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

Chapter 114 Understanding Prime Minister Cao, Becoming Prime Minister Cao, Surpassing Prime Minister

After the world spun around.

Xu Fenghua was placed on a soft couch covered with bright yellow brocade.

Qin Mu bent down, the hem of his moon-white robe cascading down, completely covering her.

The light of the luminous pearl was blocked by his figure, and everything was dark.

Xu Fenghua closed her eyes tightly and turned her face to one side.

Tears finally welled up uncontrollably, sliding down the corners of her eyes and quickly disappearing into her hair.

She could feel Qin Mu's hands roaming over her body, feel her sashes being untied one by one, and feel her palace dress, a symbol of her status as a concubine, being slowly removed...

Every touch was like a red-hot branding iron, searing humiliation into her soul.

Xu Fenghua gritted her teeth, trying not to make a sound.

But the body's instinctive reactions don't lie.

When Qin Mu's cool fingertips brushed against the skin of her waist, she couldn't help but tremble slightly.

When Qin Mu's kiss, with an undeniable force, landed on her neck, she almost suffocated.

She hasn't had sex in many years.

She usually lived a simple and abstinent life, busy with her spiritual practice and business management. In addition, there was no affection between her and the Zhao family during their marriage, so she had almost never let that man surnamed Zhao touch her since their wedding night.

But at this moment...

Xu Fenghua felt her mind go blank, her body felt like it wasn't her own, and she responded instinctively.

"Open your eyes." Qin Mu's voice rang in my ears, hoarse but commanding.

Xu Fenghua shook her head and buried her face even deeper.

"I command you to open your eyes." Qin Mu's tone became more forceful, carrying an undeniable authority.

At the same time, he tightened his grip on her chin slightly, forcing her to turn her head and face him.

Xu Fenghua was forced to open her eyes.

Tears blurred her vision, but she could still clearly see Qin Mu's face so close to hers.

"Look at me."

Qin Mu spoke slowly, his voice low and deep, like a whisper, yet every word struck her heart:

"Remember this moment."

"Remember who owns you."

Xu Fenghua's pupils suddenly contracted!

These words sent a chill down her spine and humiliated her more than any form of torture!

.......

Outside the carriage, the wheels continued to rumble, and the guards' footsteps remained perfectly synchronized.

The night was deep, and the imperial procession, like a dragon, moved silently and majestically along the official road back to the capital.

No one knew what was happening inside that most prestigious gilded imperial carriage.

No one dared to investigate.

Xu Fenghua had no idea how much time had passed.

All she knew was that the light outside the window dimmed and brightened, brightened and dimmed again, repeating this cycle at least three times!

When everything finally calmed down, she lay limp on the messy couch, like a soulless shell.

Her eyes were closed, and tears flowed silently, soaking her hair and the brocade beneath her.

Qin Mu had already stood up.

He slowly and methodically straightened his perfectly disheveled moon-white robe, fastened the belt, and smoothed out the cuffs.

Apart from slightly heavy breathing and slightly disheveled hair, he didn't look much different from before.

He was still that lazy, aloof, and all-powerful young emperor.

He turned around and looked at Xu Fenghua, who was lying motionless on the soft couch.

Then, he bent down, picked up the dark purple palace dress with the torn collar, and gently covered her with it.

"My beloved concubine is tired, please rest well."

His voice returned to its usual gentle tone.

"It's still two days' journey to the capital."

"Next, my beloved consort can think carefully about how to be a good Consort Hua for me after entering the palace."

After saying that, he stopped looking at her, turned around and walked back to his original seat, leaned back on the soft couch, and closed his eyes.

Silence returned to the carriage.

The only sounds were Xu Fenghua's suppressed, faint sobs and the ceaseless sound of traffic outside the car.

She lay there, motionless.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes.

My tears have dried up, and my eyes are dry and sore.

Those amber eyes were now as empty as two dry wells, yet a cold and resolute flame burned within them.

