High-class Spring Joy

Qinghe was completely stunned, not expecting it.

When Chu Jingxian asked that question, Qinghe's brain went blank for a moment. Looking at Chu Jingxian's serious expression, it took her a while to realize that she hadn't misheard.

Chu Jingxian in front of him did not ask the wrong question; it did not seem like a joke or a question asked hastily.

Qinghe never expected that she would be faced with such a question.

Qinghe originally thought that in this situation, at least a slightly smart person would make equivalent substitutions and transactions.

The questions Qinghe just asked are extremely important and crucial. They involve so many things and will greatly influence a person's fate.

Even if Qinghe was very curious, she knew the importance of these questions. They were not just a simple question with a single answer, but also represented Chu Jingxian's heavy trust in her.

Chu Jingxian never easily gives his trust to others.

That's why I thought Chu Jingxian would definitely ask some more important questions. There were many questions, Qinghe could even think of them herself, such as asking what the Emperor of the Northern Frontier Kingdom had said to her, what the Emperor had said to her, etc., or asking more important things, such as whether the Third Young Master could ask the person from that night if the girl he had been searching for for so long was really her.

The important thing is that there are many questions, many key questions, and definitely more than one thing to ask, but Chu Jingxian chose this one.

They chose such an insignificant question.

Qinghe couldn't understand it. Who in this world would do such a business?

Moreover, the third young master in front of me is extremely good at business. In just ten years, he has become the richest man in the world. He has been in business since he was young and has been immersed in the business world for many years. He can not be said to be an expert in doing business, but he can be said to have surpassed most people in this world.

Yet this man, who started his business at a young age and expanded his commercial empire to cover the entire Song Kingdom in just ten years, turned his bargaining chips into this problem when faced with such an important transaction.

Qinghe couldn't quite understand the person in front of her, but meeting Chu Jingxian's earnest and serious gaze, she still spoke her true feelings: "I don't feel particularly uncomfortable anywhere, I just feel a bit weak, and it's so late, so I'm a little tired. Young Master, you really don't need to worry too much, I should be fine after a few days of rest."

Seeing Qinghe say this, Chu Jingxian did not answer quickly, but raised his eyebrows, moved closer to the girl in front of him, and his gaze fell on Qinghe's face.

Qinghe could naturally see the flicker in Chu Jingxian's eyes: "I guarantee it's all the truth."

Upon hearing Qinghe's words, Chu Jingxian stepped back a moment, seemingly relieved. However, he did not retreat further but instead reached out and approached Qinghe's forehead.

Qinghe was puzzled, but she did not dodge, letting Chu Jingxian's fingertips gently press on her forehead.

Cool fingertips gently stroked her forehead, until they reached her temples.

Qinghe felt Chu Jingxian's fingertips gradually becoming warm, and the temperature gradually rising. He gently rubbed them on her temples, as if a surge of heat was flowing into them.

This made Qinghe's tense and tired mind gradually relax.

"Young master... what is this? Is it internal energy?"

Qinghe asked with some curiosity.

"It's nothing, just a little gadget, enough to warm you up."

Chu Jingxian spoke casually, without going into details. Instead, his movements as he massaged Qinghe's temples became increasingly gentle, while the internal energy surging from his palms became more and more stable.

After about an incense stick's time, Chu Jingxian withdrew his hand, calmed himself down, and sat down to drink tea.

Qinghe rubbed her temples, closed her eyes, and assessed her body's condition. She was surprised to find, "Young Master, I really don't feel cold at all anymore! I felt a little tired before, but now my head doesn't feel dizzy anymore. Is that the legendary internal energy? It's said that only very powerful martial arts masters possess it?"

Chu Jingxian poured himself a cup of tea, took a small sip, and looked into the bright, curious eyes of the little girl in front of him: "I guess so."

Hearing Chu Jingxian say this, Qinghe felt a little guilty: "Actually, I just need to rest for a day or two, there's no need to trouble you, young master, to expend your inner strength."

Qinghe was speaking, but before she could finish, she was interrupted by Chu Jingxian's call:

"Guoguo".

"Ah." Qinghe subconsciously looked up at him: "Young Master?"

"Those things are nothing compared to you. We're finally just the two of us, and now you're going to tell me more of that trivial stuff?"

Chu Jingxian looked at Qinghe in front of him with his peach blossom eyes and raised an eyebrow:

"Do those things really matter? They're unimportant, Guoguo. Compared to you, nothing matters. All I wanted to do this evening was sit quietly and talk to you for a bit. But first, I was invited by the young prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom, then by the emperor, and finally by the emperor himself. Guoguo... you're so amazing. I'm willing to be the last one. The last one, and you still want to talk to me about these trivial things?"

