Chapter 31 Entering the Palace
A small mountain of silver notes, gold ingots, jewelry, and hairpins was piled up on the table.
Xu Shuyue stared in shock. Qi Siming’s personal wealth was far more abundant than she had imagined!
As she recovered from her astonishment, she suddenly realized—there were others in the residence! He had just dumped all these treasures out in the open. If someone were to walk in and see this, it would be a disaster.
She was already feeling envious—who knew what kind of thoughts it might stir up in others?
Worried that this might cause unnecessary trouble, she quickly urged Qi Siming, “Why did you take all these things out? Hurry up and put them away before someone else sees them!”
Qi Siming frowned slightly, his deep voice tinged with suppressed anger, though he kept his emotions tightly in check when facing her. There was even a hint of grievance in his tone.
“If you want to put them away, you do it.”
He crossed his arms and looked away, his frustration barely concealed. “They were meant for you in the first place.”
Xu Shuyue was stunned, instinctively thinking he was just saying that in anger.
“Why would you give them to me? I don’t want them.” She sighed, recalling his earlier question.
With a serious tone, she said, “I’m not afraid of you, but you don’t need to try to win me over like this. Besides, can love really last when it’s bought with money?”
“General Qi, you wouldn’t want to spend your days in a relationship where you have to lower yourself just to keep the other person, would you?”
She spoke as if she were completely detached from the situation, as if none of this could tempt her in the slightest.
With a gentle curve to her lips, she continued, “So, it’s better if you just take these—mmph—!”
Warm lips pressed against hers.
Xu Shuyue froze in place.
Qi Siming had been frustrated by her refusal to say a single word that pleased him. Before she could finish her sentence, he bent down and lightly kissed her lips.
The flickering candlelight reflected in her wide, stunned eyes, where his sharp, chiseled features were perfectly framed.
A deep blush spread rapidly across her cheeks. She stared at Qi Siming in disbelief, trying to demand an explanation. But the moment she lifted her gaze, she saw the dark, stormy depths in his eyes—like an impending tempest, brewing with something overwhelming and intense.
She knew exactly what he was thinking. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively tried to back away.
Qi Siming instantly stilled.
Seeing her reaction—seeing her first instinct was to escape—The fiery impulse that had surged within him, like a tidal wave ready to crash, suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
A bitter self-mockery flickered across his face as he murmured, “So you really are afraid of me.”
Xu Shuyue pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond.
She hadn’t even recovered from the shock of his kiss yet. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. What was he trying to do?
Did he… actually like her?
The idea seemed utterly absurd, yet the harder she tried to dismiss it, the more she became aware of how much she had begun to care.
Xu Shuyue fell silent.
She didn’t notice the madness and possessiveness flashing through Qi Siming’s lowered gaze.
Kneeling beside her, he remained wordless, his towering figure curled in on itself, exuding an air of loneliness and dejection.
Xu Shuyue’s heart softened at the sight.
After hesitating for a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice low and uncertain. “It’s not that I’m afraid of you. It’s just that…”
Her voice dropped even lower, as if she were embarrassed to say it out loud.
“…Can you stop kissing me all of a sudden like that?”
“I was in the middle of talking about something serious. Can’t you at least take it seriously?”
If he kept kissing her like this… how was she supposed to get him to sign the divorce papers?
Qi Siming’s eyes flickered.
She said she wasn’t afraid of him. She didn’t scold him.
Did that mean he still had a chance?
Seizing upon this sliver of hope, he pressed on shamelessly, lowering his voice as he coaxed her, “Then don’t bring up divorce anymore, alright? Let’s live our lives properly. From now on, I’ll listen to whatever you say. You decide when I can kiss you, and I won’t do it until you allow me.”
Xu Shuyue covered her burning ears, completely exasperated.
She didn’t understand her own heart, but Qi Siming’s unwavering determination stirred up a strange emotion inside her.
Maybe… trusting him wasn’t such a bad idea?
