Fairy, please don't do this!

In other words, the Heavenly Mandate Dao of the Sage of Fate can suppress all those in the world who practice the art of cause and effect and destiny.

This naturally includes black clothing.

"I see……"

The last trace of doubt in Xiao Qingyi's heart finally dissipated quietly.

Gu Jinzhao took a deep breath: "So, this is why I want the [Heavenly Stems Mirror]."

Xiao Qingyi took out a small, palm-sized ancient glass mirror from her sleeve, but instead of giving it to him directly, she narrowed her phoenix eyes and asked, "If I give this to you, will you still be loyal to me in the future?"

They were loyal to her, not to the imperial court.

These two are not the same!

Why not?

Gu Jinchao's gaze fell on the [Heavenly Stems Mirror], the edges of which were engraved with the ten Heavenly Stems runes, exuding an obscure and mysterious aura.

Xiao Qingyi said with a half-smile, "Having obtained everything you sought, is there any need for Minister Gu to risk his life for me?"

Gu Jinzhao was silent for a moment, then suddenly said seriously, "In the Cangyue Dynasty, besides the [Heavenly Stem Mirror], there is one more thing that I have not yet obtained!"

Xiao Qingyi held the Heavenly Stem Mirror in her right hand and shook it lightly, while her left hand was wrapped around her chest, squeezing her already full and voluminous clothes until they bulged as if they were about to burst: "What is this?"

Gu Jinzhao stared intently at the stunningly beautiful Empress Dowager before him, and said, word by word, "Your Majesty's heart!"

Caught off guard by this unexpected confession, Xiao Qingyi was also taken aback.

Immediately, a blush, like the glow of a sunset, spread across the exquisite face hidden beneath the lace mask, and even the snow-white neck of the woman in front of her was tinged with pink.

But the next moment!

All the crimson faded like the tide, completely covered by frost, as if spring had suddenly turned into winter.

Xiao Qingyi slowly stood up, looking down at the handsome man lying on the bed in front of her, her tone icy and piercing: "Do you know what the crime is for disrespecting the Empress Dowager?"

Gu Jinchao remained calm and smiled as he replied, "According to the Cangyue Law, anyone whose words, actions, or documents disgrace the Empress Dowager shall be exiled three thousand miles away and never allowed to return to the capital, or executed by slow slicing and their entire family shall be exterminated!"

"Gu Jinchao!"

Seeing his fearless demeanor, Xiao Qingyi's expression grew even colder, and the oppressive aura emanating from her became even heavier: "I cherish your talent, allow you to be close to me, and grant you my trust, yet you respond with such frivolous and disrespectful words?"

Is your loyalty so thin as paper, so unrestrained and unbridled?

Gu Jinzhao met her gaze without flinching, his expression one of sincere fervor: "My words come from the bottom of my heart and are by no means frivolous or disrespectful."

"Your Majesty asked me what reward I desired, whether it be gold and silver jewelry, elixirs and cultivation techniques, or power and status. Your Majesty can afford to give them, but I do not want any of them."

"What I have always wanted is Your Majesty's sincere heart."

"My heart is not concerned with romance, nor does it involve frivolous pursuits."

"It is trust and reliance, the entrustment Your Majesty made to me, and the mutual concern that we will not abandon each other in times of crisis."

He paused here, then said, "If these words are considered blasphemous, then I am willing to accept the punishment of being slowly sliced ​​to death."

"But before that, I would like to ask Your Majesty one question: Has Your Majesty ever, even for a moment, regarded me as someone you could entrust your life to?"

"Instead of simply being an object that is used when useful and discarded when not?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Xiao Qingyi stood motionless, but her phoenix eyes were slightly unfocused...

Chapter 452, The Rebellious Minister's Offensive is Like Fire, the Empress Dowager is Panicked (3K)

Looking at the Empress Dowager's dazed appearance, Gu Jinchao said with a deep expression, "When Your Majesty first met me in the Mind Realm, you must have been consumed by mad desires and were in a state of being unable to control yourself."

"But after the battle with me, the originally surging and uncontrollable killing ferocity was unexpectedly suppressed."

