lovenovelstory Chapter 250 Acting is what these women are best at.
Chapter 250 Acting is what these women are best at.
the next day.
Morning light streamed through the windows into the inner hall of Qingxin Pavilion, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
The light and shadow moved slowly with the passing time, from the east wall to the west wall, from the desk to the bed, and finally landed on the soft sandalwood couch by the window.
Zhao Qingxue sat there.
She had been awake for a long time.
From Yin hour to Mao hour, and from Mao hour to Chen hour.
She just sat there, motionless.
He was wearing a clean, moon-white casual outfit.
That was delivered by Yunluan last night.
The fabric is top-quality Yun brocade, the cut is perfect, and the cuffs are embroidered with orchids in subtle silver thread patterns.
This one was more luxurious and more ironic than the one that was torn to shreds.
Zhao Qingxue lowered her head and looked at her fair hands.
The red marks from where the rope had been used to bind his wrists were still there.
His sleeve slipped down slightly, revealing the shocking bruises on his forearm.
That was left two days ago.
That was caused by Sister Hong hitting it with a wooden stick.
She looked up and gazed out the window.
The courtyard of Qingxin Pavilion is not large, but it is kept clean and elegant.
Several stalks of green bamboo rustled in the morning breeze, and the dewdrops on the bamboo leaves were crystal clear, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the sunlight.
A cobblestone path winds its way to the gate, with several clumps of unidentified flowers and grasses planted on both sides. Although it is early winter, they are still lush and green.
Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.
Very beautiful.
But Zhao Qingxue felt no joy at all as she watched all this.
The images from last night kept replaying in her mind.
Sister Hong knelt on the ground, frantically kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Her once arrogant and domineering face was now twisted into an ugly shape.
Her once triumphant eyes were now filled with extreme fear.
Her forehead was bruised and blood was smeared all over her face.
The warm liquid between her legs, urine, spread across the floor.
Thinking of this, Zhao Qingxue felt a surge of complex emotions that were hard to describe.
It's satisfying.
The woman who had tormented her for two days and one night finally died.
I feel relieved.
From then on, she no longer had to face that mean face, those venomous eyes, and that endless torment.
It's absurd.
She traded her marriage to Qin Mu for the death of this woman.
The morning light is just right.
Zhao Qingxue sat on the soft couch, gazing out the window at the courtyard illuminated by the sunlight.
Hongjie's body has disappeared.
The pool of blood was also cleaned up.
It was as if the massacre of last night had never happened.
Only the palace maids sweeping the courtyard came and went with light steps.
Only those few green bamboos still rustled in the morning breeze.
Only the warm sunlight still shines in the courtyard.
Business as usual.
It's as if nothing has changed.
But Zhao Qingxue knew that
Everything has changed.
Sister Hong is dead.
She agreed to the marriage.
Seven days later, she was to marry Qin Mu.
She became the Empress of the Qin Dynasty.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers slowly tightened inside her sleeve.
She remembered what Qin Mu had said last night.
"Seven days. I will set the wedding date within seven days. During this time, you should contact the Li Yang Dynasty as soon as possible to hand over the arrangements and prepare the necessary items."
Seven days.
wedding.
Handover matters.
Prepare things.
These words echoed repeatedly in her mind.
She took a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled, carrying the coolness of the morning, made her feel more awake.
We've finally come to this point.
She slowly stood up.
He walked to the desk.
The four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) were already prepared on the desk.
The Xuan paper is snow-white, the ink stick is jet black, and the brush tip is sharp.
Zhao Qingxue sat down behind her desk.
Pick up the ink stick and gently grind the ink.
The scent of ink filled the air.
She put down the ink stick and picked up the brush.
Dip in ink.
Put pen to paper.
The brushstrokes danced across the rice paper, leaving behind lines of elegant characters.
Her handwriting was neat and powerful, with sharp strokes, just like her personality.
What she wrote was—
"To the esteemed officials of the Liyang court:"
I have decided to marry Emperor Qin Mu of the Great Qin Dynasty on a chosen date.
