Chapter 24: Not Cut from the Same Cloth

No one knew when the moon had been obscured, only that as the night deepened and climbed the branches, one could discern a few crows perched above. The biting wind raged, causing the tree limbs to sway uncertainly. Watching from her window, Shen Quanyi worried that such slender branches might snap at such a height.

Hushang was somewhat stubborn. Shen Quanyi had thought she had made herself perfectly clear: regardless of what feelings might exist, there was absolutely no possibility between them.

Shen Quanyi closed her eyes, feeling a sense of helplessness. "Serving a mere concubine like me, don't you find it beneath your talents?"

At these words, Hushang sat up straight, her expression earnest. "This servant has faith in her mistress."

With that, she rose, bowed deeply, and retreated quietly.

A strange, chilling sensation bloomed in Shen Quanyi’s chest; she was startled to realize that she had been moved by the sheer conviction in Hushang’s eyes.

Qiuyue entered, shivering from the cold. Seeing Hushang’s silhouette vanish into the darkness and turning to find Shen Quanyi’s expression complex, she noticed a handkerchief stained with medicinal residue nearby. She leaned over, picking it up to wash it. "That Steward Hushang is truly devoted to you, Mistress; she attends to everything personally."

Shen Quanyi’s lips curled slightly. Suddenly recalling the moment Hushang had wiped her mouth, her throat felt dry. She finally muttered, "She is nothing but a stubborn fool."

Detecting the shame and irritation in Shen Quanyi’s tone, and unaware of the inner truth, Qiuyue assumed Hushang had fallen out of favor. She resolved to mention Hushang less frequently in front of her mistress in the future.

After taking her medicine, there was no reason to stay awake any longer. Qiuyue insisted on keeping watch. Shen Quanyi had initially thought that since there were plenty of maids at the villa, one could easily be summoned, but Qiuyue was restless and insisted on standing guard herself.

Perhaps influenced by her conversation with Hushang, Shen Quanyi found herself suffering from insomnia—a rare occurrence, as she hadn’t even struggled this much when she was first injured.

Through the gauze curtains, she looked up slightly at the bright moon hanging outside amidst the deep, dark night.

She watched in a trance for she knew not how long, until her eyes grew sore and sleepiness finally washed over her. Yet, with so much weighing on her heart, her rest was bound to be fitful. In her half-slumber, she heard faint, light footsteps outside—deliberately hushed, as if trying to remain hidden.

Her heart fluttered with sudden panic.

But then she reasoned that it was late, and since Qiuyue was keeping watch outside, no one else could possibly have been let in. A guess began to form in her mind.

She squeezed her eyes shut, slowed her breathing, and listened quietly as the sounds outside drew closer.

In the darkness, she felt someone approach the bedside. The warmth of a breath brushed against her ear, and the familiar scent of dragon-saliva incense filled the air. As the silk quilt was quietly lifted, a powerful arm tightened around her waist.

The heart that had been pulled taut all day finally settled.

Shen Quanyi turned, pressing her face against Li Qian’s searing chest with a touch of grievance. Her fingers traced upward, resting on his chin. "My Lord, I missed you so."

Realizing Shen Quanyi was awake, Li Qian felt a pang of regret, wondering if his movements had disturbed her. Seeing now that she had not been asleep at all, his heart softened completely. He gripped her rounded shoulders and leaned down to kiss her ear.

"I was tied up with outside affairs today and couldn't break away. When I returned, Qiuyue told me you naughty girl hadn't been eating properly again, hmm?"

His deep voice resonated in her ear, his warm breath tickling her. Deliberately pouting, Shen Quanyi wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer. Seeking his thin lips, she pressed her own against them, kissing him in a frantic, chaotic rhythm. She murmured, "I couldn't see you, my Lord, so I had no appetite. Everything tasted like nothing."

Her words left Li Qian restless. He showered her with endearments, yet he felt a twinge of regret. Holding her tightly in his arms, he had been celibate for many days, and his body burned with a restless desire. Yet, mindful of her unhealed injuries, he dared not act upon it.

"Did the heavens send you specifically to torture me?"

With that, Li Qian caught her soft hand and bit it gently, unable to bring himself to use any real force, lest he feel the pain himself.

Unable to hold back, he eventually rose and went to the outer room to soak in cold water, finally dampening the heat of his desire. Listening to the sound of water outside, Shen Quanyi buried her face in the quilt, feeling a rush of embarrassment.

When he returned to bed, Li Qian pressed a light kiss to her forehead and dared not embrace her further.

They drifted into a heavy sleep, though at some point in the night, Shen Quanyi rolled back into his arms.

Li Qian did not sleep well, enduring the night until dawn. Seeing that Shen Quanyi was still in a deep slumber, he did not wake her; he changed his clothes and went to the outer room.

Qiuyue and Liu were waiting with basins and towels to serve him. Zhang Desheng stood at the hall entrance, stepping forward as soon as he appeared.

As the door curtain was lifted from the inner chamber, Li Qian emerged, adjusting his robes. Zhang Desheng stole a glance and noticed the dark circles under Li Qian’s eyes and his somewhat weary complexion. *Did he not sleep well last night?* he wondered.

It made sense; with Mistress Shen injured, it was likely difficult to attend to her.

"Tell the small kitchen to prepare some fresh side dishes. If she doesn't want to eat, tell them it is because they are lazy and incompetent. If they cannot serve her well, have them all dismissed."

After Li Qian spoke, Zhang Desheng was certain: the Crown Prince definitely hadn't slept well.

As Li Qian stepped out the door, he remembered something and instructed Zhang Desheng, "There is a gold collar inlaid with plum blossoms and red jewels in the treasury. Send it over."

Zhang Desheng hurried to comply, thinking to himself that even when Gu Tan was at the height of her favor, she hadn't managed to get her hands on that piece. This Mistress Shen truly carried weight—aside from that one person from the past...

The thought made Zhang Desheng’s heart sink. He sighed slightly, wondering how long this favor for Mistress Shen would actually last.

It was late when Shen Quanyi woke. After Qiuyue helped her wash and dress, she added more charcoal to the stove. She watched as Liu used a small shovel to retrieve something from the embers.

Wrapping it in a cloth, she broke it open; inside was a red, glutinous flesh that smelled sweet. Shen Quanyi recognized it as a sweet potato.

Seeing Shen Quanyi looking, Liu smiled shyly. "This is just something us poor folk used to eat."

Shen Quanyi smiled back. "Why call it poor folk's food? I’ve eaten it at home, too."

Seeing Shen Quanyi engage, Qiuyue reached out to take one, forgetting it had just come out of the fire. By the time she realized it was scalding, she was already in pain.

Liu quickly set the sweet potato down and took Qiuyue’s hand. "It’s nothing, just a bit red."

Qiuyue let out a breath of relief. She didn't know where Liu had produced a small wooden bottle from—it looked rough on the outside, but when applied, the ointment felt cool and soothing, instantly relieving the burning pain.

"Don't judge this by its humble appearance, young lady; it is remarkably effective."

Liu was always smiling, looking so kind that one couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to her.