novelaction Chapter 709 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (19)
Chapter 709 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (19)
Mu Zhou poured out all the grievances and bitterness she had felt during this period of time, regardless of everything else.
Su Youbai stared at her intently, his entire body tense.
His face was terrifyingly stern.
This was the first time he had seen Mu Zhou so unrestrained.
When facing the emperor, they all forgot about rules and etiquette.
She said that she and the guard were completely innocent.
Su Youbai got the answer he wanted, but his anger did not subside in the slightest.
She did explain.
Such an explanation is worse than no explanation at all.
He didn't want to hear about her and Qin Yansi's useless past at all.
She didn't want to hear that, under such circumstances, she was so implicated yet still believed in Qin Yansi.
Su Youbai's face was grim, his anger undiminished, and his chest felt even heavier.
He was very unhappy.
In particular, seeing her covering her face with her hands, crying so sadly and sorrowfully, as if she were about to faint at any moment.
Why is she crying?
Did you cry because you missed Qin Yansi?
Or was she crying because she felt that her feelings for Qin Yansi were being questioned?
Neither of them was acceptable to Su Youbai.
His heart was being torn apart, and the pain made him furrow his brow.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Youbai shifted his gaze from Mu Zhou's trembling shoulders to the lone food box on the table.
In the freezing cold of winter, it's probably already quite cold.
Or perhaps, by this point, she had already lost her appetite.
She doesn't know how long she'll cry after he leaves.
Su Youbai forced himself to compose himself.
He thought he shouldn't be so naive as to question those useless things.
He is the emperor, the ruler of the world, and should give way to her.
Mu Zhou has been deceived and misled by Qin Yansi since childhood. What does she know?
Don't blame her.
He suppressed his outward anger and rage, his voice regaining its usual calm:
"Huang Qing, have someone bring the meal."
Huang Qing, who was already terrified outside the door, was startled and hurriedly said:
"Yes, slaves follow the order."
He rushed off to instruct the palace servants to urge the imperial kitchen, still thinking to himself how unusual it was.
The room was in such a commotion just now, the Emperor rarely showed his temper and got very angry, and the eldest daughter of the Mu family added fuel to the fire without any regard for the consequences.
He was so scared he almost lost his mind, thinking that things were going to get really messed up today.
Who knew that the emperor would calm down in an instant and still order the meal.
That's really rare.
Inside the room, Mu Zhou, having given up all hope, slumped into a chair.
She turned her body to the side, avoiding looking at Su Youbai, only showing him her profile.
Hearing him say that he was going to serve the meal, she didn't say anything, but just wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.
He rarely throws a tantrum.
It wasn't until Huang Qing and the palace maids set out the dishes that she finally calmed down.
At Huang Qing's prompting, Liu Xu walked up to Mu Zhou:
"Princess, let me help you wash up."
Mu Zhou did not refuse and followed her to the side room. He wiped his face and hands with a damp cloth before returning.
She had been crying for so long, she must have been starving.
Huang Qing led everyone away, and Mu Zhou ignored Su Youbai and ate in silence.
Because of Su Youbai, the dinner was much more lavish, with sixteen exquisite dishes filling the table.
As they ate, Mu Zhou became less angry.
Su Youbai looked up at her and saw that she wasn't so heartbroken that she couldn't eat, so his tense expression eased slightly.
Not too silly.
Only then did Su Youbai realize he was a little hungry, and the dishes in front of him suddenly looked and smelled delicious.
After the meal, Mu Zhou's attitude softened.
Su Youbai was the emperor, holding the power of life and death over her. She didn't want to die, so naturally she didn't dare to completely turn against him.
She still valued her life after all.
Noticing the resentment and reluctance in her eyes, Su Youbai did not point it out.
No one mentioned Qin Yansi and Feng Huaiwang again.
Su Youbai ate his meal in silence and then left.
On the surface, the matter seems to have been dropped.
By late at night, Mu Zhou's residence was completely dark, and even the palace maid on night watch had gone to sleep in the outer room.
At that moment, a figure quietly entered the room.
The young palace maid woke up with a start, and before she could utter a sound, she saw that bright yellow light.
In this palace, who else but the emperor would dare to wear such a color?
She instantly regained her senses and knelt down in terror to pay her respects.
The emperor didn't even glance at her, and walked straight into the inner room.
On such a late night, the emperor came to the county princess's bedroom. Even if it was against the rules, she dared not make a sound and could only silently retreat.
The room fell silent.
Su Youbai slowed his pace and came to the bedside.
By the dim moonlight, he looked at the person on the bed.
She lay on her side, her beautiful face mostly buried in the brocade quilt, her dark hair cascading down her back.
She was sleeping soundly.
Su Youbai's handsome face was hidden in the darkness, his phoenix eyes faintly gleaming with a dark light.
He raised his hand and reached towards her delicate cheek.
Pull the quilt down a bit, and that beautiful face is fully revealed.
His thumb, adorned with a jade thumb ring, moved slightly, gently kneading and rubbing against her face.
Su Youbai felt the softness beneath his fingertips with a blank expression, and a certain thought in his mind became clearer.
*
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, news of victory arrived from the border: King Daman had his head removed and hung outside the city.
The Kingdom of Daman is now in chaos, and the Great Xia has led its troops to attack the capital of Daman.
The He tribe, which caused this war, has also surrendered and is willing to submit to the Great Xia forever and pay tribute every year.
One piece of good news after another arrived, and the capital city finally had some festive atmosphere for the New Year.
In the study, Su Youbai was looking at the secret report.
The situation at the border has deviated somewhat from his original expectations due to the appearance of Feng Huaiwang.
However, it is still under control, and the outcome will not change.
Therefore, he will not interfere.
Before long, all the large and small states that occupy the southwest will become part of the Great Xia.
In this way, Qin Yansi's return to the capital will not be far off.
He thought of Mu Zhou.
Since that day, she has been avoiding him, and when they do meet, she tries to hide away as if she doesn't know where he is.
Su Youbai didn't force her.
He gave her time to gradually accept it.
Just then, he needed to prepare for the final power grab.
Meanwhile, Mu Zhou also learned from 0001 that there was new information about the southwestern border.
Feng Huaiwang led his troops in pursuit of victory and has now conquered all six surrounding countries and tribes.
Because of his early arrival, Qin Yansi did not achieve the same great military exploits and fame he had in his previous life.
Compared to Feng Huaiwang, he seemed much less impressive.
Nowadays, people on the border say that Feng Huaiwang is a god descended from heaven, bringing peace and tranquility to the border region.
The news had not yet reached the capital.
In addition, even if he failed to wreak havoc, Qin Yansi planned to spread rumors among the people to whitewash his previous treason.
However, before it could spread, Mu Zhou used 0001 to tamper with the content being disseminated.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, news of a great victory at the border arrived.
The entire southwestern border region was incorporated into the Great Xia Dynasty.
The news shocked the entire Great Xia Dynasty, and everyone was celebrating.
Feng Huaiwang's name began to appear frequently in people's conversations.
Everyone knows that Feng Huaiwang deserves the most credit for this achievement.