Chapter 41: After the Bath

On the way back to the residence, Qiu Che passed by a shop under Li Qingwu’s name and recalled that she had been busy launching a new product recently.

Since Fu Ling had been sent to Nightbright City to refine her disguise techniques, and Li Qingwu didn’t trust anyone else, she had been personally overseeing everything. She often spent entire days in the shop.

Thinking of this, Qiu Che instructed Yu Yan to halt the carriage and sent Yu Ming to inquire whether Li Qingwu was there.

Yu Ming quickly returned with an answer. “Master, the shopkeeper said that Madam is busy discussing the design of new clothing with Miss Yaotai.”

Indeed, in just half a month, they had both been preoccupied with their own matters. Li Qingwu had even taken the secret token Qiu Che gave her and gone to Red Sleeves Pavilion to meet Yaotai.

As expected, just like in her previous life, it only took a few days for the two to grow close. Their rapport seemed even more natural than what she shared with Qiu Che.

Li Qingwu buried herself in managing the shop, spending most of her time with Yaotai.

Out of ten times Qiu Che inquired about her whereabouts, eight times she was told that Li Qingwu was with Yaotai.

Hearing the same response once again, Qiu Che wasn’t even surprised anymore.

In fact, she felt a subtle sense of dissatisfaction.

After considering it, she attributed this feeling to having her ‘partner stolen.’

She lowered the carriage curtain and said, “Let’s go.”

…

After returning to the residence and having dinner, Qiu Che remained in the study, poring over old case files.

Over the past half-month, she had meticulously examined past cases and unearthed the hidden truths behind them at an astonishing speed.

She did this for no other reason than to pave the way for Yang Qiu.

If the flood crisis in Puyang were resolved using Yang Qiu’s proposal, he was certain to be promoted.

Not only would this help Qiu Che cultivate a new faction, but it would also alleviate some of the pressure from the court officials who constantly scrutinized her.

At this point, the second draft of the proposal had already passed through the Li faction’s scrutiny. All that remained was for her to find the right moment to officially implement it.

The veteran officials had likely realized by now that no matter how they tried to drive a wedge between them, her alliance with the Li faction remained ‘as solid as iron.’ Eventually, they stopped their petty obstructions, saving her considerable trouble.

The combination of the new laws and the cases she had unearthed would be nothing short of groundbreaking.

Qiu Che could almost picture the expressions on the officials’ faces when the time came.

Lost in thought, she only realized it was nearing midnight when she suddenly remembered she needed to speak with Li Qingwu. Not wanting to disturb her too late, she looked up and called for Yu Ming. “Has Her Highness returned?”

Yu Ming replied, “Yes, Madam is in the bedroom.”

Qiu Che nodded, tidied up her desk, and headed to the bedroom.

There was no one outside the door. Fu Ling was likely still in Nightbright City, and the only person nearby was Fu Feng, lazily hanging upside down from the eaves, meditating with his eyes closed.

Sensing her presence, Fu Feng opened his eyes, his usual sharp gaze softening slightly. Seeing her raise a hand to knock, he hesitated but said nothing.

After all, they were married. Since she was knocking, surely there was no need to remind her that the prince consort was bathing, right?

Deciding not to interfere, Fu Feng closed his eyes again, feigning ignorance.

…

A warm light flickered inside. Qiu Che knocked twice before hearing Li Qingwu’s voice. “Come in.”

So, she entered.

However, the bed was empty.

Instead, a folding screen stood in the center of the room. Behind it, the flickering candlelight cast a hazy silhouette.

Water trickled softly from beyond the screen.

Qiu Che glanced at the scene and instantly understood, Li Qingwu was bathing.

Her body tensed instinctively, and she averted her gaze, about to step back out.

Then she hesitated. They were both women. What was there to be nervous about?

Moreover, it was just a bath. If she left now, wouldn’t it only reinforce the rumors that their ‘marital relationship was strained’?

With that thought, she forced herself to stay put. Before she could speak, Li Qingwu’s voice drifted over. “I’ve been feeling fatigued these days. Come help me massage my shoulders and head.”

Qiu Che froze mid-step. The words stuck in her throat.

Did Li Qingwu… mistake her for Fu Ling?

