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

Chapter 86 Competing for Favor! Jiang Qingxue Offers Herself!

As night deepened, only a single lamp was lit inside the Shuying Pavilion.

Jiang Qingxue took off the elaborate imperial concubine's dress she had worn during the day and changed into a very simple moon-white nightgown.

The nightgown was made of extremely soft Jiangnan cloud satin, which draped smoothly against her body and outlined her slender yet exquisite figure.

The neckline was lower than usual, revealing a section of her fair and delicate collarbone and a faint curve.

She did not wear an outer robe, but only a thin gauze long dress of the same color in the outer room.

The long robe was extremely thin, like smoke or mist. As she walked, the hem fluttered, not only failing to conceal anything, but also adding a hazy and alluring charm under the lamplight.

This was the maximum initiative she could take.

Trying to imitate Su Wanqing's allure? She can't do it.

To emulate Lu Wanning's naiveté? She has already lost that.

She can only do it her own way.

She sheds her finery, removes her hairpins and ornaments, washes away all artifice, and meets him in her most authentic and vulnerable state.

Perhaps this is the only thing she can do to move Qin Mu?

She didn't even bother with elaborate makeup; she simply loosely tied up her long, black hair and secured it with a simple white jade hairpin, leaving a few strands to fall naturally over her shoulders.

Looking at herself in the mirror, so different from her usual self, Jiang Qingxue's cheeks flushed slightly, and a strong sense of shame and self-loathing welled up inside her.

She actually went and did something like that.

In order not to fall out of favor, and in order to... stay by that man's side.

She took a deep breath and picked up the pot of warm sake on the table.

This was specially prepared by her palace maids; the wine was mild and not easily intoxicating, but enough to embolden or create an atmosphere.

Then, she pushed open the door and stepped into the deep night.

.......

To get from Shuyingxuan to Chengxinzhai, you have to walk through most of the courtyard.

The night breeze was slightly cool, blowing against her thin nightgown and gauze shirt, causing a slight shiver to run through her.

The warm touch of the wine jug she was holding was her only source of warmth at that moment.

Finally, the outline of Chengxinzhai came into view.

The main house was brightly lit, with swaying light and shadows reflected on the window paper, but no sound could be heard from inside.

She hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the main room of Chengxinzhai.

.......

The house is warm as spring.

The four gilded palace lanterns illuminated the room brightly, and fine silver charcoal burned in the bronze incense burner, filling the air with a faint scent of ambergris mixed with a subtle hint of ink.

The furnishings are simple yet elegant, with a large rosewood desk by the window piled with memorials and scrolls.

Beside it was a soft couch covered with a thick velvet carpet. Further inside was a six-panel screen with floral and bird designs, from which the outline of the bed behind it could be vaguely seen.

Qin Mu did not sit behind his desk.

He leaned against the soft couch, wearing only a black nightgown embroidered with gold dragons, the belt loosely tied and the collar slightly open.

His long, black hair was loose and draped over his shoulders, with a few strands falling across his chest. He rested his chin on one hand and held a book in the other, seemingly reading it.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't look up, his gaze remaining fixed on the book, and simply asked:

"My beloved concubine, what brings you here so late at night?"

His voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion, and he didn't even glance at her.

Jiang Qingxue paused at the doorway, still a few steps away from the soft couch.

His relaxed and casual demeanor made her more uneasy than if he were sitting upright.

She suppressed the urge to turn and run away, curtsied, and tried to keep her voice steady:

"Your Majesty, I... pay my respects. I have disturbed Your Majesty's rest; I deserve to die."

"If you knew you were disturbing us, why did you still come?" Qin Mu turned a page of his book, his tone still indifferent.

Jiang Qingxue's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty has been working hard these past few days, and I was worried about you. I specially prepared a pot of clear wine, thinking... that it might help Your Majesty relieve your fatigue."

She raised the wine jug in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Qin Mu finally raised his eyes.

His gaze first fell on the wine pot in her hand, then slowly moved upwards, sweeping over the gossamer-thin moon-white gauze shirt she wore, across her exposed collarbone and neck, and finally settling on her pale but trying-to-remain calm face.

His gaze was as deep as an ancient well, calm and still, yet it seemed to possess a penetrating power that saw right through her, inside and out.

Jiang Qingxue felt as if her skin was on fire wherever his gaze fell.

She instinctively wanted to pull her gauze dress tighter, but she forced herself to resist, only lowering her head even further.

"Oh?" A very faint, almost imperceptible smile seemed to appear at the corner of Qin Mu's mouth. "My beloved consort is very thoughtful."

He put down his book, sat up straight, and beckoned to her: "Come here."

