High-class Spring Joy

Chu Jingxian ordered his men to find Sai Huatuo, and at that moment, Chen Sha brought in the black-clad man he had captured.

The second-in-command in black was all bark and no bite. Seeing Chu Jingxian before him, he didn't need any interrogation at all; he spilled the beans on his own.

"As time goes on, the nightmares layer upon layer. Those who fall into the nightmare gradually lose the ability to distinguish themselves from reality. They may even feel that they are the person in the nightmare, adopting the psychological state and thought process of that character. As a result, they believe that they are in reality in the dream, and thus become lost in the dream, never able to escape, until they die in the dream after eight hours!"

While Chu Jingxian was interrogating the man in black, Qinghe had already fallen into a deeper nightmare because Sai Huatuo had not arrived quickly.

As the nightmare deepened and layered upon layer, Qinghe, initially an observer, seemed to have become completely immersed in the role within that nightmare—

Footsteps sounded again, and a tall, dark figure loomed over her, as if bringing a cold wind. Qinghe shivered and looked up in fear, only to be met with a pair of dark and cold phoenix eyes.

Qinghe's lips opened and closed, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word, as if grasping at a lifeline, she tightly gripped his clothes.

The treacherous eunuchs who were condemned by everyone in the court and among the common people seemed to have become the source of Qinghe's sense of security. How ridiculous and absurd!

"Your Highness has been frightened." Chu Jingxian looked at the little girl in front of him, her face pale and bloodless with fright, looking at him timidly and helplessly like a little animal. He raised his hand, took off his crane cloak, and covered her with it. He coldly ordered, "Send Your Highness back to Yikun Palace."

"Yes."

The eunuchs behind him responded.

The sandalwood scent on the crane cloak was extremely rich and soothing, silently calming her startled thoughts. Qinghe took several deep breaths before she could finally calm down. She nodded to Chu Jingxian before following the little eunuch back to Yikun Palace.

Her steps were unsteady as she walked. The events of her previous life after her rebirth flooded Qinghe's mind, leaving her confused and unable to make sense of anything.

She instinctively clutched the crane cloak she was wearing, and couldn't help but glance back. She saw the Qianqing Palace in disarray, with people coming and going, but she couldn't see that tall and imposing figure in crimson.

The palace was shrouded in night, and the long, quiet palace corridors were bustling with noise outside the Qianqing Palace, which had suddenly become noisy due to the turmoil. A squad of Imperial Guards carrying embroidered spring knives stood guard.

"Master Supervisor, why did you deliberately frighten Miss Shen?" Eunuch Gao stepped forward and asked in a low voice. It was because the Master Supervisor ordered the ordinary calming soup presented to the Emperor to be replaced that this sudden turmoil occurred.

Chu Jingxian, clad in crimson flying fish armor, resembled a rampant and eye-catching flame in the night. He playfully pressed his thumb against the hilt of his sword, as if preparing to draw it. He curled his blood-red lips into a smile, his gaze lingering on the departing slender figure, gleaming with a morbid and obsessive light: "That way... she can never develop feelings for the Emperor, can she?"

He wanted to eliminate any possibility of her having feelings for someone else; from now on, he would be her only support!

Her timid and helpless eyes could only ever look at him!

"Then... what about Consort Chun?" Eunuch Gao was still puzzled. Why was Consort Chun suddenly summoned to serve him? Could it be... because Consort Chun had insulted Miss Shen with two words about her being a lowly servant last night? Eunuch Gao suddenly seemed to understand and looked at his master with disbelief.

When did Master start to value Miss Shen so much?!

Chu Jingxian neither confirmed nor denied it, but merely gave him a cold glance.

Eunuch Gao swallowed hard, then quickly lowered his head and got down to business: "Sir, we've found the person you're looking for. They've been connected to Consort Shu. Should we continue the investigation?"

"No need to investigate." Chu Jingxian raised an eyebrow, his reddened eyes both wicked and alluring.

The person is already in front of him, what's the point of investigating?

……

Her mind was in turmoil, with memories of her past life and events after her rebirth constantly intertwining in her mind.

She originally thought that knowing what happened in her past life would give her the greatest confidence, but now it was clear that an invisible hand was ruthlessly pulling away her confidence.

A cold wind blew, mingling with the crane-feather cloak on her shoulders, and as if guided, it went straight to the tip of her nose, inexplicably calming her emotions for a moment. After watching Qinghe return to Yikun Palace, Chu Jingxian, leading a squad of Imperial Guards, went to attend to the Emperor's affairs.

