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

Chapter 143 Xu Longxiang's world completely collapsed!

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was brightly lit, and the glow of hundreds of palace lanterns was reflected on the scarlet carpet.

Palace maids flitted among the tables like butterflies among flowers, carrying gilded trays and presenting one dish of delicacies after another.

East China Sea shad is drizzled with amber-colored sauce, Jiangnan crab meat lion's head meatballs steam in a white jade bowl, grape wine from the Western Regions gleams with a purplish-red luster in a glass pot, and roasted whole lamb from the North sizzles on a copper plate.

The banquet officially began.

Qin Mu sat on the dragon throne, the pearl tassels swaying gently. He did not touch his chopsticks, but simply leaned back lazily, one hand supporting his chin, his gaze sweeping through every corner of the hall through the gaps in the tassels.

Xu Fenghua and Jiang Qingxue sat on the phoenix chairs on either side, both with their eyes lowered, as if they were out of place at this grand banquet.

The first gaze came from the civil officials' ranks.

Minister of Rites Lu Mingyuan picked up a piece of steamed shad with his chopsticks, but hesitated to put it in his mouth.

His gaze fell on Xu Longxiang, his brows furrowing slightly.

This veteran official, who had served three dynasties and upheld the rules of etiquette throughout his life, felt a complex mix of emotions as he looked at Xu Longxiang's expressionless face.

There was both sympathy and a hint of unspoken wariness.

He had seen too many people and knew that those who could remain calm in the face of such humiliation were either saints or... extremely cunning and ruthless tyrants.

Which type is Xu Longxiang?

Lu Mingyuan wasn't sure, but when he saw Xu Longxiang pick up his wine glass, his fingers holding it were as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremor.

This set off a slight alarm bell in his mind.

The second gaze came from the ranks of military officers.

Minister of War Wang Ben tore off a leg of lamb and began to devour it.

He ate and drank heartily, as if he were truly attending a wedding banquet.

But those hawk-like eyes would occasionally sweep over Xu Longxiang.

Wang Ben was a seasoned general on the battlefield and was very good at reading people's expressions.

He noticed that every time Xu Longxiang raised his glass and drank, his movements were so precise that they seemed to have been measured with a ruler.

The movement was neither too fast nor too slow, neither too light nor too heavy, and even the amplitude of the swirl of the wine in the glass was almost uniform.

In Wang Ben's view, this was more terrifying than a furious roar.

This means that Xu Longxiang is using all his strength to suppress his emotions, to the point that he has even controlled his muscles' instinctive reactions.

What incredible willpower that requires!

The third gaze came from a prince of the royal family.

King Qin Huan of Chu sat at the head of the princes' seats. He was about forty years old and his face bore a slight resemblance to Qin Mu, except that he had a more sinister look between his brows.

He sipped his wine slowly, his gaze shifting back and forth between Xu Longxiang and Qin Mu.

He was calculating in his mind.

He calculated how long Xu Longxiang's forbearance could last, when the conflict between the Northern Territory and the Imperial City would erupt, and whether he could profit from this chaos.

He looked at Xu Longxiang's calm face, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

Can you bear it?

Let's see how long you can hold out.

The fourth gaze came from envoys from various countries.

The Western Liang envoy, Tuoba Ye, ate meat with gusto, drank wine from large bowls, and chatted and laughed with the officials beside him in broken Chinese.

But his wolf-like eyes were firmly fixed on Xu Longxiang.

He is evaluating.

Assess the cunning of this "Little Northern King," the combat strength of the Northern Army, and the depth of the internal conflicts within the Qin Dynasty.

For Xiliang, a Qin Dynasty in internal strife was the most delicious prey.

The fifth gaze is the most secretive, yet also the sharpest.

From Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang.

Zhao Qingxue's observations

Zhao Qingxue sat upright at the head of the envoys' table, the dishes on the table in front of her almost untouched.

She toyed with a jade wine vessel in her hand, her fingertips gently caressing the rim. Her deep purple phoenix eyes, peering through the pearl-adorned tassels, quietly observed everyone in the hall.

Her gaze first fell on Qin Mu.

The Qin emperor remained languid, occasionally whispering to his concubines and taking sips of wine, seemingly completely immersed in the joy of his new marriage.

But Zhao Qingxue saw it clearly.

Beneath Qin Mu's languid demeanor lay an absolute sense of control.

He was like a spectator sitting in the audience, appreciating the performance of everyone on stage.

His gaze would occasionally sweep over Xu Longxiang.

There was an almost cruel, playful glint in his eyes.

