20demayo Chapter 457 Since you're pleading for mercy, where is your sincerity?
Chapter 457 Since you're pleading for mercy, where is your sincerity?
Qin Mu stood on the threshold, the moonlight shining in from behind, bathing him in a pale golden halo.
A familiar, ambiguous smile played at the corners of his lips, his gaze fixed on her face, gentle yet unwavering.
A hint of surprise quickly appeared in Xu Fenghua's eyes as she suppressed her unease.
She then gave a slight curtsy, her voice soft.
"Your Majesty, you're back."
Qin Mu smiled and stepped into the hall. His moon-white robe trailed on the floor, making a soft rustling sound.
"I have never left, so how can I say I'm coming back?"
Xu Fenghua's eyes flickered slightly.
Didn't leave?
What has Qin Mu been doing these past few days?
Xu Fenghua was curious.
Yet a gentle smile remained on her face, and her voice carried a perfectly measured hint of melancholy.
"Why hasn't Your Majesty come to visit me for so long? I thought Your Majesty had forgotten about me."
Qin Mu walked up to her, stopped, reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
"I am in seclusion."
Xu Fenghua blinked, a perfectly timed hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"Seclusion? What kind of cultivation technique does His Majesty practice that requires so much time?"
She tilted her head, feigning innocence and curiosity.
Qin Mu smiled but did not answer.
He released his grip, walked to the soft couch, sat down, leaned back in the chair, and rested his chin on one hand.
"What, you miss me already after I've been gone for a few days?"
Xu Fenghua's face flushed slightly, the blush spreading from her cheekbones to her ears, making her look exceptionally beautiful in the candlelight.
She walked over to him, sat down on the embroidered stool, lowered her head slightly, and spoke even softer.
"Of course I miss Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty, this palace is as cold and desolate as an ice cellar."
Qin Mu looked at her, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Lonely? I think you're too idle. Should I find you something to do?"
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
She didn't know what Qin Mu meant by "find something to do," or whether he was just saying it casually or testing her.
But she didn't dare ask, she just smiled and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I read books and do embroidery every day, and I get by just fine."
Qin Mu nodded, shifting his gaze from her face to the deep night outside the window.
"I have gained some insights during my seclusion these past few days."
Xu Fenghua's eyes flickered again, and she nodded thoughtfully.
She was quickly making plans in her mind.
Seclusion? Is he really in seclusion?
Or was this just an excuse he used to brush her off?
Her voice was soft, with just the right amount of curiosity.
"I see. What did Your Majesty realize?"
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at her, the smile on his lips deepening.
"I've realized it—my Empress, when will you give me a prince?"
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
Her face turned even redder, so red it looked like it was about to bleed, and even her ears felt like they were burning.
She lowered her head, her fingers clenched tightly in her sleeve, her nails digging into her palms.
Xu Fenghua didn't know if Qin Mu was hinting at something, or if he already knew something.
She dared not think about it, dared not ask it, and dared not reveal any flaws.
She could only keep her head down, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Your Majesty... is joking with me again."
Qin Mu smiled and said nothing more.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the armrest.
Xu Fenghua sat beside him, head down, her heart churning like a stormy sea.
She knew she had to speed things up.
She must help her younger brother overthrow Qin Mu before Qin Mu discovers it and before her pregnancy becomes visible.
Otherwise, everything will be over!
This is,
Qin Mu smiled faintly and said softly:
"I'm not joking. I've been on the throne for several years now, and I still don't have a son or daughter. So I want a child to inherit my throne. Moreover, this matter concerns the stability of the country. My ministers also want me to give birth to a prince to inherit the throne, so I really should make an effort."
Upon hearing this, Xu Fenghua's eyes flickered a few times again.
I don't know why,
An absurd idea suddenly popped into her mind!
If she really does give birth to a child, and it's a prince, then when her son inherits the throne and becomes the Emperor of Qin, wouldn't it be even easier for Xu Longxiang to seize the throne?!
The moment the thought popped into her head, she realized how absurd it was.
