I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 41 Arrival in Qingshan County

The convoy set off again.

The rain gradually subsided.

The Dragon Shadow Guards vanished into the shadows as silently as they had appeared, as if they had never existed.

But everyone knew they were nearby. In every shadow, in every tree, behind every rock.

Those cold eyes were watching everything.

Inside the gilded carriage.

Qin Mu leaned back on the soft cushion and closed his eyes to rest.

His fingertips gently caressed the white jade thumb ring.

On the inside of the thumb ring are two very small characters engraved—

Dragon Shadow.

"Shadow Tower..." he murmured to himself, "Who could it be? My good uncles, or... certain people in the court, or perhaps Xu Longxiang, or Empress Liyang?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Outside the carriage, Zhao Kuo had already reorganized the team.

Although the Imperial Guards were exhausted, their eyes were sharper than before. The power and benevolence His Majesty had displayed stirred their hearts.

With such a ruler, how could the Qin Dynasty not prosper?

Inside Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning's carriage, the two girls whispered about what had just happened.

"Your Majesty is amazing..." Lu Wanning's eyes lit up, "You caught such a big sword with just two fingers!"

Although Su Wanqing was also excited, she was more attentive: "Who are those men in black? I've never seen them before?"

"Perhaps His Majesty's secret guards," Lu Wanning guessed. "My father once said that emperors throughout history have had secret guards."

"But this is too powerful..." Su Wanqing murmured.

Inside Jiang Qingxue's carriage, there was a deathly silence.

She leaned against the carriage, her face pale.

"Brother Longxiang...please don't come...please..." She closed her eyes, tears silently streaming down her face.

The convoy slowly drove out of Luoyingjian.

........

As night fell completely, the convoy arrived at Linshan County, the last major city at the foot of Qinglan Mountain.

The rain had stopped, but the night sky remained overcast, obscuring the stars.

The lanterns hanging high on the city wall swayed in the night breeze, casting a dim yellow glow that illuminated the two mottled ancient characters "临山" (Linshan) on the city gate.

Prefect Wang Mingde of Linshan County had already led all the county's officials, large and small, to wait outside the city gate, where they knelt in a dense mass.

The old minister, who was over fifty years old, had fine beads of sweat on his forehead and his official robe was stained with mud, clearly indicating that he had been waiting there for a long time.

"Your subject, Wang Mingde, Prefect of Linshan, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's arrival! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Wang Mingde's voice trembled, whether from excitement or fear, it was hard to tell.

Qin Mu's carriage slowly came to a stop.

The carriage curtain was lifted, but Qin Mu did not get out of the carriage. He only revealed half of his face, and his gaze swept indifferently over the kneeling crowd: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wang Mingde quickly stood up, took small steps towards the carriage, and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, the temporary palace is ready, located in Cuiwei Garden in the east of the city. It was the villa of a prince of the previous dynasty. Although it is not as grand as the palace in the capital, it is still quiet and elegant. I have ordered people to clean it carefully. Please, Your Majesty, move here to rest."

Qin Mu nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Minister Wang."

"No, no! It is my honor to serve Your Majesty!" Wang Mingde said repeatedly, then waved his hand, signaling, "Quickly, clear the way for Your Majesty!"

The county soldiers who had been waiting immediately stepped forward to hand over the defense duties to the Imperial Guards and escort the convoy into the city.

Linshan County is not a large city, but because it is close to the Qinglan Sword Sect, it is bustling with people from all walks of life.

It was already 9 PM, and with the rain having just stopped, there were few pedestrians on the street.

Most of the shops had closed, with only a few inns and taverns still lit up, their warm light shining through the cracks in the doors.

The wheels rolled over the wet cobblestones, making a dull thud.

Wang Mingde rode his horse alongside the carriage, occasionally stealing glances at the procession.

Three thousand imperial guards, gleaming in their armor and impeccably dressed, maintained their disciplined ranks even after a daytime battle.

What alarmed him even more were the Dragon Shadow Guards riding black steeds and wearing silver soft armor.

Although there were only a few dozen people, the cold and murderous aura they exuded sent chills down the spine of Wang Mingde, a seasoned official.

"Your Majesty's personal attendance at the ceremony at Qinglan Sword Sect is truly a blessing for the sect and for our Linshan County," Wang Mingde said tentatively, trying to glean some information.

Qin Mu's calm voice came from inside the carriage: "How many years has Minister Wang been serving in Linshan County?"

"Your Majesty, I have been serving in Linshan County for eight years, from the end of the late emperor's reign until now," Wang Mingde hurriedly replied.

"Eight years...that's not a short time." Qin Mu paused. "The Azure Cloud Sword Sect is under your jurisdiction. How much do you know about them?"

Wang Mingde's heart skipped a beat, and he carefully considered his words:

"The Sword Sect is a renowned sect in the martial arts world, established for three hundred years, and has a very deep connection with the royal family of our Great Qin. Many of its disciples are chivalrous and righteous, eliminating evil and protecting the innocent, which greatly contributes to local security. During my tenure, I also had dealings with several elders of the Sword Sect, and they... are all people who abide by the rules."

Qin Mu smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

The convoy continued on its way.

About fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Cuiwei Garden in the east of the city.

The garden covers a large area, with white walls and black tiles, flying eaves and upturned corners, typical of the Jiangnan garden style.