It's as if he's saying: Look, your sister, your woman, they all belong to me now.

And you can only sit here, watch, and endure.

Zhao Qingxue's gaze turned to Xu Longxiang.

The prince of the North sat upright like a pine tree, his face calm, accepting toasts from all sides without refusing them.

A minor official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward with a wine cup, his face plastered with a fawning smile: "Congratulations to the Heir Apparent—no, no, congratulations to Consort Hua on her joyous occasion! This humble official toasts the Heir Apparent!"

These words were sarcastic and, while ostensibly a congratulatory remark, were actually rubbing salt into Xu Longxiang's wounds.

The hall fell silent for a moment as many eyes turned toward them.

Xu Longxiang slowly raised his eyes and looked at the minor official.

His gaze was calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple in it.

Then, he picked up his wine glass and nodded slightly: "Thank you, sir."

He drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor slid down his throat, his Adam's apple bobbed, and then there was no further reaction.

The minor official was stunned; the sarcasm he had prepared stuck in his throat, and he retreated awkwardly.

Zhao Qingxue took in the whole scene and made her own assessment.

To be able to endure public humiliation is beyond the realm of ordinary people.

But then, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

Because Xu Longxiang's fingers holding the cup were clearly visible from her angle.

The knuckles had turned almost transparent white, a sign of overexertion.

Excessive restraint creates a weakness.

He was using all his strength to maintain a calm facade, and the longer this power accumulated, the more terrifying it would be when it erupted.

But it is also easier to... be ignited.

Just then—

A servant dressed in the uniform of the Li Yang delegation quietly walked to Zhao Qingxue's side and whispered a few words in her ear.

The attendant's voice was kept extremely low, but it still attracted the attention of a few people in the silent hall.

Qin Mu's gaze swept over them seemingly casually.

Xu Longxiang's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

After listening to the servant's report, Zhao Qingxue paused slightly in the hand holding the jade wine vessel.

Then, a meaningful smile slowly appeared on her lips.

The smile was faint, almost invisible under the veil of pearls and jade pendants.

But a sharp, knife-like light flashed in those deep purple phoenix eyes.

She slowly put down the wine glass, tapping her fingertips lightly on the rim twice, as if deep in thought.

After a long while, she whispered to herself in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"interesting……"

The voice was soft, yet it carried a knowing, playful quality.

The attendant bowed and withdrew, disappearing back into the ranks of the envoys.

Zhao Qingxue picked up her wine cup again and turned her gaze to Xu Longxiang once more.

This time, her eyes held a complex and indescribable emotion.

There was assessment, calculation, and a hint of barely perceptible pity.

She got it.

They knew that Xu Longxiang's plan had been exposed.

Qin Mu probably already saw through the Xu family's plans within the palace.

They knew that beneath the calm surface of this seemingly patient Northern prince lay a precipice that could collapse at any moment.

And what choice will she, the Empress of Liyang, make?

Is it to lend a helping hand and gamble on whether Xu Longxiang can succeed?

Or should we take advantage of their misfortune and seize this opportunity to completely annex the Northern Territory?

Or... sit back and watch the tigers fight, and when they are both exhausted, reap the benefits.

Zhao Qingxue took a small sip of wine, the liquid melting on her tongue, carrying the unique sweet and astringent taste of Western Region grapes.

Her gaze slowly turned to Qin Mu on the dragon throne.

Qin Mu seemed to notice her gaze, and turned his head slightly to meet her eyes through the beaded tassels.

Their eyes met silently in the air.

It was as if two invisible swords were colliding in the void, sparking unseen flames.

A faint, ambiguous smile appeared on Qin Mu's lips.

Zhao Qingxue nodded slightly and raised her glass in acknowledgment.

Then, the two simultaneously looked away, as if that brief eye contact was nothing more than a routine diplomatic courtesy.

But the most perceptive people in the hall sensed something unusual for that instant.

Undercurrents are brewing.

As the banquet progressed, more and more people began offering toasts.

Some offered sincere congratulations, some tested the waters, some kicked someone when they were down, and some gloated.

Xu Longxiang accepted all comers.

He calmly responded to each person who came forward to offer him a toast, raised his glass, drank it all, and said thank you.

His movements were precise, but his expression was indifferent.

It was as if he were really attending an ordinary wedding banquet, as if the woman sitting on the phoenix chair was not his own sister.

But deep in his eyes, a hatred as cold as ten thousand years of ice was accumulating little by little, settling into the hardest, darkest rock.

