chsdbacks Chapter 241 It turns out Qin Mu knew everything!
Chapter 241 It turns out Qin Mu knew everything!
Qin Mu looked at her serious expression and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"What is it?" he asked.
Jiang Zhaoyue took a deep breath and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Xu Fenghua".
The moment she uttered those three words, she could feel her heart racing.
She continued, her voice growing clearer:
"She's in the palace; she must have an inside man."
"These days, she has been testing me."
"Every time she came to Yuxiu Palace, she would slip a note under her medicine bag when no one was looking."
"Those notes..."
She paused, then met Qin Mu's eyes:
"I read them all, and then I burned them all."
"I haven't replied to any of them."
She explained it in great detail.
Every detail and every word is explained clearly.
It was as if he was making a belated confession.
It was as if they wanted to pour out everything that had been suppressed in their hearts for so long.
Qin Mu listened quietly without saying a word.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his handsome features in a half-light, half-shadow.
The corners of his mouth always held that ambiguous smile.
After Jiang Zhaoyue finished speaking, she looked at him, waiting for his reaction.
In my heart, there was tension, anticipation, and a sense of resignation.
She didn't know how Qin Mu would deal with her.
I wonder what the outcome of this honesty will be.
But she knew she had to say it.
All of this must be said.
Only in this way can she truly...
restart.
Qin Mu looked at her for a long time.
So long that the moonlight moved an inch further, so long that a few more drops of dew fell from the old plum tree branch in the courtyard.
then,
He reached out and gently lifted her chin.
"I know all that you're saying."
Jiang Zhaoyue's pupils suddenly contracted.
At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
During those days, her actions, which she thought were discreet, her responses, and her silence, which she thought were a cover-up, were all part of her strategy...
It turns out, they were all right under his nose.
It turns out he could see everything clearly.
Jiang Zhaoyue opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't say a word.
Only those eyes, wide open, stared intently at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He released his hand from her chin and gently patted her cheek.
The movement was very gentle, as if soothing a frightened kitten.
"Don't be nervous," he said, "I don't blame you."
He paused, his gaze falling on her face, deep and unfathomable:
"I have seen your performance these past few days."
"You didn't reply to any notes, you didn't pass on any messages."
"You have made your choice."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyue's eyes welled up with tears again.
she knows.
She knew, of course, that she had made a choice.
But hearing these words from Qin Mu at this moment, she felt a complex emotion that was hard to describe.
It turns out he knew everything.
It turned out he had seen all her choices.
original……
Her torment, struggle, hesitation, and finally making up her mind these past few days...
He knew all of that.
There was also shock in that emotion.
Their supposedly secretive schemes, their supposedly clever plans, their supposedly foolproof methods...
In Qin Mu's eyes, it was nothing more than a ridiculous farce.
Jiang Zhaoyue's eyes flickered, and a deep-seated awe rose in her heart.
She looked at Qin Mu, at his smiling, unfathomable face.
Suddenly I understood.
This man was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
No, it's not just scary.
It is unfathomable.
It is omniscient.
Yes……
A being like a god.
And she, Xu Fenghua, and those who thought they were plotting something famous.
In his eyes, they were nothing more than laughable pawns on a chessboard.
Every step was exactly as he had anticipated.
Every movement was under his control.
Jiang Zhaoyue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, there was no longer any shock or fear in those clear eyes.
There was only one kind of deep, almost pious worship.
"Your Majesty," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Qin Mu looked at her.
Jiang Zhaoyue continued, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the deepest part of her heart:
"Your Majesty..."
She paused, then took a deep breath:
"I don't know how to express it."
"All I know is..."
Her eyes welled up with tears again:
"If only I had confessed sooner, and made my choice sooner..."
If only she had confessed sooner, if only she had made her choice sooner...
She wouldn't have to suffer those torments.
Then you won't toss and turn on those nights, repeatedly asking yourself "What should I do?"
Then you won't hesitate and struggle in front of those slips of paper, unsure of what to choose.
Even less likely,
In those moments, I was so close to death.
Because she finally understood that with Qin Mu's methods, if he really wanted her dead...
She would have died countless times over.
Jiang Zhaoyue knelt down.
His knee slammed into the cobblestones again, making a dull thud.
But she seemed not to feel any pain.
He simply knelt there, raised his head, and looked at Qin Mu.
Tears flowed silently from those clear eyes.
But in those tears, there was no sadness, no fear.
I am filled with gratitude.
Deep, heartfelt gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life," she said, her voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear.
Forehead, touching the ground deeply.
Qin Mu looked down at her.
He reached out and helped her up again.
"Get up," he said gently.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood up and stood in front of him.
The moonlight shone on her, illuminating her pale face, still wet with tears, making it exceptionally clear.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled gently.
"Remember," he said, "I know everything you just said."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"But there's one thing you must remember."
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at him intently, waiting.
Qin Mu looked at her, his gaze deep:
"Everything as usual."
Jiang Zhaoyue was stunned.
Everything as usual?
She blinked, somewhat confused.
Looking at her bewildered expression, Qin Mu's eyes flashed with a helpless smile.
"As for Xu Fenghua," he explained, "we should still let her come."
"Keep the notes you should keep."
"What needs to be burned, will still be burned."
"Don't change anything."
He paused, his gaze lingering on her face:
"Let her think that you haven't told her anything."
After hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyue finally understood.
Qin Mu wanted her to continue acting.
She continued to play the role of Jiang Qingxue in front of Xu Fenghua—silent, hesitant, and unsure of what to choose.
This continues to make Xu Fenghua believe that she has not yet made a choice.
Continue to confuse her.
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded.
