Plan A
The Days and Nights of the Courtesan 16
Not Leaving
Qu Feiqing let out a light sigh, spread the xuan paper, and picked up the brush to sketch.
She thought she had made herself clear enough, so why did Su Xin still act as if she was completely oblivious?
Does she really not know… or is she just pretending not to?
Qu Feiqing’s lips curved downward. Regardless of which it was, once you provoke her, don’t think about escaping.
Su Xin delivered herself right to her door, so she wasn’t going to be polite about it.
Qu Feiqing painted until late at night; the candle inside the lampshade had already burned down to a third. Qu Feiqing blinked her sore eyes and looked at the painting.
Amidst a sea of flowers, a beauty smiled.
Qu Feiqing put away her brush, allowing the ink on the painting to air dry. She hesitated to inscribe a poem but eventually decided against it.
After bathing, Qu Feiqing lay on the dragon bed. She had grown accustomed to occasionally sleeping while holding Su Xin; now, she felt the taste of “lonely pillow, sleepless night”.
Qu Feiqing was a very selfish person. She didn’t like giving more than the other person; she always wanted to be the clear-headed one. But now she realized that reducing her affection by even a little was such a difficult thing to do.
Feelings are far from being as easy as spoken words, as if you can let go whenever you want.
Over there, Su Xin was still quite depressed, sitting on the bed with her eyes wide open, completely sleepless.
“Miss, is something troubling you?”
Shujuan asked softly with her eyes lowered.
Shujuan appeared more respectful and humble, standing there with a rather cold demeanor. There was even a hint of indifference, and she rarely smiled or shed tears in front of Su Xin anymore.
“It’s nothing much, Shujuan. Do you feel stifled staying in the palace?”
“Miss, do you feel stifled?”
Shujuan didn’t answer Su Xin’s question but responded with another question.
“A little bit.”
Su Xin fiddled with the jade bead on her wrist. This was given to her by Qu Feiqing. It looked like a very precious item.
“Miss, are you willing to leave Her Majesty?”
Shujuan asked probing, and Su Xin’s movements paused as she looked up at Shujuan.
Her gaze was as sharp as a needle, pricking Shujuan’s heart.
“You know?”
“Miss never intended to hide it from Shujuan, did you?”
Shujuan smiled bitterly. She was Su Xin’s personal maid; wherever Su Xin went, she had to follow. But when Su Xin didn’t want her to follow and went to rest with Her Majesty, she wasn’t blind. She saw everything clearly.
“Why ask if I’m willing to leave her?”
Su Xin was curious about this. What had she done to give Shujuan the impression that she couldn’t leave Qu Feiqing?
“Miss, don’t you like Her Majesty?”
Shujuan clenched her fists, her heart overflowing with sadness.
“Huh? What? I don’t like her.”
Su Xin said, bewildered. When had she ever said she liked Qu Feiqing? She just enjoyed getting intimate with her, and it seemed like Qu Feiqing liked her.
Shujuan stared blankly at Su Xin, her face devoid of any expression, her voice very soft.
“Miss, you’re truly heartless.”
【Host, you’re such a scumbag.】
Even Fourteen couldn’t help but speak up.
“Hmm?”
Su Xin was very innocent. Why was she suddenly labeled as a scumbag? She was utterly baffled.
Shujuan looked at Su Xin’s bewildered expression and sighed inwardly, not knowing whether to feel schadenfreude or empathy.
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“If Miss doesn’t like Her Majesty, why do you cling to her so persistently, seeking her out every day?”
If you don’t like someone, why give her the impression that you do?
Su Xin found herself in a dilemma. She only wanted to flirt without falling in love. She had thought she and Qu Feiqing had reached an understanding, but apparently not?
Su Xin dismissed Shujuan and sat quietly on her bed, contemplating life.
Master Fourteen, does everyone think I like Qu Feiqing?
【Except for those who are unaware, it seems so.】
Su Xin sighed. Actually, she quite liked Qu Feiqing. She liked Qu Feiqing’s personality, liked Qu Feiqing’s face, liked getting intimate with Qu Feiqing, but something was still missing.
【Host, if you saw the Emperor involved with someone else, would you be angry?】
Why should I be angry about something consensual? As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.
Ah yes, she liked Qu Feiqing, but it was the kind of liking one has for a casual partner.
Fourteen stopped talking. This kind of thing was too complicated for it to untangle. It was better to just watch, as long as the situation didn’t get out of control. The host could do as she pleased.
The next day, Su Xin began to keep her distance from Qu Feiqing.
“Are you avoiding me?”
Qu Feiqing caught Su Xin, who had run out of the palace to admire the flowers.
“No, I want to apologize to you.”
Su Xin shook her head.
“Hmm? What did you do wrong?”
Hope rose in Qu Feiqing’s heart.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made you think I liked you…”
“That’s enough.”
Qu Feiqing interrupted Su Xin before she could finish, the coldness echoing in her chest, causing a sharp pain.
“Do you hate me?”
“No, I think you’re great. Your face is beautiful, and your personality is too, but…”
Su Xin looked at the ground and sighed.
【Host, you idiot, just shut up.】
Fourteen really didn’t want Su Xin to continue breaking hearts.
“There’s no need to say more.”
Qu Feiqing did not leave in a huff, but instead took Su Xin’s hand, a faint smile appearing on her face.
“Yesterday, the Imperial Kitchen created a new type of pastry. I thought it looked pretty good, so I want you to try it.”
Qu Feiqing pulled Su Xin along, and Su Xin followed her in a daze.
Master Fourteen, this isn’t what I imagined.
Fourteen didn’t want to speak; it was tired and didn’t want to play along anymore.
