I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 70 My Beloved Concubine, Do You Really Not Recognize Me?

The maid suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on Jiang Qingxue's face.

When the maid saw that exquisitely beautiful yet pale and haggard face, her eyes widened instantly, her mouth agape, and a name almost slipped out—

"ginger--"

The maid had barely uttered half a syllable when she suddenly realized something and swallowed the rest of her words.

Her face was deathly pale, and extreme fear and panic flashed in her eyes.

Then, with a "thud," he knelt down, his forehead slamming heavily against the bluestone slab, his voice trembling:

"This servant deserves to die! I have offended Your Excellency! Please forgive me!"

All of this happened too fast, too suddenly.

From the moment the maid looked up, to her eyes widening, to her kneeling and begging for forgiveness, it was only a matter of two or three breaths.

But those two or three breaths were enough.

Qin Mu stopped in his tracks.

Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning also stopped in their tracks.

All eyes were on the maid who was kneeling on the ground, trembling all over.

And... Jiang Qingxue, standing behind Qin Mu, her face instantly turning ashen.

The air seemed to freeze.

The wind in the garden stopped, the birdsong stopped, and even the sunlight seemed to dim a bit.

Jiang Qingxue felt her heart stop beating.

She recognized the maid.

That's Chun'er.

Chun'er, her personal maid who has served her since childhood and grew up with her in Tingxuexuan, is like a sister to her!

What is she doing here?!

Shouldn't she be at Tingxuexuan?!

Didn't Xu Longxiang promise her that he would take good care of everyone in Tingxuexuan and wouldn't let them appear in front of outsiders?!

Why...why is Chun'er here?!

And... he was dressed as an ordinary servant, carrying a tray, doing the most menial work?!

Countless questions gnawed at Jiang Qingxue's heart like venomous snakes.

But at this moment, she had no time to think.

Because Qin Mu spoke up.

His voice was calm, gentle, and even tinged with curiosity:

"Oh? Judging from her appearance... you two know each other?"

These words struck Jiang Qingxue like a bolt from the blue!

She felt a sudden darkness before her eyes and almost fainted.

What to do?!

How should I answer this?!

Admit it? That would be digging your own grave!

Deny it? But everyone saw Chun'er's reaction just now! It definitely wasn't like she didn't recognize her!

Jiang Qingxue's mind was racing, but it was in complete chaos.

Cold sweat had soaked through her inner shirt, clinging to her skin like a cold, venomous snake, making it hard for her to breathe.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but no sound came out.

She could only stare intently at Chun'er kneeling on the ground, her eyes filled with pleading, terror, and a hint of despair that she herself didn't even realize...

Please... Chun'er...

Don't say...

Never say...

Chun'er knelt on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold, hard bluestone slab, her whole body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

She could feel Jiang Qingxue's gaze, and she could feel the pleading and despair in that gaze.

She knew that her reaction just now had caused a huge disaster.

But what could she do?

She was just a maid, a lowly maid in the prince's mansion, at the mercy of others.

Just now, she was helping to wash vegetables in the kitchen when the head maid called her over and asked her to deliver a pot of freshly brewed tea to the West Garden study.

She had no idea she would encounter a prostitute here...

No, she's no longer a young lady.

It is Consort Xue.

Chun'er's tears welled up uncontrollably, mingling with the blood from the cut on her forehead, dripping onto the bluestone slab and spreading a small dark red stain.

She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out, her mind racing with thoughts.

I can't say.

You absolutely cannot say that.

I said that not only will the young lady die, but she herself will die, and everyone in Tingxuexuan will die.

It might even... implicate the crown prince.

But His Majesty has already asked, how should she answer?

Chun'er steeled her resolve, abruptly looked up at Qin Mu, her voice trembling yet clear:

"Your Majesty... this servant... this servant does not know this noble lady. This servant was merely... merely overwhelmed by your countenance and lost my composure, offending you in a moment of disrespect. Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Please forgive me, noble lady!"

She spoke very quickly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth.

After she finished speaking, she kowtowed heavily again, her forehead hitting the bluestone slab with a dull thud.

one more time.

Soon, her forehead was covered in blood and tears, her face smeared with blood.

Their appearance was so pitiful that it was unbearable to look at them.

Su Wanqing frowned slightly and looked away.

Lu Wanning covered her mouth in fright, her eyes filled with sympathy.

Qin Mu watched quietly without saying a word.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Chun'er's bloodied forehead before turning to Jiang Qingxue.

Jiang Qingxue remained standing in the same spot, her face as pale as paper, her eyes vacant, as if her soul had left her body.

She watched Chun'er kowtow again and again, watched the blood stain the bluestone slabs, watched the maid who had grown up with her since childhood harm herself to protect her...

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

"alright."

Qin Mu finally spoke, his voice still calm.

"Get up. It was just a momentary lapse in composure; there's no need for this."

Chun'er felt as if she had been granted a pardon, but dared not get up. She simply stopped kowtowing, remained prostrate on the ground, and choked with sobs:

"Thank you... thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty..."

Qin Mu waved his hand:

"Go downstairs. Find a doctor to check your injury."

"Yes... Thank you, Your Majesty... Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Chun'er scrambled to her feet, but dared not raise her head. Carrying the tray, she staggered back and quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The garden returned to silence.

Only the dark red bloodstain on the bluestone slab proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.

Qin Mu turned around and looked at Jiang Qingxue.

