Chapter 27: Becoming Your Support

Qiuyue and Madam Liu returned in a hurry, but the meal they brought was nothing more than simple green vegetables and plain porridge. The only meat was a single dish of ham, placed there with lazy indifference.

"Take it away. Tell them to redo it."

Shen Quanyi did not even bother to lift her eyelids. She lowered her head, clutching a silver hairpin in her hand, slowly trimming the wick of the candle on the table.

Qiuyue opened her mouth as if to speak, but remained silent. She picked up the tea tray, ready to leave, but just as her foot crossed the threshold, she paused. She spoke with trepidation, "Mistress, perhaps we should offer some silver?"

In this place, money was the only language that mattered.

"There is no need. Silver is the kind of thing that, once you give it today, you must give it tomorrow. Day by day, it only feeds their greed, and in the future, they will demand even more."

Having said this, Shen Quanyi looked up at Qiuyue with a calm gaze. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "You stay here."

"Mistress, let me go with them. The people there are not easy to deal with." Qiuyue glanced at Madam Liu, who stood meekly at her side. With Madam Liu's temperament, she would certainly be bullied if she went alone.

"Very well. No matter what happens, do not argue with them."

Shen Quanyi did not stop her, offering only that single instruction.

Qiuyue nodded, and she and Madam Liu departed once more.

When they returned, it was after a long delay. Shen Quanyi picked up a handkerchief to wipe the charcoal dust from her hands, thinking of the provocative look Madam Zhang had given her earlier that day. Such a brazen woman would not let go easily.

The play was about to begin.

The sky was gray and overcast. For some reason, the snow outside had begun to fall heavily, covering the path that had been cleared that afternoon and leaving the entire courtyard in a blanket of white.

Shen Quanyi averted her gaze, grabbed the teapot from the floor, and placed it on the stove. She retrieved the remaining sweet potatoes from earlier that day and tucked them into the compartment beneath the fire.

The water in the teapot began to boil, the lid rattling restlessly and emitting a faint "squeak." Soon, steam rose, blurring the features of Shen Quanyi’s fair, pale face.

Sure enough, before long, Qiuyue and Madam Liu returned. Madam Liu’s clothes were disheveled, as if she had been roughly handled, and she was clutching her face. As soon as she entered the room and saw Shen Quanyi waiting for her, tears began to stream from her eyes.

Shen Quanyi rose to take the hand of Qiuyue, who stood beside Madam Liu, and patted Madam Liu on the shoulder. They all sat down, and Qiuyue pursed her lips, sniffling.

Madam Liu lowered the hand covering her face, revealing a clear, red, and swollen handprint on her cheek.

"Mistress, you don't know what those people are like. They are vicious. I told them clearly that because you were injured, the meals should be light for these few days, but they did it on purpose! The food they prepared was filled with spicy red peppers."

Qiuyue was seething with rage. "I only said a word, mentioning that the food was not suitable for you. Who would have thought that the old woman in charge would put her hands on her hips and roar, telling me that if we weren't used to simple fare, we could cook for ourselves, and that she was too busy to serve us?"

Qiuyue’s voice, filled with humiliation and anger, remained unchecked. A flicker of cold ruthlessness crossed Shen Quanyi’s eyes, but then the sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor.

A familiar figure appeared before the door. Li Qian had returned early today.

Shen Quanyi immediately replaced her expression with one of profound sorrow and grasped Qiuyue’s hand. "Forget it. Do not bicker with them."

Qiuyue stomped her foot in frustration. Seeing Shen Quanyi secretly grieving, her own anger only flared higher. "What kind of treacherous servants are in this manor? They dare to lay hands on people! And today, Madam Zhang clearly harbors deep resentment toward you. I am certain the kitchen staff acted on her orders; otherwise, they would never have had the audacity."

"It is my fault for implicating you; I am the one they look down upon." At the mention of her sorrow, a teardrop fell from Shen Quanyi’s eye. She sighed softly and dabbed at the corner of her eye with her handkerchief.

Madam Liu paused, not expecting Shen Quanyi to shed tears for her. She was at a loss, raising her hand as if to wipe the tears away, but feeling it improper, she did not know what to do.

Qiuyue, standing to the side, could no longer contain herself. "This manor has truly become a bandit’s den for Madam Zhang."

"And how has my manor become a bandit’s den?"

At the sound of his voice, they looked up to see Zhang Desheng bowing and lifting the curtain. Li Qian stood in the doorway. He wore a sapphire-blue brocade robe for home, his hair tied up with a pearl-inlaid jade crown. His handsome face was chilled by the frost and snow, making him look as cold and distant as a bright moon in the night.

Shen Quanyi guessed that he had finished his official duties early to return, and her heart softened instantly.

However, Qiuyue and Madam Liu turned pale with fright. Qiuyue glanced at Shen Quanyi, and seeing the surprise on her face, she quickly lowered her head and bowed.

Shen Quanyi suppressed the fluttering in her heart and prepared to curtsy, but Li Qian strode over, grabbed her wrist, pulled her up, and gathered her into his arms.

"Those heartless things—why did you endure it? No wonder you have looked so frail these past few days. You are so light, I truly fear a gust of wind might blow you away."

As he spoke, Li Qian held her tightly, pressing his face against her ear and murmuring, "Where would I find you then?"

With others in the room, Shen Quanyi felt truly shy, especially since Li Qian had been so busy lately that they had not had much time for tenderness.

Yet, her longing overcame her shyness. Shen Quanyi pressed her face into Li Qian’s slightly cold neck, her voice infinitely gentle. "I am a newcomer, and I did not wish to cause trouble. I did not want to add to your burdens."

Li Qian smiled, lowering his head to chase her soft lips. Shen Quanyi was startled and hurriedly covered her face with her sleeve, but in her haste, Li Qian’s kiss landed on her fair palm.

A sudden, searing heat flooded her palm. Shen Quanyi hid herself completely in Li Qian’s embrace, whispering, "My Lord… there are others here."

Qiuyue remained composed, but Madam Liu trembled, never having expected that the always-composed Shen Quanyi could be so delicate and charming.

Li Qian regained his stern composure, raised an eyebrow, and called out for Zhang Desheng. Zhang Desheng hurried in, bowed, and waited for orders.

"Go. Have that old woman who instigated the beating executed, and dismiss the rest. They are not to be kept."

Li Qian leaned against the couch, gently rubbing the blue jade ring on his thumb. "You will supervise it yourself. Find replacements, and if there is another mistake, you shall receive the rod as well."

Zhang Desheng acknowledged the order and turned to leave, but Qiuyue, who was still kneeling on the floor, stepped forward. She kowtowed twice and said respectfully, "This servant has something to say, if I may."

The atmosphere grew heavy. Shen Quanyi bit her lip silently. Li Qian cast a probing gaze upon Qiuyue, who felt a chill and a thin layer of cold sweat break out across her back.