The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 45

The end of May is the emperor's birthday, and there is a special festival called the Qianqiu Festival. On this day, all the princes and nobles in the court would bring gifts to congratulate the emperor. Officials stationed far away would also send their gifts to Yujing via messengers from the post stations, along with a memorial praising the Southern Dynasty and the emperor, conveying a message of peace and prosperity to please the emperor. These were all unwritten rules.

Liu Qingtang recalled how, in her past life, she would always go to great lengths to find things the emperor wanted around this time, searching for rare and precious items to give him. Even though she was usually very strict with him, she would be less reserved on this day, chatting with him until late. If the emperor truly loved her and the Liu family as he appeared, then perhaps it wouldn't matter. But he had always harbored hostility towards them, and she didn't know how he could tolerate her presumptuous companionship.

After sitting upright in her chair and thinking for a while, Liu Qingtang finally spoke up: "As in previous years, send someone to distribute rice at the Meridian Gate intersection to pray for the Emperor's well-being." Liu Qingtang gave this instruction every year, and neither Zhuiyi nor Taoye felt anything was wrong with it. However, Zhuiyi hesitated a bit when she thought about the gift her master was sending to the Emperor this year.

"Master, are you really only sending a few pieces of calligraphy and painting from the past this time? Isn't that too disrespectful compared to previous years?"

Every year, her mistress would secretly search for valuable items two months in advance, eager to move them all to the emperor. This time, however, she only mentioned opening the storeroom to take a few paintings and calligraphies two days ago. She and her sister were both curious, and upon reflection, they realized that their mistress's attitude towards the emperor had indeed been somewhat strange lately. They just didn't know what she was thinking; nothing had happened, yet her attitude had suddenly changed so much, which was truly perplexing.

“Everyone knows I love things like calligraphy and paintings. Wouldn’t sending a few of my treasured favorites show more thoughtfulness than before?” Liu Qingtang smiled slightly, but her smile carried a hint of sarcasm.

Others might not know, but Zhuiyi and Taoye certainly did. Their mistress was truly different from ordinary people. Although she loved calligraphy and painting, she didn't collect masterpieces. Outsiders said their mistress did love those things, gathering countless precious paintings and calligraphies to curry favor. But those ended up in the storeroom, probably mostly forgotten by her. And that's what you call a precious sentiment?

Tao Ye and Zhui Yi exchanged a glance, a plan forming in their minds. It seemed their mistress had truly lost touch with the emperor. They would have to figure out in the future what they should do sincerely and what they should do insincerely. Whatever their mistress did, they would naturally have to do in accordance with her wishes.

Zhuiyi was about to say something when she saw her master's mocking smile vanish, replaced by a more genuine expression. Looking back, she saw Qin Shu had indeed arrived.

Qin Shu, holding a large wooden box in his hands, bowed and greeted his master, saying, "This servant greets his master."

He now addresses Liu Qingtang as "Empress Dowager" in public, but when it's just her, Zhuiyi, and Taoye, he calls her "Master" along with Zhuiyi and the others. However, he refuses to call her by her name as Liu Qingtang has suggested. Only when the two of them are alone, and Liu Qingtang leans in close to press him, can he hear him stammering out her name a few times with his eyes downcast.

Liu Qingtang didn't understand why Qin Shu had to restrain himself so much, but since he insisted, she had no choice but to let him be. However, while feeling helpless, she also found it a bit amusing. She liked to grab Qin Shu and make him call her name whenever she had the chance, making him blush and reluctantly utter the name "Qingtang" before he would listen.

As Liu Qingtang called out, she stood up and walked over to tap the wooden box in Qin Shu's hand: "Chief Steward Qin, you've finally finished your busy work, what is this now?"

Qin Shu had already taken over the position of Grand Steward of Cixi Palace from Eunuch Ning half a month ago. Although there were many people who wanted to see Qin Shu, who had risen to this position by virtue of the Empress Dowager, make a fool of himself, Qin Shu did not let them have that laugh. In just a few months, he had the ability to replace Eunuch Ning and manage everything in an orderly manner.

Liu Qingtang had witnessed his hard work and dedication. In her past life, she hadn't seen him struggle so hard to get to where he was now. Seeing it with her own eyes in this life, she could only wonder how someone could be so... so stubborn. This time, she was the one who helped him. But what about in her past life? How many times harder would he have had to work alone to reach this position, and even secure it when she, his mistress, didn't particularly favor him?

