Chapter 031: The Grand Drama Concludes / The Man Appears / Zhongyi Marquis Falls Gravely Ill
Concubine Fang would never forget—Zhou Ziheng had slapped her for Aunt Xia’s sake, she remembered it all! Zhou Ziheng had reprimanded her for Qin Chanyue! Her son had been harmed by Qin Chanyue!
Now that such an opportunity had finally presented itself, she was determined to seize it!
She knew deep down that Zhou Ziheng did not love her that much, but this was her obsession. She had to make Zhou Ziheng apologize to her, had to force him to say he loved her most of all!
She also had to make Qin Chanyue come and see what had become of her precious son. She had to make Qin Chanyue witness for herself what she was about to become!
When Zhou Ziheng heard Aunt Xia make this demand, he instinctively retorted, “Aunt Xia may be allowed, but Qin Chanyue is not.”
In prominent families, face was of utmost importance. A concubine being beaten was just a concubine being beaten—a mere plaything counted for nothing. If she was too much of an eyesore, she could simply be killed and disposed of, treated as silenced to keep secrets. But Qin Chanyue was his wife, his dignity. If Qin Chanyue were humiliated, that shame would be branded on them for life. In the future, in front of everyone, they as a couple would never be able to hold their heads high.
Whenever they met others, these people would remember that Qin Chanyue had been slapped ten times by a concubine. How could that be allowed!
Concubine Fang had anticipated this long ago.
She snorted coldly twice, then cast a sidelong glance at the people rolling and fighting on the ground, her tone icy as she said, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to give it to you—it’s that Zhongyi Marquis is unwilling to give it to you.”
Those pairs of frenzied, bloodthirsty eyes gradually shifted away from Zhou Yuanting, who lay beaten and utterly wretched on the ground, and fixed themselves fiercely on Zhou Ziheng, like rabid, starving Living Dead, as if they could pounce at any moment and beat Zhou Ziheng into the same state as Zhou Yuanting.
Zhou Yuanting, trapped at the center of the crowd, was bleeding profusely from his entire body. Already severely injured, he now seemed to have little time left. Only his eyes refused to close, stubbornly remaining open as if clinging to life, staring fixedly at everyone present.
He was unwilling to die, but he no longer had the strength to beg for mercy. Although the fists that had struck him earlier were not as heavy as they would have been in full health, they had still caused him immense agony.
What hurt more than the physical pain was his heart. His lofty ambitions had been shattered. Profit and survival were two sharp blades, their edges turning back to slice through Zhou Yuanting’s spine.
When Zhou Ziheng saw Zhou Yuanting’s face, now barely recognizable as human, his heart gave a violent jolt.
His son seemed to foreshadow his own fate. Now, anyone who stood in the way of their survival had to die.
Zhou Ziheng felt his throat constrict, and he involuntarily took a step back.
Fang Qingqing had turned the tables, using her position to dominate those above her. In the shifting dynamics, alliances had reversed multiple times, and it was no longer clear who was friend or foe. Everyone seemed like an enemy, yet at any moment they could unite as one force, only to become enemies again the next.
The scene seemed to fall into dead silence once more, but not for long. They were now racing against the King of Hell, and time could not be wasted. As the young masters on the ground ceased their movements, the lords and madams standing or sitting nearby began to speak.
“Zhongyi Marquis—this matter began because of your son. Of course, our sons are also at fault, but regardless of the reasons, the children’s lives are most important. Don’t you agree?”
“Whatever the case, we must first get through this crisis. After all, your Houfu bears responsibility for this as well.”
“Lady Qin is someone who understands the bigger picture. She won’t dwell on these matters.”
“If our son truly dies, we will be locked in a life-and-death struggle with the Houfu.”
“Could it be that you wish to bear the burden of these seven—oh, six lives?”
Beside them, Young Master Zheng, who had narrowly escaped death, and his parents shrank back, not daring to make a sound, merely watching as this group applied pressure.
Each word pressed down like a mountain, gradually bending Zhou Ziheng’s spine further. It wasn’t enough to push him from the clouds down to the eaves—they continued to press him bit by bit into the mire named “Fang Qingqing,” forcing him, pressing his entire being down.
His face was forced into the mud, and all the filth, stench, and foulness he had never tasted in his lifetime flooded into his throat. He wanted to vomit it out, but the next moment, the vomit and mud were shoved back in, and he swallowed it all again.
As these people pressed closer and closer, Zhou Ziheng could only endure the nausea himself, gritting his teeth as he ordered the private soldiers beside him, “Go—go and invite Aunt Xia and, and Madam over.”
The private soldiers acknowledged the order and left.
Watching Zhou Ziheng compromise, Concubine Fang felt utterly exhilarated. The pent-up frustration of these past days vanished in an instant, leaving her feeling light and clear, as if she might ascend to immortality on the spot.
She finally understood the feeling of being “above others.” She was riding atop everyone, and if she wished, she could bring all those who had bullied her in the past to kneel before her and humiliate them at will—all with just a word.
Was this the taste of “power”?
How truly comfortable.
Kneeling on the ground, Concubine Fang thought in a daze that she had been wrong all along. It wasn’t that Zhou Ziheng was upright and gentle, earning him respect and status. Rather, it was because he had status that he could be upright and gentle, that he earned respect. If Zhou Ziheng were in her position, he would go mad too.
