The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 57

The next day, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor returned to Yujing City. On the same day, news spread that the Empress Dowager had bestowed a marriage between Prince Chun, Xiao Huai, and Miss Yang.

The large amount of gifts poured into the Yang residence, further confirming everyone's suspicion that the Empress Dowager intended to use this marriage to control Prince Chun.

Liu Qingtang paid no attention to what others thought. She simply took Qin Shu out of the palace to see Yang Sushu again. Some said that it was a great honor for the daughter of a royal physician to marry a prince, while others said it was a pity for a fine young woman to marry a fool. Regardless of what others said, only the person experiencing it truly knew the truth. Yang Sushu and Xiao Huaiyu were like Liu Qingtang and Qin Shu; what did it matter if the world thought they were mismatched? Ultimately, it was up to them to feel good about their life together.

That day, Liu Qingtang and Yang Sushu unearthed a bottle of "Daughter's Red Wine" that Yang Sushu had buried when she was a month old, under the old locust tree in the Dangui Courtyard. The Yang family's ancestral home was in Luyang, where there was a custom of burying wine when a daughter was a month old. However, this wine was meant to be used to entertain guests, but they dug it up and drank until they were completely drunk.

This was the first time Liu Qingtang had acted so freely since becoming Empress Dowager, and it was also the first time Yang Sushu had acted so unrestrainedly since she had single-handedly supported the Yang family.

Two women, both quite restrained in some ways, drank themselves into a stupor that day. They huddled together, chattering about childhood anecdotes, their current worries, and playfully teasing each other. They talked about everything under the sun, and every now and then they'd put their arms around each other's shoulders and burst into laughter.

A true friend is hard to find in life. A friend's joy is your joy, and a friend's troubles are your troubles. Even if you don't say it, you'll still think about it. Now, both of them are almost settled down, and from now on, they will each have someone else to spend their lives with. Whether it's joy or sorrow, the first person they think of sharing it with is not their friend, but their partner. This feeling of joy mixed with a touch of melancholy is truly hard to describe. All they can do is smile at each other and raise a glass together.

Let's drink today and travel tomorrow.

As the two drunkards drank glass after glass, chatting idly with their arms around each other, their men—Qin Shu and Xiao Huaiyu—sat watching from the side. Qin Shu looked at Liu Qingtang, while Xiao Huaiyu looked at Yang Sushu.

Xiao Huaiyu remained calm throughout, his expression and gaze unchanged, staring intently at Yang Sushu, who was laughing heartily in a way that was different from usual, as if he were about to turn into a statue. As for Qin Shu, he was initially surprised to see the Empress Dowager somewhat drunk and laughing wildly while slapping the tree, but he quickly calmed down and sat there calmly, almost like another Xiao Huaiyu.

The two men were quiet, while the two women were wild; the contrast was quite amusing. The scene was somewhat like two loyal, obedient dogs sitting quietly to one side, their eyes intently watching their playful owner, patiently waiting for her to come and take them home.

As the sun set, the two women finally drank enough. One kicked over an empty wine jar, leaned against a tree, vomited, and shouted that she wanted to drink more. The other sat on the ground, hugged a wine jar, and laughed loudly.

Liu Qingtang was the one sitting on the ground. Qin Shu wanted to help her up countless times, but when he remembered that before they started drinking, she had told him with an unprecedentedly serious expression that she was going to have a good drink today and that no one was allowed to interfere with her no matter what happened, Qin Shu could only silently sit back down.

Xiao Huaiyu didn't move, but he hesitated. He thought slowly. Yang Sushu hadn't called his name for a whole day. Although she would usually take him to eat at this time, she didn't call him today. Xiao Huaiyu didn't know what to do, so he just sat there and stared at Yang Sushu without blinking.

When Liao Bo, the official of the Yang family, brought over the hangover soup, Qin Shu immediately stood up, took a bowl, and walked towards Liu Qingtang.

"Qingtang? Here, have some hangover soup."

Liu Qingtang looked at him for a while before smiling and saying, "Qin Shu?"

"I am Qin Shu. How about you drink some hangover soup? After you drink it, we should go back to the palace." Qin Shu brought the bowl to Liu Qingtang's lips and coaxed her softly.

"No! Who wants to go back to the palace? My surname is Liu... um, back to the Liu family, let's go back to the Liu family!"