I have given this matter considerable thought; it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Liyang and Daqin were originally neighboring states and had maintained friendly relations for generations. Now, I have formed a marriage alliance with the Qin Emperor, uniting the two dynasties into one, jointly defending against foreign enemies, and ensuring the safety of the people. This is truly a blessing for both countries.
I know that you gentlemen must have doubts, but this matter is already settled and cannot be changed.
The Ministry of Rites was ordered to immediately prepare all necessary arrangements for the wedding. The ceremony should follow the precedents of imperial weddings throughout history, and the required funds should be drawn from the imperial treasury without delay.
Furthermore, I will soon return to Liyang with the Qin Emperor, at which time I will discuss the follow-up matters with you all in detail.
This edict is of utmost importance.
Zhao Qingxue
November 8th, 32nd year of the Great Qi calendar
After writing the last word, Zhao Qingxue put down her pen.
She looked down at the letter, at the elegant handwriting, and at the location of the seal.
Then, she reached into her bosom.
He took out the seal he always carried with him.
That was the Imperial Seal of the Li Yang royal family, which she took out from the Imperial Ancestral Temple on the day she ascended the throne.
Carved from Hetian mutton fat jade, with a dragon-tiger knob, the seal face is engraved with eight ancient seal characters: "Received the mandate from Heaven, may it live long and prosper."
That was a symbol of the imperial power that had existed for three hundred years in Liyang.
This was also her last vestige of dignity as the Empress of Liyang.
Zhao Qingxue held the seal, her fingertips gently caressing the warm, smooth jade.
She recalled the year she was eight years old when her mother first placed this seal in her hand.
The Empress Dowager said, "Qingxue, this is the Imperial Seal of the Liyang royal family, left behind by the founding emperor. In the future, you will use it to affix your most important edicts."
She asked, "What is the most important edict?"
The Empress Dowager smiled but did not answer.
Now she knows.
The most important edict is the one issued at this moment.
This is the imperial edict announcing her marriage.
This edict will personally end the three-hundred-year period of independence from Yang.
Zhao Qingxue closed her eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Then--
Open your eyes.
Press the seal firmly onto the Xuan paper.
"Bang."
A soft sound.
The bright red mark was clearly imprinted on the paper.
It covered the area below the three characters "Zhao Qingxue".
It also covered up her last escape route as the Empress of Liyang.
Zhao Qingxue put away the seal and placed it back in her bosom.
Then, she picked up the letter and gently blew on it.
The ink gradually dried.
She stood up and walked to the door.
stop.
"Is anyone there?" she asked.
The sound was very soft and faint, yet it was exceptionally clear in the quiet inner sanctuary.
The words had barely left his mouth—
The door was pushed open.
Two women dressed in light blue palace attire strode into the hall.
They were about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features and a submissive and cautious demeanor typical of palace maids.
They walked three steps in front of Zhao Qingxue and knelt down in unison.
His forehead touched the ground.
His posture was impeccably submissive.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" one of them asked, his voice soft and respectful.
Zhao Qingxue looked down at them.
She had seen those two women last night.
Yunluan arranged for them to serve her.
They called it serving, but in reality it was surveillance.
but,
None of that matters now.
Zhao Qingxue handed over the letter in her hand.
"Go and give this letter," she said, her voice steady and clear, "to the merchant in the city named Shen Mo."
She paused, then added:
"He owns a silk shop in the east of the city called Jinxiu Pavilion. Give him this letter and tell him—"
She looked at the two palace maids and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"It is my order."
The two palace maids looked up at the letter.
Then he looked at Zhao Qingxue.
A complex light flashed in his eyes.
The Shen Mo mentioned by Zhao Qingxue should be the spy planted by the Li Yang Dynasty in the Great Qin Imperial City.
For many years, it has remained hidden in the shadows, never exposed.
And at this moment, Her Majesty the Empress actually put this line out in the open?
The two palace maids exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.
But they didn't say anything.
They simply responded in unison:
"Yes."
One of them took the letter with both hands and carefully put it into his pocket.
Then, the two kowtowed again, stood up, and withdrew.
With light yet steady steps, they quickly disappeared outside the courtyard gate.
Zhao Qingxue stood there, watching their departing figures.
A faint smile slowly curved the corners of his lips.
Anyway, she had already agreed to marry Qin Mu.