What mattered most in this world was status, not a person’s love. She should have used someone’s love to gain status, not merely sought love itself.
Those who seek power thrive, while those who seek love end in ruin.
If she had realized this earlier, she would never have become an outside concubine. Instead, she would have married into a respectable family, at least securing the rights of a legitimate wife, ensuring her son wouldn’t be harmed, and standing tall and dignified in society.
She knelt there, looking back at her hasty and twisted life. Even if she regretted it now, it was already too late.
—
The news of the summons from the main hall was split into two groups. One group headed straight for Chixia Courtyard, while the other rushed toward Qiufeng Hall.
At Qiufeng Hall, everything remained as usual. Qin Chanyue lay on the couch, pretending to sleep, and eventually drifted into a light slumber amidst her dreams. Meanwhile, Liu Yandai paced back and forth, occasionally glancing out the window at the green bamboo outside.
What was happening in the main hall?
Perhaps she had been thinking about it for too long, for someone from the main hall had indeed arrived.
This time, a private soldier arrived. Upon reaching Qiufeng Hall, he stood at the doorway to report. Liu Yandai came out as usual to respond and asked the private soldier, “Pomu has not yet awakened. What is the matter?”
The private soldier clasped his fists and recounted the events in the main hall in detail. He did not dare to repeat Concubine Fang’s exact words, such as “slapping Qin Chanyue a few times,” but instead vaguely stated, “The Marquis requests that Aunt Xia and Lady Qin come together.”
Liu Yandai’s mind was naturally slow to process things. After hearing such a tumultuous series of events, she was left stunned, repeating blankly, “Concubine Fang poisoned someone, and to detoxify, Aunt Xia and Pomu must go?”
The private soldier nodded in affirmation.
Liu Yandai had not yet figured out why Concubine Fang’s poisoning required Aunt Xia and Pomu to go, but it seemed the situation was urgent. After some consideration, she replied, “Wait a moment. I will check if Pomu has awakened.”
The private soldier nodded in agreement.
Liu Yandai turned around, carefully pushed open the wooden lattice door, and walked to the bedside. She slowly bent down, gently nudged Pomu on the bed, and softly recounted the events outside the door.
Liu Yandai repeated the same account given by the private soldier.
“Concubine Fang used the antidote as leverage to force the young masters to admit their involvement in harming Third Young Master Zhou. Now, Concubine Fang says she wants Aunt Xia and Pomu to go together, though it’s unclear what she intends to do.”
Liu Yandai’s heart was pounding with anxiety, her soft, plump palms damp with sweat. After lightly wiping them on her knees, she whispered, “Will Pomu go?”
The beautiful lady lying on the bed slowly opened her eyes.
It was the end of Shenshi and the beginning of Youshi, sunset time when the setting sun cast a molten gold hue. The golden light had taken on an orange tint, slanting into the room through the window. The light was no longer scorching and intense but carried a gentle, warm softness. A few cool breezes drifted in, revealing the lush, towering greenery outside the window, with thousands of verdant branches standing tall and elegant. Her daughter-in-law, soft and glutinous rice-like, crouched by the bedside, her face filled with worry.
After listening to her words, Qin Chanyue slowly rose from the bed and said, “We must go.”
Earlier, these people had been tearing each other apart, but the conflict had not yet reached her. If she didn’t go now, she would miss the climax of this drama. It was time for her to step onto the stage and properly appreciate the spectacle.
She had just taken a light nap, replenishing some of her energy. Now, she was full of vigor, her stunningly beautiful face once again radiating a cool, brilliant glow, like a peony fully nourished with water, raising its branches high, ready to contend with those outside.
She could still fight for another sixty years.
Liu Yandai obediently helped Pomu rise—she never knew what Pomu intended to do, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t harm her. She simply needed to follow Pomu.
The two walked out from the side room and, led by the private soldier, passed through pavilions, terraces, and waterside pavilions, rounded several arched gates, and made their way to the main hall.
The doors and windows of the main hall were tightly shut, guarded by several private soldiers armed with swords. Upon seeing Qin Chanyue arrive, they bowed their heads in salute. As the private soldiers saluted, their armor clinked in unison, producing a crisp metallic sound that carried the faint aura of battlefields and marching armies. To Qin Chanyue, this clinking sound was like the bugle call for soldiers to charge.
Her spine straightened even more, her strides grew larger, and she strode resolutely into the main hall.
By the time Qin Chanyue entered the main hall, the distant sky had already darkened. The sun had sunk below the eaves, and with the doors and windows tightly shut inside, the hall appeared dim and gloomy. For secrecy’s sake, not even a single maid was present, so naturally, no one had lit the lamps. Silent figures stood within, making the vast main hall seem like a gathering of ghostly shadows.
The moment she stepped inside, she heard a crisp “slap” sound from behind.
Qin Chanyue raised her eyes to look.
The main hall was in chaos. A group of injured young masters lay scattered on the floor, her son among them in the very center, clinging stubbornly to his last breath. When he saw her, his lips trembled as if he wanted to call out “Mother,” but not a single sound escaped.
