The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter VII

As dawn broke, Liu Qingtang, wrapped in a brocade quilt, had worked up a sweat. Having dozed off without having nightmares, her head wasn't as heavy as it had been in the middle of the night, and she felt a bit more refreshed. (For faster updates, search "Lewen" on Baidu!)

Just as he was closing his eyes to rest, he heard the eunuchs outside chanting loudly, and the young emperor Xiao Huaixu hurriedly walked in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. How is Your Majesty's health?" The young emperor asked anxiously from outside the tent, appearing every bit the dutiful son. "I rushed here as soon as I heard the news. Your Majesty is the pillar of Daheng, and this illness has truly made me restless. Perhaps I should skip the morning court session today and stay here to attend to Your Majesty's illness; I'm sure the ministers will understand."

"What are you saying, Your Majesty? You are the pillar of Daheng. Your Majesty must be diligent in governing. How can you skip the morning court session because of my minor illness? If you really delay important matters of the court, I will become a sinner. I can leave the servants here. Your Majesty, please go to the morning court session as soon as possible. It is time."

If he were to stay here to care for her while she was ill, her condition would likely worsen. Liu Qingtang pressed her head, which had suddenly started throbbing due to the arrival of this young emperor, and said in a somewhat stern tone.

Seeing that the young emperor outside the tent was still hesitating, Liu Qingtang softened her tone and said, "I have seen that the emperor has been doing things quite well these days. In that case, there is no need to send the daily memorials to me. The emperor can discuss and decide with the ministers of the cabinet. The imperial physician also said that my illness is due to overwork. So the emperor should be understanding and let me relax a bit."

"Well... since Mother has said so, I will naturally obey. Mother, please rest well. I will definitely be a good emperor who is diligent in governing and loves the people, so as not to worry Mother."

"Well, let's go."

Even without seeing the young emperor's expression, Liu Qingtang could guess how happy he was to finally take back the power she had been holding.

Seeing the young emperor turn and leave, Liu Qingtang sneered inwardly. Even if she didn't approve the memorial, she had plenty of ways to find out about the affairs of the court. How could he possibly uproot the connections she had built up over the years, both openly and secretly? As long as she wasn't foolish enough to hand over her connections to the young emperor and let him use them as he pleased, she could completely control the government.

Besides, she still has memories of her past life; she remembers the important events and knows the corresponding solutions. As for the minor details she can't recall, they are unimportant and don't require her intervention.

As for bringing the young emperor under her control, that's not urgent. She already has a good idea, and she'll start implementing it when the time comes. She's really looking forward to the results.

She should also find a time to go back to the Liu family, or perhaps summon her father for a talk. Although she sent a letter home last time, her father might not understand her meaning, and some things are better said in person.

Just as he was pondering these matters, Zhuiyi arrived, with Qin Shu carrying the medicine behind her.

"Your Majesty, the medicine is ready." Zhuiyi and Taoye were always close to Liu Qingtang, addressing her as "Master" in private and only as "Your Majesty" in front of outsiders. However, it seemed that soon Qin Shu would no longer be considered an outsider. Zhuiyi thought to herself, and, at Liu Qingtang's urging, tactfully withdrew.

Qin Shu had a rough idea of ​​what the Empress Dowager had been doing lately. Whenever they were alone together, she would invariably make him stiff with rage. And each time, she would do it with an unusually calm expression, as if she hadn't done anything wrong. Qin Shu felt a mixture of anticipation and joy, as well as helplessness and bewilderment.

Regardless of what he was thinking, Qin Shu was quite good at concealing his inner turmoil, and on the surface, nothing could be seen except for his respect.

Whenever she teased Qin Shu, Liu Qingtang was always exceptionally energetic. She attributed this to a sense of security, because she knew clearly that Qin Shu would not betray her or reject her, and that whatever she did for him would be tolerated.

"Qin Shu, my head hurts." Liu Qingtang didn't expect that her unconscious words would sound so much like a child's whim. She hadn't been able to act coquettishly towards anyone since her mother passed away when she was a child.

After coughing to cover up her discomfort, Liu Qingtang said seriously, "Help me get up."

Qin Shu put down the medicine bowl, silently stepped forward to adjust the cushions behind her back, then helped her sit up straight and tucked the blankets in. Being so close to the Empress Dowager, so close that he could feel her soft breaths near his ear, and the way he was being helped through the quilt—all of this made Qin Shu's heart race. To avoid arousing suspicion, he could only bite down on the soft flesh in his mouth, letting the pain numb him.

Even so, after stepping back, he found his hands trembling slightly. Composing himself, he bent down, picked up the medicine bowl, and offered it to her. "Your Majesty, please take the medicine."

Liu Qingtang readily accepted the drink, frowned, and finished it, only to find her mouth filled with bitterness. After waiting a while but not seeing Zhuiyi prepare any candied fruit, Qin Shu obviously realized this and was about to say something when Liu Qingtang blinked and beckoned to him.

The words he was about to say were choked back by the Empress Dowager's gesture, and Qin Shu stepped forward to await further instructions.

As soon as he got close, the Empress Dowager's snow-white arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down. The next moment, her soft lips were already pressed against his.

Liu Qingtang's series of actions gave Qin Shu no time to react. When he realized what was going on, he was stunned and stood there as if struck by lightning.

