novelSusiti Chapter 167 Summon Consort Wan, Consort Shu, Consort Rong, Consort De, and others. Tonight, I will b
Chapter 167 Summon Consort Wan, Consort Shu, Consort Rong, Consort De, and others. Tonight, I will b
"Alright, keep the wound dry for the next few days and let it rest. If you experience any discomfort, send someone to inform me immediately."
Jiang Qingxue slowly opened her eyes. Her clear, cold eyes were now covered with a thin layer of mist, whether from pain or something else, it was hard to tell.
She looked at Qin Mu's face, so close to hers, and at the genuine concern in his eyes. Her throat tightened, but in the end, she simply nodded very lightly.
"Hmm... Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Go to sleep." Qin Mu tucked her in, gave her a deep look, and then sat up.
He dismissed the palace maids who were standing by, leaving only a solitary lamp in the corner, making the light dim and soft.
Then, he turned around, the hem of his dark nightgown brushing against the smooth gold brick floor, and silently walked out of the bedchamber.
The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind him, cutting off the light and atmosphere inside.
Outside the doorway, under the eaves, the moonlight was as cold and frosty as ice.
The tenderness and concern on Qin Mu's face receded like the tide, and he returned to his lazy and unfathomable appearance.
He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the bamboo shadows swaying in the night breeze in the courtyard, his eyes calm and undisturbed.
A silver figure, like a melting moon shadow, silently emerged from the shadows of the pillars; it was Yunluan.
"Your Majesty," she knelt on one knee, her voice low but crystal clear.
After leaving Yuxiu Palace, Wang Jimin did not return directly to the Imperial Hospital. He took a detour and went towards... Huaqing Palace, where he stayed for a while before leaving.
Qin Mu smiled.
"Let him go. Wang Jimin... is probably one of the few pawns that Xu Fenghua can still use in this deep palace. Let's keep him for now, there's no rush."
Yunluan slightly raised her eyes, her gaze thoughtfully drifting towards the sleeping quarters of Yuxiu Palace behind her.
A flicker of realization crossed her eyes, and she whispered:
"His Majesty specifically requested Wang Jimin to treat Consort Xue tonight... Is it to use him, or his actions, to let Consort Xue know that this person is connected to Consort Hua? And then, to observe whether Consort Xue will... pass a message to Consort Hua through Wang Jimin?"
She paused, her voice even softer, yet each word clear: "In order to determine what Consort Xue's true feelings are towards Your Majesty... Is she still loyal to the Northern Border and secretly making contact, or...?"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Qin Mu turned to the side, a hint of approval and a touch of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Yun Luan,"
He said slowly, "You're getting smarter and smarter."
In the hazy moonlight and the glow of the palace lanterns under the eaves, Yunluan's cheeks flushed with an almost imperceptible blush.
"I was merely... making unfounded speculations."
"That's a good guess."
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and looked back at the deep night in the courtyard, casually changing the subject.
"Let's go, it's cool here. Go and convey my imperial decree to summon Consort Wan, Consort Shu, Consort De, Consort Rong, and others to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Yunluan was startled and subconsciously looked up: "Your Majesty, it's so late..."
Qin Mu interrupted her, saying calmly:
"I've been too busy lately and haven't had the chance to visit them in a long time. I miss them."
Yunluan lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Your subordinate will go and convey the decree immediately."
Just as she was about to turn around, Qin Mu suddenly spoke again, his voice not loud, but like a pebble thrown into a calm lake:
"Don't leave tonight either."
Yunluan froze, her feet rooted to the spot.
The night breeze seemed to stand still at that moment.
The palace lanterns under the corridor flickered, casting shimmering light on the dragon patterns on her silver soft armor.
She had her back to Qin Mu, with a few stray hairs hanging down her high ponytail and clinging to her fair neck.
The blush on her cheeks deepened suddenly, like rouge spreading, quickly reaching her ears.
The heat was so unfamiliar and overwhelming that it almost made her lose her composure.
Her fingers, which were usually as steady as a rock as she held a sword, began to tremble slightly at her side.
She could feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest, so loudly that she suspected even His Majesty could hear it.
Yunluan's eyelashes trembled violently a few times. In a very short time, she forced herself to suppress her turbulent emotions back to the deepest part of her heart.
Then, she slowly, very slowly, turned around.
He knelt down and bowed deeply.
The sound, usually clear and cold like ice and jade clashing, now sounded like ice soaked in water, becoming low, hoarse, and soft, almost indistinct.
"Yes... Your subordinate... obeys the decree."
The last two words were as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet they seemed to have taken all her strength.
Moonlight streamed down her drooping neck and reddened earlobes, casting a rare, soft glow on her hard, silver nail polish.
She remained kneeling, not daring to rise or raise her head, as if awaiting final judgment or willingly submitting.
Qin Mu quietly looked at her, who was so different from her usual self, and chuckled softly.
He didn't immediately tell her to get up, nor did he say anything more.
With a single step, the dark-clad figure swept past the kneeling Yun Luan and walked unhurriedly toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Yunluan lay prostrate on the ground for a few more moments until the footsteps almost disappeared before slowly straightening up.
The blush on her face hadn't faded, and the tears in her eyes hadn't subsided, giving her a look that was both hazy and expectant.
She glanced at the tightly closed doors of Yuxiu Palace, then looked in the direction of Yangxin Hall.
A moment later, she moved swiftly, disappearing into the night like a wisp of silver smoke, to deliver the imperial edict that would keep the harem restless tonight.