After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 84

Qun Qing picked up two small stones and weighed them in her hand before stepping toward the crowd.

A blade whirled out from within the crowd, but before it could touch the ropes binding the corpses, a stone struck it midair, sending it crashing against the wall. The thin layer of ice on the wall shattered, sending shards flying, making the onlookers instinctively raise their arms and step back.

The person who threw the blade turned to look at Qun Qing, but she had already spotted them—several burly men with thick black eyebrows and wary, searching gazes.

Another blade shot out, only to be deflected once more by a stone. This time, the group finally noticed the veiled woman acting in secret. In an instant, multiple sharp weapons shifted direction, slicing through the frigid air toward Qun Qing’s throat.

Lu Huating didn’t take his eyes off her. He saw her veil flutter as she grabbed a wooden brush from a nearby bucket, using it like a sword to knock away the incoming blades. The terrified citizens scattered, clearing a path.

Qun Qing turned the brush around and pointed it at the corpses. In a clear and firm voice, she declared,
“These bodies hanging on the wall are bandits from Shandong, slaughtered by His Highness, Prince Zhao, for their crimes against the people. Displaying them serves as a warning! Yet now, their accomplices attempt to steal them away. Should we allow it?”

At the mention of bandits, the gathered crowd erupted in righteous anger. They surged forward, spitting at the corpses and loudly praising Prince Zhao’s bravery. The commotion soon drew the attention of the city guards. Taking advantage of the chaos, the spies had no choice but to slip away.

Qun Qing returned to her stall amidst the disorder and picked up her chopsticks for another bite of noodles.
“You were the ones who hung up the bodies?” she asked.

Lu Huating had already finished his bowl.
“They were bandits who surrendered,” he replied with a smile. “Unfortunately for them, Li Pan is ruthless—they were still executed.”

Suddenly, he noticed bl00d seeping through the fabric on Qun Qing’s left arm. His smile faded.

Qun Qing understood what he was implying.
“If you spare those who surrender, they’ll only hold grudges. Once word spreads, Li Pan will be in danger.”

“Lady,” Lu Huating said, his dark eyes meeting hers, “you’re injured.”

Qun Qing didn’t react. As a spy, she had long grown used to wounds. This was likely just a cut from a flying blade—not deep, but the thick winter clothing had hindered her movements.

She glanced at it briefly before turning back to him.
“Isn’t this the birthday gift you wanted? Prince Yan’s residence has its own hidden guards, yet you insisted on sending me. Now that I’m injured, does that settle your grudge for killing Registrar Xu last night?”

Lu Huating had been staring at the bloodstain on her white veil. Seeing her own bl00d affected him more than a stranger’s wounds. But hearing the mockery in her voice, he hesitated slightly.

After a brief pause, he lifted her sleeve, revealing a gash across her wrist.
“You think I hold grudges too much,” he murmured.

With that, he retrieved a small medicine bottle from his robe and sprinkled the powder over her wound.

Qun Qing watched him coldly. If she didn’t already know his true nature, the sight of his lowered lashes and gentle expression might have fooled her.

“A word of advice,” Lu Huating said. “The Crown Prince and Li Pan are full-blooded brothers. He indulges him completely. If you move against Li Pan, don’t expect the Crown Prince to sit idly by.”

Qun Qing’s mind flashed back to the scene of Xu Lin’s death.
“As long as he does his duty as the heir, I don’t care how he treats me,” she said. “No matter what, he’s still better than a warmonger.”

Lu Huating suddenly grabbed her wrist. His touch was ice-cold. Qun Qing instinctively pulled away, but the movement pressed against her wound, sending a sharp sting through her arm. She frowned slightly.

“So, you can feel pain after all,” he said, smiling faintly. “I almost thought you didn’t.”

Qun Qing swiftly wrapped up the wound and stood to leave. Lu Huating walked half a step beside her—not quite together, yet not entirely separate.

As they passed through the bustling marketplace, Qun Qing asked,
“So today really is your birthday?”

Lu Huating nodded.
“It is.”

She glanced at him, slightly surprised. Spending his birthday working—how pitiful.
“What were you thinking about earlier, while eating?”

Lu Huating’s expression remained calm.
“I was wondering whether, on my next birthday, I’d still be able to share a meal with you.”

They continued through the lively market. A flower vendor waved at them, offering delicate hairpins adorned with fresh blossoms.

Qun Qing hesitated slightly. She realized he wasn’t joking. The two of them stood on opposite sides in this life, their fates uncertain. Another year might determine who lived and who died.

Lu Huating glanced at the flowers, then back at her. The vendor eagerly tried to keep them there.

