After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 78

Qun Qing followed Jinzi to Concubine Lü.

Concubine Lü’s eyes held a trace of anger as she idly turned her teacup, her temper clearly not yet settled.

Whatever she had just discussed with Lu Huating hadn’t gone well.

Jinzi was about to complain when Qun Qing looked at Concubine Lü and spoke first. 

“Just now, I personally saw one of Your Highness’s palace attendants hand over an inner palace document to an outsider. That was quite unexpected.”

Concubine Lü, already irritated that Jinzi hadn’t driven Qun Qing away, narrowed her eyes upon hearing this and immediately flung the cup of hot tea at Jinzi’s face. 

“Ungrateful wretch!”

Jinzi was drenched but dared not move. After a moment, she lowered her head and began sobbing softly.

Concubine Lü waved her away, leaving only Qun Qing in the empty hall. “Lady Qing, you and I have already met before, so there’s no need for formalities. Before you arrived, Chancellor Meng had already spoken to me.”

That Meng Guangshen had spoken to Concubine Lü in advance surprised Qun Qing. He had always wanted to remove her from the Crown Prince’s side. There was no way he would help her. Either he wanted Concubine Lü to keep an eye on her, or he was hoping Concubine Lü would drive her away.

If she couldn’t prove her value, her days in Caiye Palace wouldn’t be easy.

Qun Qing didn’t comment and instead glanced at the seat Lu Huating had just occupied. 

“Your Highness, was your conversation with Advisor Lu unpleasant?”

Concubine Lü replied, “It was about the Dongyingfang.”

Her younger brother, Marquis Lü Wanhu, had invested heavily in the gambling house, and when the authorities seized it, he lost everything.

“I have only one younger brother,” Concubine Lü admitted. “To be frank, he put all his savings into it, and now I have to support him. A few days ago, my mother wrote to me, saying he’s been carrying a rope around, threatening to hang himself.” She sighed. “I was hoping to ask Prince Yan’s estate for some compensation.”

“What kind of compensation?”

“A plot of land,” Concubine Lü said. “My brother has been eyeing a piece of land in the western outskirts of Chang’an for a long time. If he could buy it and resell it to wealthy merchants, he’d recoup his losses in two or three years. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the month, Lu Huating bought it first. I asked him to sell it at a lower price, but he flatly refused.”

“That land belongs to Prince Yan.”

“If it weren’t guarded by Prince Yan’s soldiers, I wouldn’t have needed to negotiate with Lu Huating,” Concubine Lü said bitterly.

Challenging Prince Yan over a land? Qun Qing wasn’t sure what to say. 

“Your Highness, Prince Yan’s household is not wealthy. This land may be insignificant to the Crown Prince, but for Prince Yan, it is a valuable asset. Why would he give it up so easily?”

Concubine Lü’s expression darkened. 

“The emperor does not favor Prince Yan. I’ve spoken up for him so many times, yet now, when I ask for just a little compensation, Lu Huating won’t even consider it. Truly, they’ve burned the bridge after crossing it!”

It was rare to see Concubine Lü so openly enraged. Clearly, she had already been wavering, and Lu Huating’s refusal was the final straw.

“It’s just a piece of land,” Qun Qing said, gauging the situation. “Wouldn’t it be unwise to push Lu Huating too hard? Perhaps I could speak with the Crown Prince about it?”

Concubine Lü’s face clouded with doubt. 

“Lady Qun, do you think that if I side with the Crown Prince, Lu Huating will simply accept it without retaliation?”

She gestured toward a chaise lounge beneath the window. 

“I haven’t given you a meeting gift yet. Help yourself.”

Bribery and coercion—Qun Qing wasn’t surprised. What did surprise her was the pile of gold ingots spread across the chaise, gleaming under the light.

Concubine Lü curled up on a fox-fur blanket, barefoot. Her gold earrings and red lips made her already striking features even more radiant. She smiled, seemingly unbothered. 

“My brother and I have known poverty. We like to sleep surrounded by gold. Fortunately, His Majesty indulges my little whims.”