Her gaze drifted to the clutter on the table, and she scoffed, “Then I told you to put your things away, but you didn’t listen to that either, did you?”
Qi Siming’s eyes lit up instantly.
Without another word, he scooped her up and laid her down on the bed.
Then, without hesitation, he lowered his head toward her.
By the time Xu Shuyue realized what was happening, she struggled instinctively, hands pushing against his chest.
But he was relentless.
Her breath was stolen, her lips captured, and panic momentarily erased all her thoughts.
She was gasping for air when she finally heard the softest chuckle against her ear—a deep, satisfied whisper.
“My wife is finally mine.”
Xu Shuyue froze.
Then, unable to help herself, her lips curved up slightly. The knot of tension in her heart quietly unraveled.
—
Once everything was out in the open, their relationship fell into place naturally.
Just when Xu Shuyue’s sweet drink shop was on the verge of shutting down after all its struggles, a summons came from the palace.
The white-bearded eunuch read the decree in a high-pitched voice. Xu Shuyue, ever perceptive, immediately handed over a pouch of silver. The eunuch weighed it in his hand, satisfied, before taking his leave. Turning back, Xu Shuyue helped Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng to their feet.
The two elders had never seen such grand proceedings before. Only after the eunuch left did their weak knees finally regain some strength.
Madam Wei frowned, puzzled. “Why would His Majesty suddenly summon eldest son to the palace?”
Her thoughts quickly turned to the worst.
Her face paled with worry. “Could it be about the Zhang family incident? Is the Emperor going to punish eldest son?”
Xu Shuyue didn’t think that was likely, but the eunuch had not given a clear reason. Until Qi Siming was in front of the Emperor, no one could be certain.
She firmly declared, “If that’s the case, then I will go to the capital with my husband. Since this matter started because of me, I will explain everything to His Majesty myself.”
She would never let Qi Siming take the blame alone. Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng were too old to make the long journey to the capital, but they trusted Xu Shuyue even more than Qi Siming when it came to handling matters.
Knowing she would be there gave them some peace of mind.
That night, the two elders helped them pack, and the next morning, Xu Shuyue and Qi Siming set off for the capital. The journey that should have taken five days was dragged out to eight because Xu Shuyue struggled with the change in climate.
By the time they arrived in the capital, the month was nearly over. The city was bustling with prosperity, but there was no time to appreciate it.
After changing into fresh clothes, they immediately headed toward the palace.
At the gates, a kind-looking eunuch greeted them with a respectful bow. “General Qi, Lady Qi, His Majesty has been expecting you. He has been waiting in the hall for some time. Please, follow this humble servant.”
Qi Siming had earned his title through military merit and had never held an official post in the capital. He knew nothing of court etiquette.
On the other hand, Xu Shuyue, due to the popularity of her sweet drink shop in the county, had interacted with officials’ wives before.
She had at least a general understanding of noble customs.
She gestured to Qi Siming to bow slightly in return—a subtle yet proper gesture of respect.
Eunuch He narrowed his eyes in amusement, his understanding of their relationship deepening.
He quickened his steps, leading the way.
Qi Siming held onto Xu Shuyue’s hand the entire way, his grip firm.
His tension was written all over his face. This was his first time meeting the Emperor in person.
One wrong word, one misplaced step, and his future could take a disastrous turn.
His usual silence deepened further. Sensing his anxiety, Xu Shuyue gently squeezed his hand, offering silent reassurance.
At the entrance of the grand hall, they were made to part.
The Emperor had summoned Qi Siming, not her. Qi Siming hesitated, his reluctance obvious.
Seeing this, Xu Shuyue sighed helplessly and whispered, “Go on. Don’t keep His Majesty waiting. I promise you—when you come out, I will be right here waiting for you.”
Qi Siming gazed at her for a long moment, as if trying to etch her face into his memory.
Finally, he released his grip.
As he followed Eunuch He into the hall, another eunuch stepped forward to escort Xu Shuyue to the women’s quarters.