On either side of the hall sat the parents of the seven young masters. Zhou Wenshan and Concubine Fang knelt in the lower left corner, while the Zhongyi Marquis stood on the raised platform at the front. The divisions between them were starkly clear.
And before the platform in the main hall, a figure in peach-pink knelt, her face held high, being slapped by a private soldier.
The private soldiers were all strong, tall men. One hand came down, sending the kneeling figure tumbling to the ground with a sharp cry.
The place where she fell was directly facing the direction Qin Chanyue had entered from, allowing Qin Chanyue to clearly see her face.
It was Aunt Xia.
Aunt Xia had been living quite comfortably in the manor these past few days. Qin Chanyue couldn’t be bothered with her, exempting her from morning and evening greetings and never mistreating her. The allowances and treatment befitting a concubine of the Houfu were more than enough for her to live respectably. Moreover, she was so adept at pleasing the Marquis that rewards flowed like water into her courtyard. Gold, jade, and silver were the most nourishing things in the world, and in just a few short days, they had made her bloom with radiant beauty.
A mere maid of sixteen years, she now wore an elegant pink Floating Light Brocade long skirt, a white jade hairpin in her hair, her young and beautiful face appearing fresh and refined.
However, at this moment, her face was a mess from the beating. More than a dozen slap marks marred it, ruining even the finest features. As Aunt Xia was struck and fell to the ground, tears mixed with blood, a pitiful sight indeed.
After Qin Chanyue entered, she frowned as she scanned the surroundings, her expression darkening. She said coldly, “Stop.”
The private soldier’s raised hand froze in mid-air.
“What is going on here?” Qin Chanyue stood in place, her eyes sweeping coldly around before she asked, “Why is Aunt Xia being slapped?”
Aunt Xia cowered on the ground, not daring to utter a word, trembling uncontrollably.
Qin Chanyue’s gaze swept the room once more, finally settling on Zhou Ziheng’s face at the highest point.
Zhou Ziheng’s lips trembled before he forced out a stiff smile and said in a low voice, “It… it was Concubine Fang’s demand. She said she would only hand over the antidote if Aunt Xia was slapped.”
In that moment, he embodied the word “coward” to the fullest.
Beside him, the kneeling Concubine Fang let out a sinister, mocking laugh. “He hasn’t finished! I don’t just want Aunt Xia beaten—I want you too, Qin Chanyue! If you want your son to live, you should also kneel and take these slaps!”
Compared to Aunt Xia, Concubine Fang hated Qin Chanyue even more.
To this day, she believed that Qin Chanyue and Zhou Yuanting had conspired to frame Zhou Wenshan. So, she wanted Qin Chanyue to taste the pain of losing a son and endure the humiliation of being publicly degraded.
She knew Qin Chanyue had power, wealth, and status—but could any of those things buy back her son’s life?
Upon hearing Concubine Fang’s words, Zhou Ziheng hurriedly added, as if to make amends, “I have never thought that way. Chanyue, you are my wife—I could never let you be struck.”
At this moment, Zhou Ziheng’s words seemed sincere and heartfelt, but in truth, they were merely an attempt to absolve himself. If he truly could not bear to let Qin Chanyue be struck, he would never have summoned her here in the first place. He dared to call her precisely because he knew her temperament—she would never stand by and watch him be beaten.
Once Qin Chanyue arrived, she would face the entire room of powerful figures on her own.
He wanted to make his stance clear: You demanded Qin Chanyue’s presence—I called her here. If she refuses to cooperate, it has nothing to do with me. If you have the nerve, go ahead and strike her yourselves.
If Qin Chanyue refused and Zhou Yuanting died, that would be Qin Chanyue’s choice—none of it was his responsibility.
A coward, and what’s more, a coward skilled in scheming.
With clever rhetoric, he stripped himself of all blame and pushed Qin Chanyue to the forefront. Without a sharp mind, one would fail to grasp Zhou Ziheng’s true meaning and might even believe he was protecting Qin Chanyue.
Concubine Fang was one such person.
Already overwhelmed by the drastic turns of events, her not-so-sharp mind grew even duller. Hearing Zhou Ziheng’s words, she immediately said, “Qin Chanyue, the lives of these seven young masters on the floor are in your hands! If you refuse to take these strikes, they will all die! Do you want to be responsible for their deaths?”
Yet Qin Chanyue showed no anger upon hearing these words. Her gaze swept calmly over everyone’s faces before finally settling on Zhou Yuanting, who lay on the ground.
Zhou Yuanting was now barely recognizable as human. After being shot with an arrow and then beaten, all his pride had been stripped away, leaving him a broken mess on the floor. When Qin Chanyue’s eyes fell upon him, he trembled and called out, “Mother—”
His voice carried a note of pleading, like a mournful cry tinged with blood. Gazing at Qin Chanyue’s dignified yet striking face, he sobbed, “Mother, save your son.”
He did not want to die.
Zhou Yuanting’s cry seemed to awaken the compassion and parental instincts of everyone present. The lords and ladies nearby suddenly grew teary-eyed and urged Qin Chanyue, “Lady Qin, no matter how grave the children’s mistakes, he is still flesh of your flesh. Have pity on him—save him, please.”
