Clearly, Xiao Zhuo didn't expect Luo Jiu's answer and continued speaking to himself:

"If you like, I have grapevines in my garden..."

Luo Jiu paused, not understanding why Xiao Zhuo had changed the subject so quickly.

"Want it?" Xiao Zhuo was like a cunning fox, slowly casting out his bait, then waiting patiently for his prey to take the bait.

Luo Jiu: "..."

"If you want it, just say something nice and try to please your husband." Xiao Zhuo's childish tone, as if he were trying to make a fool of himself, silenced Luo Jiu once again.

Do I really like eating that much in his eyes? How does this man know my preferences so perfectly?

For the first time, Luo Jiu questioned her own foodie nature.

Unable to restrain herself, she raised her hand and splattered cherry juice all over Xiao Zhuo's face.

As expected, Xiao Zhuo intercepted it with his hand.

"Why are you still acting like a child, sneaking food and not wiping your hands properly? Are you waiting for your husband to wipe them for you?"

Xiao Zhuo drew closer, and the faint aroma of wine once again lingered around Luo Jiu's nose, just like the scent of those stolen jars of wine on the roof tiles of Jing'an Temple that night...

Even if Luo Jiu was confused, she could guess that the person in front of her was probably Xiao Zhuo.

But how is Xiao Zhuo able to live in the Prince's mansion while using Liang Ye's body...? What is their relationship? Could Liang Ye have been abandoned in the wilderness by him...?

[Congratulations, host, you have uncovered the male lead's identity. You have gained +10 points of favorability. Plot exploration progress: 20%.]

Ling Jiu's cold voice rang in Luo Jiu's mind after a long time, making her stunned for a moment.

Xiao Zhuo took out a handkerchief from his waist and carefully wiped Luo Jiu's hands, the handkerchief brushing against her fingertips and nails. He was focused, as if he were handling an extremely precious but fragile treasure.

"Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything?" Xiao Zhuo seemed somewhat displeased with Luo Jiu's absent-mindedness, and his deep voice rang in Luo Jiu's ear once again.

“You…” Luo Jiu hesitated for a long time, “You are not Liang Ye.”

The system gave her an extra ten points of favorability, but Luo Jiu inexplicably felt that if she told Xiao Zhuo about this, her favorability might increase dramatically...

After all, a woman may not remember what you look like, but she can always find you in the bustling crowd by your scent, no matter how you change. Just thinking about it makes her feel incredibly proud.

Xiao Zhuo was stunned for a moment, then loosened his grip, and Luo Jiu easily pushed him away.

His dark pupils suddenly flashed with an unusual light, filled with great interest.

At first, Xiao Zhuo thought Luo Jiu was a little kitten, a bit clever, who would occasionally extend her claws to scratch people in the dark, but most of the time she was soft and obedient, making people completely unprepared.

But now, Xiao Zhuo has a new perspective...

This is clearly a clever and meticulous little fox; isn't that soft outer skin just a disguise?

As expected, it's the person I've set my sights on...

Xiao Zhuo looked at Luo Jiu, his eyes shifting unpredictably before finally closing with a smile. His muffled laughter reached Luo Jiu's ears.

"How can I not be one? Are you questioning your own husband?"

This man was actually taking advantage of her verbally, constantly using the term "husband," which infuriated Luo Jiu's fiery temper...

She was both angry and annoyed, and blurted out:

"Xiao Zhuo!"

Hearing his name called out by Luo Jiu, Xiao Zhuo didn't hesitate at all. "Xiao Zhuo? So tender, could it be the name of one of your little lovers?"

Is this man putting on a dramatic act? Does he think he can cover up the fact that his disguise has been exposed by denying it to the death?

"You're the one who's going through the wedding ceremony with me, aren't you?" Luo Jiu said through gritted teeth. "Think it through before you speak."

Luo Jiu was already flirting with the edge of explosion, and was about to be driven crazy by this man!

This is truly a heartless system. Are you sure the male protagonist you chose wants to destroy the world? Before him, I almost wanted to destroy him myself!

"Ahem!" Xiao Zhuo coughed awkwardly twice. "My little Jiu'er is indeed exceptionally intelligent."

Xiao Zhuo didn't care that he had been exposed. He rested his chin on his fingers and rubbed them back and forth, as if he was thinking about something. He looked at Luo Jiu with great interest in his eyes.

"How did Jiu'er recognize her husband? Could it be that we are telepathically connected? We really are a match made in heaven."

I am, you big dummy!

Luo Jiu unconsciously clenched her fingers, fiercely suppressing the urge to spit in his face.

If this man didn't have such an ugly face, he would have beaten you to a pulp long ago!

Luo Jiu took a few deep breaths, "How did you sneak in? Liang Ye, he..."

“I’ll get angry if you mention another man’s name in front of my husband. As for Liang Ye, why don’t you guess?”

Xiao Zhuo leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously stroking the ring on his finger, his eyes filled with indifference...

"You're not going to kill him? This is the Prince's residence..."

Luo Jiu lowered her eyes and muttered to herself. If Liang Ye were killed, she might regain her freedom, but what about Xiao Zhuo...?

An indescribable tension welled up inside me...

"Yes... After all, he stole my Jiu'er. My woman, she was mine in life, and even her bones are mine in death. How could she be taken by another man..."

Xiao Zhuo's words were full of mockery, the corners of his mouth slowly widening as he stared unblinkingly at Luo Jiu, a hint of morbid obstinacy flashing in his eyes...

"so……"

Luo Jiu stepped forward, grabbed his hand in a few strides, and pulled him towards the door. "Are you still going to stay here and wait for someone to come and arrest you? Run!"

Xiao Zhuo did not resist and obediently let the slender, soft hand take his hand.

His eyes were fixed on their clasped hands, then his gaze slowly shifted to Luo Jiu's anxious face.

My heart felt as if it were enveloped by something soft, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Where do we escape to?" Xiao Zhuo asked softly.

"It's not us, it's you who should leave before they find out."

Seeing that Xiao Zhuo still seemed unhurried, Luo Jiu felt a hint of disappointment in him.

Upon hearing Luo Kou's words, Liang Ye couldn't help but frown. "If you're not coming with me, are you going to stay here and remain a widow for Liang Ye?"

As Xiao Zhuoyi spoke of this, the image of Luo Jiu dressed in white, keeping vigil as a widow for Liang Ye, came to mind.

She would kneel on the ground, keeping vigil for other men, and then perhaps move to the imperial mausoleum, spending her life guarding those cold stone walls.

In the end, the name Xiao Zhuo disappeared from her world.

No……

A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Zhuo's eyes. Luo Jiu was his, always had been, and no one could take her away from him.

Thinking of this, the large hand that Luo Jiu was holding turned around and gripped Luo Jiu's wrist tightly, as if trying to merge her into his bones and blood.