The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 60

Qin Shu fell ill at this critical time. When Liu Qingtang heard the news, her face turned pale, and she almost couldn't stand up. Her first thought was that Qin Shu had contracted the plague. Although in her previous life it would take half a month for the plague to be discovered, it was possible that it would be discovered earlier in this life.

Those who were the first to contract the plague didn't even have time to receive Su Shu's prescription. If it really is true, if Qin Shu really is suffering from the plague, what will she do?

Liu Qingtang dared not think any further. She clenched her fists tightly and rushed out of the palace like a gust of wind, heading straight for the side hall where Qin Shu was. Tao Ye and Zhui Yi exchanged a glance. One of them quickly followed Liu Qingtang, while the other went to the Imperial Hospital to summon the imperial physician.

Upon reaching the side hall, they saw Qin Shu staggering and being helped out. Liu Qingtang quickly stepped forward, frowning, and asked, "Aren't you sick? Where are you going?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, we are escorting Steward Qin to the Mingshou Palace."

When the masters in the palace fell ill, they could naturally summon the imperial physicians and recuperate in their respective palaces. However, it was different for the servants. Once a servant fell ill, he or she could not serve his or her master. Instead, he or she had to be moved to the Mingshou Palace to prevent him or her master from catching his or her illness. The Mingshou Palace was filled with servants and palace maids who died of illness. After all, very few servants had the status to be seen by the imperial physicians or medical officers. Many servants did not even have medicine and simply died of illness in the Mingshou Palace without anyone caring. In the end, many of them were wrapped in straw mats and buried haphazardly.

Liu Qingtang had naturally heard about the situation at Mingshou Palace and knew that Qin Shu was the Grand Steward, unlike the lower servants. If he went to Mingshou Palace, he wouldn't be treated so poorly. However, even knowing this, she was still worried. She didn't know the exact nature of Qin Shu's illness, and how could she feel at ease without keeping an eye on him?

Moreover, she was reluctant to think about Mingshou Palace after experiencing the plague of the seventh year of Yuanning in her previous life. In her previous life, none of the palace servants who were carried into Mingshou Palace due to the plague came out alive. Later, even the palace servants who took care of and guarded it were infected with the disease, and no one dared to go near it anymore. It is unknown whether most of the people in Mingshou Palace died from disease or from thirst and starvation due to lack of care. In the end, it became a palace of death. After the plague, the palace and its corpses were burned down, and a new Mingshou Palace was built.

Liu Qingtang would never let Qin Shu go to a place like that, and upon hearing this, her face immediately darkened. "Help him inside."

When Steward Liu of Mingshou Palace, who had specially brought people to fetch her, saw the Empress Dowager's displeased expression, his face immediately fell. He realized he had made a mistake in trying to curry favor. Normally, even if a master trusts their servants implicitly, they wouldn't hesitate to keep a sick servant by their side when it comes to matters of health. Mingshou Palace even has special places prepared for these useful stewards, to cultivate future connections—that's how it is with anyone. But this Empress Dowager seemed extremely dissatisfied with how he had handled things.

Unsure of what the Empress Dowager was thinking, Chief Steward Liu forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, we servants will certainly take good care of Chief Steward Qin..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Qingtang impatiently interrupted him, "Help the person inside, and then you can go back."

"Yes, yes, yes, this servant is so dense, I can't do anything right." Chief Eunuch Liu smiled obsequiously. He dared not tell his mistress that this was against palace rules, so he could only quickly direct the junior eunuchs to help Qin Shu back. He'd heard that Chief Eunuch Qin was highly favored by the Empress Dowager, and while inwardly sighing at the veracity of these rumors, Chief Eunuch Liu couldn't help but wonder if the Empress Dowager and Chief Eunuch Qin had something going on. But then he thought, Qin Shu wasn't exactly handsome, and the Empress Dowager's power was immense; even if she didn't favor male favorites, she shouldn't have taken a liking to eunuchs like them.

Eunuch Liu secretly sized up Chief Steward Qin, who was said to be very capable, and could only sigh that the man knew how to get things done, wondering what kind of method he had to win over his master.

Qin Shu, however, frowned and stood there forcing himself to speak to Liu Qingtang, "Your Majesty, it was this servant who asked Steward Liu to send someone to Mingshou Palace. It's good that this servant is too close to Your Majesty. What if I pass on my illness to Your Majesty? Besides, that's how the palace rules are. Your Majesty is kind and can't bear to see this servant suffer, but this servant cannot take advantage of Your Majesty's favor and let people talk badly about Your Majesty."

