chsdbacks Chapter 276 The Throne of Li Yang? What if I insist on sitting on it?
Chapter 276 The Throne of Li Yang? What if I insist on sitting on it?
The moment the words fell.
Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.
Zhang Julu's pupils contracted violently.
Gu Jiantang's hand suddenly gripped the hilt of the sword.
Li Chunfeng's whisk trembled slightly.
The three of them stood there, motionless.
They just stared blankly at their emperor.
I watched her standing next to that man.
Watching her say those words herself.
"My future husband."
These words were like a knife, piercing the softest part of their hearts.
Zhang Julu's eyes welled up with tears again.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't say a word.
I could only stand there, letting my tears flow silently.
Gu Jiantang's hands were clenched tightly.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged, and he almost crushed the sword hilt.
He kept his head down.
I couldn't see his expression.
Only his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his true state of mind at that moment.
Li Chunfeng closed his eyes.
Those eyes, which were always half-closed, were now completely shut.
The last glimmer of hope in my heart was completely extinguished.
He knew that everything was already set in stone.
There's no turning back.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at them.
He didn't speak.
He simply reached out and gently took Zhao Qingxue's hand.
The movement was very light and natural.
But Zhang Julu, Gu Jiantang, and Li Chunfeng all focused their attention on the clasped hands.
Zhao Qingxue did not dodge.
She simply let him hold her hand.
Zhang Julu looked at that hand, at the hand that Qin Mu was holding.
The tears flowed even more fiercely.
He recalled twenty-one years ago, the year the late emperor passed away.
He stood before the Imperial Ancestral Temple and swore an oath before the spirit tablet of the founding emperor—
Even if it costs me my life, I will protect Your Majesty and ensure that you grow up safely and ascend the throne smoothly.
Twenty years have passed.
He did it.
His Majesty has grown up safely.
His Majesty has successfully ascended the throne.
His Majesty has managed Liyang with great efficiency, making it a powerful force in the Eastern Continent.
But now, looking at that hand being held by another man.
He suddenly felt a sharp pain.
Heartache.
The pain was so intense that I could barely breathe.
But there was nothing he could do.
All I could do was stand there and watch.
Inside the Tianqi Hall, candlelight flickered.
Zhang Julu's gaze lingered on Zhao Qingxue's face for a long time.
The face he had seen since childhood now appeared somewhat pale in the candlelight, with faint dark circles under his eyes—the marks of days of exhaustion.
But a faint smile lingered on the corners of her lips.
That smile was faint and subtle, yet it tugged at Zhang Julu's heart.
He sighed.
The sigh was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
"Your Majesty," he began, his voice hoarse and weary, "you have suffered."
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, at his aged face, streaked with tears.
She smiled gently.
"It's not bitter," she said.
Those two simple words brought tears to Zhang Julu's eyes once again.
Not bitter?
How could it not be bitter?
If it weren't painful, why would His Majesty make such a decision?
If she wasn't suffering, how could there be that kind of weariness in her eyes that he had never seen before?
If she weren't suffering, how could her deep purple phoenix eyes, which once burned with flames, be so calm now?
It was as calm as a stagnant pool.
That is the peace that can only come after unimaginable suffering.
Zhang Julu's hand slowly tightened inside his sleeve.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
In the end, however, nothing was said.
He simply stood there, looking at his emperor, letting his tears flow silently.
Li Chunfeng stood to the side, his gaze fixed on Zhao Qingxue.
Those eyes, which were always half-closed, were now fully open.
His sharp glint was concealed, yet it carried a deep, barely suppressed sense of self-reproach.
It's him.
It was his failure to defend himself that allowed His Majesty to be kidnapped.
He was unable to escape when facing that giant dragon.
He watched helplessly as His Majesty was taken away by that man.
It's him--
It's all his fault.
Li Chunfeng's white beard trembled gently in the night breeze.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with a complex clarity.
He didn't speak.
He simply stood there quietly, like a silent statue.
At this moment, the one suffering the most is Gu Jiantang.
His hand remained on the hilt of the sword the entire time.
