The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter

"This pose... can anyone really do it?" Liu Qingtang sat on the bed flipping through the picture book in her hand. After seeing a certain picture, she gasped and unconsciously glanced at her waist, then showed a toothache expression.

He quickly turned the page and stopped at the next one. "Hmm, this pose is good, but the drawing is too rough. What are those flowers? They don't look like anything at all. And the woman in the thin gauze dress doesn't capture that alluring, tantalizing charm at all... Qin Shu, don't you agree?"

"Yes." Qin Shu, sitting to the side, nodded. As expected of the Empress Dowager, he hadn't found so many problems when he was looking at it.

Having received approval, Liu Qingtang smiled smugly, patted the picture book, and showed a disdainful expression: "This is not difficult. I can draw it too, and I can draw it much better than this. I'll draw it for you next time so you can see for yourself."

Qin Shu nodded before suddenly realizing that the Empress Dowager had said she wanted to paint erotic pictures for him?! How could someone of her noble status paint such things? Shouldn't she be painting elegant subjects like plum blossoms or bamboo, or at the very least, pine trees, eagles, clouds, galloping horses, and the like? The thought of the Empress Dowager painting erotic pictures left Qin Shu unsure how to face her serious and composed demeanor in court.

Liu Qingtang noticed Qin Shu's expression, frowned, and said unhappily, "Qin Shu, don't you believe I can draw better than this?"

"No, if Qingtang were to paint it, it would be a thousand times better than this." Qin Shu instantly forgot his previous stance. Whether it was the elegance of flowers, plants, mountains, and water in the eyes of literati, or the vulgarity of erotic art, as long as the Empress Dowager was happy, nothing mattered. Almost in the blink of an eye, Qin Shu had completed the transformation from being unable to accept it to accepting and understanding it.

After the initial excitement of flipping through the picture book wore off, Liu Qingtang started nitpicking everywhere. She pointed out flaws in the poses and backgrounds, while Qin Shu sat beside her, nodding in agreement. The two of them actually studied the entire book. After finishing, Liu Qingtang moved over the wooden box containing some strange tools.

She recognized many of the items inside, such as the red thread, the brush, and the dagger, but they seemed out of place. Liu Qingtang's expression as she flipped through the picture book and the box was almost identical to her expression when she rummaged through her jewelry box—completely lacking any womanly shyness or embarrassment. Seeing her unusually normal reaction, Qin Shu's initial unease vanished entirely. In fact, ever since the Empress Dowager criticized the picture book for its poor quality, he had a strange feeling that he couldn't feel nervous anymore.

Even though the Empress Dowager was holding a large, distinctively shaped jade dildo, he miraculously felt no embarrassment. She held it up confidently, telling him that the jade was completely fake, discussing its color, texture, weight, and feel. Her expression was a mixture of disdain and smugness, as if her entire being was radiating praise, a dazzling brilliance that made one forget everything else.

"Why was there a rope inside?" Liu Qingtang picked up the rope and turned to ask Qin Shu, "Are you going to use this to tie me up?"

Qin Shu shook his head. Why would he tie up the Empress with a rope for no reason? And this rope is so rough, what if it hurts the Empress?

“That means I’ll tie you up then~” Liu Qingtang tugged at the rope and gestured to Qin Shu with her lips. Qin Shu hesitated for only a moment before handing over his hands.

"You actually let me tie you up? How obedient you are~" Liu Qingtang laughed, pressing one hand on his forehead and pushing him so hard that he stumbled and fell onto the brocade quilt. Liu Qingtang had momentarily forgotten that they still had a lock of hair tied together. Her hair was pulled, and she cried out in pain as she fell down as well, landing squarely on Qin Shu.

"Ouch~ That hurts." Liu Qingtang rubbed her scalp, on the verge of tears, but she had brought it on herself. Qin Shu was quite frightened by her, and ignoring the pain in his chest from the sudden impact, he kept asking where it hurt. In that position, he parted her hair to check if it was pulled and bleeding. Seeing that her scalp was red, he gently rubbed it for her.

Liu Qingtang pressed herself against him, burying her head in the crook of his shoulder. After a moment of silence, she suddenly whispered, "Qin Shu, can you let me take a look?"

She wanted to see the source of his inability to let go of his inferiority complex, that old 'wound' he kept tightly covered up.

Liu Qingtang didn't say what it was, but Qin Shu understood, his face instinctively turning pale. She wanted to see his genitals, the area where he had been castrated. For all eunuchs, having their genitals seen by someone who wasn't one of their kind was the greatest humiliation, but for Qin Shu it was even more so. Perhaps it was because of the humiliation he suffered at the hands of that old eunuch when he first entered the palace; he didn't even want fellow eunuchs to see his body.

He was even more unwilling to let the Empress Dowager, or his beloved Qingtang, see that ugly and unbearable thing. He had such a deformed and incomplete body, and the last thing he wanted was for her to see it. All along, he had wanted to show her his best side, trying his best to hide and change what others considered bad, whether it was his gloomy expression or his ruthless methods. But no matter what, some things could not be changed.

