High-class Spring Joy

There were only Qinghe and Chu Jingxian in the room, and no one spoke for a while. For some reason, after the others left, Qinghe felt that the whole room had become a little tense.

It wasn't the first time they'd interacted like this, and they weren't particularly intimate.

But Qinghe felt a pang of pain, like someone who had just gone through a life-or-death experience. It was this pain that made her dare not relax and dare not be negligent in the slightest.

Qinghe thought for a moment, then finally spoke her first words: "Young Master, are you feeling better? And what is the current situation? I hope my intrusion today didn't cause you any trouble, or affect the peace talks?"

Qinghe asked nervously. At that time, she was indeed too anxious. If she didn't see the oranges by nightfall, the relationship between the two countries would likely turn bad, with the most likely outcome being war.

If it was because she barged in rashly, although it couldn't be considered the main driving force, there are still some factors at play, and she probably wouldn't be able to get over it in her heart.

"No, you did a great job, you really did a great job. In fact, if it weren't for you, His Highness the Crown Prince and I would be in mortal danger today."

After saying this, Chu Jingxian stood up from his chair and walked step by step to Qinghe. Although he was walking and moving around, his beautiful peach blossom eyes remained fixed on Qinghe and never left her face.

The look in her eyes softened Qinghe's heart. She had never seen such a look before. In all her decades of life, it seemed only her older sister had ever looked at her with such eyes. When Qinghe was little, she didn't understand the emotions or meaning behind her sister's gaze.

But as Qinghe grew up, he seemed to look at him and the apple with the same gaze when he was looking at the apple. Qinghe discovered this by accident.

One day, when he looked in the mirror, he realized that the way he looked at the apple had become somewhat similar. Later, as he grew older, Qinghe understood things about love, whether it was romantic love, familial love, or friendship. Qinghe finally understood what emotions her sister had in her eyes when she looked at her: heartache, pity, helplessness, but most of all, concern and worry.

When Qinghe later reflected on the way she looked at Apple, she was able to understand it a little better. Besides heartache and worry, there was some fear, but most of all, it was admiration.

Qinghe originally didn't know what those two words corresponded to with the so-called emotions. It was only later, when a nanny saw the way he looked at the apple, that she told her.

To be honest, that old nanny was a kind person. She was an old nanny who had served in the Marquis's mansion for many years. Unlike some of the nannies who served the old lady, she was not aggressive and cowardly. She had no airs and instead felt very sorry for the maids and servants under her command.

At that time, Qinghe was still young, just turned fourteen. The nanny probably saw at a glance Qinghe's feelings for Apple, and saw Qinghe's care and love for Apple.

At that time, Qinghe herself did not realize it or react. The nanny's first reaction was probably to sigh helplessly, shake her head, pull her back to the room, and treat her to the best crabapple cake she had ever eaten in the Marquis's mansion.

Begonia cake wasn't actually a very expensive item, but it was made by the nanny herself, which was extremely rare in the Marquis's mansion. Moreover, few servants besides the master could eat the pastries made by the nanny herself.

But that nanny's skills were truly superb. It was the best begonia cake Qinghe had ever made. Even though Qinghe was able to save some money and would sometimes go to Bianjing to buy it, she always felt that no matter how good the taste was, it could never compare to that time.

Later, the old woman told Qinghe that the best way out in this inner quarters was to wait until she reached a certain age, or to work hard to serve her master and rise in rank, from a second-class maid to a first-class maid, and then to an old woman. At that point, she would be considered half a master in the Marquis's mansion, no longer needing to do those rough and tiring jobs, and having people to serve her. Alternatively, she could save up some money to redeem herself and never have to enter the Marquis's mansion again. These were two completely different paths.

Neither of these two distinct paths allows the maid and the young master to be involved, especially the fifth young master, the old lady's beloved and favored son.

At that time, the old woman advised him, saying that with his appearance and her age and temperament, either path was viable. But there was one rule: he must never fall in love with any of the young masters, whether it was the Fifth Young Master or the Third Young Master.

Otherwise, getting involved with the two young masters would not only be a blessing, but would also bring about a fatal disaster. When Momo was advising Qinghe, she also told Qinghe a story from the Marquis's mansion, saying that there was once a maid who wanted to climb into the old Marquis's bed.

