Chapter 52: The Slap

Shen Quanyi bent down and personally tied the sachet around Li Qian's waist. As she raised her head, his dark eyes were filled entirely with her reflection, causing a sudden flutter of panic in her heart. She gently lowered her gaze again. "This humble concubine knows Your Lordship has always kept me in your thoughts, but now that the Noble Consort is with child, she has even greater need of Your Lordship's presence. I implore Your Lordship to spend more time accompanying the Noble Consort."

Her voice was soft and warm to the ear, tinged with traces of sorrow.

Li Qian's heart melted completely. He gently lifted Shen Quanyi's delicate, porcelain-white chin, and as their eyes met, he did not miss the crystalline tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.

Such fragility—she was clearly someone who could only survive by leaning upon him, yet she remained so considerate that she even pushed him toward other women. He felt a touch of annoyance, mingled with an overwhelming desire to cherish her.

"Your Lordship need not concern yourself with me. As long as I can gaze upon Your Lordship from afar, this concubine is utterly content."

A sudden, dull ache pierced Li Qian's chest. He pulled her tightly into his arms, and the burning warmth of his embrace gradually calmed Shen Quanyi. Li Qian pressed his chin against her forehead.

"If you were truly willing, why would sorrow still linger in your expression?"

At these words, Shen Quanyi's tears finally fell, landing upon Li Qian's lapel. He felt them as searingly hot, as if they might scorch his very heart.

"How can you expect me to let go when you are like this? I truly wish I could bind you to my body and never let you leave my side."

Moving words of affection tumbled effortlessly from his lips.

A moment later, Shen Quanyi slowly lifted her head, looking into the depth of Li Qian's eyes, which brimmed with a love that threatened to drown her. Her heart raced violently. Struggling to compose herself, she made a slight turn, and her sleeve brushed against a blue-patterned porcelain tea bowl on the table, sending it crashing to the floor.

The porcelain shattered into countless pieces, scattering everywhere.

Instinctively, Shen Quanyi bent down to pick up the broken shards, but Li Qian swept his arm around her slender waist, lifting her up and gently cupping her chin. "You truly are a fool. Why should you ever need to dirty your hands with such tasks?"

Yet Shen Quanyi stubbornly raised her head. As their eyes locked, Li Qian was struck by the unwavering determination in her gaze—a determination intertwined with an inexplicable, lingering sorrow.

He knew well in his heart that the more favor Shen Quanyi gained, the less the other inhabitants of the inner courtyard could tolerate her. Take Gu Tan, for instance, who had resorted to violence repeatedly; even under his reprimands, Shen Quanyi could not avoid being harmed.

Now that Gu Tan carried a child within her womb, she had an even greater backing, leaving Shen Quanyi with no choice but to endure everything.

"Very well, as you wish."

Li Qian spoke in a low voice. Shen Quanyi shed another tear, throwing him into a panic. He hastily wiped her tears away with his sleeve and coaxed her gently, "Why are you weeping again?"

Shen Quanyi sobbed as she flung herself into Li Qian's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his slender waist. Choking back her tears, she murmured, "This... this concubine does not know. Your Lordship has granted my wish, and I ought to be happy, yet my heart aches. Every day I long for Your Lordship, yet I am also terrified—terrified that one day I shall no longer be able to see you."

Hearing this, Li Qian felt as though his heart were being tightly clenched in a fist. He held the person in his arms closer. "That will never happen. I will always stay by your side."

"I am still looking forward to a child of ours. If it is a daughter, she need only be as delicate and lovely as you; if it is a son, I shall teach him to ride horses and wield a spear."

Li Qian spoke in gentle, soothing tones to comfort Shen Quanyi, yet deep within her heart, she inexplicably recalled how this very same man had once uttered identical reassurances to another woman right before her eyes.

The contrast with the affection that had previously melted her heart now left her struggling in agony. In truth, Li Qian had treated her with immense favor; during those days, she had truly believed her sealed heart would gradually thaw piece by piece.

