As the maidservants brought dish after dish, the three began to enjoy their lunch.
Today’s midday meal was slightly more lavish than usual, owing to Zhong Chang Gong’s arrival.
The three sat by the table, chatting casually as they ate.
Zhong Chang Gong began recounting his past experiences.
“I was originally the young master of a wealthy family in the Capital City, but when I was eight years old, my family got entangled in a treason case. To survive, I had to change my name and live in hiding. As a rich young master, I had no practical skills and could only scrape by doing odd jobs.”
“Though I worked odd jobs, the daily earnings were barely enough to survive, often going from one meal to the next without knowing when the next would come. One day, after three days without food and nearly starving, I was spotted by the Imperial Eunuch Weigonggong.”
“Seeing my handsome appearance and considering his own old age and lack of children, Weigonggong took pity and took me in as his ‘yangzi’—a foster son.”
“Weigonggong planned for me to study hard and pass the imperial examinations, but I showed no talent for academics. Instead, I excelled in martial arts—skilled with spear and staff.”
“Having finally gained a child late in life, Weigonggong gave up forcing me to study and had me train in martial arts to join the army someday. But this good fortune didn’t last long. When I was ten, Weigonggong was executed for a work-related mistake.”
“I was then taken into custody and castrated, becoming a eunuch and sent to the Imperial Palace. After that, my role was mostly serving tea and fetching water in the palace—until the day Qin Ling went hunting.”
Here Zhong Chang Gong took a large sip of hot soup.
It was Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, a rare delicacy.
He savored its rich flavor carefully.
“Keep going!” Qin Yu said, watching Zhong Chang Gong drink with a satisfied expression, eager for more.
“Your Highness, don’t rush! A good story needs to be savored!” Zhong Chang Gong wiped his mouth and continued.
“That day, I was assigned to clean the southern palace gate, Zhengyang Gate. At the same time, a eunuch from Qin Ling’s retinue was absent due to illness, so there was one less person.”
“Qin Ling exited the palace from Zhengyang Gate and happened to see me cleaning the grounds. Qin Ling found me rather agreeable and invited me to join the hunt. The hunting took place in the Imperial Hunting Grounds. Qin Ling charged into the forest, intent on slaying a hunt.”
“But the forest was thick with thorns. Qin Ling quickly left behind most of his followers, with only me trailing behind. Just as Qin Ling was caught up in the excitement, a ferocious tiger fixed its gaze on him. The tiger ignored Qin Ling’s imperial status and lunged forward.”
“At that critical moment, I rushed over, drew Qin Ling’s sword, and thrust it into the tiger’s gaping jaws. Thanks to my martial prowess, I ended the tiger with a single stroke, saving Qin Ling.”
“From then on, Qin Ling granted me freedom, enrolling me in the army as a Wuchang—a squad leader of five men.”
Zhong Chang Gong’s eyes gleamed with nostalgia: “Those were the happiest days of my life.”
“Truly fate’s design,” Luo Shangyu murmured.
“In the following years, I distinguished myself in several suppression battles, eventually promoted to Left Yulin Commander. Because of my childhood hardships, I treated my subordinates with sincerity and was deeply loved by my men. I also maintained strict discipline, ensuring the troops’ appearance was always neat.”
“When Vice Minister of War Guo Qing attempted to embezzle military funds, I resolutely refused, which led to the attempt on my life this time.”
Having finished, Qin Yu felt Zhong Chang Gong was truly trustworthy.
Loved by his subordinates and a capable commander, his defection was a significant boon to their faction, reducing obstacles when she ascended the throne.
***
After seeing Zhong Chang Gong off, it was already one in the afternoon.
Qin Yu looked up at the high sun, pondering how to spend the rest of the day.
Thanks to her recent merit in quelling the rebellion, she had been granted a week off.
However, since she had taken another’s identity to go on campaign, six days were deducted as punishment.
“Let’s go out of the palace for some fun!” Luo Shangyu suggested.
“Isn’t this whole ordeal just an excuse to get out?”
Qin Yu gladly agreed.
It was now November of Wuyuan Calendar Year 11575, deep into late autumn.
The cold wind sweeping through Yongan City hinted faintly of approaching winter.
Standing before her wardrobe, Qin Yu selected today’s outfit.
Luo Shangyu, already dressed, stood behind her: “You’ve been standing here for half an hour. Have you decided yet?”
“I’m a bit uncertain…” Qin Yu looked at her dazzling collection of clothes.
In her previous life as a straight man, Qin Yu had no sense of fashion.
“I’ll help you pick!” Luo Shangyu stepped up to the wardrobe to choose.
Qin Yu watched Luo Shangyu’s outfit: a white fitted blouse paired with a black knee-length pleated skirt, black sheer tights, matte brown shoes, and a thin deep-black coat.
‘Such slender legs…’ Qin Yu stared at Luo Shangyu’s legs in awe.
“Wear this!” Luo Shangyu soon made her choice.
Qin Yu took the clothes: a long cream-colored sweatshirt lined with a little fleece, paired with black short shorts and black tights.
“Won’t this be cold…” Qin Yu fretted.
“No, tights keep you quite warm!” Luo Shangyu assured her.
