sovbooks Chapter 159 Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a country called Yuehua Kingdom.
Chapter 159 Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a country called Yuehua Kingdom.
The night was deep, but the Yuxiu Palace was brightly lit.
Jiang Qingxue knelt on one side of the low sandalwood couch, her slender hands resting on Qin Mu's broad shoulders and back, gently massaging his acupoints.
The sleeves of her moon-white nightgown slid down to her elbows, revealing her fair, jade-like arms, and the jade bracelet on her wrist gleamed warmly in the candlelight.
Her movements were skillful and gentle, clearly indicating that she had deliberately learned massage techniques.
But upon closer inspection, one can discern the lingering weariness between her brows, and the fleeting emptiness and confusion deep within her eyes.
Qin Mu lay sprawled on the soft couch, his black nightgown loosely draped over his body, revealing his well-defined shoulders and back.
He closed his eyes, his breathing steady and long, seemingly enjoying this moment of relaxation.
The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall, creating an eerie yet intimate scene.
The autumn wind howled outside the hall, making the windowpanes creak slightly.
The sound of the water clock could be heard from afar; it was already three quarters past 9 PM.
After a long while, Qin Mu finally spoke, his voice languid and casual, as if he were just chatting casually:
"You didn't seem very happy at your wedding."
The moment the words left her lips, Jiang Qingxue's hand on Qin Mu's shoulder paused almost imperceptibly.
It's very subtle, so subtle that it's almost imperceptible.
But Qin Mu sensed it.
His eyes remained closed, but a barely perceptible smile curved at the corner of his lips.
Jiang Qingxue's heart jumped into her throat in an instant.
The brain works at lightning speed.
She forced herself to calm down, her hands continuing to massage without pausing, only slightly adjusting the pressure. Her voice rang out softly, carrying just the right amount of shyness and nervousness:
"Your Majesty misunderstands... I'm not upset, I'm just... just a little nervous."
She paused, her voice even softer, as if she were telling a young girl's little secret:
"After all, this is the first time I've experienced such a grand ceremony, and I'm with Consort Hua... I'm filled with trepidation, afraid that I might do something wrong and lose my composure, causing Your Majesty and Consort Hua to lose face."
She spoke with genuine emotion, her tone conveying the helplessness and trepidation a new bride should have, perfectly portraying the image of a concubine receiving her first wedding ceremony.
Qin Mu slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't turn around, but turned his face to the side, his gaze falling through the strands of hair onto Jiang Qingxue's lowered eyelids.
The candlelight flickered in his deep eyes, reflecting a hint of amusement, scrutiny, and an elusive depth of meaning.
"Nervous?" he repeated, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It's rare to see my beloved consort like this."
Jiang Qingxue's heart sank slightly.
She could sense the probing in Qin Mu's words, and she could feel those eyes looking through her skin and into the depths of her soul.
But she had no choice but to continue acting.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my poor appearance..."
She said softly, a faint blush rising on her face, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty will try to adapt in the future."
Qin Mu smiled.
He slowly sat up, the front of his dark nightgown slightly open, revealing his muscular chest.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, gilding him with a silvery edge, making him appear like a god bathed in light—lazy, handsome, yet exuding an unassailable majesty.
"Now that the wedding is over," Qin Mu said slowly, his voice calm and even, "you should now meet your father's old friends."
"boom--!!!"
Jiang Qingxue trembled violently!
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly filled with extreme shock and panic!
My father's old friend?!
Do not!
I can't see him!
Absolutely must not see them!
Once they meet, her true identity will be revealed, Xu Longxiang's lies will be exposed, and the Xu family's schemes will be...
Countless terrible consequences flashed wildly through Jiang Qingxue's mind, almost suffocating her.
She could feel her heart pounding wildly, her blood rushing to her head and then freezing instantly.
Don't panic.
Do not panic.
She forced herself to calm down, her mind racing as she searched for the right response.
