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Chapter 30: Lip Mark
🕑 Added 2025-03-10 12:26:02 +0000 UTCYu Ming informed Qiu Che that two guests had come to visit.
One was Yao Tai, and the other was Yang Qiu.
"Miss Yao Tai said she's here to deliver a wedding gift. She originally planned to send it to the courtyard, but upon hearing that you and Your Highness had returned to the Princess's residence, she came here instead. She's waiting in the side hall."
"As for… Young Master Yang," Yu Ming hesitated briefly, "he said he was unable to attend the wedding banquet yesterday due to illness and has come today to offer his apologies."
She quickly added, "Rest assured, my lady. Miss Yao Tai was careful and did not run into him."
Qiu Che pondered for a moment before responding calmly, "Have someone serve him good tea and let him wait for a while. Take me to see Yao Tai first."
"And… how should I explain it to Young Master Yang?"
"Just tell him," Qiu Che thought for a moment before smiling slightly, "that the Princess and I are newlyweds, deeply attached to each other, and unwilling to be apart even for a moment. I ask for his kind understanding."
Yu Ming: "…"
Are you sure this is a request for understanding and not just an excuse to brush him off?
In the side hall, a woman stood by the window, her long hair cascading down her back, with two thin braids falling at the sides of her temples. She wore a lilac-colored gown, and her wrists were adorned with an assortment of red string bracelets, packed together in a dazzling array. Her fingertips were painted a striking red, giving her an eye-catching appearance.
When Qiu Che arrived, Yao Tai was standing with her arms crossed, staring out at the scenery in a daze.
Hearing the door open, Yao Tai turned with a smile. "City Lord Qiu."
Qiu Che gave her a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"It’s really not easy to see you these days," Yao Tai teased as she turned around.
She took a seat at the nearby table, effortlessly picking up the teapot to pour herself some tea. Glancing behind Qiu Che with a hint of surprise, she drew out her words, "I thought you'd bring your new wife along."
Qiu Che cast her a glance and also took a seat. "Does Miss Yao Tai wish to meet her?"
"Of course," Yao Tai blinked playfully and pushed a cup of tea toward Qiu Che. "I’m very curious to see what kind of extraordinary woman it takes to make someone as distinguished as City Lord Qiu personally request a marriage decree from His Majesty."
Qiu Che didn’t respond.
Years of holding a high position had made her habitually cautious. She subtly took a whiff of the tea before taking a sip and then said, "You’ll see her soon enough. But Miss Yao Tai, was there something important you came to discuss today?"
"There is," Yao Tai’s playful expression faded as she lazily swirled her tea cup with two fingers, speaking nonchalantly. "The Red Hell Bird Brought back new information. Yu Ming has been busy with your wedding preparations these past few days and hasn't been in Nightbright City. I was worried that passing the message through too many people might lead to leaks, so I came in person—"
Qiu Che put down her cup. "What news?"
"The Nan Yi people have entered the country," Yao Tai observed her expression carefully, speaking slowly. "About ten of them, disguised under different identities, have already made their way into the capital."
"The strange thing is that none of them were flagged during identity checks along the way." Yao Tai paused. "They came well-prepared, disguised to perfection, and had no trouble passing through. I suspect they have ulterior motives."
Ever since the three nations reached a truce more than a decade ago, the Nan Yi people had kept to themselves. Why were they suddenly making a move?
That was what puzzled Yao Tai the most.
"The worst part is that as soon as they entered the capital, they vanished without a trace, like fish slipping into the sea," Yao Tai warned. "The court is in turmoil right now, City Lord, so I advise you to be extra cautious."
Qiu Che mulled it over for a moment before saying, "I understand. Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Yao Tai instantly reverted to her mischievous demeanor, as if her earlier seriousness had been nothing more than a passing act. Her tone turned playful again. "Just bring your wife over for me to meet sometime—
I’m really curious. Just what kind of breathtaking beauty managed to win you over?"
