gnovel Chapter 262 Do you want to go and see the Li Yang Dynasty?
Chapter 262 Do you want to go and see the Li Yang Dynasty?
Zhao Qingxue's heart skipped a beat.
She was seen through.
This man always seemed to be able to see through all her pretenses at a glance.
The carefully maintained calm, the feigned indifference, were all as fragile as thin paper in his eyes, easily pierced with a single touch.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
The heat rose from his cheekbones and spread all the way to his ears, giving off a very faint pink hue in the candlelight.
But her face remained expressionless.
She simply glanced back at him, her voice so calm it betrayed no emotion:
"Your Majesty is too kind. It is late at night, and we should rest."
She paused, then added:
"Doesn't Your Majesty need to rest?"
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled.
"The Empress certainly has refined tastes," he said, a hint of genuine admiration in his voice, "How can she sleep at a time like this?"
Zhao Qingxue gave him a disgruntled look.
"Or what?"
She retorted, a hint of defiance in her voice that she herself didn't realize, "Are you trying to kill yourself?"
She was stunned for a moment when she said those words.
This tone, these words, are never something she would say.
When has Zhao Qingxue, the Empress of Liyang, ever spoken in such a tone?
When has she ever shown such an almost coquettish expression in front of a man?
Her face burned even hotter.
The blush spread from her cheeks to her neck, burning deep into her collar, appearing faintly at the edge of her moon-white collar.
But she couldn't show it.
She could only force herself to maintain a cold expression, turn her face away, and refuse to look at him again.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He didn't call her out on it.
She just smiled slightly, and then—
He took a step closer to her.
The distance is closer now.
Zhao Qingxue was so close that she could feel the warmth emanating from him and smell the faint scent of ambergris on his body.
Her body stiffened slightly.
But she heard him whisper in her ear:
"The letter should have been delivered by now."
Zhao Qingxue's eyelashes trembled violently.
letter.
The letter she wrote to the Liyang court.
That letter announcing her marriage to the Emperor of Qin and declaring Liyang's submission to Qin.
Her heart sank.
The panic, shyness, and displeasure that had just occurred because of him were now replaced by another, stronger, and heavier emotion.
That was a concern.
A deep, uncontrollable worry.
She had no idea what would happen after the letter was delivered to Liyang.
I wonder how the old ministers in the court will react when they see that letter.
I wonder if Gu Jiantang will fly into a rage on the spot and draw his sword to strike the messenger.
I wonder if Zhang Julu will be so angry that he faints on the spot, and then the first thing he does when he wakes up is to summon all the officials to discuss countermeasures.
I wonder if those elders of the royal family, those forces that have always been dissatisfied with her, will take this opportunity to cause trouble.
have no idea--
Countless unknowns surged through her mind.
It was as if countless invisible hands were tearing at her heart.
She trusted her old ministers.
Trust in their loyalty, trust in their abilities, and trust that they will stabilize the situation.
But that was just speculation.
It was just her wishful thinking.
What if?
What if someone takes this opportunity to cause trouble?
What if the situation gets out of control?
just in case--
Zhao Qingxue's brows furrowed tightly.
Her brows furrowed deeply, and the peace that had been so hard to regain in her deep purple phoenix eyes was shattered once again.
All that remained was a surging worry that almost overflowed from his eyes.
Qin Mu looked at her like this, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
This is what he's been waiting for.
He knows Zhao Qingxue too well.
No matter how calm, composed, or pretending not to care about anything, this woman...
But in her heart, the one she could never let go of was Li Yang.
That is her root, her country, her responsibility.
It was the empire she built up bit by bit over five years.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled carried the chill of the night, yet it could not extinguish the turbulent waves churning within her heart.
She looked up at Qin Mu.
In those deep purple phoenix eyes, worry had overwhelmed all other emotions.
"So what?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Even if I'm curious, what can I do?"
She paused, a self-deprecating smile curving her lips:
"I can't see it."
These words were spoken very softly and casually.
But beneath that nonchalance lies a profound sense of powerlessness.
Yes, we can't see it.
The imperial city of Liyang is thousands of miles away from the imperial palace of the Qin Dynasty.
Even if you ride at full speed, day and night, it will still take seven or eight days.
Even if a message were sent by carrier pigeon, it would take several days for it to arrive and return.
She is trapped here, trapped in this deep palace, trapped beside this man.
There's nothing we can do, nothing we can see, and nothing we can change.
We can only wait.
Those unknown outcomes are like a sword hanging over our heads, ready to fall at any moment.
This feeling almost drove her crazy.
But she could only endure it.
I can only pretend I don't care.
She could only let those worries surge wildly in her heart, devouring her bit by bit.
