diymy Chapter 222: Let her despair, then give her hope again.
Chapter 222: Let her despair, then give her hope again.
Qin Mu was stunned for a moment after hearing this.
Then he smiled.
The laughter was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
He laughed sincerely and heartily, as if he had heard an extremely funny joke.
"You got bitten by a dog?"
He repeated those words, his eyes almost overflowing with laughter:
"Your Majesty, your analogy—"
He paused, his gaze falling on her face, deep and unfathomable:
"This is somewhat unexpected for me."
Zhao Qingxue looked at him without saying a word.
Qin Mu looked at the indifference in her eyes, and the smile on his lips deepened.
He slowly sat up and moved closer.
They were very close, close enough that Zhao Qingxue could see her own reflection in his eyes and smell the faint scent of ambergris on his body.
His gaze traced her face closely.
From her swollen cheeks to her pale lips to her slightly trembling eyelashes.
Finally, his gaze fell upon those deep purple phoenix eyes.
"Your Majesty," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of genuine admiration:
"Do you know?"
"You look better now than when you were on the imperial stage, high above everyone else, behind your twelve-tasseled crown—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Much better looking."
Zhao Qingxue's eyes trembled slightly.
nice?
She looked utterly disheveled, covered in wounds, her torn robes barely covering her body, and red, swollen handprints remaining on her face—
Is this what you call good-looking?
She suddenly wanted to laugh.
What is this man thinking?
But she didn't laugh.
Looking at him, the cold calm remained in his deep purple phoenix eyes.
Qin Mu didn't mind her silence.
He simply reached out and placed his hand on her cheek again.
This time, his movements were even gentler.
My fingertips gently brushed over the red and swollen marks, as if soothing them, or perhaps admiring them.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
The voice was very soft, with a hint of...gentleness that was almost imperceptible?
Zhao Qingxue's body stiffened slightly.
She lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Does it hurt?
Of course it hurts.
Those slaps stung terribly when they landed.
When she was hanging from the beam, the pain in her shoulder joint almost made her faint.
But at this moment, with his gentle touch, all that pain seemed to fade away.
Only the warmth of his fingertips remained, spreading across her cheek.
Qin Mu looked at her slightly trembling eyelashes, and the smile on his lips deepened.
His fingers slowly slid down her cheek and landed on her neck.
There, at the edge of the torn moon-white robe, snow-white skin and delicate collarbones were revealed.
His fingertips gently traced the crack.
"This dress," he said, a hint of regret in his voice, "is a pity."
Zhao Qingxue's body tensed up even more.
She could feel his fingers tracing the surface of her neck, the faint touch, and his breath right beside her ear.
Her heart began to race.
one more time.
So fast it almost seemed to burst out of my chest.
She bit her lip, trying to calm herself down.
But the body's reaction doesn't lie.
Qin Mu seemed to sense her nervousness.
He chuckled softly and withdrew his hand.
Then, he slowly stood up.
He walked to the side and took a moon-white robe from the clothes rack.
Those were his clothes.
He walked back to the bedside and gently draped the long robe over Zhao Qingxue's shoulders.
The movements were very light and gentle.
Zhao Qingxue was stunned.
She looked up at him.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Looking at her like this, a complex emotion flashed in Qin Mu's eyes.
"Tonight," he said, his voice soft but each word clear, "that's it."
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
that's it?
What does that mean?
Qin Mu looked at the confusion in her eyes and smiled gently.
"I've said it before, I have plenty of patience."
He paused, his gaze falling on her face, deep and unfathomable:
"You will rest here tonight."
"I--"
He turned around and walked towards the door:
"Go next door."
After saying that, he pushed open the door, and his moon-white robe flashed in the doorway before disappearing into the night.
The door closed gently behind him.
Zhao Qingxue was the only one left in the room.
She sat on the edge of the couch, draped in that moon-white robe.
The robe was very large, almost completely covering her.
His scent lingered on it, a faint ambergris fragrance, and an indescribable aroma.
