newbobooks Chapter 80 Qin Mu and Jiang Qingxue's display of affection actually aroused Xu Longxiang's
Chapter 80 Qin Mu and Jiang Qingxue's display of affection actually aroused Xu Longxiang's
To the capital?!
This won't do!
Chen Feng and his wife are his people. Although the matter with the opera troupe leader has been dealt with cleanly, there's no guarantee that Qin Mu's ever-present secret guards might uncover something!
Once these people are placed under Qin Mu's watchful eye and out of his control, what if they accidentally let something slip, or are subjected to severe torture...?
Then his carefully crafted lies, Jiang Qingxue's true identity, and even his entire plan may be completely exposed!
Cold sweat instantly soaked Xu Longxiang's inner shirt.
He forced himself to calm down, his mind racing as he searched for a solution. At the same time, he stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"His Majesty's great favor is truly an immense blessing for them. However..."
He carefully chose his words, trying to salvage the situation.
"Mr. and Mrs. Chen have lived in the Northern Border for most of their lives, and all their relatives and friends are here. If they suddenly move to the capital, they may not be able to adapt to the new environment and the new atmosphere. Moreover, Tingxuelou is their ancestral business, and to abandon it suddenly would be... Besides, the family of the opera troupe leader may not be easy to find after all these years, and may have already scattered..."
He tried his best to make his reasons reasonable, hoping that Qin Mu would retract his decision.
Upon hearing this, Qin Mu slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Xu Longxiang.
Those deep eyes were calm and still, yet Xu Longxiang felt an invisible pressure.
"Minister Xu is overthinking it."
Qin Mu's lips curled into a half-smile, his tone remaining gentle.
"I am grateful for their kindness to Consort Xue and am bringing them to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury. It is not an exile to the frontier, so why is there any talk of them being unaccustomed to the climate? The capital is prosperous and has many excellent doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Isn't it more suitable for them to live out their old age in peace than the northern border?"
As for ancestral property... are the mansions and fields bestowed upon me not even worth as much as a restaurant?
He paused, his voice slightly cold, carrying a hidden meaning:
"Or does Minister Xu believe that my imperial city is not as prosperous and convenient as the capital city where your Northern Kingdom is located, and therefore insufficient for your benefactor to enjoy wealth and comfort?"
These words carry immense weight and are laced with hidden meaning!
Xu Longxiang's expression changed drastically, and he fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead touching the ground.
"Your Majesty, I dare not! Please calm your anger! The Imperial City is right under the Emperor's nose, a paradise on earth, how can it be compared to the northern border towns? It was my... it was my oversight, I was only thinking of their reluctance to leave their homeland, and I neglected Your Majesty's boundless grace! I, I deserve to die!"
He lay prostrate on the ground, his heart already ice-cold.
If Qin Mu had made his point, and he insisted on it, he would be confirming the suspicions of "disrespecting the capital" and "having ulterior motives."
It seems this road is blocked.
So, only one path remains...
A ruthless killing intent flashed in Xu Longxiang's eyes.
We must shut them up completely as soon as possible, before they are sent to the capital!
Only the dead can keep secrets forever.
Although doing this was extremely risky, and it would be a disaster if Qin Mu found out, he could only choose the lesser of two evils compared to his identity being exposed and his plan collapsing!
Just as Xu Longxiang's murderous intent surged and he began to plan how to cleanly and efficiently silence them.
Before he could think it through, Qin Mu's next words made his heart fluctuate between tension and relief, like riding a roller coaster.
Qin Mu turned slightly to look at Jiang Qingxue beside him.
The slightly stern expression he had just worn was instantly replaced by tenderness and doting.
"My beloved concubine,"
He reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Jiang Qingxue's cheek, his touch as tender as if he were handling a rare treasure.
"Now that your background is clear, and with the northern winds blowing cold, you've grown to miss the palace. I think... let's set off for the palace tomorrow. The northern border is ultimately not as warm and comfortable as the imperial palace; I'm sorry you've suffered here."
Caught off guard, Jiang Qingxue met Qin Mu's eyes, which were filled with tenderness, and her heart trembled.
In that instant, she seemed to melt away.
Qin Mu's gentleness, thoughtfulness, and affection made her feel warmth she had never experienced before.
Although Qin Mu is Xu Longxiang's rival and her enemy.
But at this moment, Qin Mu's tenderness seemed to wash away everything.
Jiang Qingxue suddenly felt as if she had found a sense of belonging.
After all, no matter what, the tenderness she showed at that moment was definitely genuine.
As she was thinking this, Jiang Qingxue suddenly shuddered and quickly stopped these absurd thoughts.
How could she think like that?
Qin Mu is his enemy!
