ATPnovel Chapter 287 Slap
Chapter 287 Slap
He didn't ask any further questions.
He just leaned back in his chair and watched her.
Looked for a long time.
After a while, Liu Hongyan's heart began to pound again.
finally--
Qin Mu spoke.
There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
A sense of utter boredom.
"Miss Liu."
He sighed.
"Can't you even put up a fight?"
Liu Hongyan was stunned.
She looked up at Qin Mu.
Those beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with confusion.
Revolt?
What are we rebelling against?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Qin Mu said irritably:
"At least put up a struggle, give me some sense of accomplishment."
Liu Hongyan blinked.
She didn't understand what Qin Mu was saying at all.
Qin Mu sighed as he looked at her.
"I've gotten used to those women not cooperating."
"Then I will use some methods to make them submit."
He paused, his gaze falling on Liu Hongyan's face:
"And yet you're so cooperative—"
He shook his head:
"It makes me feel very unfulfilled."
Liu Hongyan: "..."
Her lips twitched slightly.
This is……
Do you think she's too obedient?
Dislike that she doesn't resist?
Dislike her...
What would make the emperor feel no sense of accomplishment?
A sense of absurdity welled up in Liu Hongyan's heart.
She has seen countless people in the North over the years.
There are cunning and scheming masters, brilliant young talents, and generals with strategic brilliance.
I've never seen anyone like this before.
Did they think the prisoners were too obedient?
Dissatisfied that the other party didn't resist?
this--
What's wrong with this?
But she didn't have time to think about it.
Because Qin Mu has spoken again.
His voice remained casual, yet carried a hint of scrutiny.
"Your Northern Territory and Li Yang have formed an alliance—"
He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable:
"For what reason?"
"So that your prince can become emperor?"
Liu Hongyan's heart sank suddenly!
This question is even more direct than the one before!
Even more deadly!
Liu Hongyan's fingers tightened again.
The fingernails dug deep into the palm, almost piercing the skin.
But her face remained calm.
She took a deep breath.
Then, open your mouth.
The voice was steady and submissive, devoid of any emotion.
"His Majesty."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Of course not."
She looked up and met Qin Mu's gaze.
Those beautiful phoenix eyes were now filled with sincere light.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has sent a commoner woman to the Li Yang Dynasty—"
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"It was for the purpose of opening up trade routes."
To facilitate trade routes.
These four words were the way she had already thought of.
This statement can be summarized as follows:
This explained the purpose of the trip without offending Qin Mu.
After all, maintaining trade routes is a normal practice between the two countries.
It's a perfectly legitimate thing to do.
Even if Qin Mu pressed her for details, she could still answer.
The northern border is adjacent to Liyang, and border trade has always existed.
She came to discuss how to expand trade so that the people of both countries could benefit.
This approach offers a way out, whether to advance or retreat.
This way, the lie won't be exposed, and you won't be driven into a corner.
After Liu Hongyan finished speaking, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She looked at Qin Mu, waiting for his reaction.
Qin Mu was slightly taken aback after hearing this.
immediately--
His eyes suddenly lit up.
The light was ten times brighter than before.
A meaningful smile curved at the corner of his mouth.
Those deep eyes were filled with excitement.
"To establish trade routes?"
He repeated those four words, his tone slightly playful.
A hint of barely suppressed joy.
Looking at his reaction, Liu Hongyan suddenly had a bad feeling.
wrong.
His reaction was wrong.
She thought this explanation was perfect enough to get by.
But Qin Mu's reaction made her feel—
It seems I've stepped into some kind of trap.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her face.
Those deep eyes were now filled with excitement.
In that light, there was appreciation, amusement, and something else...
The hunter's irrepressible excitement when he finally discovers that his prey is dishonest.
"Miss Liu."
He spoke, his voice soft, yet carrying a hint of barely suppressed joy.
"You finally,"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"That's dishonest."
Liu Hongyan's heart sank suddenly!
She opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But Qin Mu had already given her no chance.
He turned his head and looked at the three people inside the hall.
Zhang Julu.
Gu Jiantang.
Li Chunfeng.
The three stood in the hall, silent since the beginning.
Looking at all of this.
Qin Mu looked at them and said calmly:
"alright."
"You may all leave."
The three exchanged a glance.
Zhang Julu frowned slightly.
He glanced at Liu Hongyan kneeling on the ground, then at Zhao Qingxue standing behind Qin Mu.
A complex emotion flashed in those cloudy old eyes.
But he didn't say anything.
He simply bowed in greeting.
"Your subject takes his leave."
Gu Jiantang stood there, silent for a moment.
He glanced at Qin Mu, then at Zhao Qingxue.
Then he turned around.
The black iron boots pounded on the gold bricks, producing a dull "thump-thump" sound.
They disappeared outside the palace gates.
Li Chunfeng remained silent throughout.
He simply nodded slightly, then turned and left.
The moon-white Taoist robe fluttered gently in the night breeze and quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Inside the hall, only Qin Mu, Zhao Qingxue, and Liu Hongyan, who was kneeling on the ground, remained.
The candlelight flickered.
Moonlight is like water.
Liu Hongyan knelt on the ground, watching the three figures disappear outside the palace gate.
The ominous premonition in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
She had no idea what would happen next.
But she knew—
It's definitely not a good thing.
The palace doors slowly closed.
"Bang."
A soft sound cut off the moonlight outside, and also extinguished the last hope.
Liu Hongyan's heart sank completely.
She knelt on the ground, her body trembling slightly.
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze from the palace gate.
It landed on her.
