His expression was somewhat cold, quite different from usual.

Su Tiyue asked cautiously, "Why didn't the Grand Master come to Tingyu Tower to find me after the morning court session today?"

If she wasn't staying at Yelan Pavilion, Xiao Heye would head straight to Tingyu Tower after the morning court session.

Although Xiao Heye never forced her to stay or anything, whenever he had free time, no matter where Su Tiyue was, his eyes would always be glued to her.

Without realizing it, this seems to have become a habit.

As long as Su Tiyue is within his sight, Xiao Heye's mood seems to improve inexplicably.

But when she asked him that question, Xiao Heye didn't seem to care. He kept his head down and simply replied, "Because I'm busy."

"oh."

There was a hint of frustration and loneliness in her words.

But soon, Su Tiyue coughed twice and said to him in a gentle voice, "I asked Li Xun to prepare your favorite dishes. Would you like to have dinner with me later?"

"Do you have any wine?" He lifted his eyelids and suddenly asked her this question.

Su Tiyue nodded and said, "Yes. I just had Li Xun prepare some fruit wine. I wonder what kind the Master would like to drink?"

Xiao Heye smiled and said, "This one will do."

She nodded: "Then I'll go see how his preparations are going?"

He didn't say anything, but simply turned his gaze back to the book in his hands.

Su Tiyue was afraid that speaking again would disturb him. Although she still had a lot to say to him, she thought it would be better to say it during the meal later. So she left the room without saying a word.

But no sooner had Su Tiyue left than Jiang Lisu turned back into the west wing.

Jiang Lisu closed the door, walked to Xiao Heye's side, and silently placed the small bag in her hand on the table.

It was obvious that this was the small packet of powder that Su Tiyue was carrying.

"Is everything done?" Xiao Heye put down the book in his hand, picked up the small white package with his slender fingers, brought it close to his nose and smelled it carefully. His eyes were filled with complex emotions, making it impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Jiang Lisu replied, "Yes."

"I understand, you can go now." His voice was extremely cold, and his dark, unfathomable eyes were fixed on the thing in his hand.

His heart seemed to have grown colder over time.

It seems that, in the end, he was just too good to Su Tiyue.

So good to her that she can do whatever she wants?

Xiao Heye closed his eyes slightly, placed his hands on the table, and helplessly rubbed his temples with his neatly trimmed fingers.

He took a deep breath, a breath mixed with some inexplicable emotions.

For example, anger, disappointment...

And then there's the heartache and bitterness...

Xiao Heye didn't know when these emotions would erupt, nor did he know if they would frighten the little one he cherished.

That... heartless, treacherous little thing.

Xiao Heye asked himself honestly, in this world, no one cherished Su Tiyue more than him, and no one was more sincere than him.

This morning before the court session, Jiang Min blocked his way and told Xiao Heye everything that had happened last night.

At first, he didn't believe it, but when he saw the emperor's absent-mindedness during court, Xiao Heye became half-convinced...

Something really happened in southern Xinjiang.

If that's the case, based on Xiao Heye's understanding of Su Tiyue, if the Prince of Huainan really threatened her elder brother's life, then she would really compromise.

Therefore, he believed Jiang Min's words to some extent.

With that remaining three-tenths of trust, Xiao Heye was just taking a gamble...

He bet that Su Tiyue would consult him when she encountered problems, that Su Tiyue wouldn't do anything to hurt him, and... that Su Tiyue would unconditionally trust his abilities.

As the one in a superior position, Xiao Heye believed himself to be omnipotent. As long as she spoke up, how could he possibly stand idly by?

As the one in power, Xiao Heye was never afraid of anyone's threats or oppression, so he hoped that his wife would be the same.

When things don't go as planned, you get used to it after a while.

So when Su Tiyue came in just now, he pretended to be engrossed in reading, but that wasn't actually the case.

He spoke coldly and deliberately ignored her, hoping that Su Tiyue would notice something amiss.

Deep down, he desperately wanted to say something crucial, something he wanted to hear…

Even just a simple sentence or two.

Unfortunately, no.

At this moment, the emotions that Xiao Heye had been suppressing, restraining, and holding back were like a violently surging flood, almost devouring him completely.

*

Su Tiyue sat at a table laden with delicious dishes, resting her chin on her hand as she waited for Xiao Heye.

I waited from sunset until it got dark.

Xiao Heye dragged his slow, lazy steps into the room.

"The palm print..." Although Su Tiyue was getting tired of waiting, she still forced a smile to greet him.

She even thoughtfully pulled a chair out from under the table for him to sit next to her.

Seeing that he remained silent, Su Tiyue asked timidly, "Master Xiao doesn't seem to be in a good mood today. Did something unpleasant happen?"

Xiao Heye shook his head in denial, but said gently, "Let's eat."

After he finished speaking, he picked up the chopsticks in front of him, but before he could even put a bite of food in his mouth, Su Tiyue, as if to curry favor, poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him. She said with a smile, "Master, have a drink."

Xiao Heye looked at the slender, fair fingers holding the wine glass, and even his action of picking up food froze in mid-air for a long time.

Xiao Heye gently picked up a piece of stir-fried lily bulb and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly.

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