chsdbacks Chapter 234 Jiang Qingxue has really changed her mind.
Chapter 234 Jiang Qingxue has really changed her mind.
Jiang Qingxue has changed her mind.
She really changed her mind.
That girl who once laughed like a snow sprite in the Listening Snow Pavilion in the Northern Territory.
That girl who once willingly entered the palace as a concubine and endured all humiliation for Xu Longxiang.
That past—
She was lying in Qin Mu's arms at that moment.
Trembling.
She blushed.
Enjoying it.
Xu Fenghua closed her eyes.
I don't want to watch anymore.
But that image was etched into her mind like a brand, impossible to erase.
Qin Mu seemed to notice her gaze.
His hand was still gently stroking Jiang Qingxue's back, but his gaze went past Jiang Qingxue and landed on Xu Fenghua.
Those deep eyes gleamed with a dim light in the candlelight.
"My beloved consort," he spoke, his voice soft yet exceptionally clear in the silent palace, "what are you thinking about?"
Xu Fenghua opened her eyes.
Meet his gaze.
There was a calm in those amber eyes.
"I didn't think of anything," she said.
His voice was steady, devoid of any emotion.
Qin Mu looked at her, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"You didn't think about anything?" he repeated. "Why do I feel that my beloved consort is thinking about something very important?"
Xu Fenghua lowered her eyes.
"Your Majesty is overthinking it," she said.
Qin Mu smiled.
I didn't call her out on it.
He simply withdrew his gaze and returned it to Jiang Qingxue in his arms.
His hand slid off Jiang Qingxue's back and wrapped around her waist again.
Then, he gently pulled her closer to his arms.
Jiang Qingxue's body trembled again.
She could feel his chest against her face, and she could feel his heartbeat, steady and powerful, one beat after another.
The sound of her heartbeat was like an ancient lullaby, gradually relaxing her tense body.
Her breathing gradually became steady.
Her trembling gradually stopped.
Her fingers were no longer clenched so tightly.
She simply nestled quietly in his arms, like a weary bird that had finally found its home.
Qin Mu lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her forehead.
The movement was very light and gentle.
Like a feather falling.
Jiang Qingxue's eyelashes trembled.
He didn't open his eyes.
Only the corners of his mouth seemed to curve into a very faint arc.
The arc flashed by in an instant.
It happened so fast that almost no one noticed.
But Xu Fenghua saw it.
She saw it.
That curve, like a knife, pierced her heart.
It's not pain.
It's cold.
A bone-chilling cold.
She finally realized it.
Jiang Qingxue has changed her mind.
She really changed her mind.
This realization stirred up a complex and indescribable emotion within her.
There is anger.
How could Jiang Qingxue change her mind? Has she forgotten who she is? Has she forgotten Xu Longxiang? Has she forgotten her mission in entering the palace?
There is sorrow.
Another person she personally sent into the abyss has completely fallen into depravity.
There is no power.
What could she do? Tell Xu Longxiang? But what good would it do? He couldn't do anything.
There was even a hint of envy, a feeling she herself was unwilling to admit.
She envied Jiang Qingxue, who could tremble, blush, and relax in his arms.
I envy Jiang Qingxue, who can let go of everything and enjoy that moment of warmth.
And she—
She can only sit here.
Stiffly.
Without moving.
Like an outsider.
Qin Mu's gaze fell on her again.
This time, his gaze was deeper and more profound.
"My beloved concubine," he said, his voice still very soft, "come here."
Xu Fenghua's body stiffened slightly.
She didn't move.
He just sat there, like a lifeless statue.
Qin Mu looked at her, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
He didn't say anything more.
He simply reached out and waved to her.
The movement was very light and casual.
Yet it carries an air of undeniable authority.
Xu Fenghua closed her eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Then, I opened my eyes.
She moved.
Slowly, she moved towards Qin Mu.
Qin Mu looked at her, reached out, and gently grasped her wrist.
He pulled her into his arms.
Xu Fenghua's body suddenly stiffened.
She could feel his chest against her back, his arms around her waist, and his breath right next to her ear.
The breath was warm and long, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.
Her body was taut, like a fully drawn bow.
Qin Mu's chin rested gently on her shoulder.
"Don't be nervous," he said softly, right next to her ear, "Relax."
Xu Fenghua remained silent.
She just stood there, frozen in his arms, not moving at all.
She could sense that Jiang Qingxue was right beside her, and she could feel her gaze—although she hadn't opened her eyes, Xu Fenghua knew that she was awake.
She could feel Qin Mu's hand gently caressing her waist, and her fingers roaming over her skin through the thin nightgown.
Those touches were as hot as flames.
It was so hot she wanted to run away.
But she didn't dare.
She could only let the flames spread over her body.
The flickering candlelight cast the shadows of the three people onto the curtains, creating a dreamlike scene.
.........
I don't know how much time passed.
Everything returned to calm.
Qin Mu slowly released his grip.
Jiang Qingxue's body trembled slightly, then she curled up on the inside of the bed, like a cat that had finally been released.
