High-class Spring Joy

As soon as Qinghe returned to her residence, people from the Northern Frontier Kingdom delivered box after box of things to her.

The head eunuch was the same one who had been somewhat unfamiliar to Qinghe that day, but who had come to fetch her late at night to meet the emperor of the Northern Frontier Kingdom.

The young eunuch was now much more spirited than when he first arrived, presumably because he had received some rewards and gained favor with the emperor of the Northern Frontier Kingdom.

When they came to deliver those boxes, their faces were beaming with smiles.

Princess Jing'an was here with Qinghe. Princess Jing'an had come because she had learned that Qinghe had received an award.

Princess Jing'an was both worried and happy for Qinghe. She had seen all of Qinghe's hard work and suffering over the years.

In Princess Jing'an's mind, this was what Qinghe deserved. In fact, in Princess Jing'an's mind, if anyone else were to receive these things, it would be truly illegitimate and unjust.

But Princess Jing'an was worried about Qinghe, clearly indicating that this reward was not just a reward, but rather like bitter melon coated in sugar.

Although it seemed sweet on the surface—with so many rewards, status, lineage, support, and some power—the two emperors had already dragged Qinghe into a vortex of power.

Because the power was bestowed by these two emperors, it was inevitable that Qinghe would be drawn into the power struggles between the Northern Frontier Kingdom and the Northern Frontier Kingdom, and she would be powerless to resist.

But if she didn't do this, Qinghe wouldn't be able to gain a higher social standing and greater power than others.

Princess Jing'an had also spoken to Qinghe about this matter, and from whatever perspective, she should have reminded Qinghe, but Qinghe seemed to have already made a prediction in her heart.

Qinghe stood at the door and watched as one wooden crate after another was carried in. All the crates were open, and what was inside could be clearly seen.

Qinghe stood there, doing nothing and saying nothing. When the young eunuch came to report, she smiled, grabbed a handful of gold melon seeds from a small reward box beside her, and stuffed them into the eunuch's hand.

"Gentlemen, you've all worked hard. This trip has truly troubled you all. These are just small tokens of our appreciation; please consider them as a treat for tea."

After Qinghe finished speaking, she stuffed the golden melon seeds into the little eunuch's hand. The little eunuch's smile widened, almost reaching the back of his ears. He quickly tucked the seeds into his sleeve, then led the group of little eunuchs back to the mansion.

The group of eunuchs arrived quickly and left just as fast. The lively and noisy scene seemed to have never happened, and the whole process only lasted for a moment.

Qinghe stood at the doorway, her face expressionless, seemingly a completely different person from the one who had just smiled and stuffed the golden melon seeds into the little eunuch's hand.

The hustle and bustle just now seemed to last only a moment, and in a daze it was as if nothing had happened, as if everything was just a momentary illusion of Qinghe's.

Not only that scene, but also at the banquet between the two countries, Qinghe stood at the door with Princess Jing'an standing next to her. If Princess Jing'an hadn't been there to remind Qinghe that all of this was real, Qinghe probably wouldn't have been able to tell what her current situation was like.

she…

She is now...

Is she really the so-called Princess of the Northern Frontier Kingdom now?

Princess?

The eldest princess??

These words have absolutely nothing to do with Qinghe. Qinghe has no way of associating these words with herself, nor can she place these words on herself.

Who would believe that just two months ago, she was a lowly maid in the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, a maid who was afraid that she would die after the young master married his principal wife.

Back then, she was bullied by Apple to such an extent that she almost killed Hongdou, who was by her side. Even a month ago, when she was at Xiangguo Temple, she was still working so hard, so desperately, all to find a way to save herself and her child's lives. She almost gambled her own life and almost fell into an abyss of no return.

Qinghe still remembers how all the young ladies and wives in Bianjing looked at her when the Empress Dowager handed her that gold medal.

Qinghe can vividly recall that scene and those gazes.

But now, she has transformed into the eldest princess of the Northern Frontier Kingdom and the He Ning Princess of the Song Kingdom.

Such a contrast is akin to that between a mountaintop and a valley.

Qinghe looked at the several large boxes in front of her, which were filled with gold and silver, jewelry and fine clothes, or land deeds and property deeds bestowed upon her. In short, they contained various properties and shops.

Qinghe had never dared to dream of such a thing before. But when these things were actually delivered to her, Manguo felt as if she were standing on clouds, with a sense of floating and emptiness beneath her feet.

It seems to be true?

