lovenovelstory Chapter 288 Empress Li Yang, how can you face your mother?
Chapter 288 Empress Li Yang, how can you face your mother?
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
She forcibly suppressed the indescribable emotions surging within her, and then raised her hand again.
Liu Hongyan's pupils suddenly contracted!
"Smack—!!!"
Another slap!
This time, it's heavier than before!
Liu Hongyan staggered from the blow, almost falling over!
She braced herself against the ground, barely managing to steady herself.
He raised his head and looked at Zhao Qingxue.
At this moment, emotions finally surfaced in those beautiful phoenix eyes.
That is……
Anger was mixed with fear.
She didn't understand why Zhao Qingxue listened to Qin Mu so much.
But she knew.
I'm really finished.
Zhao Qingxue looked at her without saying a word.
He simply raised his hand again.
"Smack—!!!"
Another slap!
Liu Hongyan was completely stunned by the beating.
She covered her face and curled up on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
Zhao Qingxue looked down at her.
Looking at her disheveled appearance, at the hand covering her face, at the silent trembling shoulders.
The complex emotions in my heart surged even more violently.
She recalled the time when Sister Hong beat her.
Also like this.
Curled up, trembling, weeping silently.
That feeling was worse than death.
There is another type,
A strange, inexplicable emotion that she couldn't quite describe.
The emotion was light and faint, yet it was real.
Like a tiny flame quietly igniting in the darkness.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers twitched slightly.
My hand is still a little numb from the three slaps I just delivered.
The touch, the sound, the instant redness and swelling on that person's face—
Every detail was clearly imprinted in her mind.
She recalled the feeling when Sister Hong slapped her for the first time.
She was like that back then too.
Curled up, trembling, weeping silently.
She hates Sister Hong.
They hated him so much they gritted their teeth; they hated him to the core.
But at this moment, as she stood in Sister Hong's place, looking at that figure curled up on the ground.
She suddenly realized—
A strange, indescribable feeling rose within her...
Enjoyable.
The feeling came without warning, yet it felt incredibly real.
It was so real that she could hardly deny it.
It was as if watching others suffer the humiliation she had once endured brought a slight sense of balance to the wound in her heart that had never healed.
It was as if the humiliation etched upon her was now being transferred, bit by bit, to someone else.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
She was startled by her own thought.
Why would she think that?
How could she think that way?
How could Zhao Qingxue, the Empress of Liyang, wish for others to suffer just because she herself had suffered?
But that sense of joy still remains.
Like a thorn, it was stuck deep in her heart.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
She looked up at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu remained seated on the throne, one hand supporting his chin, his posture languid.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his handsome features in a half-light, half-shadow.
Those deep eyes were fixed on her.
With a smile.
Meaningful.
It's as if you're admiring a work of art that's being sculpted.
It was as if it was waiting for something.
Zhao Qingxue met that gaze and her heart trembled slightly.
She withdrew her gaze and turned it back to Liu Hongyan.
That fair and slender hand slowly lowered.
She stood there, like a silent statue.
Qin Mu looked at her like this and smiled gently.
He stopped looking at Zhao Qingxue and instead focused his gaze on Liu Hongyan, who was curled up on the ground.
"Miss Liu."
His voice was soft, with a hint of amusement and a touch of laughter.
"How is it?"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Can you tell the truth now?"
Liu Hongyan's body stiffened slightly.
She slowly lowered her hands from her face and looked up.
The moonlight shone on her face, illuminating her swollen and red face.
That once beautiful face now bears several bright red handprints on each side, and a trickle of blood seeps from the corner of her mouth, sliding down her chin and dripping onto her lake-blue dress, spreading into a shocking blood flower.
She looked at Qin Mu, her eyes filled with barely suppressed rage.
He gritted his teeth and spoke.
His voice was hoarse, yet each word was enunciated clearly and distinctly:
"I...don't know what Your Majesty is talking about."
The hall fell silent for a moment as soon as the words were spoken.
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly.
He looked at Liu Hongyan, at her eyes burning with anger, at her face that, though red and swollen, remained stubborn.
Then he smiled.
"very good."
Qin Mu spoke, his voice carrying a hint of sincere admiration.
"I admire people with such backbone."
He leaned back in his chair, his posture becoming even more languid.
His moon-white robe swayed slightly with his movements, the hem falling onto the gold bricks, gleaming warmly in the moonlight.
Then he raised his hand.
With slender fingers, he gently waved in Zhao Qingxue's direction.
The movement was very light and casual.
But in Zhao Qingxue's eyes, it was like an invisible decree.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
She looked at Qin Mu, at his smiling, meaningful face.
A complex mix of emotions surged within me once more.
She knew what the gesture meant.
carry on.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled, carrying with it the heavy atmosphere of the hall, chilled her to the bone.
She turned her head.
His gaze fell on Liu Hongyan again.
Liu Hongyan was also looking at her.
The anger in those beautiful phoenix eyes was even more intense than when they looked at Qin Mu.
The anger was so intense it almost solidified, surging in his eyes like a venomous snake.
If her hatred for Qin Mu was 90 points, then her hatred for Zhao Qingxue was 100 points.
Because Qin Mu is an enemy.
It has been from the very beginning.
But what about Zhao Qingxue?
She is the Empress of Liyang.
She was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince to form an alliance with.
They are the allies on whom the North places high hopes.
Yes--
She thought she could trust someone.
But this woman betrayed the alliance.
Without any warning, he locked himself in the dungeon.
Without any reason, I brought myself into this hall.
Inhumanely, he slapped himself three times.
And at this moment—
She stood beside the man like his most loyal dog, carrying out his orders.
This betrayal angered her more than any hostility.
This made her even more heartbroken.
