"Are you brothers crazy?" Su Tiyue asked timidly, her heart pounding.
"Why do you always want to offer me to the Emperor? What have I done to deserve this? The Emperor has so many women, what difference does it make if I'm not one of them?"
“Hmm… probably because…” Xiao Heye hesitated for a moment before saying:
“A servant has his reasons, and as for Han Zhou… he must have his own reasons as well.”
Su Tiyue didn't understand the meaning of his words.
Xiao Heye wanted her to compete for his favor because he wanted to use Su Tiyue as a pawn, just like Consort Ji.
Xiao Heye had helped her many times, and she felt indebted to him; she could understand that.
But what about Hanzhou?
She had no grudge against Han Zhou, but on their first meeting, Han Zhou threatened her with her second brother's life, forcing her to dance for the emperor.
It was presented as a dance performance, but anyone could tell that it was clearly a ploy to get Su Tiyue onto the emperor's bed.
Their brothers wield immense power, holding the reins of life and death, so why do they all seem to be targeting her?
Su Tiyue couldn't understand why it was so difficult for her. All she wanted was to live a peaceful life in the palace and for her family to be safe and sound.
A few faint sobs could be heard in the quiet room.
Xiao Heye stood there, stunned, staring blankly at her curled up on the bed, sobbing softly.
Actually, many of the things he said tonight were a mix of truth and falsehood; most of them were just teasing her.
But who knew that Su Tiyue was so easily teased... she cried again and again in front of him.
He frowned helplessly, walked slowly to her, and gently placed his large, thick hand on her small, lovely face. His voice was gentle yet had a hint of roguishness: "Why are you crying again? Just teasing you... Your Majesty."
Su Tiyue lowered her eyes and remained silent. Her slender, soft fingers gently lifted and suddenly grasped the hand that Xiao Heye had placed on her face...
She took Xiao Heye's fingertips, gently kissed them to her lips, and then looked up at him tenderly with teary eyes.
She didn't utter a word, but with just these two subtle movements, she was enough to make even the most aloof and indifferent ruler bow down, or even go mad.
Just moments ago, Xiao Heye was unrestrained and had a roguish air about him, but now he could no longer control himself.
He stepped onto the bed, half-kneeling between her legs, his long, slender fingers pinching her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Heye bent down and gently kissed away the tears on her face.
But her tears fell like pearls from a broken string, one after another.
His kiss was not gentle; it was forceful and domineering, as if he had lost his patience, landing drop by drop on her long eyelashes and the corners of her reddened eyes.
He really didn't want to see Su Tiyue cry anymore.
When she cried... it was as if the world was about to shatter.
The fingers that were pinching Su Tiyue's chin tightened, but then loosened their grip again, afraid of hurting her.
His high, straight nose sniffed Su Tiyue's cheek, then he nuzzled her ear, his deep, warm voice echoing in the room: "Your Majesty, tears aren't sweet."
"Don't cry, sweetie." He gently bit the soft flesh of Su Tiyue's earlobe and coaxed her softly.
It was like coaxing a seven or eight-year-old girl, gentle yet full of extreme patience.
For a full ten years, Xiao Heye climbed from a lowly eunuch to the position of Director of the Eastern Depot, and then to the position of Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial. No one knows how much hardship and suffering he endured during this time.
All they knew was that Xiao Heye was a treacherous minister who formed cliques, persecuted loyal officials, and was bloodthirsty; all they knew was that Xiao Heye was a lowly and despicable eunuch…
Because they had seen Xiao Heye slaughter an entire family in one night, his eyes bloodshot; they had seen Xiao Heye's blood-stained hand...
The Xiao Heye that people see is an extremely wicked and evil devil.
How could the devil have tenderness? How could the devil have gentleness, patience, and a good temper?
That's what they think, and even Xiao Heye thinks so.
"Palmprint..."
The gentle voice pulled him back to reality. Xiao Heye paused, then looked up and stared at the person in front of him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Su Tiyue hesitated for a long time before saying, "Don't push me towards the Hall of Longevity again, don't lock me in a secluded room to wait for that unknown fear and torment, don't let others fool and bully me with impunity, and don't treat me as a pawn for your rise to power and your manipulation of power... Is that alright?"
"Your Majesty, give this servant a reason not to do that."
Su Tiyue said, "Because... I would rather give you my pure and innocent self than the Emperor."
Xiao Heye's breathing gradually became erratic, his heartbeat gradually became out of control, and the bulge in his throat rolled up and down. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on her eyes. "Then, Your Majesty, will you choose between the Crown Prince and this servant?"
"Let's choose the palm print."
When she said this, Su Tiyue's eyes showed no sign of flinching; she spoke frankly and resolutely.
Xiao Heye might not believe it, but this statement is indeed the truth.
Xiao Heye was somewhat bewildered. He prided himself on his extensive experience with people and believed that others could not hide their true thoughts from him.
Su Tiyue has always been simple-minded, and most of the time... Xiao Heye can see right through her at a glance.
But for a moment, Xiao Heye suddenly realized that she seemed to be lying, yet she also seemed not to be lying.
Xiao Heye curled his lips into a smile, his eyes slightly raised.
It turns out that even this delicate and soft little thing has moments he can't figure out.
The game started to get fun. She always seemed so innocent and naive, but she would occasionally throw Xiao Heye off balance, making it impossible to guess whether she would hug him tightly or push him away next.
What's unknown is what's interesting.
Xiao Heye asked her, "What is Your Majesty's reason for not choosing His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Su Tiyue blinked, thought for a moment, and then said, "You'll know in the future."
"Tsk." Xiao Heye snorted coldly, his thumb gently stroking her soft, moist lips, caressing them back and forth.
He spoke slowly and deliberately, saying in a deep voice, "If Your Majesty's reason sounds reasonable... this servant will consider it carefully. After all, this servant is also a little reluctant to hand over such a gentle and charming little darling as Your Majesty to someone else."
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