novelAbuy Chapter 140 Intercepting Messages
Chapter 140 Intercepting Messages
The palace lanterns in Yuxiu Palace appeared particularly lonely in the darkness of the night at the third quarter of the hour of Yin.
Qiu'er carefully pushed open the palace gate, carrying a heavy food box.
Her fingers trembled slightly with nervousness, and her palms were damp with sweat, sticking stickily to the smooth, lacquered wooden handle of the food box.
Outside the palace gate was a narrow path paved with bluestone slabs, with several neatly trimmed holly bushes planted on both sides, casting dappled shadows under the moonlight.
As Qiu'er stepped out of the door, her worn-out embroidered shoes made a soft "tap" sound on the cold stone slab.
"Where are you going so late?"
A cool and calm voice suddenly came from the side.
Qiu'er was so frightened that she froze, and almost dropped the food box from her hand.
She turned her head sharply and saw a figure in silver soft armor leaning against the shadow of the palace wall. The moonlight shone on half of her face, outlining a cold and heroic profile.
It is Yunluan.
The most mysterious attendant by His Majesty's side was watching her quietly, his deep eyes gleaming with a dark light in the night.
Qiu'er's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
She opened her mouth, but her throat was too dry to make a sound.
"I'm asking you,"
Yunluan slowly straightened up, the silver soft armor making a slight metallic scraping sound with the movement. "Where are you going so late with that food box?"
Her voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure.
Qiu'er forced herself to calm down and, following Jiang Qingxue's instructions, whispered:
"Reporting to Commander Yun... This servant is going to the Imperial Kitchen to hand over today's leftover food. Tomorrow is the grand ceremony, and all the palaces need to prepare in advance, so... so the food boxes need to be delivered tonight."
After she finished speaking, her heart was pounding like a drum, almost bursting out of her chest.
Yunluan listened quietly, her gaze lingering on the woman's face for a moment before slowly moving to the food box in her hand.
The food box was an ordinary red lacquered wooden box, engraved with patterns from Yuxiu Palace, just like any other.
"Is that so?" Yun Luan said calmly, stepping over.
Her steps were so light they were almost inaudible, but each step felt like it was treading on Qiu'er's heart.
The silver soft armor gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the moonlight, and the dragon patterns carved on the shoulder armor appeared and disappeared in the light and shadow, as if they might come to life at any moment.
Qiu'er subconsciously took a half step back, only to find that there was a palace wall behind her, with nowhere to retreat.
Yunluan walked up to her, reached out her hand, but instead of taking the food box, she gently brushed away a stray hair from her forehead.
The movement was very light, yet it made Qiu'er tremble all over.
"Qiu'er, how many years have you been in the palace?" Yunluan suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.
"Five, five years..." Qiu'er's voice trembled.
"After five years, you should know the rules of the palace by now."
Yunluan withdrew her hand, her gaze returning to the food box. "Going out late at night requires a waist tag or warrant. Do you have one?"
Qiu'er's face turned as pale as paper in an instant.
She didn't.
Jiang Qingxue only gave her gold melon seeds and a jade bracelet, but did not give her any permission to leave the palace.
"I...I..." she stammered, her mind blank.
Yunluan looked at her like this and sighed softly.
The sigh was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet night, carrying an indescribable complex emotion.
There was regret, there was pity, and there was a deeper meaning that Qiu'er could not understand.
"Come with me," Yunluan said.
Qiu'er looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with terror: "Where...where are we going?"
"I see Your Majesty." Yunluan's voice remained calm, yet each word struck Qiu'er's heart like a hammer blow.
"boom--"
Qiu'er felt her mind go blank for a moment, as if she had been doused with ice water from head to toe, and her blood had frozen.
To see His Majesty?
Now?
At this hour?
Her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
Yunluan reached out and supported her just in time, her strength steady and irresistible.
"Let's go," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "Don't keep His Majesty waiting too long."
Qiu'er, in a daze, was helped by Yunluan and walked forward along the palace road.
The food box in his hands grew heavier and heavier, as if it contained not medicinal herbs, but a massive boulder weighing thousands of pounds.
The night was deep, and the palace lanterns of the imperial city flickered in the distance.
When the patrolling guards saw Yunluan, they all bowed and saluted, but none of them dared to look at Qiu'er for long, let alone ask her a question.
Qiu'er knew that she was finished.
It's all over.
Inside the side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the lights were on.
Qin Mu was not wearing a formal dragon robe, but only a black casual robe with gold trim. His long hair was loosely tied back without a crown.
He leaned back on the carved rosewood couch, holding an ancient book in his hand, and was reading it by candlelight.