Then, she slowly lowered her head, a complex smile—a mixture of surprise and sorrow—appearing on her face.
"Really? That's great..."
Her voice trembled slightly, filled with unbelievable excitement and a perfectly timed sob:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty thought that you would never see anyone related to your parents again in this lifetime..."
She spoke with heartfelt sincerity, her eyes reddening at the right moment, a tear trembling on her eyelashes as if it might slip off at any moment.
Qin Mu stared at her quietly for a long time.
So long that Jiang Qingxue almost thought she hadn't acted well enough and that he had seen through her act.
Then, Qin Mu slowly nodded:
"Since I have promised you, I will naturally keep my word."
His voice was very gentle, almost tender:
"That old friend's surname is Cao, and his given name is Wei. He was your father's close friend back then. After your father died, he lived in anonymity for a long time, and it took me a lot of effort to find him."
Cao Wei?!
Jiang Qingxue's heart sank!
This name...
It's not that we're unfamiliar with it, it's that we're too familiar with it!
Cao Wei was someone she had known since childhood, and she always called him Uncle Cao.
However, the other party did not live in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, so he could only see him about once a year.
But Uncle Cao treated her very well and doted on her.
That kind of kindness can't be faked; it's something she can genuinely feel.
But how could Uncle Cao be his father's old friend?
How is that possible?
Is it just a case of people sharing the same name?
Or was Qin Mu testing him?
Countless thoughts clashed wildly in Jiang Qingxue's mind, making it almost impossible for her to think.
But she knew she had to respond at that moment.
The appropriate response must be shown.
Jiang Qingxue murmured softly, tears finally sliding down her pale cheeks and dripping onto her moon-white nightgown, leaving a small, dark stain.
"I see. Thank you, Your Majesty."
She raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, gazing at Qin Mu with a humble plea:
"Your Majesty...when can I see him?"
Qin Mu reached out and gently brushed away the tear stains on her cheek with his fingertips, his movements as tender as if he were wiping a precious piece of porcelain.
"No rush. Once you've calmed down, I'll arrange for you to meet."
He paused, then added:
"But before that, I have a question for you."
Jiang Qingxue's heart jumped again.
What's the problem now?
What kind of test is this?
She forced herself to remain calm and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please speak."
Qin Mu withdrew his hand, leaned back on the soft couch, and looked at her calmly:
"I still want to ask, what is your opinion of Xu Longxiang?"
Jiang Qingxue's heart trembled again.
Qin Mu...why are you asking this?!
Is it a test?
Is this a warning?
Or... does he already know something?!
An immense fear, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around her heart, tightening little by little until she could barely breathe.
She could feel her fingers trembling slightly, and her back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
Fortunately, she was already used to dealing with this kind of situation.
Then, she slowly raised her head, a perfectly timed look of bewilderment on her face:
"General Xu...?"
Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as if she were recalling a distant name:
"I have only met him by chance and we haven't had much contact, so I really can't say what my opinion is."
She spoke very carefully, deliberating over every single word:
"All I know is that he is the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, a general in the northern border, with numerous military exploits and a reputation that shakes the entire land. As for anything else... I really don't know."
Qin Mu looked at her quietly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"Just casual acquaintances?" he repeated, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Then let me tell you a story."
Jiang Qingxue's heart sank.
story?
What's the story this time?
Qin Mu slowly sat up straight. Moonlight streamed in from the window, illuminating his face and outlining his deep features.
His voice was calm, so calm that it was completely still, yet every word was clear, like cold pebbles, one by one, thrown into the already frozen lake in Jiang Qingxue's heart:
Once upon a time, there was a small country called Yuehua Kingdom.
Moonlit Kingdom?
Jiang Qingxue frowned, a hint of curiosity and doubt in her eyes.
She didn't understand why Qin Mu mentioned the Moonflower Kingdom.
She had heard of this country, but it had been destroyed long ago.