"I understand," she said.
The voice was soft, yet unusually firm.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction.
He reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
"Very good," he said.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at her.
He turned around and looked at Cao Wei, who was standing not far away and remained silent.
"Mr. Cao," he called out.
Cao Wei stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
"His Majesty."
Qin Mu looked at him and said calmly:
"You can go now."
Get a good rest tonight.
Cao Wei nodded.
He turned around and looked at Jiang Zhaoyue.
Those cloudy old eyes were now filled with a look of satisfaction.
"Princess," he said softly, "this old minister takes his leave."
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at him, her eyes reddening again.
She nodded.
"Uncle Cao, please get some rest," she said, her voice choked with emotion.
Cao Wei smiled, turned around and walked towards the courtyard gate.
The moonlight shone on his aged back, making his old gray Taoist robe stand out clearly.
His steps were steady and slow.
Step by step, they disappeared into the night outside the courtyard gate.
Only Qin Mu and Jiang Zhaoyue remained in the courtyard.
The moonlight, like water, shone down on the two of them.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood there, gazing in the direction where Cao Wei had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at her.
"Let's go," he said.
Jiang Zhaoyue turned her head and looked at him.
Qin Mu extended his hand.
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at the hand; it was slender, with distinct knuckles, and gleamed like jade in the moonlight.
She pursed her lips, reached out, and grasped his hand.
My palms were warm, with thin calluses.
The sensation made her heart race again.
Qin Mu took her hand and turned to walk towards the courtyard gate.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed closely behind him.
Outside the courtyard gate was a long palace road.
The moonlight shone on the bluestone path, giving it a cool, clear glow.
Qin Mu walked ahead, his moon-white robe fluttering gently in the night breeze.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him, her gaze fixed on his back.
His back was as straight as a pine tree, and his steps were unhurried.
It was as if everything in the world was under his control.
As Jiang Zhaoyue watched that figure disappear into the distance, an unprecedented sense of security welled up inside her.
She had never experienced that feeling before.
She has always been alone since she was a child.
In the Listening Snow Pavilion in the Northern Territory, she practiced swordsmanship alone, read books alone, and faced those long days and nights alone.
Xu Longxiang would occasionally come to see her, looking at her with tender eyes and coaxing her with those affectionate promises.
But she always felt that something was separating them.
That barrier is invisible and intangible, yet it truly exists.
until this moment-
She watched Qin Mu's retreating figure, feeling the warmth emanating from his palm.
Suddenly, she understood what she had been missing all those years.
It brings peace of mind.
It's a sense of security that you can rely on and no longer have to face everything alone.
Jiang Zhaoyue pursed her lips and squeezed his hand tightly.
Qin Mu seemed to sense her movement.
He didn't turn around, but simply squeezed her hand gently.
The force was very light, yet it made Jiang Zhaoyue's heart skip a beat again.
The two walked along the palace road, passing through many palace gates.
The moonlight followed them all the way, casting their shadows on the ground, where they intertwined.
I don't know how long it took.
Qin Mu stopped in front of a courtyard.
Jiang Zhaoyue raised her head and looked at the courtyard.
The courtyard gate was small, with mottled red paint, and looked no different from countless other courtyards in the imperial city.
But the plaque above the door made her pupils contract slightly.
"Qingxin Pavilion".
She remembers this place.
This is a secluded courtyard in the imperial city, used specifically to imprison palace maids and eunuchs who have made mistakes.
Few people come here normally, because those locked up here are people who can't stand the light of day.
Why did Qin Mu bring her here?
Jiang Zhaoyue's heart began to race.
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at her.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his handsome features in a half-light, half-shadow.
He smiled.
"Let's go," he said.
Then, he pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped inside.
Jiang Zhaoyue took a deep breath and followed.
The courtyard was small, but very secluded.
A cobblestone path winds its way into the depths, with a few bamboo stalks planted on both sides, rustling in the night breeze.
At the end of the path stood three houses with blue bricks and tiles.
Several figures stood in front of the tiled house.
Under the moonlight, Jiang Zhaoyue could see the faces of those people clearly.
They were several palace maids, dressed in ordinary blue palace attire, with plain faces and wary eyes.
When they saw Qin Mu, they all knelt down to pay their respects.
Qin Mu waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
The palace maids disappeared silently into the night.
Qin Mu led Jiang Zhaoyue to the middle tiled house.
The door was tightly closed, and a faint light shone through the paper windows.
Qin Mu pushed open the door.
I stepped inside.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him and stepped over the threshold.
The room was small and simply furnished.
A bed, a table, and two chairs.
An oil lamp was lit on the table, its dim yellow light casting swaying shadows on the wall.
There was a person sitting on the bed.
A moon-white dress, long, flowing hair, and a pale face.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were looking towards the doorway, landing on Qin Mu.
It also landed on Jiang Zhaoyue, who was behind Qin Mu.
The moment their eyes met, Jiang Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat.
Zhao Qingxue.
Empress Liyang.
At this moment, she sat in this simple room, like a caged beast.
The marks of being beaten still remained on her face.
Redness, swelling, bruising, and a dried bloodstain at the corner of the mouth.
Her dress was still that torn, moon-white casual gown. She sat on the edge of the bed, her back ramrod straight.
A stubborn flame still burned in those deep purple phoenix eyes.
Even if treated like this, even if reduced to such a state—
She still did not bow her head.
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at her, a complex emotion welling up inside her.
Qin Mu stopped three steps in front of Zhao Qingxue.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating him and clearly outlining his pale figure.
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her, and spoke softly.
"Zhao Qingxue, what's the matter? Have you made up your mind?"