Chu Jingxian was right. Their relationship started from when they came out of that snowdrift, and then Qinghe dragged the young prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom back to the Devil City. They also went through the conflict between the emperor and the crown prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom.

Finally, the young prince of Beijing was found, and the situation eased somewhat. Chu Jingxian was also relieved as a result. However, the two of them just sat quietly and looked at each other for a while. Then Qinghe was summoned to various places again. Chu Jingxian followed along, but he was neither in a hurry nor annoyed.

Now that things have finally quieted down again, the two of them can finally sit down and talk quietly.

Qinghe was a little puzzled. Looking at Chu Jingxian in front of her, she felt that the Third Young Master had become exceptionally gentle, but his words had indeed softened her heart.

I couldn't stop myself from going limp.

Especially when she met Chu Jingxian's burning and concerned gaze, Qinghe really panicked.

Qinghe's panic wasn't due to anything else, but rather because she seemed to finally realize what emotions might be hidden in Chu Jingxian's eyes.

The intense heat might originate from some emotion.

Even though Qinghe could see clearly what might be inside, she was still uneasy despite her joy.

Firstly, Qinghe had never experienced such a scene before. Although she and Apple seemed to have some kind of relationship in the past, that relationship was ultimately just a fantasy that Qinghe had created on her own.

Qinghe now understands that what happened back then was just her unrealistic fantasy, plus Apple didn't explain things clearly, so it couldn't be considered a reciprocal exchange of affection, let alone a relationship between the two of them.

As for the third young master in front of her, Qinghe was absolutely certain that she had feelings for him.

Qinghe didn't know the extent of their feelings, but she did know that her trust in the Third Young Master had indeed reached a certain level.

The third young master in front of me seems to be...

Qinghe seemed to see the affection hidden in that warmth. Qinghe didn't know how to face this affection, or whether she should or shouldn't.

Under Chu Jingxian's gaze, Qinghe only said one sentence: "What does Young Master want to say? Or is there anything else Young Master wants to ask? After all, I just asked Young Master many questions, and Young Master only asked one. This seems too unfair to Young Master."

As Qinghe spoke, her face appeared expressionless, but her hands gripped the blanket tightly beside her.

Chu Jingxian raised an eyebrow, noticing some clues on Qinghe's face. For some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off Qinghe's face.

Qinghe is indeed very beautiful, possessing a face that is extremely rare to find.

But Chu Jingxian looked at Qinghe not just because Qinghe was beautiful.

There are many other reasons as well.

But one of the biggest reasons was that Chu Jingxian didn't know if he would be able to see her again tomorrow. He wanted to imprint this face and the girl in front of him firmly into his mind.

So that when he faces the darkness again, his mind won't go blank, and he won't be all alone.

Even if the only thing that might remain by his side is the imprint in his mind.

That's better than having nothing at all.

Chu Jingxian stared at the girl in front of him as if he were mesmerized. With his composure and upbringing, how could he not know how impolite it was to stare at a girl so openly for such a long time?

But at this moment, Chu Jingxian didn't care about manners at all.

Chu Jingxian only knew that he wanted to remember her, wanted to see her, wanted to see more of her, and wanted to see her every day.

Even though Chu Jingxian knew that this was an unattainable dream for her right now.

"Then... let's start with how you saved the young prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom."

As Chu Jingxian spoke, he didn't really have anything specific he needed to know, nor did he have anything he wanted Qinghe to say. He only knew that he wanted to remember this girl, so whatever Qinghe said was fine, and he loved to hear whatever she said.

Since Chu Jingxian had said that, Qinghe didn't ask any further questions. She seemed to understand what he meant, but she didn't dare to understand too much. "I met the young prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom in a snow pit."

It wasn't until a few large, icy raindrops hit her, her knees ached from the hard, cold floor tiles, and her legs felt like they were about to break, that Qinghe finally realized she had been reborn on the day her stepmother sent her to the palace to help the fake heiress Shen Shuang'er secure the emperor's favor.

Upon seeing the tall, golden-studded, vermilion gate before me, I saw three large characters on the plaque: Yikun Palace.

Qinghe then remembered that she must have been scolded by the nanny beside Consort Shu, who punished her by making her kneel in the rain and wait for the people from Qianqing Palace to come and take her to serve the emperor. This was to remind her of her and her adoptive mother's identities and not to have any improper thoughts.

In her previous life, she believed her mother and father's words. In order to keep her grandmother safe in the mansion, she had to give up her fiancé, her doting cousin, her childhood sweetheart neighbor, and everything she owned—anything the fake heiress wanted—without complaint.

After entering the palace, she was forced to hand over all the emperor's favor to Shen Shuang'er, obey her every word, and do her best to help her ascend to the position of empress.

