BSI Chapter 237 Jiang Qingxue finally understood that the only person in the world who truly loved her w
Chapter 237 Jiang Qingxue finally understood that the only person in the world who truly loved her w
Cao Wei took a deep breath and slowly began to speak.
The voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear:
"child--"
He paused, a deep sense of helplessness and pain flashing in his eyes:
"Back then, I didn't actually escape."
Jiang Qingxue's pupils suddenly contracted.
Cao Wei continued, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth:
"I carried you as we escaped the palace through a secret passage, hoping to slip out of the city amidst the chaos."
"But Xu Xiao has too many powerful subordinates."
"Those martial arts masters have a sense of smell even more keen than hunting dogs."
"We were caught up with by them less than three miles from the palace."
His voice gradually lowered, carrying a deep sense of powerlessness:
"A dozen or so Vajra Realm warriors surrounded us."
"Back then, I was just a swordsman who had just entered the Vajra Realm. Holding you, who was only three months old, how could I possibly win?"
"I fought back desperately, but in the end I was outnumbered."
"They broke my sword and knocked me unconscious."
"When I wake up—"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath:
"They're already in the dungeon of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion."
Hearing these words, Jiang Qingxue felt a deep chill run down her spine.
She seemed to see that scene—
A young swordsman, carrying an infant in swaddling clothes, ran desperately through the night.
Behind them, countless dark figures relentlessly pursued them like hunting dogs.
Swords flashed, and blood splattered.
In the end, the swordsman fell.
The baby fell into the hands of another.
"And then what happened?" Jiang Qingxue asked, her voice trembling.
Cao Wei opened his eyes and looked at her.
Those cloudy old eyes were filled with a complex light.
"later--"
He paused, then continued:
"Xu Xiao came to see me in the dungeon in person."
He sat there, looking at me as if I were an ant.
He said—
Cao Wei's voice carried a hint of irony:
"Cao Wei, I know you are Jiang Huaijin's close friend. I also know you are loyal to the Yuehua Kingdom."
I'll give you two choices.
"First, you die. I will send this baby to Northern Mang and sell it to tribal chiefs who like to keep female slaves."
"Secondly, you live. From now on, you will be at my service. I will adopt this baby and raise her in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, where she will live a life of luxury and carefree happiness."
Cao Wei closed his eyes.
Even after 21 years, he can still clearly remember the despair and helplessness he felt at that moment.
He knelt on the cold ground, looking at the high and mighty man in front of him.
In my mind, the words your mother uttered before she died echoed repeatedly—
"Take Zhaoyue away and let her live."
Let her live.
These four words were like an imperial edict, forcing him to make a choice.
He opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Qingxue.
"I chose the second path," he said, his voice hoarse.
"I agree to serve Xu Xiao in exchange for your safety."
"From then on, I became a servant of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, and the old man who stood in the corner, silently watching you."
"And Xu Xiao—"
He paused:
"He changed your name to Jiang Qingxue."
"He told everyone that you were the daughter of an old friend of his, whose parents had died early and who had been adopted by him."
"From that time on, Princess Jiang Zhaoyue of Yuehua Kingdom disappeared from this world."
"In its place is Miss Jiang Qingxue from the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion."
After Cao Wei finished speaking, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.
Only the rustling of the breeze through the old plum branches and the distant chirping of birds could be heard.
Jiang Qingxue knelt on the spot, motionless.
In her mind, those originally fragmented pieces are being pieced together little by little.
Why would she appear at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion?
Xu Xiao needed her to counterbalance Cao Wei.
Why did Cao Wei stay at the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion?
Because Cao Wei was willing to trade his own freedom for her safety.
Why didn't she know these things?
Because Xu Xiao and Cao Wei, through twenty-one years of silence, wove a seemingly peaceful illusion for her.
Everything now has an explanation.
All the questions have been answered.
Jiang Qingxue raised her head and looked at Cao Wei.
Tears welled up again in those clear, cold eyes.
But those tears no longer contained only sadness and despair.
and also--
I was deeply moved.
It turns out that the old man who had been silently watching over her since she was a child was not some kind of Xu family retainer.
He was his father's close friend.
He was the hero who risked his life to help her escape from the palace.
He was the benefactor who traded his own freedom for her safety.
Yes--
Her closest person over the past twenty-one years.
"Uncle Cao..."
Jiang Qingxue's voice choked with emotion, each word seeming to be forced out of her throat.
"Thank you……"
"Thank you……"
"Thank you for everything you've done for me..."
She couldn't continue.
She could only kneel there, letting her tears flow freely.
Looking at her like this, Cao Wei felt a deep pang of sorrow.
In that bittersweet feeling, there was both relief and heartache.
There's also an emotion that's hard to describe—
He could finally stand before her, upright and honorable.
Finally, he could let her know that he wasn't a stranger.
he is--
The person entrusted to her by her father.
He was one of the closest people to her in this world.
"child……"
Cao Wei spoke, his voice choked with emotion.
He stepped forward, wanting to help her up.
But just then—
A figure slowly walked out from behind Jiang Qingxue.
The moon-white robe gleamed with a warm luster in the sunlight.
Cao Wei paused slightly in his steps.
He saw Qin Mu walk behind Jiang Qingxue, bend down, reach out, and gently hug her.
The movement was very light and gentle.
It's like embracing a fragile treasure.
Jiang Qingxue's body stiffened slightly.
But then, she felt that familiar aura.
A faint scent of ambergris, mixed with the freshness of sunshine and a gentle breeze.
That was Qin Mu's aura.
Her body went limp instantly.
There was no struggle.
There was no resistance.
There wasn't even the slightest instinctive defense.
She simply followed that force and slowly, softly, leaned into that embrace.
She buried her face in his chest.
She grabbed his collar with both hands.
