NCCnovel Chapter 384 A Cunning Plan! The True Master is Never on the Chessboard
Chapter 384 A Cunning Plan! The True Master is Never on the Chessboard
As Qin Mu looked at the scene before him, a slow smile crept onto his lips.
"What a harmonious scene! These two really are kindred spirits."
Zhao Qingxue stood beside him and couldn't help but chuckle. The chuckle was soft, carrying a hint of worldly indifference.
"They're just two desperate people trying to keep each other company."
Yunluan placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze as cold and sharp as a knife.
"A traitor and a villain. Of course, they had a lot to talk about."
Jiang Zhaoyue shook her head slightly, her long hair slipping down her shoulders and covering half of her face.
Her gaze fell on the empty palace door, her voice soft yet resolute.
"I think Xu Longxiang actually has some feelings for this Moon Goddess."
Zhao Qingxue and Yun Luan both looked at her at the same time.
Jiang Zhaoyue neither avoided the question nor bowed her head.
Her gaze was calm, like a frozen lake, where the wind could not stir up a ripple.
"I was once in love with him, and I know his eyes all too well. The way he looked at the moon goddess just now seemed so familiar. It wasn't the admiration between allies; it was the kind of light a man gives when he looks at a woman."
She spoke these words in a very indifferent tone, as if she were talking about a past event that had nothing to do with her.
Even she herself was somewhat surprised that those memories that once kept her up at night could now slip from her lips so calmly, like a piece of candy that had been chewed for too long and had long lost its flavor.
That past was like a thorn stuck in her heart, impossible to pull out or let go.
But at some point, the thorn disappeared without even leaving a scar.
She couldn't even remember when the last straw broke the camel's back; perhaps it was the moment Xu Longxiang said, "Chun'er? Which Chun'er?"
Perhaps it was the moment Qin Mu asked her "Does it hurt?", or perhaps it was just an ordinary morning when she woke up and found that the first person she thought of was no longer Xu Longxiang.
She didn't need to hide anything from Qin Mu, nor did she need to deliberately conceal anything.
From the moment she knelt before him and said, "I am a spy sent from the North," she had no more secrets.
From the moment she held that jade pendant and watched her parents, whom she had never met, play with her as an infant under the osmanthus tree, there was no turning back.
From then on, she felt lighter all over.
Like an old garment that has been washed countless times, with all the wrinkles ironed out, when you wear it, it flutters in the wind, giving you an indescribable sense of freedom.
She had never lived so clearly.
Zhao Qingxue nodded thoughtfully, her gaze returning to the palace gate.
Her fingers gently traced a circle on the scabbard of Frostmoon Sword, her fingertips touching the pale blue gemstone, a cool sensation seeping in from her fingertips.
"We hadn't thought of it that way. We were prejudiced, assuming they were both just putting on an act, but we didn't expect Xu Longxiang to actually develop some feelings. That's interesting."
A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint, somewhat gloating smile.
She knows Qin Mu too well.
Qin Mu will absolutely not let the Moon Goddess go.
It means not letting go in any sense.
Given Qin Mu's personality, how could he possibly let such a beautiful and dangerous woman slip through his fingers?
Regardless of how she is ultimately dealt with—whether she's taken into the harem, imprisoned, or something else entirely…
In short, it will definitely be in my possession.
If Xu Longxiang really falls in love, won't he suffer again?
The last time at the grand wedding ceremony, he stood in a corner at the entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, watching her and Qin Mu hold hands and raise their arms in mid-air. Her face was as pale as paper, and there was still blood on the corner of her mouth.
She still remembers that scene clearly.
If he could do it again, what would his expression be?
Zhao Qingxue couldn't help but smile slightly.
Just imagining that scene is exciting enough.
She turned her head and looked at Qin Mu.
The lanterns on both sides of the corridor swayed gently in the night breeze, and the candlelight cast Qin Mu's shadow on the snow-white wall, making him appear tall and slender.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his moon-white robe fluttering gently in the wind, like a silent flag.
