I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 211 This was all a scheme by Qin Mu!

Morning light filtered through the worn-out window screens, casting dappled shadows in the room.

Zhao Qingxue stood by the window, her back to the large canopy bed, her gaze fixed on the gradually brightening sky outside.

Her back was still straight, but her legs were so numb that she could hardly feel them, and her shoulders ached as if they were weighed down by a thousand pounds.

I stood there all night.

All night long.

From the moment Qin Mu embraced the fisherwoman as she fell asleep last night until the first light of dawn, she stood there, motionless.

There was a rustling sound behind me.

Zhao Qingxue's ears perked up involuntarily.

That was the sound of fabric rubbing together, the slight creaking of the bed frame, and the girl's low, shy murmur.

She didn't want to hear it.

But she couldn't control her ears.

"Your Majesty...this humble woman will help you dress..."

Xiao Yu's voice was soft, with a hoarseness from just waking up and an indescribable nervousness.

Zhao Qingxue's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She didn't turn around.

But his peripheral vision drifted uncontrollably in that direction.

Through the corner of her eye, she saw—

Qin Mu sat on the edge of the bed, 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.

The morning light shone on his face, outlining a lazy and contented smile on his handsome features.

Xiao Yu stood in front of him, wearing only a thin undergarment; she hadn't yet put on her light blue cloth skirt.

Her face was as red as if it had been rouged, burning from her cheeks all the way to her ears, and even her neck was tinged with a faint pink.

She lowered her head, holding a moon-white robe in both hands, and carefully put it on Qin Mu.

Her hands were shaking.

It was shaking violently.

Every time she touched Qin Mu's shoulder, every time she slipped her sleeve onto his arm, her fingers would tremble violently and then quickly pull back, as if she had been burned.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, and a small knot formed between them.

Her gait was somewhat strange when she walked.

It was slow, small, and carried a cautious, tentative quality.

With each step she took, her brows furrowed more deeply, and her lips pursed slightly, as if she were enduring something.

Zhao Qingxue's gaze lingered on her for a moment.

Then, she looked away.

Yet, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within me.

That girl...

What happened last night?

The question had barely crossed Zhao Qingxue's mind when she immediately dismissed it.

It's none of her business.

It's none of her business.

But that image is etched into my mind, impossible to erase—

Xiao Yu's flushed face, her slightly furrowed brows, and her cautious steps.

And there was the lazy, satisfied smile on Qin Mu's face.

Zhao Qingxue's heart skipped a beat.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

We must not act rashly.

We absolutely cannot act recklessly.

She knew all too well what Qin Mu wanted to do.

It all started last night, from the moment that landlady humiliated her, from the moment she deliberately cuddled Xiaoyu and fell asleep in front of her—

He was provoking her.

In the most direct and naked way.

Make her uncomfortable, make her emotionally unstable, and shake her resolve.

Let her reveal a weakness.

All of this was a carefully orchestrated scheme by him.

If she gets flustered, it will play right into his hands.

As Zhao Qingxue thought this, the expression on her face gradually returned to its usual calm.

She subtly shifted her gaze and looked out the window again.

Pretend you didn't see anything.

Pretend you didn't hear anything.

She pretended that the images that made her heart race had never entered her mind.

But just then—

"Your Majesty the Empress."

A lazy voice came from behind, carrying a faint hint of laughter.

Zhao Qingxue's body stiffened slightly.

She slowly turned around.

Qin Mu was already dressed.

The moon-white robe fit him perfectly, and the jade belt around his waist was loosely tied, making him look even more lazy and casual.

Her long hair was loosely tied up with a single jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling across her forehead, gleaming faintly in the morning light.

He leaned against the bedpost, one hand supporting his chin, his posture as relaxed as if he were in his own palace.

Those deep eyes were fixed on her.

With a smile.

Meaningful.

Xiao Yu stood beside him, her head still down, her face flushed, her hands nervously clasped together.

Qin Mu's gaze lingered on Zhao Qingxue's face for a moment before he spoke.

The voice was very soft and casual, as if it were an instruction for something utterly mundane:

"come over."

He paused.

"Dress me."

Zhao Qingxue was stunned for a moment.

She looked at Qin Mu, at his smiling, matter-of-fact face.

dressing?

He was already dressed.

The moon-white robe was neatly draped over his body, and the jade belt was loosely tied. He didn't need anyone to serve him.

He did it on purpose.

Deliberately picking a fight.

He deliberately humiliated her.