“Really?” Qin Yu doubted as she put on the outfit Luo Shangyu chose.
“Don’t you usually wear tights in autumn?” Luo Shangyu asked, surprised.
“I do sometimes, but this is the first time I’m basically wearing only tights on my lower half,” Qin Yu replied while dressing.
To be fair, at first, as a boy, Qin Yu was reluctant to wear tights.
But after trying once, she became captivated by the tight embrace and smooth texture, eventually falling completely in love with the sensation.
No wonder they say dressing as a woman is only special the first and the countless times after.
“What do you usually wear in autumn?”
“Usually long skirts, though they’re inconvenient,” Qin Yu said, pointing to a corner of the wardrobe where several hung.
The skirts were voluminous, reaching the floor, adorned with delicate lace, intricate bows, and golden-threaded pearls, shining brightly.
“That would be quite inconvenient to move in,” Luo Shangyu agreed.
“I’m ready!” Qin Yu sat on the bed, adjusting the tights to cover her legs evenly.
Luo Shangyu had picked thick black tights for warmth.
The thick fabric covered Qin Yu’s fair, jade-like legs, only revealing a patch of pink skin where the heel stretched tightly.
“Let’s go!”
The two left the Eastern Palace, boarded a carriage in the Eastern Palace plaza, and sat side by side on the rear seats.
Unlike the solemn Imperial Palace, the Eastern Palace was less formal, and with Qin Yu’s permission, the carriage was allowed inside.
Thus, the carriage carried Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu out through the Eastern Palace gates instead of the Imperial Palace’s main gate.
Qin Yu’s main aim was simply to relax and have fun with Luo Shangyu, so no guards or maidservants accompanied them.
Only a young driver sat at the front.
The carriage sped eastward from the palace’s eastern side, heading toward Yongan City’s east gate.
They had heard that the forest on Wangjing Mountain outside the city was particularly beautiful this autumn, ablaze with a kaleidoscope of colors—a true ‘sea of painted woods’—and wanted to see it for themselves.
Along the way, the two carefully avoided mentioning Qin Ling’s visit last night, not wanting to open awkward topics.
Luo Shangyu had been pondering the matter while trying to sleep.
To her surprise, she realized her feelings for Qin Yu had deepened beyond what she expected.
It wasn’t that Luo Shangyu disliked Qin Yu, but this unintentional falling in love left her both incredulous and bewildered.
As a millennium-old virgin, Luo Shangyu felt uncertain: should she make the first move on Qin Yu?
Qin Yu, in her previous life a naive boy, and now living behind the palace walls, had little understanding of romance.
Only after hearing her father’s words yesterday did she realize that she and Luo Shangyu might have officially stepped into the realm of a couple.
This left Qin Yu confused and unsure how to face these feelings.
So, two emotionally clumsy people avoided the topic and instead chatted about trivial daily matters.
“Are you cold?” Luo Shangyu reached out and held Qin Yu’s hand.
“Not at all!” Qin Yu’s hand was warm and soft.
“These tights are much thicker than usual.”
As the carriage jolted slightly, their knees bumped occasionally, and the tights rubbed against each other, producing a strange yet pleasant sensation.
Just as the carriage passed an intersection, Qin Yu’s eyes caught a glimpse outside.
The street was bustling with people and vehicles.
Suddenly, an object completely out of place caught Qin Yu’s attention: a streamlined flying projectile trailing magical flames from its tail.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!” Qin Yu suddenly toppled sideways, knocking Luo Shangyu to the ground.
“What’s wrong? Enemy attack?” Luo Shangyu looked confused, staring at Qin Yu as she clutched her ears while lying on top of her.
Before Qin Yu could answer, a surge of preternatural warning from a Seventh-Rank Near-God peak level hit Luo Shangyu’s mind: ‘extreme danger!’
Luo Shangyu immediately released a fundamental magic shield to protect both Qin Yu and herself.
No sooner had the shield formed than a wooden cracking sound came from the carriage’s side wall.
The missile tore through the carriage’s side and exploded inside.
In the next moment, flames flared brightly within the carriage, splinters flew, and the carriage was blown apart from within.
Black smoke, shockwaves, and a massive explosion filled the entire intersection.
The carriage was reduced to its skeletal frame, with thick smoke billowing from the wreckage.
The horses were thrown dozens of meters away, the driver flung off but still clutching the reins.
Two large passenger carriages behind halted abruptly upon witnessing the disaster.
From within them, a group of masked men emerged in single file, brandishing Magic-conducting Guns.
They circled the wreckage and unleashed a full barrage of fire at the destroyed carriage.
***
“Report to Your Majesty! The Crown Princess’s carriage was attacked and exploded!” a Yulin Army sergeant rushed into Weiyang Hall.
“!” Qin Ling, who was discussing the Xu Feng faction with Yin An, widened his eyes and stood up abruptly.
“What’s the situation… how is she?” Qin Ling felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if a piece of his heart had been gouged out.
The Crown Princess’s carriage was attacked and exploded—his daughter Qin Yu’s fate was unknown!
This sudden shock worsened Qin Ling’s already fragile health, pushing him to the brink of collapse.
His chest heaved violently; no breath came out as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
“Your Majesty!”