chsdbacks Chapter 21 "I have decided to stay here tonight."
Chapter 21 "I have decided to stay here tonight."
"The royal family of Yuehua Kingdom is surnamed Jiang. The last king was Jiang Huaijin, who reigned for twelve years. When the kingdom was destroyed, there were thirty-seven members of the royal family. Apart from King Jiang Huaijin, who committed suicide by self-immolation, the rest either died in battle or were captured. However, one person's whereabouts are unknown—"
Yunluan paused, then lowered her voice:
"Jiang Huaijin's youngest daughter, Princess Mingyue, who is just three months old, is named Jiang Zhaoyue."
A glint of light flashed in Qin Mu's eyes.
He continued reading.
The silk scroll records that when Xu Xiao conquered the capital of Yuehua Kingdom, he found an infant girl still in swaddling clothes in a secret chamber of the royal palace.
The baby girl had a crescent-shaped jade pendant around her neck, with the words "Zhaoyue" engraved on the back.
Xu Xiao originally intended to eliminate the problem completely, but seeing the adorable baby girl, and remembering his own daughter who had died shortly after birth, he softened and took her back to the palace, claiming to the outside world that she was the daughter of an old friend and entrusted to his care.
"Therefore, Jiang Qingxue is the last surviving princess of the Yuehua Kingdom, a princess of a fallen kingdom."
Qin Mu put down the silk, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. "Does Xu Longxiang know her identity?"
"You should know," Yunluan said. "According to the chess pieces, Jiang Qingxue grew up in the Prince's mansion. Xu Longxiang treated her very well, and everyone in the mansion called her Miss Jiang."
Qin Mu tapped his fingers lightly on his knee.
Princess of a Fallen Kingdom...
This identity is quite unexpected.
However, there are now more ways to utilize this information.
First of all, Jiang Qingxue definitely didn't know that her identity was Jiang Zhaoyue, otherwise she would never have agreed to Xu Longxiang's arrangement.
After all, the Xu family were his enemies who had destroyed his country and clan. How could he possibly give up this hatred just because of the mere kindness of being raised?
Not to mention, they also had to help Xu Longxiang carry out that rebellion plan.
"Is there any way to prove her identity?" Qin Mu asked.
Yunluan shook her head:
"Not yet. The Yuehua Kingdom has been destroyed for twenty-one years. Those who knew about it back then are either dead or recruited by Xu Xiao. We only learned this news by using our most crucial pawn, who was planted in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. If we try to find a way to prove our identities, we'll probably expose that pawn."
Qin Mu pondered for a moment.
That chess piece was one of the rewards he received when he checked in ten years ago.
A spy genius who is proficient in disguise.
Having infiltrated Xu Xiao's side for years, rising through the ranks to become the chief steward of the Prince's mansion, he is Xu Xiao's most important eyes and ears in controlling the movements of the Northern Border.
It cannot be exposed.
"Then let's go find the descendants of the royal family of Yuehua Kingdom, or the old ministers from back then," Qin Mu said. "Although Yuehua Kingdom is small, it has been established for a hundred years, and there must be some who have slipped through the net."
"Your Majesty," Yunluan hesitated, "when Yuehua Kingdom was destroyed, Xu Xiao was ruthless, and almost all members of the royal family were slaughtered. Even if some escaped, after twenty-one years, I'm afraid..."
"Go find it." Qin Mu's tone was calm, yet authoritative. "The world is vast; there are bound to be clues. Have the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate secretly, without alerting anyone."
"Yes." Yunluan bowed and accepted the order.
She paused, then said, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. After Fan Li arrived in the capital yesterday, besides visiting several senior officials, he also went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the west of the city, where he ran into Meng Yi, the only son of Meng Fang, the commander of the Imperial Guards. The two had a very pleasant conversation, and Fan Li even gave Meng Yi a precious sword from the Western Regions."
Qin Mu smiled.
"Zui Xian Lou...is that the place where Meng Yi accidentally killed the wealthy merchant's son three months ago?"
"Exactly."
"Fan Li certainly knows how to choose a location." A cold glint flashed in Qin Mu's eyes. "It seems Xu Longxiang is determined to take over the Imperial Guard."
"Should we give Meng Fang a little warning?" Yun Luan asked.
"No need," Qin Mu waved his hand. "Let him make the contact. I want to see what choice this Imperial Guard Commander will make."
Yunluan nodded: "Your subordinate understands."
"Go ahead." Qin Mu waved his hand.
After Yunluan withdrew, the hall returned to silence.
Qin Mu leaned back on the soft couch, lost in thought.
The orphan of the Moonlit Kingdom...
She and Xu Longxiang were childhood sweethearts.
Now that we know her identity, this play becomes even more interesting.