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Qingxue's eyes.

She gave a soft snort and ignored it.

I turned my head and looked out the window again.

The refusal was very decisive.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then, Qin Mu smiled, his eyes filled with an indescribable playfulness.

"Your Majesty the Empress,"

His voice came from behind, still gentle, yet it sent a chill down Zhao Qingxue's spine, "You're putting me in a very difficult position."

Zhao Qingxue did not turn around.

Qin Mu continued, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness and regret:

"I was originally thinking of having the landlady whip you and throw you out of the carriage, just to make you walk a short distance."

"But you just won't listen."

He paused, the smile in his voice deepening:

"Then I'll have to find another way."

Zhao Qingxue's body tensed slightly.

She felt Qin Mu's gaze, as if it were a physical object, falling on her back.

Then she heard him say—

"Later, have the landlady put an iron chain around your neck."

"The other end of the chain was tied to the carriage."

"You, on the other hand, will go with the carriage."

"If you can't walk anymore, drag it for a bit."

He paused, his tone so sincere it was as if he were discussing something perfectly normal:

"Although your cultivation is sealed and you're just an ordinary woman, you shouldn't die from dragging yourself on the ground for a few steps."

Zhao Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted.

Her fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve.

My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.

But that pain was nothing compared to the raging storm surging in her heart.

Iron chain.

Put it around your neck.

Tied to the carriage.

It was dragged along the ground.

She, Zhao Qingxue, Empress of Liyang, has commanded a million soldiers and dominated the Eastern Continent for five years since her ascension to the throne, causing countless heroes to bow down in submission.

Are you going to be treated like a dog and dragged around?

The image instantly flashed into her mind—

She knelt on the ground, a cold iron chain around her neck, the other end of which was tied to the back of the carriage.

The carriage started moving, and she was dragged to the ground, her body scraping against the rough road surface. Her clothes were torn, and her skin was chafed and bleeding. Dust and blood mingled together, covering her face, her hair, and her entire body.

And the people passing by will see her.

They'll point and criticize.

They might say: "Look, that woman, she's so pitiful!"

They might say: Who is she? How did she end up in such a miserable state?

They might say: I don't know, but they're definitely not a good person.

Her dignity and majesty as Empress Liyang will be crushed into mud.

Zhao Qingxue's face turned deathly pale in that instant.

Her lips trembled slightly; she wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

He could only stare intently at Qin Mu.

Staring at his smiling, handsome face.

For the first time, genuine and undisguised fear surfaced in those deep purple phoenix eyes.

Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone remaining gentle:

"What? Does Her Majesty the Empress find this suggestion objectionable?"

He paused, tilted his head, thought for a moment, and added:

"How about this, I'll have the landlady tie you to the back of the carriage with a rope, instead of the chains. The rope will be softer, so it shouldn't hurt as much."

"However, the rope is easy to break, and if it breaks, you'll have to run after the carriage yourself."

"It's quite tiring."

He shook his head, looking very considerate.

"Chain is better. It's sturdy, durable, and I don't have to worry about you getting lost."

Hearing his words, Zhao Qingxue felt as if she had been doused with ice water from head to toe.

She looked at him, at his gentle face that still smiled as he spoke those words.

There was only one thought in my mind—

He was serious.

He really will do that.

This man never cared about her identity, never cared about her feelings, never cared who she was.

In his eyes, she was nothing more than prey that needed to be tamed.

The methods of taming can be gentle or cruel.

It all depends on whether she cooperates or not.

Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again.

In those deep purple phoenix eyes, fear receded like a tide.

Instead, there was a cold, almost resigned calm.

She took a step.

Step by step, he walked towards Qin Mu.

The pace was slow and steady.

Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge.

Every step required the utmost effort.

But she didn't stop.

Because she knew that if she stopped, chains would be waiting for her.

It was a humiliation she absolutely did not want to endure, one that was even more cruel than what she was experiencing now.

She walked up to Qin Mu and stopped.

The distance was no more than an arm's length.

She looked up at him.

Qin Mu remained leaning against the bedpost, his posture languid.

He looked at her, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction and excitement.

It was as if they were admiring a prey that had finally been tamed.

Zhao Qingxue lowered her eyes.

She reached out and began to straighten his robes, which he had already put on.

The movements were very light and slow.

His fingers trembled slightly, but he tried his best to keep them steady.

She smoothed out his collar, tightened the jade belt around his waist, and smoothed out the wrinkles on his cuffs.