She slowly raised her hand and stroked the torn palace dress she was wearing.

Xu Fenghua's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Qin Mu... she silently murmured that name in her heart.

Do you think this will completely destroy me?

Do you think that by taking my body in this way you can make me submit and accept my fate?

you are wrong.

Big mistakes.

What you took away was just a shell.

What you ignited is the inextinguishable flame of revenge in my heart.

Xu Fenghua slowly closed her eyes.

In her mind, the resolute face of her younger brother Xu Longxiang flashed by, as did the vast snowfields of the North, and the chessboard she had cultivated for six years at Tingyu Manor in Jiangnan…

All weakness, all humiliation, all pain were forcibly suppressed at this moment.

It solidified into a cold, hard piece of stubborn iron called "Destruction".

She chose this path herself.

Even if you have to kneel, you must finish the journey.

Until... she dragged the man who pushed her into the abyss down with her into hell.

......

Two hours later.

Qin Mu slowly opened his eyes.

He slept very soundly and pleasantly.

He stretched his body, his joints making a slight cracking sound.

"That feels so good..."

Qin Mu muttered to himself, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

He turned his head to look at the other side of the carriage.

Xu Fenghua sat on a chair covered with purple velvet cushions, her back straight. Her deep purple palace dress was torn and could only be barely draped over her body. She clutched the collar tightly with one hand.

The tear at the neckline extended below the collarbone, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin with faint red finger marks visible on it.

Her long hair was disheveled, with a few strands of jet-black hair at her temples.

That face, which was always calm, composed, dignified, and elegant, was now filled with weariness and emptiness.

Her amber eyes were half-closed, her gaze fixed on the shadows in the corner of the carriage, as if there was something there that she was staring at.

He looked utterly hopeless.

Qin Mu looked at Xu Fenghua's appearance and carefully examined her.

From her disheveled long hair to her pale cheeks, to her torn palace dress, and then to her legs that were tightly clasped together but still trembling slightly...

He suddenly understood Cao Cao.

Why did Cao Cao have a particular fondness for other men's wives?

Why did he still forcibly take Zhang Xiu's aunt, Zou Shi, during the Battle of Wancheng, even though he knew Zhang Xiu might rebel at any time?

Qin Mu didn't understand this before.

But now, he understands.

That kind of conquest—of a woman who doesn't belong to you, destroying all her pride and dignity, pulling her down from her pedestal, and forcing her to submit to you…

That feeling is much more exciting and satisfying than mere possession.

Cao Cao was right.

Understand Prime Minister Cao, become Prime Minister Cao, and surpass Prime Minister Cao.

Qin Mu's smile deepened.

He slowly stood up, his moon-white robe cascading down with his movement, silver cloud patterns swirling in the light of the luminous pearl, like a stream under the moonlight.

He walked up to Xu Fenghua and stopped.

"My beloved concubine."

Qin Mu spoke, his voice still carrying the languor of someone who had just woken up:

"Come on, let's cherish this moment a little longer."

Xu Fenghua's eyelashes trembled violently.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at Qin Mu.

"His Majesty……"

Her voice was terribly hoarse, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth:

"Let's... let's go back to the palace first..."

As she spoke, she subconsciously shrank back a little.

But the carriage is only so big, where could she retreat to?

Behind me were the cold walls of the carriage; there was nowhere to retreat.

Xu Fenghua gritted her teeth and forced a pleading smile:

"We're still on the road, and there are so many guards outside the car... What if someone hears us..."

As she said this, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably.

That's not shyness.

It is a physiological reaction brought about by extreme humiliation.

She never expected Qin Mu to be so impatient.

Even though... even though they've already done that, even though they haven't returned to the palace yet, even though there are still two thousand armored guards outside the carriage...

He actually wants to do it again?

This emperor, this young ruler rumored to be incompetent, foolish, and addicted to wine and women...