Liu Qingtang didn't care that he was trying to find a reason to vindicate her at this moment. She ignored him completely and urged the two eunuchs who were supporting him, "Hurry up and help him inside!"

After Eunuch Liu left the troublesome place with two eunuchs, Liu Qingtang helped Qin Shu take off his shoes and outer robe herself.

Qin Shu, leaning against the bed, struggled to get up herself, but Liu Qingtang unceremoniously pushed her back onto the bed. "If you're sick, just stay still. What's wrong with taking care of you? I'm your wife, can't I take care of you!"

Qin Shu was taken aback by her words and could only soften his expression and let her do as she pleased. Liu Qingtang loosened his hair, took off his outer robe, covered him with a quilt and tucked the four corners in, and then sat on the edge of the bed and touched his head. She found it burning hot to the touch, and Liu Qingtang's face immediately showed worry.

That plague is like this. At first, the symptoms are no different from those of a cold: fever and weakness. Even after taking medicine, the person remains drowsy and does not get better. This alternating fever and chills lasts for several days. The person gradually loses consciousness and eventually convulses and dies.

Liu Qingtang grew increasingly frightened by her own speculation, her face turning deathly pale. Qin Shu's eyes were almost closed, but seeing her like this, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. He could only force his eyes open and repeatedly reassure her, "I'm fine, it's just a cold. I'll be better after a couple of days of rest."

He spoke slowly, as if struggling. Liu Qingtang saw that even his eyes were a little unfocused, yet he was still trying to hold on. Knowing that he was afraid of worrying her, she could only force herself to compose herself, cover his eyes with one hand, lean down and kiss the corner of his mouth, and whisper, "I won't worry if you get better soon. Close your eyes and rest well."

Qin Shu soon fell into a deep sleep, his brows unconsciously furrowed. Liu Qingtang sat closer, smoothing out the wrinkles between his brows, and placed her hand on his forehead. Feeling the warmth, she felt increasingly anxious.

Qin Shu disliked being served, so even as the Grand Steward, he had no servants in his room except for Qin Shu, Liu Qingtang, and Tao Ye, who acted as if she didn't exist. She kept glancing towards the door, and when she saw her sister enter with the imperial physician, she quickly whispered, "Master, the imperial physician has arrived."

"Hmm." Liu Qingtang withdrew her hand and remained seated on the edge of the bed. The imperial physician, without looking at Qin Shu, took his pulse and diagnosed it as a cold, caused by overwork and physical depletion, requiring recuperation. The physician wrote down a prescription for the cold and several other recuperative formulas, then dismissed the patient after sending someone to fetch the medicine. Hearing about the cold only intensified Liu Qingtang's anxiety. At the beginning of the plague, no one paid much attention; a group of imperial physicians all said it was just a common cold. Only later, when the situation spiraled out of control, did they realize it wasn't.

If Qin Shu's fever doesn't break within two days, it's highly likely to be the plague. Liu Qingtang bent down and hugged the unconscious Qin Shu, burying her face in the blanket, constantly praying in her heart, "This person absolutely cannot be harmed, please don't let it be the plague."

Liu Qingtang stayed by Qin Shu's side the whole time, not returning to her own palace, and even claiming to be unwell when she went to court. She just sat by Qin Shu's bedside watching him, occasionally changing the handkerchief on his forehead.

Qin Shu was already twenty, all the immaturity gone, and he had grown quite a bit taller, a full head taller than her. He still remembered how she used to joke that he was small, and how he secretly rejoiced for a long time after seeing how much taller he had become. She noticed his feelings and even praised him to make him even happier.

He still looked thin; he had grown taller but hadn't gained any weight. She started complaining again about how bony he was, forcing him to eat more, and then watching him uneasily as he said he really couldn't eat any more.

The imperial physician said that besides a cold, Qin Shu was also suffering from overwork. He just could never learn to rest; he used to work so hard to prove himself, to make her think he was useful. Later, she openly told him about it, and although he had gotten rid of those messy thoughts, he still hadn't changed much, saying he would do anything to share her burdens. Qin Shu was a stubborn fool who wouldn't listen to reason, not much better than Xiao Huaiyu.

He lay there quietly, his face pale and gaunt, a sight that was somewhat alarming. He was usually pale, and it was said that he had been in poor health since childhood and had never been properly cared for, resulting in a host of ailments at a young age. He often suffered from poor sleep at night, frequent headaches, and cold hands and feet in winter, which he could not warm up no matter how many blankets he was covered in.

How could she have fallen for him? He wasn't particularly charming, and his looks were quite ordinary. Why did she like him so much? Liu Qingtang couldn't imagine how she would live the rest of her life alone if Qin Shu really died. She used to read stories in books about lovers where one died and the other refused to live on, and she couldn't understand it then. How could someone give up their life for someone they had no connection with? Now she understood. If the other person left this world, they would take all the happy things with them, and life would be meaningless.

