Chapter 10: I Can Afford to Raise You.

Chapter 10: I Can Afford to Raise You.

Darkness, thick as mist, rapidly besieged the entire Eastern Palace. From the towering halls to the winding palace paths, none escaped its grasp.

A hand lightly brushed aside a pearl curtain; the moist, round beads collided with a crisp clinking sound. The palace maids and eunuchs waiting outside stood as silent as cicadas in winter. The quieter it was inside, the more these servants worried.

The June night was not particularly chilly, and the ice basins had been removed early. The lamps illuminating the room were inlaid with shimmering turquoise. A breeze drifted in through the window, carrying away the lingering wisps of sweet incense.

Perhaps because of the news that she could leave the palace, Tang Zhuozhuo’s clear eyes were brimming with smiles. She was even noticeably more attentive toward Huo Qiu, who sat in the seat of honor.

Huo Qiu stopped his chopsticks after only a few dishes. The way his sword-like brows were tightly knit was somewhat intimidating. He kept his eyes narrowed, watching Tang Zhuozhuo as she sent small mouthfuls of food into her mouth, a faint smile gradually spreading across her face.

When Tang Zhuozhuo looked up, she saw both Huo Qiu and Zhang Desheng staring at her without blinking. The former was one thing, but the latter’s expression of shock was impossible to hide.

She offered Huo Qiu a somewhat shy smile, then her glazed almond eyes shifted, and she gave a haughty glare to the sheepishly smiling Zhang Desheng.

Why is everyone looking at me like this? Go stay in the Cold Palace for a few years and see for yourselves. To be able to eat like this after getting used to leftovers and cold scraps is already quite an achievement.

Though she thought this, she still let out a huffy, low snort.

The pad of her white-jade finger rubbed against a jade spoon. The crisp, subtle sound of the spoon hitting the bowl broke the silence of the room.

She felt too embarrassed to continue eating.

“Why is Your Highness looking at me like that?” Even though she felt she was acting perfectly reasonably in her heart, she bit her lip and her face slowly flushed red under Huo Qiu’s indifferent gaze.

Just because I ate a little more… you don’t have to look at me so seriously, right?

Seeing the young woman put down her soup spoon, Huo Qiu pursed his lips with a hint of regret. His sharp gaze drifted toward Zhang Desheng, who was currently playing the role of a wooden statue.

Zhang Desheng’s body instantly stiffened, and he silently retreated a few steps.

“I remember the pastries in your hall are quite good,” Huo Qiu said, his gaze lingering for a moment on her wrists, which were as fair as congealed fat. He asked as if it was a casual thought q.

Tang Zhuozhuo immediately nodded, her eyes lighting up like two brilliant suns.

Huo Qiu was nearly dazed by the sight, his gaze becoming incredibly dark.

“Yesterday, I specifically had someone find a chef who specializes in pastries. The ones sent to Your Highness this afternoon were made by him. Would Your Highness like to try them again?”

Meeting her sparkling eyes, Huo Qiu suddenly lost his composure and laughed. “Very well.”

With a single look from Tang Zhuozhuo, the palace maid waiting nearby understood her meaning, bowed, lifted the curtain, and left.

“I remember you used to eat very little. Recently… you’ve stopped dieting?”

Huo Qiu’s gaze fell upon her palm-sized face, then moved down past her long, fair neck, finally stopping at her slender waist that seemed like it could be held in one hand.

She had always been thin, without a bit of extra flesh. When the wind was strong, Huo Qiu often wondered if she would be blown away if she stepped outside, completely unaware of where all the food she ate actually went.

Tang Zhuozhuo was silent for a moment before lowering her eyes. her voice drifted through her dark hair into Huo Qiu’s ears: “I haven’t… haven’t eaten that much lately.”

Her voice was soft and hesitant, carrying a thick, honey-like sweetness. Huo Qiu closed his eyes. That subtle sweetness in his heart went down his throat and flowed directly into his limbs and bones, completely beyond his control.

It was as if he were possessed.

Just a tiny bit of sweetness from her was enough to make him lose his bearings.

Tang Zhuozhuo propped her chin on her hand, revealing a small section of skin like congealed fat, dazzlingly white. The bracelet on her wrist emitted a faint green glow. The jade complemented her bright, charming eyes. Her curved eyes narrowed into a beautiful shape, and she grew increasingly confident: “Besides, even if I could eat more, Your Highness can afford to raise me.”