What spies, what informants, what secrets—
There's no need to hide it anymore.
It's better to be honest.
Perhaps, it can even confuse Qin Mu.
This made him believe that she had truly resigned herself to her fate.
This will help him lower his guard.
He believed that she had truly become his empress, obediently following his every command.
then……
A barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed in Zhao Qingxue's eyes.
The chill flashed by.
It happened so fast that almost no one noticed.
She turned and walked back into the inner palace.
He sat down again on the soft couch.
Looking out the window at the courtyard illuminated by the sunlight.
waiting.
They awaited the two palace maids to bring back Qin Mu's reply.
......
at the same time.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Qin Mu was leaning back on the soft couch, holding an ancient book in his hand, flipping through it idly.
Yunluan stood to the side, quietly reporting something.
Just then—
Footsteps could be heard outside the hall.
"Your Majesty," a eunuch's voice rang out.
"Two palace maids have come to Qingxin Pavilion, saying that Her Majesty the Empress has a letter to present to Her Majesty."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.
He put down his book and sat up straight.
"Let them in," he said.
A moment later, two women in light blue palace dresses strode into the hall.
They walked three steps in front of Qin Mu and knelt down in unison.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the two said in unison.
Qin Mu looked at them, his gaze falling on the letter that was being held respectfully.
"Get up," he said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Two palace maids stood up, one of them holding the letter with both hands and respectfully presenting it to the emperor.
Yunluan stepped forward, took the letter, and presented it to Qin Mu.
Qin Mu took the letter and unfolded it.
My gaze fell upon those elegant handwritings.
Read from the first line to the last line.
From "the esteemed officials of the Liyang court, please take note" we see "this edict is of utmost importance".
Finally, it landed on that bright red seal.
The mark was clear and upright; it was indeed the Imperial Seal of the Li Yang royal family.
Qin Mu looked at the letter, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
This woman is decisive in her actions.
If you promise something, you do it.
Without any hesitation or fuss.
and.
He glanced at the two palace maids.
These two palace maids were his people.
Zhao Qingxue couldn't possibly not know.
But she still sent them to deliver the letter.
They even directly revealed the name and address of the undercover agent, Shen Mo.
What does this mean?
Have they resigned themselves to their fate?
Or was it done on purpose to show him?
A meaningful smile appeared on Qin Mu's lips.
Regardless of which one—
This woman was more interesting than he had imagined.
Qin Mu closed the letter and set it aside.
His gaze fell on the two palace maids.
"Then let's do as the Empress says," he said, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable authority.
"Give that letter to Shen Mo."
"Have him send him back to Liyang as quickly as possible."
The two palace maids exchanged a glance and replied in unison:
"yes!"
They bowed and withdrew.
The footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared outside the hall.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, only Qin Mu and Yun Luan remained.
Qin Mu leaned back on the soft couch, propping his chin up with one hand, his gaze fixed on the letter.
Yunluan stood aside, silent for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Your Majesty," her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of probing, "do you think the Empress... has truly resigned herself to her fate?"
Qin Mu smiled.
"Accept your fate?" He repeated the two words, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Yunluan, do you know?"
He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable:
"Those who truly accept their fate wouldn't write this kind of letter."
Yunluan was slightly taken aback.
Qin Mu continued, each word like a sharp blade tempered with ice:
True resignation is silence, giving up, and a heart as cold as ashes.
"But look at that letter you just wrote."
"The handwriting is neat and powerful, with sharp strokes, showing no sign of dejection."
"The wording was decisive and straightforward, without any hesitation or ambiguity."
Is this what it means to resign oneself to fate?
A knowing glint flashed in Yunluan's eyes.
"So, Your Majesty means..."
Qin Mu smiled.
"She's acting," he said.
"Perform for me, and perform for her own benefit."
"To make everyone believe that she has truly accepted her fate and is truly willing to marry me."
"Then,"
"Wait for an opportunity."
Yunluan remained silent for a moment.
Then she spoke, her voice still cool, but carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry:
"Your Majesty, if she is truly just acting, then what will happen in the future..."
Qin Mu waved his hand, interrupting her.
"Acting is what these women are best at."