The image of Concubine Lü smashing bowls in the Emperor’s sleeping quarters had left a lasting impression on Qun Qing. She must have taken indulgence to the extreme, turning it into a display of uninhibited sincerity in the Emperor’s eyes.

Qun Qing stepped forward and saw an open wooden chest on the floor. She picked it up and began gathering the gold ingots one by one, placing them inside. She didn’t stop until she had collected every last piece, even the one that had rolled onto the ground.

Watching her take not just the gold but even the chest itself, Concubine Lü’s expression stiffened. The weight of the gold was immense—normally, it took two palace attendants to lift it. Yet Qun Qing, slender as she was, effortlessly held it in her arms.

Qun Qing glanced at the chest of gold, then thought of the rewards she had received from Li Xuan. With such wealth, she would at least find some comfort when she returned to the palace.

Lifting her gaze, she met Concubine Lü’s dark expression with calm indifference. 

“Your Highness, one should do as much work as the payment one receives. Dealing with Lu Huating is simple for me.”

She continued, “If Your Highness only wishes to sever ties with Prince Yan’s household, simply have Marquis Lü invite Advisor Lu over for tea during his next day off. Mention the land casually, and then let word slip to His Majesty.”

Concubine Lü frowned. “His Majesty forbids royal consorts and their families from forming outside alliances. Wouldn’t this put me in danger?”

Qun Qing shook her head. “Marquis Lü holds no political office. His invitation would be nothing more than a casual gathering, and His Majesty wouldn’t fault him for it. But Lu Huating, as Prince Yan’s advisor, is closely tied to his lord. If he accepts the invitation, it will appear as though Prince Yan is failing to maintain proper distance. Once suspicion takes root in His Majesty’s mind, Lu Huating could easily be punished with a three-month salary deduction.”

“Advisor Lu is afraid of implicating Prince Yan, so he will definitely keep his distance from you in the future. He won’t cause trouble.”

Concubine Lü looked at her twice and seemed satisfied. She took a sip of tea and said, 

“I’ll think about it.”

Qun Qing left Concubine Lü’s palace and soon found Jian Su hiding behind a tree. She asked, “Where is the advisor?”

Jian Su parted the flowers and led her to a small pavilion. It was used for storing books, filled with the scent of old pages. Qun Qing walked past the wooden bookshelves and saw Lu Huating. Sunlight shone through the window, casting broken shadows that made the room look even more mysterious.

Qun Qing asked for the document: 

“The document in Concubine Lü’s palace seems to be related to the Ministry of War.”

Lu Huating replied, “That page of handwritten paper was written by an official of the Ministry of War. The arrows used in the autumn hunt were cast by the Ministry of War, so they are noted separately.”

Qun Qing interrupted him, “Give it to me. I will take a look myself.”

Lu Huating smiled, “Have you forgotten what we discussed in Xuzhou, my lady?”

His tone was polite, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes. He must have taken that vengeance very seriously. Qun Qing was also irritated by his repeated obstructions. She slowly pushed the scriptures back onto the bookshelf with her bare hands and said, 

“Doesn’t the advisor also want to deal with Prince Zhao? I have my own plans. Why are you picking on me?”

“It’s you who is picking on me,” Lu Huating said lightly. “Concubine Lu is favored by the saint, and my lady is biased toward the prince. How can Prince Yan deal with that?”

Qun Qing glanced at him. “Biased? I only said that I would not kill Li Huan for now. I did not say I was willing to see Prince Yan take the throne. It is legitimate for the crown prince to succeed, and what’s wrong with a gentle and benevolent monarch? If you want to seize the throne, I did not say I would not stop you. Since we are using each other, it is enough to take a part of the profit. You should be well aware of this and do not need me to remind you again.”

Lu Huating lowered his gaze and looked into her eyes, silent for a moment before curling his lips into a smile.

As expected, it was like a farmer and a snake—yet he disliked things that were uncontrollable.

