pappabearbooks Chapter 319 Are you so happy that you're even shedding tears?
Chapter 319 Are you so happy that you're even shedding tears?
Xu Fenghua's eyelashes trembled slightly.
She took a deep breath and slowly lifted her head from his embrace.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her face and making her dignified features exceptionally clear.
"What is it, Your Majesty?" she asked.
Qin Mu looked down at her and smiled.
"It's a big deal," he said.
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
Important
What's the big deal?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.
Is it about the war in the West? Is it about the developments in the North? Or is it about—
She dared not think any further.
All she knew was that if she could learn about this "major event" from Qin Mu beforehand, she could pass the news on to Xu Longxiang, allowing the Northern Border to make plans sooner...
Xu Fenghua's fingers tightened slightly inside her sleeve, but her face still held that gentle and curious expression.
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled again.
"I will marry Empress Zhao Qingxue of the Liyang Dynasty as my empress."
The moment the words left her lips, Xu Fenghua's mind went blank.
Her eyes remained fixed on Qin Mu, and the gentle smile on her lips persisted.
But her thoughts seemed to be suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, pressed firmly and stubbornly to the spot.
Empress Liyang.
Zhao Qingxue.
For later.
These three words echoed wildly in her mind, each word like a boulder falling from the sky and crashing into the calm lake in her heart.
It stirred up a massive wave.
Her pupils contracted slightly, but the contraction lasted only a moment, so fast that it was almost imperceptible.
But in that moment of contraction, she felt as if the whole world was spinning.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang, the woman who ascended the throne, purged the eight princes in five years, and became a powerful figure in the Eastern Continent, is going to marry Qin Mu.
How is that possible?
Her lips parted slightly, her voice dry from shock, almost inaudible.
"What?"
She asked.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He didn't rush to answer, but simply leaned back on the soft couch, propped his chin on one hand, and looked at her languidly.
His gaze was calm, as calm as a stagnant pool.
But when Xu Fenghua was being looked at, she felt an invisible pressure, like a mountain pressing down on her shoulders, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Don't panic.
Do not panic.
The slightly stiff expression on her face, caused by shock, was gradually smoothed out, and she returned to her gentle and curious demeanor.
"Your Majesty means," she paused, trying to keep her voice steady, "Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang?"
Qin Mu nodded.
"Yes, Zhao Qingxue."
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
She was almost certain she hadn't misheard, but she still silently repeated it in her mind.
Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang married Qin Mu and became his empress.
Each of these words carries immense weight.
She thought of Xu Longxiang.
I remember my younger brother in the Zhenyue Hall in the Northern Border, whose eyes would light up every time he mentioned Zhao Qingxue.
As the older sister, she naturally knew Zhao Qingxue's importance in Xu Longxiang's heart.
That wasn't an ally, nor someone he could use; it was someone he had kept hidden in his heart for so many years.
She was someone he had never forgotten since the first time he met her.
He thought that once he achieved his goal and sat in that position, he could stand openly in front of her and say, "Zhao Qingxue, I'm here."
And now, this person is going to marry Qin Mu.
He wants to marry the man who took away his sister, his childhood sweetheart, and everything he had.
Xu Fenghua's fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve, her nails digging deep into her palms, sending a sharp pain through her.
The pain kept her conscious until the very end.
She couldn't let Qin Mu notice anything unusual.
She has to keep acting.
"Your Majesty," she began, her voice carrying just the right amount of surprise, "this is a momentous event."
Qin Mu looked at her without saying a word.
Xu Fenghua continued, speaking a few paces faster than usual, as if she had to get it all out.
"Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang is the overlord of the Eastern Continent, a power capable of rivaling the Great Qin. Her willingness to marry into the Great Qin is a significant benefit for His Majesty and for the Great Qin itself—"
She paused, quickly searching her mind for the right words.
"These are all incredibly joyous occasions."
After she finished speaking, she still leaned against Qin Mu's chest, tilting her head back and looking at him with her amber eyes.
There was surprise, joy, and a sense of pride in his eyes.
But only she knew that the turbulent waves in her heart were churning wildly.
Qin Mu smiled.
"Does my beloved concubine also think this is a joyous occasion?" he asked.
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
Of course she didn't think it was a happy occasion!
This is a catastrophe for the North!
Liyang and Daqin formed a marriage alliance, merging the two countries into one. The northern border was isolated and helpless, surrounded by enemies on all sides.
In the west there was Lü Bu, in the south there was Qin Mu, in the east there was Li Yang, and in the north there was Bei Mang.
This is a dead end.
It's a dead end.
It was a complete and utter dead end with absolutely no chance of survival.
But she couldn't say that.
She had to smile, she had to say it was good news, she had to use the most sincere tone and the most joyful expression to celebrate this news, which was enough to destroy the North, as a great joy.
"Of course it's a happy occasion."
Her voice was a little lighter than before, her smile was a little deeper, and the corners of her eyes even curved into two shallow arcs.
"The fact that Empress Li Yang is willing to marry Your Majesty demonstrates Your Majesty's wisdom and martial prowess, and that Your Majesty's fame has spread far and wide, even winning the heart of the overlord of the Eastern Continent. This is a great boost to the prestige of Great Qin and to Your Majesty's reputation."
She paused, her tone carrying just the right amount of longing.
"Moreover, with the marriage alliance between Liyang and Daqin, the two countries will become one, and there will be no more war. The people on both sides of the Lancang River can live and work in peace and contentment, no longer having to worry about the spread of war. Isn't this a great thing?"
After she finished speaking, she raised her head and looked at Qin Mu with her bright, sparkling eyes.
There was admiration, joy, and a deep, heartfelt pride in his eyes.
It was as if every word she spoke was from the bottom of her heart.
Qin Mu looked at her, at the bright light in her amber eyes.
He reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
The movement was very gentle, with a hint of doting affection.
"My beloved concubine is right."
He paused, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"That's truly a fantastic thing."
Xu Fenghua blushed slightly, lowered her head, and buried her face in his chest.
The movements were so natural, so dependent, so self-assured.
But only she knew what her expression was like at that moment.
The smile on her face had completely vanished.
All that remained was a deep, almost despairing pallor.
Her lips were trembling, her fingers were trembling, her whole body was trembling.
But she dared not let Qin Mu sense it.
She could only bury her face in his chest, using his body heat to cover up her current coldness.
Only one thought was echoing wildly in her mind.
Dragon and elephant.
You must not act impulsively.
Do not raise an army at this time.
Never—
Her tears fell silently.
The tears soaked his nightgown, leaving a small, warm, dark stain on his chest.
Qin Mu's hand was still gently stroking her back.
The movements were slow and gentle, like soothing a cat that had finally calmed down.
"My beloved concubine," his voice came from above, soft and tinged with amusement, "what is it?"
Xu Fenghua took a deep breath and lifted her face from his chest.
Her eyes were slightly red, but she interpreted that blush as joy.
"I am so happy," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Your Majesty is happy that you have married Empress Liyang."
Qin Mu looked at her, at her slightly reddened eyes, at her slightly trembling lips.
He didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently wiped away the single tear that hadn't yet fallen from the corner of her eye.
"Are you that happy?" he asked. "So happy you're about to cry?"