novelAbuy Chapter 225: Arrival at the Qin Imperial Palace. The once arrogant Empress Li Yang, now bowing and s
Chapter 225: Arrival at the Qin Imperial Palace. The once arrogant Empress Li Yang, now bowing and s
The afternoon sun slanted across the vermilion palace walls of the imperial city, casting a warm golden glow on the centuries-old glazed tiles.
The carriage slowly came to a stop outside Chengtian Gate.
Qin Mu lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze sweeping over the majestic palace gate and landing on the imperial guards standing solemnly on both sides.
The silver-armored figures gleamed coldly in the sunlight, their long halberds standing straight as a forest. Upon seeing the emperor return to the palace, they all knelt on one knee in unison, the sound of their armor plates clashing in perfect unison.
"Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty!"
The shouts echoed like a tide before the empty palace gates.
Qin Mu nodded slightly and got off the carriage.
Xiao Yu followed closely behind, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with curiosity and nervousness.
She grew up by the river and had never seen such a magnificent palace before.
The vermilion walls, the golden glazed tiles, the layers upon layers of eaves and brackets—everything about them made her feel as insignificant as dust.
She followed closely behind Qin Mu, not daring to even raise her head.
Yunluan then got out of the car, still dressed in a dark blue outfit, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sweeping coldly over her surroundings.
Zhao Qingxue was the last to come down.
Her body swayed slightly as soon as her feet touched the ground.
Having been suspended for so long, my legs were already sore and weak, and every step felt like walking on cotton.
But she didn't fall.
He simply stood there, raised his head, and looked at the majestic palace gate, at the solemn imperial guards, and at the distant, layered outlines of the palaces.
A complex emotion flashed in her deep purple phoenix eyes.
She's been here before.
Six days ago, she was Empress Liyang, a distinguished guest who came to witness the ceremony.
With the imperial carriage leading the way and officials respectfully welcoming her, she entered the palace with her head held high through the center of the gate, receiving the homage of the Qin court officials.
And today—
She was a prisoner.
Their clothes were tattered, and they were covered in wounds, like prisoners being escorted.
Zhao Qingxue lowered her eyes and said nothing.
She simply lowered her head and walked step by step into the palace gate through which she had once walked with her head held high.
Behind her, Sister Hong was the last to get off the bus.
Her wrist was wrapped in gauze, and her pale face was filled with deep-seated hatred.
Her gaze was fixed on the slender, moon-white figure in front of her.
I stared at it for a very long time.
Then, she lowered her head and followed them inside.
...
Instead of going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation first, Qin Mu led his group through the many palace gates to a secluded courtyard on the west side of the imperial city.
The courtyard gate was small, with faded red paint, and looked quite unremarkable.
But once you push open the door, you'll find a completely different world inside.
The courtyard is deep and secluded, shaded by lush bamboo, with a cobblestone path winding its way into the depths.
At the end of the path stood three brick and tile houses, with several old plum trees planted in front of them. Although there were no flowers at the moment, their gnarled branches were quite charming.
Liu Bai stood in the courtyard, looked around, and nodded slightly.
"A good place," he said.
Qin Mu looked at him and smiled, "Mr. Liu, I'm sorry to trouble you to stay here for now. If you need anything, please feel free to ask the servants."
Liu Bai turned around and his gaze fell on Qin Mu's face.
A complex light flashed in those cloudy old eyes.
"I've come here," he said slowly, "to repay your debt for the wine."
He paused, then spoke solemnly:
"But now it seems that the debt for the drinks will never be repaid."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
Liu Bai continued:
"Your cultivation is unfathomable. I am not even qualified to make a move in front of you."
"Why would someone like you need my help?"
He looked directly into Qin Mu's eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"So, why did you bring me back?"
Qin Mu looked at him, at that aged yet unusually serious face.
She smiled softly.
"Old Mr. Liu," he said, "I brought you here not so that you could pay off your wine debt."