Hearing footsteps, he slowly raised his eyes.
Yunluan led Qiu'er into the hall and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, the person has been brought."
Qiu'er was already terrified. She fell to her knees with a thud, her forehead hitting the gold brick floor hard with a dull thud.
"This servant...this servant greets Your Majesty...Long live the Emperor...Long live the Emperor...Long live the Emperor..."
Her voice trembled so badly that every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.
Qin Mu put down the book in his hand, his gaze fell on Qiu'er, and after looking at her for a moment, he slowly spoke:
"Where are you going so late with that food box?"
His voice was gentle, even a little lazy, as if he were just chatting casually.
But this gentle tone terrified Qiu'er more than any harsh shout.
She lay on the ground, trembling all over, her teeth chattering uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.
Qin Mu looked at her quietly for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.
"Get up," he said.
Qiu'er dared not move.
"I tell you to get up." Qin Mu's voice was still gentle, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Qiu'er then trembled as she struggled to her feet.
Her legs were weak and she could barely stand. She could only maintain a kneeling position, her head hanging very low, not daring to look at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu gave Yun Luan a wink.
Yunluan understood, stepped forward to take the food box from Qiu'er's hand, and gently placed it on the rosewood table beside her.
Then she retreated to the palace gate, standing with her hands at her sides, like an emotionless shadow.
Only Qin Mu and Qiu'er remained in the hall.
The candlelight flickered gently in the night breeze, casting long, long shadows of the two people on the wall.
Qin Mu slowly stood up and walked to Qiu'er.
Qiu'er could see the hem of his dark-colored casual clothes, the soft boots embroidered with cloud patterns, and feel the suffocating pressure of an emperor.
She bit her lip hard, her nails digging deep into her palms, trying to use the pain to maintain her last shred of consciousness.
Then, she saw a hand reach out in front of her.
The hand was long and slender, with distinct knuckles, and gleamed like jade in the candlelight.
It was Qin Mu's hand.
He bent down, gently took Qiu'er's arm, and helped her up from the ground.
The movements were very light and steady, even gentle.
But Qiu'er felt that the hand was as cold as a thousand-year-old ice.
"Don't be afraid."
Qin Mu's voice rang in my ears, gentle as if he were soothing a frightened child.
"I'm just asking you a few questions. Answer truthfully, and I won't make things difficult for you."
Qiu'er stared blankly at him, at his handsome face so close to hers, at his deep, unfathomable eyes, her mind a complete mess.
Your Majesty... how can you be so gentle?
"Come, sit down and talk."
Qin Mu took her hand and led her to a stool on the side, gently pressing her shoulder to help her sit down.
Then he sat down opposite him, picked up the ancient book again, but did not open it; he just held it in his hand and played with it.
"Now, tell me,"
He looked up at Qiu'er, his gaze calm and unwavering. "Where are you going so late with that food box?"
Qiu'er sat on the embroidered stool, her whole body stiff.
She looked at Qin Mu, at his eyes that seemed to see through everything, and her last line of defense completely collapsed.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Tears finally welled up in her eyes, her voice choked and broken, "This servant...this servant was ordered by Consort Xue to deliver the leftover food to the Imperial Kitchen..."
"Oh?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow. "Just handing over leftover food?"
"Yes, yes..." Qiu'er lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Qin Mu looked at her quietly for a long time before slowly asking, "Besides leftovers, what else is in that food box?"
Qiu'er trembled all over.
"N-nothing..." she denied instinctively.
Qin Mu smiled.
"Qiu'er, you've been in the palace for five years."
He said slowly, "Five years should have been enough for you to know what the crime of deceiving the emperor is, right?"
Qiu'er's face turned deathly pale instantly.
"This servant...this servant wouldn't dare..."
She prostrated herself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, "What I said is the truth...the truth, Your Majesty..."
Qin Mu looked at her like this and gently shook his head.
"Yunluan," he called out.
"Your subject is here," Yunluan responded and stepped forward.
"Open the food box."
"Yes."
Yunluan walked to the table and gently opened the lid of the food box. As Qiu'er had said, it contained ordinary leftovers.
A few untouched pastries, and half a bowl of cold soup.
But Yunluan didn't stop. She reached out and brushed aside the food on the surface, revealing the bottom of the food box.
There, several small paper packets were neatly placed.
Yunluan took out one of the paper packets and opened it.
Inside are several medicinal herbs—angelica, astragalus, and wolfberry—all commonly used by imperial concubines to regulate their health.
But Yunluan's gaze fell on one of the medicinal herbs.
Chuanxiong (Ligusticum striatum).
She took out a steelyard and carefully poured the Sichuan lovage root into her palm, weighing it meticulously.