Then--
She burst into tears.
The crying was completely different from before.
It wasn't a suppressed sob, nor a silent tear.
It was a genuine, unreserved, heart-wrenching cry.
She cried so hard her whole body trembled, she cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath, and she curled up into a ball.
Twenty-one years of grievances.
Twenty-one years of bewilderment.
Twenty-one years of not knowing who I am.
At this moment, it all turned into tears and poured out.
Qin Mu held her, motionless.
He let her cry, let her clutch his clothes, let her tears soak his chest.
He just patted her back gently, one pat at a time.
It's like comforting a wounded child.
Jiang Qingxue felt the gentle patting and cried even harder.
She recalled those nights in Qin Mu's arms.
Each time, she was extremely cautious, as if walking on thin ice.
Each time, she told herself: This is acting, this is enduring humiliation, this is to survive.
Every time, she resisted.
She resisted his touch, his tenderness, and the inappropriate flutter in her heart.
But at this moment—
She didn't want to resist anymore.
I don't want to pretend anymore.
She just wanted to cry.
I just want to cry in his arms.
The moment this thought crossed her mind, her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Cao Wei stood aside, quietly watching this scene.
Watching Jiang Qingxue cry in Qin Mu's arms, watching Qin Mu gently pat her back, watching the undisguised tenderness and heartache in his deep eyes.
He suddenly understood.
He understood why Jiang Qingxue was so dependent on Qin Mu.
He understood what was hidden in the complex emotions in her gaze as she looked at Qin Mu.
That's dependence.
It's about trust.
It is affection.
Qin Mu's relationship with her was not simply one of toying with and possessing her.
The tenderness in those eyes couldn't be faked.
That patting motion can't be faked.
That pained expression couldn't be faked.
Cao Wei took a deep breath, and the weight that had been hanging over his heart for twenty-one years finally lifted.
He doesn't need to worry anymore.
There's no need to worry about what Qin Mu will do to Jiang Qingxue.
There's no need to worry that Jiang Qingxue will be lonely and helpless in this deep palace.
There's no need to worry about her not surviving.
Because there is a man who will protect her.
That man was the Emperor of Qin.
He is the most powerful person in this world.
Cao Wei lowered his eyes, turned around, and looked at the old plum trees in the courtyard.
He stopped looking at the two people embracing.
He simply stood there quietly, like a silent statue.
I don't know how much time passed.
Jiang Qingxue's crying finally subsided.
She leaned against Qin Mu's chest, her eyes red and swollen, her face covered in tears.
But her breathing had already calmed down.
Her body stopped trembling.
It just leaned there quietly, like a weary bird that had finally found its nest.
Qin Mu looked down at her.
Looking at her pale, tear-streaked face, and her swollen yet unusually clear eyes.
He stretched out his hand.
Long, slender fingers gently touched her cheek.
Wipe away the remaining tear stains.
The movements were very light and gentle.
It's like polishing a priceless treasure.
Jiang Qingxue felt that gentle touch, her nose tingled, and tears welled up again.
For the first time, she realized what it felt like to be treated so gently.
It's not about being trembling with fear, not about walking on thin ice, not about being constantly on guard.
But -
Peace of mind.
Complete and unreserved peace of mind.
She looked up at Qin Mu.
Those deep eyes were right in front of her.
Very close, very close.
She was so close that she could see the emotions hidden deep within those eyes.
I feel sorry for her.
There is pity.
There was also a soft tenderness she had never seen before.
Jiang Qingxue's tears flowed even more fiercely.
But a very faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her face.
That smile held a sense of relief and gratitude.
There was also a deep feeling that even she herself was unaware of—
rely.
Qin Mu sighed softly as he looked at her, who was both crying and laughing.
"Don't cry," he said, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "If you cry again, you won't look pretty."
Jiang Qingxue was stunned for a moment.
She immediately stopped crying and started laughing.
The smile was faint and subtle, yet it instantly brought her pale face to life.
Looking at her like this, Qin Mu's smile deepened.
He didn't say anything more.
He just held her a little tighter.
He gently rested his chin on the top of her head.
Feeling the warmth of her body and her steady breathing.
The sunlight was just right in the courtyard.
A gentle breeze rustled through the old plum branches, carrying a few withered leaves that swirled and drifted down.
A few birdsongs drifted from afar, clear and melodious.
Cao Wei remained with his back to them, gazing at the old plum trees.
But a slight smile of satisfaction appeared on the corner of his mouth.
At this moment, all is peaceful and serene.
A while later.
Jiang Qingxue's emotions finally calmed down completely.
She leaned against Qin Mu's chest, raised her head, and looked at Cao Wei.
A complex light flashed in those clear, cold eyes.
"Uncle Cao," she began, her voice still a little hoarse but much clearer, "I have one last question."
Cao Wei turned around and looked at her.
"Ask away," he said.
Jiang Qingxue took a deep breath and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Why did you change my name to Jiang Qingxue?"
This question had been lingering in her mind for a long time.
ginger.
It is the surname of the father king.
But what about clearing the snow?
What do these two characters mean?
Why did Xu Xiao choose this name for her?
Cao Wei looked at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
"Well—" He shook his head, "I don't know either."
"Xu Xiao did this without telling anyone."
"He just said that from now on, the child will be named Jiang Qingxue."
"As for why—"
He paused, then sighed:
"I don't know either."
Jiang Qingxue's brows furrowed slightly.
You don't even know Cao Wei?
So what exactly do these two words mean?
Just then—
A lazy voice rang in her ear.
"About this—"
Qin Mu spoke, his voice carrying a meaningful smile:
"I should know."
Jiang Qingxue was slightly taken aback.
She looked up at Qin Mu.
Cao Wei also looked at him.
Their eyes both fell on Qin Mu's face.