Before Qinghua could finish her harsh words, Ajie rushed in, lifting the curtain. She fell to her knees before Liu Chang, pleading, “Deputy Minister Liu, the Princess is ill and uncomfortable. Her mood is poor, and she’s suffered injustice. It’s only natural to lash out at those closest to her. Please be understanding. She longs for you daily and can’t sleep at night…”
Seeing this intervention, Qinghua swallowed her cruel words. She glared at Arou, who stood by the bed, staring oddly at Liu Chang. Qinghua thought the girl was dull for not mediating. If Arou were as clever as Ajie, intervening earlier, she and Liu Chang might not have exchanged such harsh words. But glancing at Liu Chang’s expressionless face, unmoved by the scene, her heart filled with worry again.
Ajie continued, “Deputy Minister Liu, the city gates are closed. Even if you leave, you can’t return home. Why not stay and keep the Princess company? What problem can’t be resolved? Talk it through, and when the mistress is happy, we servants can rest easy.” She then repeatedly kowtowed.
Qinghua was delighted by these words. Indeed, with the gates closed, where could he go? But she knew Liu Chang’s stubborn nature; he might spend the night at an acquaintance’s house. She cautiously watched him from the corner of her eye, noticing his facial features softening, though he didn’t tell Ajie to rise.
Realizing Ajie had successfully diffused Liu Chang’s anger, Qinghua coughed lightly and sighed, “I know you’ve grown tired of me in this state. Why else would you always lose your temper with me? Have you forgotten your promise to stay with me forever? Do you still resent that I married that dead man? I may be called a Princess, but how much can I truly control? If I didn’t constantly think of you, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to be with you. How many people in this world care for you as I do?”
Liu Chang indeed sighed softly, his clenched fists relaxing.
Seeing an opportunity, Qinghua quickly said, “You’ve had a long day and should rest. I’ll have a fragrant bath prepared for you. Ajie, go attend to Deputy Minister Liu’s bath.”
While it seemed Qinghua was granting Ajie a privilege, Ajie knew the great risk behind this favor. She bit her lip and hesitated, “But I’m still heating bird’s nest soup for the Princess.”
Qinghua, pleased with Ajie’s prioritization of her needs, chuckled lightly, “You’re so single-minded. Aren’t there others available? Go on.”
Liu Chang glanced at Arou, who stood dazed by Qinghua’s bed after their performance and casually said, “Never mind. Ajie is used to serving you. Let Arou attend to me.”
Qinghua’s eyes narrowed as she glared at the now-frozen Arou, who stared blankly at Liu Chang. She almost snarled, “Fine, let it be Arou.” No wonder the girl hadn’t tried to mediate their argument earlier, only staring at Liu Chang. She must have hoped their quarrel would worsen.
In the past, both maids had attended Liu Chang’s baths, but times had changed. Qinghua was now very possessive, and Liu Chang’s request seemed like a trap. Arou, realizing the danger, quickly tried to refuse, “Princess, I don’t—”
Liu Chang interrupted her irritably, “What, am I going to eat you? Well, Qinghua, even your maids look down on me now. No wonder people outside increasingly see me as a joke, toying with me as they please.” While others might not toy with him at will, Liu Chengcai and Qinghua certainly did. Liu Chang’s tone had become furious.
Liu Chang’s anger and his words about being seen as a joke severely provoked Qinghua. Her face darkened as she glared fiercely at Arou, “You dare disobey me? Go, now!”
Arou could only respond meekly, “Yes,” and approach Liu Chang, saying softly, “Deputy Minister Liu, please.”
Liu Chang shamelessly eyed her chest and waist, then smiled at Qinghua, “Wait for me, I’ll be back soon to keep you company.”
Qinghua saw this clearly, feeling a surge of anger she could neither suppress nor release. From the next room, Liu Chang made no strange sounds, but the more Qinghua thought about it, the more unusual it seemed. She couldn’t help but strain her ears to listen. Unable to contain herself, she pushed away the bird’s nest soup Ajie offered. Ajie looked at her worriedly, furrowing her brow, “Princess, please wait until you’re fully recovered to deal with everything.”
Qinghua nodded approvingly at Ajie, gritting her teeth, “Yes, wait until I’m recovered.”
Despite her words, Liu Chang’s prolonged absence made her increasingly anxious. Unable to bear it any longer, she sent Ajie to check. When Ajie returned, flushed and silent, refusing to speak even when pressed, she knelt and repeatedly kowtowed. With Qinghua’s experience, how could she not guess what had happened? Liu Chang had always been a philanderer, and he harbored resentment towards her. Just as he had once targeted He Mudan’s maid to anger her, he was now doing the same to Qinghua.