A moment later, she raised her head and looked at Qin Mu:
"Your Majesty, seven coins."
A meaningful smile appeared on Qin Mu's lips.
"Seven qian of Chuanxiong..."
He repeated in a low voice, his gaze returning to Qiu'er, "Qiu'er, do you know what 'seven qian of Chuanxiong' means in the Northern Army?"
Qiu'er trembled violently, and suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with extreme terror!
She didn't know!
Jiang Qingxue didn't tell her!
She only knew that she had to deliver a food box, and that there were medicinal herbs at the bottom of the food box, but she didn't know what those herbs were, or what they represented!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Her voice was distorted with fear.
"This servant doesn't know...this servant really doesn't know...Her Majesty only asked this servant to deliver the food box...she only said that it contained medicinal herbs to regulate the body...this servant knows nothing..."
She cried her heart out, and almost collapsed to the ground.
Qin Mu stared at her quietly for a long time.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a strange gentleness:
"I believe you."
Qiu'er was stunned, staring at Qin Mu in disbelief.
Qin Mu stood up, walked to her, and reached out to help her up again.
"You were just following orders and knew nothing," he said slowly. "I don't blame you."
Qiu'er stared at him blankly, her mind completely empty.
Your Majesty... doesn't blame her?
"However," Qin Mu changed the subject, "since you know nothing, then let's leave it at that."
He paused, looking intently at Qiu'er:
"You did not see me tonight. You merely followed orders to deliver the food box, and you have delivered it. Understand?"
Qiu'er stared at him blankly for a long time before mechanically nodding.
"This servant...understands..."
"very good."
Qin Mu nodded in satisfaction. "Go back. Remember my words: nothing happened tonight."
Qiu'er stood up in a daze, bowed in a daze, and left the side hall in a daze.
It wasn't until she stepped out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and was hit by the night wind that she suddenly came to her senses.
She lowered her head and looked at her empty hands.
Where's the food box?
What about the medicinal herbs?
Where are the golden melon seeds?
What about the jade bracelet?
They've all disappeared.
His Majesty's words still echoed in my ears—
Nothing happened tonight.
Qiu'er slowly raised her head and looked in the direction of Yuxiu Palace.
The moonlight was cold and clear, and the palace lanterns were lonely.
She suddenly realized that she had been caught in a terrible vortex.
Being able to walk out alive is already an immense stroke of luck.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and then strode towards Yuxiu Palace.
His steps were unsteady, his back frail, like a leaf about to wither in the autumn wind.
.......
Inside a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Qin Mu sat back down on the soft couch.
Yunluan took out the medicinal herbs from the food box one by one and arranged them neatly on the rosewood table.
"His Majesty,"
She spoke in a low voice, "Seven qian of Sichuan lovage is the highest warning in the Xu family's code—the plan has been exposed, the entire army will be wiped out, retreat immediately."
Qin Mu nodded, his gaze falling on the medicinal herbs, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"Jiang Qingxue is quite thoughtful," he said slowly, "knowing to use this method to convey messages."
"Should we cut it off?" Yunluan asked.
"No need," Qin Mu shook his head. "Let her deliver it."
Yunluan was slightly taken aback.
Qin Mu smiled, reached out and picked up a small pinch of Sichuan lovage, gently rubbing it between his fingertips.
"The message must be sent out, but not to Xu Longxiang," he said slowly. "It must be sent to... the right people."
A knowing glint flashed in Yunluan's eyes.
"Your Majesty means..."
"Isn't Empress Li Yang very interested in the Xu family?" Qin Mu's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then let her know that the Xu family's plan has been exposed and Xu Longxiang is in dire straits."
He paused, then added:
"Then we'll see whether this empress will lend a helping hand or... kick us when we're down."
Yunluan bowed deeply: "Your subject understands."
Qin Mu waved his hand: "Go do it. Remember, do it naturally, make her feel like she accidentally intercepted this message herself."
"Yes."
Yunluan bowed and withdrew, her figure disappearing into the night like a ghost.
Inside the side hall, only Qin Mu remained.
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on his face.
He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night.
The lights of the imperial city spread out beneath my feet, like a galaxy fallen to earth.
Beneath that galaxy, countless conspiracies, schemes, betrayals, and struggles are quietly brewing in the shadows.
"Xu Longxiang..."
Qin Mu muttered to himself, his voice carrying an almost cruel, playful tone:
"I eagerly await the moment when you discover your plans have been exposed, when you learn the woman you trust most is betraying you, when you learn Empress Li Yang might abandon you..."
He paused, the smile on his lips deepening:
"What kind of expression will they have?"
........