Liu Yandai stood behind Qin Chanyue. In such a setting, she should have remained silent, but hearing these pleas, her heart tightened. “But… but how can that be?” she said. “How can Pomu be struck?”
Pomu had done nothing wrong!
The ladies nearby abruptly changed their expressions, frowning and darkening their faces. “Is it not a mother’s duty to do anything for her child?” one retorted. “If I were in her place today, I would do the same. You, a woman who has never borne a child, could never understand this feeling! If it were me today, I wouldn’t hesitate to take two slaps—I’d even carve out two pieces of my own flesh if needed. This is her son! What are two slashes in comparison?”
Liu Yandai was left speechless by this reasoning.
It seemed that in this world, justice and reason no longer mattered. Once the bond between mother and child was invoked, a mother was naturally expected to yield for her son’s sake.
And the people lying on the ground seemed to have found their true pillar of support at this moment. One by one, they raised their heads, crying out “Lady Qin” with wretched expressions, filling the entire main hall with an eerie, ghostly aura.
All dignity and honor were torn apart, revealing the unsightly truth beneath—desires and love-hate twisted together, mingled with the scent of blood, forming a foul, stinking mass of humanity on the floor. Through the gaps in her Pomu’s hair, Liu Yandai looked and felt that those lying on the ground were not people but a cluster of corpses stuck together. They had countless legs and countless mouths, fused into a distorted shape, mouths agape, emitting immense wails.
“Save me!”
They cried.
“Let me devour you.”
This was their true desire.
Liu Yandai shivered silently.
At this moment, shallow dignity became utterly insignificant. The innate human tendency to bully the weak was laid bare for all to see. Who cared what wrong you had done? Who cared if you were innocent? The weak must kneel and endure slap after slap.
Shrinking her shoulders, she took a step forward, pressing tightly behind her Pomu, and tremblingly squeezed out a sentence: “Pomu, let’s go find Shufu.”
Qin Chanyue was no weak and powerless Aunt Xia. She had a prestigious background and a solid backing. If Zhennan Wang were standing here today, even if these seven young masters truly died in agony, no one could touch Qin Chanyue. Power was dignity, power was foundation, power was everything.
But Qin Chanyue, standing there, merely patted Liu Yandai’s arm gently, signaling her to be quiet. Then she lowered her head and asked Zhou Yuanting, “Yuanting, your mother has a question for you.”
Zhou Yuanting raised his head, nodding with all his strength, and replied, “Your son is listening.”
Qin Chanyue asked, “Was it truly you and these young masters who harmed Third Young Master Zhou?”
Zhou Yuanting’s face shifted through a series of expressions.
At this point, he didn’t understand why his mother was asking this, but since she had asked, he could only grit his teeth and reply, “It was me, mother. I did it.”
Qin Chanyue nodded slowly, her beautiful face showing not a trace of emotion—only indifference.
Zhou Yuanting didn’t know what his mother intended to do, but he was desperate. His entire body was growing numb, the poison was about to take effect, and he was dying! So he could only plead, “Mother, your son knows he was wrong. Please save me!”
Of course, he knew what it would cost his mother to save him, but he wanted to live—he wanted to live!
As long as he could survive, what did it matter if his mother endured a little hardship?
But Qin Chanyue no longer spoke to him.
She no longer looked at the people on the ground but lifted her skirt and walked step by step toward the front.
She passed by the young masters lying on the floor, the people standing or sitting beside chairs, the beaten and silenced Aunt Xia and the private soldiers, and finally stopped beside Zhou Ziheng.
After standing at the highest point in the main hall, she slowly turned around and looked down at everyone below.
The people below wore varied expressions, but she spoke calmly: “Since this matter originated with my son, I will certainly take responsibility. Rest assured, as this happened in the Houfu, the Houfu will resolve it. Your sons will not die.”
Concubine Fang let out a few strange, eerie chuckles, trembling with excitement as she asked in a sharp voice, “Qin Chanyue, are you here to take a slap for your son?”
Qin Chanyue did not look at her, but instead gently clapped her hands.
As the sound of Qin Chanyue’s clapping faded, a doctor carrying a medicine chest quickly entered from outside the main hall. After coming in, the doctor knelt on the ground, removed the medicine chest, and took out a bottle of medicine from inside.
Everyone present was stunned, while Qin Chanyue, standing to the side, said, “This is the antidote I just sent someone to retrieve from Concubine Fang’s courtyard. It was hidden too deeply and was only just found. Everyone, please give it to your sons.”
The expressions of those present varied, filled with awkwardness as they exchanged glances.
Qin Chanyue had actually found the antidote!
If they had known the antidote was already available, they wouldn’t have pressured Qin Chanyue so harshly earlier. If Qin Chanyue held a grudge—everyone averted their gaze and fell silent.
Concubine Fang, however, looked utterly shocked. She shrieked, “Impossible! She’s lying! No one has the antidote!”
This was a poison she had purchased—how could she not know whether an antidote existed? She had never prepared one! Where did Qin Chanyue’s antidote come from?
But no one present cared about her anymore.
They had sided with her earlier because she had the antidote. Now that she didn’t, she was nothing.
Standing at the high platform, Zhou Ziheng raised a hand, and the mother and son were forcibly dragged away. Concubine Fang tried to scream, but the private soldiers firmly covered her mouth.
