Shu Qing has fallen out of favor.
After being sent back to his original residence in the side hall by the King of the Underworld, three days passed without the King coming to see him. Meanwhile, the incident of him attacking the Mountain God spread throughout the Underworld, becoming more exaggerated with each retelling. Initially, it was just a slap, but later it turned into a story of him brutally beating the Mountain God, leaving him half-dead.
No matter how outrageous the rumors became, the consensus among the ghosts of the Underworld was clear: this lowly male concubine, who acted recklessly under the King’s favor, finally got into big trouble and was abandoned by the King.
“Little Immortal, don’t be too upset. His Highness the King of the Underworld is just angry right now. He’ll be fine once he calms down.”
“……”
The maid serving him was named Chun Li. She usually didn’t speak unless spoken to and always seemed afraid of him. Now, she was actually trying to comfort him.
Shu Qing felt he should pull himself together. Even the maid thought he was heartbroken over “falling out of favor.” Reaching this point was even more pathetic than becoming the King’s male concubine.
“Little Immortal, you haven’t been eating well these past few days. No matter what, you should eat something.”
“……”
Was it because he hadn’t been eating much these days that the maid thought he was too heartbroken over “falling out of favor” to eat?
Shu Qing wanted to explain that he simply had no appetite. This wasn’t something new; he had been like this even when he was still sleeping in the main hall. But after thinking it over, he decided not to explain. Some explanations only make things worse. If the maid was convinced he was upset over “falling out of favor,” no matter how he explained, it would just seem like he was stubbornly denying it.
Though it was a bit frustrating, Shu Qing held back, glanced at the breakfast the maid brought, hesitated for a while, and chose the plainest white porridge. Unfortunately, he really had no appetite. Shu Qing didn’t know what was wrong with him. He hadn’t felt hungry even after not eating for days. He scooped the porridge several times, pretending to eat, but didn’t actually take a bite.
“…… By the way, where’s the silver I asked you to get?”
The King of the Underworld was generous to him, never stingy with material things. He could have as many treasures and silks as he wanted, and money too. If he needed it, he could get it from the steward. Shu Qing didn’t have any immediate need for money, but he would save a little regularly. Each time it wasn’t much, so it wouldn’t arouse suspicion, but together it was enough for emergencies.
The maid sighed, “I went yesterday, but the Head Butler said the palace’s expenses are high recently, and every penny is accounted for important uses. There’s no extra to give to Little Immortal right now, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.”
“……”
It was clearly targeting him. Shu Qing wasn’t asking for a mountain of gold and silver. In such a vast Underworld, they couldn’t even spare a little extra silver? Saying that out loud would be laughable.
Shu Qing sneered. He knew the Head Butler resented him, seeing him as a thorn in his side. The reason was simple. When Shu Qing was still struggling at the bottom of the Underworld, it was the Head Butler who promoted him, thinking he was capable, and sent him to serve the King. But then Shu Qing “climbed into” the King’s bed, becoming one of the King’s people, and directly stepped over the Head Butler. Later, he acted recklessly under the King’s favor, punishing many people, several of whom were the Head Butler’s trusted aides. That’s how the grudge formed.
Now that Shu Qing had beaten the Mountain God and was cold-shouldered by the King, everyone thought his good days were over. The Head Butler couldn’t wait to press him down.
“Little Immortal, don’t be angry… Maybe His Highness the King of the Underworld is still angry, and everyone is afraid to upset him. Once he calms down, everything will be fine…”
“……”
He was genuinely a bit annoyed, but after hearing the maid’s words, Shu Qing was left with only helplessness. Everything was being attributed to “falling out of favor.”
Shu Qing chuckled, “Are you comforting me?”
The maid paused. Shu Qing spoke bluntly, “I thought you’d be happy that I’ve ‘fallen out of favor.'”
“……”
The maid quickly lowered her head, unsure how to respond. Before, that would have been true. They said His Highness the King of the Underworld was unpredictable, but after serving Shu Qing closely, Chun Li felt this male concubine was similar. He would punish this person or that person at the drop of a hat, making everyone anxious and extra cautious when serving him.
Until he hit the Mountain God. That scene almost scared her to death. She thought, even with the King’s favor, he couldn’t be so arrogant. But after thinking it over, Chun Li gained a bit of admiration for Shu Qing. She had thought he was just a bully who picked on the weak, but it turned out Shu Qing treated everyone the same. No matter who it was, except for His Highness the King, if they dared to upset him, he dared to hit them.
Thinking along those lines, Chun Li realized that Shu Qing only punished those who gossiped about him behind his back. Each time, there was a reason and justification, not just picking fights. In comparison, His Highness the King’s temper was worse, and his methods of dealing with Shu Qing were more excessive. If Shu Qing were truly unreasonable and prone to misdirected anger, she, as his close servant, wouldn’t have survived this long. But she was still fine.
In fact, Shu Qing was just a bit cold and spoke harshly, but otherwise, he wasn’t difficult to serve. Chun Li paused for a moment, not good with words, and just repeated what she said earlier.