"Okay." Qin Shu looked at the canopy above his head and uttered the word with some difficulty. What could he do if she didn't want to? This person was Qing Tang, and as long as she wanted it, he wouldn't let her down. Even if she saw it, it wouldn't matter; at most, she would just realize what kind of person he was. Let her despise him, let her show disgust; he had already prepared himself from the very beginning. In the first place, it wasn't something he could have anyway, and the experiences he had these past few days were enough.

Qin Shu's hands tightened suddenly, and he hugged Liu Qingtang tightly. Then he stood up, released Liu Qingtang, and began to undo his clothes. His movements were somewhat stiff, but he still managed to take off his clothes layer by layer, revealing his thin body. Qin Shu's head was lowered, and his expression was unreadable, but he gave Liu Qingtang the feeling of a prisoner sentenced to death.

Liu Qingtang hadn't spoken since the beginning. Now, without a word, she took a dagger from a nearby box and cut off the lock of hair connecting the two of them. Qin Shu's hunched back involuntarily slumped lower, as if unable to bear the weight, or as if trying to bury his expression deep within. He didn't make a sound, but he looked as if he were crying.

"Here you go, keep it safe." Liu Qingtang took a deep breath, quickly tied the cut hair tightly with red thread, picked up Qin Shu's limp hand hanging by his side, and placed the hair on it.

Qin Shu clutched the stray strand of hair in a daze, then was suddenly pushed onto the bed by Liu Qingtang. Her face showed not only shock but also a deep, lingering sadness.

With that posture, that part was easily and completely exposed to Liu Qingtang's eyes. Qin Shu subconsciously wanted to cover it, but when he reached out halfway, he remembered that she said she wanted to see, so he froze and put his hand down.

His area was indeed not handsome, with ugly scars that showed signs of being cut, and the healing place was somewhat deformed. Liu Qingtang remained calm, showing no signs of disgust or aversion. She casually tucked a strand of hair that was hanging by her temple behind her ear, then pressed down on Qin Shu's leg and leaned down to give him a gentle kiss there.

Qin Shu was startled by her actions, his eyes widening in surprise. He abruptly sat up, pulled Liu Qingtang away, and frantically found a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, as if there was something unclean there. She murmured hoarsely, "Don't wrong yourself like this, it's not worth it. I'm dirty, I don't deserve it..."

Liu Qingtang flung his handkerchief away, pressed his chest against her chest, and forcefully pushed him back onto the soft blanket. Looking into his eyes, she said, "Qin Shu, do you remember how many times I've said I don't care? But no matter how I tell you, you've never truly believed me. You've been waiting for me to get tired of you, haven't you? Because you're insecure, you feel you're not good enough for me. But Qin Shu, you need to know that whoever I, Liu Qingtang, love is the best, no matter what. If I say you're worthy, you are, and no one can question that. If I say I love you, I mean it, and that will never change. I treat you with utmost care, and I won't allow you to belittle yourself."

After she finished speaking fiercely, feeling the intense heartbeat in her subordinate's chest, she suddenly softened her tone helplessly, "Qin Shu, I truly want to spend my whole life with you, and I want you to be by my side even when I become an old woman with white hair."

Unwittingly, she saw Qin Shu looking at her from behind with a greedy gaze that seemed to say he could never get enough of her, as if every glance was the last. Liu Qingtang suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, and then it dawned on her that Qin Shu was always preparing for her sudden departure.

What must he have gone through to become so accustomed to leaving himself no hope or room for maneuver, and to always considering the worst-case scenario?

The more kind and tolerant Qin Shu was to her, the more cruel and strict he was to himself. His earnest and tireless efforts for her stemmed from the belief that even if she grew tired of him in the future, she could still keep him by her side because of his abilities.

Liu Qingtang was angry not because he didn't trust her, but because she felt heartache for him—heartache for the reason he had become like this, and anger that she couldn't help him let go of his heart and wounds. Her temper wasn't particularly good, and after so many years as Empress Dowager, she had become even more strong-willed, wanting everything to go her way. However, after knowing Qin Shu's feelings, she hesitated, unsure what to do. She racked her brains, but couldn't find a suitable way to help him let go of his inner turmoil. Now… she was truly at her wit's end, which was why she had taken the initiative to reopen Qin Shu's wounds.

Seeing Qin Shu in distress made her feel distressed too, as if something was stuck in her chest and she was feeling anxious.

“We’ve already bowed to heaven and earth, tied our hair together, and are destined to be together for life. If you continue to think like that, and I find out…” Liu Qingtang couldn’t continue. She didn’t know why; just moments ago she had been fierce and full of unresolved heartache and anxiety, but now she was suddenly overwhelmed with grievance and couldn’t help but shed tears. The tears fell on Qin Shu’s cheeks and slid down his face, leaving a trail of water.

Qin Shu suddenly reached out and touched her face, gently pulling her into his arms. "It was my fault, I was wrong."

"Then will you still dare to do it in the future?" It should have been a forceful question, but Liu Qingtang was held tightly by him, and the slightly nasal tone in his ear had no threatening meaning whatsoever.

"I won't dare again, I'll never dare again," Qin Shu whispered, pressing his cheek against her soft, flowing hair. Making her cry like this once in a lifetime was enough.