He lowered his head, staring intently at the ground, as if trying to see through the gold brick.
But he didn't dare to look up.
I dare not look at His Majesty.
She dared not look at the man standing next to His Majesty.
Because he was afraid that if he looked up, he would be unable to resist drawing his sword.
I couldn't help but rush up.
I couldn't help it—
Kill that man.
But he knew he couldn't.
His Majesty has already said that he is her future husband.
His Majesty has already told him to put down his sword.
He cannot disobey His Majesty's orders.
Absolutely not.
But his body was trembling violently.
That was an instinctive reaction after being suppressed to the extreme.
His teeth were clenched so tightly they were making a "crunching" sound, the muscles in his jaw were taut, and his Adam's apple was bobbing incessantly as he desperately tried to swallow the roar that was about to burst out of his mouth.
He endured it very hard.
It was so hard that I was almost on the verge of collapse.
But he still endured it.
Because that was His Majesty's order.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at them.
The laughter was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall.
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Julu's aged, tear-streaked face.
His gaze swept over Li Chunfeng's calm face, which concealed a deep sense of guilt.
Finally, the light fell on Gu Jiantang's downcast face, where veins were bulging.
He spoke.
The voice was soft, yet carried a meaningful smile:
"It seems so."
He paused:
"They don't seem to welcome me very much?"
Zhao Qingxue was slightly taken aback.
She turned her head and looked at him.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
"His Majesty--"
But Qin Mu simply waved his hand.
Zhao Qingxue's words were abruptly cut off.
She looked at him.
Looking at the half-smile on his lips.
A complex and indescribable emotion welled up within me.
he--
What should we do?
Qin Mu did not look at her.
He simply stepped forward and walked into the hall.
The moon-white robe brushed gently across the floor, making a soft rustling sound.
His pace was unhurried and unhurried, as if this were not the main hall of the imperial palace in Liyang, but just an ordinary path in his own backyard.
step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
He walked past Zhang Julu, and then past Li Chunfeng.
Finally, it stopped in front of Gu Jiantang.
Gu Jiantang kept his head down, staring intently at the ground.
His hands clenched even tighter.
His body trembled even more violently.
He could sense that Qin Mu was right in front of him.
She could feel his smiling gaze fixed on her.
He almost couldn't resist drawing his sword.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at him.
He didn't speak.
I simply walked past him and continued forward.
step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
He walked up the steps.
Walk up to the long table made of rosewood.
stop.
He looked down at the documents and memorials spread out on the long table.
Looking at those discussions about how to deal with the Qin Dynasty.
Looking at those densely packed words such as "demanding betrothal gifts", "providing dowry", "stabilizing the court and the people", and "dealing with the northern border", he was struck by their meaning.
He smiled softly.
Then he turned around.
He slowly sat down in front of the large rosewood chair.
That was Emperor Li Yang's seat.
It was the position Zhao Qingxue had held for five years.
It is the most prestigious position inside the Tianqi Hall.
He sat there, leaning back in his chair, one hand supporting his chin, his posture as languid as if he were in his own palace.
Those deep eyes swept over the three people in the hall with a smile.
"you--!!!"
Gu Jiantang suddenly raised his head!
In an instant, a terrifying rage erupted from those tiger-like eyes!
His hand swiftly drew the greatsword from his waist!
"Zheng—!!!"
The metallic scraping sound of the sword being drawn from its sheath resounded like thunder in the silent hall!
The massive sword, as wide as a door panel, gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the candlelight!
Gu Jiantang's body trembled violently, like a volcano about to erupt!
His tiger-like eyes were wide open, staring intently at the man sitting on the throne!
"presumptuous!!!"
His voice was hoarse and deep, yet carried an almost roaring quality, echoing throughout the empty hall!
"That is my throne, the seat of the Emperor of Liyang!"
"What gives you the right to sit here?!"
Qin Mu looked at him, at his face contorted with rage.
She smiled softly.
That smile was gentle, as gentle as a spring breeze.
"General Gu," he said, his voice soft but each word clear, "there's no need to get so angry."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the long sandalwood desk, over the open documents and memorials:
"after all--"
A meaningful smile curved at the corners of his lips:
"We'll be family soon, won't we?"