“You called yourself pitiful last time, so I agreed to work together. But I still don’t know if you were telling the truth or just using me. You didn’t ask for any token of trust, which makes me regret it.” Lu Huating said, “That sheep-head jade sachet you showed me before—can you give it to me?”

Qun Qing paused, her eyes like cold blades. “That is my mother’s heirloom, just like your mother’s osmanthus candy. How can I give it away so casually?”

Lu Huating remained unchanged after hearing that and actually took something out from his sleeve. He leaned over and stuffed it into Qun Qing’s sleeve. 

Lu Huating’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he took something from his sleeve and slipped it into hers. “Why not? Before my mother passed, she sewed several pouches for my younger sister. But my sister had little fortune… Unlike you, I don’t cling to the past. If there’s a bl00d debt, I’ll see it repaid—I won’t waste time lingering.”

When Qun Qing touched the object in her sleeve, which was a bag full of sweet-scented osmanthus candy, she was stunned. Lu Huating had already turned to leave, not even bringing up the idea of an exchange.

After all, when someone gives you something, you owe them.

Thinking about Concubine Lü’s angry expression earlier, Qun Qing kindly warned, 

“Concubine Lü is arrogant because of the emperor’s favor, and Lü An is endlessly greedy. If you used money to buy their loyalty, you’ve now raised a tiger that will turn on you. It’s better to part ways cleanly rather than making an enemy of Concubine Lü.”

Lu Huating didn’t even twitch his brow.

Qun Qing wondered if he simply wasn’t afraid, so she glanced at him.

He looked back at her. 

“I already told you—I’m used to walking in the dark.”

His way of doing things was extreme. Since the warning was given, she didn’t say more.

Just then, the sound of fighting broke out. Someone had barged into the library. Both of them tensed.

Qun Qing immediately turned to flee, but Lu Huating grabbed her cloak. Footsteps and voices were already closing in.

She felt his cool fingers tighten around the back of her neck, pulling her into his arms to shield her. Slowly, she relaxed her stiff body.

From the outside, it simply looked like Lu Huating standing between the bookshelves.

Lowering his gaze, Lu Huating noticed the golden pomegranate hairpin in her hair, just within reach. He looked at it for a moment before plucking it off and tucking it into his sleeve.

The guards who had rushed in were stopped by Jian Su. They craned their necks to look inside but eventually apologized and left.

Jian Su reminded, “Advisor, those were Prince Zhao’s soldiers. Ever since you rejected his invitation, he’s had people tailing you. They’re likely trying to gather evidence against you.”

Qun Qing knew that Li Pan had invited Lu Huating to work for him, just as a way to weaken Prince Yan’s power. Now that Lu Huating had refused, it meant Prince Zhao and the Crown Prince were officially turning against Prince Yan. Lu Huating would be the first target of their revenge.

Luckily, she still had some freedom under the influence of various factions. She could find a way to retaliate against Li Pan.

Just as she was thinking this, Lu Huating’s cold voice sounded beside her ear. 

“The emperor dotes on Prince Zhao, and Prince Zhao has a close relationship with Minister Meng. Their ties run deep. He is ruthless—you’d better discuss your actions with me before you move. As for everything else, do as you wish. Let’s see who is more capable.”

Qun Qing pulled away from him, clutching a document—one she had just secretly taken from his sleeve. When she touched her hair, she realized her carefully crafted golden hairpin was gone.

She frowned. 

“That item is risky for you to keep.”

Lu Huating remained unfazed. 

“I need something in exchange for my mother’s keepsake, don’t I?”

Without a word, Qun Qing turned and walked away.

“Lady Qing,” Lu Huating called from behind. She turned, only to see him pull a headless arrow from his sleeve.

“If you think the hairpin is too valuable, should I return it with another piece of gold jewelry?”

Since we’re investigating from this lone arrow, the arrow itself is an important piece of evidence to her.

Qun Qing reached for the arrow, but Lu Huating didn’t let go. In their brief tug-of-war, his dark eyes held a teasing smile as he focused intently on her.

“You wouldn’t be lenient towards me, would you?”

Qun Qing said, “No.”