He was the one who switched the medicine, and no one except Eunuch Gao knew it. As for the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling on the floor in the hall at that time, Eunuch Gao naturally had ways to keep them from speaking out of turn.

In less than half an hour, the Qianqing Palace, which had been in chaos just moments before, became quiet, as if nothing had ever happened.

As night deepened, Chu Jingxian handled some official business. It wasn't until Eunuch Gao came in and advised him to rest that Chu Jingxian changed his clothes and washed up.

He lay down on the bed and had just closed his eyes when something rushed back into his mind like an uncontrollable tidal wave.

The little girl knelt in the rain, like a frightened rabbit, her clear eyes staring straight at him, a look of pleading, obedience, and fear.

It gradually overlapped with the cute little face from more than ten years ago.

Then, the scene changed again.

As he applied the medicine to her, all her snow-white beauty was displayed before him. Her cold, soft hands clenched tightly into his large hand, while beneath his fingertips lay her delicate, jade-like skin. The begonia flower mark on her collarbone burned like a rampant, eerie flame, searing his heartstrings.

She was so beautiful that she took his breath away, making him want to possess her completely at first sight. The allure in her eyes when she looked at him was so natural that it could make his bones melt at a glance...

And she was so obedient, as if she were willing to sacrifice everything for him...

Grandpa Gao was sleeping soundly against the door when suddenly there was a noise and the door opened.

He turned his head and woke up with a start, quickly straightened his hat, got up, and turned around to see his master standing behind the door. "Master? It's already past midnight, why haven't you gone to bed yet?"

A cold wind blew past, and after a moment of silence inside the door, Chu Jingxian's icy voice rang out: "Prepare water."

"Does Your Highness wish to take a bath and cleanse yourself? This old servant will have hot water prepared immediately!" Eunuch Gao hurriedly responded.

Just as he finished speaking and was about to give orders, someone suddenly—

"I want cold water."

Grandpa Gao was stunned for a moment, then ordered someone to fetch water. Although he didn't dare to ask, he had some doubts.

Why would I take a cold shower in the middle of the night? Do I feel hot?

As he was thinking, a gust of cold wind swept by, instantly clearing Gao Gonggong's mind and suppressing his doubts.

Chu Jingxian leaned his head against the sandalwood bathtub, soaking in the cold water, and only then did he feel that the heat and desire in his heart had been barely suppressed.

His ears were bright red, I don’t know if it was from the water freezing them.

Having worked in the Eastern Depot for many years, in order to avoid arousing suspicion and giving others a handle to use against him, he would regularly take a decoction to suppress his desires.

Having abstained from sex for many years, he had long forgotten what impulsiveness felt like.

Even today, despite having taken the herbal medicine just yesterday, I'm suddenly seized by such a strong urge.

Even Chu Jingxian himself didn't know, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

After soaking in cold water twice and still unable to sleep, Chu Jingxian decided to deal with official business.

Despite his efforts to persuade him, Grandpa Gao shook his head and went inside to collect Chu Jingxian's clothes.

To his surprise... he touched a moist, white spot.

Grandpa Gao's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to look at the tall figure reflected in the study window before belatedly realizing what was happening.

Could it be because of Qinghe?!

This is this...

After just one meeting, how could the Grand Eunuch be so fond of Qinghe?

The matter reported by the eunuchs tonight cannot be kept from the supervisor.

Eunuch Gao hurriedly shoved the clothes in his hands into the hands of the young eunuch outside the door, and followed him in small steps into the study: "Master, there is something else, but I don't know if I should say it."

"Speak." Chu Jingxian didn't look up, but kept looking at the booklet in his hand.

"A message came from Yikun Palace, saying..." Eunuch Gao said, walking to Chu Jingxian's side and whispering in his ear what had happened at Yikun Palace that night.

When he heard Qinghe holding the crane cloak and pretending to be a tiger, Chu Jingxian curled his crimson lips and said, "Little fox."

Eunuch Gao pursed his lips and guessed, "Given Consort Shu's temper, Miss Shen is likely to have a tough time tomorrow. Your Highness, perhaps..."

"Go and make that trip."

"This servant..." Eunuch Gao hesitated, not expecting that the master would ask him to go.

After all, he was from the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the master was the head eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

If he goes, others might associate him with Miss Shen.