Xu Fenghua quickly shook her head, banishing the absurd idea from her mind.
What is she doing?
How could she use her own child as a tool to seize the throne?
Those are her flesh and blood, not pawns!
Xu Fenghua suppressed the turmoil in her heart, forced a smile at the corner of her mouth, and spoke softly.
"What if Your Majesty's first child is a daughter? Would Your Majesty be disappointed?"
Qin Mu smiled, his tone immediately softening, his gaze filled with affection and doting:
"Then I will give her the best pampering in the world, and let her know what true happiness is!"
Xu Fenghua was stunned when she heard Qin Mu say this.
Her eyes widened slightly, her pupils reflecting Qin Mu's smiling, handsome face, and she felt as if something had struck her heart.
She could tell that Qin Mu's words were not false at all, but came entirely from his true feelings.
His eyes were so sincere, so sincere that she couldn't doubt them, so sincere that her heart trembled.
Xu Fenghua then fell silent.
She was thinking,
If Qin Mu really does that, wouldn't it be unfair to him if she didn't give birth to the child?
The thought exploded in her mind, making her heart pound.
Xu Fenghua then thought of another question.
If she gives birth to the child but doesn't let Qin Mu know or see the child, wouldn't that be selfish of the child?
Why can't she let the child see his father?
Why shouldn't children receive their father's love?
Why should we make decisions for our children?
Thinking of this, Xu Fenghua felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and she was in great pain.
On one side is her younger brother Xu Longxiang's grand ambition, on the other is Qin Mu's sincerity, and on yet another is the innocent little life unborn in her womb.
At the same time, she was afraid of being discovered by Qin Mu, afraid that her child would be taken away, and afraid that she would ultimately be unable to protect anything.
What troubled Xu Fenghua the most was that
There was still a sliver of expectation in her heart that she herself was unwilling to admit.
If she really gives birth to the child, will Qin Mu really do as he said and give her the best love in the world?
She lowered her head, not daring to look at Qin Mu, afraid that if she did, the expectation in her eyes would be exposed.
Qin Mu looked at her slightly reddened eyes, but didn't ask any questions. He simply reached out and gently patted the back of her hand.
"What's wrong? Did I say something that upset you?"
Xu Fenghua quickly raised her head, shook her head, and forced a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"No. I'm just... just happy for our future child."
Her voice trembled slightly, but she still tried her best to maintain a smile.
Qin Mu smiled, said nothing more, leaned back in his chair, and gazed at the deep night outside the window.
Silence spread between the two.
After a long while, Qin Mu suddenly spoke, his voice very soft.
"By the way, I'm taking you to see someone."
Xu Fenghua was slightly taken aback, looked up at him, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Whom does Your Majesty wish to take me to see?"
Qin Mu stood up, straightened his robes, and extended his hand.
You'll see when you get there.
Xu Fenghua looked at the hand; it was slender, with distinct knuckles, and gleamed like jade in the candlelight.
She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand on it.
Qin Mu grasped her hand, his strength just right, and pulled her up from the embroidered stool.
The two walked side by side toward the entrance of the palace.
Moonlight streamed in from outside the door, casting the shadows of the two people on the ground, one on the left and one on the right, very close together.
Xu Fenghua's heart was beating very fast.
She didn't know who Qin Mu was taking her to see, or what awaited her.
But she dared not ask, nor could she ask.
She simply followed behind him, through the corridors and through the many palace gates, toward the brightly lit imperial study.
The night breeze swept by, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples and stirring the turbulent, restless lake in her heart.
Qin Mu took Xu Fenghua's hand and walked into the Imperial Study.
The candlelight burned quietly on the table, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Liu Ruolan knelt in the center of the hall, her forehead touching the cool gold bricks, her long hair slipping from her shoulders and spreading out on the ground.
The moon-white dress clung to her body, outlining her slender waist and slightly trembling shoulders.
Hearing footsteps, her body stiffened abruptly.
She dared not look up, dared not move, and even suppressed her breathing to the lowest possible level.
