Chapter 36: Knocked Unconscious

The mist in the courtyard gradually began to disperse. The glazed tiles covering the scattered, well-arranged houses caught the light, shimmering with a strange, watery luster. The scenery appeared hazy and dreamlike. Shen Quanyi leaned tightly against Li Qian’s side, watching as those people were dragged away like livestock, their necks tethered by ropes.

Zhang Desheng brought over the wine vessels and knelt respectfully before Li Qian. Eunuch Huang summarized the recent wrongdoings of the Qin woman and knelt as well, begging for mercy.

Li Qian frowned and waved his hand dismissively. "That is enough. Deal with it as you see fit."

Shen Quanyi lowered her gaze, hiding the darkness within, and sighed.

The sound was faint, yet loud enough for Li Qian to hear. He turned, reached out, and touched Shen Quanyi’s pale, delicate face. Finding her skin icy cold, he grew anxious. "It was my oversight to bring you out here. I hope you haven't caught a chill."

"Not at all. I am very happy, just thinking about asking you to move the ice sculptures to my courtyard," Shen Quanyi murmured, her tone coquettish and playful as she acted spoiled.

Li Qian smiled and squeezed her hand. "Since you are happy, tell me why you were sighing just now."

Shen Quanyi feigned a look of pity. "Oh, I was just feeling sorry for that little eunuch. It reminded me of some things from the past."

As she spoke, she straightened up, bowed solemnly to Li Qian, and said with a sincere tone, "Actually, I would like to ask a favor of you."

Li Qian raised his eyebrows with interest, as Shen Quanyi had never asked him for anything before. "Tell me."

"There is an old matron who has been serving me these past few days. She is honest and kind, and she reminds me so much of my grandmother back home that I have grown quite fond of her. I dare to ask if I might take her back to my residence."

Shen Quanyi spoke softly, her face showing the unease and entreaty of a young girl. Li Qian’s eyes reflected her image as he reached out to pull her up. "She is but a servant. If you want her, keep her. That is hardly a major matter."

He paused, then turned to look at the kneeling Hushang. "He seems like an honest one as well. Your household is small; since you pity him, let him go with you to serve there too."

At this, Shen Quanyi pouted. "I am not a shelter. Why are you sending everyone to me?"

Li Qian was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh. He tapped her forehead, and just as he was about to speak, the gates ahead were suddenly illuminated, and the lamps along the corridors were lit, making the place as bright as day.

"You should go, my Lord," Shen Quanyi said, her voice soft and tender as she thoughtfully adjusted his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind.

Li Qian patted her hand reassuringly and walked away, with Zhang Desheng hurrying to follow.

Eunuch Huang waited cautiously by Shen Quanyi’s side. "I shall have the two ice sculptures sent to your quarters, Miss."

Shen Quanyi nodded absentmindedly and wrapped her cloak tighter. Qiuyue, who was behind her, immediately brought over a warm hand warmer. Unwilling to linger any longer in the freezing cold, she spoke with a hint of impatience, gesturing toward Hushang on the ground: "Follow us."

Eunuch Huang was the first to react. He kicked Hushang lightly and scolded, "Are you blind? Go, quickly!"

Hushang rose shakily and followed slowly behind Shen Quanyi.

Watching the group depart, Eunuch Huang couldn't help but "tsk" twice. He mused to himself that Hushang was quite lucky—he hadn't been implicated when the Zhang woman fell, and the Qin woman’s persecution of him had backfired, leading to her own punishment by their master. Now, he was following a new mistress and, most importantly, would be able to enter the Eastern Palace.

Truly, everyone has their own fate.

Shen Quanyi glanced coldly at Hushang following far behind her and gave a light scoff. She deliberately quickened her pace, causing Qiuyue to watch her feet anxiously, fearing she might trip.

Upon entering the courtyard, the Liu woman hurried out to meet them. Seeing Shen Quanyi’s face, thin as paper and frozen red, she quickly offered a hot hand warmer, took the cold one from Shen Quanyi’s embrace, and ran off to instruct the kitchen to brew ginger soup.

Qiuyue helped Shen Quanyi into the inner chamber. As soon as she entered, Shen Quanyi kicked off her shoes and stepped onto the red velvet carpet in her socks.

Qiuyue hurried out to fetch hot water. As she lifted the heavy curtain at the entrance, she happened to come face-to-face with Hushang’s ghastly pale face. Startled, she retreated several steps, and only after realizing who it was did she pat her chest and sigh.

It seems even someone with an immortal-like appearance could scare a person half to death.

She couldn't help but glance back at Shen Quanyi in the inner chamber, only to find that at some point, she had picked up a miscellaneous journal from a small bamboo basket on the rosewood table and was leaning back, reading it with focus.

Hushang pulled his lips into a smile and stepped aside to clear a path for Qiuyue.

*Poor thing,* Qiuyue thought, shaking her head as she walked away.

After standing for who knows how long, Hushang was drifting into a daze when he suddenly heard a sharp command: "Are you planning to serve as a door god for me? Why haven't you come in yet?"

Carefully slowing his pace, Hushang did not dare to look up. When he reached the screen, he knelt down.

Shen Quanyi turned around slowly. "Why come to me for help? I see you are quite capable; you don't need me to help you."

"Without you, my Lady, this servant would not have lived until today." Hushang simply closed his eyes and lowered his head. He felt the warm blood trickling from his nose, but he made no move to stop it, watching as the bright red droplets fell onto the polished, glossy lacquer floor, forming circle after circle of blood.

The familiar fragrance drifted into her nose once more, and the turbulent emotions in her heart began to settle, gradually returning to peace.

Shen Quanyi spoke deliberately: "You are such a shrewd, calculating eunuch. I truly fear I cannot afford to employ you. With so much deviousness, I worry that one day I might be schemed against by you."

Hearing this, Hushang still wore a faint smile, as if he were not the one injured. Shen Quanyi pursed her lips in silence, her beautiful almond eyes filled with a touch of helplessness. She took a handkerchief, dipped it in cold water, and threw it directly at Hushang’s face.

The coldness made the man shiver. He hurriedly took the handkerchief and pressed it against his bleeding nose, eventually stopping the flow.

Shen Quanyi watched his actions indifferently, picked up the small hand warmer from the table, opened the lid, and dumped out the burnt-out ash. She said coldly, "What is your true intention? Was it you who deliberately provoked the Qin woman into laying hands on you?"

Hushang nodded obediently, saying nothing, only looking at Shen Quanyi with longing eyes.

Shen Quanyi pretended not to notice. She stood up and pushed the door open, only to find Qiuyue, who had been gone for a long time, standing at the door listening in. She nearly stumbled, and when she saw it was Shen Quanyi, she gave a sheepish smile.

She peeked inside and saw Hushang slumping listlessly, still kneeling on the ground.

Shen Quanyi rolled her eyes elegantly and sat back down by the stove. She rubbed her fingers, which were reddened by the cold, and instructed: "Go and pack your things. We must leave early tomorrow."

Hushang looked up suddenly, his eyes bright and sparkling, as if he had been brought back to life. He kowtowed to Shen Quanyi several times.

Shen Quanyi pursed her lips, thinking to herself that this man was far too accustomed to kowtowing; if he kept it up, she feared he might faint from it one day.