pappabearbooks Chapter 483 Preparing to Set Off, Participating in the Martial Arts Tournament Hosted by Xu Longxian
Chapter 483 Preparing to Set Off, Participating in the Martial Arts Tournament Hosted by Xu Longxian
I see,
Han Xin'er draped the clothes over her arm, then squatted down and reached out to untie the ropes binding her.
Liu Ruolan was startled and quickly stepped forward, lowering her voice and speaking urgently.
"Xin'er! What are you doing?"
Han Xin'er didn't look up; her voice was soft and steady.
"Mother, believe me."
Liu Ruolan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but looking into her daughter's calm, still eyes, she swallowed her words back.
Han Xin'er untied the rope, loop by loop.
Yun Suxin was tied up for a whole night, and deep red marks appeared on her wrists and ankles. In some places, the skin was even chafed and fine beads of blood seeped out.
Han Xin'er frowned slightly as she looked at the wounds, but said nothing. She simply draped the clean, moon-white outer garment over Yun Suxin's shoulders and gently adjusted it.
Then she stood up, took a step back, and looked at Yun Suxin.
Yun Suxin knelt on the ground, wearing that moon-white outer robe, her hair was retied, and the stains on her face were wiped away, revealing her pale but exquisitely beautiful face.
She looked up at Han Xin'er, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Han Xin'er looked at her, her gaze calm as still water, a faint smile on her lips.
"Moon Goddess, you look much better like this."
Yun Suxin's lips trembled slightly, her lips parted slightly, and her voice was hoarse.
"Aren't you... afraid I'll run away?"
Han Xin'er looked at her, a slight smile playing on her lips. "You won't run away."
Yun Suxin's brows furrowed suddenly.
How did you know?
Han Xin'er squatted down to be at eye level with her.
"Because you have nowhere else to run. You know that in your heart, better than anyone else."
Yun Suxin's heart trembled suddenly.
She wanted to retort, to say, "What do you know, you little brat?", but she couldn't open her mouth.
Because Han Xin'er is right, she knows better than anyone else.
She can't escape.
From the moment Qin Mu set his sights on her, she knew she couldn't escape.
Her eyes reddened again, tears welling up, but she held them back tightly.
She couldn't cry in front of such a young girl, couldn't show weakness in front of her, and couldn't let her see her disheveled, humble, and pitiful state.
Han Xin'er turned around, walked back to Liu Ruolan's side, and took a cup of warm tea from her mother's hand.
She carried the tea, walked back to Yun Suxin, squatted down, and handed the teacup to her.
"Have some tea. You haven't had any water all night."
Yun Suxin looked at the cup of tea, and at her own reflection in the tea.
A pale and haggard face, yet clean and tidy.
Her hands were trembling slightly as she slowly raised them to take the teacup.
She lowered her head and took a small sip.
The tea soup is mellow and has a faint jasmine fragrance. It glides down your throat with a warm feeling.
She finally couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they silently welled up from her eyes, dripping into the teacup and creating a delicate ripple.
Han Xin'er looked at her without saying a word, but simply knelt quietly in front of her, waiting for her.
Yun Suxin finished her tea, put down the teacup, looked up, and stared at Han Xin'er.
Tears still lingered in her eyes, but the hostility within them had largely dissipated.
Instead, a complex and inexplicable emotion arose.
"Why...why are you doing this to me?"
Han Xin'er looked at her, and the smile on her lips deepened.
"Because I want you to know that here, you don't only have to suffer. You can also live like a human being, if you want to."
Yun Suxin's lips trembled violently, and tears welled up again.
She lowered her head, looking at her hands with red marks from the straps, at the clean, moon-white outer garment she was wearing, and at her hair that had been neatly combed again.
Inside the side hall, candlelight burned quietly in the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
"What's your name?" Yun Suxin's voice was still hoarse, but much clearer than before.
Han Xin'er's lips curled up slightly, a faint smile that carried a sincere and heartfelt tenderness.
"Han Xin'er".
Yun Suxin silently repeated the name.
She knew that the girl was only being so kind to her to complete Qin Mu's mission.
But no matter what, she was very grateful.
Of all the hardships she has endured during this time, this girl is the first person who is willing to treat her this way.
Even if it's fake, that's enough.
