"Hanzhou, I just want to ask you, what exactly did he do wrong, how did he offend you, and why did he end up in your hands?"

Xiao Heye remained calm. He poured himself a cup of tea, then smelled it before looking at Han Zhou with a sharper gaze.

Han Zhou scoffed coldly, raising his eyebrows and smiling, "Even if he doesn't provoke me, if I want to deal with him... do I really need to find a reason for him?"

"Brother, you know I never ask why I kill people, nor do I distinguish between good and evil. I kill people whether I like them or not... You never cared about me before, so why are you acting like you're here to interrogate me now?"

Standing at the door, Li Xun felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Han Zhou's words.

Following Xiao Heye in the palace was already like walking on thin ice, like standing on the edge of an abyss.

Now that I've left the palace with the Grand Eunuch, and encountered someone like Han Zhou who acts arbitrarily and kills innocent people indiscriminately, I'm afraid I'll have to be even more careful in handling things from now on.

Otherwise, he would be the next one to lose his head.

Xiao Heye took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and gave Han Zhou a nonchalant look: "There's no need for us to beat around the bush. Just say what you have to say."

Han Zhou nodded in agreement, then said bluntly, "I don't like that woman."

"Do you not like her, or do you not like how nice I am to her?"

Han Zhou paused, not expecting him to be so blunt, "I don't like any of them."

"What should I do? But I like her..."

Xiao Heye lowered his head and twirled the teacup on the table with his finger, speaking casually.

Han Zhou frowned, thinking he had misheard, and asked incredulously, "Brother, what do you mean?"

"Hanzhou, you don't really think your brother is celibate and has no interest in women at all, do you?"

Han Zhou said, "This isn't a question of interest. What I want to know is, in your heart, is she really that special? Don't forget... she's the Emperor's woman."

Xiao Heye stood up, walked slowly behind him, patted Han Zhou on the shoulder, and said, "It's precisely because she's the Emperor's woman... that I want to have even more fun with her, isn't it?"

"It was just...playing around?" Han Zhou turned his head to meet his gaze, trying to find the truth in Xiao Heye's eyes.

He didn't believe what Xiao Heye said because... Han Zhou believed more in what he saw and felt than in what he heard.

Their relationship is far more complex than that.

At least, none of Xiao Heye's actions seemed like he was just playing around...

Xiao Heye looked directly at him, his calm gaze showing no hesitation or evasion. "I've already made it clear to her that I'll give her to the Emperor on New Year's Eve. Until then, she's still mine..."

Xiao Heye thought for a moment, then slowly added, "Of course, it can't be called a gift, because she was originally the emperor's woman, wasn't she?"

Han Zhou asked him, "So, you're saying you didn't come here for Su Lang today? I can let Su Lang go tonight, whether I release him or not is up to me?"

"Whatever you want, but... if you don't believe me, there's no need to wait until New Year's Eve. I'll send him to the Palace of Longevity another day. Hanzhou, are you satisfied now?"

"No need, I trust you, brother. Since you want to play with that woman again, how could I, as your younger brother, spoil your fun? Why don't we wait until New Year's Eve and I'll release the second young master of the Su family..."

Han Zhou smiled and temporarily relented.

This means that, at least before New Year's Eve, he will not harm Su Lang.

Now that Xiao Heye knows the source of Han Zhou's inner conflict, everything can be resolved.

Xiao Heye is the person in the world who understands Hanzhou the most.

Han Zhou is stubborn and cunning, and he is good at understanding people's hearts. At this time, confronting him head-on will not only fail to solve the immediate problem, but will also result in mutual destruction.

Moreover, Xiao Heye never imagined that these issues would damage the harmony between the two.

"I'm leaving now. I'm going back to the palace. Just spare his life; I don't care about anything else."

Xiao Heye finished speaking casually, then walked out.

It seems he really doesn't care at all whether Su Lang lives or dies.

"Aren't you going to see your godfather? You haven't seen him in a long time..." Han Zhou stood up, his long, narrow eyes slightly upturned, and there seemed to be a different kind of emotion in his eyes.

Xiao Heye said, "Next time, the Crown Prince and his gang have been keeping an eye on me lately."

Speaking of the Crown Prince, Han Zhou seemed to recall that scene in the Tongguang Hall.

Although he stood at the door the whole time, Han Zhou could see the situation inside the main hall very clearly.

When Su Tiyue performed her dance, it seemed that the way the people inside were looking at her was a little strange.

This Crown Prince, in particular, seems to be quite extraordinary.

Han Zhou seemed to have also noticed something about the Crown Prince and Su Tiyue, but he didn't say anything.

The moment Xiao Heye stepped out of the room, Han Zhou stood behind him and said, word by word, "Brother, Su Lang... he touched a woman he shouldn't have touched, that's why I treated him like this."

Xiao Heye frowned. "What?"

"Lin Yan..." Han Zhou was afraid that he wouldn't remember who this woman was, so he took two steps forward and whispered a reminder: "Chunfeng Tower, Lin Yan."

When Xiao Heye first heard the name, he couldn't remember who this person was.

It wasn't until Han Zhou mentioned Chunfeng Tower that he suddenly remembered...

So it was Lin Yan.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lin Yan will be the last woman Xiao Heye offers to the emperor.

...

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