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

Chapter 42 Just how strong is His Majesty?

Meanwhile, at Lanyue Pavilion.

Su Wanqing was sitting in front of her dressing table, being helped by a palace maid to remove her makeup.

A beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror, but there was an undisguised weariness and... unease between her brows.

"Your Highness, you scared me to death today!"

As her personal maid Chun'er combed her long hair, she said with lingering fear, "Those assassins were incredibly fierce. If it weren't for His Majesty's divine might, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Su Wanqing didn't speak, but just quietly looked at herself in the mirror.

She recalled the scene of Qin Mu shattering the giant sword during the day.

Those long, slender, and fair hands, which clearly belonged to a pampered young nobleman, contained such terrifying power.

And then there were those Dragon Shadow Guards who suddenly appeared...

She had been in the palace for three years and considered herself to have some understanding of the inner palace and the court, but she had never heard of the existence of this force.

Just how much more is this emperor hiding?

"Chun'er," Su Wanqing suddenly spoke.

"Your Majesty."

"You said... what kind of person is His Majesty?"

Chun'er was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Your Majesty is naturally the wise and mighty Son of Heaven! You saw it today too; those assassins were utterly no match for Your Majesty!"

"Yes, wise and mighty..." Su Wanqing repeated softly, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

Her father, Su Wenyuan, once told her privately that His Majesty had been on the throne for half a year but had neglected state affairs, which was probably not the sign of a wise ruler.

She had also witnessed firsthand His Majesty indulging in sensual pleasures in the harem.

But what she saw today completely overturned her understanding.

Could an emperor who could easily defeat a Celestial Realm assassin and command such terrifying secret guards be a tyrant?

impossible.

There's only one explanation—His Majesty is faking it.

But why would he pretend?

For what?

Su Wanqing couldn't understand it.

But she knew she had to re-evaluate the emperor and her own position.

"Chun'er, when we go to Qinglan Mountain tomorrow, prepare my moon-white fairy dress." Su Wanqing instructed.

"Your Highness, isn't that dress too plain? Tomorrow is the Sword Sect Grand Ceremony, and all the ladies of the palace will surely be dressed in their finest attire..."

"That one," Su Wanqing interrupted her, her tone firm. "His Majesty... might prefer something more understated."

She thought of Jiang Qingxue.

That woman who always wore plain clothes and had a cool and aloof demeanor.

His Majesty seems to treat her... in a very different way.

A resolute glint flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes.

She wants to win back the emperor's favor.

It's not about using one's looks to curry favor, but about truly winning His Majesty's heart.

......

Qinfangyuan.

Lu Wanning was still reeling from the shock of the day.

She sat on the bed wrapped in a brocade quilt, her face pale.

"Your Majesty... Will Your Majesty be alright..." she murmured to herself, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, His Majesty is blessed with great fortune. Those petty villains cannot harm His Majesty," the palace maid comforted her softly.

"I know..." Lu Wanning bit her lip, "but...but those assassins are so scary..."

She remembered the fallen Imperial Guards, the splattered blood, and that enormous black sword…

If it weren't for His Majesty's intervention, they might all be...

Lu Wanning shivered.

"Your Majesty, please have some calming tea." A palace maid offered a teacup.

Lu Wanning took it and sipped it slowly.

She felt a little better after drinking the warm tea.

"Your Majesty... is truly amazing."

She suddenly said, a gleam of admiration in her eyes, "He held that huge sword between two fingers... My father said that a Celestial Realm expert could split mountains and shatter rocks, yet Your Majesty did it so easily..."

She couldn't continue, her cheeks flushing slightly.

From childhood to adulthood, the heroic tales she had heard, those peerless knights were nothing special.

But those are just stories.

And His Majesty, alive and well, right before her eyes, displayed such divine power.

"His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, naturally he is different from others," the palace maid said with a smile.

Lu Wanning nodded and stuck the amulet to her chest.

She suddenly remembered what her father, Lu Mingyuan, had said to her before she left home:

"Wan Ning, now that you've entered the palace, you belong to the royal family. Be careful with your words and actions, and serve His Majesty well. Our Lu family doesn't seek great wealth and status, only peace and prosperity."

Peace and good fortune...

