Chapter 4 The Male Imperial Dowager - The Male Protagonist is About to Have His Partner Stolen
Returning home after finishing her shift, the fragrance of food filled the courtyard, instantly sweeping away all the frustrations from the imperial palace.
Qiu Qiushuang saw her return and immediately brought a basin of clear water for her to wash her hands.
Qiu Qiushuang had sought refuge with her family at the age of 13, because his entire family had met with misfortune and he himself was mute. He had always been cautious and careful in her household, fearing that if he did anything wrong, he would be driven out by the Qiu family.
Later, the Qiu family fell on hard times, and all the servants dispersed.
Qiu Shuzhi needed to study to take the imperial examinations, so Qiu Qiushuang naturally took on the duties of a male family member, managing all the household affairs, being as considerate as a little husband.
Now that Qiu Shuzhi had achieved high honors in the imperial examinations, she had wanted to hire a few servants to lighten his burden, but Qiu Qiushuang adamantly refused, so she had to give up the idea.
"Brother, you don't seem to be in high spirits today?" While eating, Qiu Shuzhi noticed that Qiu Qiushuang was different from usual today, not even touching his food.
Qiu Qiushuang put down his chopsticks and shook his head.
Thinking carefully, it seemed that since returning from the night market last night, Qiu Qiushuang hadn't been using much sign language with her, his mood very subdued.
"Could it be that woman from last night scared you?" Thinking carefully, this seemed to be the only reason.
Qiu Qiushuang pursed his lips and signed, "The weather has been getting hot recently, I don't have much appetite. Don't overthink it."
"Is that so?" Qiu Shuzhi raised a fine eyebrow but didn't ask further.
After dinner, Qiu Shuzhi lit a lamp in the study to read, while Qiu Qiushuang sat beside her embroidering a handkerchief.
The flickering lamplight cast a deep shadow on Qiu Shuzhi's profile, her skin like frost and jade. Her slender shadow projected on the wall swayed with her movements as she turned the pages.
He sat behind Qiu Shuzhi, looking at her thin, straight back, her long hair falling to her sides, revealing the snow-white, lustrous skin at the nape of her neck.
The evening breeze blew in through the window, dazzling Qiu Qiushuang's eyes. He hurriedly lowered his head, looking at the slightly swaying shadow on the wall. The warm wind made his head dizzy, causing his fingertips to twitch involuntarily, caressing the outline on the wall that he longed for day and night.
His fingertips delicately traced her silhouette, imagining the soft warmth of Qiu Shuzhi's body, as if even the cold wall had become warm.
Her waist that he could encircle with one hand, her rounded shoulders, her soft long hair - his fingertips seemed to be enchanted by something, slowly moving up along the texture of the wall. Just as he was about to touch her face, Qiu Shuzhi massaged her aching shoulders, and the shadow rippled like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
Qiu Qiushuang, as if waking from a dream, quickly returned to his own room, picked up a thin embroidery needle, and viciously stabbed it into his palm. Crimson blood seeped out of the small wound, and the dense, numbing pain finally restored a bit of his sanity.
The second time she came to the door of the imperial study, Qiu Shuzhi hesitated outside. Yesterday she had displeased the young Emperor, but for some reason, she hadn't been angry at her. Going to teach today, it might not be the same.
She didn't want to end up like Lord Wang, with her head cracked open.
"Minister Qiu!" Knowing it was time for Qiu Shuzhi's lecture, the attendant Yu Ye had been eagerly awaiting her arrival. Seeing her hesitating outside without entering, Yu Ye simply went out to welcome her himself.
"Minister Qiu, why don't you go in? Her Majesty has been waiting for you for some time." Yu Ye's eyes curved in a smile, his gaze very coquettish.
Yu Ye was the young Emperor's personal attendant, equivalent to the grand eunuch who followed the emperor in the previous life. He was well-informed and had considerable power in the palace. Only because this was a female-dominated country, Yu Ye didn't need to be castrated.
Qiu Shuzhi bowed slightly to him: "May I ask Attendant Yu Ye, is Her Majesty in a good mood today?"
"Minister Qiu, you flatter this servant." Yu Ye laughed coyly as he helped Qiu Shuzhi up, his eyes flirtatiously fluttering, "Her Majesty is in a good mood today, you need not worry. Come with me quickly."
Qiu Shuzhi followed him into the imperial study. The young Emperor was sitting properly at the desk. Seeing her come in, her eyes lit up, but she quickly concealed it.
"What are we studying today?" She straightened her posture, deliberately lowering her childish voice to try to make her words sound more intimidating.
Yu Ye was adding tea and water for them on the side, while also acting as Imperial Dowager Qin Qing's ears to monitor the two.
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