20demayo Chapter 243 After our grand wedding, we can naturally proceed with the Zhangliyang Dynasty.
Chapter 243 After our grand wedding, we can naturally proceed with the Zhangliyang Dynasty.
Zhao Qingxue's hand instinctively gripped the bed sheet beneath her.
A hint of almost instinctive fear flickered in those deep purple phoenix eyes.
It's really laughable.
She, Zhao Qingxue, the Empress of Liyang, purged the eight kings in five years, her power shook the Eastern Continent, and countless heroes bowed down to her.
How much blood has been stained on his hands? How many life-and-death situations have he witnessed? How many desperate situations have he experienced that would break an ordinary person?
But she was afraid of an ordinary shop owner.
A vulgar woman with only a second-grade martial arts level.
A dog that grovels and begs for mercy in front of Qin Mu.
But she was afraid.
She was afraid that woman would stare at her with such deep-seated hatred.
She was afraid that the woman's rough hands would grab her hair and pull her back forcefully.
She was afraid that the woman would raise her hand and slap her face repeatedly, making her see stars and blood trickle from the corner of her mouth.
She was afraid that the woman would pick up the wooden stick and hit her repeatedly, leaving her covered in bruises and in so much pain that she almost fainted.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers clenched even tighter.
She stared intently at Qin Mu's retreating figure.
Staring at the moon-white figure that was about to disappear through the doorway.
Qin Mu did not turn around.
He walked to the door and reached out to grasp the door frame.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him, also preparing to leave.
Just as Qin Mu's hand was about to push open the door—
"Wait a moment."
A hoarse, trembling voice came from behind.
Qin Mu stopped abruptly.
His hand was still gripping the door frame, but he didn't push it open.
He just stood there quietly, his back to Zhao Qingxue.
Jiang Zhaoyue also stopped and turned around to look at the woman sitting on the edge of the bed.
The flickering candlelight cast Zhao Qingxue's figure in and out of the light.
She remained seated there, head bowed, her long hair still loose.
Qin Mu did not turn around.
He simply spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion:
"What's wrong?"
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled was cool, but it couldn't extinguish the turbulent waves churning within her heart.
She spoke, her voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible:
Give me another one—
She paused, as if using all her strength to squeeze out each word:
"Three days."
"I'll think about it."
"May I?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the room fell into a deathly silence.
The flickering candlelight cast Qin Mu's long shadow on the wall, making him look like a silent statue.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood aside, quietly watching this scene.
Zhao Qingxue was also looking at her.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment in mid-air.
It was just a fleeting moment.
But in that instant, Zhao Qingxue saw the emotion in Jiang Zhaoyue's eyes.
The emotions were complex, a mixture of sympathy, pity, and something else she herself couldn't quite explain...
Thank goodness?
Zhao Qingxue suddenly wanted to laugh.
It turns out that even this woman, who was fearful and anxious yesterday, is now glad that she is not her.
She, Zhao Qingxue, the Empress of Liyang, has actually fallen to this state.
He was reduced to the point of being pitied by a prisoner.
But she couldn't smile.
Because Qin Mu spoke up.
His voice remained calm, as calm as if he were talking about the weather today.
"You are not in a position to negotiate."
Just a few simple words.
But it was like a hammer blow, striking Zhao Qingxue's heart hard.
Her body trembled violently again.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But Qin Mu had already taken that step.
His foot crossed the threshold.
A moon-white robe flashed at the doorway, about to disappear into the darkness.
Zhao Qingxue watched his retreating figure, the figure that was about to completely abandon her in the darkness and hand her over to that madwoman.
The last line of defense in my heart finally collapsed completely.
"it is good."
She spoke, her voice hoarse and almost broken.
"I agree."
Qin Mu stopped again.
This time, he stopped between the inside and outside of the threshold.
Half in darkness, half in candlelight.
He didn't turn around immediately.
He just stood there quietly, as if trying to confirm what he had heard.
