"Your Highness." Qin Lan crossed her arms and looked at Qin Huaiqiu, who was sitting on the bed with his hair still in a mess. She said in frustration, "I just went to scout the terrain around the palace. It's only been a day. What on earth have you done?"
Qin Huaiqiu glanced at her and said, "I won't serve Sikuo Ting anymore! That Imperial Concubine Shu has gone too far. If I don't do something, am I supposed to let her keep stepping on me? I haven't even settled the score with her for pushing me in the imperial garden!"
Qin Lan rubbed her forehead and said, "Your Highness, have you ever thought about the consequences of what you've done?"
Qin Huaiqiu said, "I've made it clear. Either we stay out of each other's way and go our separate ways, or he divorces me. Otherwise, he can just execute me directly."
Qin Lan said anxiously, "Your Highness!"
Qin Huaiqiu stood up angrily and said, "Qin Lan, it's not that I don't understand. Put yourself in my shoes. I'm a man, and I have my pride. Since I entered the palace, when have I ever been happy? They all think I'm an easy target. If I don't stand up for myself, they'll only get worse, especially that Imperial Concubine Shu!"
Qin Lan wanted to persuade him, but in the end, she just slumped down and let out a deep sigh.
Qin Huaiqiu sat down next to Qin Lan and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I've thought it through. The Empress Dowager likes me. Sikuo Ting won't do anything to me. At most, he'll send me to the Cold Palace. That would be a peaceful life. As for Imperial Concubine Shu, scaring her this time should keep her in check for a while."
Qin Lan nodded and sighed. "It's true... But Your Highness, you handled this matter too rashly. I know you've been holding back your anger. You're only sixteen years old, and it's normal for you to be hot - headed. But the palace is different from the border. General Qin can't protect you here."
Qin Huaiqiu of course understood this truth. Qin Lan's words were reasonable, so he nodded gently and said, "I understand."
Qin Lan said, "I heard that Imperial Concubine Shu has gone to the Emperor to cry about what happened when you went to Ningfu Palace. Such a big commotion. The Emperor will surely come soon. Your Highness, whether it's a reward or a punishment, remember to be extremely careful."
Qin Huaiqiu asked in confusion, "She's crying about it?"
Qin Lan clicked her tongue and said, "Don't forget who her father is."
"Oh."
Sure enough, not long after, Xu Xian's voice came from the entrance of Kunning Palace. "His Majesty the Emperor is here—"
Qin Huaiqiu walked up to the entrance of Kunning Palace in a proper manner, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
Sikuo Ting got off the sedan chair with a dark face, walked straight up to Qin Huaiqiu, and stopped. He looked down at Qin Huaiqiu. Qin Huaiqiu maintained the bowing posture, looking at his toes without moving.
After a long while, Sikuo Ting finally spoke. It seemed like he sighed and said, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Huaiqiu straightened up, but because he had been squatting for a while, he stumbled and almost fell to one side. Before he could steady himself, Sikuo Ting reached out and grabbed his arm.
Sikuo Ting was stunned for a moment. He looked at his hand holding Qin Huaiqiu's arm, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't let go.
"Everyone leave." Sikuo Ting said in a deep voice, then half - dragged and half - pulled Qin Huaiqiu into the inner chamber.
As soon as the door of the inner chamber closed, Qin Huaiqiu broke free from his grip and quickly kept a certain distance from Sikuo Ting. He stood there with his head down.
Sikuo Ting looked at his empty palm, then at Qin Huaiqiu, who seemed to be standing obediently beside him. He closed his eyes impatiently and sat down at the table.
He stared at Qin Huaiqiu for a while. Seeing that Qin Huaiqiu showed no sign of speaking, he said, "Not coming to sit?"
Instead of answering, Qin Huaiqiu asked, "Why has Your Majesty come to your humble servant's place?"
Sikuo Ting looked at him and said, "What do you think?"
Qin Huaiqiu said, "Your humble servant is dull and doesn't understand."
Sikuo Ting snorted and said, "You're not dull at all. After using reverse psychology on me, you gave Imperial Concubine Shu a lesson? Do you really think I dare not do anything to you? Have you forgotten that I once put a sword across your neck?"
Qin Huaiqiu was shocked, but on the surface, he remained calm and said, "Your humble servant has forgotten."
"Good, you've forgotten." Sikuo Ting actually laughed.
He looked at the Noble Consort De in front of him. This person was both familiar and strange to him. Compared to Qin Huailian, whom he had once threatened with a sword, the person in front of him felt more real and alive. Could it be that, as Dou Yuan joked, Qin Huailian was so frightened that her personality changed? If so, he would rather Qin Huailian stay like this. If she had forgotten, then so be it. He hoped she would never change back.
"Come and sit." Sikuo Ting patted the stool beside him.
After hesitating for a while, Qin Huaiqiu still went over and sat down. However, he placed his hands obediently on his lap and sat there motionless.
Sikuo Ting asked again, "You beat Imperial Concubine Shu's maid?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Qin Huaiqiu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "It was a return of courtesy."
Sikuo Ting wanted to laugh but held it back. He asked again, "What's the reason?"
Qin Huaiqiu answered honestly, "She withheld my monthly allowance and bullied others by relying on her status."
Sikuo Ting said, "But I heard that you led people into Ningfu Palace. Speaking of bullying others by relying on status, aren't you even worse?"
