It turns out everything has a reason; he already considers her his woman. If this had happened in a previous life, she would definitely have been happy, but not out of love. It was simply because it would allow her to get closer to him and give her more opportunities to assassinate him.

But she really couldn't be happy now. Huo Jingsha wanted to take her into his room, just like those canaries kept in cages in the backyard? No, this was very bad!

You Shuyao absolutely did not believe that Huo Jingsha had any affection or love for her. In her previous lives, she had tried all sorts of methods to seduce him, but this man was born cold-blooded and could remain unmoved no matter what. His self-control was surprisingly strong when faced with the temptation of a beautiful woman. Even if she stood naked in front of him, he could remain as still as an old monk in meditation, not even lifting an eyelid.

There were many court officials and imperial relatives who fawned over him, and the women given to him were all stunning beauties. Yet, he never seemed to become infatuated with any of them. Even Liu Shuang'er, the top courtesan in the brothel who was known for her exceptional skills in bed, could not keep him for a single night.

However, whenever there were traitors, or sordid acts like ransacking homes, interrogations, or pursuits, he would be the first to rush to the front lines, even staying up for three days and three nights in excitement, leading a large group of Imperial Guards in a relentless pursuit. His greatest passion was raiding this house today and investigating that house tomorrow, and he never tired of it.

Many people privately gave him a nickname, "Born Executioner," which You Shuyao felt was very fitting, and she would never forget the bloody lessons accumulated from being murdered in her nine lifetimes.

However, if she knew that during the days she was unconscious, Huo Jingsha had fed her medicine mouth-to-mouth, stripped her shirt off again, held her, and placed his hands on her bare chest to channel his inner energy into her so that her wounds could heal as quickly as possible, she would definitely be so shocked that her jaw would drop.

Unbeknownst to her, Huo Jingsha came to see her every day. What did it mean to touch her? He even kissed her! His eyes burned with passion, and he longed for this lovely woman who loved him so much that she was willing to sacrifice her life for him repeatedly to wake up soon.

Although Mingxia feared the authority of the adults and served Shuyao carefully, she was still unwilling to tell Shuyao what unspeakable things the adults had done to her while she was unconscious.

In fact, every time Huo Jingsha came, she would ask Mingxia to leave, but Mingxia couldn't resist her curiosity and boldly peeked through the crack in the door. What she saw shocked her so much that her blood boiled.

Mingxia blushed as she recalled the scene. Having served the master for so long, she had never seen him so fond of a woman. It could only be described as him being so enamored with her.

With the lord's current status and appearance, he could have any woman he wanted. Not to mention the beautiful concubines in his harem, he could have easily sent both she and Minghui to serve him in bed with just a snap of his fingers. But the lord didn't seem interested in any of them, instead showering a comatose, unconscious woman with affection, touching and kissing her. She watched from the sidelines, finding the scene bizarre, yet unable to resist watching, fantasizing about how wonderful it would be if the lord treated her like that.

You Shuyao stared at Mingxia's ever-changing expressions, one moment bright, the next desolate, and then a strange flush on her face, and couldn't help but wonder...

What's wrong with you? Why is your face so red?

Mingxia finally snapped out of her daze, met Shuyao's suspicious gaze, and continued to smile ingratiatingly.

"No, it's nothing. Miss has just woken up and hasn't eaten for several days. She must be hungry. The doctor just instructed the servant to go to the kitchen and prepare scallop porridge for her. Please have some."

Only after she mentioned it did You Shuyao realize that she was indeed hungry, but she was even thirstier. She thought that no matter what, she needed to fill her stomach first so that she would have the energy to do other things, such as going out to think of a way to contact her partner.

Her mind was completely focused on this, so she didn't bother to investigate what had happened to Mingxia earlier.

Mingxia brought the porridge to Shuyao, who drank it while looking around the room. She learned from Mingxia that after Huo Jingsha decided to take her in, he moved her to this Biyue Residence to recuperate.

Biyue Residence is the closest courtyard to Huo Jingsha's main courtyard. It had been vacant for many years. After Huo Jingsha ordered people to clean it up, he moved her here to recuperate. He also sent several maids and servants to take care of her. During the few days she was unconscious, he arranged everything inside and outside the courtyard.

You Shuyao then subtly inquired about what had happened at the inn after her assassination attempt, including whether the assassin was alive or dead after she fell unconscious. But how could Mingxia, a maid in the inner courtyard, know about the situation outside the mansion? Instead, she wanted to hear some gossip from her and ask how she had saved Lord Huo that day.

You Shuyao chatted with her for a while, but finding she couldn't get anything out of her, she sent her away, annoyed. She then called in other servants under a different pretext, but none of them knew the specifics of what happened that day. She had no choice but to give up and try to find out from other sources. If she made too much of a fuss and Huo Jingsha heard about her inquiries, all her efforts would be in vain.

His spies are everywhere in this mansion, so we must not rush into anything.

When she was alone, she thought about it carefully and realized she was quite frightened. This turn of events was truly fraught with danger.

Previously, You Shuyao lived in the servants' quarters, where she could easily avoid everyone and maintain her privacy when moving around or searching. But now, living in Biyue Residence, she is surrounded by maids and servants, and people can come and go in the courtyard at any time. She is seriously injured and has great difficulty moving around. Whether it is eating, changing clothes, or going to the toilet, as long as she makes the slightest movement, someone will immediately come to assist her.

"The master specifically instructed that if anything happens to the young lady, we will have to pay with our lives. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything."

"The master is so concerned because he is very fond of the young lady. The young lady should recover her health as soon as possible!"

"Young lady, you are truly courageous. You have saved the adults several times. From now on, you will finally rise above your circumstances and enjoy endless wealth and honor!"

The nannies and maids in wealthy families are all shrewd and know how to flatter people. Those who once called her a vixen who bewitched the emperor and a reincarnation of a fox spirit are now sitting around her, offering congratulations and blessings, full of flattery and ingratiation.

Although You Shuyao listened with a faint smile, she secretly thought that things were not going well. This situation was very unfavorable to her. Now, she was probably being watched if she took even one more step. Moreover, she was seriously injured and unable to move around easily. It would definitely not be an easy task for her to leave Biyue Residence without anyone noticing.

Oh, what a predicament! So many eyes are watching her from dawn till dusk, and even at night someone keeps watch in the outer room while she sleeps. How is she supposed to find out anything about the contract?

She had promised to assist him, but now she had ruined his plans again. If this got back to the organization, how was she going to explain it to the leader?

"I'm tired and want to rest by myself for a while. You can all leave now," she said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the maids and nannies quickly bowed and took their leave.