Zhao Qingxue watched his back, watching his motionless figure.
A complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside me.
She finally bowed her head.
But at least I don't have to face that crazy woman anymore.
Then came a deep, almost self-deprecating sorrow.
In her twenty-five years of life, Zhao Qingxue has never bowed her head to anyone.
But today, she lowered her head.
To a man.
A man who kidnapped her, humiliated her, and tortured her.
Qin Mu finally turned around.
Moonlight streamed in from behind him, gilding him with a silvery sheen.
A sincere smile graced his handsome face.
That smile was gentle, as gentle as the spring sunshine.
But when Zhao Qingxue looked at that smile, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Qin Mu stepped forward and walked back to her.
He stopped three steps from the bedside and looked down at her.
"Believe me," he said, his voice gentle yet firm, "you've made the wisest decision of your life."
Zhao Qingxue raised her head and met his gaze.
There was no longer any fear or struggle in those deep purple phoenix eyes.
There was only a cold, calm silence.
She spoke again.
The voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear:
"But I have one request."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"I only have this one request."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.
Tell me about it.
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, a cold killing intent flashing in her deep purple phoenix eyes.
The killing intent flashed by so quickly it was almost impossible to catch.
But Qin Mu saw it.
The smile on his lips deepened.
Zhao Qingxue spoke, her voice filled with a deep-seated hatred:
"Bring Sister Hong—"
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Leave it to me."
Qin Mu listened and smiled softly.
The laughter was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
"Of course," he said, his tone as casual as if he were agreeing to a trivial favor.
He leaned slightly closer.
They were so close that Zhao Qingxue could see her own reflection in his eyes.
"You are now my Empress," his voice was soft, yet every word was clear, "what is a mere servant compared to that?"
Empress.
These two words were like a thorn, piercing Zhao Qingxue's heart.
Her eyes flickered slightly.
But she didn't say anything.
She simply lowered her eyes, concealing the complex emotions that flashed across them.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He straightened up and stood with his hands behind his back.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath and raised her head.
"When do you plan to—" she paused, "when will you let me out?"
Qin Mu looked at her, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
"Now," he said.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
Now?
that's it?
She thought she would have to wait, endure, and more—
But he just agreed like that?
Qin Mu saw the surprise in her eyes and smiled gently.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Don't you want to go out now?"
Zhao Qingxue shook her head.
"What I mean is," she paused, her gaze fixed on his face, "when will I be allowed to return to the Li Yang Dynasty?"
This is her biggest concern.
She is imprisoned here, and the longer she stays away from Liyang, the more uncertainties arise.
Although the old ministers in the court were loyal, over time, some of them inevitably began to have ulterior motives.
Although Gu Jiantang held military power, he dared not act rashly without her orders.
But what if she's been missing for too long?
Zhao Qingxue dared not think any further.
Qin Mu looked at the urgency in her eyes and sighed softly.
"Well, we'll do that after our wedding."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Anytime is fine."
Zhao Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted.
After the wedding?
wedding.
To hold a grand wedding.
Tell the world.
Let everyone know that she, Zhao Qingxue, the Empress of Liyang, has married Qin Mu, the Emperor of Qin.
Let everyone know that the Li Yang Dynasty and the Great Qin Dynasty have now become one.
At that point, it would mean she would have no way back.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve.
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.
She understood Qin Mu's purpose.
Raw rice is cooked into cooked rice.
This left her with absolutely no way back.
Make her his queen, rightfully and legitimately.
He wanted her to acknowledge him as his woman in front of the whole world.
By then, even if she wanted to back out, it would be too late.
Because everyone in the world knows that she is his empress.
Because the people of Liyang will know that their empress has married the emperor of Qin.
Because everything is already set in stone.
Zhao Qingxue raised her head and looked at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu looked at the complex emotions in her eyes and smiled gently.
He didn't say anything more.
He simply turned around and walked towards the door.