Su Xin stared blankly as Qu Feiqing fed her piece after piece of pastry, her expression filled with confusion.
Qu Feiqing looked at Su Xin’s bewildered yet obedient demeanor, a smile on her face, but the dark aura within her not only remained but grew stronger.
If Su Xin had been more resolute, she might not have adopted this conciliatory approach. However, Su Xin always displayed a sense of dependence on her, drawing her in deeper and deeper.
On the outside, Su Xin appeared delicate and fragile, like a willow swaying in the wind, but inside, she possessed a very strong spirit, akin to a sharp sword.
Being too unyielding can lead to being broken easily. Qu Feiqing didn’t want to push her too hard, but neither did she want to let her go just like that.
Isn’t this situation good now? Su Xin looks so obedient, so gentle.
Why does she insist on escaping from her side? Su Xin feels bored, so she wants to leave. If she leaves, she will abandon her here all alone.
It was Su Xin who first broke into her heart and got close to her. How can she just run away like this?
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It’s too selfish.
Qu Feiqing realized that Su Xin is the type of person who becomes strong when facing strength and weak when facing weakness.
If Su Xin were to compete, it might even stimulate her competitive spirit. Qu Feiqing could tell that Su Xin definitely wasn’t the type to willingly accept failure.
But what if it was a particularly soft approach, like a knife wrapped in cotton? Su Xin would be completely unaware—that’s her personality’s weak point.
Qu Feiqing wiped away the crumbs of the pastry from the corner of her lips and licked them off her own finger.
The gesture was quite provocative, yet very natural.
Su Xin leaned in, and they exchanged a sweet, intimate kiss.
The two of them went back to their room and got intimate again. Su Xin felt exceptionally tired and fell asleep with her eyes closed.
It seemed like Su Xin and Qu Feiqing had returned to the past. Qu Feiqing became even more attentive and caring towards Su Xin, which made Su Xin feel a bit strange. She wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Qu Feiyun and Su Xin huddled together whispering. After all, Su Xin was too bored, and Qu Feiyun was also quite idle. Two idle people ended up drinking tea, chatting, and reading books together. As they talked, the topic eventually shifted to Qu Feiqing.
“It seems like that Sister Emperor really likes you, huh.”
Qu Feiyun propped her face with her hand, her elbow resting on the stone table.
“Hmm.”
Su Xin acknowledged, nodding her head.
“But I feel something’s off. Why do I feel like Sister Emperor dotes on you the same way she dotes on a little wife?”
Qu Feiyun changed her posture, propping her face with both hands, her eyes scanning Su Xin up and down.
Su Xin smiled but said nothing.
The entire imperial palace knew that the Emperor had a cherished little guqin player in the harem, treasured dearly.
One day, when Su Xin woke up and tried to get out of bed, she found her legs weak and nearly stumbled.
Su Xin didn’t think she had overexerted herself. She was helped back to bed by Shujuan, and asked Shujuan to summon the imperial physician.
The imperial physician came but couldn’t diagnose anything specific, so he prescribed a few doses of tonic herbs to replenish energy and left.
Su Xin knew what was going on and sighed while sitting on the bed.
Qu Feiqing stood silently beside Su Xin’s bed and reached out to touch Su Xin’s leg.
“I’ve already told you I won’t leave, why don’t you believe me?”
Su Xin looked at Qu Feiqing, knowing that it was Qu Feiqing’s doing.
“You never said that.”
Qu Feiqing pursed her lips. This person had always been looking for an opportunity, maybe waiting until she felt completely bored or thought the outside world was safe, and then wanting to leave again.
“Well, I’m saying it now.”
Su Xin pouted.
“I don’t like this. I will get angry.”
Su Xin looked at Qu Feiqing with her clear black-and-white eyes, speaking earnestly.
“I won’t lie to you, I will stay with you for a lifetime.”
Su Xin saw that Qu Feiqing was still as silent as a wooden statue and poked Qu Feiqing’s hand.
Qu Feiqing’s body shuddered and looked at Su Xin with an incredulous expression.
She thought she was a wild horse that wouldn’t be tied down, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Really?”
Qu Feiqing’s voice was somewhat hoarse. She looked down at Su Xin, still filled with doubt.
“Mm-hmm.”
Su Xin nodded.
She was indeed very bored, but her profession involved constant adventure. When it was quiet and she had free time, she preferred to stay curled up without moving.
Qu Feiqing was exceptionally good to her, and that feeling gradually wore down her desire to leave.
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Just as Qu Feiyun said, Qu Feiqing spoiled her just like pampering a little wife.
Su Xin would soften her heart. She still didn’t know what jealousy felt like, and she found it hard to imagine Qu Feiqing being involved with someone else.
Qu Feiqing was a qualified lover; she didn’t even give her a chance to feel jealous.
“If you lie to me…”
Qu Feiqing’s hand gently caressed Su Xin’s knee. This time, it was a genuine promise—if she deceived her, then these legs would truly be unnecessary.
“I won’t.”
Su Xin pressed her forehead against Qu Feiqing’s and closed her eyes.
Life is so short, why cause trouble when you’ve met a good person?
In the second year after Su Xin came to the imperial palace, a moderately significant event occurred: Qu Feiqing’s imprisoned brother, Qu Xingchen’s father, died—by s*icide.
The author has something to say:
Author: Did someone mention a small dark room?
Su Xin: I’m so well-behaved.
Female Emperor: No confinement [rubbing Su Xin’s head], I can’t bear to.
If she gets hurt even a little, my heart will ache, let alone if I caused it myself.
Su Xin = Showy, dramatic, and shameless
