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

Chapter 156 Xu Longxiang's first love was actually Empress Li Yang!?

Zhao Qingxue was not wearing her formal imperial robes today, but only a moon-white casual dress with a matching thin gauze shawl over it. Her long hair was loosely tied up and secured with a single white jade hairpin.

Her face was free of jewels and jade ornaments, revealing her unparalleled beauty: her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like cold pools, her lips like rouge, and her skin as white as snow.

The morning light streamed in through the window, illuminating her and casting a soft halo around her, making her appear even more ethereal and dignified.

Xu Longxiang's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he lowered his eyes and bowed in greeting.

"Xu Longxiang, the heir apparent of the Northern Garrison, pays his respects to Her Majesty Empress Liyang."

His posture was respectful, his voice steady, and he showed no emotion whatsoever.

Zhao Qingxue looked at him quietly for a long time before slowly speaking:

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Longxiang straightened up, stood with his hands at his sides, and looked down at the edge of the carpet at Zhao Qingxue's feet, his posture respectful.

"Please take a seat," Zhao Qingxue said calmly.

A female official immediately brought over a rosewood armchair and placed it three steps in front of the long table.

Xu Longxiang sat down as instructed, his eyes still lowered.

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Only the occasional sound of wind outside the window and the faint clamor of the distant imperial city could be heard.

Morning light streamed obliquely into the hall through the gaps in the carved wooden windows of the Star Gazing Pavilion.

Xu Longxiang sat in a rosewood armchair, his back ramrod straight, his dark python robe gleaming with a dull golden luster in the light.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the carpet woven with the emblem of Liyang at Zhao Qingxue's feet.

The hall was quiet, with only the occasional sound of wind coming from outside the window and the faint hustle and bustle of the imperial city in the distance.

Zhao Qingxue did not immediately respond to his greeting. Her deep purple phoenix eyes slowly swept across his face, like a still pool of water, calm yet sharp enough to see through everything.

She saw the coldness and determination in his eyes, the hatred that had seeped into his very bones, and the almost ethereal calmness.

It was a strange emptiness that emerged after all emotions were forcibly suppressed.

This young man is more interesting than she imagined...

"Young Master Xu has come today."

Zhao Qingxue finally spoke slowly, her voice clear and cold like the clinking of jade stones, exceptionally distinct in the silent hall, "What is it that you wish to speak of?"

Xu Longxiang raised his head and met Zhao Qingxue's gaze.

Eyes facing each other.

At that moment, time seemed to flow backward.

Many years ago, on a similar autumn morning...

At that time, he was a twelve-year-old boy accompanying his father, Xu Xiao, on a mission to Liyang.

He met Zhao Qingxue for the first time in the imperial garden of Liyang Palace.

At that time, she was not yet the empress, but the third princess who was most favored by the late emperor. She was wearing a light purple palace dress, standing under a blooming magnolia tree, holding a book in her hand, and looking down as she flipped through it.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a soft glow on her.

A gentle breeze swept by, lifting the stray hairs at her temples and scattering a few magnolia petals that landed on her shoulders.

At that time, Xu Longxiang was still a naive young man, full of ambition for the North and his father's teachings.

But the moment he saw Zhao Qingxue, he understood for the first time what it meant to be "astoundingly beautiful".

It wasn't because she was particularly beautiful, although she was indeed extremely beautiful, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like cold pools, lips like rouge, and skin as white as snow.

It's not because of her unique temperament, but because of that.

Cold and aloof, yet possessing an innate dignity.

It was as if she was born to stand at a high place and look down on all living beings.

At that moment, a seed was quietly planted in the boy's heart.

Later, at Tingxuexuan in the Northern Territory, when he was naming the girl he had rescued from Yuehua Kingdom, the name "Qingxue" came to mind almost without thinking.

As cold and clear as snow, as pure as snow.

Just like the Third Princess of Liyang, standing under the magnolia tree, head down reading a book, deep in his memory.

Therefore, he named Jiang Zhaoyue Jiang Qingxue.

The reason is here.

Over the years, he has never mentioned this secret feeling to anyone.

Even with Jiang Qingxue, he only said, "This name suits you well," and never explained why it had to be "Qingxue".

Because even he himself couldn't explain it.

Is it a longing for that first time?

Or is it an obsession with that unattainable figure?

Perhaps both.

Now, the Third Princess who once amazed him has become the Empress of Liyang, a monarch on equal footing with him, and an object he needs to rely on, cooperate with, and be wary of.

Fate is truly ironic.

A complex and indescribable emotion welled up in Xu Longxiang's heart.

There is a sense of melancholy for the past, a clear understanding of the present, and a resolute determination for the future.

He forced himself to suppress these emotions, managing a perfectly timed smile:

"Actually, I've always wanted to pay a visit to Her Majesty the Empress, but the frequent border wars have prevented me from doing so. Now that I have the opportunity, I naturally want to give her a private visit."

