activa-t Chapter 149 The Empress of Liyang's Test: May Great Qin and Liyang Forever Become Friendships
Chapter 149 The Empress of Liyang's Test: May Great Qin and Liyang Forever Become Friendships
Zhao Qingxue.
Today she wore a black robe with twelve ceremonial patterns similar to Qin Mu's, only the patterns were slightly different.
Qin Mu's was a five-clawed golden dragon, while hers was a nine-phoenix facing the sky. They both wore bright yellow dragon-patterned cloaks with black sable fur trim.
Wearing a twelve-tasseled flat crown, the pearl and jade tassels covered most of her face, revealing only her beautifully shaped chin and her deep purple phoenix eyes.
She walked into the hall step by step, her steps steady and her back straight.
The hem of the dark robe brushed against the Persian carpet without making a sound.
The hall fell silent instantly.
All eyes were on her.
Xu Fenghua slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Zhao Qingxue through the gap in the beaded curtain.
This was the first time she had met this legendary empress.
Even through the jeweled tassels, even without seeing the whole picture, she could still feel the unquestionable majesty that belonged to an emperor.
Especially those deep purple phoenix eyes—clear, profound, like a deep, cold pool, calm yet seemingly able to see through everything.
Jiang Qingxue panicked even more. Almost instinctively, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Zhao Qingxue's gaze.
Qin Mu slowly stood up, a smile playing on his lips:
"The Empress has arrived."
Zhao Qingxue walked into the hall and nodded slightly:
"His Majesty."
Her voice was clear and cold, like jade striking each other, and it came out through the pearl and jade tassels, carrying a unique metallic quality.
The two stood facing each other.
One was the young emperor of the Qin Dynasty, whose languid and casual demeanor exuded an air of complete control.
One is the Empress of Liyang, whose cold and dignified demeanor conceals unfathomable scheming.
Their gazes met silently in the air.
It was as if two invisible swords were colliding in the void, sparking unseen flames.
"Please take a seat," Qin Mu gestured with his hand.
Zhao Qingxue sat down in the guest seat, her posture dignified.
The palace maid immediately served fragrant tea.
"Did the Empress rest well last night?" Qin Mu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he were chatting casually.
"It's alright," Zhao Qingxue said calmly, "but the capital city at night seems... not so peaceful."
She paused, then added:
"Last night at midnight, I heard some strange noises in the palace from the post station. It sounded like someone... flying across the rooftops."
These words were spoken calmly, yet each one was like a needle.
Xu Fenghua's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the teacup.
Jiang Qingxue suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with terror.
She recalled the speculation that Xu Longxiang might have sneaked into the palace last night.
Qin Mu smiled.
"The Empress is overthinking it."
His voice remained languid. "It's just the palace guards on their routine patrol. In the capital, it's inevitable that there will be some noise at night."
He spoke of it casually, as if it were just a routine patrol.
But a knowing glint flashed in the depths of Zhao Qingxue's deep purple phoenix eyes.
She didn't press further, but simply nodded slightly.
"I see."
Then, her gaze turned to Xu Fenghua and Jiang Qingxue.
Zhao Qingxue's gaze slowly swept over the two of them.
Her gaze first fell on Xu Fenghua.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes, peering through the pearl-adorned tassels, seemed to land on Xu Fenghua's face, scrutinizing her closely, as if trying to see through the exquisite makeup to the depths of her soul.
Xu Fenghua forced herself to remain calm, slowly stood up, and bowed according to palace etiquette:
"Your Majesty, I, Xu, greet you."
Her voice was steady, her posture dignified, and there was not a single flaw in her demeanor.
Zhao Qingxue looked at her quietly for a long time before slowly speaking:
"Consort Hua, there's no need for such formalities."
Her voice was cold and emotionless.
"When I was in Liyang, I had heard of the reputation of the eldest daughter of the Xu family. Seeing her today, I can confirm that she truly lives up to her reputation."
That's a very meaningful statement.
A slight alarm bell rang in Xu Fenghua's heart, but her face remained calm:
"Your Majesty flatters me. I am but a woman, how dare I accept such praise?"
Zhao Qingxue smiled but did not reply.
Her gaze shifted to Jiang Qingxue.
Jiang Qingxue was already terrified, and when Zhao Qingxue glanced at her, she almost collapsed to the ground.
