Chapter 9 Another Promotion and Time Alone with the Empress Dowager
As night deepened, palace lanterns lit up one by one, and dozens of exquisite dishes from the imperial kitchen were laid out before Yue Shen.
Yu Zhi carefully served her, afraid of making any mistake in attending to this difficult emperor.
Without Qiu Shuzhi, Yue Shen seemed like a cold ice cellar. Her slightly childish face wore a thin frost of unspoken authority year-round. Even though Yu Zhi knew she was just a puppet emperor, he never dared to be negligent in his service to her.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal," Yu Zhi said respectfully, placing the bowls and chopsticks before Yue Shen.
Yue Shen frowned, constantly wiping her hands with a handkerchief. "Dirty."
Yu Zhi explained, "Your Majesty, rest assured, these bowls and chopsticks have been thoroughly washed inside and out more than ten times by the servants before being presented."
Yue Shen made no effort to hide the disgust in her eyes. "I said you're dirty."
Yu Zhi's fair face reddened, embarrassment hanging on his delicate features.
"It seems Your Majesty's cleanliness obsession is getting worse. At this rate, you might not even be able to handle the imperial edicts!" A casual voice sounded from outside Baohe Palace, accompanied by the soft closing of a folding fan. Qin Qing approached slowly, his handsome and refined features bearing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Yue Shen lowered her gaze. "Greetings to Father Empress Dowager. My cleanliness obsession is not severe, it's just that the servant has been serving outside all day, so the smell is unclean."
Yu Zhi's face flushed red, angry but not daring to speak.
To cater to Yue Shen's cleanliness obsession, he bathed five times a day and washed his hands and used fragrances countless times. How could he be unclean?
Qin Qing sat down gracefully beside her, looking ethereal in a casual white robe. His gentle eyes were unreadable. "Oh? So you're saying that since I just walked over from Qingning Palace, I'm unclean too?"
Yue Shen's eyes darkened slightly. "Father Empress Dowager is naturally different from servants."
Qin Qing's lips curled into a cold smile. "Yu Zhi has been serving me since he was young. I'm quite fond of him, which is why I let him serve Your Majesty. If Your Majesty doesn't like him, I can send Yu Ye to serve you instead."
Yue Shen's hand tightened on her chopsticks, and she answered through gritted teeth, "That won't be necessary. Yu Zhi is fine."
Yu Ye was Yu Zhi's elder brother, who had served by Qin Qing's side for years as his confidant. He was observant and sharp-minded. With Yu Zhi serving her, she could still manage some small movements under Qin Qing's nose, but if Yu Ye were to replace him, it would likely be much more difficult.
Having received his master's support, Yu Zhi curled his lips in a smug smile.
What does it matter if you're the emperor? In front of the Empress Dowager, you still have to be as respectful as a dog.
Qin Qing's smile turned mocking. "If that's the case, then Your Majesty must treat Yu Zhi well."
Yue Shen's face paled, anger and helplessness evident in her compromise. "Yes."
Qin Qing's smile became even more blatant as he picked up his chopsticks and placed a fatty piece of Dongpo pork in her bowl. "Your Majesty probably hasn't started eating yet. Here, have some more."
Fury flashed in Yue Shen's eyes, her fingers turning white from her grip.
The entire palace knew she disliked eating greasy pork the most, yet Qin Qing dared to...
"Thank you, Father Empress Dowager."
She took a deep breath, quickly adjusting her expression, and put the piece of Dongpo pork, which was almost entirely fat, into her mouth. The greasy oil immediately made her face turn pale. Her empty stomach churned, almost making her vomit on the spot. She forcefully suppressed the nauseating feeling and swallowed the fatty meat whole, her heart and lungs feeling as if they were being clawed at, sick and uncomfortable.
Seeing the ruler of the country in such a miserable state, Yu Zhi felt his desire for revenge satisfied, almost laughing out loud.
Qin Qing leaned back in his chair casually, saying nonchalantly, "Your Majesty need not thank me. By the way, I just received news that the Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture has fallen ill suddenly, leaving the position vacant. We need a talented person to fill the vacancy."
Yue Shen, still struggling with the churning fat in her stomach, said, "The position of Zhizhong carries great responsibility. Does Father Empress Dowager have someone in mind?"
"Hanlin Academy Scholar, Qiu Shuzhi."
"No!" Yue Shen immediately said, "She's just a musty scholar, how can she bear such a responsibility? Besides, she was promoted just three months after passing the imperial examination. It's been less than a month since then. How will the officials feel about another promotion so soon?"
Qin Qing raised an eyebrow indifferently. "Hanlin Academy Scholar is a fifth-rank position, and so is the Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture. It's not considered a promotion."
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