Liu Qingtang suddenly thought of her father again. He had been thinking of her mother for so many years, and for ten years he had been thinking of a dead person day after day. She didn't know what it felt like.

Liu Qingtang sat there staring blankly at Qin Shu, her mind wandering. Tao Ye and Zhuiyi brought out the food, but she didn't even glance at it, ordering it to be taken away, and just sat there listlessly. Unable to persuade her, Tao Ye and Zhuiyi could only remain silent, hoping that Qin Shu would recover quickly.

Qin Shu slept for a whole day, only waking up in the middle of the night. He first felt a throbbing headache, then heard the Empress Dowager's voice in his ear. "Awake? Are you feeling unwell? Would you like some water?"

Qin Shu opened his eyes and saw Liu Qingtang looking at him wearily and worriedly in the candlelight. Qin Shu was stunned for a moment, then his mind cleared up. He guessed it was already late at night, and wondered why Qingtang was still here so late. So he immediately said, "I'm much better now, don't worry. It's late, you should go back and rest."

"It's okay, I can't sleep right now." Hearing his hoarse voice, Liu Qingtang turned around, poured him a glass of warm water, and fed him the water while holding his head.

"Are you hungry? I'll have someone cook you some porridge." Liu Qingtang touched his forehead and felt that it wasn't as hot as before, and her expression finally relaxed. If it really was a plague, the fever wouldn't have subsided in a day; it seemed to be just a common cold.

"I'm not hungry. Has Qingtang eaten today?" Qin Shu asked. Seeing her nod haphazardly to say she had eaten, he knew she hadn't. He said somewhat disapprovingly, "Qingtang, go eat something and then go back to rest. I'll be fine tomorrow. I've been sick before, and I've always been fine." Although he almost died of illness in Mingshou Palace that time, he pulled through. For him, this was really no big deal. He'd always been like this since he was a child; he was incredibly resilient. Besides, she was here now, and he couldn't bear to die.

Liu Qingtang didn't speak, but suddenly hugged him through the blanket. After a long silence, she said, "Qin Shu, get well soon. I want you to go to the south for me in a few days."

Qin Shu is currently ill, and if the plague breaks out, he won't be fully recovered yet. If he catches the plague, it will be terrible. Perhaps she should let him stay away for the time being.

Once she made her decision, Liu Qingtang didn't hesitate any longer and continued, "I received a petition last time, saying that the prefect of Ling County was corrupt, taking bribes and oppressing the people. I was thinking of sending an imperial envoy to investigate. It is said that the prefect of Ling County is colluding with some officials in the court. I can't send these people before I find out who they are. However, Wei Zheng's wife is pregnant, so I can't let him go. My brother also has some matters to attend to. I can only ask you to go, okay?"

"Of course, that's fine. I'll set off in a couple of days." Qin Shu didn't see the expression on her face and didn't notice anything amiss. He reached out from under the covers and patted her head in agreement.

“This trip will probably take two or three months. Don’t alert him yet. I want the list of officials in the court who are colluding with the emperor. Investigating these things will definitely take some time. You’ve just recovered from your illness, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself. It’s good for you to recuperate there. Investigate this secretly, but ostensibly you’re there to select concubines for the emperor. Don’t rush back. Just investigate thoroughly. If everything is true and you get the list, then those corrupt officials can be arrested immediately.” Liu Qingtang leaned against him, her tone completely normal, as if she genuinely wanted him to do this.

In fact, she had long known that she had planned to have Wei Zheng lead the army to suppress the plague and a minor disturbance in Ling County at the end of the year, while also dealing with the corrupt officials and pests she had known about since her previous life. But now, in order to temporarily distract Qin Shu, she had no choice but to have him do this ahead of time.

Hearing Qin Shu agree to everything, Liu Qingtang chuckled softly again, "I've heard that the scenery along the way south is quite beautiful, Qin Shu, could you take a good look around for me and tell me about it all when you get back?"

"it is good."

Author's Note: Boss Jia threw a landmine.

Dreamy Silver Crystal threw a landmine

Dreamy Silver Crystal threw a landmine

Another landmine was thrown.

[Thanks for the landmines~ Seriously, you girls are always throwing landmines at me, it's such a waste! I'm happy, but you really don't need to throw them at me so often, love you all, muah~ φ(゜▽゜*)?]

[To reiterate, I'm currently a terrible author who can only write sweet stories and not angst, so don't worry about me for now~]