She might have kept the two women in his household away from him, but how could he remain idle? Moreover, she had just hit him with an incense burner. He must be seeking revenge. Qinghua clutched her brocade quilt, thinking bitterly that she would bide her time. One day, she would make him never dare to say no to her again…
After more than half an hour, Liu Chang finally returned, looking refreshed. He had changed into a snow-white silk robe, his chest half-exposed, and his smile relaxed. Ignoring Qinghua’s twisted expression, he flopped down beside her, closing his eyes with a satisfied look, “Let’s sleep. I’m exhausted.”
Seeing him fall asleep instantly, Qinghua pushed him hard twice, but he didn’t stir. Overcome with grief, she vowed to recover quickly and teach this ungrateful scoundrel a lesson. But that was for later. For now, she needed to vent her anger. She beckoned Ajie over discreetly, grinding her teeth, “Take people to clean up thoroughly.”
Ajie’s face showed great reluctance, but under Qinghua’s venomous gaze, she had no choice but to curtsy and comply. Qinghua’s pale lips whispered, “Let everyone see. Tell them this is the fate of those who betray me!”
Ajie shuddered involuntarily as she silently retreated. If Arou was to blame anyone, it should be Qinghua’s cruelty. Arou had seen something she shouldn’t have and harbored ill intentions to bring Ajie down. Ajie didn’t want to die, so Arou had to.
Liu Chang, watching through narrowed eyes, realized this threat had been eliminated. He turned over and fell into a deep sleep. If she could place pawns in his household, so could he. It was a question of who would destroy whom first. Xiao Mi’er, this was only the beginning.
At the fifth watch, as the morning drums and temple bells sounded, Liu Chang opened his eyes. He gazed silently at Qinghua beside him, her expression haughty even in sleep. He slid his hand under the brocade quilt to her chest, gripped firmly, and twisted hard. Qinghua awoke with a sharp intake of breath.
As she was about to lose her temper, Liu Chang guided her hand to a certain spot, and then gently bit her shoulder. She felt a rush of heat from her lower abdomen, spreading rapidly through her body, impossible to resist. She looked at him longingly, softly calling, “Chang Lang…” Her eyes filled with desire, hoping desperately for him to continue, or at least offer some comfort.
But Liu Chang stopped at the crucial moment, saying with a half-smile, “Have a maid clean you up. The medicine smell is strong. Rest easy. I have to go. I’ll visit you again in a few days. Don’t do anything foolish. Find a chance to apologize to your father, the Prince. This isn’t good.”
Qinghua felt an uncontrollable surge of anger, her eyes stinging. She said coldly, “Just focus on your pleasures. Why bother with me?”
Liu Chang was in a good mood today and didn’t mind her bad temper. He laughed, “Are you angry? I didn’t do anything last night. I just joked around with Arou, that’s all. If you don’t believe me, ask her. You’re ill, how could I do such a thing?”
The person was dead, so there was no one to ask. Besides, Qinghua wouldn’t believe it anyway. In her eyes, even a touch was no different from the act itself.
Liu Chang didn’t care whether she believed him or not. He got up, dressed, and left the bed. Seeing no one dared come forward to serve him, he didn’t blame them, dressing himself and walking out without looking back. To Ajie, who was waiting outside to serve his meal, he said through gritted teeth, “Find a way to spread the word that she was dissatisfied with Prince Wei and Wei Wang Shi because of yesterday’s incident, so she smashed things and killed someone.”
The sky had not yet fully brightened. Liu Chang looked back at the Princess’s manor in the dawn light, a cold smile playing on his lips. Once he had slowly stripped away her teeth and claws, how could she still cause trouble for him?
He mounted his horse and slowly rode out of Yongxing Ward towards the Imperial City. Although it was still dark, it didn’t prevent Qiushi, following behind him, from keenly spotting a familiar figure looking around suspiciously as he rode out of nearby Anxing Ward—none other than Liu Chengcai, who had claimed he would be on duty at the government office overnight.
Liu Chang also noticed Liu Chengcai but didn’t greet him. Instead, he turned his horse into another street. After Liu Chengcai had passed, Liu Chang quietly gave Qiushi some instructions. Despite feeling somewhat afraid and uneasy, Qiushi accepted the mission and left.