Meanwhile, the seven young masters lying on the ground struggled to open their mouths to take the medicine—even Zhou Yuanting was taking it. He, too, wanted to live.
The doctor on the ground raised his hand one by one, administering the antidote to everyone.
The life-and-death crisis was resolved so effortlessly. No one knew what turbulent undercurrents lay beneath the calm surface, and Qin Chanyue seemed uninterested in investigating further. She merely said calmly, “Today, during the banquet, the wheelchair of the Third Young Master of Houfu malfunctioned due to a mechanism failure, injuring the young masters. This is Houfu’s fault. Tomorrow, we will visit to offer our apologies. I hope you will not hold any grudges.”
Seeing the young masters on the ground gradually regain their mobility, the gathered lords and madams dared not voice any objections. They hurriedly agreed—they had witnessed the scene earlier. Their sons had confessed their crimes at the brink of death. It was indeed their sons who had harmed the Third Young Master of Houfu first. None of them could claim innocence. In fact, they deserved the retaliation. With the cause and effect laid out so clearly, they were in the wrong and naturally dared not speak up at this moment.
Now that Lady Qin was willing to use the excuse of a “mechanism failure” to cover up the incident gracefully, they gladly went along with it, pretending it was truly a malfunction of the Third Young Master’s wheelchair that accidentally injured their sons. They promptly took their sons and left.
As the actors dispersed, this grand drama finally drew to a close.
However, before leaving, they couldn’t help but sigh in relief—thank goodness for Lady Qin.
Without Lady Qin, they truly wouldn’t have known how to resolve the situation today.
After Concubine Fang and her son were dragged away, and the seven young masters and their parents had departed, only the Zhou family remained in the main hall. Qin Chanyue ordered someone to escort the badly beaten Aunt Xia back, then instructed Liu Yandai to help Zhou Yuanting, who was still on the ground, return to his quarters.
Zhou Yuanting had taken the medicine and was now revived. Just as his heart settled back into place, he heard his mother, standing on the high platform, say coldly, “Zhou Yuanting, for framing your own brothers and displaying improper conduct, you are hereby confined to a manor estate for the rest of your life.”
Zhou Yuanting tried to protest, but the private soldiers had already carried him away.
Liu Yandai followed him, walking out of the main hall together.
This was the first time she had witnessed such a high-stakes Zhaidou firsthand. Everything felt like a dream, a situation she had never imagined, leaving her momentarily dazed and speechless.
In the main hall, only Zhou Ziheng and Qin Chanyue remained, along with the pervasive scent of blood in the air.
Once everyone else had left, Zhou Ziheng immediately began speaking kindly to Qin Chanyue. He said, “Madam truly handled things well today! Ah, today’s events are all my fault. If I had known it would come to this, I would never have taken Concubine Fang—no, I should never have kept an outside concubine at all.”
So many women only brought him trouble. It would have been better to live honestly and faithfully with Qin Chanyue.
But Qin Chanyue seemed indifferent to such sentiments.
She first ordered servants to clean the bloodstains from the floor, then had them open the windows and doors. As the doors swung open, the vibrant hues of the sunset outside streamed in, instantly reviving the once deathly silent main hall. A fresh summer evening breeze swept through, dispersing the unpleasant odors. In that fleeting moment, it felt as if they had been transported to another place, and the tense, uneasy mood from earlier vanished along with the stale air.
Finally, she led Zhou Ziheng to sit in the master’s chair in the main hall and said to him, “Today’s events truly cannot be blamed on you, husband. It was those below who acted improperly—with Zhou Yuanting under house arrest, how do you intend to deal with Concubine Fang?”
Zhou Ziheng shook his head without hesitation. “You handle it,” he said.
Whether she lived or died, he no longer cared.
After a pause, Zhou Ziheng added, “As for Yuanting—he is, after all, the Shizi. We cannot completely disgrace him. After some time, we can bring him back.”
Initially, upon learning that Zhou Yuanting was truly responsible, he had felt some anger. But how could he bear to see his own son confined indefinitely? Although Zhou Yuanting had done wrong, he was still his son. A light punishment as a warning would suffice.
Qin Chanyue stared at him for a long moment before slowly nodding. She thought to herself that Zhou Ziheng had likely grown completely disgusted with Concubine Fang. Thus, even knowing she had been wronged, he no longer cared and would not punish Zhou Yuanting.
In the beginning, he had loved that mother and son, doting on Zhou Wenshan so much that he was willing to give up his Juewei for him. But once his affection faded, even learning they had been wronged in the past meant nothing to him.
If this matter had come to light when Zhou Wenshan first met his misfortune, Zhou Ziheng would surely have taken half of Zhou Yuanting’s life.
But love had faded, and so had hatred. Zhou Ziheng simply no longer cared.
This man truly had coldness and ruthlessness etched into his bones.
“Then let them both be confined to the manor estate. Grant them a peaceful end for the rest of their lives,” Qin Chanyue said, a hint of mockery curling at her lips. She then raised a hand toward the outside, and immediately, a little maid entered, carrying a bowl of chicken soup.
Qin Chanyue took it and personally handed the warm, comforting soup to Zhou Ziheng. Softly, she said, “The matters here are settled. Husband, have some soup to warm yourself.”