Two majestic stone lions stand guard in front of the gate, the copper nails on the vermilion gate are shiny, and the plaque with the words "Cuiwei Garden" hangs on the lintel. The characters are vigorous and powerful, and are the work of a great calligrapher from the previous dynasty.

The park was already brightly lit.

Dozens of maids and eunuchs stood with their hands at their sides, and upon seeing the emperor's arrival, they all knelt down.

Qin Mu finally got off the carriage.

His dark dragon-patterned robe fluttered slightly in the night breeze. The traces of the daytime battle had been cleaned up, and he still looked like that lazy and noble young emperor.

But when those deep eyes swept over them, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at them.

"Your Majesty, the main courtyard, Tingtao Pavilion, has been prepared. Please rest here." Wang Mingde bowed and led the way.

Qin Mu stepped into the garden.

The scenery inside the garden is indeed exquisite.

A winding path leads to a secluded spot, artificial hills are scattered about, withered lotus leaves in the pond listen to the rain, and palace lanterns hanging under the eaves sway in the night wind, casting dappled light and shadow.

Tingtao Pavilion is located deep in the garden. It is a two-story building. Opening the window, you can see the bamboo forest in the back garden. When the night wind blows, the bamboo leaves rustle, which really makes you feel like you are listening to the waves.

The interior is furnished in a simple and elegant style. The rosewood furniture has a warm luster, and there are several pieces of porcelain from the previous dynasty on the antique shelves. Ancient landscape paintings hang on the walls, and the whole place exudes elegance. It is clear that the arrangement has been carefully thought out.

"Not bad." Qin Mu sat down on the soft couch by the window, and a palace maid immediately served him hot tea.

Wang Mingde breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad Your Majesty is satisfied. I've already ordered dinner to be prepared, shall we...?"

"No need," Qin Mu waved his hand. "I'm a little tired, something simple will do. Also, have the accommodations for the three empresses been arranged?"

"It's all arranged! Consort Shu is staying at Lanyue Pavilion, Consort Wan at Qinfang Garden, and Consort Xue at Shuying Studio. They're all not far from Tingtao Pavilion, in quiet and secluded environments where no one will disturb them," Wang Mingde said hurriedly.

Qin Mu nodded: "You've worked hard too, go and rest. We'll set off for Qinglan Mountain at 7:00 AM tomorrow."

"Yes! Your subject takes his leave!" Wang Mingde bowed and withdrew. Only after leaving Tingtao Pavilion did he dare to straighten up and let out a long sigh of relief.

This young emperor is putting immense pressure on people.

......

Shuyingzhai.

Compared to the residences of Consort Shu and Consort Wan, Shuyingzhai was indeed much more remote.

This is a secluded courtyard located in the northwest corner of Cuiwei Garden. Several old plum trees are planted in the courtyard. Although there are no flowers at this time, the branches are gnarled and cast sparse shadows under the moonlight, which is in line with the name "Sparse Shadows".

When Jiang Qingxue entered the courtyard, two palace maids had been waiting for a long time.

"My lady, hot water is ready. Would you like to take a bath and change your clothes first?" the older palace maid asked softly.

Jiang Qingxue nodded.

She definitely needs a good wash.

Although she hadn't participated in the daytime battle, the lingering stench of blood, the fallen corpses, and the image of Qin Mu effortlessly shattering the giant sword...

All of this haunted her like a nightmare, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted.

Steam rose from the bathtub, and a few dried flower petals floated on the surface, emitting a faint fragrance.

Jiang Qingxue took off her clothes and stepped into the water.

The warm water enveloped her body, allowing her tense nerves to relax slightly.

She closed her eyes and submerged herself in the water.

But Xu Longxiang's face appeared uncontrollably in his mind.

"Qingxue, wait for me."

"When I rule the world, I will use the entire land as my dowry to marry you as my queen."

Those tender words and heartfelt promises, now, seem like sharp knives, cutting her already broken heart until it bleeds profusely.

Does he know that she has already...?

Jiang Qingxue suddenly sat up in the water, panting heavily.

Water droplets slid down her pale cheeks, indistinguishable between bathwater and tears.

"Lady, are you alright?" A palace maid's concerned voice came from outside the screen.

"It's okay..." Jiang Qingxue took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

We must not act rashly.

In times like these, it's crucial to stay calm and avoid making a rash decision.

She sank back into the water, this time without letting her mind wander, and simply washed her body quietly.

After taking a bath and changing into clean nightgown, Jiang Qingxue walked to the window.

As I opened the window, the night breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees after the rain.

The old plum trees in the courtyard stood quietly under the moonlight, their branches as hard as iron, silent and stubborn.

She suddenly remembered what Qin Mu had said that day—

"The plum blossoms bloom alone in the cold, defying the snow and frost; I admire its noble character."

Integrity...

Jiang Qingxue gave a wry smile.

What integrity does she still possess?

From the moment she agreed to enter the palace with Xu Longxiang, from the night she served him in bed, all her pride and dignity had been crushed into dust.

Now all that's left is this empty shell and a heart riddled with holes.

She took the white jade phoenix hairpin from her bosom and held it in her palm.

The hairpin was cool to the touch, and the ruby ​​at the phoenix eye gleamed faintly in the moonlight, like a drop of congealed blood.

"Brother Longxiang..."

She murmured softly.

"What would you do if you were there?"

No one answered.

Only the night breeze rustling through the plum branches created a soft, whispering sound.