gnovel Chapter 160 Jiang Qingxue begins to become increasingly dependent on Qin Mu!
Chapter 160 Jiang Qingxue begins to become increasingly dependent on Qin Mu!
Hearing this sentence,
Jiang Qingxue's fingers trembled almost imperceptibly in Qin Mu's warm palm.
The shivering was not caused by the cold.
The incense burner inside the hall was burning brightly, and the silver charcoal in the incense burner emitted a warm glow.
Rather, it stemmed from a deeper, more ineffable shock.
"Don't be afraid."
"With me here, no one can hurt you."
These two sentences are like pebbles thrown into a deep pool.
In the long-frozen and lifeless lake of her heart, ripples were stirred up that she was unwilling to admit but could not ignore.
sense of security.
The word suddenly and clearly surfaced in her chaotic mind.
It was a long-lost feeling, one that she had never truly experienced since being sent to this deep palace.
Xu Longxiang also said something similar.
Beneath the plum tree at Tingxue Pavilion in the Northern Border, snowflakes drifted down. He held her hand, the young man's eyes clear and resolute.
"Qingxue, don't be afraid, I will protect you for the rest of my life."
The "protection" back then was a promise made by childhood sweethearts, the stirrings of youthful feelings, carrying the pure essence of sunshine and snowflakes, as beautiful as a dream that will never fade.
But a dream is just a dream.
It was Xu Longxiang himself, who had made the promise, who sent her from the relatively simple snowfields of the North to the heart of the most complex and dangerous vortex in the world—the imperial city.
The "protection" he spoke of proved to be incredibly fragile in the face of the family's grand enterprise and the power struggles and schemes.
She became the most hidden piece on his chessboard, and also the one most likely to be sacrificed.
Every day and night after entering the palace, she suffered from loneliness, fear, and immense pressure.
That sense of security, which I once thought was invincible, has long since shattered under the cold blade of reality, turning into deeper fear and distrust.
He couldn't even protect his own most cherished sister, so how could he protect her, who was far away in the palace and had no control over her own destiny?
And Qin Mu...
This was the man she had once hated, feared, and regarded as a predator and a tyrant.
But it is challenging her preconceived notions time and time again in a completely different way.
On Mount Qinglan, he crippled a Celestial Realm elder with a casual laugh, his methods of defending against enemies from afar were unpredictable and divine.
In the Eagle Falling Gorge, he casually crushed the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword, and the Dragon Shadow Guards eliminated all threats like shadows.
Even just now, when he was telling the story of the "Moonlight Kingdom," there was a profound depth beneath the calm, a depth that seemed to control everything...
All of this silently proclaims one fact: he possesses absolute power.
This kind of power is different from the power that Xu Longxiang needs to suppress, plan, and rely on external forces for.
It is a power that originates from itself and crushes everything.
It is the absolute confidence that one can overcome any enemy, even a massive army, or a conspiracy.
At that moment, he held her hand, the warmth from his palm steady and strong.
The phrase "With me here" is not an empty romantic statement or a distant promise, but a reliable statement based on terrifying power.
In this ruthless palace, in this imperial city where various forces are surging beneath the surface.
What could be more reassuring than the protection offered by the emperor himself, especially by such an unfathomable and terrifyingly powerful emperor?
Even if this "protection" may carry connotations of control, testing, or even manipulation, its "effectiveness" is beyond doubt.
A feeling of utter absurdity gripped Jiang Qingxue.
The person she should have feared most was now the person she subconsciously felt could "protect" her the most.
The very cage she most wanted to escape from, in fact, gave her the only twisted sense of security during her prison life.
This realization made her feel a strong sense of self-loathing and panic.
How could she have such a dependent feeling towards Qin Mu?
Wouldn't this be a betrayal of Xu Longxiang, a betrayal of his original intention to enter the palace, and a betrayal of the heart that had been struggling in pain?
However, the dam of reason is quietly cracking under the absolute disparity in strength and extreme environmental pressure.
She is so tired.
For the past two months, I have been bearing the burden of a disguised identity, emotional turmoil, the weight of secrets, and boundless fear of the future all by myself.
Xu Longxiang's "great cause" is like an unreachable mountain, while she herself is like a grain of sand at the foot of the mountain that may be crushed at any time.
While Sister Xu's entry into the palace brought solace in sharing a similar plight, it also added more uncertainties and worries.
Qin Mu is like the only visible and tangible mountain in this dark abyss, a mountain that remains unmoved even though it may be full of thorns and traps.
Getting close to him is dangerous, but staying away from him seems even more helpless.
Jiang Qingxue lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes casting trembling shadows on her pale cheeks, concealing the complex emotions churning within them.
There is hatred for one's own weakness, sorrow for the absurdity of one's situation, and the tug-of-war between lingering affection and guilt towards Xu Longxiang.
There was also a subtle, twisted dependence on the powerful strength of the man before her.
Her fingers curled slightly in Qin Mu's palm. Instead of trying to pull away, they unconsciously tightened around her like a drowning person grabbing a piece of driftwood.
She didn't even notice this subtle movement immediately.
Moonlight streamed through the window, outlining the graceful lines of her profile and illuminating the gradually spreading, hazy light in her eyes.
Qin Mu took in all her subtle reactions.
The almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, and a hint of understanding and amusement flashed in his deep eyes.
This is exactly the effect he wanted.
Destroy her old reliance, crush her firm defenses, and make her clearly realize, amidst extreme pain, absurdity, and contrast.
Who is the true master of this land, and who can give her the most tangible security?
Then, rebuild from the ruins.
"Let's go."
He didn't give her any more time to sort out her chaotic thoughts. He took her hand and strode towards the palace gate.
Jiang Qingxue stumbled slightly, as if being pulled by an invisible thread, but then caught up.
The hem of her moon-white nightgown brushed against the cool ground, making a soft rustling sound.
With her other hand, she unconsciously pulled her slightly open collar tighter. The coolness of the night wind seemed to clear her mind for a moment, but the warmth from her palm and the echo of "I am here" in her mind plunged her into deeper confusion.
The palace doors slowly closed behind us, shutting out the warmth and light of Yuxiu Palace.
They stepped into the deep, inky autumn night of the imperial city.
Jiang Qingxue followed him, stumbling along the way.
The night wind blew her unbound long hair and thin nightgown, bringing a chill that made her unconsciously move closer to Qin Mu, trying to draw some warmth and... that conflicting sense of security.
Qin Mu glanced at her sideways.
Under the moonlight, she pressed her pale lips together, her eyes unfocused, conveying a sense of vulnerability lingering in shock and a hint of bewildered submission.
Like a young beast that has been frightened by a storm, temporarily sheathing all its claws, instinctively seeking refuge with its stronger kind.
well.
What he wanted was for her to gradually get used to his presence, to get used to his control, and even, in extreme situations, to develop this distorted dependence on him.
This is more interesting, and... more useful, than mere fear or hatred.
........
The night was thick, and the candlelight in Yuxiu Palace flickered in the night breeze, casting long shadows of Qin Mu and Jiang Qingxue walking side by side on the palace wall.
Qin Mu's hand was still holding Jiang Qingxue's hand, warm and dry, with a firm but not too strong grip, as if it were a silent declaration, or an unintentional protection.
Jiang Qingxue followed half a step behind him, the hem of her moon-white nightgown fluttering gently in the cool night breeze.
The embroidered shoes made a very soft rustling sound as they stepped on the extremely clean bluestone palace path, which was almost reflective of the moonlight.
She didn't press further about what the "good show" was.
If Qin Mu didn't say anything, she wouldn't ask.
This is one of the survival rules she learned in the deep palace.
Strangely, this silence brought about an almost numb calm.
No need to rack your brains to figure it out, no need to rack your brains to deal with it, just follow, follow this figure that seems to be able to cleave through all darkness.
The night breeze carried the slightly astringent scent of autumn grass and trees, which were not yet withered, and dispersed the lingering sweetness of ambergris in the palace. It also seemed to dispel the slight fear in her heart.
She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Qin Mu's profile.
The moonlight, like a silver veil, spilled down, outlining his sharp jawline, high nose bridge, and eyes that appeared exceptionally deep in the night.
He appeared relaxed and walked with ease, unlike an emperor patrolling the inner palace at night, but rather like a young nobleman strolling leisurely in his own back garden.
There was none of his usual languid authority in the court, nor the aggressive control he displayed in the bedroom last night.
At this moment, he seemed... somewhat peaceful.
Jiang Qingxue's mind was in complete turmoil.
She quickly lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting trembling shadows beneath them, concealing all the turbulent emotions within.
The two walked in silence, passing through the moon gate connecting Yuxiu Palace to the Imperial Garden.
Autumn is in full swing in the garden. The osmanthus flowers are about to fade, leaving behind a last trace of sweet fragrance, mixed with the bittersweet scent of chrysanthemums.
Moonlight filtered through the thinning branches of the sycamore trees, casting dappled, shimmering shadows on the ground like shattered silver.
The scenery was tranquil, and the night was gentle.
If it weren't for the fact that we were in the palace, and that Qin Mu wasn't by my side, this would almost certainly be described as a delightful autumn night.
In this eerie tranquility and companionship, Jiang Qingxue's heart gradually calmed down from its previous turmoil.
It even evoked a long-lost sense of peace.
She could even clearly hear the soft, intertwined footsteps of herself and him, and the faint chirping of insects in the distance.
She looked up again, gazing at Qin Mu's profile.
The dark fabric of his nightgown gleamed with a dim sheen under the moonlight, highlighting the chiseled features of his profile.
The night breeze stirred his loose strands of dark hair, brushing against his forehead, giving him a unique...refined and handsome appearance.
My heart skipped a beat for no reason.
A strange thrill stirred within her, like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pool, rippling outwards in ways she herself couldn't comprehend.
She clenched her other hand tightly in her sleeve, her nails digging deep into her palm.
crazy!
She must be crazy!
I'm being driven crazy by this series of shocks!
That's why I have such absurd feelings towards Qin Mu!
She forced herself to look away, gazing at the dark outline of the artificial mountain in the distance, trying to extinguish the spark that shouldn't have been there in her heart with cold hatred.
........
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Imperial Garden, in the shadows of the highest point of a rugged artificial hill.
Two figures, almost blending into the darkness, were holding their breath, gazing intently at the two people walking side by side under the moonlight.
It was Xu Longxiang and Mo Ya.