The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Side Story 1 [Qin Shu from the Past Life Transmigrates to This Life, His Morals Shattered in a One-Day Trip (Unrelated to the Main Story)]

Qin Shu woke up. He always got up very early, then took care of everything and stood in the central courtyard to respectfully see the Empress Dowager off to court. Many palace servants thought he was being obsequious, and some secretly mocked and ridiculed him because his attempts to please the Empress Dowager failed to win her favor.

However, regardless of what others thought or said, Qin Shu remained steadfast. Whether the Empress Dowager also felt he harbored ill intentions was irrelevant to him; he simply wanted to do something for her if he could. As the head steward of Cixi Palace, he wasn't required to stand in the central courtyard to respectfully see her off, but it was a long-standing habit he couldn't break.

Although his position was rising higher and higher, he dared not stand too close. Perhaps the Empress Dowager did not want to see the unpleasant him standing in front of her first thing in the morning.

Because he was used to it, he didn't feel wronged or upset at all. He had a lot to do every day, and not much time to feel sad. As long as he wasn't in front of the Empress Dowager, he was the ruthless and emotionless Chief Steward Qin, and very few things could affect his emotions.

As he pondered what to do today, Qin Shu opened his eyes and prepared to get up, but in that instant he realized something was amiss.

This isn't his room, and there's someone next to him?! Qin Shu lay there, looking up along the slender arm across his body, his eyes filled with coldness.

However, upon seeing the face of the person sleeping beside him, his indifference instantly turned into astonishment and disbelief, causing him to forget to breathe for a moment.

The Empress Dowager is sleeping next to him?!

Even without seeing his own expression, Qin Shu knew things weren't going well, and he instinctively took a step back. This startled the person who had been fast asleep.

Seeing the Empress Dowager, whom he knew all too well, stir slightly and mumble without even opening her eyes, "Qin Shu, why are you awake so early? Sleep a little longer." Then she naturally reached out and pulled him back, hugging his arm and snuggling up to him. Qin Shu was completely at a loss.

This doesn't seem to be the Empress Dowager's palace. Where is this? Why is the Empress Dowager sleeping next to him, and... and naked? Why does the Empress Dowager seem so intimate with him? Shouldn't she be showing disgust or frowning and questioning him about his presence? What on earth is going on?

Qin Shu's thoughts were a jumbled mess, but the gentle breath of the person sleeping next to him on his arm made his mind a chaotic mess, preventing him from thinking clearly. He couldn't find an answer to any of his questions. He groggily turned his stiff head down, his gaze settling on the Empress Dowager's sleeping face peeking out from under the covers, and her bare, white shoulders and collarbones.

After staring for a long time, he thought he must be dreaming. But even so, his heart was pounding uncontrollably, almost making his chest ache. This person was so close to him, showing no sign of rejection; she had just spoken to him in such a gentle tone and called his name.

A sudden surge of boundless joy made him afraid to move, lest he wake the person beside him and discover that his gentle words had been a facade. But after a while, he couldn't resist reaching out to pull the blanket up to cover her shoulders, gently tucking it in. His fingers trembled slightly as he lowered his arm.

"Hmm... Qin Shu, why are you so excited so early in the morning? I could hear your heart pounding so loudly." Liu Qingtang rubbed her eyes, and as she spoke, she leaned against his chest, pretending to listen to his heart. "Hmm, it really is very loud. You're so excited. Could it be that you already knew Luan Zhen and Luan Shu were coming today? I told them not to tell you, how did you find out!"

Qin Shu didn't even notice what the Empress Dowager was saying. When she suddenly pressed against his chest, he froze as if struck by lightning. He wasn't wearing any clothes, and neither was the Empress Dowager, so the two of them were pressed... pressed... naked... pressed... together.

Liu Qingtang didn't hear Qin Shu speak for a while, so she leaned on him and looked up. She saw him looking dazed, as if he couldn't believe what had happened. She burst out laughing.

Although she didn't know why he suddenly made that expression, it was really hilarious! She had never seen him react so strongly before. In recent years, he had become more and more calm and composed, and it wasn't easy to get him to change his expression. Compared to his usual dazed look, he was actually quite adorable.

She rested her chin on her hand and watched for a while, her desire growing stronger with each glance. Liu Qingtang then grinned and leaned forward, cupping his face in her hands for a quick kiss. Qin Shu shuddered at the kiss, and after a moment's struggle to find his voice, he asked in a trembling voice, "Empress Dowager...Your Majesty?"

"Alright, just call me Qingtang as always. You called me Empress Dowager so many times last night, after playing for so long, you're really into it now." Liu Qingtang said reproachfully, calmly getting up and sitting down next to him to get dressed, saying, "Nephew Luan Zhen and niece Luan Shu are coming to see us today. You like that little girl Luan Shu the most, so I wanted to give you a surprise, but I accidentally let it slip. I thought you already knew."

Liu Qingtang tossed her long, disheveled hair, revealing her ample bosom. Qin Shu silently turned his head away.

After taking the undergarment and putting it on, Liu Qingtang habitually said, "Qin Shu, help me tie the straps."

Qin Shu gasped for breath again. Liu Qingtang turned around and saw him still lying there, so she simply grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Get up quickly, we should go have breakfast. Also, help me tie my belt."

Pulled up, Qin Shu instinctively grabbed the blanket to cover himself. He couldn't let the Empress Dowager see him like that, even though he didn't know the full extent of the situation. Urged on by Liu Qingtang, Qin Shu silently and anxiously tied her sash and combed her hair.