Lu Wanning closed her eyes.

She only hoped that His Majesty would be safe and sound.

She was at ease as long as His Majesty was safe.

......

Tingtao Pavilion.

Qin Mu did not go to bed.

He stood by the second-floor window, gazing at the night view of the garden.

Moonlight peeked through the gaps in the clouds, spilling across the pond's surface and creating shimmering ripples. In the distance, the bamboo grove swayed in the night breeze, its rustling sound rising and falling like the tide.

"Your Majesty," Yunluan's voice sounded from behind.

She had changed out of her silver armor and was now wearing a black outfit, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, making her look neat and efficient.

"Have you found out?" Qin Mu didn't turn around.

"Yes," Yunluan said softly.

"The Shadow Tower's headquarters are in Suzhou, Jiangnan. The true identity of its leader, Faceless, is Chen Qianji, a remnant of the previous dynasty, with a martial arts cultivation level of the mid-stage of the Celestial Phenomenon realm. They accepted the mission to assassinate His Majesty, and their patron was commissioned anonymously through multiple channels, making it impossible to pinpoint their exact identity for the time being. However, based on the flow of funds and the testimonies of several captured assassins, the person behind it... is very likely connected to the Northern Border."

"Xu Longxiang?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.

"It can't be completely certain, but there's a 70% chance." Yun Luan paused. "Also, there's been some activity from the Li Yang delegation. Zhou Wenzheng secretly sent someone out of the city today, heading east, presumably to deliver a message to Li Yang."

Qin Mu smiled and said, "Let him spread the word. I want them to know that I have come to Qinglan Mountain."

He turned around, walked to the desk, and sat down.

On the table lay a topographical map of Qinglan Mountain, with detailed markings of the various halls, mountain paths, and passes of the Sword Sect.

"What's the situation inside the Sword Sect?" Qin Mu asked.

"Among the seven elders, the First Elder Mo Wentian and the Second Elder Liu Suifeng are fighting the fiercest. The Third Elder Li Wuhen's attitude is ambiguous, but according to the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he has been frequently traveling with the Northern Border recently."

Yunluan pointed to the location of Tianjian Peak on the map, "The grand ceremony will be held at Tianjian Peak tomorrow. Various sects will gather there, making it a chaotic mix. Your Majesty, should we send more guards?"

"No need," Qin Mu shook his head. "The Dragon Shadow Guards can deploy covertly. In the open, the Imperial Guards are sufficient to handle the situation."

He paused, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "Moreover, I also want to see just how many people dare to make a move on Qinglan Mountain."

Yunluan lowered her head: "Your subordinate understands."

Qin Mu walked back to the window and stood with his hands behind his back.

The night wind ruffled the hair at his temples, and his dark robes gleamed with a dim luster in the moonlight.

Tomorrow is the seventh day of July.

Qinglan Sword Sect, Tianjian Peak.

That will be the stage for the clash of various forces.

Xu Longxiang, Zhao Qingxue, and those demons and monsters lurking in the shadows...

"Come on, all of you," Qin Mu muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips. "Let me see just how deep the waters of this Nine Provinces truly are."

......

It is located 30 li outside the city of Linshan County.

In an abandoned mountain god temple, a few lights flickered in the night wind.

A dozen or so people had gathered in the temple, all dressed in black and masked, their auras restrained, clearly all experts.

The leader was a tall man. Although his face was covered, his eyes, which were exposed, were as sharp as an eagle's. He was none other than "Blood Butcher" Tie Tu, one of Xu Longxiang's five chief advisors.

"It failed."

A scout who had just returned knelt on one knee and said in a low voice, "The ambush at Falling Eagle Gorge involved 137 men from Shadow Tower, including the Celestial Realm assassin Tie Xiong. They were all wiped out."

The temple was deathly silent.

The only sound was the crackling of burning firewood.

"Dragon Shadow Guards..." Tie Tu chewed on the name, a cold glint in his eyes. "Never heard of them. Have you found out their origins?"

"No." The scout shook his head. "These people are like ghosts, appearing and disappearing suddenly. The only certainty is that each of them is no weaker than the Shadow Tower's top assassins, and the leader is unfathomable."

