Chapter 38: Biting You to Death

Yang Siqiu had been waiting by the door for a long time. With Shen Quanyi away these past few days, she had no one to talk to. Upon hearing the news of Shen's return, she could no longer contain herself and had been keeping watch since early morning.

Stretching her neck to peer at the approaching figure, she recognized it as Qiuyue. A smile bloomed on Yang Siqiu’s face, and she couldn't help but clutch the hand warmer in her arms more tightly. When she asked and learned that Shen Quanyi had not returned with her—having been summoned to the inner courtyard to pay her respects—Yang felt a sense of clarity. Yet, she did not leave, choosing to remain and wait.

Standing with her was Hushang. As Yang Siqiu stood by the doorway, her gaze kept drifting toward him, feeling a pang of melancholy in her heart. Such a handsome person, it was a pity he had been castrated.

Everything was silent. When Shen Quanyi finally returned, her face was so frozen it felt numb. Seeing someone waiting for her, a warmth stirred in her heart.

Hushang trotted over to meet her. Seeing the frost on Shen Quanyi's brows and her slightly disheveled hair, his expression darkened. He did not ask questions, but firmly supported her as they entered the courtyard.

Beaten to the punch, Yang Siqiu stomped her foot in irritation, thinking to herself that the new young eunuch was certainly diligent.

Shen Quanyi’s fair face was slightly pale. She took the hand warmer from Yang Siqiu and smiled at her. "It is nothing. Your health is not the best; how could you stand out in this wind and snow? Hurry back and warm yourself."

Yang Siqiu nodded, unable to help herself, and bit her lip. "Sister, were you mistreated by the Crown Princess?"

Shen Quanyi reflexively frowned slightly. "Sister, be careful with your words."

"I... I will come to see you later," Yang Siqiu said, biting her lip before heading toward the southern room.

Once Shen Quanyi entered her own room, she startled Qiuyue, who hurriedly pulled Liu to go fetch hot water. Leaning against the stove, Shen Quanyi finally felt she had come back to life. She stretched her frozen legs and said slowly, "You see, life with me is not easy. You must be regretting it."

Hushang knelt and moved before her. He removed her snow-dampened shoes, rubbed his own hands together, and held them by the stove until his palms turned red. Only then did he take Shen Quanyi’s feet and begin to warm them slowly.

"This servant will never regret it. If you are not doing well, then I shall certainly clear all obstacles for you. Let me be the stepping stone for you to climb higher and live a good life."

Hushang’s cool, clear voice echoed in the silent, empty room, sounding exceptionally distinct. Shen Quanyi was stunned for a moment, then began to laugh softly, before bending down to wipe away the tears that had welled up in the corners of her eyes.

She reached out and caught Hushang’s fair chin, humming lightly, "What grand words you speak."

Having said this, she narrowed her eyes, looking at his handsome face. Suddenly, she reached up and took a few silk flowers embroidered with gold thread from her own hair, pushed aside his eunuch’s cap, and tucked the flowers into his hair.

Just as she finished, Qiuyue returned with the hot water. Seeing the silk flowers on Hushang’s head, she paused and couldn't help but remark, "Truly, the person is more delicate than the flowers."

Hushang licked his lips. Seeing Shen Quanyi suppressing a smile, he felt a surge of joy; at least he was still of use to her.

"If only this face were on me," Qiuyue sighed softly while helping Shen Quanyi wash.

Shen Quanyi’s smile faded. She removed the silk flowers from Hushang’s head and sat before the dressing table, her expression returning to its usual composure. Qiuyue felt deeply indignant but dared not show it, carefully cleansing Shen Quanyi’s face and restyling her hair.

"Do not wear such a look of deep resentment on your face. If you go out and let others see it, it will only invite more trouble."

Qiuyue nodded, resigned to her fate. Shen Quanyi studied her own reflection in the bronze mirror, thinking of the day's events. It was nothing more than Zuo Li wanting to assert her authority. After all, having been away for so long, one's heart might grow wild, and Zuo Li feared that without strict discipline, Shen would become difficult to control.

But thinking of Li Changping, Shen Quanyi let out a soft scoff. Who knew if this wasn't a case of "killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of one's own"?

"What is the concubine thinking about?" Qiuyue asked softly, noticing Shen Quanyi lost in thought. Shen Quanyi blinked, rubbed her brows, and said, "I am thinking that since she values me so much as to send such a 'grand gift' today, we ought to send a gift in return."

Qiuyue was bewildered but complied obediently, wondering who had sent her mistress a gift.

Meanwhile, in Huaian Courtyard, Zuo Li, who had just felt triumphant in teaching Shen Quanyi a lesson, found the situation turning back on herself.

Li Changping, like a newborn calf, looked at Yulan with resentment. "You lowly slave, why won't you let me see my brother?"

Yulan pressed her lips together and remained silent. The siblings were inseparable and difficult to manage, so Zuo Li had specifically ordered them to be kept apart, making it impossible for them to meet on ordinary days. But Li Changping was a young child; separated from her birth mother and now kept away from her brother, she felt miserable and grew to loathe Yulan, who was always standing in her way.

Seeing Li Changping’s collar undone, Yulan stepped forward to straighten it, but Li Changping swatted her hand away. "I hate you! It was because you went last time that Mother became so angry."

"This time you won't let me see my brother either. I will have Xue Shi bite you to death!"

Xue Shi was the dog kept by Gu Tan, known for its ferocity. Servants in Chunya Courtyard who were disobedient or committed errors were often sent before this giant beast; many had been bitten to death, and those who survived were often left crippled.

"You are so young, yet your heart is so vicious!" Yulan was incensed and raised her hand.

But before she could act, Li Changping tightened her small face, feigning pain. She clutched her head and crouched down, crying out, "You lowly slave, you dare to strike me? Then go ahead and kill me!"

"When that happens, Father will surely make you suffer a fate worse than death."

Hearing this, Yulan’s face turned pale. Her hand trembled, and she slapped herself across the face instead. She looked up at Zuo Li, who was sitting on the kang, and knelt down, pleading, "This servant has forgotten her place. I beg the Second Young Lady for mercy, and I ask the Crown Princess to punish me."

Seeing this, Li Changping curled her lip in disdain, stood up, and kicked Yulan’s shoulder hard. The blow was not light, and Yulan let out a muffled groan. Only then did Li Changping smile.

"A slave should know a slave's place."

Yulan forced a response and stood up, retreating along with the other servants in the room.

"I want Mother and my brother!" Li Changping looked up at the stern woman sitting on high. She felt afraid, but the thought of her birth mother made her stubbornly confront her.

Zuo Li naturally paid no mind to a child’s gaze. She slowly set down her teacup, her expression darkening. "You are insolent. A mere child acting with such arrogance, without the slightest regard for propriety, shame, or morality, even daring to humiliate Concubine Shen in public. Since I am your mother, I must discipline you."

She called out to those outside, "Take the Second Young Lady away. If the mistress is at fault, then those around her have failed in their duties. Drag those two wet nurses who incited her away and give them twenty strokes each."

Tears instantly welled up in Li Changping’s eyes. As she was being carried away, she cried out, "You are evil! I want my mother! I will tell Father that you treat me poorly!"

These few sobs completely exhausted Zuo Li’s patience. She pressed her temples, thinking to herself that given how favored she was, she could only hope Shen Quanyi’s womb would prove more fruitful.