Yet now, as she grasped the sachet at Li Qian's waist, she felt her resolve harden like unyielding stone.

"Since this concubine cannot constantly attend Your Lordship, I shall tie this sachet to your person, so it will be as though I am always by Your Lordship's side."

"Very well." Li Qian answered without hesitation. He lowered his head to kiss Shen Quanyi's soft lips, his handsome features suffused with love for her.

With that, he released her and turned to leave.

"My Lady, your robes are too thin to be standing in the doorway like this; you will catch a chill. The hour is late, and it is time for dinner to be served."

Lady Liu watched as Shen Quanyi stood frozen in the doorway, gazing blankly after Li Qian's retreating figure while the outdoor wind whipped her garments into a fluttering frenzy.

Without another word, Lady Liu gathered the freshly changed bedsheets in her arms and, with one hand, pulled the bewildered Qiuyue along as she walked away.

After some time, Shen Quanyi slowly recovered her senses. She raised a hand to touch her ice-cold face, then suddenly curled the corners of her lips into a smile. Her heart, no doubt, was just as cold.

Xushang entered silently once more, holding a red-lacquered begonia-flower tea tray bearing a small white porcelain bowl. Wisps of light vapor were gently rising from the brownish broth.

The drifting mist blurred Xushang's strikingly beautiful face.

Receiving no word from Shen Quanyi, Xushang looked up at that exquisite, vacant countenance. Was she lost in thought because she harbored some new hope in her heart?

He did not know what to do.

Silently, he held the tea tray and prepared to withdraw.

"Where are you going?"

Shen Quanyi's voice finally broke the silence. Her expression was as placid as ever, her tone neutral, revealing neither joy nor displeasure.

She picked up the tea bowl and drained it in a single upward tilt. Xushang hurriedly caught the bowl, placing it back on the tray, and looked at Shen Quanyi with unspoken words hanging on his lips.

"If you have something to say, spit it out. I haven't sewn your mouth shut." Shen Quanyi collapsed onto the soft couch, casting a sidelong glance at Xushang. What new trick was this fellow playing, dressing himself up so impeccably?

His peach-blossom eyes were brimming with ingratiating smiles.

The jade crown bound to his hair and the jade belt around his waist were both gifts from her. Shen Quanyi frowned. Was this fellow planning to go out and show off?

"I don't care how you dress within our own courtyard, but do not act presumptuously outside. If others catch you at fault, it will only stir up trouble again."

Shen Quanyi reached out and poked Xushang on the forehead, inwardly scolding him for being as dense as wood. He was normally such a cautious person—what had gotten into him today?

Xushang smiled, moved forward on his knees, and grasped Shen Quanyi's jade-like wrist. "This lowly servant thought that My Lady had also developed the tender heart of a mother. Yet raising a child is arduous, and since My Lady is young and perhaps unaware of these things, this servant merely wished to offer a word."

Shen Quanyi gave a cold, scornful chuckle, jerked her wrist free, and quietly glared down at Xushang. The two of them lapsed into a tacit silence.

A moment later, beneath that silent standoff, Xushang lowered his head, pressing his torso to the floor near Shen Quanyi's feet. "This servant spoke out of turn," he murmured.

With that, he raised his hand and struck his own face fiercely. Bright red fingerprints instantly blossomed across his delicate, fair skin—he had not held back at all.

Shen Quanyi closed her eyes, sighed, and reached out to catch his wrist. Looking at his swollen face, she rose, pulled open a small drawer from her vanity, and tossed out a porcelain vial.

"Put your mind at ease."

Xushang caught the vial but kept his head bowed in silence. Unable to bear the sight of his pathetic state, Shen Quanyi snatched the vial back, pulled out the wooden stopper, scooped up some of the icy ointment, and smoothed it over the injuries on Xushang's hand and face.