chsdbacks Chapter 497 Chen Wanqing was shocked. Wasn't this Xu Fenghua? Then this young master couldn
Chapter 497 Chen Wanqing was shocked. Wasn't this Xu Fenghua? Then this young master couldn
Chen Wanqing took a deep breath, stepped across the threshold, and the light veil of her hat swayed gently.
Two maids followed behind, heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound.
The room was small and simply furnished, with a bed, a table, and a few chairs.
An oil lamp was lit on the table, its flame flickering gently in the night breeze, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Qin Mu sat at the table, drinking tea, his moon-white robe gleaming warmly in the candlelight.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside him, her hands at her sides, her gaze fixed on Chen Wanqing, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Yunluan stood by the door, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her back straight, her face expressionless.
Xu Fenghua sat on the edge of the bed, her head down, her expression unreadable.
Yun Suxin sat in the corner, like a lifeless statue, her eyes vacant.
Han Xin'er sat on the other side of Qin Mu, holding a cup of tea in her hands, taking small sips, and secretly glancing at the woman who came in.
Chen Wanqing walked three steps in front of Qin Mu, stopped, slowly squatted down, and performed a standard curtsy.
The veil of her hat hung down, obscuring her flushed face.
"Thank you so much for saving me, young master. I am deeply grateful."
Her voice was very soft, with a slight, suppressed tremor, whether from nervousness or lingering fear, it was hard to tell.
Qin Mu put down his teacup, looked at her, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"It was nothing at all. You don't need to worry about it."
Chen Wanqing shook her head, the light veil of her hat swaying slightly.
"It was just a small favor for you, but for Wanqing, it was a life-saving grace."
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside Qin Mu, blinked, and a mischievous smile slowly appeared on her lips.
She turned her head slightly to look at Chen Wanqing, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.
"Since it's a life-saving grace, then I should repay my young master by marrying him. What do you say?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Wanqing's face flushed red.
The veil of her hat covered her face, but it couldn't hide the scorching heat emanating from beneath it.
She never expected that this woman, with her aloof and icy demeanor, would say such a thing.
She raised her head, looked at Jiang Zhaoyue, her mouth slightly open, but she couldn't say a word.
How is she supposed to explain that?
That's so embarrassing!
Qin Mu was also taken aback for a moment, then turned his head and glanced at Jiang Zhaoyue.
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper smile.
Jiang Zhaoyue met Qin Mu's gaze and winked mischievously.
There was a kind of uninhibited intimacy in his eyes that only exists between the closest people.
Qin Mu smiled immediately.
He suddenly realized that Jiang Zhaoyue had changed.
No, she hasn't changed; she's returned to how she was meant to be.
He recalled the first time he saw her. At that time, she had just been sent to the palace by Xu Longxiang. She was timid and fearful, like a rabbit locked in a cage, ready to be slaughtered at any moment.
The way she looked at him was always cautious, filled with fear, probing, and deep wariness.
She dared not say another word, dared not take another step, and even suppressed her breathing to the minimum.
She hid her true nature very well, concealing it beneath layers of disguise and silence.
Like a little turtle encased in a thick shell, afraid to peek out.
Now everything is clear: she is no longer a pawn of the North, no longer needs to sacrifice herself for others' great cause, and no longer needs to live in fear.
His care and gentleness towards Jiang Zhaoyue made her feel more relaxed and she felt genuine love and warmth from the bottom of her heart.
The weight that had been pressing on her heart for so long was finally lifted, and her heart, which had been bound for so long, could finally beat freely.
So the girl became more and more lively, more and more cheerful, and more and more like the person she was meant to be.
Bright and lively, she would wink mischievously, jokingly say "I'll repay you with my body," and secretly kiss him when no one was around, then run away blushing.
Just like right now.
Qin Mu's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with tenderness and doting light.
Xu Fenghua sat on the edge of the bed, watching the natural interaction between Qin Mu and Jiang Zhaoyue.
