activa-t Chapter 233 One bed, three people, three thoughts!
Chapter 233 One bed, three people, three thoughts!
The lights of Yuxiu Palace shone faintly in the night.
There were several palace lanterns hanging on the pillars in front of the hall, their orange glow swaying gently in the night breeze, enveloping the entire palace in a hazy and warm light.
Qin Mu walked ahead, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
His moon-white robe shimmered with a warm glow under the moonlight, and the hem fluttered gently with his steps, as graceful as a cloud.
He walked with his hands behind his back, his posture relaxed, as if he were simply taking a stroll in the back garden of his own palace.
Xu Fenghua followed behind him, keeping a distance of three steps.
She could see his tall, straight back, his profile edged in silver by the moonlight, and the innate, domineering aura he exuded in every gesture.
This man is terrifying.
It was so terrifying that she had to exhaust all her energy every time she faced him.
It was so terrifying that every time she was in front of him, she had to wrap herself up in layers of clothing, afraid of revealing even the slightest flaw.
It was so terrible that even though she hated him to the core, she had no choice but to follow him.
She walked toward the palace that would soon bear witness to all her humiliation.
The palace gates of Yuxiu Palace stood quietly under the moonlight.
The copper nails on the vermilion door gleamed, shimmering with a cold light under the moonlight.
Qin Mu stopped in front of the door.
He didn't go in immediately, but turned around and looked at Xu Fenghua.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his handsome features with exceptional clarity.
Those deep eyes fell on her, with a smile in them.
"My beloved," he whispered, "are you ready?"
Are you ready?
Xu Fenghua looked at him.
Looking at his smiling, handsome face.
Looking into those unfathomable eyes, which seemed to see through everything.
She suddenly wanted to ask him—
What are you preparing?
Are you ready to be humiliated?
Are you prepared to endure his violence alongside another woman?
Are you prepared to lose your last shred of dignity in front of the person your younger brother likes?
But she didn't ask anything.
He simply lowered his eyes slowly, and in a perfectly respectful tone, said softly:
"Your Majesty... is ready."
The voice was very soft and gentle.
So light it was almost blown away by the night breeze.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He turned around and pushed open the palace gate.
"Squeak—"
The sound of the door opening was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
Inside the door, candlelight shone brightly.
Jiang Qingxue stood in the center of the hall.
She wore a plain white nightgown with a moon-white gauze cover-up, and her long hair was loose, cascading down to her waist like a waterfall.
The candlelight danced on her, enveloping her in a hazy, warm glow.
Her face was expressionless.
Only those cold, clear eyes gazed at the doorway.
Gazing at that moon-white figure.
She gazed at the figure behind him—a figure she knew all too well.
Xu Fenghua.
Jiang Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
Her fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve.
is her.
Why did she come?
At this time?
she was--
Countless thoughts surged wildly in my mind, but I couldn't find a single answer.
Qin Mu walked up to her and stopped.
He reached out and gently lifted her chin.
This forced her to look up at him.
"My beloved concubine," he said softly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
He paused, his gaze passing over Jiang Qingxue and landing on Xu Fenghua.
The smile on his lips deepened even further.
"I am very pleased with the deep bond between you sisters," he said.
Jiang Qingxue's eyelashes trembled violently.
She neither spoke nor moved.
She simply let him hold her chin and let his gaze wander across her face.
But her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the door.
It drifted toward that moon-white figure.
Xu Fenghua stood there, motionless.
The moonlight shone in from behind her, enveloping her in a cool, silvery glow.
There was no expression on that dignified face.
Only those amber eyes shimmered with an extremely complex light under the moonlight.
The instant their eyes met—
Both of them were stunned.
Then, silently, he looked away.
Qin Mu released his hand from Jiang Qingxue's chin, turned around and walked to the large rosewood bed.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, resting his chin on his hand, in a languid posture.
His gaze swept over the two women standing in the hall.
A plain white nightgown, cool and frosty.
A month in the White House attire, dignified as a lotus.
The candlelight danced on them, illuminating their two equally striking faces with exceptional clarity.
He smiled.
"What are you still standing there for?" he said, his voice soft but firm. "Come here."
Jiang Qingxue took a deep breath.
She stepped toward the bed.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at her.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Jiang Qingxue gasped softly and fell into his arms.
She could feel the warmth of his chest, smell the faint scent of ambergris on him, and feel his hand around her waist.
Her face instantly burned hot.
The blush spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears, then to her neck, and burned deep into her collar.
She bit her lip, afraid to make a sound.
Qin Mu looked down at her, his smile deepening.
He raised his head and looked at Xu Fenghua, who was still standing in the same spot.
"Still standing there?" he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Waiting for me to come and fetch you?"
Xu Fenghua's body stiffened slightly.
She took a deep breath and strode over.
Her steps were slower and more steady than Jiang Qingxue's.
Every step seemed to require the utmost effort.
She stopped in front of the bed.
Qin Mu looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her.
From top to bottom, from bottom to top.
Finally, it landed on her moon-white palace dress.
"Take it off," he said.
Just two simple words.
Xu Fenghua's eyelashes trembled violently.
She didn't move.
He just stood there, stubbornly standing there.
His fingers clenched tightly inside his sleeve, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Qin Mu looked at her like this and smiled faintly.
"My beloved consort," his voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority, "I do not like to wait."
Xu Fenghua closed her eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Then, I opened my eyes.
Her hand slowly rose and landed on the jade belt at her waist.
The movements were slow and gentle.
The jade belt was untied and fell to her feet.