It's unclear who made the first move, but first their breaths and lips met, then Liu Qingtang's clothes were pulled aside and discarded one by one. As the saying goes, "Black hair piled up beside the pillow, lips and fingers playing seductive tricks, whispers murmured within the red silk curtains, and sweet cries escaped, all carrying an inescapable air of ambiguity." Like the golden wind and jade dew of Wushan, a single moment of intense passion surpasses countless earthly pleasures.

Summer days are early and the room was a bit hot. Liu Qingtang couldn't keep herself covered by the blanket and casually pulled it off, revealing her body covered in red marks. Tao Ye, who was carrying water and ointment, put it aside and exclaimed softly when she saw this, her words full of teasing and surprise, "I didn't expect Qin Shu to be so...tsk tsk, this is really intense."

Zhuiyi also came over with a change of clothes, and glanced at Liu Qingtang with the same surprise, asking in confusion, "Did Qin Shu... bite Master last night?"

"Oh my silly sister, these marks aren't from biting, they're clearly from sucking them out!" Tao Ye blurted out, only to be met with a lazy glance from Liu Qing Tang, who, in a good mood, didn't get angry or argue. Zhui Yi, however, frowned and pressed, "How did you know all this? Come to think of it, you seem to know a lot about many things..."

"Oh dear sister, hurry up and apply some ointment to the master, otherwise what will happen if someone sees these marks?" Tao Ye handed the ointment to her sister, smiling ingratiatingly. Before her sister could speak, she slipped to the side, her eyes darting around, seemingly searching for something.

Zhuiyi could only shake her head and ignore her, sitting down by the bed to apply a cooling ointment to Liu Qingtang. Taoye, still not quiet, rummaged through the small box containing tools, pointed to one of the jade dildos, and winked at Liu Qingtang on the bed, "Master, how does this feel~"

Liu Qingtang lay on the bed, glancing lazily over, twirling a strand of hair that fell across her cheek, yawning and saying slowly, "It's alright, just a bit cold. Next time, let's get something made of warm jade."

Tao Ye's eyes lit up at the mention of this, and she exclaimed "Wow!" Her expression was undeniably lewd. Undeterred, she leaned closer and pressed on, "Isn't our Chief Steward Qin supposed to know nothing? How could he possibly get a 'decent' evaluation from our master?"

"He really didn't know anything, and his hands trembled with nervousness at the sight of blood." Liu Qingtang seemed to have thought of something amusing, and the smile on her lips couldn't be stopped. How could he be like that? His face turned pale the moment he saw her bleeding, and he abruptly got up to get medicine. Really.

"Speaking of which, we saw Steward Qin sitting on the steps outside when we arrived," Zhuiyi said casually as she applied ointment to the marks on Liu Qingtang's back, legs, arms, and even hands.

Tao Ye immediately perked up and continued, "Yes, Master, you didn't see it. He was sitting on the steps staring blankly at the lotus flowers outside the railing. He was called twice but didn't respond. The way he looked made even the little eunuchs in the palace prison, who were terrified of him, speechless with astonishment. What did you do this so early in the morning, Master, to make him lose his composure like that?"

"You're so inquisitive!" Liu Qingtang waved her hand, dismissing the curious Tao Ye. She couldn't help but laugh, resting her head on her arm.

Actually, she was just teasing him when she woke up in the morning. She pretended to be angry and made him count how many red marks she had made the night before. Then, as he stared at her bare back in embarrassment, she told him there were more on his inner thighs and asked if he wanted to count them too. After that, he ran away in a panic.

Tsk, opportunities to make Qin Shu blush like this are rare indeed. It's a pity he walked away too fast; I didn't have time to call him back. But there's always next time. Liu Qingtang looked at the red marks on her hands and smiled, her eyes narrowing.

Author's Note: The little bee threw a landmine.

Kenji of the Yamaguchi family threw a landmine.

Ling Motu threw a landmine

A landmine was thrown at the intersection of Dongfeng Street.

Ada threw a landmine

Lazybones threw a landmine

15651154 threw a landmine

Dreamy Silver Crystal threw two landmines.

Canghai Yueming threw a landmine x4

The Ming Dynasty threw a landmine

Su Nian threw a landmine

Dongji threw a landmine

Tu Ran, in a fit of madness, threw a landmine.

Rice threw a landmine x21

Xiao Xiao threw a landmine x50

[Thanks everyone for throwing the bombs~ You're really showing your love with all your might! Not only did I get a flurry of comments, but I also got a shallow-water bomb thrown at me. Oh, speaking of which, did you notice that the bomb-throwing panel says "diving bomb" instead of "grenade"? It's a typo, so it's really painful to look at (lol). Actually, this is the first time my CP has received this kind of bomb, and I feel kind of happy about it (it's more than just a little, isn't it?)]

I resigned today.

Last night I held the knife in my hand, then remembered I didn't have any band-aids in the house, and also remembered I usually use this knife for cutting vegetables, so I put it down. [Something's not right] [Haha, of course I'm just kidding, but the first sentence is true, only the first sentence is true]