The night was cool and still, with a gentle breeze.

It is said that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. When Su Tiyue was in Jinxiu Palace, she tried her best to hide herself in order to avoid trouble. Even though life was hard, it was still peaceful and stable.

But after so many things happened, she had nowhere to hide and was forced to become entangled with the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Now that they've moved to Tingyu Tower, after tonight's events, Xiao Heye has finally found a powerful backer to ask the emperor for people.

Back in the palace, Su Tiyue always lived in constant fear, afraid of this and that.

Now, she only has one person to fear.

That was Xiao Heye.

Su Tiyue pursed her lips and cautiously glanced at Xiao Heye, trying to discern his current mood from his face.

Unfortunately, most of the time Xiao Heye's face was cold and aloof, keeping people at arm's length.

Su Tiyue coughed lightly twice, moved a few steps closer to him, and reached out to take Xiao Heye's large hand. She cleared her throat and whispered, "Master, before we go back... I have something to say."

Her voice was soft and gentle, sounding almost like she was being coquettish.

Xiao Heye lowered his eyes and looked at Su Tiyue's round eyes, which were blinking as if she was up to some wicked scheme again.

"Your Highness, do you perhaps want to negotiate some terms with this servant?"

Su Tiyue nodded, then thought for a moment and realized that wasn't quite right. She quickly shook her head and explained, "It's not a condition, it's... a request..."

At this moment, Su Tiyue was still clear about the situation. Given her current predicament, what could she possibly use to negotiate with Xiao Heye?

If the negotiations fall apart and she angers the person, she won't get any benefit from it at all.

"Oh?" Xiao Heye smiled and looked at her, saying, "A request?"

"Interesting... Your servant is all ears."

Su Tiyue said, "What I said earlier in the Hall of Longevity, can the Grand Master agree to it?"

Xiao Heye frowned, looking at her blankly, as if he couldn't quite remember what she had just said.

She said, "It's just... please give me a little more time, okay? Don't treat me like you did last night, you scared me, really..."

She was terrified by what happened last night.

Let alone experiencing it firsthand, even just dreaming about it or thinking about it would be enough to terrify her.

It wasn't that she didn't want to, it was that she was afraid.

I'm afraid of Xiao Heye, and I'm also afraid of Xiao Heye like that...

Su Tiyue looked at him with a sincere expression, her bright eyes filled with a hint of expectation, so pitiful that they seemed to steal one's soul.

Xiao Heye neither agreed nor refused, a handsome yet wicked smile playing on his lips, and said, "One... Your Highness, continue."

He noted it down; this was the first condition Su Tiyue had mentioned to him.

That is, don't force her to give herself to you.

Su Tiyue lowered her head, gently grasped Xiao Heye's hands, and continued, "And also, the palm print... can you please not push me away in the future? Whether it's the Hall of Longevity or someone else, don't give me away to others, and I don't want to be your pawn..."

"OK?"

She asked him cautiously, "Is it okay?"

Su Tiyue said to him gently but earnestly, "Don't push me away, and definitely don't give me away to someone else..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Heye's hard and cold heart was almost melted.

Su Tiyue grew up in luxury, a pampered noblewoman cherished by the Su family.

It seems she knew that her gentle and delicate nature was both her weakness and her strength.

Su Tiyue constantly used that subtle, gentle weakness to slowly move him, persuade him, and then control him.

When Xiao Heye lowered his guard, she would always tease, entice, and even seduce him unintentionally, making him willingly fall for her until his defenses completely crumbled.

Even though he knew it was a honey trap, Xiao Heye fell for it.

Seeing Xiao Heye staring at her silently, Su Tiyue knew that making a request at this time was indeed inappropriate. She felt a little guilty: "Master Xiao, perhaps I don't understand you very well. Sometimes my words and actions may make you angry. But being angry is one thing, but it's not a reason for you to hurt me or want to destroy me, is it? People should be reasonable, shouldn't they?"

This sentence sounds familiar.

What she meant by saying this was that she had angered Xiao Heye by being honest about her relationship with the Crown Prince, which led to all the things that happened afterward.

Xiao Heye is so smart, how could he not understand Su Tiyue's meaning?

Actually, she didn't need to explain.

Xiao Heye knew that this was the second condition Su Tiyue had made to him.

That is, under no circumstances should you abandon her or ruin her.

Su Tiyue's desires were indeed not many, nor were they excessive.

Perhaps, no matter where she is, a sense of security is just too important for a delicate woman.

He lowered his brows and looked down at Su Tiyue, who was gently holding his hand, seemingly playing with it. He felt inexplicably pleased. "Second...Your Majesty, is there anything else you want to say?"

Su Tiyue looked up at him and shook her head, saying, "No...nothing."

Her eyes were very certain.

"Hmm." Xiao Heye smiled, withdrew his hand from hers, and gently lifted Su Tiyue's chin with his index finger, saying, "The two conditions Your Majesty mentioned... oh no, the two requests..."

"This servant grants permission."

Upon hearing this, Su Tiyue was overjoyed, her eyes shining brightly as if sparkling with stars: "Really?!"

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