webnovelvip Chapter 272 Let's go to the Heavenly Revelation Palace
Chapter 272 Let's go to the Heavenly Revelation Palace
The aroma of fried cakes wafted in the night breeze, their golden-brown crusts still steaming and glistening with oil.
Zhao Qingxue picked up a piece, blew on it gently, and then put it in her mouth.
That familiar, piping hot, sweet taste spread across the tip of my tongue.
She closed her eyes, slightly narrowed her deep purple phoenix eyes, and unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth.
"It still tastes the same."
She spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of satisfaction and nostalgia.
Qin Mu leaned back in the simple bamboo chair, propping his chin up with one hand, his gaze fixed on her face.
Looking at her satisfied expression, at the slightly upturned corners of her mouth, at her eyes that were squinted with contentment.
He smiled softly.
"Look at you,"
He said with a hint of amusement, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you haven't eaten in ages."
Zhao Qingxue opened her eyes and glared at him.
"What do you know?"
She said in a slightly annoyed tone, but her voice carried a hint of coquettishness that she herself was unaware of, "This is the smell I've had since I was little."
She picked up another piece and put it in her mouth.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes began to subtly scan their surroundings.
There was still a long queue in front of the stall.
There were young couples holding hands with their children, who stood on tiptoe, gazing longingly at the fried cakes bubbling in the pot.
There were vendors carrying baskets filled with miscellaneous goods, clearly trying to sell more items while the night market was crowded.
Groups of three or five young people, arm in arm, chatted and laughed, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.
An elderly man with white hair walked slowly by, leaning on a cane, a peaceful smile on his face.
The crowd was bustling and jostling.
The sounds of hawking, laughter, children chasing and playing, storytelling coming from afar, and the occasional sound of arguing.
The various sounds blended together, creating a vibrant and lively symphony unique to the night market.
Zhao Qingxue's gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
She's watching.
Look at the busiest area of the imperial city tonight, the flow of people.
Look at the faces of those people, are there any signs of sorrow, fear, or unease?
Looking at the city where she grew up, has anything changed since her letter was sent back?
If tensions rise within the capital, if chaos truly descends upon the court, if those imperial clan elders seize the opportunity to cause trouble—
Then the night market would never be this lively.
The common people are the most sensitive.
They may not know what is happening in the imperial court, or what those high-ranking officials are plotting.
But they can sense which way the wind is blowing.
If the winds are blowing in the wrong direction, if people are panicking, if something big is about to happen.
They wouldn't stroll through the night market so leisurely, laugh and joke so carefree, or be so at ease.
The tension that had been building in Zhao Qingxue's eyes slowly eased a little.
There was no chaos.
At least, on the surface, things are not chaotic.
People continue to live and work in peace and contentment, and the night market remains bustling and lively.
What does this tell us?
This shows that, at least on the surface, those people in the imperial court have stabilized the situation.
Zhang Julu.
She silently repeated the name in her heart.
The old minister who had assisted her for five years, the prime minister who stood against all odds and cleared her name at the beginning of her reign.
As expected, it did not disappoint her.
And there's Gu Jiantang.
That hot-tempered general who would draw his sword at the slightest provocation.
He must be sitting in the Hall of Apocalypse right now, his face ashen, his fists clenched, and he remains silent.
But he held back.
And Li Chunfeng.
That sword god, that peerless expert who had one foot in the realm of terrestrial immortals.
What is he thinking right now?
What are you doing?
Zhao Qingxue didn't know.
But she knew that the three of them together could keep Li Yang in check.
This was her trust over the past five years, and it was her only comfort at this moment.
Zhao Qingxue withdrew her gaze.
The weight that had been hanging over my heart for so long finally lifted a little.
But just then—
A voice rang in her ear.
"What are you looking at?"
The voice was soft, carrying a hint of amusement and a knowing smile.
Zhao Qingxue's heart skipped a beat.
She turned her head sharply and looked at the man beside her.
Qin Mu remained leaning back in the bamboo chair, one hand supporting his chin, his posture languid.
Those deep eyes were fixed on her face.
With a smile.
Meaningful.
When Zhao Qingxue met that gaze, the weight that had just lifted from her heart began to lift again.
But her face quickly regained its composure.
She pursed her lips, and then spoke.
The voice was soft and faint, carrying just the right amount of melancholy:
"It's nothing."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd again, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes:
"I just miss it a little."
"This is a place I used to frequent when I was a child."
"Back then, my mother was still alive. She would occasionally sneak me out of the palace to eat fried cakes here."
Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a faint trace of sadness.
A light of reminiscence appeared in those deep purple phoenix eyes.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled softly.
"Alright," he said, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about everyday things.
"There's no need to probe indirectly anymore."
Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something.
But Qin Mu continued, each word as gentle as a spring breeze, yet carrying an undeniable certainty:
"The capital city is not in chaos, the people are still living in peace and contentment, and your old ministers have also stabilized the situation."
"Your Li Yang is doing well."
Zhao Qingxue was stunned.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
He reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on the table.
"Let's go," he said. "After we finish eating, I'll take you somewhere."
Zhao Qingxue was slightly taken aback.
"Where?" she asked.
Qin Mu looked at her, a meaningful smile curving his lips:
"The place where your three pillars hold discussions."
"The Hall of Apocalypse".
Zhao Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted!
Tianqi Hall!
That was the main hall of the Li Yang Imperial Palace, the place where she ascended the throne, where she issued edicts, and where she received her ministers.
At that very moment, Zhang Julu, Gu Jiantang, and Li Chunfeng were discussing matters.
She suddenly looked at Qin Mu.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were filled with disbelief.
"You—" Her voice trembled slightly, "Where are you going?"
Qin Mu nodded.
"What?" he asked, "Don't you want to see what they're saying about you?"
He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable:
"Don't you want to hear with your own ears what your loyal old ministers said after receiving your letter?"
Zhao Qingxue fell silent.
Of course she wanted to.
She wanted it so badly.
"Okay," she said.
The sound was very soft, yet exceptionally clear.
Qin Mu didn't say anything more.
Just hold her hand tightly.
The two quickly finished the fried cake.
Qin Mu took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The silver coin weighed a full five taels, which startled the old man.
"Young master! This is too much! Too much!" The old man waved his hands repeatedly, "It's just a few fried cakes, you don't need this much!"
Qin Mu simply waved his hand.
"Not much," he said casually. "Your fried cakes are worth the price."
The old man wanted to say something more, but Qin Mu had already taken Zhao Qingxue's hand and disappeared into the crowd.
The old man stood there, holding the silver ingot, watching their departing figures.
After a long while, he murmured:
"What a good person... what a good person..."
Then, he carefully put the silver into his pocket and continued frying his cakes.
......