Qin Mu seemed not to notice her reaction and continued slowly:
"Although Yuehua Kingdom is small, it is rich in jade and iron ore, and the country is prosperous and the people are at peace. King Jiang Huaijin reigned for twelve years, was diligent in his duties and loved his people, and was deeply loved by them. He had a daughter who was born on a moonlit night, so he named her Zhaoyue and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Mingyue."
His voice was very gentle, as gentle as if he were telling an old fairy tale:
"When Princess Mingyue was born, a celestial phenomenon occurred; the moonlight shone like a ribbon, illuminating the entire palace. The king cherished her as a treasure and gave her the very best."
Jiang Qingxue stared blankly at Qin Mu, her mind completely blank.
She was listening.
She was listening to a story she had never heard before.
Qin Mu paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Qingxue's face, a complex light flashing in his eyes:
"However, this good fortune did not last long. Yuehua Kingdom was located in the gap between the northern border and Da Qin. It was rich in resources but lacked a strong army to protect it. Twenty-one years ago, Xu Xiao, the Prince of Zhenbei, led his troops to destroy Yuehua Kingdom in order to open up a trade route to Beimang."
His voice remained calm, yet every word struck Jiang Qingxue's heart like a hammer:
"When the palace fell, King Jiang Huaijin committed suicide by setting himself on fire. Of the thirty-seven members of the royal family, apart from the king, the rest either died in battle or were captured. But one person's whereabouts are unknown—"
Qin Mu's gaze, as if it were tangible, landed on Jiang Qingxue's face:
"That Princess Mingyue, who is just three months old, is Jiang Zhaoyue."
Jiang Qingxue stared blankly at Qin Mu, at his handsome yet calm face, and at his deep, unfathomable eyes.
She slowly lowered her head, her voice terribly hoarse:
"Your Majesty... what does this story mean?"
Jiang Qingxue suddenly didn't understand what the story meant, but she suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.
She felt a strange sensation, especially when she heard that the monarch of the Yuehua Kingdom also had the surname Jiang.
A strange sadness enveloped her heart, leaving her somewhat at a loss.
Most importantly, the story also features Xu Xiao, the Prince of Zhenbei.
And the most crucial thing is that this story actually happened 21 years ago.
And she was exactly 21 years old.
So what exactly does this story mean...?
An absurd thought flashed through Jiang Qingxue's mind.
The idea was so absurd that she couldn't believe it, yet she couldn't shake it off.
Qin Mu stared at her quietly for a long time.
Then he smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a knowing, all-knowing amusement:
"It doesn't mean anything, it's just a story."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night:
"It's getting late, let's go."
Jiang Qingxue was taken aback: "Go...go where?"
Qin Mu turned around, and the moonlight shone in from behind him, gilding his entire body with a silvery edge.
His dark nightgown fluttered slightly in the night breeze, making him appear like a black dragon about to spread its wings—mysterious, majestic, and unfathomable.
"Let's go see a good show."
His voice was calm, yet every word carried a strange excitement:
"A show you've never seen before."
Jiang Qingxue's heart sank little by little.
A good show?
What kind of show is it?
Qin Mu's every action and word tonight left her puzzled and confused.
First, they asked her what she thought of Xu Longxiang, then they told her the story about the Moonflower Kingdom, and now they're saying they want to go see a good show...
What exactly does he want to do?
Jiang Qingxue slowly stood up, the hem of her moon-white nightgown brushing against the smooth gold brick floor.
She walked to Qin Mu's side and stood with her head bowed:
"Your Majesty, I... obey your command."
Qin Mu glanced at her, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Then, he reached out and gently took her hand.
His hands were warm, strong, and irresistible.
Jiang Qingxue's fingers trembled slightly in his palm, but she dared not break free.
"Don't be afraid."
Qin Mu's voice rang in her ear, gentle as if soothing a frightened child:
"With me here, no one can hurt you."