Upon her arrival, countless curious gazes immediately turned toward her. Even under such scrutiny, Xu Shuyue’s expression remained composed. She stepped forward and introduced herself without hesitation.
One of the noblewomen’s eyes flickered with recognition. “Ah, so you are the wife of General Qi. I must say, you are truly…”
Madam Liu paused, searching for the right words.
The woman beside her quickly supplied, “Truly breathtaking.”
In the room, every lady present was the wife of a high-ranking official in the capital.
Naturally, they were well-informed about the affairs of the court.
Qi Siming had recently returned victorious from a major battle.
And ever since he had been granted the title of General, nearly every noble family in the capital had set their sights on him. After all, he was twenty-five years old, still unmarried, and—by all accounts—extremely handsome. Many had already begun plotting, intending to match their daughters to him.
For years, noble families in the capital had been eagerly awaiting his arrival. Who would have thought that their inquiries had been so lacking that they failed to learn that General Qi was already married?
Now, seeing the delicate and poised woman before them, even those who had been reluctant to give up immediately abandoned their schemes.
Madam Liu sighed, shaking her head. “In all of the capital, I’ve seen at least a thousand young ladies, if not more. But not a single one can compare to Lady Xu in beauty and charm.”
Xu Shuyue smiled humbly. “Madam Liu, you flatter me. Looking around at all the esteemed ladies present, I can tell that each of you must have been great beauties in your youth. Time has only refined your grace, granting you an elegance I truly admire.”
There was no woman who did not enjoy being praised—especially when the compliments sounded so sincere.
Madam Liu laughed heartily, waving a hand. “What’s there to admire? We all envy your youth and beauty instead!”
Xu Shuyue chuckled. “People always yearn for what they no longer have or have never had. I never understood that before, but now, after meeting all of you, I finally do. In the end, we all long for the same things, just in different ways.”
Her words were both thoughtful and flattering, making everyone feel comfortable and deeply intrigued by this young woman who had come from a humble mountain village.
For a while, the atmosphere softened. Before entering the palace, Xu Shuyue had carefully prepared.
She had brought along some of her own homemade snacks, particularly her signature sweet drinks.
Upon arriving at the palace, a small eunuch had been entrusted with carrying them. She had discreetly slipped him some silver, ensuring that he would stay close.
Now, as she glanced at the teacups on the table, she raised a hand and called the eunuch forward.
Lifting the wooden lid, she smiled at the ladies. “You’ve all been talking for so long—you must be thirsty. I brought some sweet drinks from my hometown. Would any of you like to try?”
“A specialty from your hometown?” Madam Liu repeated the phrase, finding it rather charming.
She immediately responded, “Come, Shuyue, pour me a cup first. Let me see how it tastes.”
As the highest-ranking and most approachable lady in the group, her words set the tone. The moment she asked for a cup, the others followed suit, eager to try. The first sip alone left many of them astonished.
Madam Liu, thoroughly intrigued, began asking questions about how the drink was made.
—-
Meanwhile, inside the grand hall, Emperor Tian Sheng was full of praise for Qi Siming.
Three times in a row, he exclaimed, “Good, good, good!”
His gaze was filled with immense satisfaction. Once Qi Siming had finished his military report, the Emperor, too excited to stay seated, rose from his dragon throne and declared joyfully,
“To have a great general like you, Siming, is a blessing for Great Chu! It is a blessing for Us! Tell Us—what is it that you desire? As long as it is within reason, We shall grant it!”
Eunuch He, standing to the side with his head bowed, couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.
Receiving an imperial reward was undoubtedly a great honor.
But if one overstepped and asked for too much…That was another matter entirely.
He cautiously lifted his gaze, glancing at Qi Siming’s upright figure standing in the center of the hall.
At that moment, he saw the general bow deeply, his expression unwavering.
“Your Majesty, this humble servant does have one request and seeks your gracious approval.”
The Emperor’s interest piqued.
“Speak, dear subject. Let Us hear it.”