Then came the outer robe.
The moon-white palace dress slipped off her shoulders, revealing a snow-white inner garment underneath.
She stood there, wearing only her undergarments, as thin as a leaf about to wither.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her.
The figure was slender and straight, yet it exuded a heartbreaking fragility.
Qin Mu looked at her, his eyes growing even brighter.
He patted the spot beside him.
"Come here," he said.
Xu Fenghua stepped forward and walked to the bedside.
He slowly sat down beside Qin Mu.
We were very close, close enough to feel the warmth emanating from him.
Her body was taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.
Qin Mu looked at her like this, and then at Jiang Qingxue, who was also stiff in his arms.
He smiled.
"Don't be nervous," he said softly, with a hint of amusement, "I don't eat people."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two of them:
"At least tonight—"
A meaningful smile curved at the corners of his lips:
"I won't eat it."
This statement is extremely ambiguous.
Jiang Qingxue's face turned even redder, almost as if it were about to bleed.
Xu Fenghua's expression remained calm.
But something was churning deep within those amber eyes.
Qin Mu didn't say anything more.
His movements were light and slow, as if he were stroking two cats that had finally learned to be quiet.
Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered.
Moonlight streamed in through the carved window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
The light and shadow swayed gently in the night breeze, moving across the floor like living things.
Qin Mu leaned against the headboard, his moon-white nightgown loosely draped over his body, the neckline wide open, revealing his well-defined collarbone and a small patch of his muscular chest.
His long hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.
Jiang Qingxue curled up in his arms.
Her face was buried in Qin Mu's chest, with only half of her face showing.
That usually cool and aloof face was now flushed red, as if painted with rouge, the color spreading from the cheekbones all the way to the base of the ears, then to the neck, and burning deep into the collar.
Her body trembled slightly, whether from nervousness or something else, it was hard to tell.
Qin Mu's hand was around her waist, and through the thin nightgown, he could feel her slender waist trembling slightly.
His fingers unconsciously caressed her waist gently, the movement was very light and slow, as if he were stroking a precious piece of porcelain.
Each time she was touched, Jiang Qingxue's body would tremble slightly.
She could feel the warmth of his palm, the calluses on his fingertips, and the strange sensation that made her feel weak all over from those touches.
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.
Bang bang bang.
one more time.
It was so fast that she could barely breathe.
She bit her lip, desperately suppressing her emotions.
We must not let Xu Fenghua find out.
Absolutely not.
Jiang Qingxue repeatedly reminded herself in her heart.
She knows Xu Fenghua too well.
That woman was intelligent, perceptive, and insightful.
During her six years in Jiangnan, she was able to navigate the complex business battles with ease and gain a foothold in the treacherous family relationships, all thanks to this almost instinctive insight.
She could spot even the slightest flaw.
Any slight abnormality could arouse her suspicion.
Therefore, Jiang Qingxue had to endure it.
She cannot reveal even the slightest flaw.
Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain.
She was planning to find an opportunity to tell Qin Mu everything.
Before that, we must not let Xu Fenghua become suspicious and ruin her plan.
Jiang Qingxue suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and buried her face even deeper.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around Qin Mu's clothes.
Qin Mu seemed to sense her nervousness.
His hand rose from her waist and gently landed on her back.
Through the thin nightgown, his warm and broad hands gently stroked her back, again and again.
The movements were slow and gentle, carrying a soothing quality.
But this attempt to appease her only added fuel to the fire for Jiang Qingxue at that moment.
Each touch felt like an electric current running down her spine, making her feel weak all over and almost moan out loud.
Her body trembled even more violently.
Qin Mu lowered his head and whispered in her ear.
A warm breath brushed against her earlobe, carrying a faint smile.
"My beloved concubine," his voice was very soft, so soft that only the two of them could hear, "why are you trembling so badly?"
Jiang Qingxue's face turned even redder.
She buried her face even deeper, almost burying herself entirely in his arms.
I dared not look at him, dared not respond, and even dared not breathe.
She could only let his hands gently stroke her back, let those sensations wash over her in waves, and let herself tremble in his arms.
Xu Fenghua sat on the other side of the bed.
Her body was taut, like a lifeless statue.
She didn't move at all from beginning to end.
He simply sat quietly, his back straight, his hands neatly placed on his knees.
Moonlight streamed in through the carved window, illuminating her.
She was wearing a moon-white nightgown, the neckline tightly tied, her long hair loose and hanging down to her waist.
That dignified yet weary face was devoid of any expression.
Only deep within those amber eyes, something was churning.
Her gaze fell on Qin Mu's arm that was around Jiang Qingxue.
It landed on his hand as he gently stroked Jiang Qingxue's back.
The redness fell on Jiang Qingxue's face, which was buried in Qin Mu's arms and was almost dripping with blood.
The candlelight flickered, casting dappled light and shadow in her eyes.
She could see Jiang Qingxue trembling.
You could see her fingers gripping Qin Mu's clothes tightly.
You could see her chest rising and falling slightly, and her breathing was extremely suppressed.
Those images, like countless fine needles, pierced her heart.
No pain.
But it made her feel cold all over.
What is she thinking?
What is Jiang Qingxue thinking?
Shouldn't she hate him? Shouldn't she despise him? Shouldn't she be disgusted by all of this?
But why—
Why is she trembling?
Why is she blushing?
Why did she bury her face in his chest, like a docile cat?
Xu Fenghua's fingers slowly tightened inside her sleeve.
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.
But that pain was nothing compared to the turbulent waves churning within her heart.
A terrible thought popped into her mind.