Qinghe currently holds no official rank in the palace and offers no help to the master, so it's hardly a worthwhile deal.

Chu Jingxian finished drawing the picture in his hand, lazily raised his eyes, and said in an ambiguous tone, "Then shall I go myself?"

Eunuch Gao accidentally caught a glimpse of the painting in Chu Jingxian's hand:

Amidst the long, dark palace walls, swaying in the wind and rain, a slender and charming woman leans against a bright red palanquin. The person on the palanquin tilts an umbrella to her side, shielding her from the wind and rain.

The woman was depicted with significantly more detail than the others, and her eyes were the finishing touch. Like a trumpet creeper, she would wither immediately without her support. Even he, a eunuch, found her captivating and alluring.

Eunuch Gao immediately understood Qinghe's position in the Grand Eunuch's heart. Being very perceptive, he hurriedly said obsequiously, "This servant will go! This servant has been waiting outside Yikun Palace since early this morning. As soon as the palace gates open, I will go in and make sure that Miss Shen will not have to wait a moment longer."

……

As soon as Shen Chu got up, she noticed that the crane cloak that had been placed beside her pillow was gone.

Looking around, Fuling, who was so aggressive last night, was no longer in the room this morning, which seemed strange.

She smiled slightly; sure enough, a fish had taken the bait.

"Oh dear, where did my crane cloak go? Has any of you seen it?" Qinghe asked the palace maids around her in a panic.

The palace maids all shook their heads to distance themselves from the matter, so how could the crane cloak and the others afford to be associated with it?

Just then, footsteps approached from outside the door. Fuling must have complained to Consort Shu. She showed no trace of the humiliation she had endured the night before, and arrogantly led her people to the door: "What's all this noise and commotion? What kind of behavior is this so early in the morning?!"

With that, she waved her hand, and the palace maids behind her surrounded Qinghe. She sneered, "Your good days are over. The Empress wants to see you!"

"I can walk by myself." Qinghe broke free from the restraints of the palace maids around her and stepped forward.

She remembered that it was the same in her previous life; he said he wanted to see her, but in reality, he wanted to give her safflower.

Last time she was timid and submissive, but this time Qinghe stood tall and straight, like an unbreakable bamboo, resilient and determined.

No sooner had Qinghe entered the front hall than someone closed the hall door behind her.

Only two candles were lit in the vast palace, making it as dark as night.

The elegantly dressed Consort Shu leaned against the chaise longue, closing her eyes to rest.

The bundle that the old woman beside her was holding was clearly the crane cloak that Chu Jingxian had given her yesterday.

Several old women, each holding a wooden stick as thick as a baby's arm, surrounded her in the hall, staring intently at her as if they were monitoring a prisoner.

"You haven't even knelt down before the Imperial Concubine?!" Fuling walked up to the Imperial Concubine Shu and immediately became arrogant.

Before she could finish speaking, the old women behind Qinghe struck her knees hard with sticks, forcing her to kneel down.

Qinghe's lips were pale, and the pain in her knees forced her to kneel for the time being, but even so, her back remained ramrod straight: "I wonder what mistake Qinghe has made to deserve such treatment from Your Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu, who was on the chaise longue, opened her eyes. She seemed completely unaware of what had just happened and exclaimed in surprise, "How dare you?! My sister is my future support and a great contributor to my General's Mansion! Yesterday, Mother and Father even sent word that with my sister by my side, I will never lose favor, and they told me not to worry. What are you all doing? How can you treat my sister like this?"

Consort Shu spoke these words, but she had no intention of making Qinghe get up. Instead, she looked down at her as if she were a lowly ant looking down on her.

He was extremely arrogant, clearly not taking Qinghe seriously.

"Your Majesty is too kind. It is Qinghe's honor." Qinghe's eyes were icy, and she spoke insincerely, waiting for Consort Shu to continue.

"However... Father and Mother also said that with my sister's figure and appearance, and with the General's Mansion as her backing, she will surely be favored in the palace one day. In order to prevent my sister from affecting my position, my brother specially sent someone to deliver a packet of medicine to me, saying that my sister must drink it. I... really can't disobey my parents' wishes!" Consort Shu casually moved her hand, and someone brought forward the soup and medicine.

Even after experiencing her previous life, Qinghe had long been completely disappointed with her parents and brothers who favored Shen Shuang'er.

But when she heard her parents tell Shen Shuang'er to be wary of her, and her brother personally presenting her with the red flower, Qinghe still couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in her heart.

