Su Tiyue kept her head down, clutching Xiao Heye's clothes, and walked out of the Hall of Longevity, then through the long covered walkway.

Even after leaving the courtyard, she didn't dare to look back.

He was terrified that the guards would rush over and drag him back...

Fortunately, although Xiao Heye did not explicitly say that he would take her away from the Hall of Longevity, he did not push her away either.

The night road was difficult to walk on. Xiao Heye had long legs and walked relatively slowly, but Su Tiyue, with her short legs, had to walk very fast to keep up with his pace.

"ah!"

With a scream, Su Tiyue released her grip and fell heavily to the ground.

Since the incident in the greenhouse, Su Tiyue's foot injury has healed, but her ankle seems to be more prone to twisting than before, and she can easily get injured if she is not careful.

What's more, it rained all day today, and the road was covered with clean, white pebbles, so you could easily slip and fall if you weren't careful.

Su Tiyue sat on the ground and looked up at Xiao Heye, who had not stopped walking and was getting further and further away. Her face was full of sadness and frustration.

it's useless……

As long as Xiao Heye doesn't speak up to protect her, even if she escapes from the Hall of Longevity today, she will still be summoned to serve him in bed tomorrow.

Even if it's not tomorrow, there's the day after tomorrow... and countless days and nights...

She rubbed her aching ankle, lowered her head, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

A gentle breeze, carrying a light drizzle, brushed against her face, with a slight chill in the air.

There were some water droplets on her thick, long eyelashes, and for a moment it was hard to tell whether they were tears or rain.

Just then, a pair of feet appeared in front of her.

Black boots, a gray-blue brocade robe, and a dark cloak.

He's back...

Xiao Heye knew she had fallen, but isn't that how people are? They fall, they get up, and keep going.

Xiao Heye couldn't understand how someone could... fall down and then just sit there motionless?

He stood not far from Su Tiyue, his eyes lowered, looking down at her.

He didn't say a word, just stared at her blankly.

Su Tiyue tilted her head back and met his gaze.

She could see what was hidden in his eyes.

There was thought, weighing, and deliberation.

Su Tiyue was gambling in her heart...

But Xiao Heye was acting...

He clearly came to the Hall of Longevity to take her back, but Xiao Heye was always scheming in his heart, wanting to make her give something in return.

His kindness towards Su Tiyue was not without expectation of return.

For the woman before him, what he wanted was not just her innocence, but...

All of her.

It is ambition, and also endless greed and desire.

...

After a long while, Xiao Heye slowly extended his palm toward her, his expression as cold as ever, his dark eyes unfathomable, yet he still extended a hand toward her.

What does this mean?

This probably means that Su Tiyue finally won her gamble.

besides……

This means that since she chose Xiao Heye's path, there is no turning back.

Su Tiyue raised her slender wrist, her fingers gently falling into his palm.

Xiao Heye squeezed her slightly cool fingertips, then pulled Su Tiyue up from the ground. "Your Majesty's methods and schemes are endless. If you were to use them on the Emperor, Consort Wan and Consort Ji would probably be out of the picture."

His words contained both ridicule and doubt.

He seemed to suspect that Su Tiyue had faked the fall to gain his sympathy.

"The handprint... I wouldn't dare lie to you, I really did fall, you can see for yourself..."

Su Tiyue was afraid he wouldn't believe her, so she lowered her head and prepared to lift the hem of her skirt to show him.

Xiao Heye used a little force in his arm to pull her in front of him, and held her thin shoulders with both hands.

His gaze was piercing, and he gave her a cold, stern look: "Your Majesty, do you know what to do from now on?"

Su Tiyue looked back at him and nodded timidly: "I know, I will listen to the headmaster from now on."

Xiao Heye lowered his head and whispered in her ear, word by word, "From now on, stay obediently by my side. You're not allowed to run away, you're not allowed to hide, and you're absolutely not allowed to flirt with other men..."

"I understand," Su Tiyue replied softly.

Upon hearing her reply, Xiao Heye released her shoulders, then took off his cloak and draped it over Su Tiyue's shoulders.

Just like the night she entered the palace, he lowered his head and carefully helped her put on the cloak, then tied it up meticulously.

A trace of his lingering warmth wafted from the cloak, not much, but enough to warm Su Tiyue's soft body, which was shivering in the rainy night.

Su Tiyue stared at him for a while before asking, "Master, what if the Emperor returns to the Palace of Longevity and finds I'm not there? If he flies into a rage... who knows which innocent palace maid will suffer again."

"Hmm." He lowered his head and gave a perfunctory hum.

"Also, if he finds out we're like this, we'll be in trouble too."

"Hmm." That was the only word she replied.

"Palmprint...Are you even listening?" Su Tiyue frowned, raised her hand and grabbed his palm to ask.

Xiao Heye chuckled softly and said, "Has Your Majesty ever considered why the Emperor, who was so eager to spend the night with you, has not appeared yet today?"

Su Tiyue thought for a moment and asked, "Why?"

Xiao Heye gently wiped away the tear stains on her face with the back of his fingers. This face... these eyes, everything about her is perfect, but she is just too fragile.

She would cry at the drop of a hat, which often made Xiao Heye feel sorry for her.

Because you are mine.

He paused, then continued, "This morning I had someone deliver this message to the Emperor..."

He spoke casually, looking at her with a satisfied expression, and then gently pinched Su Tiyue's little ear.

He gently, very gently, pinched the soft flesh on her earlobe.

“Xiao Heye…you’re a madman.” Su Tiyue murmured, her brows furrowed.

She never expected things to develop to this point.

Ultimately, Xiao Heye didn't respect the emperor or imperial power at all.

I used to only know that he held immense power and could do whatever he wanted, but now I understand what it truly means to... do whatever one wants.

Xiao Heye smiled and said, "Take this as Her Majesty praising this servant."