Seeing the tenderness and tacit understanding that couldn't be hidden in their eyes as they smiled at each other, I felt a chill in my heart.
Her fingers slowly clenched inside her sleeve. As expected, Jiang Zhaoyue and Qin Mu were already very familiar with each other, and their relationship was quite close.
No, it's not just profound, it's much deeper than she imagined.
That kind of look, that kind of smile, that tacit understanding that doesn't need words—it can't be cultivated overnight.
A surge of anger welled up in Xu Fenghua's heart.
Her younger brother, Xu Longxiang, sent Jiang Zhaoyue into the palace so that she could pass on intelligence and monitor Qin Mu, but Jiang Qingxue betrayed the Northern Border!
How could she possibly accept this!
But at the same time, deep in Xu Fenghua's heart, there was another voice that she dared not admit to.
She envied Jiang Zhaoyue.
I envy her for being able to laugh so freely, for her for being able to wink so playfully, and for being able to be herself in front of Qin Mu.
Xu Fenghua, from the day she entered the palace, never lived her own life again.
She will always be the dignified, proper, and impeccable Consort Hua, always wearing that exquisite, perfect, and flawless smiling mask.
She quickly lowered her head, suppressing the inappropriate thought deep within her heart.
She cannot be envious, cannot be weak, and cannot waver in the slightest.
She is Xu Fenghua, the young lady of the Northern Border, Xu Longxiang's older sister, and the iron lady who fought her way out of the Jiangnan business wars.
She cannot lose, nor can she fall.
Chen Wanqing finally came to her senses at this moment. Her face under the veil was still burning, and her heartbeat had not yet calmed down.
Her voice was soft, tinged with shyness and panic, and with a cautious, tentative gait, as if walking on thin ice.
"You flatter me, young lady. Wanqing is just an ordinary woman; how could she be worthy of such a great man as you, young master?"
As she said this, her gaze swept over Qin Mu and then quickly looked away.
What she said was truly sincere, very sincere.
Leaving aside the young master's temperament and demeanor, just look at the women around him: Jiang Zhaoyue is as cold as frost, Yun Luan is as sharp as a blade, Xu Fenghua is dignified and graceful, Yun Suxin is pitiful to behold, and Han Xin'er is gentle and obedient.
Each one of them was stunningly beautiful, with a different temperament, yet all equally outstanding and extraordinary.
How could someone like that possibly lack women around him?
She was merely the daughter of a merchant from Jiangnan. Although her family was prominent, what did she amount to in front of these people?
Just as Chen Wanqing was thinking this...
At this time,
Her gaze suddenly froze.
Beneath the veil of her hat, her gaze fell upon the woman who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her head bowed.
Xu Fenghua just raised her face slightly at that moment, and the candlelight shone on her face, making her dignified and graceful face, which was tinged with a hint of fatigue, exceptionally clear.
Chen Wanqing's entire body froze instantly!
Her pupils contracted slightly, then suddenly dilated to their maximum size.
She recognized the face.
That posture, that appearance, that innate majesty emanating from his very bones, was exactly the same as the person she remembered.
Chen Wanqing was absolutely certain that she had seen this woman before.
That was a few years ago, in Jiangnan.
The Chen family's business had business dealings with the Zhao family in Jiangnan, and she had once attended a banquet hosted by the Zhao family with her father.
Xu Fenghua was also present that day, and she still remembers seeing the woman standing in the crowd from afar.
Tall and elegant, she didn't try to be ostentatious, yet she involuntarily drew everyone's attention.
She wore a light purple dress and chatted and laughed with the women of the merchant families, neither humble nor arrogant, but composed and at ease.
My father told me that she was the young mistress of the Zhao family, and also the Iron Lady who secretly controlled the Jiangnan trade routes. Even many long-time shopkeepers were convinced by her.
She was young then and didn't understand what "ruling the world" meant. She just thought that woman was amazing, powerful, and enviable.