Earlier, she had wanted to watch Concubine Fang and Zhou Ziheng tear each other apart, so she had deliberately stopped sending him chicken soup. Yet, against all odds, he had survived day after day. Now, this grand drama had come to an end. She had performed enough; it was time to let him rest properly.
When Zhou Ziheng saw that bowl of chicken soup, he was momentarily lost in thought.
Outside the window, the sky was ablaze with brilliant sunset hues. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the clouds ignited into a soft, fiery glow, blending crimson and gold. Warm-toned light streamed through the window, falling upon Qin Chanyue’s face.
Qin Chanyue looked at him with a smile, her eyes filled with concern.
Her slender, delicate hands held a porcelain-white jade bowl, offering a clear, warm soup. Carrying Madam’s warmth and care, it instantly warmed Zhou Ziheng’s heart.
He thought, having a clever and strong-willed woman like Qin Chanyue as his wife was truly a blessing. Moreover, Qin Chanyue loved him so deeply and was so considerate in every way. With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?
Zhou Ziheng took the bowl of soup and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing that he had finished the soup, Qin Chanyue had no desire to speak with him further. She found an excuse and left. However, Zhou Ziheng suddenly felt a blazing affection for her and wanted to spend the night with her again today.
As soon as he pressed close, Qin Chanyue felt a wave of disgust, but she did not outright refuse. Instead, she said gently, “Today, Aunt Xia suffered a great injustice. You should go and keep her company.”
Zhou Ziheng then thought of Aunt Xia’s swollen, beaten face and felt a pang of heartache.
At the time, he had no choice but to act for the greater good. Ah, he truly had wronged Aunt Xia. Yet, his Chanyue was so dignified and virtuous, even reminding him of such things.
Thus, Zhou Ziheng turned and headed to Chixia Courtyard.
Watching his departing figure, Qin Chanyue turned and instructed the maid behind her, “Tonight, send another bowl of chicken soup to the Marquis to nourish his health.”
The maid nodded in agreement, inwardly marveling: Madam is so good to the Marquis.
—
Meanwhile, Liu Yandai returned to Shuhai Courtyard.
Qin Chanyue showed no pity for Zhou Yuanting. Although Zhou Yuanting’s injuries had not yet healed, he had already been sent to the manor estate, so Liu Yandai remained the only master in Shuhai Courtyard.
In a daze, she returned to Shuhai Courtyard. No sooner had she stepped inside than she saw eight men standing under her corridor eaves.
Beneath the eaves, the eight men stood holding long spears, their tall, straight shadows cast upon the window lattice behind them.
She stared at the eight men for two breaths, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”
Earlier, Pomu had told her to bring back the “male favorite” she had used. She had brought him back today and was supposed to deliver him to Pomu. However, due to the banquet preparations, she had left him in the courtyard. Later, with various matters piling up, she completely forgot about this male favorite until now!
She needed to deliver him to Pomu quickly.
Liu Yandai pointed to the man who had previously served Qin Chanyue and gestured toward the side chamber, saying, “Clean him up, quickly!”
The male favorite pressed his lips together, obediently cleaned himself, and was then stealthily escorted by Liu Yandai to Qin Chanyue’s Shangyue Garden.
—
By then, night was approaching.
Having enjoyed a satisfying spectacle earlier in the day, Qin Chanyue was now at ease. She had ordered fine wine and dishes prepared and sat alone by the table, drinking.
Today, she intended to drink to her heart’s content.
After three rounds of wine, a maid suddenly approached, leaned close to Qin Chanyue’s ear, and whispered a few words. Qin Chanyue listened and chuckled, saying, “Quite filial—bring him over.”
Tonight, she would also enjoy something good.
The maid responded and left Qin Chanyue’s side chamber, passing through the covered corridor and circling around the high-view low wall, making her way to Shuhai Courtyard to fetch someone.
The rules within the Houfu were strict and solemn, each courtyard enveloped in silence. The Shiziye of Shuhai Courtyard had been sent away, accompanied by his mournful servants and maids. Hongfeng Courtyard was already empty, its maids and servants directly sold off. The people of Jianming Courtyard had always kept their heads down, not daring to peek outside. The Houfu suddenly felt vast and empty, with hardly a soul in sight. Occasionally, a few low-ranking elderly servants passed by, and upon seeing this senior maid, they hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting.
The maid walked among them, using the name of Shangyue Garden, and no one dared to ask where she was going.
——
At that time, the night was already deep.
A slender moon drifted among faint clouds and snow, the eaves sinking westward into the celestial palace. The maids and servants of Shangyue Garden had all been dismissed, leaving only the lanterns beneath the eaves quietly burning, illuminating the small patches of ground beneath them.
The entire Houfu seemed to have fallen into a dreamlike slumber, the moonlight drying on the treetops, a gentle breeze rustling the flowering branches.
In this dreamlike moment, a tall and straight figure emerged from a small path. Boots reinforced with iron tread silently on the ground, led all the way by the trusted maid until they reached the front of Qin Chanyue’s side chamber.
Upon arriving, the trusted maid stopped, gestured inside, and said, “Please enter.”
