The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 75

Given Xiao Huaixu's precocious and suspicious nature, he vaguely guessed that someone must be behind his deteriorating health, and that person was none other than Liu Qingtang.

Although he didn't know what Liu Qingtang had done, things had come to this point, and investigating the reasons was no longer important. Xiao Huaixu only knew that he wouldn't live much longer, and that his frail body would keep him under Liu Qingtang's control in the future. How could he be willing to see this happen?

Since there was no way to win this round, and Xiao Huaixu was unwilling to lose, he could only strive for a draw, resulting in mutual destruction. Just as he said, if he died, others would be buried with him; Liu Qingtang, whom he both loved and hated, and Qin Shu, they both had to die.

Xiao Huaixu's personality was influenced by his father. Although he pretended to be innocent and kind, he was actually arrogant and paranoid. He had some crazy ideas planted in his heart since childhood. Now, stimulated by the matter of Liu Qingtang and Qin Shu, as well as Xuan Ge's affair, coupled with the effect of drugs, he has become somewhat insane.

Upon learning that he didn't have much time left to live, Xiao Huaixu disregarded the Prime Minister Wang's objections and used his remaining strength to suppress the news that he was bedridden again. He then forced himself to give instructions on a series of decisions he had made.

Liu Qingtang, far away at the Yufo Temple, never expected that Xiao Huaixu's illness would worsen due to the foolish behavior of a concubine in the harem, and that he would even bypass the Imperial Hospital to find an ordinary doctor outside and learn about his serious illness.

In her original plan, although Xiao Huaixu would be physically weak afterward, he would not be in any danger to his life within five years, and he would not discover the strangeness in his body. However, things are unpredictable, and no one can foresee what will happen next.

In the camellia garden of Yufo Temple, Liu Qingtang was intently painting the double-petaled camellias in full bloom before her. After finishing the last stroke, she admired the painting with a smile for a while, then set it aside to dry. Turning to Qin Shu, who was sitting beside her reading attentively, she said, "Paint two more, and I can make another album for you. Let's paint somewhere else this afternoon, and tomorrow we can have it bound together so you can flip through it in your spare time. By the way, the last one was called 'Shu Ming,' so how about we call this one 'Qin Xiang'?"

Qin Shu was engrossed in his book, and was not annoyed at being interrupted by her. Instead, he put down the book and massaged her right wrist, saying, "You don't need to draw these for me all day long. One book is enough."

"You haven't said yet whether this book should be called 'Qin Xiang' or not." Liu Qingtang had specially planned to make two books, each named after one character from Qin Shu's name. Seeing that Qin Shu didn't react, she couldn't help but feel annoyed that this person was as unromantic as ever. Shouldn't she be praising her for being thoughtful at a time like this?

"I think 'Tsinghua' would be better." Qin Shu could tell that Liu Qingtang was seeking praise, but he still said it according to his own opinion.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingtang noticed that a character from her name had been used. Thinking about it, she thought it was a good idea, especially since it was a gift for Qin Shu, and most importantly, he liked it himself. So she happily nodded and agreed, "Alright, as you wish."

However, this "Tsinghua" camellia painting album was never completed.

That afternoon, Liu Qingtang received a group of Liu family guards at the Yufo Temple. The leader brought a handwritten letter from Liu Qingrong. Upon seeing the solemn expressions on their faces and the faint bloodstains on their bodies, Liu Qingtang's expression immediately changed. She took the letter from the kneeling man and opened it. Inside was only one line: "Yujing is in chaos, do not return."

"What happened?" Liu Qingtang gripped the letter in her hand tightly, her expression solemn.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." The leading man was burly and imposing, his presence as imposing as a mountain even while kneeling. Seeing Liu Qingtang sitting there steadily, showing no signs of disarray except for a slightly serious expression, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. However, he quickly composed himself and said in a deep voice, "Early this morning, the Emperor suddenly launched an attack, issuing an edict accusing the Duke of colluding with an enemy state and plotting rebellion. Before we could even react, he dispatched a large force to surround the Liu and Yang families. Furthermore, Lord Wei Zheng has also been imprisoned because of this matter."