Seeing her master staring blankly at Qin Shu again, Zhuiyi Taoye quietly retreated as usual. Qin Shu, at least, didn't panic like before when stared at for a few moments. Even though he was still a little flustered inside, his outward appearance showed no sign of it. Without changing his expression, he softly called out, "Master?"

Liu Qingtang snapped out of her daze and didn't feel embarrassed for staring at Qin Shu. She smiled and put her hands behind her back, leaned forward and asked, "Qin Shu, did you miss me?" In an instant, she transformed from a noble and dignified empress dowager into a mischievous and playful young woman.

In fact, they had met last night, Qin Shu thought, but sadly realized that even though only one night had passed, he still missed her. So, instead of sending someone to deliver the box, he couldn't help but drop what he was doing and make the trip himself.

"Your Majesty, this was sent by General Su and his men stationed in the southwest. It just arrived along with the birthday gifts intended for the Emperor, so I brought it to you first."

Liu Qingtang ignored Qin Shu's words and pressed on, asking, "Did you miss me?"

The emotions in this world, when they reach their deepest point, are probably difficult to express in words. Even though Qin Shu liked the person in front of him to death, he couldn't say any words of love. And every time he did manage to say something, it was Liu Qingtang who would leisurely half-coax and half-tease him.

Qin Shu felt countless times that he was really annoying, and he was terrified that she would get angry. But he was used to keeping everything in his heart, and even though his feelings for her were deeper than anything else, he could not easily say those words.

"Say what you want quickly." Liu Qingtang said firmly, then tapped the box Qin Shu was holding, looking just like a female tyrant forcing a woman into prostitution.

Qin Shu's throat moved, and he mumbled a single word after her, as if reciting a poem, "Want." After saying it, he felt that this was not very warm, and looked at Liu Qingtang's expression.

If Liu Qingtang hadn't almost completely figured out Qin Shu's thoughts in her lifetime, she probably would have misunderstood him by now. After all, the way he uttered a single word after such a long pause with a blank face really did seem like he was just being perfunctory.

"I want to..." Qin Shu managed to squeeze out another "I want to," as if afraid of upsetting Liu Qingtang. In stark contrast to his wooden and indifferent face were his eyes, deep and heavy as if hiding countless secrets. When he looked at her nervously, his eyes always held a soft and clear emotion like water.

"Silly boy, why are you so afraid of me getting angry?" It was as if the sky was falling down the moment she frowned. Liu Qingtang had long since realized that even though she had clearly told him that she liked him, and he believed her and seemed relieved on the surface, he was still apprehensive about her.

Liu Qingtang didn't understand, so she went to ask Su Shu. Su Shu told her that anyone who deeply loves someone experiences the same level of fear as they love them deeply. Liu Qingtang understood vaguely, but she knew more clearly that Qin Shu's feelings for her were far greater than her feelings for him. But if she wanted to see Qin Shu every day, couldn't bear to see him suffer, thought of him whenever she had something good, and felt anxious if she didn't see him for even half a day… if her feelings weren't deep enough, then what exactly were Qin Shu's deeper feelings?

Is it a hundred times worse than the sleepless nights she spent thinking about him? Is it a hundred times greater than her desire to love and cherish him?

As the Empress Dowager, she held the most prestigious status among all women in the land, wielding even more power than the Emperor. She possessed everything: family background, beauty, and influence. Even so, she would occasionally worry, for no apparent reason, that Qin Shu might suddenly lose interest in her. Qin Shu, having nothing, must have felt this a hundred times more acutely than she had.

The deeper the love, the greater the fear. If that were the case, how miserable would Qin Shu's life be? Liu Qingtang suddenly understood more deeply why Qin Shu was working so hard.

"I will never be angry with you again." Liu Qingtang suddenly said this, which startled Qin Shu. He then shook his head repeatedly. "Why do you say that, Master? If I have done something to displease you, it is only right that you are angry. Even if I have not done anything wrong, it is still fine for you to be angry. There is no reason for you to hold back your anger. I only ask that... you feel better after you have calmed down."

Liu Qingtang began to feel troubled. Every time she felt she needed to compromise for Qin Shu, he would tell her that she didn't need to do so at all, taking her for granted and tolerating her. As a result, her temper grew worse and worse. So Liu Qingtang couldn't help but grit her teeth and mutter, "Qin Shu, you really are..." both annoying and stupid.