It turns out that these things were as heavy as Mount Tai to Qinghe and the others, something they could only dream of for a lifetime, something they wouldn't even dare to dream of, something they couldn't believe they could possess even a tiny fraction of.

These things, in the hands of those in high positions of power, can be bestowed upon others with a mere wave of their sleeves.

Furthermore, when Qinghe returned from the banquet, the news had already spread along the way. Therefore, when Qinghe returned, all the maids and eunuchs bowed respectfully to her, no longer showing the usual contempt and disdain.

So this is what power feels like?

Qinghe felt as if she was about to enter a completely new world, a world she had never encountered before and was never familiar with.

But is this world safer or more dangerous? Qinghe couldn't come up with an answer, and with her current knowledge and perspective, she really couldn't find one.

Qinghe turned her head and saw Princess Jing'an's worried eyes beside her.

She was alarmed; Princess Jing'an clearly realized the same thing, but in the face of such a situation, no one had a solution, and no one could come up with one.

Even if there were a way, it would only be a reactive measure, and at most it would serve as a preventative measure.

Qinghe was exhausted after a long day. After tidying up all the things and entertaining all the people who came to give gifts, she was so tired that she lay in bed and couldn't get up.

In a daze, Qinghe had already fallen asleep.

Under the cover of night, many things happen unnoticed, and many people appear at night.

Qinghe seemed to have truly entered a high-altitude white cloud, and then the scene before him changed:

The red candles cast a warm glow, and beneath layers of crimson gauze curtains, one could vaguely see the sensual scene of a man and woman entwined in passion.

"Snap!" The last piece of gauze clothing on Qinghe's body was torn off by the man in front of her, revealing her voluptuous and alluring figure.

"Who...are you?!" Qinghe bit her lip, trying to escape, but she couldn't get away from the man's hold.

How could this be? Wasn't she in Mohan City?

Where is this place? How did she get here?

Where is this place?

"It can only be mine." The man laughed, his unusually handsome and rugged face filled with desire, his lips biting Qinghe's flawless body.

"You...you let go!" Qinghe refused, but suddenly felt a strange sensation and couldn't help herself.

As if encouraged, the man's rough, calloused hands slid down her shoulders, passing over her full yet slender waist, as if possessing magic, stirring up a strong, indescribable impulse within Qinghe.

Qinghe could no longer bear it and tried to escape, but the man's attacks became increasingly arrogant, quickly clouding her judgment.

"Madam, Madam!"

A strange woman shook her for a moment, and Qinghe woke up from her dream. She then realized that the scene in front of her was also unfamiliar. She had no idea who the person in front of her was or where she was.

"I've been waking up like this every time for the past few months. I should call the doctor from the prefecture to come and take a look!" Cuizhi advised.

Qinghe had no idea whether she had contracted a strange illness or was possessed by an evil spirit. How could she be in such a place? She had no recollection of having such a dream. She dreamt of being intimate with the same strange man.

Not only that, after the dream, her whole body was flushed pink, as if she had just experienced a thoroughly enjoyable...

Such unrestrained behavior terrified Qinghe, who dared not mention it to anyone, yet secretly she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it was just a dream.

But now... what's going on?

Qinghe didn't know.

A cool breeze blew in through the window, and Qinghe woke up. "What's your name?"

The maidservant finally spoke, looking at Qinghe as if she had seen something incomprehensible: "My name is Cuizhi? Madam... Madam, what's wrong? You should be preparing medicine for the young master at this time."

"Decoct medicine??" Qinghe didn't react in time, and Cuizhi had already pulled her away.

As soon as Qinghe was brought over by Cuizhi, she heard the sounds of smashing and breaking inside:

"Get out! Take your filthy things and get out! Go back and tell her that I will never touch a lowly servant like you in my entire life!" The second young master angrily threw the bowls and plates out, smashing them all over Qinghe.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sounds of men and women moaning and panting came from the study, the scene inside was self-evident.

"Madam is so concerned about the Second Young Master, personally preparing medicine for him every day. But the Second Young Master not only doesn't appreciate it, he only listens to that vixen Hongxiu. I really feel sorry for you!" Cuizhi said, feeling indignant on her behalf.

Qinghe didn't react much, acting like an outsider: "Can I leave now?"

After thinking about it, Qinghe decided that she should find out about the current situation and ask Cuizhi.

Cuizhi spoke very quickly:

"The Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion in the Great Qi Dynasty has two sons. One is the Marquis of Dingyuan, who has fought countless battles, and the other is the second son who has become the top scholar in the imperial examination. No matter how you look at it, they are both outstanding individuals. The old lady of the mansion must be enjoying her old age every day."

