sovbooks Chapter 476 Yun Suxin is about to escape!?
Chapter 476 Yun Suxin is about to escape!?
Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then spoke:
"Any other actions besides these?"
Yunluan lowered her head, her voice steady and clear.
"After returning from the southwest, Xu Longxiang has been in close contact with officials in various parts of the northern border, as well as other officials recruited from outside the northern border during this period. At the same time, he has also been intensifying the training of the army."
Qin Mu nodded and continued to ask:
"So, do you think his use of the Northern Treasury is related to these things?"
Yunluan thought for a moment, hesitated for a second, and then answered.
"I believe... it shouldn't be a big problem."
Qin Mu's gaze fell on her face.
Tell me about it.
Yun Luan raised her head, met Qin Mu's gaze, pursed her lips, her expression somewhat unnatural, and said nervously:
"Your Majesty, this is my intuition."
Before Qin Mu could speak, Jiang Zhaoyue's voice rang out from behind him, softly saying, "Your Majesty, I also think it's alright."
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at her, the smile on his lips deepening.
"Oh? Tell me, my beloved consort."
Jiang Zhaoyue pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the candlelight, her voice calm as still water.
"I once spent a few years in the North. Although I have never seen what is in the treasury, I have heard that most of the things in the treasury are martial arts manuals and rare treasures collected by the old King of the North."
Officials in the North and beyond are unlikely to be interested in these things; what they desire most is power and status, not these things.
She paused, her voice becoming even softer, yet carrying a sense of certainty.
"Therefore, I suspect that Xu Longxiang's purpose in mobilizing the treasury was not to target the officials, but rather to the martial arts sects and independent cultivators."
Qin Mu listened to Jiang Zhaoyue's detailed analysis and nodded in satisfaction.
"Your analysis is spot on. You truly are my woman."
Jiang Zhaoyue blushed slightly upon hearing this.
The words "my woman" stirred a ripple in her heart, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating gentle ripples.
She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Upon hearing this, Yunluan looked at Jiang Zhaoyue with some admiration.
She was just going by intuition, but the other person could explain it in detail. This analytical ability was something she lacked and envied.
Qin Mu turned his head to look at Yun Luan, his voice regaining its previous calmness.
"Keep an eye on him. See what he's up to."
Yunluan knelt down and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty."
She stood up, turned and left the bathroom, her footsteps fading into the distance.
Only Qin Mu and Jiang Zhaoyue remained in the bathroom.
The air was filled with mist and steam, making the candlelight appear hazy and soft.
Qin Mu turned around to face Jiang Zhaoyue, stood with his hands behind his back, and the smile on his lips was still there.
"If Xu Longxiang knew that the woman he loves most is now betraying him, what would he do?"
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Jiang Zhaoyue's face, carrying a meaningful look.
Jiang Zhaoyue lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, then raised her head to meet Qin Mu's gaze.
Her lips curled up slightly, her smile carrying a sense of serene relief.
"I was never the woman he loved most. I was just a substitute for him."
Qin Mu looked at her, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.
He reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.
"And now?"
Qin Mu's voice was soft, with a hint of a smile.
Jiang Zhaoyue's lips curled up slightly, her voice filled with genuine joy.
"Now, I am Your Majesty's woman. Not a substitute for anyone, not a pawn for anyone, not a shadow for anyone. I am simply myself, Your Majesty's Zhaoyue."
Qin Mu smiled, released her chin, reached out, and scooped her up in his arms.
Jiang Zhaoyue's body was slightly suspended in the air, and she subconsciously reached out to wrap her arms around his neck.
Her face was burning hot, as red as if it had been stained with rouge. She did not struggle, but simply buried her face in Qin Mu's chest, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Qin Mu carried her and walked towards the bath.
The mist gathered and dispersed around the two of them, and the candlelight became hazy and soft in the steam, casting their shadows on the wall, where they nestled closely together.
The bathroom door slowly closed behind me.
A soft "bang" shut out the night outside, and also shut out all the chaos that was irrelevant to the present moment.
........
At the same time, the Moon Goddess Yun Suxin opened her eyes after ending a useless training session.
She sat cross-legged by the window, moonlight filtering through the cracks in the windowpane and illuminating her pale face.
The dantian remained empty, and the meridians remained lifeless.
She sighed heavily, feeling somewhat exhausted.
The result was the same as before, with no surprises.
She tried countless times tonight, closing her eyes with hope each time and opening them in despair each time.
Yun Suxin decided to give up for the time being and take a break.
She stood up and wandered around the side hall twice.
At this time,
She suddenly noticed that there were only two palace maids on night duty in the side hall, standing guard at the door on the left and right, their heads down, seemingly drowsy.
Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang was not there, nor was the Yun-surnamed commander who shared the same surname as her.
They all seemed to have left, or perhaps they had other things to do.
Yun Suxin walked to the window without making a sound and looked outside.
The courtyard was empty, with only a few green bamboos rustling in the night wind. Moonlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs, spreading a thin layer of silver frost.