She sat there blankly, her mind a complete blank.
he……
gone?
Just like that, he left?
What did she expect tonight to be like?
Is it a deeper humiliation?
Is it an even more cruel form of torture?
It was the kind of thing she didn't want to think about, but had already prepared for...
But he just left like that?
All that was left was a long robe and the words, "Go next door."
Zhao Qingxue stared blankly at the tightly closed door.
For a long, long time.
Then, she lowered her head and looked at the moon-white robe she was wearing.
Long, slender fingers gently caressed the soft fabric.
His body heat still lingered on it.
warmth.
She suddenly felt her eyes sting.
It wasn't because I felt wronged, nor because I felt humiliated.
Rather, it's because—
She didn't know why either.
She just felt that this sudden tenderness was more comforting than any torment...
My mind is in turmoil.
She took a deep breath and wrapped the robe even tighter around herself.
Then, she slowly lay down and curled up on the large, soft couch.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her.
She closed her eyes.
But the scene from just now kept replaying in my mind—
Qin Mu draped his robe over her shoulders and said softly, "Let's leave it at that for tonight."
And that line—
"I have plenty of patience."
patience.
Waiting for the day she's willing.
Zhao Qingxue's eyelashes trembled slightly.
She didn't know if that "willingness" would ever come.
All she knew was that at this moment—
At least for now—
She no longer has to face those humiliations.
I no longer have to face that crazy woman.
She no longer had to face the torment that made her wish she were dead.
She can rest.
You can close your eyes.
Can--
Forget your identity, your situation, everything about yourself.
But, for some reason.
A hint of disappointment lingered deep within her?
Zhao Qingxue frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
She didn't understand what she was disappointed about.
Shouldn't she hate him to the extreme?
Why the disappointment?
Is it...
What does she secretly hope Qin Mu will do to her tonight?
The thought startled her instantly, and she couldn't believe it.
What's wrong with her?
How could you even have such a thought!?
Zhao Qingxue shook her head, not daring to think about it anymore.
Outside the window, the night breeze gently caressed the area.
The moonlight, like water, spilled into this small room.
The raindrops fell on the slender figure curled up on the soft couch, wrapped in a moon-white robe.
She fell asleep.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips were gently pursed, and the redness and swelling on her face were still clearly visible in the moonlight.
But her breathing was steady and long.
That was the first peaceful sleep I'd had in a long time.
In the next room.
Qin Mu stood by the window, his hands behind his back.
The moonlight shone on him, giving his moon-white robe a silver edge.
His gaze was fixed on the deep night outside the window.
The corners of his mouth always held that ambiguous smile.
Yunluan stood behind him, watching him quietly.
"Your Majesty," she finally spoke, her voice cold, "why did you...?"
She didn't continue.
But Qin Mu knew what she wanted to ask.
He smiled, turned around, and looked at her.
"Yunluan," he said softly, "do you know what's most important in taming a wild horse?"
Yunluan was slightly taken aback, but remained silent.
Qin Mu continued:
"Not a whip, not a stick, not any harsh methods."
He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable:
"It's patience."
"It's to let her know that being with you is much more comfortable than struggling alone in the wilderness."
He withdrew his gaze and looked out the window again:
"Tonight, I gave her a garment and a peaceful sleep."
Tomorrow night, she will remember this dress, and this peaceful sleep.
"The night after that, she will begin to look forward to it."
"And then—"
He smiled but didn't continue.
After listening, Yunluan remained silent for a moment.
Then, she bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty is wise."
Qin Mu waved his hand without saying a word.
He simply continued to gaze at the bright moon outside the window.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his handsome features with exceptional clarity.
A satisfied and expectant light shone in those deep eyes.
Like a patient hunter, waiting for its prey to willingly walk into the trap.
The next room.
The prey was curled up in the clothes he had left behind, sleeping soundly.
But this night has only just begun.
In the distance, the sound of several drumbeats could be heard.
It's midnight.