gnovel Chapter 295 Since you want to die, then I will grant your wish.
Chapter 295 Since you want to die, then I will grant your wish.
The moment the words fell.
Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.
No one moved.
No one speaks.
Those ministers who were just now weeping, roaring, and drawing their swords against each other.
At this moment, everyone was looking down at their toes.
No one dared to look up.
No one dared to look at him.
The scene from just now is still vivid in my mind.
Those who rushed forward—
Chen Wenyuan's short sword fell to the ground, and he staggered backward.
Zhao Yannian, his face ashen, remained silent.
Chen Yanjing held the sword hilt but did not draw it.
And those military generals—
Zhou Xiong was rendered speechless by Gu Jiantang's question and returned to the queue.
them--
They all failed.
It wasn't that they were defeated by Qin Mu.
Instead, they were defeated by His Majesty.
They were defeated by the emperor to whom they had served for so many years.
Defeated by His Majesty's unquestionable gaze.
At this moment, no matter how angry, unwilling, or wanting to resist they were—
What can we do?
Even His Majesty is on his side.
Even the imperial advisor was defeated by him.
What can they do?
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at them.
"Don't worry," he said, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about everyday things.
"I promised your Majesty—"
He paused, his gaze falling on Zhao Qingxue.
Those deep eyes were now filled with tenderness.
"Do not kill people in the imperial court."
He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the assembled officials:
"Speak freely."
These words were spoken with such sincerity that it seemed as if he were genuinely encouraging them to speak.
But what the courtiers heard only intensified their fear.
In this deathly silence—
One person stepped forward.
He was a middle-aged civil official.
He wore a scarlet official robe, had a thin face, three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest, and his brows exuded the refined elegance unique to scholars.
It was the same civil official who had just asked that question.
His name is Xu Shen.
He held the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a position that was neither too high nor too low in rank.
He was usually taciturn and never participated in court infighting.
But at this moment, he stepped forward.
He walked to the front of the line.
stop.
Raise your head.
He looked at Qin Mu on the throne.
He spoke.
The voice was clear and the words were distinct.
"His Majesty."
"If I may be so bold as to ask another question..."
Qin Mu looked at him, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
"explain."
Xu Shen took a deep breath.
Then, word by word:
"After the marriage alliance between the Qin Dynasty and Liyang,"
"Regarding taxes and currency,"
He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Qin Mu:
"Will it also be unified by the Qin Dynasty?"
The moment the words fell.
Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell once again.
All eyes were on Qin Mu.
It fell on his smiling, composed face.
waiting.
Qin Mu looked at Xu Shen, at his thin face filled with determination.
She smiled softly.
He nodded.
"That's natural," he said.
The sound was very soft, yet it was as loud as a thunderclap!
Xu Shen's face turned deathly pale instantly!
His body swayed slightly!
I could barely stand!
But he gritted his teeth and persevered!
He turned his head and looked at Zhao Qingxue!
Those eyes were filled with deep despair!
"His Majesty--!"
His voice was hoarse and trembling, with an almost pleading tone!
"Once military power, taxes, and currency—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Leave it all to Great Qin!"
"That Liyang Dynasty—"
His tears finally welled up and spilled out:
"What need is there for it to exist anymore!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
The moment the words fell—
With a "thump"!
He fell heavily to his knees!
His forehead touched the ground deeply!
The gold brick floor was icy cold, but he was completely unaware of it!
He just knelt there, his forehead touching the ground, his shoulders trembling violently!
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, at his appearance.
The bitterness in my heart was so intense that it almost overflowed from my chest.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But he couldn't utter a single word.
She could only stand there, watching this loyal subject kneel before her.
For Liyang, for that dynasty that was about to cease to exist.
I begged her to think it over.
But what could she say?
To say this wasn't her choice?
So you're saying she was forced into it?
Speaking of her—
Zhao Qingxue closed her eyes.
I took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with a complex clarity.
She did not speak.
Because there was nothing to say.
Qin Mu watched this scene with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.
He turned his head and looked at Zhang Julu.
"Zhang Xiang," he said.
Zhang Julu was slightly taken aback and looked at him.
Qin Mu looked at him and said calmly:
"You are from the Liyang Dynasty—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Where is the farthest county?"
Zhang Julu was stunned.
He looked at Qin Mu, at that smiling, composed face.
In an instant, I understood what he meant.
He was silent for a moment.