He spoke frankly and naturally, as if he really was just there to reminisce.

But a barely perceptible hint of amusement flashed in the depths of Zhao Qingxue's deep purple phoenix eyes.

She caught a fleeting glimpse of the complex emotions in Xu Longxiang's eyes.

That look, a mixture of melancholy, clarity, and resolve, was definitely not something one would expect from an ordinary ally.

This discovery deepened her interest in Xu Longxiang.

"You're quite frank,"

Zhao Qingxue spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of probing, "Aren't you afraid Qin Mu will be wary of you?"

Xu Longxiang smiled, a faint smile, yet one that carried an almost cruel calm:

"He has already been wary of what he should have been wary of, so what difference does a little more make?"

He paused, then added:

"Besides, if I don't visit, will he feel at ease? Since he'll be suspicious no matter what I do, I might as well do something that will make him even more suspicious. At least that way, I'll feel better."

This statement was extremely blunt, and also extremely...arrogant.

But Zhao Qingxue understood the deeper meaning behind it.

Xu Longxiang was making his stance clear to her.

He had completely broken ties with Qin Mu, no longer holding back and with no way to turn back.

And she, Empress Li Yang, was his chosen ally and the key to his revenge.

Zhao Qingxue looked at him quietly for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, spreading across her exquisite face like a snow lotus quietly blooming on a frozen lake—pure, beautiful, yet carrying an indescribable sense of detachment.

"My opinion of you has suddenly changed again," she said.

Xu Longxiang raised an eyebrow: "Oh? I wonder what Her Majesty the Empress thought of me before?"

Zhao Qingxue smiled but remained silent, not answering the question, but instead changing the subject:

"I saw your sister, she seems to be doing well."

These words, spoken lightly, were like an invisible dagger, precisely piercing Xu Longxiang's most painful spot.

Xu Longxiang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

There was pain, guilt, anger, and a profound sense of powerlessness.

But he quickly regained his composure, managing a forced smile:

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Zhao Qingxue gave him a deep look and slowly said:

"Because we're allies, what can we do?"

Eight characters.

Eight words that seem light and airy.

But it finally relieved Xu Longxiang of the huge weight that had been hanging over his heart for so long!

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhao Qingxue, his eyes bursting with undisguised excitement and relief!

coming!

He had been waiting for these words for far too long!

From being forced into the palace in Jiangnan, from his sister being forcibly taken as a concubine, from Qingxue being forced to submit to his desires... for the past six months, he has been waiting for these words every moment.

We are waiting for a clear commitment, a steadfast ally, and a powerful ally to contend with Qin Mu!

And now, Zhao Qingxue has personally uttered the word "ally"!

This means that Li Yang has officially declared its stance and formed an alliance with the Northern Territory!

This means that Xu Longxiang is no longer fighting alone!

This means that the plan for revenge has finally become a possibility!

Xu Longxiang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that now was not the time to celebrate.

Qin Mu is still in the capital, his sister and Qingxue are still in the deep palace, and Mo Shen's death and the exposure of the intelligence network are still ongoing.

All of this is still a sword hanging over our heads.

But at least, he has an ally.

They now have the confidence to contend with Qin Mu.

"It's good that Your Majesty remembers," Xu Longxiang said slowly, his voice hoarse. "Then I'll take my leave."

Zhao Qingxue raised an eyebrow: "You're leaving already?"

Xu Longxiang smiled, a smile carrying an almost childlike slyness:

"If we stay here with His Majesty for too long, some people might really start having trouble sleeping."

He paused, then added:

"After all, the people Qin Mu sent to monitor us are probably jumping up and down in anxiety outside the post station right now. I need to give them some time to report, so that Qin Mu can... be suspicious for a while longer."

These words were said half-jokingly, but both of them understood the deeper meaning behind them.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingxue couldn't help but smile.

"Then I won't see you off," she said casually.

Xu Longxiang stood up, bowed, and said, "Longxiang takes his leave."

He turned around and walked out of the hall.

With steady steps and a straight back, he seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, yet also carried an even heavier responsibility.

But in any case, a flame has been rekindled deep within those dark brown eyes.

It wasn't the frenzied, destructive hatred of last night, but a cold, resolute determination, enough to burn away all obstacles.

The hall door slowly closed behind him.

The footsteps faded into the distance, eventually disappearing at the end of the stairs.

The hall fell silent once more.

Only the morning light remained, casting dappled shadows through the window.

Zhao Qingxue sat alone behind the long table, remaining motionless for a long time.

She slowly picked up the jade teacup in front of her, her fingertips gently stroking the rim. Her deep purple phoenix eyes looked out the window, in the direction where Xu Longxiang had left.

"This child... seems to have grown up a bit more."

An old and ethereal voice came from behind.