SWDnovel Chapter 78 Qin Mu is indeed a lecherous fiend! He actually has designs on Liu Hongyan again?
Chapter 78 Qin Mu is indeed a lecherous fiend! He actually has designs on Liu Hongyan again?
Outside the main gate of the Prince's Mansion, carriages and horses were already prepared.
Qin Mu did not ride in the bright yellow gilded sedan chair today, but instead opted for a more understated black carriage.
The car body is decorated with only simple cloud patterns, which are not luxurious, but have their own sense of majesty.
The number of imperial guards was also halved, leaving only a little over a hundred men, personally led by Zhao Kuo.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Zhao Kuo knelt down and bowed.
Qin Mu nodded, his gaze falling on the two people standing not far away.
Xu Longxiang and Fan Li.
Xu Longxiang was dressed in a black outfit today, with a dark cloak over it, a sword hanging at his waist, and a cold and stern face. He stood in the morning light like an iron statue.
When Qin Mu appeared with Jiang Qingxue, Xu Longxiang's gaze immediately fell on Jiang Qingxue.
He saw Jiang Qingxue's pale face, the faint dark circles under her eyes, and her unsteady steps...
My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand!
last night……
What exactly happened last night?
That pose...
What position could have made her so weak?
Countless unbearable images flooded his mind again, and Xu Longxiang felt that even breathing had become difficult.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to look away from Qin Mu and bow in respect.
"Your subject Xu Longxiang respectfully welcomes Your Majesty."
Fan Li stood half a step behind Xu Longxiang, still dressed in a blue robe, holding a feather fan, with a refined and scholarly face, and his eyes carrying the usual shrewdness and calculation.
Seeing Qin Mu looking over, he stepped forward and bowed in greeting:
"Your subject Fan Li greets Your Majesty. The carriages and horses are ready, and we are prepared to depart at any time."
Qin Mu nodded slightly, led Jiang Qingxue to the carriage, but did not get in immediately. Instead, he turned to Xu Longxiang and said calmly:
"Minister Xu, you should come along too. After all, it's your territory, and you're more familiar with it."
Xu Longxiang slowly raised his head: "Your subject obeys the decree."
His voice was a little hoarse, as if he hadn't slept well last night.
Qin Mu seemed oblivious to his unusual behavior and continued:
"By the way, at yesterday's banquet, I remember there was a woman in a red dress beside you, quite beautiful. Why haven't I seen her today?"
Xu Longxiang was taken aback.
Woman in red dress?
He immediately realized that Qin Mu was referring to Liu Hongyan.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.
Anger, sarcasm, and a hint of helplessness.
This Qin Mu is indeed a lecherous glutton!
Of all the civil and military officials from the Northern Border at yesterday's banquet, he didn't remember a single one, but he did remember Liu Hongyan, who was wearing a red dress!
But Liu Hongyan was no ordinary woman.
She is a Celestial Realm expert and one of his five top advisors. She is skilled in poison and seductive arts and is an indispensable asset to his future endeavors.
Offer her to Qin Mu?
impossible.
Xu Longxiang sneered inwardly, but remained respectful on the surface:
"Your Majesty, you are referring to Miss Liu Hongyan. She is a guest retainer in my household, and today... she is probably busy with other matters."
"Guest advisor?"
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "A woman who can serve as a guest in Minister Xu's residence must have extraordinary abilities. Go and summon her; I wish to meet her."
These words, spoken casually, carried an unquestionable air of command.
Xu Longxiang clenched his fist quietly inside his sleeve.
He glanced at Fan Li, whose eyes also flashed with seriousness.
Liu Hongyan's identity is too sensitive. If she reveals her cultivation level to Qin Mu, it will easily arouse suspicion.
But His Majesty has spoken; can he refuse?
"Yes," Xu Longxiang replied through gritted teeth, then turned to his personal guards behind him and whispered, "Go and invite Miss Liu here."
The guards obeyed and left.
The wait wasn't long, but for Xu Longxiang, every breath was torture.
He could feel Qin Mu's gaze scrutinizing him.
You could sense the stiffness and awkwardness on Jiang Qingxue's face as she stood next to Qin Mu.
I could feel the increasingly strong urge to kill growing stronger inside me.