Then, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Return to Your Majesty."
He paused, his voice hoarse:
"On the shores of the East China Sea."
There's a county called—
He raised his head and looked at Qin Mu:
Cape County.
Qin Mu nodded.
"Okay," he said.
Then, he turned his head and looked at Xu Shen, who was kneeling on the ground.
Their gazes fell upon him.
"Then take him."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Demoted to that place."
"Make one,"
A meaningful smile curved at the corners of his lips:
"For feeding horses."
The moment the words fell.
Xu Shen suddenly raised his head!
He looked at Qin Mu, at that smiling, composed face.
His eyes were filled with disbelief and shock!
Feeding horses?
They demoted him to the farthest county to be a horse feeder?
this--
Isn't this humiliating?
For him, a civil official who had studied the classics for twenty years, taken the imperial examinations for ten years, and served cautiously in the imperial court for fifteen years,
This is more cruel than killing him!
Xu Shen's face instantly turned ashen!
Those eyes were filled with barely suppressed rage!
He suddenly stood up!
Pointing at Qin Mu, he angrily rebuked:
"Thief!"
He spoke slowly and deliberately, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Even if I die here in this imperial court today..."
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes:
"I will absolutely not tolerate your insults!"
The moment the words fell,
He suddenly turned around!
It slammed into the enormous golden pillar with coiled dragons inside the hall!
That speed was astonishing!
That decisiveness was chilling!
He really wanted to die!
I'd rather die than suffer this humiliation!
But just as his head was about to hit the golden pillar,
An invisible force suddenly froze him in place!
He was suspended in mid-air!
It was only three inches away from that golden pillar!
But those three inches were like an insurmountable chasm!
It could not advance even an inch further!
Xu Shen's pupils suddenly contracted!
He struggled desperately!
But that invisible force, like an iron clamp, held him firmly in place!
He can't move!
I can't even move a single finger!
It can only hang there, like an ant that has been frozen in place!
Qin Mu sat on the throne, watching this scene unfold.
His finger gently hooked.
Xu Shen's body was slowly pulled back by that invisible force!
It landed back on the ground!
His legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud!
Qin Mu looked at him.
His gaze was calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple in it.
But beneath that calm lies a suffocating majesty.
"I've already said it,"
He spoke, his voice soft, yet each word clear.
"No one shall die in the court today."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Didn't you hear me?"
Xu Shen knelt on the ground, panting heavily.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead and dripped onto the gold brick.
He looked at Qin Mu, at that still smiling, composed face.
The anger in his eyes had faded.
All that remained was deep fear.
A fear that runs deep in your bones.
Seeing his expression, Qin Mu remained silent.
He simply looked away.
Then he spoke.
The voice was still soft, yet it carried an undeniable authority:
"Drag him away."
"tomorrow--"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Execution."
"Since you want to die,"
His gaze fell on Xu Shen's face, deep and unfathomable:
"Then I will grant your wish."
The moment the words fell!
Two imperial guards strode forward!
They lifted Xu Shen's arms, one on the left and one on the right!
They dragged him up from the ground!
Xu Shen's face turned deathly pale instantly!
He opened his mouth, as if to say something!
But it felt like something was blocking my throat, and I couldn't squeeze out a single word!
He could only let the two imperial guards drag him toward the palace gate!
The moon-white robe trailed on the ground, making a soft rustling sound!
His gaze finally landed on Zhao Qingxue!
But Zhao Qingxue just stood there.
Not moving at all.
Watching him being dragged out of the palace gate.
He watched as the vermilion palace door slowly closed behind him.
"Bang."
A soft sound.
It cut off the sunlight from the outside world, and it also cut off the last hope.
Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell once again.
Zhao Qingxue stood still, motionless.
Her hands slowly tightened inside her sleeves.
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.
But that pain was nothing compared to the turbulent waves churning in her heart.
She turned her head and looked at Qin Mu.
She opened her mouth.
"His Majesty."
"You promised me."
Qin Mu looked at her, at her pale face, which was filled with complex emotions.
He laughed softly.
That smile was gentle, as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Yes," he said.
He paused, his gaze lingering on her face:
"But he wants to die."
"It has nothing to do with me."
Zhao Qingxue fell silent.
She looked at Qin Mu, at his deep, smiling eyes.
The bitterness in my heart deepened.
Xu Shen really wanted to die.
But why does he want to die?
It is because...