Qiu Che paused, not particularly inclined to answer.
So, she decided to mimic Yao Tai’s teasing tone and said, "Miss Yao Tai, if you keep talking like this, I might start thinking you have feelings for me."
"Ah, that’s not it. I do appreciate a pretty face, but I don’t toy with the emotions of married people," Yao Tai tapped a freshly painted red nail against the table with a meaningful look. "Unless you were a woman."
Qiu Che’s heart skipped a beat, she almost thought Yao Tai had seen through her disguise.
But she maintained her composure, feigning confusion. "Why would you say that?"
"In my hometown, there’s a term specifically for close relationships between women. It’s called ‘lesbian’."
Yao Tai smiled at her, eyes gleaming with amusement. "If you were a woman, given your looks, I wouldn’t mind being one of those ‘lesbian.’"
She said it casually, without much thought but to Qiu Che, it felt like an intentional hint.
In her past life, Qiu Che had investigated Yao Tai. Before entering a brothel and becoming a courtesan, Yao Tai had been a young lady of an old noble family in the capital. However, when her family was convicted of corruption, the empress dowager confiscated their assets, men were exiled to the border, women were enslaved, and Yao Tai was sent to Red Sleeve House.
She was a native of the capital. There was no such thing as a ‘hometown dialect’ from her. So where did this so-called ‘lesbian’ term come from?
Yet, despite her mysterious background, Yao Tai had single-handedly built an enormous underground network in just five years. That alone proved she had secrets Qiu Che hadn’t uncovered.
But if it had been difficult for her, she had never shown it, she had even handed over control of the underground city to Qiu Che without hesitation.
There were too many uncertainties. Qiu Che had her suspicions, of course.
But in her past life, Yao Tai had helped her for nearly a decade without ever betraying her, so Qiu Che wasn’t particularly eager to dig deeper into her mysteries.
Even back then, Yao Tai had shown great interest in both her and Li Qingwu, just as she was doing now.
Qiu Che thought about this, took another sip of tea, and changed the subject without a trace.
The two continued chatting about various other matters until Yao Tai eventually got up to leave.
"I won’t intrude on your newlywed bliss any longer."
Before leaving, she said, “The wedding gift is with Yu Ming. Don’t forget to pick it up—City Lord Qiu.”
Then, she winked mischievously at Qiu Che. “No need to thank me too much.”
Qiu Che’s eyelid twitched. Suddenly, she wasn’t so eager to find out what kind of wedding gift it was.
Out of courtesy and to avoid being seen, she stood up and personally escorted Yao Tai out through the back courtyard.
When she turned around, she saw Li Qingwu standing alone under the corridor, staring blankly in their direction.
It was unclear what she was thinking.
Qiu Che inexplicably felt a moment of guilt but quickly brushed it off.
She hadn’t done anything to betray Li Qingwu, so what was there to feel guilty about?
Besides, even if she had, there was no reason to feel guilty.
She and Li Qingwu weren’t a real couple.
With that thought, she walked over calmly and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Li Qingwu didn’t answer.
Instead, she asked something else entirely: “That was… Miss Yao Tai?”
Yao Tai was one of the few women who could rival Li Qingwu for the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital. Her beauty was sharp and unforgettable, just one glance, and she would be etched in memory.
Otherwise, how could she have earned the title "The Capital’s Scarlet Mole"?
Qiu Che cleared her throat. She wasn’t surprised that Li Qingwu had recognized her at a glance. “Yes, that was her. She’s also my ally. If you meet one day, you’ll probably get along well.”
After all, in the previous life, they had hit it off quite well.
Li Qingwu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly looked up at her. “Ally?”
Qiu Che met her complicated gaze, a little puzzled. “Yeah.”
She had no intention of hiding it from Li Qingwu. Since they would be discussing matters together in the future, secrecy would only breed distrust.
Li Qingwu asked, “Then… where do I rank among your allies?”
That question was… strange.
