Clearly, Su Tiyue had also noticed the blooming peach blossom on the couch.
Bright and eye-catching.
However, since both of them were looking in that direction, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
A small, fair, and nimble foot slowly emerged from under the brocade quilt, landing precisely on the peach blossom.
It was so deliberate and obvious that it almost backfired.
Xiao Heye smiled, turned around, picked up the clothes Li Xun had prepared, and placed them next to her.
He sat down on the bed, looking down at the ankle with the golden bell tied to it. The faint tinkling sound from last night echoed in his mind, and the dark emotions in his eyes deepened.
"Your Majesty, what's the point of blocking this?" Xiao Heye gently flicked the small bell on her ankle with his finger, his voice light and airy, revealing no emotion.
Su Tiyue said, "Doesn't the Master Seal dislike bloodshed?"
“Other people’s servants are not to be liked, but Your Highness’s are different…” Xiao Heye gently lifted her foot and placed it on his lap.
Long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles traced the outline of the peach blossom on the couch, then covered it with the entire palm, as if to hold it in the palm of one's hand.
Xiao Heye smiled and said, "It looks good."
Su Tiyue's cheeks flushed, and she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
She silently reached out and took the clothes under the covers, then quickly dressed herself behind the covers.
Xiao Heye had intended to help her get dressed, but seeing her wary expression, he didn't say anything. He simply sat quietly on the edge of the bed, watching her without making a sound.
"I have to leave the palace today, and I don't know when I'll be back tonight," Xiao Heye said softly, his voice gentle.
"Hmm, shall we leave now?" Su Tiyue said, slowly moving her body towards the bed.
After last night, Su Tiyue's legs were sore and painful. She couldn't walk, and even the slightest movement was unbearable.
Xiao Heye knew she wanted to stay overnight, so he got up from the bed, squatted down beside her, and helped her put on her shoes. "No rush, have lunch with Her Majesty before you go out."
"Hmm." Su Tiyue looked down at him, suddenly feeling a little scared.
Last night, she was so audacious as to make the powerful Grand Master of Ceremonial Affairs kneel before her...
Although his status was indeed that of a servant, I'm afraid that in this world, apart from the emperor, no one would dare to do such a thing.
Also, didn't Xiao Heye say something last night? He said that those he knelt before didn't end up looking too bad.
Su Tiyue was a little curious and couldn't help but ask, "Master Xiao, who did you kneel before..."
The question was abrupt, and Xiao Heye froze, standing there for a while before slowly raising his head and honestly saying, "The late emperor, my godfather... and you."
"So you're saying their fates weren't good? The late emperor passed away, and what about their adoptive father who held the seal of office...?"
“My godfather is still alive. He is at Qiushui Residence. However, I was in such a hurry when I left the palace last time that I didn’t have time to take the Empress to see him.”
"Oh, I see. But he's clearly alive and well, so why did you say that?" Su Tiyue asked.
Xiao Heye smiled, raising the corner of his eye slightly: "Your Majesty is right. What I said last night was just to scare you. My godfather... is alive and well."
As soon as he finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
Xiao Heye told a lie, a white lie, I suppose.
If he were to tell the truth, this timid and weak little thing would probably be frightened into tears again.
But one thing is true: Xiao Heye's adoptive father is indeed still alive.
However, they didn't live a very good life.
Xiao Heye and Han Zhou imprisoned their adoptive father in the cellar of Qiushui Residence, making him wish he were dead.
*
Su Tiyue had lunch at Yelan Pavilion, and by the time she returned to Tingyu Tower, it was nearly Shenshi (3-5 PM).
With her tired and aching body, Su Tiyue just wanted to go back to her bed and get some more sleep.
But she didn't expect to run into Liu Wan in the inner courtyard. When she saw Su Tiyue return, she ran over to help her up: "Your Highness, you're finally back."
As Liu Wan spoke, her eyes inadvertently caught sight of a blush on Su Tiyue's neck. Liu Wan frowned, and she probably guessed what had happened.
Liu Wan asked softly, "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Su Tiyue nodded: "I'm fine."
Liu Wan hesitated for a moment before saying worriedly, "The Noble Consort has been waiting for you in the main hall for almost two hours."
"Which Imperial Concubine?" Su Tiyue asked, frowning.
Liu Wan said, "Your Majesty, you have forgotten that the late Emperor only had one Consort, and that was Consort Ji, Meng Xueji."
"Now that the late emperor has passed away, Consort Ji has become the Noble Consort Dowager, and you have also become the Virtuous Consort Dowager, haven't you?"
The palace has many rules, which Su Tiyue can never remember. Now, with these titles changing all the time, she is not used to it.
If Liu Wan hadn't reminded her, Su Tiyue wouldn't have known who this Noble Consort was for a while.
"But what is she doing here? I have never been acquainted with the Imperial Concubine."
Liu Wan said, "She seems to have something urgent to do, otherwise she wouldn't have waited for you here for so long."
Su Tiyue said, "Since you were in such a hurry, why didn't you come to Yelan Pavilion to find me?"
Liu Wan shook her head: "The Noble Consort doesn't allow me to go to Yelan Pavilion, probably because she's afraid of upsetting Master Xiao."
Now that you mention it, Su Tiyue remembered that she had also come to Yelan Pavilion to look for Xiao Heye last night.
At the time, Xiao Heye did not want to see the Noble Consort, but he was persuaded by Su Tiyue to go out and deal with her.
But Xiao Heye returned quickly, saying that nothing serious had happened...
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