She forced herself to calm down, forced a sweet smile onto her face, and nestled against Qin Mu's shoulder, her voice soft and gentle, carrying just the right amount of dependence and joy:
"Your Majesty, I will obey your every command. Wherever Your Majesty is, that is my home. However... I feel truly indebted to Your Majesty for going to such lengths for my sake."
As she spoke, she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with tender affection.
This scene of the emperor and his concubine being affectionate and tender seemed especially warm and beautiful in the somewhat old-fashioned main hall of Tingxuelou.
"Haha, my beloved concubine is so sensible."
Qin Mu laughed loudly, put his arm around Jiang Qingxue's shoulder, and patted her gently, looking every bit like a content emperor who was being relied upon by his beloved concubine.
However, this scene, as seen by Xu Longxiang kneeling on the ground at the door, was no less cruel than the most brutal form of torture in the world!
He lowered his head, and his gaze caught a glimpse of Jiang Qingxue nestled in Qin Mu's arms, the sweet, happy smile on her face, and Qin Mu's arm around her shoulder...
The suffocating feeling in the wooden box in the kitchen returned last night.
His heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, and the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe!
Xu Long's fingernails dug deeply into his palm, sending a sharp pain through him, which barely kept him a sliver of clarity and prevented him from losing his composure on the spot.
But the thought that Qin Mu was finally leaving...
Xu Longxiang felt a twisted sense of relief.
This plague god, this evil dragon in human skin, is finally leaving his territory!
If he didn't leave now, Xu Longxiang couldn't guarantee that he would be able to resist the urge to draw his sword and kill his lord!
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, touched his head to the ground, and spoke with respect and reluctance.
"Your Majesty is departing tomorrow? Isn't that... too hasty? Your Majesty... I wish to hear more of Your Majesty's teachings, and the people and soldiers of the Northern Frontier eagerly await Your Majesty's return for a few more days..."
Qin Mu held Jiang Qingxue in his arms, his gaze sweeping lightly over Xu Longxiang's slightly trembling shoulders on the ground, the smile on his lips deepening slightly.
"I appreciate your kind intentions, Xu Aiqing."
"With you guarding the northern border, I am at ease. Palace affairs are piling up; it's time to return. Besides..."
He lowered his head and gently sniffed Jiang Qingxue's hair, his gesture incredibly intimate:
"I can't bear to see my beloved concubine stay in this bitterly cold place any longer. It's better to return to the palace...it's warmer there."
He pronounced the last two words with a meaningful tone, as if he were referring to more than just the climate.
Jiang Qingxue's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, then softened into an even more docile embrace.
Xu Longxiang's body, lying on the ground, trembled even more violently. He almost used all his strength to squeeze out a reply through clenched teeth:
"Yes... Your Majesty... I respectfully see you off. May Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine have a safe journey."
Every word seemed to be stained with blood, forcibly ripped from the heart and lungs.
Qin Mu nodded in satisfaction, finally releasing his grip on Jiang Qingxue's hand and helping her to her feet.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Mr. Chen, you may all leave now. The rewards will be delivered soon."
Mr. and Mrs. Chen felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly to express their gratitude before retreating.
Qin Mu led Jiang Qingxue by the hand and slowly walked towards the door.
As he passed by Xu Longxiang, who was still kneeling on the ground, his steps did not falter at all. The hem of his black dragon-patterned robe gently brushed against Xu Longxiang's lowered gaze.
Xu Longxiang stared intently at the rapidly receding hem of the dark robe and the faint, sweet scent that belonged to Jiang Qingxue.
Outside Tingxue Tower, the sunlight was blinding.
The carriages and horses awaited, and the imperial guards stood at attention.
Qin Mu helped Jiang Qingxue into the carriage, and then got in himself.
The carriage curtain fell, separating the inside from the outside.
The carriage slowly started moving and headed towards the Prince's Mansion.
Xu Longxiang, who had been kneeling on the cold ground at the entrance of Tingxuelou, only slowly stood up with Fan Li's help after the sounds of carriages and horses had completely faded away.
His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were empty and terrifying, as if his soul had been ripped out.
Only the tightly pursed lips, oozing blood, and the bloodstained hands still twitching slightly within the sleeve.
This reveals the silent torture and storm he had just endured.
Fan Li looked at him with concern and whispered, "Your Highness..."
Xu Longxiang abruptly raised his hand, stopping him from saying anything more.
He slowly turned his head and looked in the direction where the carriage had disappeared.
After a long while, a hoarse, suppressed gasp, like that of a trapped beast on the verge of death, finally escaped from deep within his throat:
"Go back... and prepare."
"Before he leaves the North... those people... must be dealt with thoroughly."
"And..." A dark glint surged in his eyes, "accelerate all our plans."
"I...can't wait a moment longer."
"We can't wait even a moment longer!"