Qiu Che felt like she wasn’t actually asking about allies, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
Feeling a little lost, she hesitated and answered, “The… sixth?”
If she didn’t count Yang Qiu and Wu Yiqi, who hadn’t officially allied with her yet, there were still the Empress Dowager, Yu Ming, and Yu Yan ahead in line.
Oh, and Dr. Chen Huichun, who had recently been forcibly conscripted into Nightbright City after being subdued by Yu Yan.
Li Qingwu looked like she was on the verge of blacking out.
Under her aggrieved gaze, Qiu Che suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. She rubbed her nose, about to speak, when Li Qingwu averted her eyes again.
She quickly regained her usual calm expression, but after glancing once more in the direction Yao Tai had left, she suddenly said, “I think I’ve seen her before.”
Qiu Che swallowed her words.
Li Qingwu continued slowly, “In a dream.”
It had actually been many nights ago.
She had only just now seen Yao Tai in person, which was why the memory surfaced.
Qiu Che was silent for a moment. “What kind of dream?”
Li Qingwu’s gaze flickered. She parted her lips slightly and murmured, “I don’t remember. But… it probably wasn’t a good dream.”
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have woken up feeling breathless, her pillow damp with tears.
Qiu Che said nothing.
Li Qingwu was still lost in thought, unconsciously following Qiu Che as she walked. It wasn’t until she bumped into her back that she snapped out of it.
She rubbed her forehead and asked, “What’s wrong…”
“Mm…”
Qiu Che pondered for a moment, then quickly said before Li Qingwu could react, “I’m about to meet my next potential ally, maybe. But he’s putting on too many airs right now, so we’re not officially allies yet. To show him that I’m not easy to manipulate and that I’m not a fool, I found an excuse to keep him waiting for a bit.”
After saying that, she silently looked at Li Qingwu, as if urging her to ask something.
Li Qingwu, as if waking from a daze, followed along, “What excuse?”
Qiu Che smirked in satisfaction at her cooperation. “I told him that my wife and I are newlyweds, deeply in love, and reluctant to part.”
The moment she finished speaking, Li Qingwu tripped.
The ever-poised and dignified princess actually tangled her own feet and nearly fell flat on her face.
Qiu Che reacted quickly, catching her just in time. She held her waist for a brief moment before letting go.
Li Qingwu hadn’t said anything yet when Qiu Che glanced down at her delicate embroidered shoes and let out a thoughtful “tsk.”
Li Qingwu assumed she was mocking her clumsiness, or maybe even her small feet. Her face, which had just turned red, instantly paled again.
She bit her lip, swallowing back the word “ridiculous” that had nearly escaped.
Instead, she asked in a low voice, “…And then?”
“Then, I need your cooperation.”
Qiu Che didn’t notice her sudden drop in mood. She tugged at her own collar, exposing a sliver of pale skin.
Then, recalling Li Qingwu’s easily flustered nature, she hesitated and pulled it back up. Instead, she flipped out the white lapel of her outer robe. “Your Highness, if you wouldn’t mind, could you leave a lip rouge mark here?”
Li Qingwu: “…”
Her face turned red again.
Meanwhile, in the reception hall, Yang Qiu had already been waiting for fifteen minutes. His tea was nearly cold by the time Qiu Che finally arrived.
She strode in confidently, looking entirely too pleased with herself, like someone who had just enjoyed a most fulfilling moment. She walked up and cupped her hands in greeting. “Brother Yang, apologies for being late. My wife and I are newlyweds, and I couldn’t bear to part from her for too long… I hope you don’t mind.”
Yang Qiu rose politely, his expression calm. “No harm done.”
Qiu Che put on a guilty face and bowed to him.
But as she lowered her head, Yang Qiu’s eyes caught sight of the bright, unmistakable lip print on her collar, deep crimson, stark against the white fabric.
Undeniably intimate.
Bonus question: What do you think Yao Tai’s wedding gift is? (Passes the mic.)