But he had to endure it.
Soon, a red figure appeared at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion.
Liu Hongyan did not wear the red dress from yesterday, but instead changed into a more elegant light red long dress.
She wore a white fox fur coat, her long hair was tied into a simple bun, and she only had a gold hairpin in her hair. Her makeup was also much lighter than yesterday.
She walked slowly, her steps light and graceful. Although she was dressed more simply than yesterday, the allure that emanated from her very being was no less.
As she approached, she gracefully knelt down, her voice soft and alluring:
"This humble woman, Liu Hongyan, greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
Qin Mu's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes:
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Hongyan stood up, bowing her head respectfully.
Qin Mu smiled and suddenly spoke:
"Since Miss Liu is a guest retainer in Minister Xu's household, she must be exceptionally talented. I am currently lacking a female official who is knowledgeable in poetry and music. I wonder if Miss Liu would be willing to return to the palace with me?"
Everyone was stunned by these words!
Openly poaching talent?!
To directly poach Xu Longxiang's advisors?!
This is just too... too disrespectful to Xu Longxiang!
Xu Longxiang's face instantly darkened.
He stared intently at Qin Mu, his eyes flashing with cold light, almost unable to control the urge to draw his sword!
Fan Li's expression also changed, and he quickly looked at Xu Longxiang, his eyes filled with worry.
Liu Hongyan herself was stunned.
She hadn't expected Qin Mu to be so direct.
Entering the palace?
To be a female official?
She glanced at Xu Longxiang instinctively, a questioning look flashing in her eyes.
Xu Longxiang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
If he agrees, it would be tantamount to telling Qin Mu that Xu Longxiang couldn't even protect his own staff, and that his prestige in the Northern Territory was nothing more than that.
If he refuses... that would be blatant defiance of the divine will.
dilemma.
Xu Longxiang's mind raced, and finally, he stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"Your Majesty's favor is a blessing for Hongyan. However..."
He paused, his voice carrying just the right amount of embarrassment:
"Although Hongyan is a guest retainer in my household, she is actually... a distant niece of my late mother. Before she passed away, my mother instructed me to take good care of her. Over the years, Hongyan has always regarded the Prince's residence as her own home and me as her elder brother. If we were to let her enter the palace..."
He looked up at Qin Mu, his eyes pleading:
"I... simply cannot bear it."
These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity.
He both invoked his deceased mother to appeal to emotions and emphasized Liu Hongyan's relationship with him as an older brother, touching the audience with the deep affection between them.
More importantly, he emphasized the word "cannot bear" very much.
It was as if Qin Mu forcibly taking them away would be separating the siblings, and would be considered cold-hearted.
Qin Mu stared at Xu Longxiang quietly for a long time.
It went on for so long that Xu Longxiang almost thought he was about to get angry.
Then, Qin Mu suddenly smiled.
His smile was gentle, even carrying a hint of admiration:
"I see. I was being presumptuous. Since she is Minister Xu's sister, I naturally cannot take what belongs to another."
He waved his hand, his tone relaxed:
"Alright, let's drop this matter. Let's get going."
Having said that, he stopped looking at Liu Hongyan and led Jiang Qingxue into the carriage.
Xu Longxiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
For a moment just now, he really thought Qin Mu was about to turn hostile.
Thankfully... thankfully he held back.
Liu Hongyan watched Qin Mu's retreating figure as he got into the car, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
When Qin Mu suggested that she enter the palace, for a fleeting moment, she was actually... tempted.
It wasn't because she wanted to betray Xu Longxiang.
Rather, it's because entering the palace means access to more secrets, closer proximity to Qin Mu, and the ability to... do more for the Crown Prince's great cause.
But the crown prince refused.
To protect her, he did not hesitate to defy the emperor's will.
She remembered this kindness.
Xu Longxiang turned around and whispered to Liu Hongyan:
"Hongyan, you should go back now."
Liu Hongyan nodded, curtsied, and withdrew.
Xu Longxiang watched her departing figure, a shadow passing over his eyes.
He turned to Fan Li and said:
"Mr. Fan, let's get in the car too."
"Yes."
The two boarded another carriage.
The convoy slowly started moving and headed towards "Tingxuelou" in the west of the city.
........