. If there’s a shortage of staff, the number released can be reduced, but they cannot be retained entirely. Otherwise, it would violate tradition and tarnish the Emperor’s dignity.”

Hearing this, Li Xuan suddenly pressed down on her brush.

Qun Qing broke out in a cold sweat, fearing she might have misspoken. But Li Xuan merely gazed at her pensively before letting out a faint smile. 

“You don’t need to write it.”

“It was only because my wife is too young and incompetent that the Xiao family took charge of the inner palace. And Prince Yan remains in Chang’an solely because he married a wife adept at currying favor with my father and mother.”

“You serve as a maid in this palace, writing memorials at night. What a waste of talent. Talk of balancing the Chancellor—without power, how could you manage it?” Li Xuan continued, “I’ve thought about it for days and decided to place you in the six department of palace services. Take back the power in Xiao’s hands. In the future, I’ll have someone in the court, and someone in the palace.”

Qun Qing tried to decline. 

“The selection process for the Six department of palace services has long passed.”

“I’ve already had Shouxi add your name.” Li Xuan’s sharp gaze swept over her. “Qun Qing, don’t tell me you can’t even pass the Princess Consort’s selection process. If that’s the case, I’ve clearly misjudged you.”

After some thought, Qun Qing composed herself and bowed in gratitude.

Quickly adjusting her approach, she realized that if Xiao Yunru was the examiner, her goal as a candidate wasn’t to secure the top rank. Instead, the exam could be an opportunity to connect with Xiao Yunru, which was her real chance.

In her past life, Princess Consort Yan had once been open to new ideas, which suggested she wasn’t an inflexible person. If she could gain an audience with Xiao Yunru, she might persuade her to add her to the release list and allow her to leave the palace.