Chapter 913: The Young Empress (50)

From time to time, Su Qing would steal glances at the Empress's expression and discovered that she truly enjoyed listening to his music. At the same time, he realized that the way she treated him was indeed different from how she had treated Nan Yunchuan.

Toward him, there was more appreciation—admiration for his talents.

When she had been with Nan Yunchuan, she would often smile, even if only faintly, at the amusing little stories he told.

Su Qing paused.

So Her Majesty had never fallen in love with him.

She merely admired his skills and perhaps felt a trace of pity for him.

Looking throughout the harem, the only people who could truly converse with the Empress had been himself and Nan Yunchuan.

Perhaps the Empress had not truly loved Nan Yunchuan either. It was only because they were different.

The Empress had been willing to spend time with them because of their “sincerity.” She had been willing to shower them with favor, pamper them, trust them, and grant them a status above the others.

“Stop, Su Qing. Your music has become disordered.”

Su Qing started in alarm and only then realized that his distraction had caused him to miss several notes.

He hurriedly stopped.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me.”

“Don't ask for forgiveness over every little thing. We're out to enjoy ourselves. There's no need for so many rules.”

Su Qing quickly smiled.

“Yes.”

At that moment, he vaguely understood something.

The Empress was a lonely person.

Among all the men in the harem, he and Nan Yunchuan had displayed the most sincerity. That was why she had treated them so well.

The Empress had never loved either of them.

As for Nan Yunchuan's betrayal, what she felt was probably disappointment.

The person she had believed to be sincere toward her had betrayed her, yet she couldn't bring herself to kill him. Instead, she fulfilled his wishes.

That was because she still cherished old feelings.

Perhaps the Empress truly hadn't paid attention to how Nan Yunchuan was faring outside the palace.

An indescribable feeling rose in Su Qing's heart, but the sudden jolt of the carriage brought him back to reality.

“Your Majesty, what's happening?”

His expression was filled with vigilance, though inwardly he was perfectly calm.

The people he had arranged had arrived.

Everything today had been meticulously planned by him.

He no longer wanted to continue entangling himself with the Empress.

The Empress didn't have to fall in love with him. She could treat him well.

But while scheming against her, he feared that her kindness would steal his heart.

Just like Nan Yunchuan, who had become a madman obsessed with old possessions and lost in memories.

Tang Guo looked at the “worried” Su Qing and comforted him.

“Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen.”

She lifted the curtain and stepped out.

Su Qing hurriedly followed.

At present, they had already been surrounded.

Masked men in black filled the area.

The four masters Tang Guo had brought with her were already engaged in combat with the assassins.

But there were only four experts.

The black-clad assassins numbered more than twenty.

Even the Chief Eunuch had no choice but to personally join the battle.

Yet five people against over twenty opponents simply couldn't hold them all back.

When Tang Guo and Su Qing emerged, several assassins exchanged glances before charging directly toward them with raised swords.

In an instant, Tang Guo drew her sword and engaged them in combat.

Su Qing's public identity was that of a scholar accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He knew no martial arts.

Or rather—

The Su Qing everyone knew wasn't supposed to know martial arts.

Thus, while fighting off the assassins, Tang Guo simultaneously kept hold of Su Qing, protecting him as she battled.

Watching Tang Guo's brilliant performance, the system couldn't help praising her.

Host, your acting is becoming more and more convincing. You could slit their throats with a single stroke, yet you're deliberately making it look difficult. If I didn't know the truth, I'd think you were really about to lose.

“Tongzi,” Tang Guo replied lazily, “you've been too bored lately.”
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