When the old Marquis was still the heir apparent, countless maids in his courtyard wanted to climb into his bedchamber and secure a position. How many of them were truly devoted to serving their masters? In short, they all wanted to carve out a path for themselves and secure a better future, which was understandable. However, they chose the wrong path. One of them was particularly cunning. She wasn't the most beautiful, but her methods were truly remarkable. In just one month, she had won over the old Marquis's heart.

When the old Marquis's mother found out, she first persuaded the girl to leave the manor, gave her a contract of indenture, and sent her out of the manor so that she could become an upright commoner in the future.

Perhaps the maidservant sensed that the young master had developed feelings for her, and if she stayed to win his favor, she might be able to become his concubine. Although it was just a concubine, a concubine in a marquis's household was still more prestigious and wealthy than the principal wife of a minor official.

The maids from wealthy and powerful families possessed an air of elegance that far surpassed that of maids from minor officials or ordinary households.

The maid naturally didn't want to leave, feeling that she had finally secured a good future, so why should she just leave?

No matter how much the maid pleaded, she wouldn't agree and wouldn't leave the mansion. Later, she climbed into the young master's bed. To be fair, the maid was really capable and lucky. She only climbed into the bed twice and then got pregnant.

The maid thought that after she became pregnant, she could rise to prominence and enjoy endless wealth and honor. The old lady would not dare to touch her easily, nor would she want to. If the child was a boy, she might be able to gain status through her son, and perhaps even become a concubine or a secondary wife.

That maid was indeed shrewd and ambitious, but sometimes ambition is too great and doesn't match talent. Moreover, being too arrogant will inevitably make her a thorn in the side of others.

At that time, the young master's mother was indeed that maidservant who was pregnant. After all, she was the old marquis's own flesh and blood, and his first biological child.

Moreover, that maid was indeed capable; she quickly became pregnant, and after ten months of pregnancy, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Even the old Marquis's mother couldn't help but sigh, "That maid is really lucky."

Suddenly, a very faint noise came from outside the window.

Qinghe had excellent hearing since childhood, and she immediately became alert, grabbing Yunxi's hand to signal her not to make any rash moves.

Yunxi, the young girl, seemed to have found her strength. She removed the hairpin from her hair at some point and smiled brightly at her: "Don't be afraid, my lady. I have been learning martial arts for ten years. Moreover, the supervisor instructed me to protect you. I will not let anything happen to you."

"I'd like to see what kind of thief dares to commit such atrocities next to the Directorate of Ceremonial!"

As she spoke, Yunxi approached the window step by step with the hairpin in her hand, and decisively stabbed it with the hairpin.

Just then, the window was blown open by the wind, and Chu Jingxian, dressed in a black casual outfit, stood prominently in front of it.

Yunxi was terrified: "Supervisor...Supervisor, what brings you here?"

Chu Jingxian flipped over and entered Qinghe's bedchamber, his expression as cold as ever: "Get out."

Yunxi quickly agreed and went out to keep watch.

Qinghe stood there stunned, completely at a loss for what to do.

She didn't know why, but while she could handle Fuling, Consort Shu, and others with ease, the person in front of her made her feel completely helpless with just one glance.

Chu Jingxian strode in forcefully, lifted his robe, and casually sat down on her couch. Seeing her looking at him timidly, not daring to move, and lacking the composure she displayed when intimidating Consort Shu in Yikun Palace, he smiled, a rare occurrence: "What, are you afraid of me now? What were you doing yesterday?"

Qinghe then came to her senses, suppressed her nervousness and unease, and stepped forward with a cup of tea: "Chief Supervisor."

"I am not thirsty."

Qinghe handed over a plate of snacks: "Would the Grand Eunuch like some snacks?"

"I am not hungry."

A moment of silence fell over the air, as if sensing her confusion and unease. Chu Jingxian picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Seeing that she didn't speak, Chu Jingxian raised an eyebrow: "Then let me remind you, this is the first time I've been used by someone."

Qinghe's heart jumped into her throat, and she said nervously, "Thank you so much for today, Chief Supervisor. I am deeply grateful."

"That's it?"