His face was expressionless, except for the usual half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He didn't speak.
But his gaze fell on the empty palace door, and something in his eyes gleamed slightly, like a hunter seeing his prey fall into a trap.
No rush, no impatience, just waiting to reap the rewards.
To be honest, Qin Mu wasn't particularly interested in this Moon Goddess.
This woman is beautiful, but she is not young.
Moreover, he didn't like her personality.
He found that kind of condescending, pretentious manner, and that kind of scheming that treated believers like ants and allies like pawns, both uninteresting and cheap.
Originally, he planned to train this woman, let her taste the bitterness of falling from the clouds to the mud, and then kill her, or turn her into a cripple and imprison her for life.
Unlike how he tried to win over Zhao Qingxue and Jiang Zhaoyue, he didn't go to great lengths to win them over and eventually make them submit.
It depends on whether it's worth it.
But when he saw that Xu Longxiang seemed to have a bit of a thing for her, he decided to change his mind.
There's no way around it; his greatest pleasure right now is watching Xu Longxiang break down.
Watching him force a smile at the banquet, watching him grit his teeth and swallow the blood, watching the light in his eyes gradually fade away, then ignite again, and then fade away once more.
That feeling brought him more pleasure than any victory.
It has to be said that Xu Longxiang is quite the romantic; he falls in love with almost every woman he meets, and the women he likes are all exceptionally beautiful women that are hard to find in this world.
Coincidentally, that's what he likes too.
These thoughts flashed through Qin Mu's mind for a moment before dissipating like smoke, leaving no trace.
Qin Mu's expression remained unchanged, only the curve of his lips deepened slightly.
He smiled gently, turned around, and walked out of the hall.
The moon-white robe fluttered gently in the candlelight, its hem brushing the ground without making a sound.
The three women followed behind him.
Zhao Qingxue still had that playful smile on her lips, her steps light as if she were walking on clouds.
Yunluan loosened her hand from the sword hilt, and a rare relaxation appeared in her cold and stern eyes, like a sword that had finally returned to its sheath.
Jiang Zhaoyue's steps were light and composed. Her gaze was fixed on Qin Mu's back. There was no ripple in her heart, only a faint, warm sense of security.
The night breeze blew in from the end of the corridor, causing the lanterns under the corridor to sway gently. The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the four people onto the snow-white wall, sometimes long and sometimes short.
Their footsteps were light, echoing softly in the empty corridor, like four leaves blown down by the same gust of wind, drifting in the same direction.
Behind me, the candlelight in the side hall was still burning quietly.
The two sets of bowls and chopsticks were still placed facing each other, and the remaining wine in the wine cups had gone cold, gleaming dimly in the candlelight.
The wind seeped in through the crack in the door, causing the tablecloth to billow slightly before deflating again, like a sigh that no one could hear.
When Qin Mu returned to the inn, it was already late at night.
The inn's lobby was empty, with only an oil lamp on the counter still lit, its flame flickering gently in the night breeze, casting a dim yellow light over half the lobby.
A man in black stood at the top of the stairs, his posture upright, like a sword stuck in the ground.
He saw Qin Mu walk in, quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and held a secret letter above his head with both hands.
The movements were crisp and clean, without a single unnecessary movement.
Qin Mu took the secret letter and waved it to him.
The man in black stood up, bowed, took three steps back, and then turned and disappeared into the night outside the door.
He didn't say a word from beginning to end, and didn't even leave a sound of footsteps.
Zhao Qingxue watched the disappearing figure and understood.
This must be Qin Mu's intelligence system.
Silent and ubiquitous, like a spider web in the dark night, every thread connecting to the distance.
Qin Mu opened the secret letter, his gaze sweeping over the words on the paper, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.
After reading it, he handed the secret letter to Yunluan.
