"What...what is it?" Her breathing became heavy, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and fear.

Xiao Heye laughed: "Your Majesty, don't be afraid, it's a cute and fun little thing..."

He opened the box, and Su Tiyue craned her neck to take a curious look.

It is a string of small golden bells.

The chain, woven from gold thread and fine red cord, is adorned with three exquisitely crafted gold bells.

Exquisite and precious, delicate and elegant, it is indeed a fine and beautiful little trinket.

He gently shook it, and a clear, melodious tinkling sound filled the spacious, quiet room...

Seeing the little bell reminded Su Tiyue of the last time, right on this bed, when she was so frightened by Xiao Heye that she fled in panic.

Xiao Heye could have caught her, but he was afraid she would fall, so he chose to let go, only to accidentally break the bell on her foot.

Unexpectedly, the gift he gave to Su Tiyue this time was this.

She watched as Xiao Heye slowly fastened the chain to his right foot and asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to give me this?"

"For no reason other than that this servant likes it."

After a while, Xiao Heye added, "Don't lose it again."

Su Tiyue said, "What if it breaks off by itself?"

“This chain was made by my own hands; it won’t break so easily.”

"oh……"

Seeing that he had fastened it, Su Tiyue fiddled with it a couple of times. Since Xiao Heye liked it, she would wear it. Anyway... she didn't dislike the little thing.

"Master, I've answered your question... Now, what about my question?"

Will he kill Zhou Tingyue?

Xiao Heye frowned, released her ankle, and casually twirled the thumb ring on his thumb, saying, "Life is like a game of chess; winning means life, losing means death. What, Your Majesty, are you so afraid and worried about him? Why don't you worry about this servant?"

"After all, we are all in the same boat."

Su Tiyue sat up straight, frowning, her voice a little louder than before: "Master, what I mean is, there are winners and losers in chess, and the same goes for people. There are winners and losers, but if you lose, you lose. Why do you have to take someone's life?"

"Does Your Majesty not want him to die?"

"The late emperor was foolish and incompetent, indulging only in pleasure, leaving the people of Beiliang destitute and ravaged. But Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

Su Tiyue paused for a moment, then changed her words, saying, "But the new emperor is different. He is upright and honest, diligent in governing and loves his people. He will be a good emperor."

Xiao Heye's eyes darkened, and he snorted coldly: "In Her Majesty's eyes, is he really that good?"

"Chief Minister Xiao, you know... I have no personal feelings for him, and I've long since let go of the past. I'm not doing this for myself; from a public perspective, our Northern Liang needs a good emperor like him, doesn't it?"

Xiao Heye scoffed, "Your Majesty, what kind of emperor Beiliang needs is none of my business."

Su Tiyue frowned and said seriously, "I don't know what you're trying to achieve by doing those things inside and outside the court, but... Master Xiao, if Northern Liang falls..."

"You... Han Zhou, and your men, do you think you can all live on alone?"

Xiao Heye coldly said, "Then let's die together. Your Majesty... didn't you want to go to hell with this servant?"

"But I want to live... I want my family and friends to live well too."

Su Tiyue sighed, lowered her head and put on her shoes and socks. She took a few steps forward without turning back: "After suffering so much and enduring so much pain, isn't it all just to live a good life?"

So weak and helpless, struggling desperately in the mud, what she wanted was nothing more than a sense of peace and tranquility.

But Xiao Heye is different. He is a demon from hell. Once he falls into the abyss, he only wants more people to experience the pain of hell.

All beings are equal.

Isn't that right?