Unfortunately, Marquis Dingyuan was away on campaigns for many years, and his murderous aura had killed six newlywed wives. This second young master had been unable to walk properly since childhood and was physically weak, so he probably couldn't have sex either. As a result, the old lady worried about the lack of an heir for the Marquis's family every day.

"The title 'Madam' was given to you by the old lady of the Marquis's mansion. She was bought from a brothel before she was deflowered and was raised with secret medicine from a young age. It was only to legitimize the Marquis's lineage that you were given the title of Madam. In reality, no one takes you seriously."

As Qinghe listened, she tried to recall the stories without any expression. In fact, she couldn't remember any of them, since she didn't know where she was or how she got there. But she was certain that this wasn't her story.

Just then, Qinghe felt a wave of dizziness, as if she had fallen into an abyss. The scene before her disappeared, and she vanished as well.

All that remained before Qinghe was darkness.

I don't know how much time passed, I don't know how much time went by, all I know is that a deathly silence spread.

A flash of white light, and it seemed as if we had arrived in another place.

The biting autumn wind felt like it was carrying knives, stinging Qinghe's face.

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...

Qinghe had only one question in her mind: Where is this place?

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the side:

"This is what you were...

The voice was unfamiliar. Qinghe looked around but didn't find anyone nearby.

Where is this? Is it real or fake?

A cold wind blew by, chilling her face and making her shiver. It was real; she could feel it…

is that true?

Isn't it a dream?

She stared blankly ahead, and the voice rang in her ears again:

"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. As long as the fake heiress wanted it, she had to give it to them 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 in their hearts 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 Majesty the Nine Thousand Years."

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

In her past life, her elder sister and younger brother conspired to tear her apart by five horses, yet the crime went undetected, all thanks to Chu Jingxian's protection…

What?!

Chu Jingxian?

The Third Young Master, the current Ninth Prince of the Court?

Then who is she?

Qinghe was stunned...

The sounds around her suddenly stopped, and the rain had stopped sometime earlier. Before she could think any further, the person was behind her.

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

Qinghe, like a puppet out of her control, opened her mouth and uttered words that sounded utterly unfamiliar:

"My humble name is Qinghe. 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 at all, 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 carriage within the palace demonstrates Ning Wu's high status.

"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.

Ning Wu 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 and unattractive 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 Ningwu just by her looks. She mustered her courage and trembled her lips: "But... I know what Master wants."

"Hmm?" Ning Wu 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.

But the most terrifying thing is that, from beginning to end, Qinghe had no idea what she was doing. She was clearly not some concubine sent to the palace, and Chu Jingxian was not some high-ranking official at all!

Why did she say those words?

She clearly didn't want to say it!

But at night, the sensations of touch and pain... felt so real. Was what she was seeing fake, or was what she remembered fake?

She was a maid named Qinghe…

Or was it just a dream?

-

The moon hangs high in the sky.

But the room was pitch black.

Two figures timidly hid outside the door. One of them held a thin wooden tube in his hand and carefully poked open the window paper, blowing out milky white smoke.

Inside the room, the figure on the bed tossed and turned, looking as if he was sleeping very restlessly.

But as the smoke spread, the person on the bed gradually fell silent.

"Brother, do you think this medicine is really that magical? Can it really kill someone in their sleep?"

"Whether it can kill or not, we'll know tomorrow, won't we? I didn't make this drug, how would I know if it can kill in a dream? That person made it sound so miraculous, he might just be trying to fool us. We're just doing his job. Besides, we've been on missions for so long, when have we ever seen anyone kill in a dream?"

"Brother, we still have to get him to pay more, he absolutely has to pay more. We've been walking for half a month just to get here in this freezing weather! The drinks he gave us are barely enough for our travel expenses, not a single penny of compensation. We're not stupid."

"I wonder if this vote will work. If it does, what the hell will that little bit of money be enough for? Will we have to ask for more money?"

One of the men spat into his palm and rubbed his hands together vigorously.

Legend has it that this medicine has magical abilities, capable of plunging a sleeping person into a bizarre and fantastical dream. It can cause the person in the dream to gradually lose their reason and consciousness, with one dream upon another. If no external force can wake them up within eight hours, then that person will live in the dream forever and will never be able to get out.

The entire soul and reason will be confused by the dream. Unable to distinguish whether one is in a dream or reality, one gradually dies in the dream.

This is what is known as killing without leaving a trace, killing in a dream.

It was the person who hired them who gave the instructions.