"Lord Qingrong sent us to deliver a message. He is also worried that the Emperor might harm the Empress Dowager, so he asked us to protect her and wait here until he has dealt with the current chaos in the court before welcoming the Empress Dowager back to the palace."

Contrary to the man's expectations, Liu Qingtang was not as composed as he thought. She was simply used to concealing her true feelings, and besides, with outsiders present, she was determined not to let them see her, the Empress Dowager and daughter of the Liu family, in a state of panic. So, outwardly she appeared very calm, but Qin Shu, standing to the side, noticed her unconsciously gripping her sleeve and knew perfectly well that she was extremely anxious inside.

How could Liu Qingtang not be anxious? Xiao Huaixu's sudden action was completely unexpected. What made her even more flustered was that Xiao Huaixu had once again pinned that fabricated charge of "colluding with another country and plotting a rebellion" on her father! He had done the same thing in her previous life, but he only dared to do so because he had already obtained most of the power in her hands and the Liu family. In this life, he had been suppressed by her to this extent, how could he dare to do the same again!

If it were anything else, Liu Qingtang would certainly not be as uneasy as she is now, but the shadow of her past life still looms over her heart. Seeing something that seems like history repeating itself, she simply cannot calm down; she is filled with shock, anger, and worry.

Perhaps Xiao Huaixu's desperate act stemmed from the immense pressure they had placed him under these past few days, prompting him to seize the initiative while she was away from the capital. Liu Qingtang had initially thought Xiao Huaixu shouldn't be so reckless. She believed that her two lifetimes had given her a deep understanding of him, and she was certain he wouldn't act rashly at this time, which was why she dared to leave Yujing.

Who could have imagined that he would actually do something she thought he wouldn't? Such carelessness was unlike him. However, Liu Qingtang suddenly remembered Xiao Huaixu, whom she had seen earlier, who seemed to be on the verge of madness. If he was already out of his mind, then under the instigation of the Prime Minister Wang, he might do this. She frowned, uncertain again.

Looking at the letter in her hand again, seeing the line "Yujing is in chaos, do not return," Liu Qingtang felt a warmth in her heart. In this life, she was not alone; she had her brother, Qin Shu, and so many other people she cared about. Even knowing that her brother wanted her to stay here for her safety, to prevent her from experiencing such things again, how could she truly stand aside?

Putting aside the fact that she no longer felt any familial affection for Xiao Huaixu, even if she were to see him die, she was certain she wouldn't feel any emotional turmoil. Furthermore, after so many years of planning, even if Xiao Huaixu's sudden actions disrupted her plans, she had to return to take charge and stabilize the Liu family faction.

Even if it's just for a short while, she will never tolerate her father bearing this stigma again. Even if this crime becomes a reality in his life, it will be hers to bear, not her father's.

Her reputation has never been good, and it doesn't matter if it gets any worse; in the end, she will still be the Empress Dowager, second only to the Emperor.

"Return to Yujing immediately," Liu Qingtang said, standing up without much hesitation.

Qin Shu wasn't surprised by her actions, but he still felt something was off. Unlike Liu Qingtang, he couldn't see things from an outsider's perspective, so he almost immediately sensed something was amiss.

However, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Seeing Liu Qingtang's unwavering expression and realizing that she must be very worried about her father and brothers, he couldn't stop her. He could only suppress his doubts and relay Liu Qingtang's instructions.

Upon hearing Liu Qingtang's words, the man who had spoken earlier suddenly disagreed, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Qingrong has put in a lot of effort, and I hope Your Majesty will not let him down. Besides, the journey has not been peaceful, and I'm afraid we can no longer enter Yujing." The faint bloodstains on his body indicated that what he said was indeed true, and it seemed that they had gone through a fierce battle to get here.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingtang glanced at him a few more times, realizing she hadn't seen him among the Liu family's guards. However, she then thought of the large number of guards the Liu family had recruited in recent years; she didn't know them all. If Yujing was truly as chaotic as he described, then the guards she knew would surely be under her brother's command, too busy to fight.

