Qin Niao hadn't expected that in her panic, she would blurt out "brother-in-law." She clenched her fists in annoyance and forced herself to say, "Because... because you are Sister Xianwan's husband. I call her sister, so naturally I should call you brother-in-law too."
"..."
Xianwan was the childhood name of Cai Yuping, the eldest daughter of the Cai family.
"You're more interesting than I thought." After a brief silence, Zhao Yunyu chuckled softly. He looked at the back of her head with interest. "So, do you know why you call her 'sister'?"
“Because…” Qin Niao froze, not daring to move, “because she is a few months older than me.”
"Ha, you fool. It's because she's my woman, and you're my woman too. She came here before you, that's why you call her 'sister,' understand?"
"..." Qin Niao was a little angry. Why not just talk properly? Why did he have to insult her? And... and say that she was his woman... How shameless!
Zhao Yunyu teased her intentionally, "So I'm not your brother-in-law, I'm your husband."
Husband?!
Qin Niao was startled by this sudden relationship and subconsciously opened her eyes, wanting to refute him. She didn't know where the courage came from, but she turned around and met his gaze directly.
“We’re not married yet, so how can you be my husband? You should be Xianwan’s husband.”
Zhao Yunyu's gaze darkened.
The girl lying on the bed had clear, bright eyes, looking at him with slight nervousness. Her gaze was clear, like a still pond, as if one could see right to the bottom. Her fair, soft cheeks, covered by the blankets, had a slightly pinkish hue.
Her demeanor, though clearly frightened, was one of feigned composure, like a startled fawn, making one want to comfort her.
When Zhao Fangli brought her over, he had already thoroughly investigated her background. At the tender age of sixteen, she was like a budding flower, exuding an irresistible allure to him.
Zhao Yunyu laughed, "Nonsense."
Qin Niao regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. She was now under his roof, yet she dared to talk back to him. However, judging from his tone, he didn't seem angry; instead, there was a hint of… indulgence?
Zhao Yunyu leaned down slightly, lowered his head to get closer to her, took a light sniff, and whispered, "It smells so good."
It's unclear whether they were referring to her or the incense burning quietly inside the room.
His sudden approach made Qin Niao tighten her grip on the blankets.
As if sensing her nervousness, Zhao Yunyu raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid of me?"
"I...I..." Qin Niao swallowed hard, hurriedly looked away, and pretended to be calm, saying, "I didn't."
"No? That's for the best."
His ambiguous words left Qin Niao completely bewildered. However, in the next instant, she understood.
Zhao Yunyu had somehow grabbed the corner of the blanket and pulled it off with a sudden force. With nothing left to cover her, the girl's graceful curves were fully revealed to him.
His gaze shifted downwards, and Zhao Yunyu's eyes suddenly became intense.
A chill ran through her body, and Qin Niao realized what had happened. She tried to hide, but there was nowhere to hide, and her hands couldn't cover her. The only thing that could cover her was the blanket, which was tightly held in Zhao Yunyu's hand.
The coolness in the air combined with Zhao Yunyu's burning gaze, making her feel as if she were in a world of both ice and fire. Even Qin Niao's toes turned pink.
"You...you're not allowed to look!"
Zhao Yunyu's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes darting over her body. "Hmm, I won't look."
Noticing his gaze, Qin Niao was extremely embarrassed, her voice trembling with a hint of tears, "Don't look..."
Zhao Yunyu paused for a moment, then casually covered her with the blankets. "Fine, I don't like to force people. If you don't want to, then forget it. It'll save me from feeling upset."
"..." Qin Niao's shoulders trembled slightly, and she covered her face without answering him.
"Get some rest. I'll..." Zhao Yunyu looked at her, "Never mind, let's do it in a few days."
Watching his departing figure, Qin Niao breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Yunyu didn't finish his sentence, but Qin Niao understood what he meant: he said he would come back in a few days.
What are we here for? Qin Niao didn't want to think about it anymore.
She was terrified at that time. She didn't know if she was afraid of doing that kind of thing with him, or afraid that she would fall into his trap of tenderness.
She might be very afraid, but she never felt that he would hurt her.
As it turned out, she was right. Whether in the beginning or later, he never hurt her; he would only call her Niao Niao gently, again and again.
Months ago, he suffered a stroke and was barely able to take care of himself, yet he still managed to leave her an imperial edict.
She was also given a pardon from death.
He feared that his son would dislike her after his death, so he gave her a pardon. He couldn't bear to have her buried with him, so he specially drafted an imperial edict for her.
He openly placed the imperial seal with her, showing no fear that this move would lead to the loss of power and a change of dynasty.
Because in his eyes, she was more important than the country.
This is why, despite his long-standing fear of Qin Deng, he has never taken any action against him.
Niao Niao only has this one brother, and he's afraid he'll hurt her feelings.
The cruelest thing he ever did to her was to snatch Zhaoyang from her arms and give her to Cai Yuping.
Yes, Zhaoyang is her daughter with Zhao Yunyu, the daughter she carried for ten months and gave birth to with great difficulty.
Qin Niao was initially afraid of getting involved with Zhao Yunyu, so she insisted on drinking the contraceptive soup. She didn't dare let Zhao Yunyu find out, but to her surprise, he didn't object.
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