The South Garden covers a vast area with many trees, but it is rarely visited by people and is also quite far from the Six Palaces.
The emperor was licentious and cruel, indulging in love and romance. He had so many concubines that the six palaces in the east and west were not enough to accommodate them all. Therefore, the Imperial Household Department rearranged the residences of the concubines according to their level of favor.
Su Tiyue, who is neither favored nor willing to compete for favor, doesn't even have the right to live in the Six Palaces.
Later, her brocade palace was moved to the South Garden, far away from the emperor.
To put it nicely, this is the Jinxiu Palace where Consort Shu lived; to put it bluntly, this place is actually just a few old houses in the South Garden that have been uninhabited for many years, no different from the Cold Palace.
Therefore, Jinxiu Palace is not far from Yelan Pavilion.
When Su Tiyue arrived at Yelan Pavilion, Xiao Heye was not there.
The person who greeted her was Li Xun, a man who knew how to read people's expressions.
Li Xun bowed and invited her into Xiao Heye's bedroom: "Your Majesty, it's cold outside. Please wait here for a moment. This servant will send someone to inform the Chief Supervisor."
Su Tiyue nodded, her tone gentle and polite: "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li."
After Li Xun left, Su Tiyue sat nervously at the octagonal table, took a small sip of tea, and then looked around calmly.
This pavilion is uniquely built, unlike other palaces which are resplendent in gold and jade. It seems to be constructed entirely of sandalwood, inside and out, giving it an antique charm. The floor is also made of wood, and it makes a 'thump thump thump' sound when you step on it.
The room was spacious and divided into two sections. To the right of the entrance was a large desk, a long table made of marble with gray and white veins.
Behind the long desk, an entire wall was lined with bookshelves, filled with neatly arranged books, showing that Xiao Heye was a clean person.
On the left side of the room was an octagonal pear wood table, which was the very table where Su Tiyue was sitting at that moment.
Behind the table, there was a long screen separating the washroom and the bed where Xiao Heye slept.
She sat for a long time, but Xiao Heye did not return. She thought to herself that she had come to get the silver hairpin back.
So Su Tiyue mustered her courage and cautiously walked towards the screen.
If she remembered correctly, Xiao Heye had placed the hairpin on the wooden shelf next to the bathtub last night.
However, Su Tiyue searched everywhere but couldn't find what she was looking for. She even turned his bed upside down, but still couldn't find it.
She turned and walked towards the large marble table, but after searching around, she still couldn't find it.
Could he have hidden it?
Su Tiyue scratched her head and inadvertently glanced at the wooden cabinet next to the bookshelf, which seemed like a good place to hide things.
She crouched down and gently opened the first drawer of the cabinet, revealing only a thick stack of letters. She then opened the second drawer, but before she could even see what was inside…
A deep, sinister voice came from behind: "What are you looking for?"
The sudden sound startled Su Tiyue. She turned around, her brows furrowed, and asked, "Why do you walk so quietly?"
Xiao Heye placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, stared intently at her, and said innocently, "Perhaps Your Highness was too focused and didn't notice someone coming in?"
Seeing that the person who came was Xiao Heye, she said guiltily, "So it's Master Xiao..."
"Is Your Highness looking for something?" He asked, though he seemed to know the answer already.
Su Tiyue closed the drawer without beating around the bush: "I think I left something in the Chief Inspector's room last night. I wonder if the Chief Inspector has seen it? It's that hairpin..."
Xiao Heye didn't rush to answer her. He placed his palms on the long table, tapping the marble surface with his two slender index fingers, his dark eyes fixed on her.
After a long while, he straightened up and slowly replied with a single word: "Hmm."
Upon seeing his admission, Su Tiyue quickly stood up and said, "Chief Intendant Xiao, that silver hairpin is very important to me. Could you please return it to me?"
How could evidence of murder not be important?
Xiao Heye was aware of this as well. “Your Majesty, I also really like that hairpin. What do you think… perhaps you could give it to me?”
Xiao Heye smiled faintly: "This servant has done you such a great favor, surely Your Highness wouldn't even be willing to give this servant a hairpin?"
Su Tiyue shook her head: "Master Xiao, apart from this hairpin, you may take anything I have."
Su Tiyue was also sensible. The silver hairpin was a key piece of evidence in the case of Prince Rong. Even if she were foolish, she would never give such an important thing to Xiao Heye.
As long as the items remain in Xiao Heye's hands, she will never have a peaceful night's sleep.
The silver hairpin was her life, and also the key to the life and death of her entire family.
Su Tiyue walked up to him, gently tugged at Xiao Heye's sleeve, and said softly, "The Master is so clever, he must know what that silver hairpin means to me..."
"So what if I know? So what if I don't?" His voice was tinged with impatience, and a shadow fell over his handsome face.
He paused for a moment, then asked, "What has Your Majesty thought about the matter we discussed last night?"
"I...I haven't decided yet..." Su Tiyue stammered as she answered.
"Oh... there's no rush, this servant can wait. How about you entrust this silver hairpin to this servant for safekeeping until Your Highness has made up your mind?"
Xiao Heye is a man of deep thoughts. He says he will help her and will not force her to make a choice, but his actions are a form of coercion for Su Tiyue.
Su Tiyue shook her head in refusal: "Master Xiao, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to force me with this silver hairpin?"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
