novelSusiti Chapter 128 Xu Fenghua vows to resist to the death!
Chapter 128 Xu Fenghua vows to resist to the death!
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and all was quiet.
Jiang Qingxue knelt on the ground, her moon-white skirt spreading out like withered petals, a few strands of hair on her forehead damp with tears, sticking to her pale cheeks.
She looked up at Qin Mu, her clear, cold eyes now filled with broken tears and a desperate plea, like a fawn trapped with nowhere to escape.
Qin Mu looked down at her, his fingertips gently brushing away the tear stains on her face, his movements carrying an almost tender pity.
Yet, deep within those profound eyes lay an unshakeable calm and control.
He slowly straightened up, the wide sleeves of his black dragon-patterned robe hanging down, gleaming with a dark and noble luster in the autumn sunlight streaming through the window.
"I understand my beloved consort's feelings."
His voice was gentle, yet carried a strange penetrating power, "You are always so considerate of me, which makes me... even more want to make it up to you."
Jiang Qingxue's heart clenched suddenly, and an ominous premonition washed over her spine like a cold tide.
Sure enough, Qin Mu changed the subject, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said casually, as if it were just a casual conversation:
"By the way, since you and Consort Hua are to be conferred titles together in three days, it would be proper for you to meet beforehand and get to know each other better. Otherwise, you might feel estranged on your wedding day."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Qingxue's instantly frozen face, and said in a light tone, "Let's go, come with me to Huaqing Palace and meet your new sister."
"Your Majesty..." Jiang Qingxue's throat was dry, and her voice was hoarse.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty's appearance is not presentable today, and I fear I may offend Consort Hua. Perhaps we should postpone it to another day..."
"It's alright." Qin Mu interrupted her, reaching out to pull her up from the ground with a force that brooked no refusal. "Consort Hua is not one to be bothered by trivial matters. Besides, I'm here."
His warm and strong hand firmly grasped Jiang Qingxue's cold, trembling hand, and led her out of the palace.
Jiang Qingxue followed involuntarily, her moon-white skirt brushing against the threshold, her heart filled with icy coldness.
Was she and Xu Fenghua going to meet "for the first time" in this way and under these circumstances?
What will Sister Xu do when she sees her? Shock? Angry? Or... feel the same deep-seated sorrow and helplessness as her?
The autumn sun brought a touch of warmth, but it couldn't dispel the chill that clung to Jiang Qingxue.
The palace path was long, but Qin Mu walked with ease, his dark figure appearing and disappearing in the light and shadow cast by the palace walls.
Jiang Qingxue followed half a step behind him and could clearly smell the faint scent of ambergris on his body, mixed with the slightly withered smell of autumn grass and trees, but it only made her feel suffocated.
The outline of Huaqing Palace gradually became clear.
Compared to the tranquil elegance of Yuxiu Palace, Huaqing Palace is more magnificent and opulent, with its heavy vermilion palace gates and upturned eaves, showcasing the grandeur and scale of a favored concubine's residence.
The palace servants had already been informed and knelt outside the palace gates to welcome the emperor.
Qin Mu led Jiang Qingxue straight in, through the courtyard, and into the main hall.
The hall was brightly lit and beautifully furnished. Xu Fenghua was standing in front of a carved sandalwood screen, seemingly admiring the exquisite embroidery on it.
Today she wore a rather simple lotus-colored palace dress, without many hairpins or ornaments, and her long hair was tied into a dignified Lingyun bun, with only a jade hairpin inserted.
Hearing footsteps, she slowly turned around.
When that familiar yet unfamiliar face came into view, Jiang Qingxue felt her breath catch in her throat.
is her.
It really is Xu Fenghua.
Compared to the image of the spirited young lady of the Xu family who rode a horse across the snowy plains of the North in my memory, the woman before me seemed to have lost some weight.
Her face remained beautiful, but it was covered with a layer of elusive serenity unique to the deep palace.
Those amber eyes, so similar to Xu Longxiang's, were calm and still, like two deep pools, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
The instant their eyes met,
Jiang Qingxue clearly saw a very quick and subtle tremor flash in Xu Fenghua's eyes.
Like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, ripples appear instantly and then quickly subside.
She almost couldn't help but call out "Sister Xu," but she bit her lower lip hard to suppress the urge.
Her fingernails dug deep into her palms, the pain keeping her conscious to a minimum.
Xu Fenghua's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before turning to Qin Mu, gracefully bowing and speaking in a steady and respectful voice: "Your Majesty, this concubine greets you."