She stood up shakily, her voice barely audible:
"Your Majesty, I, Jiang, greet you..."
Zhao Qingxue looked at her quietly, a complex light flashing in her deep purple phoenix eyes.
There was exploration, evaluation, and a hint of barely perceptible pity.
"Your Highness, Consort Xue, seems very nervous." She spoke slowly, her voice carrying a strange gentleness. "There's no need to be afraid. I am merely a guest here to observe the ceremony."
Jiang Qingxue forced herself to calm down and whispered:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has been disrespectful..."
"It's alright." Zhao Qingxue waved her hand. "Sit down."
Jiang Qingxue felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly sat back down, feeling completely exhausted, her back soaked with cold sweat.
The palace maid served hot tea again.
A brief silence fell over the hall.
Only the aroma of tea rises gently, slowly permeating the air.
Qin Mu picked up the teacup, gently skimming off the foam with the lid. His gaze swept over Zhao Qingxue's face, a playful smile curving his lips.
"Besides enjoying tea, does the Empress have any other important business to discuss?"
Zhao Qingxue put down her teacup, her deep purple phoenix eyes meeting Qin Mu's gaze through her pearl-adorned tassels:
"Your Majesty, do you think I have any important matters to attend to?"
Their eyes met again in mid-air.
This time, the undercurrents are even more turbulent.
Qin Mu laughed: "How would I know? The Empress's thoughts are as deep as the Eastern Sea; I cannot fathom them."
"Your Majesty is too modest," Zhao Qingxue said calmly. "If we're talking about profound wisdom, who in this world can compare to Your Majesty?"
She paused, then added:
"To forcibly take a subject's wife as a concubine and then hold a grand wedding ceremony. Such an unprecedented feat is not something an ordinary person could think of or dare to do."
These words were spoken calmly, yet each one was like a knife.
Xu Fenghua's fingers tightened suddenly as she gripped the teacup, her nails digging deep into her palm until blood seeped out.
Qin Mu's smile grew even brighter.
"Is the Empress praising me?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'll take it as a compliment."
Zhao Qingxue looked at him quietly for a long time before slowly speaking:
"If Your Majesty considers it a compliment, then it is a compliment."
She paused, then changed the subject:
"However, I am very curious, Your Majesty, did you really take Consort Hua as your concubine simply for... her beauty?"
This question was extremely direct and pointed.
The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly froze.
Xu Fenghua's heart sank.
She knew that the real confrontation was only just beginning.
Qin Mu put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and through the gap in the tassels, his gaze pierced Zhao Qingxue as if it were solid:
"What does the Empress think?"
He didn't answer, but instead asked a question.
The question was thrown back at them.
Zhao Qingxue did not shy away, her deep purple phoenix eyes meeting Qin Mu's gaze:
"I think... no."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"The eldest daughter of the Xu family, the elder sister of Xu Longxiang of the Northern Frontier, and the young mistress of the Zhao family in Jiangnan... With such a status and background, His Majesty's decision to take her as a concubine is probably not just for her beauty, is it?"
Every word was like a hammer, striking Xu Fenghua's heart hard.
She could feel Qin Mu's gaze sweeping over her, with a playful scrutiny.
He could also feel Zhao Qingxue's gaze fixed on him, filled with inquiry and assessment.
She forced herself to remain calm, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip.
The tea was scalding hot, burning my throat, but it couldn't suppress the icy chill in my heart.
Qin Mu smiled slightly.
"The Empress is indeed insightful," he said slowly. "However, some things are better left unsaid; that's what a wise person should do."
Zhao Qingxue smiled too.
The smile was faint, almost invisible under the veil of pearls and jade pendants.
But a sharp, knife-like light flashed in those deep purple phoenix eyes.
"Your Majesty is right," she said slowly. "I misspoke."
She picked up her teacup and gestured to Qin Mu:
"I offer this cup of tea in place of wine to Your Majesty. May the Qin and Li states... forever forge a bond of friendship."
Qin Mu picked up his teacup and drank with Zhao Qingxue across the distance.
The two smiled at each other.
On the surface, all is harmonious; beneath, turbulent currents run deep.
After several rounds of tea, Zhao Qingxue's gaze turned to Xu Fenghua once again.