She was originally the fourth young lady of General Shen's mansion. From a young age, her father and three brothers doted on her to the extreme, wishing they could hold her in their mouths.

But everything changed after her father brought back the orphan Shen Shuang'er.

Shen Shuang'er was the posthumous child of her father's subordinate. The subordinate died saving her father, so her father asked the whole family to treat her as their own daughter and to call her Qinghe her sister.

But at some point, her parents and brothers only had eyes for Shen Shuang'er and no longer had any place for Qinghe.

She was a year older than Shen Shuang'er, but because Shen Shuang'er said she wanted to be the older sister, she was forced to remain subservient to her for the rest of her life.

Her parents and brothers used to teach her music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, etiquette, and so on. They were gentle and never forced her. They would only praise her, saying that she would become the most talented, beautiful, noble, and pure girl in the entire capital city.

But later, they forced her to learn this and that, and even sent her to brothels to learn those lewd skills to serve men, all just to secure Shen Shuang'er's favor.

She resisted and ran away, but when the brothel madam dragged her back to be beaten and disciplined, her parents and brothers just watched indifferently.

Faced with her grievances and tears, they only offered a cold and unreasonable remark: "Qinghe, just bear with it a little longer. You owe her all of this."

But what exactly did she owe Shen Shuang'er? Did she save her life?!

Qinghe knew from that time that she no longer had parents or brothers.

Later, the only person who was kind to her, her grandmother, was in their hands, and Qinghe had no choice but to obey and push Shen Shuang'er higher and higher.

But... even her own younger brother, whom she had raised with all her heart and soul, ended up only recognizing Shen Shuang'er as his older sister and helping Shen Shuang'er to harm her!

It can be said that in Qinghe's previous life, almost the entire family was the murderer; apart from her grandmother, no one was innocent!

All that has gone before is dead, and all that is to come is born today.

The life I had in my previous life was a way to repay the kindness of those who gave me life and raised me.

In this life, she will not show mercy again.

"Drink it! Otherwise, are you expecting me to feed you?!"

Fuling's sudden rebuke forcibly pulled Qinghe back to her senses. She was already in front of Qinghe with the bowl of safflower in her hand.

Qinghe glanced coldly at Fuling, then said to Shen Shuang'er, "It's easy to drink this bowl of safflower, but if Your Highness wants to use Qinghe to secure your favor, it would be more effective if she didn't drink it. If Qinghe is fortunate enough to become pregnant in the future, it will not only be of greater help to Your Highness, but also greatly benefit the prince in Your Highness's womb. If Your Highness is worried, once Qinghe is truly pregnant, we can find a pretext to bring the child to your side to raise."

She would naturally not allow her child to recognize Consort Shu as his mother; it was merely a temporary expedient. The important thing was that she could not drink the safflower soup.

Consort Shu narrowed her eyes slightly, and with the help of the old nanny beside her, she walked step by step to Qinghe. Her bright red fingernails forcefully lifted Qinghe's chin. "Does my sister really think that I need to rely on you to have a bright future? Hahahaha..."

Consort Shu giggled, as if she had heard a rare, hilarious joke, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain. "My father is a second-rank General of the Tiger Army, my mother is the legitimate daughter of a marquis, and my brothers are all rising stars in the court. What makes you think that I and the child in my womb need to rely on you? My sister is merely a pawn in my hands. How dare you try to negotiate with me?!"

Qinghe clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. The family background she was talking about was clearly Qinghe's.

She, Consort Shu, was nothing more than the posthumous child of a soldier!

But nowadays, with such strict rules of hierarchy, it's hard to tell who the real young lady of General Shen's mansion is!

Real heiress, hahaha…

Qinghe sneered inwardly. What was there to say about truth or falsehood? In the hearts of her parents and brothers, who was the true heiress?

Ignoring her own pain and heartache, she tried her best to persuade her, "It is true that Your Highness comes from a very powerful family, but they are all in the imperial court. Wouldn't it be better if they also had someone in the inner palace to help them? Since Your Highness needs Qinghe as a pawn, you should make the most of her abilities so that Your Highness's efforts in sending Qinghe into the palace will not have been in vain!"

"Just as my brother said, she has a wild mind and is difficult to control. Guards, force-feed her!" Consort Shu sneered. She already resented Qinghe and wouldn't listen to her words.

Without saying a word, Fuling immediately tried to force the bowl of safflower into her mouth.