Hearing no response, Li Qingwu called out again, a hint of curiosity in her tone. “Why are you just standing there?”

Finally, there were footsteps, gradual and deliberate, approaching the screen.

Li Qingwu was completely at ease. She had just finalized the new clothing designs with Yaotai, leaving her in a great mood. Her mind was preoccupied with business matters, and her body was utterly exhausted.

She leaned against the bathtub, closed her eyes, and waited for the familiar hands to press against her temples.

A moment later, a pair of hands landed lightly on her, hesitating before pressing down.

Li Qingwu, unaware of anything amiss, murmured softly, “How was your training in Nightbright City? Are you getting used to it?”

Qiu Che remained silent.

She found herself wondering, was Li Qingwu always this gentle and affectionate with everyone?

…

Outside, Fu Ling arrived and hesitated before knocking. She turned to her brother. “Who is Her Highness speaking with?”

Fu Feng pointed with his chin. “That one.”

Fu Ling immediately understood. She lowered her hand and smacked him on the head. “Watch your words. That’s the prince consort. Address him properly.”

Fu Feng scowled. “You used to call him that too. Why are you suddenly so respectful after a few days in Nightbright City?”

Fu Ling huffed, “That was my mistake. I misjudged him. Regardless, as long as Her Highness acknowledges him, he is the prince consort.”

Fu Feng muttered, “Got it.”

…

Inside, the atmosphere grew subtly tense.

Qiu Che admitted she had been acting on impulse when she approached. She had originally planned to press a couple of times, let Li Qingwu realize the mistake on her own, and step away.

But Li Qingwu frowned slightly, displeased, and gently grasped her retreating wrist. “What’s wrong with you today? Why so quiet?”

As she spoke, she finally opened her eyes.

The moment their gazes met, Qiu Che felt the once-relaxed fingers gripping her wrist stiffen.

She tugged lightly. No release.

She twitched her lips.

She had wanted to reassure Li Qingwu, but before she could speak, she watched as Li Qingwu’s expression cycled from flushed red to pale white, then back to crimson.

In the next instant, just as she was about to let go, she slipped and fell straight into the bathtub.

A startled cry of “Help—” escaped her lips.

Water splashed everywhere.

Reacting quickly, Qiu Che grasped Li Qingwu’s flailing hand. “Don’t panic—”

And then, caught by momentum, she was pulled in as well.

Outside, Fu Feng tensed. “Did Her Highness just call for help?”

He was about to rush in when Fu Ling stopped him, her face reddening. “Relax. There’s no need.”

“She called for help!”

“This is the princess’s residence,” Fu Ling insisted. “Besides… her prince consort is inside. If something truly happened, it’s not our concern.”

Fu Feng hesitated before realization dawned. His face flushed. He turned away, pretending he had heard nothing.

Inside, as Qiu Che surfaced, she muttered, “Your Highness, it’s fine. Just stand up.”

In such a low and pleading tone, when she said, "Don't go," Qiu Che couldn’t help but blink.

She had expected the response to be, "I’m scared."

But to her surprise, Li Qingwu said, "Be careful of the strategy to lure the tiger from the mountain."

Qiu Che’s expression tightened. She gently pressed her hand. "…Got it."

Since they had been discovered, the sounds of movement from the other side no longer tried to conceal themselves.

The drowsy Yu Yan heard the sound of the wind and immediately woke up.

Qiu Che heard her shout, "Who’s there?!"

Of course, no one answered.

The only response was the figure of the person in black quickly fading into the night.

As she was about to pursue, Qiu Che had already opened the door and calmly stopped her. "Don’t chase. By the time you catch up, the flowers will have withered."

Fu Ling finally snapped to attention and almost jumped up from the ground. "An assassin?!"

Fu Feng then asked, "What about His Highness?"

Qiu Che didn’t answer.

She gently asked, "The person’s gone, and you just noticed?"

Her tone wasn’t exactly harsh, but it was colder than usual, colder than her usual indifference.

"As for me, it’s fine, but if Qingwu were the only one here tonight, would I have to be the one to collect her corpse?"

Fu Feng, standing beside her, lowered his head, unable to retort. "It’s my negligence."

He hadn’t noticed someone stealthily infiltrating the residence.

Yu Yan’s face was pale as she quickly knelt down. "My lord…"