"Ming-ge, did you hear what I told you?"

"I heard you, I heard you!"

Liu Ming gave Tang Yu's questions perfunctorily, but his hands started to wander.

Seeing Liu Ming's perfunctory attitude, Tang Yu slapped away the hand that was roaming over her body and grabbed it firmly to prevent it from continuing its wandering.

"Xiaoyu, what are you doing?"

"Hmm? Let me touch it."

Tang Yu pushed Liu Ming's hand away again. "Brother Ming, did you hear what I just said?"

Seeing that Tang Yu wouldn't let him touch her and kept talking about the same issue, Liu Ming looked at Tang Yu seriously again.

Say it again.

Upon hearing Liu Ming's words, Tang Yu knew that Liu Ming hadn't heard her at all.

However, Tang Yu still needed Liu Ming's help, so she didn't dare show any dissatisfaction. Instead, she smiled and started explaining to Liu Ming again.

"Well... Ming-ge, aren't you serving in front of His Majesty?"

"Could you please provide me with information about His Majesty's whereabouts?"

"Why do you want to know His Majesty's whereabouts?"

Liu Ming, puzzled, asked Tang Yu what she said. Seeing Tang Yu stammering and unable to answer, he guessed...

"You want to climb into His Majesty's bed?"

"…I……"

Liu Ming took a step back, then looked Tang Yu up and down.

"You are indeed quite attractive, but..."

As Liu Ming spoke, he pulled Tang Yu into his arms. "What, have you forgotten that you're mine?"

"Oh, Ming-ge, even if I become an empress, I'll still be yours~"

"Yeah?"

Liu Ming held Yu in his arms, his eyes turning cold.

"Of course it's true, and..."

When Tang Yu said "moreover," she wrapped her arms around Liu Ming's neck and looked at him at eye level.

"And what?"

Upon hearing Tang Yu's words, Liu Ming reached out one hand to hold Tang Yu's waist, while his other hand began to wander restlessly.

Tang Yu planted a kiss on Liu Ming's lips, her voice high-pitched and incredibly sweet as she whispered in his ear.

"Besides, back then I was the Empress, and you were someone who served His Majesty. Didn't you find that exciting?"

"And...if we have children...our children will ascend to that throne."

"Aren't you the retired emperor?"

Upon hearing Tang Yu's words, Liu Ming lowered his head and began to seriously consider them, then pinched Tang Yu's chin with one hand.

"You don't realize that if we do this, we'll both be killed!"

"But aren't there more benefits?"

"Just imagine, the future retired emperor, above all others."

Don't you want to?

After hearing Tang Yu's words, Liu Ming began to waver, but then he thought of Qin Jue's methods.

He immediately shook his head, "No, if we fail, we'll be killed."

Tang Yu noticed Liu Ming's hesitation, his apparent reluctance, and continued...

"How could it have failed?"

“You are His Majesty’s attendant, and I, too, am beautiful, I have a good figure, and…”

After whispering something in Liu Ming's ear, Tang Yu took a step back.

At the same time, Liu Ming's pupils dilated.

"How about it?"

You really have no shame!

"So what if you're shameless? Only wealth, power, and status matter, don't they?"

After hearing this, Liu Ming was very tempted and took Tang Yu's hand, "Have you thought it through?"

"yes"

Even if I fail and don't become the empress, I won't implicate you.

Upon hearing Tang Yu's words this time, Liu Ming no longer hesitated, but instead grabbed Tang Yu's neck with one hand.

"Cough cough...cough..."

"Tang Yu, I can agree to your requests, but if I fail, don't drag me down with you, otherwise..."

As he spoke, Liu Ming's grip on Tang Yu's neck slowly tightened.

With this tightening, Tang Yu began to have difficulty breathing.

"Cough...cough..."

"I...can't...cough..."

Liu Ming withdrew his hand from Tang Yu's neck, and Tang Yu fell to the ground as a result.

Tang Yu touched her neck with both hands, breathing heavily, afraid that she would die if she didn't get a breath.

"...cough...cough cough..."

"I...Ming...Brother, don't...didn't worry."

Tang Yu touched her neck with both hands, took a few breaths, and then spoke to Liu Ming with a pitiful expression and a tone that sounded like she was about to cry.

"Ming... Brother~, aren't you worried about me?"

Seeing Tang Yu's pitiful appearance, Liu Ming's heart trembled violently.

And there he was! He took a big step, picked Tang Yu up, and placed her on the artificial hill to sit on.

"Does it hurt?"

Liu Ming reached out and touched the red mark on Tang Yu's neck where he had pinched her, and asked with concern.

"Um…"

Tang Yu looked at Liu Ming's outstretched hand and shrank back two steps.

"Little rain, don't hide."

Seeing Tang Yu take two steps back, Liu Ming grabbed Tang Yu's arm.

"I……"

"Don't worry, I just lost control of my emotions. Don't be afraid."

I won't really hurt you.

Liu Ming hugged Tang Yu tightly, and two tears immediately streamed down Tang Yu's face.

This made Liu Ming feel extremely distressed, and he gently patted Tang Yu's back with his hand.

Tang Yu timed it perfectly; just as Liu Ming was about to show signs of impatience, Tang Yu immediately composed herself.

He started by changing his pitiful expression to a fawning one.

She threw herself into Liu Ming's arms, "Ming-ge~, do you like me?"

"If you like someone, who else would you like?"

Liu Ming hugged Tang Yu and kissed her directly. Tang Yu half-heartedly resisted, but Liu Ming let her kiss her.

The moon hung high on the black rice paper, dotted with countless stars.

The leaves in this area rustled without wind, and even the cicadas were silent.

"Ming-ge, did you remember what I said?"

"Don't worry, I remember."

"Then, Ming-ge... don't forget... tell me His Majesty's whereabouts."

"Um"

After Liu Ming finished speaking, he left. After Liu Ming left, Xiao Banzi, carrying a rather fancy outfit, walked up to Tang Yu.

He squatted down on the ground, looking at Tang Yu lying there with a smile.

——————

The next morning, several people stood at the entrance of the palace school, seemingly watching something.

Why isn't she here yet?

"Why are you rushing me? Wouldn't it be better to let Xiaoxi sleep a little longer?"

"Fang Zixu, which eye of yours saw me urging you?"

Upon hearing Fang Zixu's words, Bai Tangyan immediately turned around, put her hands on her hips, and looked at Fang Zixu.

“…”

"Yuanxuan, you go and talk to her..."

Seeing that Bai Tangyan could start an argument or even a fight at any moment, Fang Zixu immediately grabbed Wei Yuanxuan, who was standing next to him, and used him as a shield.

Wei Yuanxuan stood in front of Fang Zixu, looking at Bai Tangyan with a smile.

"Don't be angry, that's just the kind of person Fang Zixu is."

Wei Yuanxuan winked at Bai Tangyan and then gestured for her to look in Fang Zixu's direction.