"Alright, we won't go back to the palace, we'll go to the Liu family."

"No, no, oh dear! I forgot I'm the Empress Dowager! The Empress Dowager must return to the palace! Let's go back to the palace."

"Alright, let's go back to the palace."

"Qin Shu, I want to eat candied hawthorn, just the outer layer of sugar, not the inside!"

"Okay, I'll buy it for you right away."

Liu Qingtang sat on the ground, arguing and making a fuss, while Qin Shu patiently coaxed her. Meanwhile, Liao Bo placed a bowl of hangover soup in Xiao Huaiyu's hands, instructing him to give it to Yang Sushu, and then stood aside watching.

Yang Sushu had said long ago that Xiao Huaiyu wasn't incapable of understanding others or doing those things, but rather that he didn't quite understand many things and needed to be explained to him several times. He was slow at everything he did, so she would try to let him do things himself. Naturally, Uncle Liao listened to Yang Sushu in everything.

It took Xiao Huaiyu a while to finally understand, and he slowly shuffled over to Yang Sushu with the bowl in his hand. Compared to a certain friend who became uncooperative and difficult when drunk, Yang Sushu was truly very well-behaved. Seeing Xiao Huaiyu bringing over the bowl of hangover soup, she took it without a word and drank it. She was also quite drunk and her mind was a little unclear, but perhaps because she had been a doctor for so long, she felt a sense of familiarity with the smell of medicine, and she would subconsciously drink soup offered to her.

Yang Sushu obediently finished the hangover soup, then stood there for a while, lost in thought, holding Xiao Huaiyu's hand. "Huaiyu?"

Finally being called by name after a long day, Xiao Huaiyu was a little happier. He took Yang Sushu's hand and sat down with her. Yang Sushu blinked blankly, then tilted her head and fell asleep on Xiao Huaiyu's shoulder.

For Xiao Huaiyu, every day was almost always orderly. He knew what to do and when, otherwise he wouldn't remember. Although he felt that Yang Sushu had fallen asleep before her usual time, which puzzled and made him feel a little uncomfortable, he didn't move and just sat there letting her lean against him to sleep.

Yang Sushu had been asleep for quite a while when Qin Shu finally managed to coax Liu Qingtang to drink the hangover soup. He granted her countless requests, buying her this and that, and then took her back to the palace after bidding farewell to the official Liao Bo.

The next morning, when Liu Qingtang woke up, she saw the bed full of kites, puppets, dolls and other toys that only children play with. Turning her head, she saw a pile of candied hawthorns, pastries and sugar figurines that she loved to eat as a child. She was completely stunned.

"What...are these?"

"Steward Qin bought it for the master, saying that he promised the master yesterday."

"Peach Leaf, do you think your master is unreasonable when he's drunk?"

"...No." Peach Leaf suppressed a laugh.

"……Oh."

In October, Prince Chun and Yang Sujin were married. Liu Qingtang specially sent a batch of well-trained servants to Prince Chun's residence to ensure Yang Sujin could keep her identity a secret. Although the two would still live in Yang's residence after the marriage, the wedding day would be held at Prince Chun's residence. Fortunately, the two residences were not far apart, making it convenient for them to visit each other.

The bride was said to be unwell and was sent to the bridal chamber early. Only Yang Sushu, the actual bride, and her nominal brother-in-law, Xiao Huai, went around toasting guests at each table. Liu Qingrong and Wei Zheng also helped to fend off the toasts and afterwards saw off a group of people who wanted to find out more, giving Yang Sushu some peace and quiet.

Yang Sushu lived a peaceful life after her marriage. Aside from her duties at the Imperial Hospital, she spent her time organizing medicinal herbs in the Angelica sinensis courtyard, talking with Xiao Huaiyu, and teaching him to identify various herbs. Xiao Huaiyu remained the same, seemingly oblivious to whether he understood he had married her. He appeared even more attached to Yang Sushu, eventually taking her with him to her duties at the Imperial Hospital, otherwise he would remain silent all day, refusing to acknowledge her anger. Yang Sushu had no choice but to take him along, letting him sit beside her while she pounded herbs.