The anger in Gu Jiantang's eyes intensified!
"A family?!"
He spoke slowly and deliberately, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Even if His Majesty marries you, you still cannot sit on the throne of my Li Yang Dynasty!"
His sword was aimed directly at Qin Mu!
The tip of the sword was no more than three feet from Qin Mu's throat!
Qin Mu looked down at the giant sword pointing at him.
The sword was thick and the blade was sharp, gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the candlelight.
That was a powerful tool capable of splitting mountains and cracking rocks.
But in Qin Mu's eyes, it seemed to be nothing more than an insignificant decoration.
He raised his head and met Gu Jiantang's gaze.
The smile deepened in those deep eyes.
"if--"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Should I not sit?"
Gu Jiantang's pupils suddenly contracted!
He gripped the sword hilt tightly, his inner energy surging wildly, causing his robes to flutter and rustle even without wind!
"Then let's ask the sword in my hand if it agrees!"
His voice boomed like thunder!
He was like a volcano about to erupt!
Zhao Qingxue frowned slightly.
She took a step forward, wanting to go forward.
"General Gu—"
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Jiantang had already turned his head and looked at her.
Those tiger eyes were filled with barely suppressed rage, and a deep, almost pleading resolve.
"His Majesty!"
His voice was hoarse and deep, yet carried an undeniable firmness:
"Please forgive me!"
"I cannot bear to watch someone else sit on Your Majesty's throne!"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to expel this man!"
As he spoke, he turned his head again and stared intently at Qin Mu.
He gripped the sword in his hand even tighter.
Zhao Qingxue stood there, watching this scene unfold.
Her brows were furrowed tightly.
His brows were furrowed into a deep knot.
She knew Gu Jiantang's temperament.
Fiery, fierce, and unyielding.
Over the years, if it weren't for her keeping him in check, he would have caused countless troubles long ago.
But looking at him like this now.
What welled up in her heart was not anger, nor blame.
Rather, it was a deep sense of helplessness.
Because she knew that Gu Jiantang was no match for Qin Mu.
Let alone Gu Jiantang, even if Li Chunfeng, Gu Jiantang, and Zhang Julu joined forces, the three of them would probably still be no match for Qin Mu.
She witnessed firsthand how the Emperor Taizu's edict crumbled before her eyes.
He had personally witnessed Li Chunfeng's all-out sword strike being easily neutralized by him.
He had personally witnessed his ability to travel thousands of miles in an instant, high in the sky.
This man is not someone they can handle.
But she also knew that, given Gu Jiantang's personality, if she didn't let him take action, he would never be able to swallow his anger.
He needed to vent.
We need a result.
Even if the result is being crushed.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers slowly tightened inside her sleeve.
She looked at Qin Mu.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with pleading.
Qin Mu met that gaze.
He saw the pleading in her eyes.
He smiled softly.
Just then—
Gu Jiantang made a move!
His figure moved like a black lightning bolt, suddenly rushing towards Qin Mu!
The giant sword in his hand slashed down with the force to split mountains and shatter rocks!
Wherever the sword passed, the air was torn apart, producing a sharp whistling sound!
The sword's ferocity, speed, and ruthlessness were enough to terrify any martial artist below the Celestial Phenomenon Realm!
This is Gu Jiantang's signature move – "Mountain-Splitting Slash"!
He once used this sword to kill thirty-seven enemy generals on the battlefield, causing the enemy to flee in terror!
At this moment, he unleashed the full power of this sword strike!
The sword's edge was no more than three feet above Qin Mu's head!
Two feet!
One foot!
A near-maniacal excitement flashed in Gu Jiantang's eyes!
He could almost see the scene of that man's head falling to the ground as the sword struck!
It's as if I can already see His Majesty's smile blooming once more!
It's as if I can already see the shame of Li Yang being completely washed away!
But just as the sword's edge was only three inches from Qin Mu's head—
Qin Mu made a move.
He simply raised his hand.
Two fingers.
Index finger and middle finger.
With a gentle pinch.