In fact, she understood everything Han Xin'er said.
Escape was no longer a possibility for her.
Since that's the case, why not just submit first?
Just like when she first learned that her cultivation had disappeared, she pretended to submit to the playboy Qin Mu was playing.
The only reason she is unwilling to submit is because she feels embarrassed by Qin Mu's constant manipulation and deception.
She ran away because she wanted to break free from control and regain her dignity.
In fact, she hadn't even figured out where she could go after escaping the palace.
They hadn't even considered whether escaping would be even more dangerous.
To be honest, given her current state of having no cultivation, she would be safer staying in the palace.
After all, in the palace, the only person who could bully her was Qin Mu.
However, if she leaves the palace and still has no cultivation, then there will be many more people who can bully her.
From military generals to grooms and merchants, anyone could bully her.
Therefore, Yun Suxin suddenly understood.
All thoughts have been cleared up.
She is tired.
She didn't want to run away anymore.
Isn't it just about submitting to Qin Mu one more time?
What does it matter?
Thinking of this, Yun Suxin slowly raised her hand and grasped Han Xin'er's hand.
Han Xin'er did not pull her hand away, but simply let her hold it quietly.
Yun Suxin closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, a look of relief flashed across them.
"Okay. I won't run anymore."
Upon hearing this, Han Xin'er's lips curled up slightly, and her smile deepened.
She didn't say anything unnecessary.
She simply squeezed Yun Suxin's hand gently, then let go, stood up, and took a step back.
"You're tired. Get some rest. Call me if you need anything."
She turned around and walked towards Liu Ruolan.
Yun Suxin knelt on the ground, gazing at that slender and upright figure, a complex feeling welling up in her heart.
Han Xin'er walked back to Liu Ruolan's side, reached out, and gently held her mother's cold hand.
Her hands were still trembling slightly, but her face was expressionless, only calm.
Liu Ruolan looked at her, her eyes reddening. "Xin'er, you..."
Han Xin'er shook her head, her voice very soft. "Mother, I'm fine."
She paused, her gaze falling on Han Qin'er in the corner, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Qin'er, go pour this lady another cup of tea."
Han Qin'er nodded obediently, ran to the table, carefully poured a cup of tea, held it with both hands, and walked to Yun Suxin.
"Sister, have some tea."
Her voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale singing in a valley.
Looking into those clear, innocent eyes, Yun Suxin's last line of defense completely crumbled.
She reached out, took the teacup, and said softly, "Thank you."
........
In a dark room next to the side hall.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the bronze mirror.
He watched in the mirror as Han Xin'er wiped Yun Suxin's face, combed her hair, put on her clothes, and served her tea. He watched Yun Suxin go from anger to struggle, from struggle to collapse, and from collapse to resignation.
A slow smile crept onto his lips.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside him, her hands at her sides, her gaze fixed on the bronze mirror, her eyes filled with surprise.
"Your Majesty, is...is it done?"
Qin Mu smiled and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the armrest.
"It's done. That's how people are. Sometimes the more you push them, the more they resist. But if you give them a little warmth, they don't know what to do."
He paused, his gaze falling on the bronze mirror, looking at Han Xin'er's young, calm, yet slightly tired pretty face.
"This young girl is even smarter than I imagined. She knows when to be firm and when to be gentle. When she needs to be firm, she doesn't hesitate; when she needs to be gentle, she is just the right amount of tenderness."
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded thoughtfully. "Your Majesty, what are your plans for her next?"
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the sky outside the window, illuminated by the morning light.
No rush. Let's see first. I'm very curious to know how many more surprises she can bring me.
Looking at the smile on Qin Mu's lips, Jiang Zhaoyue felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.
She suddenly felt a pang of envy for that young girl, envying that she could be looked at, anticipated, and appreciated by His Majesty in such a way.
She quickly lowered her eyes, suppressing that inappropriate emotion.
Qin Mu stood up, smiled, and said, "Alright, now we can really set off tomorrow."
Jiang Zhaoyue nodded and asked gently, "Your Majesty, how many people do you plan to bring?"
Qin Mu thought for a moment, smiled, and said, "You decide."
Jiang Zhaoyue was stunned. She hadn't expected His Majesty to entrust her with such an important matter.