"At this point, Your Majesty realized that there was a special power within me that could restrain my mad desires."

"Therefore, even though I have repeatedly insulted and blasphemed her in the realm of the mind, and even offended Your Majesty in reality, I have not been punished or executed."

"Not only that, but he has become increasingly reliant on me and has even shown me great favor."

He paused, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his face: "But what if one day, this power within me can no longer help Your Majesty?"

"At that time, will Your Majesty feel that I am no longer of use and discard me like worn-out shoes, or even kill me as soon as possible?"

Xiao Qingyi snapped out of her daze, a surge of annoyance and unspeakable grievance rising within her: "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Admittedly, the initial reason for sparing his life was indeed to use him to suppress his mad desires.

The humiliation and shame felt in one's heart, and the indulgence in reality, do indeed contain this factor.

But from beginning to end, she never had any intention of discarding someone after they had served their purpose.

Gu Jinchao shook his head: "Although I dare not say that I fully understand Your Majesty, I do know that Your Majesty is by no means a heartless or ungrateful person who would betray you after you have served your purpose."

Xiao Qingyi narrowed her pale golden phoenix eyes, her tone icy and piercing: "If that's the case, why ask such a question?"

Gu Jinzhao met her gaze and slowly replied, "Because Your Majesty would like to experience what it feels like to be misunderstood."

"Just now, I sincerely expressed my feelings, but in the blink of an eye, Your Majesty accused me of 'disrespecting the Empress Dowager'."

"Those words were like ice picks piercing my bones, denying not only my feelings, but also my whole heart."

"This Empress..."

Xiao Qingyi's expression stiffened slightly, her lips parted slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to refute, but found herself unable to argue.

After all, those threatening words about being slowly sliced ​​to death and having one's entire clan executed were indeed spoken by her own mouth.

Gu Jinchao pressed on, "Does Your Majesty have nothing more to say?"

Just now, it was Xiao Qingyi's turn.

Now, he has turned defense into offense.

Xiao Qingyi bit her lower lip lightly, and said with embarrassment and annoyance, "I am the Empress Dowager, and you are my subject."

"The proper order of ruler and subject, the fundamental principles of ethics and morality—there are some things that should not be said, and some thoughts that should not be entertained."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinzhao smiled and said, "But Your Majesty is not only the Empress Dowager, but also a woman, while I am a man."

"The saying goes, 'A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman,' surely that's not wrong?"

Xiao Qingyi scoffed, "You said that seventeen years ago, before I entered the palace as Empress, and that was indeed true!"

"But now that I have married into the royal family, I am not only the Empress Dowager who is the mother of the nation, but also a role model for all women. How can I accept another man?"

Gu Jinchao said with a half-smile, "But the late emperor has already passed away!"

"Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, Your Majesty has no feelings for him."

Not only were they devoid of emotion, but Emperor Yong'an was also indirectly killed by Xiao Qingyi.

Xiao Qingyi snorted coldly: "I truly have no feelings for Emperor Yong'an, and even loathe him intensely."

"But does that mean I should break ethical norms and disobey my wifely duties?"

Gu Jinzhao sighed, his eyes filled with pity and heartache: "Why does Your Highness have to say such things to demean yourself?"

"Although I am not well aware of the inside story of Your Highness's entry into the palace back then, I understand that Your Highness made that choice for the sake of the people."

"That is why the Empress gave up the right of women to pursue happiness."

“This is not fair to Her Majesty.”

Of the five pure love routes in the game, he restarted the most in Xiao Qingyi's route, but he also knew her the best.

She agreed to enter the palace as empress because she was a descendant of the Emperor of Xiao and inherited the Emperor's will.

What is the will of the human emperor?

When the world is at peace and the court is stable, he will live in seclusion.

However, if the emperor is incompetent, the court is in turmoil, and the country is in danger, then one can take his place.

This was the case during the reign of Emperor Yong'an!

His debauchery and incompetence led to a chaotic and corrupt court, causing widespread suffering and misery among the people.

Therefore, when Xuan Ye found Xiao Qingyi and begged her to enter the palace as empress and take the opportunity to replace her, she readily agreed.