"No..." Qinghe struggled desperately, the despair and resentment in her heart surging up like a tidal wave. No... she was not reconciled, she did not want to repeat the mistakes of her previous life!

But then several old women with wooden sticks surrounded her and pinned her down, preventing her from moving an inch.

Fuling gripped Qinghe's chin tightly, her sharp nails almost digging into her flesh, and said viciously, "What, you can't be arrogant anymore? Just because you served the Emperor once, you really think you're some kind of empress? You dare hit me? Drink this!"

Just then, a sudden, urgent cry from outside the door interrupted everything—

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Commander Ning has arrived!"

Consort Shu frowned deeply.

The palace gates were opened, and sunlight streamed in, forcefully dispelling all darkness.

Fuling and the other nannies immediately panicked.

Fuling subconsciously loosened her grip on Qinghe. Seeing this, Qinghe forcefully reached out and knocked the bowl out of her hand, spilling the safflower medicine all over the ground.

"Your Highness is in such high spirits so early in the morning."

Qinghe turned around and saw a tall and upright figure coming from behind the light, dressed in a crimson flying fish robe, his clothes fluttering like a rampant and bewitching fire.

The palace maids and nannies were so frightened that they knelt down and bowed their heads in greeting.

Following behind Chu Jingxian was Eunuch Gao, whom he had met yesterday. He looked at his master, who was sitting down lazily and carelessly to the side, and felt quite helpless.

He said he would bring the imperial decree, but I couldn't help but come along anyway. We only met once last night, so why am I so concerned about Miss Shen?

Chu Jingxian crossed his long legs casually, rested his head on the armrest with his elbow, and his gaze fell on Qinghe without making a sound.

His every move exuded a powerful and wicked aura, making him seem less like a eunuch and more like the master of Yikun Palace than Consort Shu.

Consort Shu gracefully approached Chu Jingxian: "I wonder if Your Highness has come today with any imperial decree?"

Chu Jingxian's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he raised his hand.

Eunuch Gao immediately held up the bright yellow imperial edict and said with a smile, "Your Highness, Miss Shen, come and receive the decree!"

Consort Shu was clearly displeased at being interrupted, but faced with the imperial edict, she could only force a smile, step forward, and bow to receive it: "Your Majesty, I receive the edict."

"Now there is Shen Qinghe, gentle and virtuous, who has won my heart. She is hereby granted the title of Lady-in-Waiting and granted residence in Zhongyuxuan!" Eunuch Gao announced the decree.

Upon hearing this, Qinghe trembled and looked up in surprise, only to meet Chu Jingxian's indifferent and cold gaze.

Zhong Yuxuan... was the most remote palace in the harem, the furthest from the Emperor's Qianqing Palace, no different from the Cold Palace.

However, it was only separated from Chu Jingxian's Directorate of Ceremonial by a wall.

Consort Shu narrowed her eyes as she looked at Qinghe, concealing the ruthlessness that flashed in them, and said with a smile, "I really appreciate Eunuch Gao making this trip for my sister."

"Serving the ladies is the duty of servants. The Empress is very favored, and now there is another Consort Shen. Although her rank is not high, she has won the Emperor's heart. In the future, won't the Empress be the only one who stands out in the harem?" Eunuch Gao said with a smile, glancing at the black water stains on the ground without making a sound.

He flattered the Imperial Concubine, but with a smile, he bypassed Consort Shu and handed the imperial edict to Qinghe, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Qinghe clutched the imperial edict, like a dying woman grasping at her last straw. She knelt before Chu Jingxian, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness: "The crane cloak I borrowed from you yesterday, Master, was unfortunately lost this morning. It's all my fault. Please, Master, forgive me this time!"

Chu Jingxian seemed completely oblivious to the strange atmosphere. Upon hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at Consort Shu standing to the side, but still addressed Qinghe: "You mean, in this Yikun Palace, someone dares to steal my things?"

At this point, Qinghe had no idea... who she was!

-

Chu Jingxian was startled because Qinghe in his arms was becoming quieter and quieter, her breathing was getting weaker and weaker, and even her body temperature seemed to be dropping little by little!

It was as if Chu Jingxian had grasped a piece of ice, which gradually melted into water and slowly slipped from his palm!

Whether he clenched his fist or relaxed it, it was as if he couldn't hold onto the ice or the water in his hand, and he could only watch helplessly as the sand in his hand disappeared bit by bit through the cracks.

Her breathing grew weaker and weaker…