Yunluan took it, folded it neatly, and put it in her bosom, her movements practiced and natural.
Qin Mu sat down in the chair, leaned back, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.
"Interesting. That Han Zhong does have some skill."
Zhao Qingxue walked to his side and asked curiously, "What's wrong with him?"
Qin Mu smiled and glanced at her sideways.
"You'll understand when you read this secret letter."
He gave Yunluan a look.
Yunluan took out a secret letter from her bosom and handed it to Zhao Qingxue with both hands.
Zhao Qingxue reached out and took it.
The moment her fingers touched the letter, a slight thought crossed her mind.
Qin Mu's actions truly showed that he didn't treat her like an outsider.
She lowered her eyes, unfolded the letter, and began to read.
Yunluan picked up the teapot on the table and filled the teacup in front of Qin Mu.
The amber-colored tea poured from the spout, swirling in the cup without spilling a single drop.
She put down the teapot, stepped aside, and stood with her hands at her sides.
Jiang Zhaoyue walked behind Qin Mu, gently placed her hands on his shoulders, and massaged them lightly.
Her technique was more skillful than before, and the pressure on each acupoint was just right.
A faint smile played on her lips, and her eyes conveyed a sense of peaceful, contented relaxation.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the massage on his shoulders.
After reading the secret letter, Zhao Qingxue looked up with a slight smile on her lips.
"It seems that Han Zhong has not sided with the northern border, but has chosen to remain loyal to the Qin Dynasty."
Qin Mu opened his eyes, smiled, and shook his head.
"It's not that simple."
He sat up straight and placed his hands on his knees, crossed.
"I know Han Zhong quite well. He is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. Xu Longxiang's personal visit to the southwestern border must mean he has already met with him."
Zhao Qingxue's brows twitched slightly, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Qin Mu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and put it down.
"Han Zhong most likely did not refuse Xu Longxiang's request. However, he did not want to betray the Great Qin, so he came up with a compromise: he asked me to send more powerful warriors to besiege the Moon Goddess Sect and Xu Longxiang. This way, he could secretly rescue Xu Longxiang without my knowledge that he had arrived at the Moon Goddess Sect, thus repaying Xu Longxiang's favor."
He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest.
"I must say, this move of advancing while retreating is indeed quite skillful."
A look of realization flashed across Zhao Qingxue's eyes.
Han Zhong's move preserved both righteousness and gratitude, pleasing neither side.
But she was equally surprised by Qin Mu.
He had only read one secret letter when he basically guessed Han Zhong's entire plan.
This control over people's hearts is more terrifying than any martial art.
Yunluan stood to the side, nodding thoughtfully.
Jiang Zhaoyue paused for a moment while massaging her shoulders, nodded, and then continued massaging.
Qin Mu smiled.
"That's fine. Then you and I can disguise ourselves as powerful figures sent by the court and besiege Moon Goddess and Xu Longxiang."
The three women's eyes lit up simultaneously.
A brilliant move to turn the tables on them.
Han Zhong believed that everything was in his plan, Xu Longxiang believed that everything was under his control, and Yue Shen believed that everything was within her calculations.
Little did they know, the real hunters were never on the chessboard.
Qin Mu picked up his teacup and drank the last drop of tea.
He put down his teacup, stood up, faced the three women, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Alright, let's ignore them for now. Let Xu Longxiang and that Moon Goddess develop a relationship first; that will make things more interesting later."
He paused, his gaze sweeping from Zhao Qingxue's face to Jiang Zhaoyue's face, and then to Yun Luan's face.
"We should start building our relationship too."
The three women blushed at the same time.
Zhao Qingxue turned her face away, her ear tips turning red.
Jiang Zhaoyue lowered her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.
Yunluan lowered her eyes, an unnatural blush rising on her cold face.
No one speaks.
Qin Mu smiled and turned to walk upstairs to his bedroom.
The three women followed behind, their footsteps echoing softly on the wooden stairs.