These words touched the soft spot deep within Xiao Qingyi's heart, and for the first time, she felt a warmth of being truly understood. However, she maintained her frosty expression: "So, this is your reason for harboring improper thoughts about me?"

Gu Jinzhao gazed intently at her: "As I just said, a beautiful and virtuous woman is the object of a gentleman's affections."

"This is a man's instinctive yearning and pursuit of beautiful things, but he doesn't necessarily have to get them."

"It is like a fairy maiden who is above the nine heavens. Even though you know that you can only admire her from afar and not touch her, and even if you express your feelings, you will not get a response, you still can't suppress the thoughts in your heart and can't help but look up at her."

Xiao Qingyi met his burning, fiery eyes and surprisingly avoided their sharp edge: "If Supervisor Tantai agrees, the Heavenly Stem Mirror can be given to you."

"As for that second request, I will never grant it. You should give up on that idea..."

Gu Jinzhao suddenly laughed when he heard her deliberately cold tone.

Xiao Qingyi's appearance was undoubtedly telling him that she had developed feelings for him, and even liked him to some extent, but had not yet fallen completely in love with him.

In this way, as long as you persevere, you will eventually succeed.

Xiao Qingyi frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable at his laughter, and said coldly, "What are you laughing at?"

Gu Jinzhao suppressed his smile and instead of answering, asked, "This humble subject desires both the Heavenly Stem Mirror and Your Majesty's body and soul. What should I do?"

Xiao Qingyi was even more ashamed and angry. Golden light flashed in her phoenix eyes, and a murderous aura surged from her body: "Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?"

Gu Jinzhao smiled slightly and said confidently, "Your Majesty would not do that."

whoosh-

Before she could finish speaking, the small knife used to cut fruit on the table floated up, then came hurtling towards her and embedded itself between her legs.

Gu Jinzhao's smile froze, and he felt a chill in his lower body.

If he hadn't been seriously injured and unable to move, he probably would have jumped up.

Seeing his appearance, Xiao Qingyi's beautiful lips curved into a captivating smile: "I will not kill Gu Qing, but I can help you cleanse yourself and cut off your thoughts of me from the root."

This lackey, does he really think he has her under his control?

That's ridiculous!

Gu Jinzhao's lips twitched: "Why has Your Majesty gone to such lengths?"

He had just used the matter of the mind and the desire of madness to force Xiao Qingyi into a corner, and he was somewhat smug about it.

But they forgot that this woman was ruthless.

Even a rabbit will jump over a wall when cornered, let alone an eccentric empress dowager.

Xiao Qingyi raised her hand and the small knife landed on that fair and jade-like hand: "I am just warning you, don't be arrogant, otherwise I will personally castrate Gu Qing."

"With my cultivation level, if I were to actually make a move, even if you used a magic pill, you wouldn't be able to recover."

Gu Jinzhao was completely numb.

He was genuinely afraid of this threat.

No normal man would say, "It's just a few inches, so what if I cut it off?"

If Xiao Qingyi were to use the power of a first-grade Dao Integration Realm cultivator to castrate him, it's likely that he wouldn't be able to be brought back to his original state.

If that's true, it will probably be recorded in history.

Thinking of this, Gu Jinzhao quickly restrained his arrogant and overbearing attitude: "Your Majesty, I believe that perseverance will eventually move Your Majesty with your sincerity."

"I do hope that such a day will truly come."

Xiao Qingyi glanced at him, then slowly sat down, her jade-like legs crossed beneath her phoenix robe.

Her slender feet, clad in sky-high heels, swayed gently, and a glimpse of her calves, covered in icy gray silk, could be vaguely seen.

Gu Jinchao asked earnestly, "So, Your Majesty allows me to like you?"

Xiao Qingyi's expression faltered slightly: "When will I grant permission?"

Gu Jinzhao blinked: "Your Majesty said you hope for such a day, doesn't that mean you've granted permission?"

Women! Your name is hypocrisy.

Although she was secretly delighted and looking forward to it, she had to pretend to be aloof on the surface.