"Good, good. Thanks to Her Highness, the entire family is well. Now that Qingzhu and Qingxiang can return home, Her Highness can rest assured. They will be fine," Mu Hen felt resentment, even wanting to go to the Empress Dowager to settle accounts when his eldest and second daughters entered the palace and suffered such a severe blow.
However, the Empress Dowager would not admit responsibility. If he acted like that, it would only deepen the rift between the Mu and Chu families, which would not be beneficial to Her Highness.
"That's good," Mu Qingyao nodded. Seeing that they were all well, her heart felt strangely relieved.
Now, she didn't want anyone else to die because of her. She couldn't bear it.
"Yao'er, live peacefully in the palace. Don't always think about matters at home. Father will be fine."
Mu Hen knew his daughter would worry about him, so he quickly comforted her. Mu Qingyao smiled, filling the hall with warmth and harmony. This was what a real family should be.
Just then, the voice of the guard Hua Lige sounded from outside the hall: "Your Highness, that Qin Hao is dying. What does Your Highness wish to do?"
"Bring him in," Mu Qingyao commanded coldly. Hua Lige took his leave. In the hall of the Mu mansion, the family looked at Her Highness, not knowing what had happened to her. Her clothes were covered in bloodstains, a shocking sight that made them tremble. Had she encountered assassins?
"Yao'er, what happened to you?"
"There were assassins," Mu Qingyao said calmly. There was no fear in her brows, only a flicker of heartache in her eyes, caused by Chunhan's death.
She hadn't expected Chunhan to die for her in the end. That half-piece of blood ginseng was still valuable. He had been a man of conscience after all.
It was just that because her sister Xiaorou was in the hands of the Empress Dowager, he couldn't come forward to identify her. If he had pointed a finger at the Empress Dowager, his sister would have been harmed by them. The death of a palace maid in the palace was a common occurrence.
"Is Your Highness alright?"
Mu Hen stood up in alarm. Madam Mu and Madam Mu Er beside him also became nervous. Her Highness's status was now noble, and the gap between them had vanished. They did not wish for anything to happen to her.
"Are you alright?" Even Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang became anxious. Everyone looked at her. Seeing her family’s distress, Mu Qingyao quickly smiled and reassured them, "I'm fine. Don't be nervous. This blood on me is from the assassins. They are all dead, and I am unharmed."
"That's good," everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Hua Lige entered carrying Qin Hao. Qin Hao, who had been unconscious, woke up when Hua Lige roughly threw him in. He struggled and looked at everyone in the hall, finally meeting Mu Qingyao's gaze without blinking.
This woman was no ordinary person. He feared his master would not succeed.
But that was no longer his concern. He had repaid the kindness of his adoptive father’s upbringing in full. He would be a clean and good man in his next life.
"You may go," Mu Qingyao waved her hand, and Hua Lige retreated. She slowly descended from the high seat and walked to Qin Hao's side, squatting down. Her eyes, as bright as stars, were filled with ferocity, rising like a surging tide that instantly drowned Qin Hao.
Qin Hao averted his gaze and said coldly, "Kill me if you want, but don't waste words. You should know what kind of person I am."
"Very good. You deserve to die, but the right to kill you is not mine, but rather..." Mu Qingyao stood up, turned, and looked at Mu Qingxiang, who was standing nearby.
At this moment, Mu Qingxiang had recognized who the person on the ground was from his voice. Her previously dull eyes were now filled with hatred. Gritting her teeth, she slowly walked over and lunged at Qin Hao, screaming.
"You bastard, you defiled me, you damned scoundrel, I will not let you go."
As she finished speaking, she bit Qin Hao's hand like a madwoman. Qin Hao's eyes dimmed for a moment, then became bright, and he laughed mockingly.
"I defiled you, so what? I didn't expect you to have such a temper. You were quite weak that night."
This provocative tone completely enraged Mu Qingxiang. She could no longer care about anything else. She reached out with both hands, pulled the sword from Qin Hao's chest, and blood spurted out, splattering onto Mu Qingxiang.
As if unaware, she struck Qin Hao with the sword again.
Qin Hao's handsome features creased, and his face grew paler, but his eyes were clear, as bright as the purest stars in the sky. xxs壹贰
He collapsed to the ground, his eyes fixed on Mu Qingxiang. Slowly, the corners of his lips curved into a smile, gentle, like a dreamlike infant, unconscious. His words were also a little scattered.
"I—'m—sorry. I didn't mean to. In the next life, I will surely return to you a clean Qin Hao and compensate for what I owe you this life."
After speaking, he finally closed his eyes, a smile lingering on his lips. He knew this day would come sooner or later.
He had his pride and dignity. Those who did wrong deserved to die. To die at the hands of the one he owed a debt to was an unprecedented comfort.
If, if humans truly had a next life, he would only ask to be a clean person, then find her and repay what he owed this life.
"Ah, I killed someone," Mu Qingxiang stared blankly at Qin Hao. When she came back to her senses, she jumped up in panic, her hands spread wide.
Mu Qingyao walked over, patted her shoulder, and comforted her, "Qingxiang, it's alright. Everything is alright."
In his final moments, she saw Qin Hao's smile was so pure. Perhaps his soul was clean.
It was just that the world had tainted him. To repay a debt of gratitude, he had to do things against his conscience. Perhaps he had lived a hard life, which was why he faced death with such peace.
Just as she didn't interrogate him in the end, how could someone so loyal that he died for it reveal the true mastermind behind it?
"Someone, drag him out and bury him."
Mu Qingyao commanded coldly. She respected him as a man; otherwise, she would have dragged him out to feed the wild dogs long ago.
Someone walked in and dragged the body of Qin Hao out, leaving behind a large pool of blood. The atmosphere in the main hall was a bit chilling, and coupled with the blood-stained clothes of Mu Qingyao and Mu Qingxiang, it looked frightening. Prime Minister Mu immediately said respectfully.
"Your Highness, please go to the back to bathe and change."
"Alright," Mu Qingyao nodded. She truly missed her old Qing Yuan. That small courtyard was so warm. If only life could always be simpler.
Mu Hen immediately led the way. Outside the door, Mo Chou and Mei Xin were peeking out, while other young maids, like Xiao Lian, were watching. Seeing Her Highness come out, they all called out in unison, "Your Highness."
Mu Qingyao smiled and nodded. The young maids followed behind her all the way to Qing Yuan. The eunuchs also followed closely, creating a grand and magnificent procession.
Qing Yuan.
Green and lush, with towering bamboo and folded rockeries. Although small, it was warm and captivating. How much space could one person occupy? Even with the vastness of the imperial palace, how much space did she need?