Chapter 910: The Young Empress (47)

He was different from Nan Yunchuan. He had truly grown up under the oppression of women since childhood.

So he would never willingly submit to the rule of a woman.

Every day, he reminded himself that he absolutely must not fall into the Empress's gentle trap.

He considered himself successful. At the very least, half a year had passed. He had become the Empress's favorite, yet he had guarded his heart and had not fallen as deeply as Nan Yunchuan had.

He would never become crazed and obsessed over the Empress like Nan Yunchuan.

He, Su Qing, would never become someone like Nan Yunchuan.

He would overthrow the Empress's rule, stand at the pinnacle of this world, and reclaim the dignity of men.

While currying favor with the Empress and trying to win her trust and sincere affection, he secretly maintained contact with Tang Nuoyue.

Having learned his lesson from Nan Yunchuan, he would never allow the Empress to catch him in such a scene.

Every step he took was extraordinarily cautious, and his calculations were flawless.

He had wrapped himself in a disguise so perfect that no one—not even himself—could see through it.

And he believed it had succeeded.

Then one day, he suddenly noticed that the Empress had drifted off while listening to his music. The faint smile in her eyes...

That smile definitely wasn't because of him.

It couldn't be him.

Was she thinking of Nan Yunchuan?

He had noticed everything.

In that instant, he plucked the strings too hard, snapping one of them.

“Su Qing?”

Tang Guo came back to her senses and immediately noticed the blood streaming from his fingers.

“Summon the imperial physician,” she ordered before looking at him with slight reproach. “How could you be so careless? You should stop playing the qin from now on.”

“If I stop playing, Your Majesty will have no music to listen to. As long as Your Majesty likes it, Su Qing is willing to do anything.”

Even while speaking words meant to deceive the Empress, his expression remained affectionate despite the indifference in his heart.

Tang Guo replied, “If listening to the qin means your hands will be injured every time, then I'd rather not hear it.”

“The qin isn't as important as you.”

Su Qing froze.

The excuse he had prepared suddenly became impossible to utter.

He stared blankly as the Empress wrapped her own handkerchief around his finger to stop the bleeding, not knowing what to say.

“These next few months, don't touch the qin.” Tang Guo turned to the Chief Eunuch. “Put away all of Su Qing's instruments. Return them only after he's recovered.”

Then she turned back to him.

“Do you have any other interests? I'll have people find whatever you like.”

“No,” Su Qing answered.

As the imperial physician removed the blood-soaked handkerchief, applied medicine, and bandaged his wound, Su Qing's gaze remained fixed on the discarded handkerchief lying nearby.

For a moment, ripples surfaced in his eyes.

But he quickly regained himself, and calm once more returned to his gaze.

He, Su Qing, would never sink into the Empress's tenderness.

Lowering his head, he realized he couldn't continue like this.

He had to push things further.

In truth, there was already a trace of fear in his heart.

He absolutely could not become another Nan Yunchuan.

He had to make the Empress trust him completely as quickly as possible.

It seemed he would have to resort to a dangerous move.

“Your Majesty,” Su Qing suddenly asked, “were you serious just now? Whatever Su Qing wants, Your Majesty will give it to him?”

Tang Guo was slightly surprised inwardly, but she nodded.

“Of course.”

“Su Qing wishes to leave the palace and travel with Your Majesty. Is that possible? Every time I go out, it's always alone. I've never gone out together with Your Majesty.”

Su Qing lowered his eyes.

He had already arranged everything.

A grand performance was waiting for their Empress.

The system smacked its lips.

Heh, the show is about to begin.

Tang Guo looked at Su Qing and asked, “Very well. When would you like to go?”

“I can decide?”

“Mhm.”

A hint of delight appeared on Su Qing's face.

“Three days from now… would that be alright?”