Qin Huaiqiu didn't know what was wrong with Sikuo Ting today. Since he entered the palace, he had never had a proper conversation with Sikuo Ting. Sikuo Ting's sudden change of attitude made Qin Huaiqiu a little uncomfortable. After hesitating for a while, he still told the truth, "Imperial Concubine Shu deducted my allowance first. I went to ask for an explanation later. There's a cause and an effect."
After hearing this, Sikuo Ting asked, "So you got the allowance back?"
"Yes."
Sikuo Ting looked at him for a while and then said, "Now Imperial Concubine Shu is in charge of the harem. Since such a mistake has occurred, how about I hand over the management of the harem to you?"
These words were like a thunderbolt in Qin Huaiqiu's mind. He sat there on the stool like a wooden statue, staring blankly at his own hands.
What did he just say?
"Noble Consort De?"
Qin Huaiqiu was brought back to his senses by this call. Without even looking at Sikuo Ting, he immediately stood up, bowed his head, and said, "Please forgive your humble servant, Your Majesty. Your humble servant... has just entered the palace and is not capable enough in many aspects. It's better for Imperial Concubine Shu to continue managing it."
Are you kidding me? Managing the harem is supposed to be the Queen's job. The reason why Imperial Concubine Shu was in charge before was because she was Sikuo Ting's first wife. Now the position of the Queen is vacant. Leaving aside what this matter represents, he just wants to stay as far away from Sikuo Ting as possible. How could he possibly take over such a task?
Qin Huaiqiu's mind was in a mess. He didn't know why Sikuo Ting suddenly had such an idea. Although Sikuo Ting's tone was calm, Qin Huaiqiu could tell that this time was different from the last time when Sikuo Ting used the five - tailed phoenix to mock him. Sikuo Ting... seemed to be seriously considering this matter?
Sikuo Ting leaned back on the chair and looked at Qin Huaiqiu in front of him calmly.
Qin Huaiqiu's reaction was well within his expectation. If he had initially suspected that the Noble Consort De's deliberate alienation was part of some scheme, no matter how perfect a disguise was, there would always be flaws. Regarding the Noble Consort De, Sikuo Ting could now feel a huge difference from before in terms of tone, expression, and subconsciousness.
"When a person is extremely frightened, they may undergo some changes. These changes may affect their personality." After Qin Huaiqiu left the imperial study on his own, Dou Yuan came back and covered his mouth as he put forward his bold speculation. "In short, maybe this is the real her, or maybe it's not."
"Are you sure?" Sikuo Ting was a little incredulous.
Dou Yuan had just been fined his salary at that time, so he was much more cautious in his speech. "There are precedents in unofficial history."
"Go on."
Dou Yuan said, "I'm not good at medicine. I've just heard about it. This is called hysteria. Those with a drastic change in personality may either recover in a short period or live as a different person from then on."
Sikuo Ting picked up the teacup and took a sip. He withdrew his thoughts and said to Qin Huaiqiu, who was still bowing, "Alright, if you don't want to, then forget it."
Qin Huaiqiu straightened up but still stood there without any intention of sitting down again.
Seeing that he didn't want to sit down, Sikuo Ting simply stood up and walked towards him.
The moment Sikuo Ting stood up, Qin Huaiqiu tensed up all over. As he watched Sikuo Ting walking towards him step by step, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He took a few steps back suddenly and said in a slightly trembling voice, "What are you going to do?"
Qin Huaiqiu clearly felt that Sikuo Ting was acting very strangely tonight. He suddenly remembered what he had said before. Could it be that Sikuo Ting couldn't bear it anymore and was finally going to kill him?
Thinking of this, the young master wanted to slap himself, but the words had already been said and couldn't be taken back. However, there were only the two of them in the room now. If Sikuo Ting really wanted to make a move, he wouldn't be an easy target.
Qin Huaiqiu stopped walking. His muscles were tense all over, and he looked at the floor, only seeing Sikuo Ting's boots.
He walked closer and closer and stood in front of him.
The two were only an arm's length apart. Qin Huaiqiu felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.
Sikuo Ting looked down at him. Qin Huaiqiu also kept his head down. His bangs covered the upper half of his face. Only his pointed chin and slightly reddened lips could be seen. His unbound hair was loosely hanging on his shoulders, and under the hair was his stiff and slightly trembling body.
Qin Huaiqiu finally couldn't stand it anymore. "Hey, what on earth..."
"Don't be afraid." Sikuo Ting said out of the blue. Then he raised his hand and twirled a strand of his hair.
If, as Dou Yuan said, the previous Qin Huailian was gone and had been replaced by this stubborn and head - strong guy who was like a little hedgehog always protecting his dignity, then he had to admit that the Noble Consort De in front of him was full of vitality and novelty. He was like a key that could break the shackles, arousing Sikuo Ting's curiosity to get to know him better.
"I'm here to tell you something."
"... What is it?"
"As the daughter of a general, do you know how to ride and shoot?" Sikuo Ting asked.
Qin Huaiqiu was slightly stunned by his sudden question. After thinking for a while, he still answered truthfully, "I know a little."
"Very good." Sikuo Ting said. He let go of his hair and said, "On the first day of March this year for the spring hunt, I'll hunt with you."