Lu Huating smiled, dazzlingly bright. As if reassured, he released his grip.

—

Before the investiture ceremony, Qun Qing made a trip back to Qingxuan Pavilion.

She hesitated before knocking on the door, but the moment Lan Yue pulled her into a tight embrace and comforted her, she felt only warmth and gratitude.

Inside the inner hall, the official ceremonial robes sent by the Shangfu Bureau were laid out. With the ceremony approaching, Ruo Chan was busy adjusting the robes. Upon seeing Qun Qing, she gasped and stopped what she was doing.

Zhen Ziyi stood up and took Qun Qing’s hand. Qun Qing tried to perform a formal greeting, but Zhen Ziyi grasped her wrist firmly.

“Why do you still act so formally with me?”

Qun Qing insisted on finishing the bow. “I have not dared to visit the Crown Princess because I failed to leave the palace as you wished. I have disappointed you.”

“I already know what happened. It was Li Xuan’s fault, not yours.” Zhen Ziyi pulled her to sit down and pushed a plate full of grapes and tangerines toward her.

Under Zhen Ziyi’s concerned gaze, Qun Qing finally asked, 

“How are things between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess lately?”

“It’s still the same as before, just fewer arguments.” Zhen Ziyi calmly picked up a pear and took a bite. “A while ago, I asked him if we should consummate the marriage, since even Prince Yan’s Consort is already expecting a child. He turned it around and asked me if I was willing. So I told him I didn’t care either way, that all I had to do was lie there. After that, he didn’t say a word, just got out of bed and started reviewing memorials.”

Lan Yue blushed bright red and quickly tried to stop the conversation. Qun Qing, however, asked, 

“So, does the Crown Princess want to consummate the marriage or not?”

“I didn’t bring it up for any other reason,” Qun Qing continued. “The investiture ceremony is next month. Once it’s over, both your names will be entered into the imperial records. There will be no turning back. If you regret it later, the consequences will be severe—at best, demotion.”

Zhen Ziyi thought for a moment and said, “Lady Qing, whether we consummate or not doesn’t really matter to me. But I do want a child.”

Both Lan Yue and Ruo Chan turned to her in shock.

“You want a child?” Qun Qing was also a bit surprised.

“Lady Qing, after you left, I read all the books in the cabinets,” Zhen Ziyi said seriously. “History is clear—an empress without a son often meets a miserable fate. They get belittled and humiliated by other consorts and ministers, sometimes even deposed.”

“Besides, I have no family left in this world. I can do without Li Xuan’s love, but I want a child of my own.”

Qun Qing knew she was speaking the truth. She didn’t know whether to be relieved at Zhen Ziyi’s growth or to lament the cruelty of the imperial palace.

“Lady Qing, you gave me a position to keep me alive, and you gave me power so I could protect those I want to protect. You’ve done enough. I should grow up and plan for myself now,” Zhen Ziyi said. “Since I am already in this position, I must find a way to live well. Don’t you think so?”

“You’re right,” Qun Qing agreed. “But if you have a child, you will be completely tied to the palace. I fear you’ll feel trapped.”

Zhen Ziyi frowned slightly in thought. 

“That’s fine. If Dachen’s future is stable, I can still go hunting from time to time. Oh, and once Li Xuan ascends the throne—if the current emperor dies early—the Empress Dowager will be free—”

“Crown Princess!” Lan Yue cried out, jumping up to cover her mouth.

The palace maids in the hall all chuckled. Qun Qing, too, felt lighter at heart. 

“I came today not just to check on the Crown Princess but also to retrieve something I left in my old residence.”

Zhen Ziyi said, “I kept your quarters just as they were. Lan Yue, take her to get it!”

Lan Yue busied herself dusting off the furniture, not paying attention to anything else. Qun Qing pushed open a window, brought her fingers to her lips, and let out a flawless bird call.

A moment later, a cloud lark descended from the trees and quietly slipped into Qun Qing’s sleeve. She also retrieved the wax pellet she had yet to reclaim.