After hearing this, Liu Qingtang teased Yang Sushu quite a bit, but then specially ordered that Prince Chun be granted permanent residency in the Imperial Hospital, and even given him the empty title of physician. Accompanying Yang Sushu to the Imperial Hospital was considered a worthwhile service. Prince Chun, Xiao Huaiyu, was probably the first prince in the Southern Dynasty to serve in the Imperial Hospital.

Days passed, and Yujing City remained unusually calm. The anticipated confrontation between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor did not materialize. The Empress Dowager, who had initially appeared unyielding and assertive, became increasingly silent, rarely offering any opinions on political affairs. While everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they were also quite puzzled. Perhaps only the Liu family elders knew that she was preparing for the war in the coming year.

According to her, it was a war that would be won quickly. The Zhou Dynasty's fate was sealed, and several powerful neighboring states rose up to divide it up. Within a few months, the corrupt dynasty collapsed.

Although Liu Qingtang already knew the ending and that her father would be alright, she still couldn't suppress her worry. Ten years ago, her father was hailed as the God of War of the Southern Dynasty, but he hadn't been on the battlefield since. Although Liu Qingtang believed her father was still as skilled as ever and wouldn't lose to defeated generals, as the saying goes, how could a child not worry when their father is in danger? Liu Qingtang's greatest fear was that her rebirth would cause some unforeseen change, leading to her father's peril.

Winter came quickly again that year. When the first snow fell, the palace servants were busy preparing for the New Year's banquet and sacrifices. Everywhere in the palace, servants could be seen carrying ladders and replacing the old lanterns with brand-new red lanterns.

Liu Qingtang had just finished court that day when Qin Shu, as usual, rushed over to pick her up and take her back to Cining Palace. Looking at the swirling snow, the two almost simultaneously recalled this time last year.

Back then, Qin Shu would freeze at the slightest touch with her. At that time, Liu Qingtang only found him amusing and wanted to make amends for what happened in her past life. Unconsciously, they ended up being together like this. Thinking back, it's only been a year, but it seems like a long time has passed, and so much has happened.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Liu Qingtang met Qin Shu's gaze, which fell upon her from beside the chair. The emotion in his eyes made her smile involuntarily. She could guess what he was thinking, and he could surely sense what she was lamenting. With someone like him by her side, what did she have to fear?

After the first month of the lunar calendar, just as Liu Qingtang had predicted, news arrived that the war between the Zhou Kingdom and its neighboring countries had spread into the territory of the Southern Dynasty.

The court was still in an uproar. Some said that only the border was affected and that it would be fine once the war with Zhou was over, without the need to send troops. Most of those who said this were civil officials, while the military officials opposed it and insisted on sending troops. Most of these military officials were hot-blooded men, and half of them were generals who had been trained in the past ten years but had never been on the battlefield.

The military officers mostly represented the Liu family's stance. Some clever people noticed that almost all the military officers were talking about war, and that Duke Liu, who hadn't attended court for a long time, was also among the officials today. They immediately understood the meaning behind this and kept quiet.

Once the scene quieted down, Liu Qingtang spoke up, "Our Southern Dynasty's borders are being invaded, and our Southern Dynasty's people are being affected by the wars of other countries. If we don't send troops now, what's the use of maintaining these millions of soldiers?"

This was the first time she had spoken in court in months. Her authority was still evident, and the meaning in her words was so clear that it silenced the civil officials who had been somewhat overly active in recent months.

"Do the men of the Southern Dynasty fear war?" Liu Qingtang asked again.

"Fearless!" Wei Zheng was the first to step forward and shout, followed by a chorus of fearless shouts from the military officers below, which resounded throughout the golden hall.

Liu Qingtang glanced down and said firmly, "Then let's fight."

The decision was final, and no one dared to object.

On that day, provisions were sent first. Three days later, the army quickly assembled and, led by Duke Liu, headed towards the border.

Standing on the city wall, watching the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves, Liu Qingtang closed her eyes and tightly held Qin Shu's hand beside her.

The author has something to say:

Seaweed threw a rocket launcher

Zhao Xiyue threw a landmine

Lazybones threw a landmine

Dreamy Silver Crystal threw a landmine

Wen Ruyan, a man of ten years, threw a landmine.

[Thanks for the grenade! And I finally found a place where I can directly copy and paste instead of typing it all out myself. So happy! φ(゜▽゜*)?]