Xu Fenghua's body was trembling slightly, and her face was flushed with embarrassment.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled gently.
"Go to sleep," he said.
The voice was very soft and gentle.
Then he lay down.
Close your eyes.
His breathing gradually became steady.
Inside the hall, silence returned.
The only sounds were the occasional crackling of the burning candle and the faint whisper of the night wind outside the window.
Jiang Qingxue curled up on the inside of the bed, motionless.
Her face was still buried in the pillow, with only half of her profile showing.
A faint blush still lingered on that side of her face.
Her breathing was steady and long, as if she had fallen asleep.
But only she knew that she was awake.
I am perfectly sober.
Qin Mu lay beside her, his breathing steady.
She could feel the warmth emanating from him, and the breeze that arose when he moved slightly.
Those feelings made her heart race.
But it also caused the corners of her mouth to curve into that very faint arc once again.
What is she thinking?
Thinking about what Qin Mu had just done to her.
She longed for the tenderness with which he held her.
She longed for the soft touch of his kiss on her forehead.
think--
What would he do if Xu Fenghua weren't around?
The moment this thought crossed Jiang Qingxue's face, she blushed again.
She quickly suppressed the thought and dared not think about it anymore.
But the blush just wouldn't fade.
Xu Fenghua sat on the outermost side of the bed, motionless.
She did not lie down.
He just sat there, with his back to the two of them.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her.
It stretched her shadow very, very long.
She gazed out the window at the deep night and at the cold, clear moon.
Thoughts surged through my mind like a tidal wave.
She was certain.
Jiang Qingxue has changed her mind.
She saw the curve of Jiang Qingxue's lips, saw her trembling in Qin Mu's arms, saw those—
She couldn't tell Xu Longxiang.
Absolutely not.
Xu Longxiang has already endured too much; he cannot bear this any more.
At least, she shouldn't tell him until she comes up with a solution.
But what countermeasures could she possibly have?
Tell Jiang Qingxue? Try to win her back?
impossible.
Jiang Qingxue has already fallen for him.
Tell Qin Mu to let the Xu family go?
Less likely.
What Qin Mu wanted was the Xu family.
There's nothing she can do.
All I can do is sit here and watch it all happen.
Powerless.
Xu Fenghua closed her eyes.
A tear finally fell.
The tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her moon-white nightgown, leaving a small, dark stain.
She didn't wipe it.
She simply let the tears fall silently, drop by drop.
The moonlight outside the window was still cold and clear, shining down on her.
The candlelight inside the hall still flickered, casting the shadows of the three people onto the curtains.
The three shadows overlapped.
Two people sleep in each other's arms, while one sits alone.
The night is still long.
And this night was destined to be sleepless.
.........
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the carved windows into the hall, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
The light and shadow moved slowly with the passage of time, creeping up from the edge of the bed little by little, and finally landing on Jiang Qingxue's face.
Warm and bright.
Jiang Qingxue's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing that caught my eye was Qin Mu's handsome face.
He lay on his side not far away, propping his chin up with one hand, looking at her with a half-smile.
Those deep eyes, reflecting the morning light, appeared exceptionally gentle.
Jiang Qingxue's heart skipped a beat.
She instinctively lowered her eyes, unable to look any longer.
Two blushes quietly rose on her cheeks.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at her.
He didn't speak, but simply shifted his gaze to the other side of the bed.
There, Xu Fenghua was slowly opening her eyes.
Her face was somewhat pale, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she had not slept well last night.
But those amber eyes remained clear and calm.
When she saw Qin Mu, her body instinctively stiffened slightly.
But she didn't say anything, she just lowered her eyes and lay there quietly.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's smile deepened.
He didn't delay any longer and slowly sat up.
A pale white nightgown draped loosely over her body, revealing her well-defined collarbones and a small patch of her firm chest.
The morning light shone on him, making his handsome face exceptionally clear.
He turned his head and looked at Xu Fenghua.
"My beloved concubine," his voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty, "you may go back now."
Xu Fenghua was slightly taken aback.
Her gaze unconsciously swept over Jiang Qingxue.
Jiang Qingxue kept her head down, her cheeks slightly flushed, her expression unreadable.
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Xu Fenghua's heart.
Is there anything else Qin Mu wants to say to Jiang Qingxue alone?
What is it?
she does not know.
I didn't dare ask.
She simply sat up slowly and put on the moon-white outer robe.
The movements were slow and gentle.
She stopped by the bedside and glanced back at Jiang Qingxue.
That gaze was complex, containing scrutiny, doubt, and something else that was hard to define...
But Jiang Qingxue didn't look up or look at her.
Xu Fenghua withdrew her gaze and strode towards the palace gate.
He took two steps, then stopped.
"Your Majesty, I take my leave," she said softly, her voice so calm that it betrayed no emotion.
Then, he pushed open the door and went out.
The pale figure disappeared through the doorway.
The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Inside the hall, only Qin Mu and Jiang Qingxue remained.