PFC Chapter 98 Kill him if you want
Chapter 98 Kill him if you want
Cao Wei opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that all the words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say a single word.
He recalled that when Qingxue was a child, she would often sit alone under the veranda of Tingxuexuan, gazing blankly at the northern sky.
I remember her occasionally asking, "Uncle Cao, what kind of people are my parents?"
I recall the deep-seated confusion and loneliness in her eyes, a feeling that even she herself didn't understand...
At that time, he always made excuses, telling her that his parents were merchants from Jiangnan who had unfortunately died in an encounter with bandits.
Did Qingxue really believe it?
Or perhaps... she had already sensed something, but simply didn't want to delve into it.
Qin Mu looked at the struggle churning in Cao Wei's eyes and slowly said:
"In the few months since Qingxue entered the palace, I have often seen her sitting alone by the window, lost in thought. Sometimes she is gazing at the northern sky, sometimes at the plum blossoms in the courtyard... Her eyes are empty, but not in a carefree way; rather, it is an emptiness that comes from not knowing what to think or what to yearn for."
He paused, his voice lowering slightly:
"If a person doesn't even know where they came from, how can they know where they are going?"
Cao Wei's body trembled slightly.
He slowly lowered his head, looking at his hands, which were covered in calluses but remained steady.
These hands once held a pen to review memorials, once wielded a sword to slay enemies, and once... gently caressed the gentle profile of that woman.
Queen Consort of Yuehua Kingdom, wife of Jiang Huaijin, and mother of Qingxue.
Su Wanrong.
That woman was as gentle as moonlight and as resilient as a winter plum blossom.
The woman he had silently loved for half his life, yet could only ever treat with the respect due to a subject.
Cao Wei's hands unconsciously clenched tighter.
His fingernails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was completely unaware.
Qin Mu's gaze fell on his clenched fist, a knowing glint in his eyes.
He spoke slowly, his voice soft, yet it resounded like thunder in Cao Wei's ears:
"The Queen Consort of Yuehua Kingdom... is she the one you love, sir?"
Cao Wei suddenly looked up!
For the first time, an undisguised panic was revealed in those deep brown eyes!
It was as if a secret buried deep in my heart for twenty-one years had been suddenly revealed and exposed to the sunlight.
He opened his mouth, wanting to deny it, wanting to defend himself, but found that he couldn't make a sound.
All words seem pale and powerless at this moment.
Qin Mu did not force him, but simply looked at him quietly, his eyes showing no mockery or disdain, only understanding.
"That's why you voluntarily went into seclusion for so many years to serve the Xu family, even at the cost of changing your name and giving up everything."
Qin Mu's voice was very soft, as if he were stating a fact that was already known:
"Everything is for the sake of protecting the child of Queen Yuehua—Jiang Zhaoyue."
A long silence fell over the tea room.
The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, casting long, long shadows of the two people.
Dust swirled in the beam of light, like countless tiny, struggling souls.
Cao Wei stood still, motionless.
After a long while, he slowly loosened his clenched fist.
The bloodstains on his palm had dried, leaving several dark red marks.
He looked down at the bloodstains and suddenly smiled.
His smile was desolate, carrying with it endless weariness and a sense of relief.
"Your Majesty...as expected, you know everything."
He did not deny it.
At this point, what's the point of denying it?
Qin Mu nodded, his gaze remaining calm:
"I know your feelings for the Princess, your dedication over the past twenty-one years, and your protection of Qingxue."
He paused, then spoke solemnly:
"It is precisely because I know this that I am even more convinced that you are the person in this world who most wants Qingxue to be happy."
Cao Wei raised his head and looked at Qin Mu.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that the young emperor before him was perhaps more complex and more... trustworthy than he had imagined.
"His Majesty……"
Cao Wei's voice was choked with emotion:
"You really...will protect Qingxue completely?"
Qin Mu met his gaze and spoke slowly and deliberately:
A ruler's word is his bond.
Four words, yet they carry immense weight.
Cao Wei took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination.
"it is good."
He said slowly:
"I... agree to Your Majesty's request."
He paused, then added:
"But I have one condition."
"Please speak, sir."
Cao Wei's gaze sharpened:
"I want to see Qingxue with my own eyes and tell her the truth in person. And... it must be under the condition that she is safe and will not break down because of the truth."
Qin Mu nodded: "Of course."
