At that moment, the two were very close. Su Tiyue was surrounded by water mist, revealing only her pair of incredibly beautiful snow-white shoulders.

She opened her eyes wide and finally saw the face so close to hers.

Xiao Heye's skin wasn't fair; it had a sexy, alluring bronze hue. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, with unfathomable, dark pupils that were as intimidating as a ferocious beast in the night. His face had sharp, angular features, and his profile was exquisitely sculpted. In this light, Xiao Heye truly had a handsome appearance.

He was tall and slender with long, well-defined fingers; upon closer inspection, they were actually much more beautiful than her hands.

Unfortunately, he was a eunuch.

Su Tiyue frowned, thinking about her current situation. Luckily, he was a eunuch...

"Master Seal... Such a big matter, are you really willing to help me?" Su Tiyue asked Xiao Heye.

"Hmm." He answered quickly, his tone steady, his expression calm.

"Why?"

Su Tiyue frowned and asked him, "Why did you choose to risk helping me? Does the Master know that if this causes trouble later, you will also be held responsible?"

Xiao Heye chuckled softly and said unhurriedly, "This servant is not afraid of taking risks. Does Your Majesty know that the greater the risk, the greater the reward?"

"Oh... I almost forgot, there's another reason I helped you. Prince Rong was also my enemy. It's a blessing that he died at Her Majesty's hands. If he had fallen into my hands, he wouldn't have been so lucky..."

As he spoke, Su Tiyue felt a chill creeping into the air around her. Despite the burning charcoal fire inside and the warm, comforting water she was immersed in, she felt as if she were in a frozen wasteland, utterly cold. That chill slowly spread from the depths of her heart.

"Did Master Xiao and Prince Rong have a previous feud?"

"I suppose so," Xiao Heye replied dismissively.

Su Tiyue frowned and thought about it. It seemed reasonable.

Arrogant and domineering court officials like Xiao Heye naturally made countless enemies. Furthermore, Prince Rong was always arrogant and disdainful of others, looking down on the ministers and despising the eunuchs in the palace. When two such self-important individuals met, enmity was inevitable.

"What are Master Xiao's conditions?" After talking so much, Su Tiyue finally couldn't help but ask him.

Xiao Heye curled his thin lips into a cool smile and said leisurely, "It's very simple, as long as Your Highness becomes my servant."

Su Tiyue was stunned: "What?"

With a smile hidden on his face, he explained in a gentle tone, "What this servant means is that Consort Shu is of unparalleled beauty and grace. If she were to gain favor in the future, would she be of service to me?"

Su Tiyue finally understood.

To be used by him? To become his person... To put it bluntly, isn't it just to make her a pawn in Xiao Heye's hands?

Everyone in the palace knows that the Emperor's most favored Consort Ji was presented by Xiao Heye, and his intentions are self-evident.

It seems he wanted Su Tiyue to become the next Consort Ji.

Su Tiyue said, "Master Xiao is now second only to the emperor. He has the power to control everything in the court and beyond. He also has Consort Ji in the harem to help him. Why should Master Xiao waste his time on me, an unfavored concubine?"

Xiao Heye replied, "Whether it's appearance, figure, family background, or talent, Consort Ji is no match for Your Majesty. If you were to vie for favor, how could Consort Ji possibly stand a chance?"

As he spoke, he put down the cotton towel and gently lifted Su Tiyue's chin with his hand. His right thumb slowly caressed her moist, soft lips, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy, his voice deep:

"Your Majesty is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I guarantee that any man who sees you will be captivated."

Su Tiyue raised her eyes, her gaze softly falling on his face, letting him gently touch her lips: "But I have no intention of vying for the emperor's favor. I despise the emperor and I am afraid of him."

The disgust was real, and so was the fear.

Her brow furrowed, and when she looked into his eyes, they were brimming with tears, glistening and pitiful. She said, "Besides vying for his favor, is there anything else I can do for the position of Chancellor?"

Xiao Heye shook his head expressionlessly, applying slight pressure with his fingertips, staining his thumb with crimson lipstick. He said, "Why doesn't Your Highness take it easy? Now that you've entered the palace, you're the Emperor's woman. Whether you hate him or are afraid of him... Your Highness can't hide in the Brocade Palace forever, hiding from the Emperor, right? Besides, if Your Highness gains the Emperor's favor, what difference would it make if you killed ten Prince Rongs tonight?"

Su Tiyue shook her head: "Master Xiao, but I can't let it go and I can't understand it. I have no intention of vying for favor, and I don't want to get close to that person..."

Since entering the palace, Su Tiyue has never served the emperor. Her attitude towards the emperor is one of fear, terror, and... resentment. She is unwilling to let her virginity be taken by a vile old man, even if he is the emperor. If she could, she would rather never step out of Jinxiu Palace for the rest of her life.

After listening to Su Tiyue's words, Xiao Heye remained silent for a moment, then tugged at the corner of his mouth and said lightly, "This is Your Highness's choice, and this servant dares not interfere. I just want to remind you that everyone in the harem is not in control of their own destiny. If Your Highness wants to live a carefree life, it will be difficult without a powerful backer."

She thought that apart from vying for favor and being a pawn placed by Xiao Heye beside the emperor, Su Tiyue was willing to do anything.

Su Tiyue remained clear-headed about the matter. She said, "If I am a pawn, I will fall out of favor and become a discarded piece. What will my fate be then? Master Xiao just said that I am the most beautiful woman you have ever seen, and any man who sees me will be moved... I wonder if Master Xiao would be willing to let me truly become your person?"

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