Since she didn’t know how to address the other person, the maid only vaguely called out “you” before retreating to the eaves, standing obediently, not daring to glance toward the side chamber.
She could only hear a “creak” as the figure pushed open the door and stepped into the side chamber.
Pushing open the door to the outer room of the side chamber, an elegant tea room came into view. Passing through the tea room, one reached the wooden lattice door of the inner room.
The figure stood before the door for a long while, then slowly reached out and gently pushed the wooden lattice door open.
As the door opened, a faint scent of alcohol mixed with misty steam wafted out, brushing against the visitor’s face.
Qin Chanyue, who had been leaning over the table drinking, heard the sound of the door opening and slowly lifted her head to look.
She saw a figure approaching from the outer room, slowly lifting the beaded curtain.
As the beads clinked together, a soft rustling sound filled the air. Amidst this gentle noise, he stepped closer and closer to Qin Chanyue.
When he entered, he was still wearing that somber martial attire, heavy iron boots on his feet, and a silver mask covering his face, making it impossible to see his features. Only his exceptionally tall and sturdy frame was visible. The warm candlelight inside the room flickered upon him like dancing shadows, making it difficult for Qin Chanyue to see clearly.
Today, she was in high spirits. The bitterness and resentment she had carried since her Chongsheng had finally found release, making it inevitable to celebrate. Drinking too much wine inevitably led to intoxication. When she raised her eyes, everything seemed to sway before her, and the approaching figure appeared to have a faint, ghostly double.
The only thing she could clearly make out was his tall and robust physique.
Qin Chanyue propped herself up on the table with one hand, looking at him with satisfaction. Her fox-like eyes gradually curved into a smile as she beckoned him with a hook of her finger.
In her younger days, she had always favored handsome appearances—fair-skinned, refined, and scholarly. She used to think those rough, burly warriors were too tall and brawny, looking sweaty and smelly, never appealing to her. But now that she was older, she found herself rather drawn to those tall, muscular men.
Because they were about to engage in something “not to be spoken of,” the side chamber’s doors and windows were tightly shut, lest any bird outside catch a glimpse. With everything closed, the surroundings grew exceptionally quiet.
The sound of the fine young man closing the door behind him was startlingly clear.
Qin Chanyue propped her head up to look at him.
She remembered his scent from last time.
But the man who walked in from behind the beaded curtain seemed oddly stiff to the bone, moving step by step like a wooden post, rigid all the way until he stood before her. He was so tense that he even walked with the same arm and leg moving together.
Qin Chanyue burst into a soft laugh.
She was drunk, yet not the least bit reserved, teasing him instead: “Have you never learned how to serve someone?”
That shouldn’t be. When she had picked men for Liu Yandai, she had specifically arranged for them to be trained. How could this one still be so awkward?
The man standing before her remained stiff, seemingly unsure of what to do.
That day, she had lain on the couch, drugged and delirious, like a flower in full bloom waiting to be plucked. But now, the woman sitting here was only lightly intoxicated, speaking so clearly that he had no idea how to proceed.
No one had ever taught him how to serve someone. His hands had only ever held blades.
And yet, she kept staring at him with those fox-like eyes, asking, “Why are you wearing a mask?”
Because he didn’t want to reveal his true face.
If he kept it hidden, he could pretend to be just another male companion, stealing a moment of pleasure from her. But if he showed himself, he didn’t know how she would react.
He could only stand there woodenly, his voice low as he replied, “I injured my face recently and dare not show it to Madam.”
As he spoke, he lifted the mask slightly, revealing the face beneath—an ordinary one. Qin Chanyue vaguely recalled he was one of the male companions she had gifted to Liu Yandai, though there was a scar on his face that looked recent.
His voice was also strange, as if deliberately lowered.
But Qin Chanyue seemed to have grown impatient. She only wanted a pleasurable night; everything else was irrelevant. What she fancied was his robust physique.
In the past, she had respected Zhou Ziheng, believing that young couples grow old together. Even when Zhou Ziheng aged and she occasionally felt restless, she had never sought other men, enduring silently. But now that she had tasted such pleasures, she found herself craving more.
As for men, there were many ways to enjoy them. Though Qin Chanyue had never kept male companions herself, she had seen plenty in her time. In Dachen, powerful women were not rare. Years ago, the Eldest Princess, daughter of the Empress Dowager, had kept many male companions and was particularly fond of erotic paintings, gifting Qin Chanyue a great many. Some of those images still made her blush when she recalled them.
Leaning against the table, Madam seemed to recall something. Her enchanting, alluring face tilted up slightly as she raised an eyebrow at this dull, wooden block of a man. Beneath her skirt, her Pearl Shoes stretched forward, tracing a light circle in the air, causing her hem to sway gently.
Then, he heard her hoarse voice commandingly rise.
“Come here—kneel.”
It didn’t matter if he didn’t know how; for the sake of that night when he had pleased her greatly, she could teach him once more.
The tall man’s breathing grew heavier, spreading through the side chamber and adding a touch of stifling heat to the air.
After two breaths, he slowly walked over and, as she had instructed, knelt on one knee before her.
Qin Chanyue sat on a lotus round stool. As he knelt, his eyes were level with her waist. Qin Chanyue stared at him for a moment and said, “Closer.”