Taking her belongings with her, Qun Qing stepped out and made a request to Zheng Zhiyi. 

“An eighth-rank ceremonial official is allowed to have a personal attendant, but I currently have no one assisting me. Your Highness, may I borrow Ruo Chan and the ceremonial attire for a few days? I would like to personally alter it for you.”

Ruo Chan had not expected her to make such a request and stood up in astonishment.

Zheng Zhiyi said, “Ever since you left, Ruo Chan has been listless, her heart no longer in Qingxuan Pavilion. Go, Ruo Chan, and serve Lady Qing.”

Ruo Chan was overjoyed, a bright smile spreading across her face.

—

Ruo Chan moved deftly, quickly tidying up the pavilion. She then took out a dust whisk from her bundle and said cheerfully, 

“Now I can pray for blessings for you again!”

Qun Qing touched the pouch of osmanthus candy and felt guilty for having eaten someone else’s mother’s keepsake. She placed it inside a cabinet and said to Ruo Chan, 

“Pray for this keepsake as well.”

Ruo Chan stared at the osmanthus candy. “Who does it belong to?”

Qun Qing picked up a handwritten note and studied it for a long moment before answering, 

“A lady I don’t know, and a young child.”

Ruo Chan nodded and obediently began her prayers.

While Ruo Chan prayed, Qun Qing examined the note more closely. As Lu Huating had suggested, it was indeed a record from the Ministry of War regarding arrow production.

Qun Qing weighed the golden arrow in her hand. She hadn’t expected that within a batch of identical hunting arrows, there was such hidden significance—their weights were different.

Different ranks corresponded to different weights.

She retrieved a small bronze scale—one that Physician Li had gifted her before he left for weighing medicine.

She placed the arrow on one end and used copper coins as counterweights. After roughly determining the arrow’s weight, she matched it to a name.

Xu Sibu.

Qun Qing’s gaze darkened. The one who had plotted against her, the so-called “Heaven,” was indeed Xu Sibu.

She then peeled open the wax pellets to see what Fang Xie had wanted to tell her after leaving the palace.

One of the pellets was slightly larger. With swift fingers, she peeled it apart and felt a triangular iron seal with a soaring serpent emblem inside. She clenched it tightly in her palm until its edges pricked her skin with a faint sting.

It was the “Heaven” seal.

During her escape, with her life hanging by a thread, she had spared Fang Xie and demanded this seal in return. Now, receiving it likely meant that Fang Xie had seized power and replaced the Crown Prince Zhao.

Knowing Fang Xie, he must have had other messages for her.

So she continued opening the wax pellets, but what she found made her expression turn solemn.

The letter inside was not from Fang Xie—it was from Weiran.

Weiran had been her only close friend in her youth. Since her mother had forbidden her from making friends outside, they had occasionally communicated in secret using jade chimes. She recognized Weiran’s handwriting immediately.

Weiran wrote:

“Liu Niang, this year I fled south to Chu with my father, never hearing any news of you. Now that Southern Chu’s internal turmoil has settled and Ling Yunuo has ascended the throne, I have learned something important. Your mother was previously captured by the former Crown Prince Zhao and was gravely injured, never regaining consciousness. The new ruler has granted her amnesty and placed her in my family’s care, granting me permission to contact you. I do not know if you are well.”

Qun Qing’s hands trembled.

A moment later, she crumpled the letter into a ball.

Could it be true that her mother was still alive in Southern Chu? Had the Zen master captured her to coerce her into doing their bidding? But both Fang Xie and the Zen master had deceived her before—she would not fall for their tricks so easily.

Yet hope flickered in her heart.

She picked up her brush and wrote a reply. At the bottom of the letter, she carefully sketched several birds in different postures.

This was a secret code between her and Zhu Ying—a particular bird’s stance represented a frequently used character. If, by even the smallest chance, her mother was truly alive, she would be able to decipher the hidden message, while outsiders would not.

She had to remain cautious and deliberate.

She would avenge her father and brother.

As for the spies of Southern Chu, they were nothing more than tools for her to use—they would never use her.