“…… I still think, once His Highness the King calms down, everything will be fine.”
“I did hit the Mountain God, you saw it with your own eyes.”
“I did see it, but actually, actually…”
Chun Li bravely spoke up. “Although it’s disrespectful, and it’s not my place to say… I truly think, Little Immortal did the right thing…”
Shu Qing was genuinely surprised by this. “Really?”
The maid nodded, “Little Immortal doesn’t know, but although the Mountain God and our King of the Underworld are brothers, their relationship isn’t harmonious.”
Shu Qing knew this background but didn’t interrupt her. Suddenly comforting him and speaking up for him, how could he know what the maid’s intentions were? This was a good opportunity to test it.
Shu Qing pretended not to know, “Really?”
“The Mountain God is very jealous of His Highness the King. Even though they are both sons of the Heavenly Emperor, and fought alongside him to conquer the world, the King of the Underworld was given the entire Underworld, governing life and death, while he was only made the Mountain God.”
“Every time he comes here, he seems friendly on the surface, but he’s always making insinuations and nitpicking, making things difficult for us servants.”
Chun Li spoke more and more angrily. “What happened to Little Immortal isn’t the first time.”
Shu Qing didn’t know that. He had only been in the Underworld for a year and hadn’t seen the Mountain God before. It was already difficult to find out the true relationship between him and the King, let alone such secrets.
“Hmm?”
“There was a maid in the palace before, who was taken away by the Mountain God against her will.”
“Now, we don’t even know if she’s alive or dead…”
Shu Qing was sharp, “Were you close?”
Chun Li replied softly, “Yes, we grew up in the Underworld together, like sisters.”
No wonder. That day, she dared to suddenly speak up for him, probably because of this.
“…… So I think, Little Immortal did the right thing. Little Immortal’s words weren’t wrong either. It was the Mountain God who disregarded his status first. How can they blame Little Immortal?”
And again, that same line. “His Highness the King will surely understand, he’s just angry now. Once he calms down, everything will be fine.”
Shu Qing listened from helplessness to amusement. He stood up, “I’m going out for a bit.”
“…… Now? Little Immortal hasn’t eaten yet?”
Shu Qing really had no appetite. The more he smelled, the more nauseous he felt. “I’ll eat when I get back. Tell the kitchen to prepare something sweet, I don’t like these.”
“…… Yes.”
After being “cold-shouldered” by the King for a few days, Shu Qing stayed in the side hall, not stepping out at all. Anyone who didn’t know might think he was under house arrest. The truth was, Shu Qing was just too lazy to move. He had no appetite, no energy, and felt lethargic and tired. It seemed like he was sick, but strangely, his body didn’t feel any pain or discomfort, and his spiritual power was even stronger.
Shu Qing didn’t delve into the reason. He assumed it was the environment affecting him, making him abnormal in such an abnormal place.
As he walked out of the side hall, two guards stationed at the door followed him. This was an unprecedented treatment.
Shu Qing stopped, “Why are you following me?”
The guards replied formally, “By order of His Highness the King, to protect Little Immortal.”
“……”
What protection? It was more like surveillance. Afraid he’d hit someone again? Sending two guards to hold him down before he went crazy?
Shu Qing snorted inwardly, but let it go. They were just following him, not confining him. It was already good enough.
Shu Qing ignored them and turned to walk towards the Head Butler’s courtyard. Whether he was “out of favor” or not, as long as his relationship with the King remained, he wouldn’t let others bully or belittle him. If the King truly abandoned him and kicked him out of the Underworld, he might even thank the King for letting him return to the Immortal Mountain early.
Shu Qing wasn’t too angry about this, but he had to act angry. With the guards in tow, he marched aggressively to the Head Butler’s courtyard. The Head Butler happened to be returning from outside and met Shu Qing at the courtyard gate.
Seeing Shu Qing, the Head Butler remained calm, his gaze and tone somewhat condescending. “Oh, what wind blew Little Immortal here today—”
Smack—
Before he could finish, Shu Qing pulled out a long, thin whip from his sleeve. Moving as fast as lightning, it sliced through the air and landed directly on the Head Butler’s face, leaving him with a mouthful of blood from just one strike.
“…… You, you! How dare you hit me!”
The Head Butler clutched his aching face, staring at the blood on his hands in disbelief that Shu Qing would strike without hesitation. The guards following Shu Qing were also stunned. The King had ordered them to keep an eye on Shu Qing, to prevent any more reckless behavior, but Shu Qing was too fast for anyone to stop. They had no choice but to step forward and shield Shu Qing, making it seem like they were there to support him.
After hitting him, Shu Qing leisurely took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off the whip. “Can’t even come up with a little silver, and you call yourself the Head Butler? How are you managing things? This whip is my way of teaching you a lesson on behalf of His Highness the King.”
“Send the silver to me today, or else I’ll come back and whip you again tomorrow. If you don’t give it to me for a few days, I’ll whip you for a few days. Go ahead, complain to His Highness about me if you dare.”
[Author’s Note]
Little Butterfly’s life motto: Living is about fighting.