Chapter 16: The Beauty Mark

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Unexpectedly, Li Qian’s painting skills were extraordinary. Though many portraits she had seen resembled the subject in form but lacked their spirit, stiff and lifeless, Li Qian’s artistry was like a divine touch. The figure in his painting bore three parts of the soul in the brow and eyes, vibrant and striking, as if about to come alive.

Shen Quanyi’s heart warmed. Merely gazing at it, she found tears welling in her eyes. Given Li Qian’s status and her own as merely a concubine, such devotion moved her deeply.

Li Qian suppressed an improper thought stirring within him. Turning, he noticed the tears in Shen Quanyi’s eyes and drew her tightly into his embrace, soothing her, "Why do you cry? We have many days ahead of us."

Just as Shen Quanyi was about to speak, her gaze froze, her steady breath faltered, and her hand, resting at her side, suddenly lifted to brush the corner of the painted figure’s eye.

There was a small red mole there.

Seeing Shen Quanyi’s action, Li Qian’s eyes darkened but he soon smiled indifferently, “Just a slip of the brush.” With that, he gently swept aside the stray strands of hair at her ear.

Though it was only a small dot of ink, Shen Quanyi felt a twinge of regret. Such a spirited painting, marred by that lone red mole, somehow made it seem less like her.

Her eyes shifted, locking onto the painted figure’s gaze, and suddenly her heart skipped a beat.

It felt as though the figure had come to life and was challenging her.

But Li Qian seemed unwilling to dwell on it further. He called Qiuyue in to clear the table.

Qiuyue and Xingye entered with bowed heads and obedient demeanors, Xingye holding a cup of tea which Shen Quanyi and Li Qian accepted, sipping to soothe their throats.

Qiuyue, rolling up the painting, became ever more certain that Shen Quanyi held a special place in Li Qian’s heart. She resolved to serve her well.

“Let us retire,” Li Qian said.

He pressed his face close to Shen Quanyi’s ear, one hand wandering beneath her hem, encountering softness and warmth.

Li Qian’s desire was intense, a fact Shen Quanyi understood after two nights of sharing his bed. Perhaps for a man this was pleasure, but for a woman, only pain remained.

“You shall never be forsaken by me,” he vowed.

Men often professed grand oaths in bed.

Li Qian was shirtless. Though he had passed his thirtieth year, his physique remained well-maintained: broad shoulders, narrow waist, muscles taut and strong. His arm encircled Shen Quanyi’s slender waist.

She nestled tenderly and timidly against his broad chest, a feeling Li Qian cherished.

He was like a towering tree; she, a delicate vine clinging to him.

“Master…”

Shen Quanyi’s voice was husky, yet irresistibly alluring. Li Qian smiled faintly, fingers gently caressing her rosy lips.

“There is a beauty, once seen, never forgotten; one day apart, thoughts run wild.”

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Having spoken, Li Qian suddenly rose and swiftly lifted Shen Quanyi. She was so overwhelmed she couldn’t react immediately.

Looking up again, she saw Li Qian holding a silver hairpin, already securing it in her hair. Shen Quanyi raised her hand to brush the hairpin, then looked up and smiled at Li Qian.

Under the candlelight, that smile wasn’t so clearly visible, but her heart suddenly fluttered. The face he kept hidden deep within, untouched by others, suddenly awoke. That face was so familiar, frequently appearing in his dreams, haunting him.

“Is it beautiful?” Shen Quanyi asked.

Li Qian’s breath caught slightly; he seemed frozen in place.

“Of course. No one can compare to you in my heart.”

He spoke slowly, gazing long and deep, emotions complex and profound in his eyes. Shen Quanyi wasn’t sure if she was mistaken, but she glimpsed a joy of rediscovery on his face.

Soon, the darkness in Li Qian’s expression faded, replaced by desire. He turned over and embraced Shen Quanyi from behind, his rough palm tracing her flat belly.

Pretending not to understand his intentions, Shen Quanyi pulled the embroidered quilt around them with one hand, while the other gently stroked Li Qian’s thick brows.

His bone structure was striking—prominent brow ridges and a high nose bridge made his eyes appear even deeper.

Dissatisfied with Shen Quanyi’s coyness, Li Qian bent to bite her ear.

She twisted uncomfortably.

Li Qian was enjoying himself but noticed Shen Quanyi had fallen silent, not even humming. Frowning, he turned her face toward him.

Seeing her grit her teeth to endure, he laughed and asked teasingly,

“What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

Before he asked, she was quiet; when he did, her face flushed deeper, and she buried her head in his neck like a quail.

“Why so silent?” Li Qian stuffed his hand into her mouth. “If it hurts, bite me.”

Shen Quanyi hesitated, but then mischievously bit down hard.

The candlelight flickered wildly; they spent a sleepless night.

The next morning, Li Qian had already left for court. Shen Quanyi stretched her stiff neck as Xingye combed her hair. Their reflections in the bronze mirror showed Xingye’s sour expression.

“Did the secondary consort send you?” Shen Quanyi asked softly.

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Xingye nodded, her brows furrowed.

“Then hurry. No need to send morning meal.” Shen Quanyi waved off the hairpin in Xingye’s hand. These items were gifts from Zuo Li and Li Qian; if she showed them to Gu Tan, it would only provoke suspicion.

Shen Quanyi decided to go alone.

Today was surely a trap. She left Qiuyue in charge. Li Qian had been late returning from court the past few days and told her to wait carefully. If anyone asked, she was summoned by Gu Tan.

The sun had come out yesterday, melting most of the snow on the ground into small puddles. She hurried past, her shoes dampened.

At Chun Ya Courtyard, Zhu Lian’s face was cold as she invited Shen Quanyi inside.

In the inner chamber, Shen Quanyi immediately saw Gu Tan seated on the soft couch. Her hair was unkempt, falling loosely, dressed only in a nightgown with a faded spring-green Shu brocade robe thrown over carelessly.

She looked utterly deranged.

Gu Tan stared at Shen Quanyi, hatred nearly spilling from her eyes.

Earlier that day, someone reported to Gu Tan about teeth marks circling Li Qian’s left hand and that he had stayed at Shen Quanyi’s the previous night. Gu Tan had resolved to take Shen Quanyi’s life.

She was nothing but a lowly concubine.

“You shameless bitch! How dare you harm the Crown Prince!”

Having said this, Gu Tan grabbed a teacup from nearby and hurled it violently. Shen Quanyi instinctively dodged; the cup shattered on the floor.

Infuriated, Gu Tan stomped forward barefoot. Her tender toes were cut by the porcelain shards, but she seemed unaware.

“Tell me, has the Crown Prince been staying with you these past few days?”

Gu Tan’s urgency to confirm Shen Quanyi’s favor was palpable. Upon hearing an affirmative, she lost all reason and slapped Shen Quanyi hard.

The sharp slap echoed clearly.

Shen Quanyi endured the blow, her body tilting to one side.

Her cheek burned fiercely, swelling immediately.

One slap was not enough. Gu Tan ground her teeth and spat, “You brazen enchantress! To seduce the Crown Prince—disgusting beyond that wretched Wang woman!”

She raised her eyebrows and shouted, “Guards! Drag her out and whip her fifty times!”

Hearing this, Shen Quanyi lifted her head, eyes fixed fiercely on Gu Tan. Fifty lashes—she would not die, but she would be crippled.