"My dear consort," he said softly, "you don't look well. Were you... startled?"

Jiang Qingxue trembled all over before she came to her senses.

She forced a smile, but it looked worse than a grimace.

"No, no... I just... I just felt sorry for that maid..."

"Is that so?" Qin Mu gave her a deep look, then turned and continued walking without asking further questions.

"Let's go, there seems to be a pavilion up ahead, let's sit down for a bit."

Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning quickly followed.

Jiang Qingxue stood there, watching Qin Mu's back, then looked down at the bloodstains on the ground, a deep pain flashing in her eyes.

Chun'er...

sorry……

It's my fault...

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress the surging emotions in her heart, and quickly caught up.

His steps were more unsteady than before.

......

Half an hour later, at Tingtao Garden.

Qin Mu sat on the soft couch by the window, playing with a white jade thumb ring in his hand, his expression calm.

Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning have returned to their respective rooms.

Jiang Qingxue stood before him, head bowed, still not daring to look up.

"My beloved concubine," Qin Mu suddenly spoke, "Do you really think... that maid from just now didn't recognize you?"

Jiang Qingxue's heart skipped a beat!

He...he did suspect it!

She forced herself to remain calm and said in a low voice:

"Your Majesty... I truly do not recognize her. Perhaps... perhaps she has mistaken me for someone else."

"Mistaken for someone else?" Qin Mu laughed, a hint of amusement in his smile. "But the way she looked at you didn't seem like she'd mistaken you for someone else. That look... it was more like she'd seen an old friend, a mixture of surprise, excitement, and... fear."

He paused, then slowly said:

"Moreover, the way she kowtowed and begged for forgiveness was excessive. Even if an ordinary maid offended a noble person, she wouldn't go to such lengths. Unless... she has something to hide and is afraid of being recognized."

Every word was like a hammer, striking Jiang Qingxue's heart hard.

She felt like she was about to give up.

If this continues, she will definitely break down.

Just then, Qin Mu suddenly changed the subject:

"However, it's possible that I'm just overthinking things. Women from the North are mostly strong-willed; perhaps that's just her nature."

"I was just thinking that if she knows you, she might be a relative of yours, and that way we could use this clue to find other relatives."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingxue immediately knelt down to express her gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."

Qin Mu smiled and waved his hand:

"Never mind, she's just a maid, no need to worry about her."

Jiang Qingxue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not completely relax.

"My beloved concubine."

Qin Mu spoke again, this time in a much gentler tone, "Tonight, the Prince's Palace is hosting a banquet, and all the civil and military officials from the Northern Border will be present. As a Noble Consort, you should attend."

He paused, then added:

"Moreover, Minister Xu will also be there. You... are old acquaintances. It's a good opportunity to catch up."

Reminiscing...

And Xu Longxiang...

In front of Qin Mu...

Jiang Qingxue felt as if she was about to stop breathing.

She couldn't imagine that scene.

She couldn't imagine what kind of look Xu Longxiang would give her.

I can't imagine how I would face him.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty obeys." She heard herself reply in a dry voice.

Qin Mu nodded in satisfaction and stood up:

"I am a little tired and need to rest for a while. My beloved concubine, you should also go and rest; we have a banquet to attend tonight."

"Yes... I shall take my leave."

Jiang Qingxue felt as if she had been granted a pardon and bowed as she withdrew.

Only when she stepped out of the room did she realize that her back was completely soaked.

A cold wind blows, chilling to the bone.

She staggered back to her room, closed the door, leaned against it, and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.

Tears finally broke free and streamed down my face.

The image of Chun'er's bloodied forehead, Qin Mu's eyes that seemed to see through everything, Xu Longxiang's pained and restrained gaze...

Scenes flashed through my mind in turn.

She hugged her knees, buried her face in her arms, and wept silently.

Why...

Why did it turn out like this...?

What did she do wrong to deserve all this?

She cried for an unknown amount of time when a palace maid gently knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, this servant will help you with your makeup and dressing. The banquet will begin soon."

Jiang Qingxue suddenly woke up with a start.

She wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.

Can't cry.

Crying won't help.

Now, all she can do is keep going.

Reach the end of this road.

Whether the end is a cliff or hell.

She stood up and walked to the bronze mirror.

The mirror reflected a pale, haggard face with red, swollen eyes.

She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time.

Then, she picked up the rouge and applied it to her face, little by little.

Cover up the paleness, cover up the haggardness, cover up... all the real emotions.

Finally, a Xue Guifei appeared in the mirror with exquisite makeup, a calm face, and empty eyes.

Very beautiful.

Yet she was as beautiful as a soulless porcelain doll.

Jiang Qingxue looked in the mirror, tugged at the corners of her mouth, and forced out a standard smile befitting a noble concubine.

Then she turned around and opened the door.

Outside the door, the night was already deep.

The Prince's mansion was brightly lit.

In the distance, the faint sounds of string and wind instruments could be heard.

The banquet is about to begin.

And she is about to step onto that stage.

That stage that terrified her, caused her pain, yet she had no choice but to face it.

She took a deep breath and stepped out of the room.

His steps were steady, and his back was straight.

Like prisoners facing death, they walked towards the execution ground.

In the darkness of night, the aquamarine figure gradually blended into the depths where lights and darkness intertwined.

Like a moth drawn to a flame.

Knowing that destruction lay ahead, there was no turning back.