Every movement felt like performing a ritual.

A humiliating, forced ceremony.

Qin Mu just stood there, letting her serve him.

He looked down at her, at her lowered eyelids, at her slightly trembling eyelashes, at her lips that were pressed tightly together.

Her face was still pale, but her deep purple eyes held a great deal of information.

There was resentment, anger, and humiliation.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Qin Mu's eyes.

He raised his hand and gently lifted her chin.

This forced her to look up at him.

Zhao Qingxue's body stiffened slightly, but she did not struggle.

She looked up and met his gaze.

Those deep purple phoenix eyes were right in front of him.

Very close, very close.

He was so close that he could see the complex emotions hidden deep within those eyes.

Qin Mu looked at her, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

"That's right," he said, his voice soft but with an undeniable certainty.

His fingers gently stroked her chin.

The touch was warm and smooth as cream.

Then, he let go.

"Continue," he said.

Zhao Qingxue lowered her eyes and continued to straighten his robes.

Her hand lingered on his neck for a moment.

Qin Mu's neck was right beneath her fingertips.

Fair-skinned, slender, with a slightly protruding Adam's apple.

Beneath the skin are pulsating arteries.

As long as she applies pressure with her fingers—

As long as she uses that poisoned hairpin she hid in her sleeve—

As long as she stabs it—

She could kill him.

This thought flashed through Zhao Qingxue's mind.

Her gaze turned sharp as a knife in that instant.

But that sharpness was fleeting.

Then, she lowered her eyes and continued to straighten his collar.

The movements remained gentle and steady.

It was as if nothing had happened.

She did not make a move.

It's not that I don't want to.

Rather, they knew it was useless.

So what if it gets stabbed?

This man is unfathomable.

The phantom image conjured by the Emperor Taizu's decree was crushed by him with a casual wave of his hand.

He easily deflected Li Chunfeng's all-out sword strike.

How could her mere hairpin possibly harm him?

not to mention--

Her cultivation was sealed, and at this moment she was just an ordinary woman.

Even if you manage to stab him, you might not be able to pierce his skin.

It will only plunge her into a deeper predicament.

Zhao Qingxue lowered her eyes and continued to straighten his robes.

She has to wait.

Waiting for an opportunity.

When the man lowered his guard.

When she can hit the bullseye with one strike.

By then—

She would personally pierce his heart with this hairpin.

Qin Mu looked at her lowered eyes and smiled.

They didn't say anything.

He simply reached out and gently patted her cheek.

The movement was very light and casual.

It's like filming a cat that has finally learned to obey.

"Alright," he said, "go wash up. We still have a long way to go."

Zhao Qingxue took a step back and stood with her head bowed.

"Yes."

Her voice was soft and calm.

He was so calm, as if the murderous intent he had felt just moments before had never existed.

Qin Mu turned around and walked towards the door.

He took two steps, then stopped.

He glanced back at her.

"By the way," he said, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about everyday things, "next time, whatever I tell you to do, you do."

"Don't make me say it a second time."

He paused, a meaningful smile curving his lips:

"My patience is limited."

After saying that, he turned around, pushed open the door, and went out.

The moon-white robe traced an elegant arc in the morning light and disappeared through the doorway.

Only Zhao Qingxue and Xiao Yu remained in the room.

Xiao Yu stood in the corner, not daring to breathe.

Looking at Zhao Qingxue, at the cold and complex expression on that peerless face, she felt an indescribable sense of awe.

This woman is Empress Li Yang.

It is an existence that even His Majesty has to deal with carefully.

And just now, she actually helped His Majesty get dressed...

Xiao Yu lowered her head, not daring to look anymore.

Zhao Qingxue stood still, motionless.

She stared at the closed door, at the disappearing figure.

His eyes gleamed with an extremely complex light.

Deep within his eyes, a flame seemed to be hidden.

The flames are burning.

Waiting.

Waiting for the day it breaks through the soil.

She raised her hand and gently touched her cheek.

The warmth of Qin Mu's palm still lingers there.

It was warm to the touch, with a thin, calloused texture.

Like a brand.

Zhao Qingxue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with a cold, clear light.

She turned around and walked to the washstand.

The water in the copper basin had cooled, reflecting her pale face.

She scooped up some water and gently patted it on her face.

Water droplets slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her clothes and spreading out a small, dark stain.

She just stood there, washing her face, one stroke at a time.

The movements were slow and steady.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Outside the window, the morning light is gradually increasing.

A new day has begun.