Qin Mu looked at her.
Looking into those deep purple phoenix eyes, I saw the surging worry and profound helplessness.
He smiled.
That smile was gentle, as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Would you like to go and see for yourself?" he asked.
Zhao Qingxue was stunned.
She looked up at him.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with bewilderment and disbelief.
"Go and see for yourself?" she repeated his words, a hint of confusion in her voice. "How?"
Qin Mu looked at her, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
"Why don't we go and see for ourselves?" he said.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted!
Should we go take a look?
What does he mean by "the past"?
To Liyang Imperial City?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.
But not a single thought could explain the meaning of Qin Mu's words.
The Qin capital was thousands of miles away from the Liyang capital!
Even traveling day and night, it would take at least seven or eight days!
Even riding the finest steed, you'll still run your legs off!
How could I possibly "go over and take a look"?
But then—
A picture suddenly flashed through her mind.
That image cleaved through the chaos in her mind like lightning.
That was that night at the Nujiang ferry crossing.
She stood on the cliff, and the phantom image formed by the Emperor Taizu's decree shattered before her.
She panicked and tried to escape.
Then--
A warm mist enveloped her and lifted her up.
She felt a lightness all over her body, and her moon-white skirt looked like a cloud being swept up by the wind in the mist.
The thick fog enveloped her, and like the receding tide, she vanished silently from the deck.
The next moment—
She had already appeared on a cliff several miles away.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted again.
That method—
The method that instantly transported her from the riverbank to the cliff—
If that method could be used to kidnap her.
Could that also be used to take her to Liyang?
Zhao Qingxue's heart began to race.
So fast it almost seemed to burst out of my chest.
She raised her head and stared intently at Qin Mu.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.
"You—" she began, her voice trembling slightly, "Do you have a way?"
Qin Mu looked at her like this and smiled gently.
"Of course," he said.
These two simple words were like a boulder, crashing into the turbulent lake in Zhao Qingxue's heart.
It stirred up a massive wave!
Zhao Qingxue's mind went blank.
He really has a way!
He really can travel a thousand miles a day!
It can instantly traverse thousands of miles!
This man—
What kind of being is it?!
Seeing the shock in her eyes, Qin Mu's smile deepened.
He stretched out his hand.
His slender fingers gently lifted her chin.
This forced her to look up and meet his gaze.
"What?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Don't believe me?"
Zhao Qingxue looked at him.
Looking at his smiling, handsome, and always composed face.
Looking into his deep, all-seeing eyes.
Then, she shook her head.
"I believe you," she said.
The sound was very soft, yet exceptionally clear.
Because she saw it with her own eyes.
That night at the Nujiang ferry crossing, she personally experienced that unbelievable method when she was abducted.
She has no choice but to believe it.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's satisfaction deepened.
"So," he asked, "do you want to go?"
Zhao Qingxue fell silent.
Of course she wanted to go.
She wanted to see with her own eyes what would happen after the Li Yang court received that letter.
I want to see Gu Jiantang's reaction, I want to see Zhang Julu's reaction, I want to see the reactions of those elders of the imperial clan.
She wanted to confirm whether things would get chaotic in Liyang while she was away.
But she didn't dare to go.
It's not because I'm afraid.
Rather, it's because—
She didn't know what role she should play.
In the identity of Empress Li Yang?
But at this moment, she is Qin Mu's prisoner, and the empress he is about to marry.
He appeared in the Li Yang court in that once high and mighty position.
He appeared before those veteran officials.
She appeared before those she had personally promoted and who were utterly loyal to her.
What should she say?
What should I do?
What expression should I wear when facing them?
Zhao Qingxue's fingers slowly tightened inside her sleeve.
She bit her lip.
In those deep purple phoenix eyes, complex emotions were churning wildly.
There is a desire.
Seeing her like this, Qin Mu did not urge her.
I just stood there quietly, waiting.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the two of them.
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows that danced in the light.
for a long time.
Zhao Qingxue finally raised her head.
Meet his gaze.
The complex emotions churning within those deep purple phoenix eyes finally subsided.
All that remained was a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
"I'll go," she said.
Regardless, she still wanted to go and see.
Because that was the Li Yang Dynasty, which she had protected her entire life.
Qin Mu looked at her, his admiration deepening.
He didn't say anything more.
He simply reached out his hand.
Gently take her hand.
"Then let's go," he said.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
He nodded.
Then--
A strange, warm mist surged in from all directions.
It completely enveloped the two of them.
Under the moonlight, the candlelight flickered.
Two figures slowly disappeared into the mist.
All that remained was the half-open window and the deep night outside.
In the distance, another drumbeat sounded.
It's past 1:00 AM.