He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable:
"I just want someone to talk to."
Liu Bai was stunned.
The person speaking?
That's it?
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at Qin Mu's stunned expression.
"Those around me,"
He said, with a rare hint of melancholy in his voice, "They are either my concubines, my ministers, or my guards."
Not a single one—
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"We're friends."
friend.
These two words caused Liu Bai's pupils to contract slightly.
He recalled that night at the inn, when the two of them were drinking together, he had also uttered those two words.
He said Qin Mu was the only person he was willing to call a "friend".
At that moment, Qin Mu said to him—
He also needs a friend.
Liu Bai remained silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Okay," he said.
A single word, simple yet carrying immense weight.
Qin Mu looked at him, and the smile in his eyes became more genuine.
"Then please stay here for now, Mr. Liu," he said. "I will come to see you again later."
Liu Bai nodded slightly.
Qin Mu turned around and walked out of the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard gate, Yunluan was waiting with Zhao Qingxue and the others.
Xiao Yu stood there, her cheeks still rosy, but her eyes had already adjusted to the magnificent palace.
Her gaze swept around, filled with novelty and awe.
Zhao Qingxue stood to one side.
Her face was as pale as paper, her lips were cracked from blood loss and thirst, and her deep purple phoenix eyes stared blankly ahead at some point.
Sister Hong stood behind her, her gaze never leaving her back.
His gaze was like that of a venomous snake, cold and venomous.
Qin Mu glanced at them but didn't say anything more.
He simply said:
"Let's go."
After passing through numerous palace gates, the group finally arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
This is Qin Mu's bedroom, and also the core of the entire imperial city.
The palace is majestic, with vermilion pillars and golden roofs, gleaming with a solemn and luxurious light in the afternoon sun.
Several eunuchs and palace maids stood in front of the hall. When they saw Qin Mu return, they immediately knelt down and paid their respects.
Qin Mu waved his hand and walked straight into the hall.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation consists of two halls, front and back.
The front hall was where government affairs were handled, and its furnishings were simple and solemn.
The rear hall was the living quarters, divided into several rooms including a warm pavilion, a sleeping quarters, and a study.
Qin Mu led his group through the front hall and into a side hall in the rear hall.
This side room is not large, but its furnishings are quite elegant.
The table and chairs were made of rosewood, and several landscape paintings hung on the wall. Several pieces of porcelain from the previous dynasty were displayed on the antique shelf.
Sunlight streamed in through the carved windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
Qin Mu sat down in the main seat.
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Yun Luan.
"Go and call Jiang Qingxue over," he said.
Yunluan was slightly taken aback.
But she didn't ask anything, she just bowed:
"Yes."
Then he turned around and quickly walked out of the side hall.
The footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared outside the hall.
A brief silence fell over the side hall.
Xiao Yu stood in the corner, her two hands nervously twisted together.
She didn't know who Jiang Qingxue was, but she could sense that the name seemed to hold some weight in Yunluan's heart.
Zhao Qingxue stood still.
She heard Qin Mu's words.
Jiang Qingxue.
She was familiar with this name.
At the grand wedding ceremony, there was a woman sitting on the phoenix throne, but her eyes were filled with emptiness and despair.
The Snow Consort, who was forcibly taken as a concubine by Qin Mu and entered the palace on the same day as Xu Fenghua.
She only glanced at it from afar, but she remembered that cold and desperate face.
At this moment, Qin Mu wanted to call her over.
What are you doing?
Should I show her this disheveled state?
still is……
Zhao Qingxue didn't know.
She simply lowered her eyes, letting those thoughts churn in her mind.
Hongjie stood to the side, her gaze never leaving Zhao Qingxue.
Her eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred.
wait.
She made a silent vow in her heart.
She was determined to teach that wretched maid a lesson.
We must make her understand the consequences of offending Sister Hong.
...
Time passed slowly in silence.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, footsteps were heard outside the door.