This made her hate him even more.
Liu Hongyan stared intently at Zhao Qingxue, speaking slowly and deliberately, each word like a sharp blade tempered with ice:
"Zhao Qingxue, you are the Empress of Liyang, yet you are willing to be a lackey."
"How can you face the ancestors of Li Yang?"
"How can you face the subjects who trusted you?"
"You deserve it—"
She paused, a mocking smile curving her lips:
"Your deceased mother?"
She spoke the last few words very softly.
But it was like a knife, piercing the softest part of Zhao Qingxue's heart.
Zhao Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted!
Her body trembled slightly.
Empress Dowager.
That was the deepest scar in her heart.
It is a wound that has never healed in the past twenty-one years.
The pain of having his secret exposed by Liu Hongyan was more intense than any humiliation.
Zhao Qingxue's hand clenched tightly.
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.
But she was completely unaware.
He just stared intently at Liu Hongyan.
The complex calm in those deep purple phoenix eyes was finally shattered.
All that remained was surging anger.
Zhao Qingxue took a step.
step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
She stopped in front of Liu Hongyan.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her.
That peerless face was now as cold as a thousand-year-old ice.
She raised her hand.
"Smack—!!!"
A hard slap landed on Liu Hongyan's face!
The force was greater than the previous three slaps combined!
Liu Hongyan staggered from the blow and fell to one side, crashing into the golden dragon pillar next to her with a "bang"!
The pillar shook violently, sending down countless specks of dust.
Liu Hongyan leaned on the golden pillar, barely managing to steady herself.
She covered her face, panting heavily.
On that face, the newly added bright red handprint overlapped with the previous handprint, making the swelling even more severe.
The blood from the corner of his mouth flowed even more profusely.
But she still looked up at Zhao Qingxue.
Anger still burned in those beautiful phoenix eyes.
It was even more intense.
Zhao Qingxue looked at her, at those eyes.
The complex emotions churned within me even more violently.
She suddenly understood why Sister Hong had been so keen on torturing herself back then.
Because of this feeling...
It's addictive.
Looking into those angry eyes, looking at that face contorted with pain, looking at that stubborn look despite being powerless to resist.
The joy in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
It was so intense that she almost drowned in it.
The intensity of the heat caused her constantly tense nerves to relax slightly.
The intense emotions she had been suppressing finally found a way to be released.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
Raise your hand again.
"Smack—!!!"
Another slap.
"Smack—!!!"
Another slap.
Slap after slap landed on Liu Hongyan's face.
Each strike was heavier than the last.
Each movement was imbued with complex emotions that she herself couldn't quite articulate.
Liu Hongyan was so badly beaten that she could barely stand. She leaned against the golden pillar, her body trembling violently.
That once beautiful face was now completely distorted.
Redness, swelling, bruising, and bloodstains.
Miserable.
But she did not beg for mercy.
He didn't even utter a groan.
He just gritted his teeth and stared at Zhao Qingxue with eyes burning with anger.
Looking at this woman who betrayed the alliance.
Looking at this Empress Li Yang who was willing to be a lackey of others.
That gaze was like a blunt knife, slowly cutting into Zhao Qingxue's heart.
Just then—
"Alright."
A lazy voice came from behind.
Zhao Qingxue's body stiffened slightly.
She turned around and looked at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu had already stood up from the throne and was walking towards her.
The moon-white robe trailed across the ground, stirring up a faint breeze.
He walked up to Zhao Qingxue and stopped.
Reach out.
His slender fingers gently grasped Zhao Qingxue's hand, which was slightly red from being slapped too many times.
The movement was very light and gentle.
Zhao Qingxue's hand trembled slightly.
She looked up at him.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled gently.
There was no blame or mockery in that smile.
There was only one kind of deep, gentle comfort.
"That's enough," he said softly.
"The rest is up to me."
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, at the gentle light in his deep eyes.
The complex emotions in my heart gradually subsided.
She nodded.
Take a step back.
Stand aside.
Qin Mu released her hand and turned around.
His gaze fell on Liu Hongyan's face.
Liu Hongyan leaned against the golden pillar, panting heavily.
His face was swollen and covered in blood.
But she still looked up at Qin Mu.
Anger still burned in those beautiful phoenix eyes.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's appreciation deepened.
He took a step.
He walked step by step toward Liu Hongyan.
He stopped three steps away from her.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating him.
His handsome face still held that same lazy and composed look.
A faint, ambiguous smile played at the corners of his lips.
Liu Hongyan looked at him, at that perpetually composed face.
The anger in my heart almost burst out of my chest.
She spoke.
His voice was hoarse, yet each word was enunciated clearly and distinctly:
"Qin Mu".
"You will definitely regret what you did today."
Qin Mu chuckled softly upon hearing this.
The laughter was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
He leaned slightly closer.
They were so close that Liu Hongyan could see her own reflection in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty.
"I'd like to see that—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Who is it that regrets it?"
Liu Hongyan's pupils contracted slightly.
She looked at Qin Mu, at the confident light in his deep eyes.
A deep chill ran through my heart.
This man is too confident.
His confidence frightened her.
Qin Mu straightened up and stood with his hands behind his back.
The moonlight shone on him, gilding his entire body with a silvery edge.
He stood there, like a majestic mountain peak.
"Miss Liu."
He spoke again, his voice tinged with amusement.
"You probably don't know this yet—"
He paused, his gaze lingering on her face, and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Is it the news that I and Empress Li Yang are about to get married?"
The moment the words fell!
Liu Hongyan's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints!
She suddenly raised her head and stared intently at Qin Mu!
The anger in those beautiful phoenix eyes receded like a tide!
Instead, there was utter shock!
And deep fear!