A hint of seriousness flashed in Tie Tu's eyes, and he then turned to look at the crowd:

"The Crown Prince will also be attending the Qinglan Mountain Grand Ceremony tomorrow. We will proceed as planned, but... we must be even more cautious. If things go wrong, we must evacuate immediately and absolutely not engage in a direct confrontation."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Tie Tu walked to the temple gate and looked in the direction of Linshan County.

As night deepened, the outline of the city wall appeared faintly in the distance.

"Qin Mu..." he murmured the name, his eyes filled with a mixture of killing intent and fear.

........

East of Linshan County, in Cuiwei Garden, is Tingtao Pavilion.

It was already past 7:45 PM, and the night was getting deeper.

Inside the main hall on the second floor of Tingtao Pavilion, twelve gilded palace lanterns hang high, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.

The lamplight reflected a warm glow onto the gleaming rosewood floor.

The hall was elegantly decorated, with a large rosewood couch by the window, covered with a moon-white brocade cushion. On the couch was a low table, on which were a jade tea set and an unfinished chess game.

Qin Mu leaned against the soft couch, dressed in a black casual suit with the collar slightly open, revealing his well-defined collarbone.

He rested his chin on one hand, casually picked up a white jade chess piece with the other, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, his expression languid.

Three women stood separately in the hall.

Su Wanqing wore a moon-white fairy dress with orchids embroidered in silver thread on the hem, and a thin gauze shawl of the same color over it. Her long hair was tied into a flying fairy bun and only a jade hairpin was inserted.

She stood behind Qin Mu, her slender hands resting on his shoulders, massaging his acupoints with just the right amount of pressure. Her movements were skillful and elegant, clearly indicating that she had deliberately learned the art of massage.

Lu Wanning knelt on the carpet in front of the soft couch.

She held Qin Mu's left foot in her hands and carefully removed the soft boot, revealing his foot clad in white socks.

Her hands were small and soft, her strength so gentle it was almost timid, as if she were holding not a foot, but a fragile piece of porcelain.

"Your Majesty, is this force enough?" Lu Wanning raised her small face and asked timidly.

Qin Mu hummed in agreement, his gaze still fixed on the chessboard: "It doesn't matter if it's a bit heavier."

Lu Wanning blushed slightly and tightened her grip.

Jiang Qingxue stood in the center of the hall.

Today she is wearing a light green, wide-sleeved, flowing fairy dress with an extremely long hem that spreads out on the ground like a lotus leaf.

Her long hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, with the rest cascading over her shoulders. She wore no pearls or jade ornaments, her simple and plain appearance standing out starkly from the opulent hall.

The light from the palace lanterns shone down on her head, casting flickering shadows on her face.

The musicians played the tune of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" behind the screen, melodious and graceful.

Jiang Qingxue took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance.

Her wide sleeves billowed, like flowing clouds unfurling.

She was performing a dance from the water towns of Jiangnan, which should have been graceful and elegant, but her movements were strangely stiff.

Every turn, every glance back, felt like being pulled by invisible threads, mechanical and strained.

Her eyes were vacant, staring ahead, yet seemingly seeing nothing at all. Her thoughts had drifted far away, back to the battle of the day, to the shattered greatsword, to the ghostly Dragon Shadow Guards…

Also, Xu Longxiang.

Could he have really sent an assassin?

If it really is him... does he know how dangerous this is?

Qin Mu's displayed strength far exceeded everyone's expectations. Those Dragon Shadow Guards had never even heard of it.

If Xu Longxiang acts rashly, it would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Jiang Qingxue became increasingly confused as she thought about it, and her dance steps became more and more chaotic.

Several times, she nearly stepped on her own skirt, swaying slightly before managing to steady herself.

Qin Mu didn't seem to care about her dance.

He gently placed the white jade chess piece in his hand, making a crisp "snap" sound.

Then, he suddenly spoke, his voice very soft and casual, as if he were just chatting casually:

"Wanqing, Wanning, what do you say..."

He paused, lifting his gaze from the chessboard to sweep over Su Wanqing behind him and Lu Wanning kneeling at his feet:

"Who sent those assassins who tried to kill me at Eagle's Fall today?"

The moment the words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.