activa-t Chapter 521 Treasure Pavilion
Chapter 521 Treasure Pavilion
Mingyue's face turned even redder, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She bit her lip, lowered her head, and dared not look at Qin Mu.
Her fingers clenched and unclenched repeatedly inside her sleeve, like a bird trapped in a cage.
Qin Mu stood up, walked up to her, and stopped.
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at her with a calm, still gaze.
"Raise your head."
Mingyue's body trembled violently, and she slowly raised her head to meet his gaze.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, with undried tears still clinging to her eyelashes, and her amber pupils gleamed like honey in the candlelight.
Her lips trembled slightly, like a flower swaying in the wind and rain.
Qin Mu reached out, pinched her chin, and turned her face to the left and then to the right, as if examining a piece of porcelain.
His fingers were cold, and when they touched her skin, her body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been frozen.
He released his grip, took a step back, took a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped his fingers, and then casually tossed the handkerchief onto the table.
The movement was casual, like wiping away something unclean.
"This young master has no shortage of servants."
Mingyue's heart sank suddenly.
The glimmer of hope in her eyes was gradually fading, replaced by a deep-seated despair.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but it felt like something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Qin Mu turned around, walked back to the chair, and sat down.
He leaned back in his chair, propped his chin on one hand, his gaze fixed on her face, the smile still lingering on his lips.
"However, I can give you a chance."
Mingyue's heart bounced up from the bottom of the valley again, bouncing very high, hanging in mid-air, swaying gently.
Her eyes suddenly lit up, like a lamp suddenly lit in the darkness.
"Please speak, sir."
Qin Mu tapped his fingers lightly twice on the armrest. "Answer whatever I ask. If you dare to hide a single word, you won't be leaving this room alive."
Mingyue's body trembled violently.
She originally thought she had been rescued from one hellhole, but she never expected that she had actually gone from one hellhole to another.
Her lips trembled violently, but she gritted her teeth and nodded.
"I understand...I understand."
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her face, his voice neither too loud nor too soft.
Who destroyed the Loulan Kingdom?
Mingyue's fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve, her nails digging into her palms, causing her face to turn pale with pain.
"The Northern Barbarians. The iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians. Three years ago, the Northern Barbarian army crossed the desert and breached the capital of Loulan. My father... my father died in battle, my mother committed suicide, and I was captured."
Her voice was trembling, and every word seemed to be squeezed out with all her might.
Her tears finally fell, silently streaming down her pale cheeks.
Qin Mu's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded. "Northern Barbarians. It's Northern Barbarians again."
He paused, his voice even softer. "How long have you been in the North?"
Mingyue wiped away her tears with her sleeve, took a deep breath, and gradually suppressed the surging grief. "One year. I was sold many times, and finally a merchant caravan took me to the Northern Border. The manager of Jubaoge took a liking to me, bought me, and put me up for auction."
Qin Mu nodded. "How long did you stay at the Treasure Pavilion?"
Mingyue's voice trembled slightly. "Three...three months."
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. "In these past three months, who have you met? What have you heard?"
Mingyue's mind raced.
She didn't know why he asked these questions, or what he wanted to know, but she dared not hide it from him.
She bit her lip, her voice hoarse.
"I...I have met many people. There are merchants, martial artists, officials, and...and people from the Northern Kingdom."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. "People from the Northern Royal Palace? Who?"
Mingyue's lips trembled violently, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"I...I don't recognize him. I only know that he wears the official robes of the Northern Kingdom's Palace, and he always wears a veiled hat when he comes, so I can't see his face. He comes to Jubao Pavilion not to buy anything, but to see the manager. Every time he comes, the two of them close the door and talk for a long time. I...I once passed by and heard them mention a name."
Qin Mu's gaze suddenly sharpened. "What's your name?"
The bright moon lowered its head, its voice very soft, as soft as a withered leaf falling from a branch.
"Xu...Xu Longxiang."
The private room was quiet for a moment.
That silence was brief, as brief as a drop of ink falling into a deep pool, creating only a tiny ripple.
But wherever the ripples reached, there was a bone-chilling cold.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his fingers lingering on the armrest for a moment before tapping it twice more.
The smile remained on his lips, revealing no emotion.
"very good."
His voice was very soft, as if he were talking about something extremely ordinary.
Mingyue knelt down, her forehead touching the ground, her voice hoarse and choked with sobs. "Young master, I... I've told you the truth. I dare not hide anything. Please... please take me in."
Qin Mu looked down at her, at the kneeling figure, at the slightly curly long hair spread on the ground, and at the slightly trembling shoulders.
His gaze was calm and still, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"I can take you in. However, you must remember one thing."
Mingyue raised her head, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Please speak, sir."
