NCCnovel Chapter 475 Han Zhong's mission: He will live the rest of his life solely for this mission!
Chapter 475 Han Zhong's mission: He will live the rest of his life solely for this mission!
Han Zhong's heart skipped a beat.
He seemed to have thought of something, but the idea was too absurd for him to be sure.
He looked up at Qin Mu, his eyes filled with bewilderment and shock, his voice hoarse.
"Your Majesty, what...what do you mean by this?"
Qin Mu said calmly,
What do you think?
Han Zhong's lips trembled violently, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he said with difficulty:
"Does this mean... this disgraced official doesn't have to die?"
Qin Mu smiled and said calmly,
"Thank your wife and daughter."
Han Zhong's body trembled violently.
He suddenly realized something.
His Majesty spared his life not out of pity or mercy, but because of what his wife and daughter had done in exchange for his life.
Countless images flashed through his mind in an instant...
The sight of Liu Ruolan kneeling before His Majesty begging for mercy, the sight of his two daughters kneeling before His Majesty kowtowing and pleading for forgiveness, and even more humiliating scenes...
Han Zhong's eyes suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in them, but he held them back tightly.
He felt as if a dull knife was cutting into his heart, causing him unbearable pain.
Han Zhong's lips trembled violently, and every word seemed to be uttered with all his might.
"Your Majesty...they...they..."
He couldn't continue, because he didn't know what to say.
He wanted to ask them what they had done, but he didn't dare to ask, afraid that the answer would break him.
He wanted to ask them if they were alright, but he didn't dare to ask, afraid that they weren't.
He wanted to ask them what price they had paid, but he didn't dare to ask, afraid that he could never repay that price in his lifetime...
Qin Mu looked at him calmly.
"They'll be fine. You don't need to worry."
He paused, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"Now I have a task for you. For the rest of your life, you will live for this task."
Han Zhong did not hesitate at all, his forehead touching the ground, his voice hoarse but firm.
"This sinful subject will repay this debt with utmost loyalty, even unto death!"
Now that things have come to this, he has no other choice.
He must cherish the life his wife and daughter gave him and never betray their sacrifice and expectations.
So Han Zhong didn't ask any further questions about the task and simply agreed.
Qin Mu nodded, his smile deepening.
"The task is simple. From today onwards, you will no longer be called Han Zhong. Change your name to whatever you like, then infiltrate the northern border, start as a lowly soldier, and climb your way up step by step. Climb as high as you can for me."
Han Zhong suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, his pupils filled with shock, and said:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to undertake this task. However... Xu Longxiang knows my face, and I am worried that it will expose me and ruin Your Majesty's plans."
Qin Mu smiled, raised his right hand, and slightly spread his five fingers.
"Don't worry, I will change your appearance."
Han Zhong's heart was churning with turmoil, but he knew he had no way out.
He gritted his teeth, his forehead touching the ground, his voice steady and firm.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will certainly complete the mission and live up to your expectations."
Qin Mu looked down at him, his voice carrying a profound meaning.
"Han Zhong, this is your only chance to prove yourself. Do not let me down."
Han Zhong pressed his forehead against the cold stone slab, his voice hoarse yet powerful.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will never fail to live up to your expectations."
Qin Mu's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Of course, you can also choose to betray us."
Han Zhong was startled, his whole body trembled, and he frantically banged his forehead on the ground, making a loud thud, his voice urgent and fearful.
"This sinful subject would never dare! This sinful subject would never dare!"
Qin Mu smiled, his voice returning to its previous casual tone.
"Get up. I will change your appearance."
Han Zhong stood up, stood with his hands at his sides, head bowed, not daring to look at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu raised his right hand, his five fingers spread, and a soft light emanated from his palm, enveloping Han Zhong's face.
Han Zhong felt as if countless warm hands were gently kneading his face, his bones were shifting slightly, his skin was stretching slowly, and his muscles were rearranging.
There was no pain, only an indescribable tingling sensation.
A moment later, the light dissipated. Qin Mu took out a small bronze mirror from his sleeve and handed it to him.
"Take a look."
Han Zhong took the bronze mirror and held it up to his face with trembling hands.
The face reflected in the mirror was unfamiliar.
My brow bone isn't as high anymore, my eye sockets aren't as deep, my jawline is much softer, and my cheekbones are flatter.
This face looks ordinary; you'd easily blend into a crowd. It's completely different from his previous resolute and menacing face.
Han Zhong's hands trembled violently, and the bronze mirror swayed gently in his hands, reflecting his red and tearful eyes.
He felt a deep sadness in his heart.
He knew that from this day forward, he would be living with a different face.
Han Zhong ceased to exist from that moment on.
He put down the bronze mirror, raised his head, looked at Qin Mu, and his lips parted slightly.
Han Zhong hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, his voice trembling slightly.
"Your Majesty, may I...see the Lady and the others one more time? Just from a distance, that will suffice."
Qin Mu looked at him, his gaze calm as still water.
"Once you have completed your mission, I will naturally arrange for you to meet."
Tears welled up in Han Zhong's eyes and streamed down that unfamiliar face.
He knelt on the ground, his forehead touching the earth, his voice hoarse.
"Yes... Your Majesty."
His heart was filled with bitterness and sorrow.
Han Zhong knew that this parting might be the last time they would meet.
Maybe one year, maybe two years, maybe ten years, maybe we'll never see each other again in this lifetime.
But he had no other choice.
This is his only chance to atone for his sins, his only chance to start anew, and his only chance to protect his family.