Flowers were expensive in the market, and Qun Qing, skilled in embroidery, never bought them. She had already walked a few steps ahead when she turned back and saw Lu Huating still at the stall—taking out money.

The vendor’s face lit up. Looking at Qun Qing, she beamed,
“Young master, buying flowers for your lady? Newlyweds, are you?”

Enemies, Qun Qing thought. They were standing so far apart, yet somehow still linked together.

“This gentleman,” the vendor added, “white flowers aren’t worn on the head. Widows wear those.”

Lu Huating, however, lightly stroked a white blossom and smiled.
“I think they look beautiful, traditions aside.”

Just as he reached for it, a slender hand moved faster, picking up a vibrant red chrysanthemum instead.

When Lu Huating turned his head, Qun Qing had already paid.

The woman smiled and said, “Young lady, red flowers suit women.”

“Who said I’m wearing it?” Qun Qing replied.

The woman was surprised. “Oh? Then which gentleman would wear flowers?”

“In the old dynasty, during imperial examinations or special celebrations, it was customary for men to wear flowers. Today is the young master’s birthday. If I don’t give him anything, it might seem insincere.”

Qun Qing glanced at Lu Huating and smirked, her voice carrying a hint of cold amusement. “Lower your head.”

Lu Huating, dressed in black, gazed at her. He stood tall and elegant, his robe swaying slightly in the breeze. Slowly, he leaned down, allowing her to place the flower on his head.

It did look a bit strange, but surprisingly, the deep red flower against his dark hair didn’t appear awkward. Instead, it added a touch of flamboyant charm. Lu Huating, unfazed, simply looked at her and raised an eyebrow with a playful smile. “Is this acceptable now?”

Qun Qing withdrew her hand from beneath the veil, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see her expression.

After taking a few steps forward, she suddenly ran into a bright and beautiful face in the crowd.

“Yunming?”

It was Dan Yang, who was out shopping with her maid.

Dan Yang’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the flower on Lu Huating’s head. She covered her mouth with her fan and teased, “Who did you come with? And why are you dressed like this?”

Lu Huating turned his head, but by then, Qun Qing had already disappeared into the crowd, leaving him alone to face Dan Yang.

He stepped slightly to the side, smoothly avoiding Dan Yang’s hand that was about to remove the flower. With a smile, he said, “I put it on myself. I heard that the spring exam will be held earlier this year, so I wear flowers in winter to get a good start.”

Dan Yang laughed and shook her head. “What a coincidence. We are here to see the new candidates as well.”

Qun Qing followed the crowd to the riverbank, where a large group had gathered. As she scanned the faces, she thought she saw Su Run. Stepping forward, she clapped his shoulder, and sure enough—it was him. Su Run was pleasantly surprised by this chance encounter.

“Miss Qing!” he greeted her excitedly.

Qun Qing turned to look at the river. “What is that boat for?”

A boat drifted slowly across the water, carrying more than ten young men dressed in plain white robes and tall scholar’s caps—the attire of scholars.

Su Run explained, “It’s a boat for the new examinees. The Emperor recently decreed that the imperial exam be moved earlier this year, as a symbolic way to welcome fresh beginnings. These scholars are on their way to Chang’an to take the palace examination.”

Qun Qing studied the faces on the boat. A few of them even seemed vaguely familiar—later, some of these men would become important ministers under Prince Yan. 

“So all of them will become officials?”

Su Run nodded. “According to Dachen’s laws, scholars must pass multiple levels of examinations each year before eighteen are selected for the final imperial exam in Chang’an. Most of them have a good chance of attaining high-ranking positions. I entered the Hanlin Academy the same way two years ago.”

“Scholar Su, you’re not entirely correct.”

A soft voice interrupted them from behind. Both Qun Qing and Su Run turned to see Lu Huating and Princess Dan Yang approaching. Lu Huating cast a glance at Qun Qing before looking toward the boat.

“Dachen’s law states that in special years, the number of scholars selected isn’t fixed. Look closely—aren’t there nineteen people on that boat?”

Su Run hesitated, then counted again. He was startled to find that there was indeed one extra person.

Just then, as if in response to Lu Huating’s words, chaos broke out on the boat. A eunuch rushed onto the deck, and the scholars hurriedly stood up, looking around in confusion. Suddenly, one of them was shoved overboard, splashing into the river.

He thrashed in the water, hands desperately reaching for help, but the eunuch used a long pole to push him back down, cursing at him.

The onlookers onshore erupted in noise and alarm. The unexpected commotion left everyone momentarily stunned. Qun Qing turned to Princess Dan Yang.