As she grew up, she gradually took over some of the Chen family's businesses and realized how difficult it was for a woman to gain a foothold in the Jiangnan business world.
Xu Fenghua not only stood firm, but stood taller than anyone else.
You'll never forget someone like that once you've met them.
That kind of person left a very deep impression on her.
That face, that aura, that composure and certainty emanating from his very bones—she would never mistake him.
That was Xu Fenghua.
But Xu Fenghua is now Consort Hua, a concubine of the Emperor of Qin.
She should be in the palace, in that magnificent palace, not in this desolate post station in the middle of nowhere.
She should not sit on the edge of a man's bed like the most ordinary concubine, quietly bowing her head.
A surge of inexplicable shock welled up in Chen Wanqing's heart, like a thunderclap exploding in her mind.
That man...that young master...who is he?
He could make Consort Hua sit quietly on the edge of his bed like a maid, he could have so many beautiful women surrounding him, and he could kill seven or eight second-rank martial artists with a single sword stroke as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.
Who is he?
Chen Wanqing's hands were trembling violently, and even the light veil of her hat was swaying slightly.
She thought that Consort Hua would stay in the deep palace forever and that she would never have any interaction with her.
But she never expected to see her here, in this simple inn room.
To her surprise, she sat on the edge of that man's bed, like an ordinary concubine, head bowed, quietly staying there.
Therefore, there is only one explanation for all of this.
That man, that young master, that young man who killed seven or eight second-rank martial artists with a single sword strike, was none other than the Emperor of Qin, Qin Mu.
Chen Wanqing quickly took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions little by little, and her face regained its proper smile.
Her voice was so steady that even she was a little surprised.
"Young master, I will never forget your life-saving grace. I have nothing to repay you with, so I brought a few jars of wine. Although they are not worth much, they are our guild's finest wines, aged Shaoxing wines that have been stored in our cellar for many years. If you don't mind, you may have a taste."
She raised her hands slightly, and the two maids behind her quickly stepped forward, gently placed the wine jars on the table, then stepped back a few paces, standing with their hands at their sides, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Qin Mu glanced at the two jars of wine. The jars were still covered in mud, and there was a red paper pasted on the seal with the words "Aged Shaoxing Wine" written on it.
He smiled and said:
"Perfect timing. I'm just missing a jar of wine while traveling the world."
Chen Wanqing's heart relaxed slightly. She curtsied slightly, and the light veil of her hat swayed gently.
"That's wonderful. If you like it, I'm relieved."
She bowed again, then turned and walked toward the door.
Two maids hurriedly followed her, and the door slowly closed behind her with a soft "bang".
The room fell silent for a moment.
The candlelight burned quietly inside the lampshade, casting the shadows of the group on the wall, flickering uncertainly.
Yunluan stood by the door, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze fixed on the tightly closed door, her voice cold and clear.
"Your Majesty, she recognizes you."
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest twice. His gaze fell on Xu Fenghua's face, and the smile on his lips remained.
He shook his head.
"She didn't recognize me. She recognized Consort Hua. We're all businessmen in Jiangnan, the Chen, Zhao, and Xu families are all deeply intertwined, so it's inevitable that we'd have dealings. It's not surprising that she'd seen Consort Hua before."
Xu Fenghua paused for a moment, then lowered her head, her voice tinged with guilt.
"Her face was covered, so I didn't recognize her. I never expected to be exposed here."
Qin Mu waved his hand casually, "It's not your fault. It's not like you were the one who made her recognize you. Besides, it wouldn't have mattered if she had."
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside Qin Mu, a slight smile playing on her lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Your Majesty certainly had your fill of being a hero and rescuing a damsel in distress this time. How does it feel?"
Qin Mu turned his head to look at her, his smile deepening. "What's wrong? Jealous?"
Jiang Zhaoyue shook her head and said softly, "How could I? I'm just curious, now that this young girl has recognized Your Majesty, what will she do next?"
Qin Mu smiled and said calmly:
"I'm curious too."
........