Hearing his words of dissuasion, Liu Qingtang's suspicions lessened by a third. "My surname is Liu, so I naturally know what I'm doing. You just need to obey."

The man was momentarily speechless, a look of struggle on his face, before his expression gradually hardened: "Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager insists on going, we brothers will risk our lives to ensure her safe arrival in Yujing!"

When Liu Qingtang arrived, her luggage filled several carts, but now that she needed to return, she naturally had to travel light. It wasn't appropriate to bring the palace servants along, so Liu Qingtang simply had Zhuiyi and Taoye stay at the Bathing Buddha Temple, leading the other servants to await her news. After all, they would be much safer at the Bathing Buddha Temple; the journey was fraught with danger, and a single mishap could cost them their lives.

Liu Qingtang ultimately decided to take only Qin Shu back to Yujing. The two sat in a carriage, surrounded by the guards they had brought with them. As for the Liu family's personal guards who had arrived this time, they surrounded the guards and the carriage from the front and back, forming a tight security perimeter.

The journey was hurried, lacking the leisurely atmosphere of the previous trip, and instead filled with a sense of tension and unease. Inside the carriage, Qin Shu held Liu Qingtang's hand without saying a word, but Liu Qingtang's expression suddenly relaxed, and she spoke first, "It's alright."

"Everything will be alright." Qin Shu's voice wasn't loud, but Liu Qingtang suddenly felt a sense of relief upon hearing it.

Liu Qingtang watched Qin Shu remain silent for a while, and was just about to speak when the carriage suddenly stopped. At the same time, the sounds of horses neighing, people screaming and shouting, and the clanging of weapons clashing rang out outside.

Liu Qingtang was stunned, while Qin Shu immediately pulled her into his arms and lifted the curtain to look outside. He saw the Liu family guards and their own men locked in a fierce battle, with the self-proclaimed Liu family guards holding a clear advantage. The previous encirclement was now making things extremely difficult for the guards. Previously, caught completely off guard, half of the guards had died instantly when the Liu family guards defected, leaving only a dozen or so struggling to hold onto the carriage.

The man leading the Liu family guards laughed loudly, his face full of banditry, completely different from his righteous demeanor just now. He brandished his iron sword and beheaded another guard, not caring at all about the blood splattering on him.

Now that things have come to this, how could Liu Qingtang, nestled in Qin Shu's arms, not realize that she had fallen into Xiao Huaixu's trap? He certainly wouldn't be so reckless, so what that man had just said about the Liu family being surrounded and her father being convicted must all be false.

Liu Qingtang was blinded by concern, and influenced by her past life, she subconsciously felt that Xiao Huaixu would do such a thing. Now, in a flash, she remembered that her father had never been under her control in the palace and had been prepared. He should never have been so easily convicted by Xiao Huaixu. She couldn't help but secretly resent that she was too deeply influenced by her past life and had acted impulsively in the end.

The group of people dressed in Liu family guard uniforms and wearing Liu family guard badges are imposters. Perhaps even her brother's letter is fake. Xiao Huaixu deliberately set up this scheme against her; he wants her dead.

There was no extra time to reflect on how easily she had been deceived. Liu Qingtang quickly followed Qin Shu off the carriage and, under the protection of the remaining dozen or so guards, gradually moved forward along the mountain path.

The horses pulling the carriage had already been hacked to death by a hail of swords. If they stayed in the carriage any longer, they would die. But the situation was still extremely dire. The remaining guards wouldn't be able to hold out for long. If no one came to their aid, she and Qin Shu might both die here.

Author's Note: A certain green guy threw a landmine.

A green guy threw a landmine

[Thanks for the grenade! I've finally broken the 300,000-word mark! Congratulations! I didn't know I could write over 300,000 words! _(:3∠)_]