In the end, he was killed by Shen Shuang'er and his younger brother, whom he had raised with all his might, and ended up being torn apart by five horses, his head separated from his body!

Even her grandmother, who raised her, was killed by the jealous and ruthless Shen Shuang'er long ago, leaving not even a skeleton behind!

"Oh...who's that? Why is he kneeling at the entrance of Yikun Palace? He looks unfamiliar! I'm here to pick someone up anyway, why don't we go over and take a look?"

"...So noisy."

A shrill, hoarse voice rang out, forcefully pulling her thoughts back.

Then a deep, clear voice came, like the sound of metal striking jade, constantly assaulting Qinghe's eardrums. The moment she recognized the person, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her whole body stiffening on the spot.

Chu Jingxian…

The Emperor is currently in power!

Chu Jingxian came from the Eastern Depot and was initially just a lowly eunuch. He repeatedly risked his life to save Emperor Jing, and then joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where he made many outstanding contributions. At the young age of seventeen, he took command of both the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and later became the sharpest and darkest knife in Emperor Jing's hands, used specifically to eliminate dissidents.

After ascending to the throne, all the officials in the court who opposed him died at his hands. The only daughter of the Minister mentioned in casual conversation that he was a eunuch, and when this reached his ears, he had her tied to a horse's tail, rode the horse all over the capital, and dragged the Minister's daughter to her death. He then wrapped her in a straw mat and threw her into a mass grave.

He was vindictive, bloodthirsty, and suspicious. His current position was built on mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Every citizen of Anguo cursed him as a treacherous eunuch. Yet, Chu Jingxian was deeply trusted and valued by Emperor Jing. Even the Crown Prince had to respectfully bow and address him as "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince."

And he was the biggest backer of his elder sister, Consort Shu, in his previous life!

In her previous life, her elder sister conspired with her younger brother to tear her apart, yet they escaped detection, all thanks to Chu Jingxian's protection.

It is said that hearing is the last thing a person loses after death.

After Qinghe's tragic death in her previous life, she first heard footsteps, followed by Chu Jingxian's conversation with his subordinates—

"My lord, it was the Empress who took action. I heard that he had some improper thoughts and poisoned the Empress's food, but he was caught red-handed."

"That's certainly something worth dismembering and cleaning up, so as not to cause trouble for Shuang'er."

With a single, casual remark, her death was never known again.

Her body was then thrown into a mass grave by her elder sister's orders, and it is unknown where it was eventually carried away by wolves.

Recalling her past life seemed to drain all of Qinghe's strength. She nearly fell onto the cold marble floor, gasping for breath in fear. The despair and terror that overwhelmed her before her death finally transformed into countless deep-seated hatred.

In this life, she will never again be a stepping stone to the throne of Empress! She will make those who harmed her and her mother pay tenfold or a hundredfold price!

But... she clearly remembered that in her previous life, only a lowly eunuch came to pick her up. Why did it suddenly become the Ninth Prince?

The rain stopped sometime earlier, and before she could think any further, the person was already behind her.

"Who are you?! Why have I never seen you before?" the hoarse voice rang out again.

"My humble name is Yuhe, and I was sent to the palace today by General Shen's mansion." Qinghe turned around and knelt down to reply, not daring to raise her head, her face already deathly pale.

Perhaps surprised that the frail person in front of him was the one he was looking for, Eunuch Gao's tone softened: "Since you are from the General's Mansion, then come with us. Don't keep the Emperor waiting too long."

Qinghe responded with a "Yes," stood up, and followed Eunuch Gao forward with her head bowed, not daring to raise her head at all. But when they reached the palanquin—

"look up."

That deep voice rang out again, like the chilling autumn wind wrapped in ice blades, striking Qinghe's heart and causing her to instinctively hold her breath.

She didn't even need to look to sense that sinister, cold gaze fixed on her. A chill ran down her spine, and the fear that welled up from the bottom of her heart made her momentarily stunned.

At that very moment, she felt a warm touch on her chin. He forcefully lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

He was dressed in a scarlet robe embroidered with gold flying fish, his tall and slender figure leaning against the palanquin throne. His movements were languid and casual, but the palanquin-like ferocity emanating from him made people tremble with fear.

For a mere eunuch to dare to travel in a palanquin within the palace demonstrates the high status of Chu Jingxian.

"Are you afraid of me?"

He looked down at her, his cold, sinister peach blossom eyes scrutinizing her silently, as if trying to see through her appearance and understand her thoughts.

No one wants others to fear them for no reason. Qinghe swallowed nervously, "This servant's feelings for you are not fear, but awe."

He seemed to have heard something interesting, raised an eyebrow with interest, moved closer to her, and lightly stroked her chin with his fingertips: "You have guts, daring to lie to me."

