High-class Spring Joy

As soon as Qinghe reached out her hand, her wrist was grabbed tightly.

Qinghe could only look up at Chu Jingxian in front of her, somewhat surprised. But who knew that it would have been better if she hadn't looked. As soon as she did, Qinghe noticed something was wrong. Chu Jingxian's extremely beautiful eyes... had actually started to become less silent and instead showed emotions.

Chu Jingxian's expression also changed. Qinghe rarely noticed any obvious changes on Chu Jingxian's handsome face. The last time she saw a change was that night in prison.

Even last time, when Chu Jingxian leaped onto his horse and, holding Qinghe who was about to fall off, they both tumbled off the horse and crashed into that sharp cliff, Qinghe didn't see any expression on Chu Jingxian's face. Even though the stone must have smashed Chu Jingxian's head open and made him bleed, and even though Chu Jingxian's back was badly injured by those stones, Qinghe didn't see any obvious emotion on Chu Jingxian's face, only how pale he was.

At this moment, Qinghe could see obvious surprise, shock, and even a hint of ecstasy on Chu Jingxian's face. Qinghe couldn't quite put her finger on what those emotions were.

Qinghe only saw that Chu Jingxian in front of her seemed to be a little slow to react. He had been holding his chopsticks slowly and deliberately, and his hands, which were eating noodles, were now trembling. He slowly reached out and approached Qinghe little by little.

Qinghe dared not move. He realized something, and he dared not move at all. He dared not speak, and he didn't even dare to take a deep breath.

Qinghe's gaze fell on Chu Jingxian's hand, watching it slowly approach her. Qinghe stubbornly remained still, suppressing her urge to back away.

The kitchen was quiet; no one was talking.

Only the breathing of the two people remained, the most obvious being Chu Jingxian's heavier breathing, which seemed to be filled with emotion, constantly assaulting Qinghe's eardrums.

Qinghe dared not move an inch, afraid that her movements would affect Chu Jingxian in front of her.

Until Chu Jingxian's hands, still warm, finally seemed to move closer to her face, his fingertips gently touching Qinghe's cheek.

Chu Jingxian touched it and immediately pulled away, as if he had been burned by something, wishing he could immediately withdraw his hand.

Qinghe, who was in front of him, blushed from her neck down to her ears and then to her entire face after being lightly touched by Chu Jingxian's fingertip.

Qinghe guessed something, but she didn't dare to ask or even breathe loudly, afraid that her actions would reveal that it was just her own fantasy, just a dream.

At this moment, Chu Jingxian frowned, as if he had suffered some great pain. He lowered his head, propped his head up with his hand, and shook his head in frustration and helplessness, as if trying to clear his mind. His eyes, which had been open just now, were now tightly closed.

Qinghe dared not move. She wanted to comfort Chu Jingxian in front of her and ask him what was wrong, but she dared not ask.

Qinghe knew all too well how important this moment was to Chu Jingxian, and how important it was that it couldn't be disturbed.

Qinghe could only stand there, her hands and feet frozen, staring blankly at Chu Jingxian's movements, her gaze fixed on him, not wanting to miss a single change in his expression.

Chu Jingxian shook his head vigorously and then opened his eyes, trying to see Qinghe clearly, but found that the things in front of him were becoming increasingly blurry. It was as if the figure he had just seen, that sliver of light, was just his own illusion, just a dream he had conjured up.

But when he woke up, he could no longer see.

Chu Jingxian couldn't believe it, and he couldn't accept it. Even though he had long since developed a cold and indifferent personality because of his eyes, he tried his best to suppress all his emotions, resentment, anger, and hatred into his chest, so as not to show them or hurt others.

But at this moment, when he had finally managed to catch a glimpse of the girl he had been longing for under the light, only to have her image vanish before his eyes in the blink of an eye, leaving him unable to see anything at all, Chu Jingxian felt that he could no longer suppress the emotions in his chest.

Chu Jingxian clenched his fists tightly and slammed them on the table twice. He wanted to vent his emotions; he could no longer control himself with his reason.

He wanted to see the world, he wanted to see the light, he wanted to see what the green rice seedling in front of him looked like, he wanted to see his little rice seedling.

But he couldn't see anything. He couldn't see what he looked like, what clothes he wore, what kind of food he liked to eat, or what he looked like when he ate, cried, or laughed. He could only hear the sounds and sense them.

However, whether it's a sound or something seen, it's easy to be deceived when only one thing is true.