As he drank his twenty-seventh cup of wine, a young member of the royal family staggered over, carrying a wine cup.

This is Qin Mu's cousin, Qin Xuan, the heir apparent of the Prince of Kang. He is eighteen years old and a notorious playboy.

"Young Master Xu!"

Qin Xuan hiccuped, a malicious smile on his face.

"I, the young master, raise a toast to you! Congratulations! Your sister has become Consort Hua, and you will be the Emperor's brother-in-law! This is an immense blessing!"

These words were extremely blatant, almost a direct mockery.

The hall fell silent instantly.

All eyes turned to them, and even the music stopped.

Xu Longxiang slowly raised his eyes and looked at Qin Xuan.

His gaze was calm, so calm it was unsettling.

Then, he picked up his wine glass and slowly stood up.

"Thank you, Your Highness." His voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear.

He drank it all in one gulp.

Qin Xuan was stunned. The more humiliations he had prepared were stuck in his throat, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Just then—

That's enough.

A cold, clear voice rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Xu Fenghua who was speaking.

She had stood up at some point, her amber eyes coldly fixed on Qin Xuan, her voice carrying an undeniable authority:

"The Crown Prince of Kang has drunk too much; help him down to rest."

Two palace maids immediately stepped forward to support the swaying Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan wanted to say something, but when she met Xu Fenghua's cold eyes, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and was helped away dejectedly.

Xu Fenghua turned her gaze to Xu Longxiang, and the two exchanged a brief look.

At that moment, a thousand words were left unsaid.

Then, Xu Fenghua slowly sat back on the phoenix chair, lowering her eyes again as if nothing had ever happened.

Xu Longxiang slowly sat down and continued drinking.

But everyone saw that the moment he sat down, a hair-thin crack appeared in the wine glass in his hand.

Wine seeped from the cracks, wetting his fingers.

But he was completely unaware.

The banquet lasted until late afternoon, when the music gradually stopped and the dancers withdrew.

Qin Mu slowly stood up, his pearl-embroidered tassels swaying gently.

"I am deeply gratified that you all have come to my wedding today."

His voice, transmitted through the beaded tassels, carried a peculiar echo:

"Let's call it a day."

"Respectfully bidding farewell to His Majesty! Respectfully bidding farewell to Consort Hua! Respectfully bidding farewell to Consort Xue!"

All the officials responded in unison.

Qin Mu, leading two concubines and surrounded by palace maids, slowly left the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Xu Longxiang stood there, watching his sister and Qingxue's departing figures, watching them being led by Qin Mu, step by step, into the deep palace.

His fist clenched silently inside his sleeve, his nails digging deep into his palm, drawing blood that stained the cuffs of his python robe.

But his face remained expressionless.

Only deep within those dark brown eyes burned a flame powerful enough to incinerate heaven and earth.

Zhao Qingxue stood in the envoy's procession, watching Qin Mu leave, her deep purple phoenix eyes gleaming with unfathomable light under the palace lanterns.

She turned and, surrounded by the delegation, walked out of the palace.

She paused slightly as she passed Xu Longxiang.

Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, she whispered a sentence:

"Seven qian of Chuanxiong means 'The plan has been exposed, the whole army has been wiped out, retreat immediately'."

After saying that, she left without lingering.

Xu Longxiang trembled violently!

He turned his head sharply and looked at Zhao Qingxue's departing figure, his eyes filled with extreme shock!

Seven qian of Chuanxiong?

The Xu family's secret code?

How did she know?!

Is it...

A terrifying thought exploded in Xu Longxiang's mind!

Could it be that the message Qingxue delivered has fallen into the hands of Empress Liyang?!

What about Qin Mu?

Does Qin Mu know?!

Xu Longxiang's breathing suddenly became rapid, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He slowly turned his head, looking into the depths of the palace, in the direction Qin Mu had left.

The night was deep, and the palace lanterns flickered.

But beneath those lights, how many conspiracies, how many schemes, how many... traps are hidden?

Xu Longxiang slowly closed his eyes.

After a long while, he opened his eyes again, his eyes filled with a resolute coldness.

No matter what lies ahead, no matter how many conspiracies lie involved.

He can no longer turn back.

This is a path we must continue down.

Even if... it means heading towards hell.

The night was darker.

The lights in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were gradually extinguished, and the officials dispersed one after another.

The imperial city fell silent once more, with only the eternal lamps in the palace still casting a dim and persistent light in the deep night.

At the boundary between light and darkness, an even greater storm is quietly brewing.

The sun will rise as usual tomorrow.

But for some people, their world has completely collapsed.

.........