Qinghe felt a chill run through her body. How could she dare admit to lying? She hurriedly explained, "This servant dares not deceive you. It is indeed my first time meeting Your Highness. I am filled with awe and would never dare to be presumptuous."

"Oh."

He snorted coldly, as if teasing a kitten or puppy, not caring whether her words were true or false. Instead, he slowly caressed her lips with his fingertips. "This face is quite pretty."

He had no sense of propriety whatsoever between a eunuch and an empress; he was only inherently arrogant and condescending.

His large hands roamed over her cheeks and neck, looking intimate, but Qinghe was terrified and got goosebumps.

When he casually brushed against the redness and swelling on the back of her neck, Qinghe felt a distinct pain from his warm fingertips and shuddered.

"Were you bullied at Yikun Palace?"

She dared not say that it was Consort Shu who pinched her, and could only hurriedly shake her head: "No...no."

"Why are you trembling without her?" he sneered, then his gaze lingered on her face. "What a pity, such a beautiful face is no longer in Yikun Palace."

As she spoke, her chin was raised even higher, forcing Qinghe to meet his eyes, and a chill instantly spread through her.

His gaze was like that of a giant python lurking in the night, eyeing its favorite prey. Even the sandalwood scent that filled her nostrils felt like a glistening, red snake tongue constantly darting over her body.

Even though there wasn't much physical contact, she felt as if he had imprisoned her.

His eyes were exactly the same as when we first met in my previous life.

It's the way a man looks at a woman—dark and extremely aggressive.

In her previous life, she didn't know how to take advantage of things. She only felt that being noticed by the eunuch was not a good thing, so she tried her best to avoid trouble.

But in this life, she is determined to steal her elder sister's support and compete with her properly!

Qinghe swallowed hard. "Does Your Majesty like this face of mine?"

Her words were cryptic, but the person in front of her understood them instantly.

The next moment, her neck was completely in his large hand, and with just a little force, he could easily break her slender, fair neck.

Chu Jingxian looked down at her, licking his thin, scarlet lips: "What, you think you can become my woman just because of that face?"

"I am but a plain woman, of course I dare not." Qinghe's whole body tensed up. She was not so foolish as to think that she could get close to Chu Jingxian just by her looks. She mustered her courage and trembled her lips: "But... I know what Master wants."

"Hmm?" Chu Jingxian seemed to have heard words he had never heard before, resting his elbow on the armrest: "I am now second only to the emperor in the court, possessing both power and wealth. Tell me, what do I want?"

But that gaze gave her goosebumps. Qinghe suppressed her fear, mustered her courage, raised her chin, and stared directly into his eyes. "Please, sir, extend your hand."

He raised an eyebrow with interest and reached out his hand to her, as if bestowing charity.

She wasn't entirely sure, but Chu Jingxian's arrival and questions came suddenly, so she could only rack her brains to recall everything about Chu Jingxian from her past life.

In her past life, she knew that Chu Jingxian had feelings for her and tried every means to avoid him. She only knew a little about him from the mouths of the palace servants.

Is she left with no choice but to accept her fate?

Do not!

She must never repeat the same mistake!

Now, they had no choice but to take a gamble. Qinghe felt extremely guilty and secretly clenched her palms until her knuckles turned white before reaching out. She placed one hand on his large palm and used the index finger of her other hand to write stroke by stroke on his palm.

At this moment, large raindrops began to fall uncontrollably, pelting Qinghe's body and the warm, large hands she was holding.

The cold rain made his large hands appear even hotter and hotter. Qinghe felt as if she were holding a hot iron, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. Even though the words "throne" were so simple, she took a long time to write them down, her hand trembling as she finished: "This servant can help Master..."

Unexpectedly, the large hand that had been lingering and caressing her neck suddenly tightened, a tremendous feeling of suffocation washed over her, and her feet gradually left the ground. She was now being lifted up by the neck—

"Who sent you?!"

"No...no, really no! I only heard of your reputation in the manor. Someone like you deserves...the best...things in the world...cough cough cough..." Qinghe tried with all her might to pry his hand off, but the difference in strength was too great, and he was completely unmoved.

Chu Jingxian narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her.

The person in front of him appeared slender and delicate in his palm, with red eyes overflowing with glistening tears, like a rabbit suddenly encountering a predator, constantly shrinking and struggling. Those clear peach blossom eyes were filled with despair and panic, looking like a dodder vine about to wither, extremely pitiful.

But he showed no mercy, letting go of her as she fell to the ground in the cold rain, and pronounced a death sentence: "Kill her."

"She seems like a well-behaved person, but it turns out she's trying to curry favor with you!" Eunuch Gao glared at Qinghe and pulled her away.