Sun Miao'er nearly fell, but seeing Hu Tingzhi speak, she was finally able to walk in with her head held high, and didn't forget to shove the burly man.

"Miss Sun, the servant was tactless and offended you. I apologize." Hu Tingzhi greeted Sun Miao'er with a smile and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she wasn't angry.

Fu Yuchi is a tough nut to crack, after all, everyone has witnessed his methods back then.

He admired his own prince for daring to employ such a ruthless and cold-blooded person, and for not being afraid of stabbing him in the back one day. But if he didn't find another way, how could he compete with the tyrannical emperor for the throne?

Hu Tingzhi's study was located on the top floor of Duhuan Tower. The structure of Duhuan Tower was similar to a spire, becoming narrower as you went up. The top floor had only one room, which was where Hu Tingzhi usually stayed.

Sun Miao'er hurried inside and found it extremely dark, a stark contrast to the opulent exterior. There were even oil lamps burning on the lampstands.

The furnishings were extremely simple, consisting of only a table and two official's hat chairs. Two huanghuali wood chairs with four protruding ends were placed directly opposite the table in the middle. The table was also simple, with only the basic writing implements.

The simplicity of the study and the extravagance of the outside make it hard to believe that the two were designed by the same person.

Hu Tingzhi pulled out the official's hat chair, tossed aside the corner of his robe, bowed and sat down, leaning back in a casual posture. "Miss Sun, please sit down."

Sun Miao'er also reached out to pull the chair, but she didn't expect the rosewood to be so heavy. She couldn't pull it on the first try, and it took her two tries to pull the chair out.

"Did you enjoy your meal, Miss Sun?" Hu Tingzhi put his right foot on his left, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and swayed his head leisurely.

Sun Miao'er narrowed her eyes and smiled, "The chefs at Duhuanlou are truly renowned, but it's a real pity that they're located in such a small place as Pingnan City."

“It’s no pity, no pity.” Hu Tingzhi retorted, “It’s not a pity to open a shop wherever someone comes. Even if there’s only one customer left in the future, I, Hu, will still persist.”

After saying this, Hu Tingzhi clapped his hands, and all the oil lamps in the room suddenly lit up, filling the entire room with the warm light of the flames.

A slight look of surprise flashed across Sun Miao'er's face; it could even be voice-controlled.

She said, "To be honest, Manager Hu, when I went out just now, I saw a man in the hall who seemed to have been ordered to be tied up by you. I wonder what he did wrong?"

Hu Tingzhi's brow twitched, and he said, "What, does Miss Sun know that fellow?"

"Yes, he is my friend." Sun Miao'er was now in a difficult position, so she had to admit it reluctantly.

A playful look appeared on Hu Tingzhi's face. "Oh? A friend? Miss Sun has such a friend. I wonder if your master knows about it?"

“There’s no need for Master to know about such a trivial matter. I’m afraid Manager Hu is meddling too much.” Sun Miao’er’s eyes turned cold as she guessed what the person in front of her was thinking.

However, Hu Tingzhi is quite shrewd, and I'm afraid I can't figure him out in a short time.

"He's no good person, just a lecher." Hu Tingzhi dodged the question, seemingly having no intention of letting her go.

Sun Miao'er calmly dealt with him, saying, "I don't know what my friend has done wrong? Manager Hu, he is a member of the imperial court."

“Even if the emperor came here, he would still have to abide by the rules of Duhuan Tower.” Hu Tingzhi played with the jade thumb ring on his hand, half of his face was in shadow, making him truly unfathomable.

Sun Miao'er raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Just do me a favor for my master, Manager Hu. If you let him go today, I will definitely teach him a lesson when I get back and won't let him cause trouble here again."

"Are you giving face to your master or to Xiaoxiao?" Hu Tingzhi suddenly straightened up and moved closer to Sun Miao'er.

Sun Miao'er noticed that he was smiling on the surface, but his eyes were like ice, terrifyingly sinister. How come the people that King Wei uses are all so unpredictable? Hu Tingzhi is like that, and so is her master. In fact, her master's skill in putting on a fake smile is even better.

"It seems Manager Hu already knew?"

The smile on Hu Tingzhi's face faded, his gaze became unfocused, and he said, "How could I not know what kind of temperament Xiaoxiao has? I watched her grow up with my own eyes, I know her like the back of my hand."

“There are countless people in Yingzhou who are eager to see her, and some have even blocked her carriage to see her, but I have never seen her get angry.”

"Now you're getting angry over a mere constable who keeps coming to see her? Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Let alone seeing them a few times, I've had people coming here for years. Coercion and bribery are commonplace for them. Xiaoxiao always has her maids gently persuade them."

"Tell me, what ability does a mere constable have to make Xiaoxiao angry, unless..."

Unless Dongli Xiaoxiao has taken a liking to him.

It turns out that Hu Tingzhi already knew all along.

Sun Miao'er let out a breath and had to take a closer look at the man in front of her.

As Dongli Xiaoxiao said, she and Hu Tingzhi were both victims of the chaotic government. After their parents died early, they wandered the streets and suffered bullying every day. Their mutual sympathy made them siblings without blood ties, and they relied on each other to get by. Later, they were taken in by the Prince of Wei.

In fact, Hu Tingzhi was about the same age as his master. However, his master did not grow a beard, while Hu Tingzhi liked to grow a short beard to make him look more mature, giving Sun Miao'er the illusion that he was in his thirties or forties.

"Is Manager Hu unwilling to give me this face?" Sun Miao'er asked back.

Hu Tingzhi's voice suddenly turned cold as he slowly spoke: "If I don't deal with him, and the Prince of Wei finds out, Xiaoxiao will be the one who suffers. Tell me, would I rather see Xiaoxiao heartbroken, or would I rather see Xiaoxiao die?"

The chaotic government that destroyed their families and killed them was the seed of hatred in their hearts. Their determination to take revenge was the guarantee of their unwavering loyalty, and also the bargaining chip that King Wei used to control them.

But once you become distracted, does this bargaining chip still have any value?

Sun Miao'er didn't keep him in suspense any longer, "Since that's the case, why don't we think of a way that satisfies both sides?"

"Shanqiu is a man of the imperial court, and I am a man of the King of Wei. It's easier said than done that we can have both!" Hu Tingzhi smiled bitterly and rubbed his temples.

Sun Miao'er recalled what Dongli Xiaoxiao had told her, realizing that she still didn't understand her so-called brother enough: "Miss Xiaoxiao may have good intentions, but Shanqiu may not reciprocate."

"What do you mean? Does he look down on Xiaoxiao?" Hu Tingzhi was slightly agitated, clenching his fist and pressing it against the table, the veins on his fist bulging.

Sun Miao'er nodded. "Miss Xiaoxiao told me herself that it was just wishful thinking on her part. If Manager Hu doesn't believe me, he can go to Miss Xiaoxiao's room and see what she wrote."

"Besides, Shanqiu is an upright and honest man; how could he be easily seduced by beauty?"

Hu Tingzhi knew that he had been humble and subservient to Shan Qiu at the yamen that day because of Dongli Xiaoxiao, and now he would do the same for his sister by tying up and imprisoning Shan Qiu.

To him, anyone who touched Xiaoxiao was tantamount to taking his life.