There were no patrolling imperial guards, no hidden protectors, only the occasional distant sound of drums, deep and powerful.
She instantly realized that this was an excellent opportunity.
Even though she had lost all her strength at this moment, she was still more than capable of dealing with a few maids.
Her physical abilities are far superior to those of ordinary people, and she still possesses the skills, only lacking true qi.
Subduing two palace maids who had no martial arts skills was not difficult for her.
Yun Suxin's mind raced; she felt she should seize this opportunity.
But she was still conflicted. If she failed to escape and was caught, she would definitely face even more cruel torture.
She had witnessed that man's methods far too many times, each time making her wish she were dead.
But once she successfully escaped, she gained her freedom.
No more suffering, no more being treated like a plaything, no more bowing and scraping before that person.
Moreover, she has more time to figure out how to regain her strength, return to the southwest, and make a comeback.
The temptation was so great that she couldn't resist taking the risk.
As the saying goes, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
If she doesn't take a gamble, her life is truly over.
Yun Suxin's eyes flashed rapidly, like two flames flickering in the darkness.
She gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes!
I'm taking the gamble!
Yun Suxin took a deep breath, gradually suppressing the surging tension.
She walked to the door, gently opened it, and walked out silently, her steps as light as a cat's.
Two palace maids on night duty were dozing off against a pillar in the corridor, their heads nodding as they held lanterns that were tilted at an angle, the candlelight flickering gently in the wind.
Yun Suxin walked behind them, raised her hands, and simultaneously struck the back of the necks of the two palace maids with both hands.
The force was just right, not too light or too heavy, enough to knock them unconscious.
The two palace maids slid down softly, and the lantern fell to the ground with a very soft "plop".
Yun Suxin reached out and caught the lantern, extinguished the candle, and dragged the two palace maids into the shadows. She then bound their hands and feet with their belts and stuffed rags into their mouths.
She stood up, clapped her hands, and looked around.
The courtyard is deep and secluded, the corridors are winding and meandering, and the moonlight is like water.
She determined the direction.
She remembered the route Qin Mu had taken when he brought her here, and the approximate locations of the palace gates, corridors, and courtyards.
If you keep heading south, you should be able to find the exit of the palace.
Yun Suxin walked quickly along the corridor, her steps light, her skirt trailing on the ground with a soft rustling sound.
She clung to the wall, stealthily moving through the shadows of the pillars and bushes. At each corner, she would stop, peek out for a moment, and only continue forward after confirming that no one was around.
She evaded several patrolling groups of palace maids, who carried long spears, marched in unison, and whose torches illuminated the corridors.
She huddled in the shadow of the artificial hill, holding her breath as she watched the palace maids walk past her, her back drenched in cold sweat.
But she didn't move, and she even suppressed her breathing to the lowest possible level.
She continued on her way only after the group of palace maids had gone far away.
Yun Suxin walked for a long time, so long that the moonlight moved from the east to the west.
Her legs began to weaken, and a growing unease welled up inside her.
She realized she was lost!
The palace was far too large, far beyond her imagination.
Layer upon layer of palace walls, winding corridors, one similar palace after another, one similar courtyard after another.
Yun Suxin had no idea which direction was north, south, east, or west, and she didn't know where she was.
She began to regret not having figured out the route before taking action, not having observed for a few more days, and being too hasty.
But she had no way out; she could only keep moving forward, keep searching, and keep gambling.
She passed through a moon gate and a long passageway appeared before her.
The passageway is flanked by tall vermilion palace walls, with a few winter plum blossoms peeking out from the tops, casting dappled shadows in the moonlight.
Just as she was about to walk forward, she suddenly heard footsteps ahead. It wasn't just one person; it was many people.
Yun Suxin's pupils suddenly contracted, and her body instinctively retreated, shrinking back into the shadow of the moon gate.
Two groups of palace maids carrying lanterns emerged from the corner of the passageway, one on the left and one on the right, their steps synchronized, like two luminous rivers.
The torchlight illuminated the entire passageway as bright as day, making even the moss in the corners of the walls clearly visible.
They drew closer and closer, and soon they would reach the moon gate.
Yun Suxin's gaze swept quickly around.
To her left was the palace wall, to her right was the palace wall, and behind her was the path she had come from, but there were also patrolling palace maids walking along that path.
She can't go back.
Yun Suxin found herself with nowhere to hide; people were all around her, like an invisible net that was tightening little by little.
Just when she was anxious and almost in despair, she caught a glimpse of a palace villa next to her.
The courtyard gate was small, with faded red paint, and there was no plaque above the gate. Several green bamboos were planted in front of the gate.
Only four or five palace maids were guarding the entrance to the courtyard. Some were dozing on the stone steps, some were leaning against the pillars and talking in hushed tones, and some were pruning the flowers.
Yun Suxin didn't have time to think much. She crouched down and, using the shadows of the bushes, ran quickly toward the villa.