Chapter 18
After settling Lian'er, Qiu Chi returned directly to the manor.
Yun Jing was in his study. He said nothing upon learning of Qiu Chi's return. Xin'er, however, still wanted to stir up trouble. The fact that she had performed the wedding ceremony with Yun Jing had made her quite proud. Even though Yun Jing hadn't helped her that morning, she still hadn't faced reality, remaining immersed in the beautiful memory of the king setting the princess consort aside to marry her instead.
So, she brought her most prized musical skills to find Qiu Chi. "Sister Princess Consort, Xin'er has come to keep you company and relieve your boredom. I wonder what talents you might have? My skill with the qin is quite good. Would you like to hear me play a piece?"
Qiu Chi lifted her eyelids, glancing at her lazily. "You're sucking up to the wrong person. Stop hovering in my sight."
Xin'er, who had only wanted to show off her exquisite qin skills, said, "Sister Princess Consort, have you misunderstood my intentions? I only wanted to come chat with you and ease your boredom."
In the face of Xin'er's innocent expression, Qiu Chi produced a knife from somewhere and chopped the stone table before them into pieces. Only then did she look at Xin'er's now-ashen face. "Still want to chat and ease your boredom?"
Xin'er's face turned deathly pale, and a hint of fear colored her eyes. She recalled how Qiu Chi had ruined the wedding yesterday. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, assuming people had let her act so wantonly out of respect for her status. But now, looking at the stone table that had shattered into small chunks from a single strike, she truly understood that Qiu Chi was no mere pretty face.
If that strike had landed on me… Xin'er couldn't help but shudder, her body beginning to tremble with terror. "N-no, no, I don't! Please calm your anger, Your Highness. I'll take my leave now."
After saying this, Xin'er rose, curtsied, and hurried away, her steps stumbling as if a vicious wolf were chasing her from behind.
After Xin'er left the courtyard, Yun Jing also emerged from his study. He was a little surprised to see her. "Xin'er?"
At the sound of his voice, Xin'er's body trembled, and her pace quickened. But because she wasn't watching where she was going, she tripped and fell to the ground.
Yun Jing walked over and frowned at the fallen Xin'er. "This king called you. Why are you running?"
Xin'er scrambled up from the ground, not daring to look at Yun Jing, her voice still trembling. "It's… it's nothing. If there is nothing else, Your Highness, then Xin'er will take her leave."
"Mm."
Watching Xin'er's retreating back, Yun Jing grew thoughtful.
He also headed toward Qiu Chi's courtyard. The moment he entered, he saw the shattered stone table. His steps faltered for a moment before he moved forward. "Did you just frighten Xin'er?"
"Are you here to defend her?"
"No. I will restrain Xin'er and tell her not to provoke you."
Unfortunately, Yun Jing's words came a little too late. After such a scare, how could Xin'er possibly dare to provoke Qiu Chi again?
Qiu Chi shot Yun Jing a disdainful look. After a moment of silence, Yun Jing spoke again. "Regarding Cui Yueyue's matter, I've had people investigate. We should have results in a few days."
"Isn't that nice. You're finally willing to open your eyes."
Yun Jing was choked by Qiu Chi's words, momentarily at a loss for what to say.
Qiu Chi had no desire to listen to him anyway, especially since she had things to do tonight.
"Tonight, you can go somewhere else. Don't stay in my room."
Yun Jing gave her a complicated look. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. For now, we can only stay in the same room. The Emperor will likely send his secret guards to watch me tonight."
Qiu Chi was speechless. "Sending a secret guard to check if you're sleeping in your room? Isn't that making a mountain out of a molehill?"
At the mention of the Emperor, Yun Jing's expression soured. "He just wants to vex me. Seeing me indignant yet powerless is exactly what he wants."
Qiu Chi wasn't particularly interested in the grudge between Yun Jing and the Emperor. She nodded, deciding she would just knock him out before she left.
As for whether Yun Jing would find out—so what if he did? She was a young woman sharing a room with a grown man. Feeling unsafe and knocking him out to protect herself was a perfectly normal thing to do, wasn't it?
The knocked-out Yun Jing: "…" With your level of strength, do you really need to knock me out? I can't even beat you when I'm conscious!
After Yun Jing was knocked out, Qiu Chi left the room, immediately drawing the attention of the secret guard.
Seeing it was Qiu Chi, the secret guard wasn't too concerned, since his main target was Yun Jing.
He saw Qiu Chi standing in the courtyard, gazing up at the crescent moon with a melancholic air. After a few glances, he looked away.
In reality, the Qiu Chi in the courtyard was merely a decoy.
At that very moment, Qiu Chi had already appeared before Lian'er. She tossed a set of black clothes to her. "Put these on."
After Lian'er obediently dressed, Qiu Chi grabbed her and flew toward the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded, yet Qiu Chi moved through it as if it were deserted.
Once inside, Qiu Chi tossed Lian'er a palace maid's uniform and had her change.
Then she said, "Tomorrow, you will arrange a chance encounter with the Emperor in the Imperial Garden. The Emperor will fall in love with you at first sight. Seize the opportunity."
Although Lian'er yearned for the immense fortune that was about to befall her, she found Qiu Chi's words rather unreliable. "Lady, the Emperor is the ruler of the world. What kind of beautiful woman hasn't he seen? How could he possibly fall in love with me at first sight?"
Even if she was confident in her looks, Lian'er knew her own limits and was aware that there were women more beautiful than her.
"Don't worry about it. Just do as I say. When I say he'll fall in love with you at first sight, he will. However, even love at first sight is fleeting. If you want to maintain his favor long-term, you'll have to rely on yourself. Understand?"
Lian'er nodded obediently.
Only then did Qiu Chi leave.
She didn't exit the palace right away but went straight to the Emperor's bedchamber.
At that moment, the Emperor and the Noble Consort were in the bedchamber, engaged in some impure activities. Qiu Chi expressionlessly blocked her senses of hearing and smell, then knocked them both unconscious before entering.
It was April, and the weather was still a bit cold. The two were covered by a quilt, so Qiu Chi's eyes were spared.
Qiu Chi cast a short-term love spell on the Emperor and Lian'er. This kind of spell could only sustain affection for a period of time; as time passed, the feelings would fade.
It didn't require much spiritual power. It wasn't that she lacked it, but she was considerate enough not to act wantonly on someone else's turf, even if this world's Heavenly Dao was immature.
After finishing all this, Qiu Chi headed back.
On the way, the System, which she had muted, began to whimper.
Qiu Chi unmuted it, and it immediately shouted: 【Why do you have spiritual power! Why do you have spiritual power! Sob, sob, sob, did you lie to me in the last world too? You didn't need me to unlock your cultivation at all, and you wouldn't even let me speak!】
Qiu Chi: "…" What a drastic change in style.
As for the last world: "I was indeed lying to you. After all, I was quite curious about the 'benefits' you mentioned. We had only just met, so of course I had to put on an act. How could I possibly tell you everything?"
The System was furious. It said in the tone of a domineering CEO: 【Woman, what else are you hiding from me?】
Qiu Chi: "I think you'd be better off shutting up."
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