Then, without saying the rest of her words, she sniffed and opened the box Qin Shu was carrying. As she expected, inside were several pieces of incredibly soft and warm, snow-white fur, probably hunted specifically by her uncles. They had been stationed in the southwest for many years; although her three uncles were brave but lacked strategic acumen, it was precisely these spirited men who could keep the barbarians beyond the southwestern borders in check.

There hadn't been any activity from the southwestern barbarians for the past few years, so her uncles, who were naturally fond of battlefields, must have been bored. The increasingly high quality of the furs they sent each year showed how much they had ravaged the tigers, leopards, and wolves of the southwestern mountains. But now that winter was over, only her unreliable uncles would send such things at this time. The box also contained three heavy gold locks. These locks were usually given to younger family members to wear from childhood, but her three uncles were different; each gave her a lock every year, saying it was for protection and good health.

They even complained that the small gold lock wasn't grand enough, so they had it doubled in size and made it much bigger for her. They said it would weigh down her neck if she wore it. Thinking of her own collection of large gold locks, Liu Qingtang shook her head with amusement. Only her uncles would still think of her as that little girl from back then.

She hadn't actually spent much time with her three uncles. They went to guard the southwest when she was just a few years old, and it seemed like they had been rooted there for a long time without ever coming back. However, she remembered that her three uncles were all very simple and generous, and they treated her even better than their own children. So even though Liu Qingtang hadn't seen them for many years, she still felt very close to them.

She wondered what her uncles in the southwest would do if they found out about the massacre of her Liu family in her past life. She only hoped they hadn't done anything foolish and could stay peacefully in the southwest for the rest of their lives.

Liu Qingtang rummaged through the box and found several more... tiger penises. The paper tied to them had a crooked note saying they were great for making medicinal wine. Her lips twitched, realizing once again how unreliable her uncles were. Could they just throw these things together and give them to their niece? Was she, a young girl, supposed to drink medicinal wine made from these? Liu Qingtang guessed that her uncles had secretly slipped them in without telling her aunt, not caring whether it was appropriate or not, just thinking they were good things and wanting to give them to her.

It was truly both laughable and infuriating. Liu Qingtang shook her head and searched again, finding a few more ginseng roots.

This stuff looks much more reliable; it must have been left by my aunts. There are many mountains in the southwest, and you can tell this ginseng is top-quality just by looking at it. Liu Qingtang put the box in Qin Shu's hand aside, picked out all the ginseng inside, stuffed it into his arms, and waved her hand, saying, "Take this back and have someone stew it for you to drink. Consider it a gift from your uncles."

She always carefully kept the gifts from her relatives and never gave them away. But now that she'd met Qin Shu, she was willing to do the same for him. They say a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl, and Liu Qingtang now understood a little of the meaning behind that saying.

As Liu Qingtang spoke, she casually patted Qin Shu's chest twice. "He was already thin, and he's gotten even thinner from all the hard work lately. It feels rough to the touch."

"I'm perfectly healthy, I don't need these. Why don't you put them all in the storeroom, Master?" Qin Shu thought, holding the ginseng. He was born with a lowly fate, and he had always struggled and survived without any problems. Such good things should be used on the Empress Dowager. In Qin Shu's view, no matter what they were, the good things should naturally be given to the Empress Dowager; he himself didn't care about anything.

Liu Qingtang didn't care about his problem. When he mentioned the storeroom, she clapped her hands and exclaimed, "That's right! I have a lot of nourishing medicinal herbs in my private storeroom. I'll send them all to you. You can eat them every day from now on, and you'll gain some weight sooner or later!"

"Hmm? Master, don't... waste your time on me."

Liu Qingtang glared at him, then suddenly, like a lecherous playboy, she looked him up and down with ill intent, poked his waist and said with a wicked smile, "If you grow up to be fleshy, it will be comfortable for me to lean on, pleasant to touch, and soft to hold. It's not a waste at all."

The old rogue's words made Qin Shu's mind go blank, his ears turning bright red, leaving him speechless. The air of authority he had just projected as the head steward vanished completely in front of Liu Qingtang. Yet, in that moment, he seemed more human, making Qin Shu appear genuinely alive.

Author's Note: Here, take Qin Shu as you wanted. [Disdainful face] I originally wanted to let him stay in the dark room a little longer, but my brother lacked the charisma to keep things under control, so I had to let him out early. ┑(￣Д￣)┍

Ada threw a landmine: [Dada, here you go again! Didn't you say you didn't love me without Shushu? You heartless man (who said that)?]

Zhu Chimo threw a landmine. [Thanks for the landmine, girl~ She's a familiar face too~]