Huo Qiu’s tall frame stiffened slightly, then he quickly recovered.

For Tang Zhuozhuo to please him, she didn’t need any sweet talk; just a single smile, and he would bring the very best to her.

His gaze darkened, carrying the gloom of a gathering storm. It held many emotions, but eventually, they all turned into a vast mist of snow and vanished.

I cannot trust her again.

“Yes, I can afford it.” Huo Qiu’s voice was habitually low and indifferent, enough to make one shiver, yet now it carried a faint touch of indulgence, diluting his sharp aura.

Tang Zhuozhuo’s heart skipped a beat. Her finger holding the clear tea twitched. It was unclear whether she was startled by the indulgence in his voice or burned by the tea. For a while, she just held the teacup and sipped in small mouthfuls, not knowing what to say.

It was true. What Huo Qiu wanted was perhaps not her slightly redundant help, but for her to return his deep affection in kind.

She had seen in her previous life just how much he adored her.

Now, all she could give him was a few subtle hints using the advantage of her rebirth. Yet, even without her indirect warnings, he would still be able to stabilize the world.

A white mist rose before Tang Zhuozhuo’s eyes, blurring her vision. It quickly condensed into a crystal teardrop on her long eyelashes. She blinked, looked up at Huo Qiu, and smiled. “When Your Highness goes to Xijiang, will you be taking anyone else?”

“I am going on official business. Why would I take anyone?” His sword-like brows furrowed as he spoke with a light, questioning tone.

“But didn’t Your Highness take Zhong Liangdi to Chai County last time?” she murmured softly, gently setting down the blue-and-white porcelain cup, hiding the pinkish-white palm of her hand.

Huo Qiu naturally heard her. He slowly stood up and paced over to stand before Tang Zhuozhuo. His tone was indifferent, bordering on mockery: “Back then I asked you, and you said that sharing a room with me was truly disgusting. You said whoever wanted to go could just go.”

Though his words were spoken gently, Tang Zhuozhuo felt a chill seep from her heart, up her spine, and onto her forearms, to the point that goosebumps appeared on her fair, delicate skin.

She finally remembered that scene.

It was during the first month after she had married into the Eastern Palace. Whenever Huo Qiu was free, he would come to Yiqiu Palace to accompany her. Yet, Tang Zhuozhuo’s least favorite person to see was him.

Through various words, even insults and curses—he eventually came less often. During the day, he attended court and handled state affairs; at night, he stayed in the main hall.

Until one day, he had just left the court and hadn’t even changed his court robes before coming to tell her to pack for Chai County. He had originally thought he could finally find an excuse to take her out for a trip to build their relationship.

But she had just sat on the edge of the bed, not even bothering to move, and directly spoke those chilling words.

Tang Zhuozhuo’s pupils snapped wide. She finally came to her senses. Seeing Huo Qiu’s thin, cold profile and the gloom on his face, her body trembled.

I’m… I’m dead!

“I… I was joking at the time.” After a long silence, Tang Zhuozhuo managed to squeeze out these words that even she didn’t believe.

Sure enough, a low sneer came from the man beside her. Tang Zhuozhuo’s slender fingers wound around her silver-threaded handkerchief, her fingertips turning a deep, somber bluish-white.

“I won’t take her.” Huo Qiu’s expression was complex. He paused, then said stiffly, “There are still matters in the hall. I won’t accompany you further.”

By the time those few plates of pastries were brought out, Huo Qiu had already been gone for a while. Tang Zhuozhuo sighed and instructed the people around her, “Move them to the pavilion. It’s a bit stuffy in the hall.”

The small courtyard of Yiqiu Palace was not large, but it was filled with rare flowers and exotic plants. In the deep night, lamps were hung outside. The cool night breeze blew against her face. The silver bells on Tang Zhuozhuo’s ankles tinkled with every step, the sound carrying quite a distance.

After sitting in the pavilion for a while, Tang Zhuozhuo noticed An Xia was missing. She called a palace maid to ask and learned that An Zhi was leaving the palace tomorrow, so An Xia had gone to An Zhi’s room.

She remained silent for a moment before saying softly, “Take me to have a look.”

Unexpectedly, as she reached the door of the small side-room where An Zhi lived, she heard the low sounds of a hushed argument, exceptionally clear and distinct in the quiet night.

The author has something to say:

Huo Qiu: I absolutely cannot trust this little liar again!