Those two simple words made Jiang Qingxue's heart pound.

She did as he asked, walked to the soft couch, and stopped a step away from him.

As she got closer, she could feel the warmth emanating from him, a mixture of the refreshing scent of his bath and the unique fragrance of ambergris, enveloping her completely.

"Where's the wine?" Qin Mu asked.

Jiang Qingxue quickly placed the wine pot and the two white jade wine cups that she had brought, which she had already prepared and placed on a tray, on the small table next to the soft couch.

She picked up the wine pot, but her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, and a few drops of wine spilled onto the table as she poured.

"Your Majesty...I have been disrespectful." Her voice trembled.

Qin Mu didn't say anything, he just watched her pour the wine quietly.

The amber-colored liquor is poured into the glass, creating tiny bubbles, and its aroma is delicate yet lingering.

Jiang Qingxue poured two cups, then held one of them with both hands and handed it to Qin Mu, saying, "Your Majesty, please."

Qin Mu took the wine glass, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her fingers.

The icy touch made Jiang Qingxue shiver slightly, and she almost let go of his hand.

Qin Mu seemed oblivious, raising the wine glass to his nose for a light sniff, then looking up at her: "My beloved concubine, aren't you going to drink?"

"Your Majesty, I will stay with you."

Jiang Qingxue picked up another glass, gently clinked it against the glass in his hand, then tilted her head back and drank the wine in one gulp.

The wine was warm and smooth, sliding down her throat and bringing a touch of warmth, which also relaxed her tense nerves a little.

Qin Mu watched her drink it, a strange look flashing in his eyes, before he also finished his own drink.

"Good wine."

He put down his wine glass, his gaze returning to Jiang Qingxue, this time lingering longer. "My beloved consort seems different tonight..."

Jiang Qingxue's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her eyes: "Your Majesty... I'm just worried about you."

"Worried about me?" Qin Mu chuckled lightly, his laughter revealing no emotion. "Are you worried about me being overworked, or... worried about something else?"

Jiang Qingxue felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that he was implying something.

She pursed her lips, deciding to stop beating around the bush.

Taking roundabout ways was never her forte, and she was even more clumsy in front of someone as shrewd as Qin Mu.

She put down her wine glass and suddenly knelt down in front of the soft couch.

A moon-white gauze shirt was spread out on the carpet, like a flower that suddenly bloomed and then quickly withered.

"His Majesty,"

She raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears—not feigned, but the result of the combined effects of the fear, grievances, confusion, and shame that had accumulated over the past few days.

"I...have I done something wrong? Have I offended Your Majesty?"

Her voice was choked with sobs, and she looked pitiful.

Qin Mu quietly looked at the woman kneeling in front of him.

Her outfit tonight, her offering of wine, her kneeling and weeping... all her actions point to one purpose.

To vie for favor, or rather, to retain favor.

This is very unlike "Jiang Qingxue".

Jiang Qingxue, who was aloof and proud, and who was always stubborn and resilient even when she was being favored, seemed to be gradually having her edges worn away by the rules of the deep palace, and was forced to learn the methods that she once despised the most.

interesting.

Qin Mu chuckled softly.

He had ignored Jiang Qingxue for the past few days, just to see how she would react.

To his surprise, it really took him a bit by surprise.

It seems that Jiang Qingxue's training has begun to show results.

In a few days, we can start to let her know her true identity.

"Disdain?"

Qin Mu slowly repeated the word, leaning forward slightly, reaching out and lifting her chin with his fingertips, forcing her to look up at him.

"Why do you say that, my beloved concubine?"

His fingertips were warm, but his strength was irresistible.

Jiang Qingxue was forced to meet his gaze, her eyes filled with vulnerability and helplessness.

"If not out of disgust, why... why hasn't Your Majesty come to see me for several days in a row?"

Through her teary eyes, she poured out all the torment and panic of the past few days.

"Your Majesty, I know I am dull and foolish, not as considerate as Sister Su, nor as charming as Sister Lu, but my heart for you is as clear as heaven and earth. I will always remember the favors Your Majesty has shown me in the Northern Frontier, and I only hope to serve Your Majesty for a long time... If I have made any mistakes, please tell me, Your Majesty, and I will definitely correct them. I only beg Your Majesty... not to ignore me."

These words are half true and half false.

The truth is, she was genuinely afraid of falling out of favor, afraid of losing her value, and afraid of being thrown back into that bottomless, hopeless abyss.

The pretense lies in the fact that the deep affection of "hoping to serve for a long time" is nothing more than a facade that must be put on after weighing the pros and cons.

But when she spoke these words with tears streaming down her face, coupled with her charming attire, it somehow managed to create a remarkably realistic effect.