"in addition,"
A chill flashed in Cao Wei's eyes:
"What does His Majesty intend to do with Xu Longxiang?"
Qin Mu smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of complete control and composure.
"Xu Longxiang...I have my own arrangements. You only need to do your job."
Cao Wei gave Qin Mu a deep look, and finally nodded:
"I understand."
He turned around, walked to the window, and looked north.
That's the direction of the imperial city.
That's also the direction Qingxue is in.
"Qingxue..."
Cao Wei murmured softly, his voice filled with complex emotions:
"I'm sorry... I've kept this from you for so many years."
"But this time... the master won't let you face this alone."
The sunlight shone on his aged yet upright back, bathing him in a golden halo.
Qin Mu stood behind him, watching this scene quietly, a deep light flashing in his eyes.
The game has reached its most crucial step.
But there is only one person who plays the game.
........
The warm afternoon sun shines through the carved windows of "Bamboo Retreat," casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The aroma of tea floated slowly in the air, but it couldn't mask the growing sense of unease in the room.
Qin Mu sat beside the rosewood tea table, his moon-white wide-sleeved robe shimmering with a faint silver glow in the setting sun.
He moved languidly, his fingers gently stroking the rim of the celadon teacup, his gaze calmly fixed on Cao Wei opposite him.
Cao Wei had regained his composure. Although there was still some turmoil in his deep brown eyes, he was no longer flustered.
He gave Qin Mu a deep look, then slowly stood up and straightened his faded blue robe.
"Your Majesty," Cao Wei's voice was deep and clear, "having already agreed, I will not go back on my word. However..."
He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Xu Fenghua must have already sent people to secretly monitor me. If I leave Tingyu Manor now, they will surely follow. Your Majesty... what do you intend to do?"
Qin Mu picked up his teacup, took a sip of the warm Yunwu Chun tea, and a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown appeared on his lips.
"Just kill him!"
Four words, a simple and understated statement, as if saying "The weather is nice today."
Cao Wei's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
Although he knew Qin Mu's strength was unfathomable, he was still so casual about "killing him"...
The person sent by the other side to track him was no ordinary person.
Xu Fenghua had been in charge of Jiangnan for six years, and he had gathered countless experts under his command. Those who could be sent to monitor Cao Wei should at least be at the Celestial Realm.
But Qin Mu's tone was as if he were about to crush an ant.
"Your Majesty..." Cao Wei hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Qin Mu put down his teacup and stood up. His moon-white robe flowed like water with his movement, shimmering softly in the light.
"You don't believe me, sir?" He smiled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Cao Wei remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "It's not that I don't believe it, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"But I'm worried that stirring up trouble might alert the enemy."
Cao Wei said in a deep voice, "Xu Fenghua is a meticulous woman. If the people she sends suddenly disappear, she will definitely be alert. At that time, I'm afraid..."
Qin Mu waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Sir, you are overthinking it."
He walked slowly to the window and looked at the lush green bamboo grove in the courtyard.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground.
"Xu Fenghua is indeed shrewd, but no matter how shrewd she is, she could not have foreseen that I would come here in person."
Qin Mu's voice was soft, yet it carried an air of absolute certainty, as if he were in complete control.
"The person she sent has gone missing. She'll suspect many possibilities—perhaps he discovered them and killed them, perhaps he encountered some other accident, or perhaps..."
He turned around, his gaze landing squarely on Cao Wei's face:
"It was Mr. who suddenly decided to leave and shook off the stalkers."
Cao Wei's heart stirred.
Indeed, with his abilities, shaking off his pursuers wouldn't be difficult.
Although Xu Fenghua might have suspicions, she would never immediately connect them to Qin Mu personally taking action.
"But what if the body is discovered..." Cao Wei still had some concerns.
Qin Mu smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it sent a chill down Cao Wei's spine.
"There will be no corpses," Qin Mu said slowly, each word as clear as an ice bead falling to the ground. "I said, kill them."
He spoke so matter-of-factly, as if the power of life and death in this world should be this simple.
Cao Wei took a deep breath and said no more.
He gave Qin Mu a deep look, then bowed and said, "In that case, I shall take my leave. Your Majesty... take care."
Qin Mu nodded slightly: "Take care, sir. See you in the capital."
Without further hesitation, Cao Wei turned around, pushed open the door, and stepped out.