Those deep eyes were now filled with excitement.
He didn't speak.
He simply turned his head and looked at Zhao Qingxue behind him.
Zhao Qingxue stood behind him, slowly walking forward from behind that moon-white figure.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her face.
That peerless face gleamed with a cool, serene light under the moonlight.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were now staring at Liu Hongyan, who was kneeling on the ground.
A complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
The emotions were very complex.
There was sympathy, there was pity, and a trace of—
It's something complicated that even she can't quite explain.
Because she was all too familiar with this scene.
too familiar.
Not long ago, she was the one kneeling on the ground.
He was hung up, slapped, and hit repeatedly with a wooden stick.
That humiliation, that pain, that torment worse than death—
She will never forget it in her lifetime.
But now, it was someone else who was kneeling on the ground.
Instead, it was replaced by this envoy from the North.
It was replaced by this woman named Liu Hongyan.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers slowly tightened inside her sleeve.
She didn't know how she should feel.
Is it to relieve anger?
Is it sympathy?
Yes--
she does not know.
Qin Mu looked at Zhao Qingxue, noticing the complex emotions in her eyes.
She smiled softly.
"Qingxue," he called out.
Zhao Qingxue raised her head and looked at him.
Qin Mu looked at her and said, slowly and deliberately:
"She's somewhat dishonest."
"What should we do?"
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
She looked at Qin Mu, at his smiling, meaningful face.
In an instant, I understood everything.
He was making her—
Do it.
Let her use the same methods he used on her to deal with others.
Let her—
Experience that transformation firsthand.
From prisoner to whip-wielder.
From being tormented to tormenting others.
Zhao Qingxue fell silent.
Countless images flashed through her mind.
There were those moments when she was hung up.
There were those moments when Sister Hong slapped her.
Those moments when a wooden stick was repeatedly struck her.
Those images, every single frame, were etched into her mind like a brand.
It can never be erased.
But at this moment, Qin Mu made her—
Go do the same thing.
To others.
Zhao Qingxue's fingers clenched even tighter.
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, sending a sharp pain through me.
But the pain kept her conscious until the very end.
She knew this was not an order.
This is a choice.
Let her decide for herself.
who is she.
He is the one who is forever tormented.
still--
It can become something else.
Zhao Qingxue closed her eyes.
Take a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled, carrying with it the heavy atmosphere of the hall, chilled her to the bone.
When she opened her eyes again, her deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with a complex clarity.
She looked at Qin Mu.
He nodded slightly.
"Yes," she said.
The sound was very soft, yet exceptionally clear.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's appreciation deepened.
He didn't say anything more.
He simply leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Liu Hongyan, who was kneeling on the ground.
Waiting for a good show.
Zhao Qingxue turned around.
Take a step.
He walked step by step toward Liu Hongyan.
The moon-white dress shimmered softly in the candlelight, its hem trailing on the ground with a soft rustling sound.
Liu Hongyan knelt on the ground, watching the moon-white figure walk towards her step by step.
Her pupils slowly contracted.
The ominous premonition in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
She didn't know what Zhao Qingxue was going to do.
But in those deep purple phoenix eyes, she saw something—
Something she couldn't explain.
That thing is very complicated.
There is compassion, there is pity, there is struggle.
There is another type—
A desperate act of burning one's boats.
Liu Hongyan's heart was in her throat.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But Zhao Qingxue had already walked up to her.
stop.
They were very close, close enough that Liu Hongyan could see the complex emotions in her eyes and smell the faint fragrance emanating from her.
Liu Hongyan raised her head and looked at her.
Zhao Qingxue was also looking at her.
Eyes facing each other.
Time seemed to stand still.
Then--
Zhao Qingxue raised her hand.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her hand.
Her hands were fair and slender, with distinct knuckles, and gleamed like jade in the moonlight.
Liu Hongyan stared at the hand, her eyes filled with confusion.
She didn't know what the hand was going to do.
I don't know what will happen next.
She was simply instinctively terrified.
The next moment—
That hand fell.
"Smack—!!!"
A crisp sound rang out in the silent hall!
The sound was so loud, so clear, and so sudden that Liu Hongyan was completely stunned!
Her head suddenly tilted to one side!
My face is burning with pain!
The pain burned like flames on her cheek, spreading outwards from where she had been slapped, leaving her completely stunned!
Liu Hongyan's eyes widened, filled with disbelief and shock!
She turned her head and looked at Zhao Qingxue.
Zhao Qingxue was still standing in front of her, her hand still in the gesture of slapping out.
The moonlight shone on her face, illuminating her stunning beauty with exceptional clarity.
In those deep purple phoenix eyes, there was no sympathy, no pity, only a complex calm.
Within that tranquility lay relief, resolve, and something else—
Things Liu Hongyan couldn't understand.
Liu Hongyan covered her burning face and stared blankly at Zhao Qingxue.
My mind went completely blank.
She was slapped.
Empress Li Yang.
She was with that woman she thought would be an ally.
she was--
She didn't know what to say or do.
He could only stand there blankly, staring at Zhao Qingxue.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Qingxue felt her complex emotions churning even more intensely.
She recalled the feeling when Sister Hong slapped her for the first time.
She was like that back then too.
stunned.
incredible.
They wanted to resist, but found themselves powerless to do so.
He could only let the slaps fall on his face again and again.
That humiliation, that pain, that profound helplessness—
She knew it all too well.
And at that moment, she became the one who slapped him.
This feeling—
Very strange.
It's very complicated.
It stirred up an indescribable and ineffable emotion within her.