He took two steps, then stopped.
He turned to look at her.
"Let's go," he said. "I'll take you out."
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
Stand up.
My knees felt a little weak, and the injury on my calf was still throbbing.
But she gritted her teeth and walked step by step toward the door.
She stopped beside Qin Mu.
Moonlight streamed in from outside the door, shining on her.
That pale face, covered in bruises and swelling, appeared exceptionally clear in the moonlight.
A smile flashed in Qin Mu's eyes as he looked at her.
Zhao Qingxue turned her face away and refused to look at him again.
Qin Mu didn't care.
He simply reached out his hand.
His slender fingers gently grasped her hand.
Zhao Qingxue's body stiffened slightly.
But she did not struggle.
She simply let him hold her hand, and step by step, they walked out of the room that had imprisoned her for a day and a night.
Behind her, Jiang Zhaoyue watched this scene quietly.
Watching Qin Mu lead Zhao Qingxue out of the room.
Watching the moonlight fall on the two of them, casting their shadows on the ground, intertwined.
That strange feeling resurfaced in her heart once again.
She took a deep breath and suppressed the feeling.
Then, take a step and follow.
The moonlight, like water, spilled over this secluded courtyard.
Qin Mu led Zhao Qingxue along the cobblestone path.
Behind her, Jiang Zhaoyue followed closely.
The bamboo stalks in the courtyard rustled in the night breeze.
Several drumbeats sounded in the distance; it was already midnight.
Qin Mu stopped at the gate of the courtyard.
He turned to look at Zhao Qingxue.
"Remember," he said, his voice soft but each word clear, "from this day forward, you will be my Empress."
"Whether she is the Empress of Liyang or the Empress of Qin."
He paused, his gaze falling on her face, deep and unfathomable:
"It's all because of you."
Zhao Qingxue looked at him.
Looking at that smiling, handsome, and always composed face.
He didn't speak.
Under the moonlight, the three stood at the gate of the courtyard.
Qin Mu led Zhao Qingxue by the hand, with Jiang Zhaoyue following behind.
The night breeze blew by, lifting the hems of their clothes.
In the distance, a rooster crowed.
It's almost bright.
A new day is about to begin.
This turning point that night will forever be etched in Jiang Zhaoyue's heart.
It became one of the most unforgettable memories of her life.
Everything that happened tonight felt like a dream.
She learned about her origins.
She learned that she was a princess of the Moonflower Kingdom, an orphan of a fallen kingdom.
She learned that Cao Wei was the person entrusted to her by her father and mother, and the benefactor who carried her out of the fire.
I learned what my parents looked like and saw their gentle smiles.
She also realized that in Xu Longxiang's heart, she had always been just a substitute.
To replace the woman whose name also contained "Qingxue".
Empress Li Yang, Zhao Qingxue.
Jiang Zhaoyue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with relief.
She no longer has to struggle with this.
No need to ask yourself "What should I do?" anymore.
No more hesitation or struggle in front of those notes.
She no longer needed to toss and turn in those nights, wondering if Xu Longxiang was still worth her sacrifice.
Because the answer has already been revealed.
The person she thought she loved never truly loved her.
In his heart, she was never Jiang Qingxue.
It's just a shadow of the two characters "Qingxue".
It's just a substitute.
Jiang Zhaoyue smiled.
The moonlight shone on her face, illuminating her cool and aloof features with exceptional clarity.
There were no tears or sorrow in those clear eyes at that moment.
There was only peace.
In that tranquility, there was relief, determination, and a freedom she had never experienced before.
Yes, freedom.
From now on, she no longer has to live for anyone.
There's no need to sacrifice for that vague and unrealistic "grand cause" anymore.
She no longer needs to wrong herself for a man who doesn't care about her at all.
She just needs to be herself.
Be Jiang Zhaoyue.
Do……
Qin Mu's concubine.
Thinking of Qin Mu, Jiang Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled herself back to reality and hurried after Qin Mu.