Qinghe shook her head guiltily.

"Do you know what the punishment is for damaging imperial gifts?" Chu Jingxian asked, his large, well-defined hands toying with the cup in his hand.

Qinghe immediately understood; he knew that she had deliberately damaged the crane cloak to frame Consort Shu!

Although he asked the question slowly, it was as if a mountain of pressure was pressing down on him, making Qinghe's scalp tingle for a moment.

She panicked and knelt at his feet, confessing, "It was Yuhe who shouldn't have kept it from you, Master. Yuhe knows her mistake and begs for forgiveness! I am willing to repay your kindness many times over!"

"Repay? What will you use to repay me?" Chu Jingxian smiled, his gaze fixed on her, and said, word by word, "Or rather, what do you have?"

Yes, what does she have?

She is now just a pawn abandoned by her parents and brothers, penniless and powerless. How can she repay him?

What else does she have...?

Qinghe suppressed her despair and frustration, gripped his sleeve tightly, and looked up at him: "Yuhe only has one thing, will the Grand Eunuch want it?"

Chu Jingxian had always known that she was beautiful, especially her eyes, which were as clear as a pool of spring water, and when she looked straight at someone, it was as if she could see into their heart.

At this moment, her eyes were brimming with tears, looking at him timidly and almost pleadingly.

Looking at her timid yet forcedly brave appearance, like an innocent rabbit seeing a wolf, clearly terrified yet still daring to get close to him, Chu Jingxian felt a rare urge to tease her: "Want to offer yourself? Can you?"

Upon hearing this, Qinghe nodded vigorously, as if she had finally found a piece of driftwood, like a drowning person pounding garlic: "Yes, Yuhe will!"

Her parents sent her to a brothel to learn how to serve men; how could she not know how?

Even so, Qinghe was holding her breath nervously as it was the first time she had actually used those techniques on a man.

He didn't speak, but she could feel his icy gaze fixed on her, as if scrutinizing her, or perhaps like that of an indifferent spectator waiting to see how his prey would please him.

Qinghe felt as if all the blood in her body had gone cold. She clenched her hands and decisively loosened her belt.

She loosened the ties of her coat and unhesitatingly took off her outer skirt, only to have her wrist grabbed by Chu Jingxian—

"stop."

Qinghe looked up, her gaze timid yet more resolute than ever before, meeting his deep, questioning gaze without flinching.

She had to show him her sincerity.

"Don't be impatient, Master. Yuhe will do it herself." With that, Qinghe ignored his words and forcefully broke free from his restraints.

Her hands trembled slightly as she untied the ties of her inner garment, her fingertips caressing the collar. The garment fell halfway down, revealing her fair and delicate shoulders to his eyes.

The next moment, a powerful force struck, and Qinghe's wrist tightened as he pressed her onto the couch.

"Who taught you to be like this?!" Chu Jingxian demanded angrily, the terrifying ferocity in his eyes causing Qinghe to shrink back in fear: "If I said I would force myself on you here, would you be willing?!"

Her wrist ached; his grip was so strong it felt like he was crushing her. Tears welled in Qinghe's eyes, and her fine, curled eyelashes, like raven feathers, trembled slightly: "As long as the Grand Eunuch is pleased, Yuhe will naturally..."

Before she could finish speaking, he gripped her chin tightly. "Who taught you to be so depraved, so servile and obsequious?!"

Who taught them?

Ha ha ha ha…

Qinghe suddenly felt as if she had returned to the time when she escaped from the brothel and was caught and beaten, with her father and brother standing by indifferently, and her mother and the madam disciplining her.

They said they should teach her to be servile, obsequious, and flattering.

Even back then, her backbone had already been shattered.

"Hahaha..." Qinghe laughed until tears welled up in her eyes, then, unable to hold back any longer, she answered irrelevantly, "Does the Grand Eunuch know why I'm called Yuhe?"

Before he could speak, she continued, "Originally it wasn't Yuhe, but Yuhe, meaning water lily in the rain, something naturally delicate and without branches to lean on."

"So, as you see, Master, I am no longer someone to rely on, so naturally I am..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Jingxian interrupted her abruptly—

"Who says you have no one to rely on? From this day forward, I will be your reliance."