A cold smile slowly curved Qin Mu's lips, a smile devoid of any genuine joy, but exuding an air of superiority and unquestionable authority.
"From this day forward, your life belongs to me. You will do whatever I tell you to do. You will answer whatever I ask you. If you dare to utter a single lie, or hesitate even for a moment, I will make your life worse than if you had died at the hands of the Northern Barbarians."
Mingyue's body trembled violently, the tremor starting from her spine, like a frozen iron rod.
Her lips trembled violently, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back tightly.
She lowered her head, her forehead touching the ground, her voice hoarse but firm.
"Yes. I understand. From this day forward, my life belongs to you, my lord."
Qin Mu nodded, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest. "Get up."
Mingyue stood up, her hands hanging down, her head bowed, not daring to look at him.
Her legs were still weak and her hands were still trembling, but she gritted her teeth and stood up straight.
Qin Mu turned to look at Yun Luan. "Take her downstairs. Find her some clothes; she shouldn't be dressed like that. It's an eyesore."
Yunluan lowered her head. "Yes."
She walked up to Mingyue, extended her hand, and said in a cool voice, "Come with me."
Mingyue nodded and followed Yunluan out of the private room.
The gold chain jingled on her ankle, the sound echoing in the silent corridor, growing farther and farther away, until it finally disappeared at the end of the stairs.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the wooden box containing the guqin, a smile still playing on his lips.
Jiang Zhaoyue sat beside him, glanced at him, and said nothing.
Xu Fenghua sat in the corner, head down, her fingers slightly clenched in her sleeve.
She heard the name "Xu Longxiang" and the words Mingyue spoke.
The manager of Jubaoge, dressed in the official robes and veil of the Northern King's Palace, talked for a long time behind closed doors.
Every detail was like a knife, stabbing into her heart.
Qin Mu picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and set it down. "Consort Hua."
Xu Fenghua's body trembled violently. She raised her head and looked at Qin Mu. "Your Majesty."
Qin Mu turned to look at her, the smile still playing on his lips. "Tell me, what do you think the manager of Jubaoge and the people from the Northern Kingdom's Mansion talk about behind closed doors?"
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but it felt like something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Qin Mu looked at her for a long time, then smiled. "Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Let's go to Wangyue Tower. I'm hungry."
He stood up, straightened his robes, and walked towards the door.
The moon-white robe trailed on the ground, making a soft rustling sound, like a cloud being blown by the wind.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him, while Xu Fenghua walked at the very back, her steps unsteady as if she were stepping on cotton.
She had only one thought in her mind—what could the manager of Jubaoge and the people from the Northern Kingdom's Mansion possibly talk about behind closed doors?
she does not know.
But she dared not think about it.
Qin Mu stood up, straightened his robes, and walked towards the door.
The moon-white robe trailed on the ground, making a soft rustling sound, like a cloud being blown by the wind.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him, Xu Fenghua walked in the middle, and Yun Luan walked at the very back with her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Jianlai has already gone ahead to Wangyue Tower to arrange a private room.
The group walked out of Jubaoge, crossed the street, and arrived at Wangyuelou across the street.
Wangyue Tower is a three-story wooden building with upturned eaves and corners. A plaque with gold lettering hangs above the door. As dusk falls, lanterns are lit, illuminating the entire building in a red glow.
The waiter approached with a beaming smile. "Sir, a private room is ready. Please come upstairs."
Qin Mu followed the waiter up to the third floor and entered a large private room facing the street.
The private room was spacious, with a huge round table made of rosewood in the center, large enough to seat more than a dozen people.
Qin Mu sat down in the main seat, leaned back in his chair, and rested his chin on one hand.
Jiang Zhaoyue sat to his right, and Xu Fenghua sat to his left.
Yunluan stood behind him, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across every corner.
Before long, the women entered one after another.
Yun Suxin lowered her head, quickly walked to the corner and sat down, not daring to look at anyone.
Han Xin'er sat down next to Jiang Zhaoyue.
Chen Wanqing was dressed in a light blue dress, her veil removed to reveal a delicate face. She sat down next to Xu Fenghua, stealing a glance at Qin Mu before quickly lowering her head again.
Su Wan was dressed in a plain white dress, her hair was tied in a simple bun, and she had no makeup on her face. She sat timidly next to Chen Wanqing, her fingers slightly clenched in her sleeves.
Mingyue walked at the very back. She had changed her clothes; she was no longer wearing that thin gauze dress, but a dark blue cross-collar robe that covered the gold chains on her wrists and ankles.
Her hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, revealing her exotic face. She stood at the doorway, hesitant to come in, her head bowed, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Qin Mu glanced at her. "Come in, sit down."