"Rise." Qin Mu offered a slight gesture of support, his smile gentle. "Consort Hua, there's no need for such formalities. Look, who have I brought?"
He turned slightly and gently pulled Jiang Qingxue forward half a step, his tone carrying a deliberately crafted intimacy and casualness:
"This is Consort Xue, Jiang Qingxue. Qingxue, this is Consort Hua, Xu Fenghua. You two will be working together in the palace from now on, so you should get along well and look after each other."
Jiang Qingxue forced herself to lower her eyes and, following palace rules, curtsied to Xu Fenghua, trying her best to keep her voice steady.
Yet it still carried a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor:
"Your humble servant, Lady Jiang, greets Consort Hua."
Xu Fenghua nodded slightly in return, her voice clear and cold like the striking of jade:
"Sister Qingxue, there's no need for such formalities."
Her gaze swept over Jiang Qingxue's lowered face, her tone so calm that it revealed nothing unusual, "I have long heard of your outstanding beauty and gentle nature, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."
"Sister, you flatter me," Jiang Qingxue said softly, her fingertips curling even tighter inside her sleeve.
In this context, the polite yet awkward conversation felt like every word was a needle pricking the heart.
Qin Mu seemed quite satisfied with this "first meeting," and walked to the head seat to sit down, gesturing for the two of them to sit as well.
A palace maid served fragrant tea. He picked up the teacup, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, and then slowly spoke:
"I've come here today not only to introduce you sisters, but also to discuss something with Consort Hua."
Xu Fenghua sat upright on the embroidered stool, her back straight. Upon hearing this, she raised her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"The grand wedding ceremony will be held in three days."
Qin Mu spoke casually, as if he were discussing an ordinary family matter.
"I've been thinking about it. Consort Xue entered the palace in such a hurry that she didn't get to perform the grand ceremony, which is a real pity. How about we be conferred the title together and hold the wedding banquet at the same time? It would be a double celebration, wouldn't that be even better?"
"Clang—"
The celadon teacup that Xu Fenghua had been holding steadily suddenly made a crisp clinking sound as the lid hit the rim.
Although she regained her composure immediately, the momentary loss of composure and the shock and resistance that could not be completely concealed in her suddenly raised eyes remained.
But it clearly fell into the eyes of Jiang Qingxue and Qin Mu.
"Your Majesty!" Xu Fenghua's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, though she immediately realized she had lost her composure and forcibly suppressed it.
But the urgency and opposition in his tone were still evident: "This... is absolutely unacceptable!"
She put down her teacup, stood up, faced Qin Mu, gave a deep bow, and spoke earnestly yet firmly:
"Your Majesty, since Consort Xue has already entered the palace and her status is settled, how can there be a reason for a grand wedding ceremony? This is against ancestral rules and would easily invite criticism from the court and the public. Moreover..."
She paused, seemingly choosing her words, but the worry and anxiety in her eyes were almost overflowing:
"My actions have already damaged Your Majesty's reputation. If, because of me, Consort Xue is also dragged into controversy, how can I live with myself? I implore Your Majesty to reconsider and rescind your order!"
Jiang Qingxue sat to the side, listening to Xu Fenghua's urgent objections, a complex mix of warmth and deep sorrow welling up in her heart.
Sister Xu… Sure enough, the first person she thought of was Xu Longxiang.
He wondered what a cruel blow it would be to Xu Longxiang if the two of them were to marry.
The gentle smile on Qin Mu's face gradually faded.
He put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth rosewood armrest of the chair, producing a rhythmic "tap, tap" sound. Each sound seemed to strike the heart, causing the air in the hall to gradually solidify and cool down.
"Ancestral custom? Criticism?"
Qin Mu repeated these two words in a calm tone, yet with an invisible pressure: "What I say is the ancestral rule. No one dares to criticize what I do."
He looked up, his gaze landing squarely on Xu Fenghua's face, his eyes no longer showing the previous languid ease.
Instead, it was replaced by an unquestionable majesty unique to emperors: "I have made my decision. There is no room for discussion."
Xu Fenghua's face paled, but she still straightened her back and met Qin Mu's gaze without flinching.
A stubborn flame ignited deep within those amber eyes.
She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, her voice low but clear, each word distinct:
"If Your Majesty insists on this... I would rather die than do such an absurd thing, to bring shame upon the Xu family, to ruin Your Majesty's reputation, and to cause... to add unnecessary suffering to those who should not be saddened!"
She spoke those last few words very softly, yet they carried immense weight.
The palace was deathly silent; even the palace maids standing in the corner held their breath in fear.
Jiang Qingxue's heart almost jumped out of her chest!