Chu Jingxian wanted to see the real Qinghe, longed to get to know the real Qinghe, and wanted to observe everything about Qinghe, including what Qinghe liked, her every smile and frown, her preferences, and so on.

Because of this series of things, Chu Jingxian was unable to fully perceive them through his ears or touch, and could not use these two methods to confirm or fully verify them.

But the cruelest thing God did was not to keep Chu Jingxian from seeing, but to let him inadvertently see what the girl he had been dreaming of looked like, what clothes she was wearing, how beautiful she was, and how gentle and clear her eyes were when she saw him.

Just when Chu Jingxian thought that God had shown him mercy and opened his eyes, and that after enduring more than ten or twenty years of hardship, the god of fortune was finally standing by his side, fate dealt him another cruel blow.

Just now, when Chu Jingxian looked up, he realized that he could feel the light in front of him. He tried to open his eyes and saw an extremely beautiful face, and saw a very beautiful and gentle girl in front of him.

Before Chu Jingxian could even touch Qinghe's cheek, before he could even imprint Qinghe's face carefully in his mind, a sharp pain shot through his brain, making it impossible for him to open his eyes easily.

When Chu Jingxian finally managed to relieve the pain, he opened his eyes again and found that he could no longer see.

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

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 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 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.

The immense fear and despair she felt before her death in her previous life returned like a venomous snake. Qinghe struggled fiercely: "Master! To you, keeping me alive is more useful than killing me!"

Chu Jingxian remained unmoved, her expression unchanged, like a bystander watching a play.

It was raining, and Qinghe's clothes were already thin. As she struggled and pulled with all her might, her collar came undone, and in the cold rain, the begonia flower pattern on her collarbone was vividly beautiful.

Chu Jingxian frowned almost imperceptibly.

"Let go."

After realizing what was happening, Grandpa Gao had no choice but to release Qinghe.

"Umbrella." Chu Jingxian's gaze fell directly on Qinghe, who was sitting slumped in the water.

Grandpa Gao dared not ask and hurriedly handed over an oil-paper umbrella.

Qinghe collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The actions of the master and servant jolted her back to reality. She almost knelt beside Chu Jingxian's palanquin, the fear of death and her burning hatred forcing her to reveal all her trump cards: "Your Excellency is my ladder to climb before the Emperor. Whatever Your Excellency desires, I will offer it with both hands!"

He didn't speak.

She knew this meant there was a possibility, and she grabbed the hem of his blood-red robe with both hands, her gaze growing even more determined: "Please, Master, have mercy on me."

Chu Jingxian didn't speak, staring for a moment. Just when Qinghe was about to despair, the oil-paper umbrella in his hand finally tilted towards her, and the wind and rain fell on him.

"Take it back."

……

The Governor's Office.

Qinghe was immersed in hot water. She didn't know how much strength she had used to dare to say those words, nor did she know how Chu Jingxian had covered up her failure to go to Qianqing Palace, but she knew that she had to seize this excellent opportunity.

The hot water made her feel a little more relaxed. Just as she was thinking about what to do next, a maid knocked on the door and said that the supervisor had returned and wanted to see her.

Qinghe was served by several maids as she changed clothes, was perfumed, and had her makeup done. She was so serious and solemn that it seemed as if she was going to serve the emperor.

She looked at her own reflection in the bronze mirror, who was ready for battle, and thought to herself that it was indeed about serving the emperor in bed, only... the object of her affections had changed to Chu Jingxian.

Qinghe was led into Chu Jingxian's courtyard by a maid, and was pushed into a side room before she could react.

She clenched her fists, only to find that there was no one in the room. She didn't know what kind of incense was burning, but she knew that it smelled very good and tempting. After a while, she felt a little dizzy and lightheaded.

"Creak..."

The door opened and then closed again, signaling that Qinghe had no chance to turn back.

The tall, dark shadow instantly enveloped her, and the sandalwood scent mixed with the aroma of wine made Qinghe's mind even more hazy.

He drank alcohol.

Qinghe stole a glance at him. He had changed out of his crimson flying fish robe and into a dark black robe. His figure was as upright as a mountain, tall and imposing.

"Go lie down on the tatami mat."

Until he parted his thin lips, it was an order.

His deep voice struck Qinghe's heart. Her heart pounded. Although she had expected this, she still trembled nervously and did as he said.

He walked towards her unhurriedly, stood in front of her, and looked down at her as if she were an ant. His blood-red lips parted slightly: "Take it off."

Qinghe felt as if her blood had frozen. A wave of shame was swallowed and buried by the hatred in her heart. With trembling hands, she took off her clothes and finally closed her eyes.