“Princess.”

Dan Yang gave a subtle signal, and her hidden guard leaped into action. Within moments, both the eunuch and the drenched scholar were kneeling before the princess.

The eunuch had not expected a noblewoman to be passing by. Panicking, he hurriedly defended himself.

“Your Highness! This man is not on the official list of scholars. He disguised himself and sneaked aboard the boat! Who knows what his true intentions are?”

So that was the situation.

The scholar trembled, his body soaked and shivering. When he lifted his head, his face was streaked with tears.

“Your Highness! I am not an imposter! My name is Zhang Qiru, a recognized scholar from Jiangxi. I passed all three rounds of the provincial exam and was supposed to qualify for the palace exam in Chang’an. But this year, the selection process suddenly changed to ‘public recommendation’!”

“My name was removed from the list, yet I see others younger than me—who haven’t even passed the provincial exams—being selected instead. Isn’t that suspicious? I traveled all this way just to demand an explanation!”

Before he could finish speaking, Su Run gasped.

“He’s from my hometown! A fellow scholar!”

Qun Qing quickly stopped him from saying more.

Lu Huating turned to Princess Dan Yang. “It seems this year’s imperial exam process was handled rather carelessly. Why not hand this matter over to Prince Yan’s manor for investigation?”

Qun Qing, wary of Lu Huating trying to elevate Prince Yan’s influence, immediately countered.

“This isn’t the first time there have been irregularities in the exams. Princess, even the scholar of the Su family under your command has experienced political suppression before. You have both the authority and reputation to intervene. Why rely on Prince Yan? If you resolve this fairly, perhaps even your household could gain talented scholars.”

Princess Dan Yang hesitated at first, seemingly reluctant to get involved. But Qun Qing’s words struck a chord. Her red lips curved into a faint smile.

“Su Yujie, if you hadn’t fought back, you wouldn’t have made it to my side. I won’t let those under my command suffer injustice either.”

Upon returning to the palace, Qun Qing was immediately summoned by Li Xuan.

The urgent summons made her uneasy. Had Lu Huating’s secret instructions to her been discovered?

Sure enough, as soon as she entered the hall, she was met with the sight of Li Pan, his face still bearing a fresh handprint. His usually seductive eyes gleamed with malice as he stared at her, making her skin crawl.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

Qun Qing merely bowed in greeting, feigning nervousness as she avoided his gaze.

Li Xuan spoke. “Where were you this morning?”

“I had the day off and went outside the palace,” Qun Qing replied. “I was at the river watching the new examinees. Why is His Highness so upset?”

Li Xuan closed his eyes briefly, waving his hand for Li Pan to leave.

“Why did a veiled woman suddenly incite the commoners to riot?” Li Pan spat. “Brother, there’s a traitor by your side, and you don’t even realize it!”

Li Xuan scolded him coldly. “Even if the bodies are hanging outside Prince Yan’s estate, weren’t they tortured to death by you? Why didn’t you handle it cleanly? Now that word has spread, those bandits we had pacified will reignite their hatred. Can you guarantee they won’t retaliate? That they won’t ally with our enemies?”

Li Pan’s face twisted with rage. Crippled and entirely dependent on Li Xuan, his only value lay in his military prowess. Without war, he was nothing.

“Then I’ll just kill them all!” he snarled.

“Enough of your reckless behavior,” Li Xuan said icily. “Issue an imperial decree in my name. Summon the bandit leader to Chang’an as an honored guest. We will negotiate.”

Qun Qing’s eyelashes trembled. Something about this felt deeply wrong.

“Your Highness, we cannot negotiate with them.”

“Qun Qing,” Li Xuan cut her off, his gaze complex. “You work in the inner palace. Government affairs are not your concern. Who gave you the right to speak?”

Li Pan left with a grim expression, but not before giving Qun Qing a long, hard look.

That night, he replayed his memories over and over. The more he thought, the more certain he became—the Taoist nun that night was Qun Qing. But he had no proof. Worse, Li Xuan was blatantly protecting her.

Inside the hall, Li Xuan handed Qun Qing a scroll, smiling faintly.

“You’ve seen the scholars enter Chang’an. Chancellor Meng has sent over the official list for this year’s exam. Every name on it was chosen by him—scholars loyal to the Eastern Palace. Take a look at their writings.”

Qun Qing accepted the scroll, but an icy chill crept down her spine.

The names on the list… They were all future ministers who would later side with Prince Yan and Lu Huating.

Somehow, Chancellor Meng Guangshen had already gathered them under the Crown Prince’s banner before they had even become officials.