Qin Shu pursed her lips and calmly tidied herself up, while constantly stealing glances at the Empress Dowager, who seemed to be in a good mood, and at the unfamiliar room around her, her mind filled with more and more questions.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? You used to say I was slow, and today you're slow again." Liu Qingtang walked over. She was already wearing her usual dress and had her hair styled. Now she bent down slightly to tie the tassel on Qin Shu's head, the hairpin in his hair swaying slightly. She straightened up and straightened Qin Shu's collar. She looked him over and kissed him on the cheek again. "Mmm, very good."

Qin Shu always did these things himself; he didn't like palace servants getting close, as it made him uncomfortable. But the Empress Dowager was different. With her approach and her movements, the little bit of thought he had just sorted out became a jumbled mess again, and Qin Shu could only foolishly follow her to wash up and have his meal.

During breakfast, Qin Shu remained silent, completely confused about the situation. Liu Qingtang, however, couldn't bear to watch any longer and deliberately placed the foods Qin Shu liked in front of him, or directly put them into his bowl. "Look at you, you've only gained so little weight in all this time, all because you haven't been eating enough. You said you didn't have a good appetite yesterday, but you can't escape it today. Eat all of this and what's in your bowl. I specially ordered someone to make something to help you recover."

Although that's what she said, Liu Qingtang was still taken aback when she saw Qin Shu actually preparing to finish the entire pile without any resistance. Why was Qin Shu being so obedient today? Seeing that he didn't say a word and silently stuffed all the food she had previously ordered him to eat into his mouth, even when he couldn't eat anymore, Liu Qingtang had to speak up to stop him, "If you can't eat, then don't eat. What's wrong with you today, Qin Shu? Are you feeling unwell? Are you dizzy again? Or did something happen that upset you?"

Seeing the worry on her face, Qin Shujing put down his chopsticks, shook his head after a moment, and started to address himself as a servant, but then changed his mind and said, "I...I'm fine." He was just happy that she had personally served him the food and said that she had ordered it to be made for him, and he was thinking that he should finish eating so as not to upset her.

"Are you really not feeling unwell? You're always like this, not saying you're uncomfortable because you don't want me to worry. The less you say, the more worried I get." Liu Qingtang glanced helplessly at Qin Shu, had the food removed, and pulled him toward the balcony where he used to fish.

Qin Shu looked at her hand, which she had placed in his, hesitated for a moment, but then took it. However, when Liu Qingtang wasn't looking, he couldn't help but clutch his chest. A mixture of overflowing joy and trepidation welled up inside him, and he felt he couldn't bear any more. How could such a gentle and affectionate Empress Dowager really appear before him? He never even dared to dream of it; how could he have such a dream?

"Alright, you're not in a good mood today, so I won't bother you. I'll spend the day fishing with you on the balcony. Now you'll be happy, right?" Liu Qingtang took Qin Shu's hand and sat him down in his usual spot. She took the fishing rod from the side and placed it in his hand. "You can fish here for a while. I'll go see why Luan Zhen and Luan Shu haven't arrived yet."

With Liu Qingtang gone, Qin Shu was left alone on the balcony, finally able to calm down and try to analyze the situation. Based on what he had seen along the way, and the bamboo-covered hills flanking the lake, this should be the Imperial Water Villa. He had once escorted the Empress Dowager here, but she had asked him to return to the palace to oversee things, so he hadn't come in, only seeing her off at the gate before leaving. Even palace servants favored by the Empress Dowager could come in to serve her, yet he, the Grand Eunuch of Cining Palace, had never been allowed to enter.

Qin Shu was somewhat dazed as he stared at the lake in front of him. Before he could think about it for long, three figures—one adult and two children—walked down the path beside him. It was the Empress Dowager and her two children, a boy and a girl. They were probably Luan Zhen and Luan Shu, whom the Empress Dowager had mentioned. Qin Shu thought to himself, not daring to make any rash moves.

He wanted to figure out what was going on, but sadly, as long as the Empress Dowager was by his side, smiling gently at him and saying caring and amusing things, he couldn't think straight. His mind was filled with joy, and his eyes would unconsciously follow her figure.

"Uncle, Uncle! Shushu hasn't seen you in so long! Did you miss me?" The adorable little girl was a bit chubby, her eyes full of mischievousness, looking quite clever. Her features seemed familiar to Qin Shu; upon closer inspection, she did indeed resemble the Empress Dowager. This alone made Qin Shu feel a fondness for the little girl, and under her expectant gaze, he slowly nodded.

But, uncle? This child calls him uncle?

"Uncle." The other slightly older boy, who was being led by Liu Qingtang, also obediently called out to Qin Shu and walked over to stand next to his sister.

"Luan Shu, don't bother your uncle. He's not feeling well today. If you make a fuss, you won't get any snacks today." Liu Qingtang also came over and raised an eyebrow at the little girl, speaking seriously.

This was somewhat like the Empress Dowager he knew. Just as Qin Shu was thinking this, he heard the little girl named Luan Shu say to the Empress Dowager, "Auntie, Shu Shu will be sensible and won't make trouble for Uncle. Will she be able to eat an extra snack then?"

Aunt... Uncle... This must have happened because it was in a dream.

"Look how fat you're getting! All you do is eat, eat, eat! And don't you dare steal your brother's snacks later!" Liu Qingtang pinched the little girl's cheek without any politeness.

The little girl glanced smugly at her brother beside her and pouted, "Who told you to be so useless and unable to beat me? Otherwise, would I have been able to steal the snacks? My mom already said that if you snatch them, they're yours. Besides, I'm not fat. My dad said that when you were little, Auntie, you were fatter than me and loved snacks even more than I did!"

Liu Qingtang glanced at Qin Shu, then narrowed her eyes at her niece, saying in a sinister tone, "Oh? My brother said I was very fat when I was little?"