Feeling the softness on his lips, and... and the little tongue that slipped into his mouth, Qin Shu couldn't even move his eyes, he just stared blankly. Realizing that the person who did this to him was the Empress Dowager, Qin Shu felt all sensation in his body disappear, as if he had turned into a cloud, light and weightless.

Even after being released, Qin Shu remained frozen in an awkward posture.

"Hmm, it's not bitter anymore. I need to rest now, Qin Shu, you may leave now." The Empress Dowager finished speaking in the same calm tone as usual after her surprise attack, then lay down, covered herself with the quilt, and turned her back to him.

After a long silence from Qin Shu behind her, just as Liu Qingtang was about to turn around, she heard him vaguely reply, "Yes." The chaotic footsteps as he retreated completely lacked his usual composure, and Liu Qingtang could guess how flustered he was.

She didn't know why she suddenly kissed him. She'd just tasted bitter medicine in her mouth, and then saw him purse his thin lips. On a whim, she thought it might taste good, and then, as if possessed, she kissed him. Afterward, she felt surprised and embarrassed.

There was another loud thud, probably because Qin Shu tripped and fell when he went to the outer room.

So absent-minded? It was just a kiss from her. Liu Qingtang couldn't help but smile, her lips curving upwards as she propped herself up on the bed, her face flushed. But then she worried that he might have hurt himself badly, so she couldn't help but call out, "Qin Shu, come back."

A moment later, Qin Shu lifted the curtain and walked in, his bruise on his forehead and his crooked hat particularly noticeable.

Qin Shu lowered his eyes in embarrassment, not daring to look at Liu Qingtang. He had just walked out in a daze and bumped into the shelf next to him, making such a commotion. It was really too rude of him.

"Qin Shu, do you want to be with me?" Liu Qingtang thought for a moment and then asked directly. But then she felt that he might not understand what she meant, so she added, "It means to be my person, and of course I will... give you what you want." Liu Qingtang didn't know if she was right to say it like that, after all, she had never had this experience before.

After Liu Qingtang finished speaking, she looked at Qin Shu and waited for his reply. She thought Qin Shu would be happy and would agree quickly, because he loved her, so being with her was his wish, wasn't it? However, he knelt below for a long time without replying.

"You're unwilling?" Liu Qingtang was somewhat incredulous; she simply couldn't understand what this person was thinking.

“This servant… is a eunuch.” Qin Shu finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, and he said slowly and with some difficulty, “This servant’s crippled body will only sully Your Majesty’s eyes and defile Your Majesty’s body.”

"Besides, if this servant were to be with Your Majesty, I might inadvertently ruin Your Majesty's reputation." How could he possibly be unwilling? He was overjoyed when he heard the Empress Dowager say such a thing.

He didn't want to think about the unease he had felt these past few days, nor did he want to find the reason why the Empress Dowager had suddenly changed her attitude towards him. At this moment, he felt that he had no regrets in this life.

But he rationally knew it wouldn't work. It wasn't just out of inferiority about his own status and body, but also because he knew the current Emperor feared the Empress Dowager and wanted to control her. If the Empress Dowager were to be caught doing something wrong at this time, she would be ruined. He couldn't imagine the Empress Dowager, who had always been as noble as a phoenix, being spoken of in such a defamatory tone, looked at with such strange eyes, all because of him. He would hate himself for that.

He loved her so much, how could he allow himself to become a tool for others to try and bring her down? He wanted to tell the Empress Dowager that he was willing, even if it meant being her subservient dog.

But he was too weak; even as a loyal dog, he couldn't tear apart the enemy's claws and teeth for her.

Liu Qingtang sat quietly on the bed, wrapped in the quilt, looking at him, and said calmly, "That's why I've always hated you the most, Qin Shu."

She had hated him since her past life. Yes, not only his gloomy face, but also his stubborn and inflexible nature. He never spoke his mind, never spoke of what he had done for her, always appearing selfless. He was always so calm and uneventful, so lifeless that she couldn't understand him and found him tiresome to look at, so insecure yet... so loyal.

Upon hearing the word "hate," Qin Shu trembled as he knelt there, but forced himself to calm down.

He had always known that the Empress Dowager disliked him, even though she had been very kind to him these past few days. She was certain she still hated him. To the Empress Dowager, someone like him was just a passing interest, something she would quickly tire of. He should have realized this long ago, but he still felt a pang of heartache. He didn't want to see the Empress Dowager hate him at all; he was terrified of seeing her look of disgust. He was extremely afraid.

Liu Qingtang rolled out of bed, barefoot and with her hair down, and walked to Qin Shu.

"Your Majesty, you're still ill, why did you get out of bed?" Qin Shu's self-pity was replaced by worry when he saw her movement. But even though he was worried that her condition would worsen, he didn't dare to be too forceful and make her go back to bed. He could only anxiously persuade her.

Liu Qingtang ignored his words, stepped forward, grabbed his shirt, bent down and covered his mouth with her hand.

Author's Note: Chen Li threw a landmine.

abubilibili threw a rocket launcher

Mo Cirou threw a landmine

Season 12 threw a landmine

Season 12 threw a landmine

Ya Xiao threw a landmine

A landmine was thrown in Jinling in July.

Fat Cat threw a landmine

Lianxuan threw a landmine

[Thank you so much, ladies! This poor author wags their tail and wags a huge thank you~] Oh, and by the way, although I mentioned it in the synopsis, I'm just saying it again here in case some of you missed it: [No updates on Saturdays, daily updates on other days unless there are special circumstances~]