roccoschili Chapter 27 The delegation from the Li Yang Dynasty has arrived!
Chapter 27 The delegation from the Li Yang Dynasty has arrived!
The next day, the first light of dawn appeared.
Jiang Qingxue woke up early.
She opened her eyes as soon as it was dawn.
A hazy light shone through the curtains, and all the candles inside the hall had been extinguished, with only a single lamp burning faintly in the corner.
She turned her head to the side.
Qin Mu was still asleep, his breathing long and steady, one hand casually draped over the quilt, his wrist bones distinct and his fingers long and slender.
The morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his face and outlining his deep features.
His sleeping face was still handsome, but it sent a chill down Jiang Qingxue's spine.
She rose gently, moving very quietly, afraid of waking him.
The brocade quilt slipped off, revealing her body covered in bruises and marks.
The marks stood out starkly in the morning light, a stark reminder of what had happened the night before.
Jiang Qingxue glanced at it only once before looking away.
She picked up her nightgown scattered on the ground, wrapped it haphazardly around herself, and then walked barefoot onto the cold gold bricks to the dressing table.
A pale and haggard face was reflected in the bronze mirror.
His eyes were red and swollen, his under-eye area was dark, his lips were dull, and he looked like he had been drained of all his energy.
Only in those eyes did a stubborn, cold light still linger deep within.
She reached out and touched a noticeable red mark on her neck.
That was left behind by Qin Mu.
Not only here, but also on my body.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a deathly stillness.
She turned around and walked back to the bedside.
His gaze fell on the bed sheets.
That dazzling red bloomed on the plain brocade, like a withered plum blossom.
That was her virgin blood.
Now, it has become evidence of her "meritorious service in serving the emperor".
Jiang Qingxue stared at that patch of red for a long time.
His eyes were empty, devoid of anger or sadness, only a desolate numbness.
After a long while, she slowly bent down, reached out, and gently touched the bloodstain.
It's dried out and a bit stiff.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Then she straightened up and walked to the window.
As I opened the window, the morning breeze rushed in, carrying the unique coolness and fresh scent of grass and trees characteristic of early summer mornings.
The sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn, and the morning glow gradually painted the horizon red.
A new day begins.
But for her, some things can never be regained.
Jiang Qingxue stood by the window, gazing at the increasingly bright sunrise on the horizon, motionless for a long time.
There was a slight noise behind me.
Qin Mu woke up.
He sat up, the brocade quilt slipped off, revealing his strong upper body.
The morning light shone on him, revealing his smooth, well-defined muscles, exuding power.
"Up so early?" he asked, his voice still hoarse from just waking up.
Jiang Qingxue turned around and stood with her head bowed: "Your Majesty... I can't sleep."
Qin Mu glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her pale face for a moment before sweeping over the red marks on her neck.
"Come here," he beckoned.
Jiang Qingxue did as instructed and knelt down beside the bed: "Your Majesty."
Qin Mu reached out, lifted her chin, and forced her to raise her head.
Eyes facing each other.
"Do you hate me?" he suddenly asked, his voice calm.
Jiang Qingxue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head: "Your Majesty, I dare not. It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."
"Is that so?" Qin Mu smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "But your eyes are lying."
Jiang Qingxue's whole body stiffened.
Qin Mu released his grip and stopped asking questions.
He got up from the bed, stepped barefoot on the carpet, and walked towards the bathtub behind the screen.
"Serve me while I bathe."
"Yes."
Jiang Qingxue quickly got up and followed.
The bath was already filled with warm water, with flower petals and herbs floating on the surface, and steam rising and filling the room with fragrance.
Qin Mu took off his nightgown and stepped into the pool.
Jiang Qingxue knelt by the pool, picked up a bath towel, and carefully washed him.
Her hands were light, her movements were clumsy, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
Qin Mu leaned against the pool, closed his eyes to rest, and let her serve him.
His face was somewhat blurred by the misty steam, but his innate majesty remained undiminished.
"From this day forward, you are my true concubine." Qin Mu suddenly spoke, his voice echoing in the empty bathing hall. "You will not be shortchanged in your due rewards. But you must also remember the rules you must follow."
Jiang Qingxue paused in her movements and whispered, "Your Majesty, I understand."
"Good, I understand." Qin Mu opened his eyes and looked at her. "Go back and rest. There's no need to pay your respects today."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Jiang Qingxue put down the bath towel, bowed, and stepped back.
As she walked out of the bathhouse, she glanced back.
Amidst the swirling mist, Qin Mu's figure appeared and disappeared, like a lurking dragon, calm yet containing a power capable of devouring everything.
She looked away and turned to leave.
Her footsteps were light, her back slender, yet she stood ramrod straight.
Like a plum tree that refuses to bend in the wind and snow.
Loneliness, stubbornness, and a broken beauty.
In the bath, Qin Mu closed his eyes again.
The tearful eyes from last night, the face that endured humiliation, and the glaring red stain on the sheets this morning flashed through my mind.
He slowly exhaled.
This play has only just begun.
But what he wanted to see was yet to come.
The bath was filled with steam, and Qin Mu leaned against the wall of the warm jade pool with his eyes closed.
The fragrance of petals and herbs mingled in the humid air, soothing his non-existent fatigue.
With the body of a terrestrial immortal, indulging in lust all night long is nothing unusual, but one still has to pretend.
Just then, familiar footsteps approached from afar.
Yunluan passed through the beaded curtain hanging in the bathhouse and knelt on one knee three feet away from the pool. Her silver armor gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the rising steam, which was out of place with the surrounding enchanting atmosphere.
"His Majesty."
Qin Mu didn't open his eyes, only lazily responding with a "Hmm?"
"The Li Yang Dynasty has sent envoys to pay tribute. The delegation has arrived at the post station thirty miles outside the imperial city." Yun Luan's voice was as cold as ever.
Qin Mu slowly opened his eyes.
In the misty steam, a playful glint flashed in those deep eyes, which then turned into a lazy smile.
"Oh? What a coincidence."
"I only said yesterday that I would send an envoy to Liyang to deliver a letter of state, and today they've sent someone first. This Empress... she's thinking the same thing as me. Who is it?"
"The chief envoy was Zhou Wenzheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites of Liyang, and the deputy envoy was Wang Hongwu, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. They were accompanied by three hundred guards and eighteen carriages, making quite a grand procession."
Yunluan paused, then added, "Zhou Wenzheng's reputation in the Liyang court is... greedy for money and lustful, good at flattery, but he has excellent eloquence."
Qin Mu's smile deepened: "Zhao Qingxue certainly knows how to pick people. Sending someone like this, is she afraid I won't suspect anything?"
He stood up, water droplets sliding down his strong, muscular physique.
Yunluan immediately lowered her eyes and presented the prepared black bathrobe with both hands.
Qin Mu casually put it on, fastened his belt, and walked barefoot out of the bath, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the carpet.
"Let them air out for a few days." He sat down on the rosewood chair in front of his dressing table, letting the palace maids come forward to dry his wet hair.
"Just say that I am enjoying myself in the harem and have no time to receive guests. Have the Ministry of Rites arrange for them to stay at the post station, to be served good food and drink, but do not let them see any important people."
"Yes," Yunluan replied, but did not leave.
Qin Mu caught a glimpse of her hesitant expression in the bronze mirror and raised an eyebrow: "Is there anything else?"
"Yes." Yunluan took out a gold-embossed invitation from her bosom and presented it with both hands. "There is one more thing, concerning the Qinglan Sword Sect."
Qin Mu paused slightly as he dried his hair.