He's even more outrageous, more beastly, and more... shameless than the rumors suggest!

Xu Fenghua cursed wildly in her heart, every word filled with venomous hatred.

But at the same time, a strange feeling uncontrollably arose in some corner of my heart.

That felt very strange.

Like... pride?

No, it's impossible.

How could she be proud of something like that?

but……

Qin Mu's impatience with her, his disregard for the occasion, and his almost obsessive possessiveness...

Doesn't this just show that she still has a lot of charm?

Her looks, her figure, her aura...

These things still managed to attract this emperor who had three thousand beauties.

This allowed her to seize a sliver of opportunity amidst the extreme humiliation.

If Qin Mu is truly so "obsessed" with her, then after entering the palace, she might be able to gain his trust more quickly, access core secrets more quickly, and...

To pave the way for the Xu family's great cause.

Thinking of this, the fear and resistance in Xu Fenghua's eyes faded slightly.

Instead, she felt a complex emotion that she couldn't even explain herself.

She wanted to decline a few more times, but then... she went along with Qin Mu.

After all, resistance is pointless.

Since we're destined to endure it, we might as well take the initiative and perhaps gain more control.

however--

Qin Mu suddenly smiled.

"Alright."

"Then forget it."

Xu Fenghua was stunned.

She looked up at Qin Mu in disbelief.

Forget it?

Just a moment ago they were so assertive and brooked no refusal, but now... they've given up so easily?

Xu Fenghua watched in bewilderment as Qin Mu walked to the rosewood cabinet in the corner of the carriage, opened the drawer, and took something out.

Then, he walked back to Xu Fenghua and handed the thing to her.

"If my beloved concubine is unwilling to do that, then surely she can change into this outfit?"

Xu Fenghua's gaze fell on the "clothes" in Qin Mu's hand.

Then, her pupils suddenly contracted.

That's not clothing.

At least, it wasn't the kind of clothing she was familiar with.

It was a... extremely strange garment.

It is deep red overall, and the material is as thin as a cicada's wing, with a silk-like luster under the light of a luminous pearl.

The design is extremely daring, with a very low neckline; one can almost imagine what it would look like to wear it.

The skirt was incredibly short, probably not even covering her thighs.

What shocked Xu Fenghua the most was that

Some parts of this "garment" were actually made of nearly transparent tulle. Through that tulle, the inner lining could be clearly seen.

These are not clothes that concubines should wear at all.

This is more like...

In Xu Fenghua's mind, the images of the dancers in the brothels of Jiangnan flashed by.

Those women who sway their hips on stage, dressed provocatively, to please the guests.

That's the kind of clothing they're wearing.

"His Majesty……"

Xu Fenghua's voice trembled:

"What...what kind of clothes are these?"

Qin Mu smiled and unfolded the garment so that Xu Fenghua could see it more clearly:

"This was specially prepared by me for my beloved concubine. It's the latest style from Jiangnan, and I've heard it's... very popular."

He paused, then added:

"My beloved concubine would look stunning in this."

Xu Fenghua's face turned ashen instantly.

She stared intently at the dress, her eyes surging with extreme resistance and humiliation.

Why make her wear this kind of clothing?

In a place like this?

This was even more humiliating to her than the possession she had just experienced.

Xu Fenghua gritted her teeth.

She looked at the ambiguous smile on Qin Mu's face.

She suddenly realized that Qin Mu's suggestion to "do it again" was likely a test.

But now, the real purpose is to make her change her clothes.

That damned emperor!

How despicable and shameless!

Xu Fenghua cursed inwardly!

She hesitated for a moment, then finally took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty..."

Xu Fenghua spoke slowly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible:

"As you command."

Qin Mu smiled.

He placed the garment on the chair next to Xu Fenghua, then turned around, walked back to his own couch, leaned back again, and looked at her lazily.

"Please, my beloved concubine."

His tone was relaxed, as if he were simply enjoying a performance that was about to begin.