chsdbacks Chapter 55 Xu Longxiang's Inner Pain and Secret Excitement!
Chapter 55 Xu Longxiang's Inner Pain and Secret Excitement!
On the high platform, the moment Jiang Qingxue heard the words "Consort Xue," she was struck dumb, completely frozen in place.
She felt as if all the blood in her body froze in an instant, then rushed back to her head, and her vision went black.
Qin Mu... he really... he really intended to do this!
At Qinglan Mountain, before the heroes of the world, before Xu Longxiang…
In this most cruel way, her last bit of dignity and hope was completely crushed!
She could even feel that familiar gaze from below the stage, like a red-hot branding iron, searing her into her body.
Even without turning around, she could clearly sense the pain, anger, and despair in those eyes.
Brother Longxiang... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. She bit her lower lip hard, a faint taste of blood filling her mouth. She used all her strength to keep the tears from falling.
I can't cry... at least not here...
I can't let Qin Mu see anything amiss, and I can't let Brother Longxiang... feel even worse.
She forced a stiff smile, more painful than a grimace, lowered her eyes to avoid everyone's gaze, and said in a trembling voice barely audible:
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness... I am unworthy of such favor..."
The sobs and despair in her voice were almost impossible to conceal.
Qin Mu seemed quite pleased with her "gratitude," and reached out to naturally wrap his arm around her slender waist, pulling her closer to him in an extremely intimate manner.
He lowered his head and whispered gently in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "My beloved consort is worthy. From this day forward, you are my Imperial Consort."
The warm breath brushed against her cold earlobe, but only made her feel a chill to the bone.
This scene was interpreted in a completely different way by the audience.
"Consort Xue...tsk, this lady seems to be extremely favored by the Emperor."
"To promote her to such an extraordinary level, and to announce it on such a special occasion, His Majesty is trying to elevate her to the heavens."
"I'm envious. Who wouldn't want to be pampered like her?"
"I heard that Consort Xue was presented to His Majesty by Prince Xu Longxiang of Zhenbei, so this favor is not surprising."
Quiet discussions spread among the crowd.
Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning sat a little further away, watching Jiang Qingxue being held in Qin Mu's arms and forced to accept the title of Imperial Concubine, their expressions varying.
A fleeting hint of sadness and jealousy flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes, but she quickly concealed it with a gentle smile.
Lu Wanning looked bewildered and envious, whispering to the palace maid beside her, "Sister Xue is so amazing, she's become a Noble Consort so quickly..."
Meanwhile, Xu Longxiang, the other person at the eye of the storm, is currently enduring hellish torment.
He watched helplessly as Qin Mu put his arm around Jiang Qingxue's waist, as she forced a smile onto her pale face, as she was forced to nestle in the arms of her enemy to accept that jarring title...
Every detail was like a dull knife, cutting back and forth in his heart.
"Qingxue..." he roared silently in his heart, the name carrying the scent of blood.
He saw the tears welling up in Jiang Qingxue's eyes, the stiffness in her body, and the despair hidden beneath her broken smile.
All of this told him that she was forced, that she was in pain!
But it was precisely this realization that amplified his anger and pain!
Because he was powerless to do anything!
He could only sit here and watch!
What made him feel even more like he had fallen into an ice cave was when his anger and pain reached their peak.
That strange feeling of "excitement" resurfaced and became increasingly clear.
Imperial Concubine! Intelligence! Value! Grand Mandate!
These cold words, like the whispers of the devil, echoed in his mind.
The intense clash between the two emotions pushed his rationality to the brink of collapse.
He even began to uncontrollably imagine: in the future, when he overthrew the Qin Dynasty, sat on the supreme throne, and reclaimed Qingxue...
What will people think?
All they will remember is that Qingxue was once Qin Mu's concubine, and that she was once held in Qin Mu's arms and personally bestowed the title of imperial consort in front of the whole world!
Even if he were to grant her the title of Empress or even higher in the future, this stain, this mark, would remain forever!
Xu Longxiang will become the emperor who, in the eyes of the world, picked up Qin Mu's "old shoe"!
How could he possibly tolerate this?!
"puff--"
Overcome with anger and anxiety, Xu Longxiang felt a sweet taste in his throat, a metallic sweetness that surged up, but he suppressed it forcefully, with only a thin line of blood escaping from the corner of his tightly pursed lips.
He quickly raised his hand and wiped it away with the corner of his sleeve, the movement so fast that almost no one noticed.
But behind him, Sikong Xuan and Fan Li, who had been closely watching him, could see it all clearly.
A deep worry flashed in both of their eyes at the same time.
The Crown Prince... is being driven mad!
Qin Mu's move was incredibly ruthless!
On the high platform, Qin Mu seemed oblivious to Xu Longxiang's loss of composure below, as well as the coldness and trembling of the woman in his arms.
He embraced the newly promoted "Snow Consort," his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room before finally settling on the three Supreme Elders and Kuai Lai, who had just been "promoted" to Sect Master. He smiled and said:
"Today, the Azure Cloud Sword Sect is doubly blessed with good news: the new sect leader has ascended the throne, which greatly pleases me. However, there are still many matters to attend to within the sect, so I will not disturb you any longer."
His words were a clear order to leave, and also marked the end of today's dramatic ceremony.
The three elders smiled wryly to themselves and quickly bowed, saying, "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty."
Quickly, he knelt down again, saying, "This disciple respectfully sees off Your Majesty! Respectfully sees off the Imperial Concubine!"
Regardless of their inner thoughts, everyone below the stage rose in unison and bowed, saying, "Respectfully bidding farewell to His Majesty! Respectfully bidding farewell to the Imperial Concubine!"
The shouts echoed throughout Tianjian Peak.
Qin Mu nodded slightly, said no more, put his arm around Jiang Qingxue, turned around, and walked slowly down the high platform under the escort of the Imperial Guards and Dragon Shadow Guards, heading towards the imperial carriage at the mountain gate.
The black dragon robe and the light green skirt intertwined in the wind, creating a seemingly harmonious yet turbulent scene between the emperor's majesty and the concubine's gentle grace.
Jiang Qingxue nestled passively against Qin Mu's side, her steps unsteady.
She knew that some things, from this day forward, could never be regained.
Xu Longxiang remained standing in the same spot, like a clay or wooden sculpture.
He stared intently at the two figures walking away hand in hand, at the glaring black and watery green, until they disappeared from sight.
The mountain wind howled, stirring up dust that swept across his cold, stiff body.
The last trace of warmth in his eyes vanished completely, leaving only bottomless darkness.
And within it, flames seemed capable of destroying everything, growing wildly.