Xu Fenghua stood beside Qin Mu, her gaze falling on the kneeling figure, and she was slightly taken aback.
A woman? What happened again?
She glanced at Qin Mu, then at Liu Ruolan kneeling on the ground, her eyes full of confusion.
Qin Mu released Xu Fenghua's hand, walked behind the desk, and sat down in the main seat.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Liu Ruolan.
Get up.
His voice was very soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet study.
Liu Ruolan's body trembled again.
She slowly straightened up, knelt on her heels, lowered her head, and placed her hands folded on her knees, her posture as submissive as a porcelain statue.
She didn't look at Qin Mu, nor did she dare to look at the elegant and noble woman beside him.
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at Xu Fenghua, the smile on his lips deepening.
"My beloved concubine, do you know who this is?"
Xu Fenghua's gaze fell on Liu Ruolan's face, and she examined her carefully for a moment.
Her face was as pale as paper, but her eyes held a touch of mature femininity, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly from crying.
She shook her head, her voice soft. "I don't know."
Qin Mu smiled but offered no explanation.
He turned his head and looked at Liu Ruolan again, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the armrest.
"Tell me. What's the purpose of your visit today?"
Liu Ruolan's fingers clenched tightly in her sleeve, her lips trembled violently, her voice was trembling and filled with sobs.
"I...I am Liu, the wife of Han Zhong. I have come to the palace today to...to beg Your Majesty for mercy and to spare my husband's life!"
Her forehead touched the gold brick again, making a dull thud that echoed in the quiet study.
Her shoulders trembled violently, her long hair slipped from her shoulders and spread on the ground, and she looked like a reed broken by a storm, swaying precariously.
Xu Fenghua's eyes flickered slightly.
Han Zhong? That General Who Pacifies the South?
But she didn't understand why Qin Mu had brought her to meet Han Zhong's wife.
What does this have to do with her?
Xu Fenghua's brows furrowed slightly, forming a very faint knot between them.
Liu Ruolan's mind was racing.
She came to plead for mercy.
She had even prepared for the worst.
So she put on her most beautiful clothes and applied her most exquisite makeup.
But why did Your Majesty bring a woman with you?
Who is that woman? Is she one of His Majesty's concubines?
Liu Ruolan knelt there, not daring to raise her head, but she caught a glimpse of the woman's dress out of the corner of her eye.
The dress was moon-white, embroidered with subtle silver patterns, and had a jade belt around its waist. It exuded an air of elegance and nobility, clearly indicating that it was not an ordinary person.
Her hands were trembling.
She didn't know what His Majesty meant, what the woman next to her would think of her, or whether she could still do the thing she had made countless resolutions to do before finally mustering the courage to do it tonight.
She only wanted to save Han Zhong, but she didn't know how.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Liu Ruolan, his voice soft.
Do you know what crime Han Zhong committed?
Liu Ruolan's body stiffened again, her voice hoarse and broken.
"This concubine...this concubine does not know."
Qin Mu smiled. "Don't know? Then what brings you here to plead for me?"
Liu Ruolan's tears finally welled up and dripped onto the gold brick, spreading a small dark stain.
Her forehead touched the gold brick, her voice hoarse, carrying a deep-seated despair and pleading.
"I know my husband must have his reasons. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of the Han family's generations of loyalty and for my husband's many years of service to the court, please spare his life! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy, I beg Your Majesty..."
She couldn't continue speaking, she just kept kowtowing, making a "thump thump" sound, tears streaming down her face.
Xu Fenghua stood aside, watching Liu Ruolan kowtow desperately, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.
She thought of herself, of the Xu family, and of her younger brother who was still struggling to survive in the North.
Her hand unconsciously covered her lower abdomen, then quickly moved away.
She didn't say anything, she just stood there and watched.
Qin Mu didn't speak, he just watched Liu Ruolan kowtow.
He waited until her head was red and swollen from banging on the ground, and until her voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, before he spoke, his voice still very soft.
"Since you're pleading for leniency, where's your sincerity?"