He shifted his knees and crawled forward on them.
When he was so close that he almost pressed against her knees, Qin Chanyue finally moved.
She slowly raised her right leg and placed her foot on his knee. Her voice, raspy like an ancient zither, fell leisurely: “Serve me like this—come closer.”
As her skirt lifted, blood surged.
The sweet, honey-like nectar entranced him. He no longer remembered how he had pressed himself against her. He only recalled how she had cried out, clutching his head, gripping his hair, her ankle pressing against his back, rubbing fiercely.
She was too drunk, unable to tell east from west, only seeing the flickering candlelight swaying, making her gaze grow hazy. Her damp, disheveled bangs clung to her forehead, her lashes were wet with tears, and the tip of her nose glistened with a moist, rosy sheen. He lifted her—from the round stool to the Huanghuali wood rack, to the screen, to the low couch, to the bathroom, to the mirror—within this confined space, they traveled to every place in the world they could reach.
The ice in the side chamber gradually melted, the flower branches outside the window swayed hundreds of times, and the sun slowly rose from the east.
Bright, dazzling light pierced through the window, falling into the side chamber, casting a perfectly square grid of light onto the floor through the windowpane.
The sky was fully bright, the sun hanging at the edge of the eaves.
Outside the window, all things were awakening, while inside the side chamber, a faint warmth lingered. On the bed, two figures were tightly entwined.
The man was tall and robust, his skin a bronze hue. Under the sunlight, the smooth contours of his muscles were visible, appearing agile and formidable, with a strong and heavy bone structure. The woman was soft, charming, plump, and fair-skinned. The stark contrast between them intertwined as they pressed closely together.
A brocade quilt wrapped around the two of them, their dark hair tangled together. In the shared breaths, Qin Chanyue, as before, slept deeply.
But the man at the other end of the bed remained awake.
He had to leave.
If he delayed any longer, Qin Chanyue would wake, and it would be hard to avoid her noticing something amiss. If she tried to remove the mask on his face—beneath it, he wore a human skin mask, which could pass as real under the blurry candlelight but would not deceive anyone in daylight. To fool her, he had gone to great lengths.
When the time came, he had to shed the identity of a male consort and become someone else again, hiding away those beautiful memories where they could not be discovered, only to be savored slowly in secret places unknown to others.
Before leaving, he took one last look at Qin Chanyue on the bed.
Having been nourished by a night of rain and dew, her brows and eyes glowed with a soft, moist radiance. Lying on the bed, with dark hair, fair skin, and red lips, she slept amidst the emerald-green silk, like a piece of exquisite white jade.
He was so reluctant to leave her, clinging to every part of her, wanting to hold her close forever, to let her scent seep into him and become a part of her.
But she would eventually wake.
He could only slowly sit up. Before leaving, he had intended to place a kiss on her forehead, but after a moment’s thought, he ultimately reached out and removed the mask and human skin mask from his face.
As the mask came off, a cold, sharp countenance was revealed.
It was none other than Chu Heng, the Zhennan Wang, who should have been lying unconscious in the Prince of Southern Pacification’s Mansion, under the care of a Gu physician.
If Qin Chanyue were awake, she would likely be frightened enough to scramble off the bed—how could anyone accept that a casually chosen male companion she had slept with twice had suddenly turned out to be her adoptive brother!
But she was not awake.
She slept so soundly, completely unaware of who was watching her.
And Chu Heng simply watched her quietly until he had no choice but to leave. Then, he slowly leaned in, rubbing his unmasked face against her cheek, and finally, gently placed a kiss on her face.
He wanted to kiss her—not wearing this mask, not using the identity of this male companion, but with his own face.
When she was unaware, Chu Heng had kissed Qin Chanyue.
That was enough for him to dream about for a long time, until time once again stole everything away.
After this kiss, Chu Heng put on his mask, silently rose, and left the side chamber of the Houfu, leaving only the Madam on the bed still deeply asleep.
Qin Chanyue had truly been exhausted the day before—she had already drunk several cups of strong wine and was slightly tipsy, then spent the entire night energetically entangled with that male companion. It was perfectly normal for her to sleep until noon the next day.
In the Houfu, she held the highest authority. Under normal circumstances, if she did not rise, no one dared to disturb her.
But today, around the hour of Si, someone was making a commotion outside her side chamber.
Qin Chanyue was awakened by the noise, frowning as she opened her eyes in bed. When she saw the bright light flooding the room, her fox-like eyes instinctively closed again.
Too dazzling.
She slowly turned over in bed, feeling sore and weak all over.
Opening her eyes again and looking around, the male companion from yesterday was nowhere to be seen, leaving only the lingering sense of satisfaction to remind her of what had happened the day before.
This man was quite sensible—coming quietly and leaving quietly. Hmm, she would reward him with something nice today. After all, she couldn’t have enjoyed his body for nothing.
Her body had truly been satisfied yesterday. Now, upon waking, every part of her felt weary, but when she stretched, a pleasant, tingling sensation spread through her bones and muscles. After lingering in bed for a moment, she finally said, “Come in—what is it?”
The little maid outside hurriedly entered the room, bowed, and said, “Madam, it’s terrible! The Marquis suddenly fell seriously ill this morning and vomited blood before fainting!”