Qin Mu stared at her, remaining silent for a long time.

The only sounds in the room were the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and her barely suppressed, faint sobs.

Time seemed to stand still.

Jiang Qingxue's heart sank little by little.

Is it... not even possible?

Just when she was about to despair, Qin Mu suddenly let go of her hand.

He leaned back on the soft couch, his posture becoming languid again, but his gaze remained fixed on her face.

"My beloved concubine has misunderstood."

He spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion, "It is not that I despise you. It is just that this trip to the northern border has been filled with many matters, and on the return journey I will need to handle the political affairs along the way, so it is inevitable that I have neglected my beloved consort."

This explanation, official and perfunctory, at least gave Jiang Qingxue a way out.

She quickly replied, "It was my fault for being so ignorant and failing to understand Your Majesty's hard work. Instead, I had wild thoughts and disturbed Your Majesty's peace..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again.

"Get up," Qin Mu said. "The ground is cold."

Jiang Qingxue got up as instructed, but because she had been kneeling for a long time, her legs and feet were numb and she swayed.

Qin Mu reached out, grabbed her wrist, and gently pulled it.

Jiang Qingxue gasped and unexpectedly fell onto the soft couch, sitting right next to him.

The distance between them instantly closed, so close that she could feel the heat emanating from his body, see the shadow cast by his eyelashes, and smell the faint scent of alcohol in his breath.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she tried to move away, but an arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

"Since my beloved concubine is worried that I'm neglecting you,"

Qin Mu's voice rang in her ear, deep and with a hint of amusement, "Then... stay here tonight."

The warm breath brushed against my ear, carrying an undeniable air.

Jiang Qingxue's body stiffened, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

There is a sense of relief at achieving one's purpose, a fear and resistance to what is about to happen, and a deep contempt for one's own actions.

There was also a hint of... relaxation that she herself hadn't even noticed.

She finally...did not fall out of favor.

At least, not for now.

"Yes……"

She heard herself reply in a voice barely audible, and obediently nestled into his arms, closing her eyes and letting his arms tighten around her.

Finally, he let his kisses fall on her forehead and cheeks, and finally cover her lips.

The moon-white gauze shirt slipped off her shoulders, as if shedding the last layer of fragile disguise.

The lights in Chengxinzhai were not extinguished until late at night.

Shuyingxuan remained empty that night.

.......

The convoy continued its journey the following morning.

Jiang Qingxue woke up in Qin Mu's imperial carriage.

Beneath him was a soft fox fur coat, and he was covered with a dark brocade quilt with dragon patterns. The familiar scent of ambergris lingered in the air.

She moved slightly, and a familiar soreness spread through her body, reminding her of everything that had happened last night.

Qin Mu had already gotten up and was sitting to the side, being helped by palace maids to change his clothes.

The morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains of the car window, falling on his sharply defined profile. His expression was calm, as if the man who had held her in his arms and taken advantage of her the night before was just an illusion.

Hearing the noise, he turned his head and glanced at her.

"Awake?" The tone was flat, no different from usual.

Jiang Qingxue hurriedly tried to get up and bow, but he stopped her by raising his hand: "Lie down. It's still early."

She lay down as instructed, pulled the quilt up to her chin, leaving only her eyes exposed, and secretly sized him up.

He seemed to be in a good mood? At least, he didn't look annoyed.

"Your Majesty..." she said softly, her voice still a little hoarse.

"Um?"

"Your Majesty... I lost my composure last night." She lowered her eyes.

Qin Mu fastened his belt, walked to the edge of the couch and sat down, reaching out to smooth the messy strands of hair by her cheek: "It's alright. I understand my beloved consort's feelings."

His movements were gentle, but his words still revealed little emotion.

But for Jiang Qingxue, that was enough.

She knew that last night's desperate "proactive" move had temporarily secured her position.

Qin Mu accepted her back, whether it was because of her "heartfelt intentions," because she still had value, or... simply out of a momentary pity.

After the caravan set off again, Jiang Qingxue was sent back to her carriage.

The palace maids were noticeably more respectful and attentive, and the breakfasts they brought were as exquisite as before.

Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning looked at her with a more complex and probing gaze, but still maintained a polite demeanor.

Everything seemed to be back on track.

However, as Jiang Qingxue sat in the carriage, watching the scenery receding outside the window, the desolate emptiness in her heart seemed to grow even larger.

Last night, she crossed her final line.

In order not to fall out of favor, she offered herself up, using tears and her body to beg for a man's pity.

Once you start down this path, there's no turning back.

The road ahead is uncertain, but the imperial city is already in sight.

What kind of years awaited her in the deep palace?

........