He raised his head, looked at Qin Mu, wiped away his tears, and spoke in a steady voice.
"Your Majesty, I... am ready."
Qin Mu nodded, turned around, and walked towards the prison cell door.
"Let's go. Someone's already waiting for you outside."
Han Zhong stood up and followed Qin Mu out of the cell where he had been imprisoned for countless days and nights.
The oil lamps on both sides of the passageway swayed in the wind, casting his shadow on the mottled stone wall, sometimes long and sometimes short.
As he walked out of the prison gates, a night breeze swept over him, carrying the chill of early winter.
Han Zhong raised his head, looked at the deep night sky above, and took a deep breath.
His eyes reddened again, but he gritted his teeth and didn't let the tears fall.
From this day forward, he was no longer Han Zhong. He was no longer the General Who Guards the South of Qin.
He was no longer the pillar of the Han family. He was just an ordinary person, a soldier who had risen from the very bottom.
He will use this unfamiliar face to complete that one and only task. He will spend the rest of his life atoning for the sins he has committed.
........
After leaving the prison, Qin Mu headed towards Jiang Zhaoyue's bedroom.
The door to Yuxiu Palace was half-open, and a dim candlelight shone through.
He didn't have the palace maid announce his arrival; instead, he pushed open the door and went inside.
Inside the bedchamber, candlelight burned quietly in the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
In front of the rosewood dressing table, Jiang Zhaoyue sat before a bronze mirror, holding an ivory comb in her hand, gently combing her long hair that fell to her waist.
Hearing footsteps, her body trembled slightly.
Jiang Zhaoyue turned her head and saw Qin Mu standing at the door, a familiar smile on his lips.
She quickly put down the comb, stood up, walked briskly to Qin Mu, and gracefully bowed down.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of barely suppressed joy and shyness. Her forehead touched the cool gold bricks, and her long hair slipped from her shoulders, spreading out on the ground.
Qin Mu looked down at her, his smile deepening. "Get up."
He reached out, gently took her hand, and pulled her up from the ground.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood up, her hands hanging down, her head bowed, not daring to look at him.
Qin Mu did not let go of her hand, but led her to the dressing table and sat down on the embroidered stool.
He smiled, his gaze falling on the bronze mirror, looking at the rosy face reflected there.
"Are you getting ready?"
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside him, head bowed, her voice barely audible. "Your Majesty, I... am preparing to retire for the night."
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at her.
"Then I'm here, so you won't be able to go to bed."
His voice carried a hint of teasing, as well as a touch of ambiguity that made hearts race.
Jiang Zhaoyue's face turned even redder, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She bit her lip, looked up at Qin Mu, and then quickly lowered her head again.
Those clear, cool eyes were now filled with shyness and joy, like a lake rippling in the spring breeze, sparkling with light.
Qin Mu reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.
"Have you missed me?"
Jiang Zhaoyue's eyelashes trembled violently, and her breathing became rapid.
"I want to...I really want to."
Her voice carried an overwhelming longing, along with a hint of coquettish grievance.
"Your Majesty has not visited me in a long time."
Qin Mu smiled, released her chin, stood up, and walked behind her.
He reached out and gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her into his embrace.
Jiang Zhaoyue's body stiffened slightly, then softened, and she leaned against Qin Mu's chest.
She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his chest and listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, and the fire in her heart burned even brighter.
"His Majesty……"
Jiang Zhaoyue's voice was very soft, with a hint of shy tremor.
Qin Mu's fingers gently caressed her waist, his voice tinged with amusement.
"I'm not leaving tonight."
Jiang Zhaoyue's heart skipped a beat.
Her face turned even redder, as red as if she had been rouged, and even her ears felt burning.
She bit her lip, buried her face in Qin Mu's chest, and spoke in a muffled voice.
"Um."
Qin Mu released her, took her hand, and walked towards the bathroom.
"Accompany me to take a bath."
Jiang Zhaoyue paused slightly, her face burning even hotter, but she said nothing, only lowered her head and followed behind him.
The bathroom was filled with steam and mist.
The bathtub, made of white jade, was filled with warm water, and a few rose petals floated on the surface, glowing a faint red in the candlelight.
A faint, pleasant fragrance filled the air, mixed with moisture, making people drowsy.
Qin Mu turned around, preparing to pick Jiang Zhaoyue up in his arms.
"His Majesty."
A cool, clear voice came from outside the palace gate, neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough to be heard.
Qin Mu paused slightly.
He released Jiang Zhaoyue's hand, turned around, and looked towards the door.
Yunluan stood on the threshold, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her back ramrod straight, her face cold and stern.
She kept her head down, neither looking at Qin Mu nor at Jiang Zhaoyue.
"What's wrong?"
Qin Mu frowned and asked.
He knew that Yunluan would never disturb him in this situation; there must be something important going on.
Yun Luan raised her head to meet Qin Mu's gaze, her voice clear and steady.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the Northern Border. The Northern Royal Palace is taking inventory of its treasury; there seems to be something amiss."
Qin Mu smiled upon hearing this.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood behind him, and her expression did not change at all when she heard the words "Northern Border".
She was no longer a person of the North; everything in the North was no longer related to her.
At this moment, she heard Qin Mu say calmly:
"explain."
Yunluan lowered her head and whispered:
"According to our spies, the Northern Kingdom is currently inventorying its treasury of gold, silver, jewels, martial arts manuals, and powerful weapons. The quantities are enormous, and the scope is vast. I suspect that Xu Longxiang is preparing for something big."
Qin Mu nodded, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.