"Someone come here."
"Your Majesty." The palace maid bowed and entered.
"Arrange the carriage at Yuxiu Palace."
Qin Mu stood up.
"I'm going to see Consort Xue."
........
Yuxiu Palace is located on the west side of the inner palace, in a secluded and tranquil location.
Qin Mu did not have anyone announce his arrival and walked into the courtyard alone.
It was afternoon, and sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows.
On the west side of the courtyard stands an octagonal pavilion with upturned eaves and copper bells hanging from it. A gentle breeze causes the bells to tinkle.
Inside the pavilion, Jiang Qingxue was sitting on a stone bench.
Today she wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a moon-white gauze overlay. Her long hair was loosely tied up with a single wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling around her cheeks.
On the stone table in front of them sat an ancient zither, its body jet black, its strings gleaming softly.
But she didn't play the zither; she just sat quietly, gazing at the plum tree outside the pavilion, her eyes vacant, lost in thought.
Sunlight shone on her profile, outlining her delicate features.
It was a kind of beauty unlike that of the other women in the harem.
It was aloof and distant, as if it were out of place in this bustling palace.
Qin Mu stood outside the moon gate and watched her quietly for a moment.
She seemed completely absorbed in her thoughts and didn't even notice his arrival.
It wasn't until Qin Mu stepped into the courtyard that the sound of his footsteps startled the woman in the pavilion.
Jiang Qingxue snapped back to her senses, looked up and saw Qin Mu. She was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly got up.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"
She strode out of the pavilion, knelt three steps in front of Qin Mu, and touched her forehead to the ground:
"Your Majesty, I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly. I deserve to die for this crime."
His voice was tinged with panic, clearly indicating that he was frightened.
Qin Mu walked up to her and looked down at her kneeling figure.
A light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) lay spread out on the ground, and a slender waist could be vaguely seen under a moon-white smock.
She knelt perfectly, her posture respectful, but her back was ramrod straight, revealing a stubbornness that refused to yield.
"Get up," Qin Mu said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jiang Qingxue stood up, head bowed, not daring to meet his gaze.
Qin Mu sized her up.
Compared to her heroic spirit during yesterday's sword practice, she appeared more gentle and graceful today.
Perhaps it was because of their clothing and appearance, or perhaps it was because of their different state of mind.
"What are you thinking about?" Qin Mu asked. "When I came in, I saw you staring at the plum tree, lost in thought."
Jiang Qingxue's fingers tightened slightly, and she said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I was just wondering when the plum tree will bloom again."
"Plum blossoms bloom in the dead of winter; it's only early summer now, too early." Qin Mu walked into the pavilion, sat down on a stone bench, and asked, "You like plum blossoms?"
"Yes." Jiang Qingxue followed in, still bowing her head. "The plum blossoms bloom alone in the cold, defying the snow and frost. Your Majesty... I admire its noble character."
Qin Mu glanced at her.
These words seemed to have a hidden meaning.
"Sit down." He pointed to the stone bench opposite him.
Jiang Qingxue hesitated for a moment, but still sat down as instructed, though she only sat on half of the stool, her posture restrained.
"Can you play the zither?" Qin Mu looked at the zither on the table.
"I know a little bit," Jiang Qingxue said. "I learned it when I was young, but I was slow-witted and only learned the basics."
"Play a tune for me."
"Yes."
Jiang Qingxue took a deep breath, straightened the guqin, and gently stroked the strings with her slender fingers.
She played "Three Variations on Plum Blossom".
The music was initially somewhat hesitant, perhaps due to nervousness or unfamiliarity.
But gradually, she became immersed in it, and her fingering became more and more fluent.
The zither music was clear and melodious, like the tinkling of an ice spring, or like the first bloom of a winter plum blossom.
Qin Mu listened quietly.
To be fair, Jiang Qingxue's zither skills are not top-notch, at least not as good as Consort Su Wanqing.
But there is a unique quality in her music, aloof and cold, as if she were truly alone with a plum blossom tree on a snowy winter night.
This made her originally 70% piano skills sound like 90% artistic conception.
The song ended.
Jiang Qingxue stopped, looked up at Qin Mu with a hint of trepidation in her eyes: "Your Majesty, I have made a fool of myself."
"good."
Qin Mu nodded. "Your zither skills are passable, but the artistic conception is rare. Your piece, 'Three Variations on Plum Blossom,' has the soul of the plum blossom."
A hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Qingxue's eyes, then she lowered her head and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
She never expected that this emperor, who seemed to only know how to enjoy himself, could actually understand the artistic conception in her music.
Qin Mu smiled faintly, his gaze falling on Jiang Qingxue's face:
"I have decided to stay here tonight."
As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the pavilion seemed to freeze.