Not long after arriving at Yelan Pavilion, sure enough, Xiao Heye followed and returned.
Su Tiyue looked at him, her eyes curving into a smile: “Chief Eunuch Xiao returned so quickly? I was waiting for you…”
“Why isn’t Your Ladyship referring to herself as ‘this palace’ anymore?” He casually pulled a round-backed chair and sat opposite her, smiling faintly.
He had just taught her the rules last time, yet it seemed she had already forgotten them again.
“Who remembers these rules all the time? Chief Eunuch Xiao, I think that when it’s just the two of us in the future, we don’t need to worry about this, right?”
“As Your Ladyship wishes,” he said.
Su Tiyue pursed her lips, her tone hesitant: “Today in the back garden, I saw you.”
“And then?” He raised his eyes, scrutinizing Su Tiyue carefully, as if trying to see through all her thoughts from her delicate, petite face.
He had also noticed the pale yellow cloak on Su Tiyue’s body, so it was clear… the owner of the hem of the garment that Xiao Heye had inadvertently glimpsed was undoubtedly her.
“May I ask, Chief Seal Keeper, if I gain favor in the future, what do you want me to do for you?” she probed cautiously.
“Does Your Ladyship want to become Empress?” Xiao Heye asked in return with a smile.
“What? This… Chief Seal Keeper, are you joking? Competing for favor and climbing into the Emperor’s bed, I might be able to try, but the position of Empress isn’t something just anyone can attain.”
She could roughly guess the extent of his ambition, but she had never imagined that Xiao Heye’s goal was actually the Empress.
But becoming Empress wasn’t as simple as competing for favor and love; at the very least, Su Tiyue would have to bear the Emperor a little prince.
Even if she bore a little prince, the Empress was no ordinary person—she was so formidable… Su Tiyue probably couldn’t even compete with half a finger of hers.
This… palace intrigue and bearing children, just thinking about it was suffocating.
Hearing Su Tiyue’s surprise, Xiao Heye wore a smile on his face and said dismissively, “Wrong, Your Ladyship. The position of Empress is something anyone can occupy. A courtesan can sit there, a dancer can sit there, so why can’t you?”
A courtesan?! Su Tiyue swallowed nervously in fear.
This was probably something only Xiao Heye would dare to say.
Of course, it was also the truth.
The current Empress, Lady Shen, was a brothel girl before entering the palace, something widely known in Beiliang.
Could it be that in this harem, the person he most wanted to bring down was the Empress.
Indeed, the Empress managed the three palaces and six courtyards, wielding the greatest power. If someone who wasn’t an ally occupied that position, Xiao Heye would likely find it hard to sleep or eat.
Su Tiyue propped her chin with both hands, her round eyes darting around as if she had an idea.
She readily agreed: “Alright, then I’ll give it a try and compete for the position of Empress on behalf of Chief Eunuch Xiao.”
Xiao Heye was somewhat surprised, not expecting her to agree so readily. He paused for a moment, then said, “This servant indeed didn’t misjudge you.”
Su Tiyue: “But I don’t want to be like Wan Pin… I need time to understand the Emperor’s habits and preferences. I don’t do things I’m unsure about.”
Xiao Heye asked her: “How long?”
Su Tiyue straightened her posture, lowered her head, and seriously counted on her fingers: “At least a month.”
“Agreed,” Xiao Heye nodded in approval. “As for Consort Ji, this servant has already arranged it. Aside from this servant, she knows the Emperor’s preferences best in the palace. Your Ladyship can go directly to her if you have any questions.”
Seeing him agree, Su Tiyue’s face lit up with a bright, radiant smile. “Mm, I understand.”
After a moment of silence, Su Tiyue suddenly asked him, “Today, when the Emperor and Wan Pin were there… doing that.”
Her face flushed red. “I wonder what Chief Eunuch Xiao felt after seeing it?”
Xiao Heye: “As for other consorts and concubines, this servant didn’t pay much attention. If given the chance, when Consort Shu is serving in the bedchamber, this servant could take a closer look.”
“Shameless!” She shot Xiao Heye a glare and softly cursed.
Xiao Heye curled the corner of his mouth, a faint, inexplicable smile slowly spreading across his cold, sharply defined face. It had been a long time since anyone had cursed at him to his face. Yet he could still smile…
His eyes darkened, but his mind uncontrollably imagined… the dazzling sight of Su Tiyue’s body blooming on the bed.
That scene would surely be breathtakingly beautiful.
“On New Year’s Eve a month from now, Your Ladyship, don’t disappoint this servant.” Xiao Heye’s pitch-black eyes fixed intently on her, his expression calm, his tone cool.
“Don’t worry, no problem.” Su Tiyue gave an extremely affirmative reply with a fake smile.
She raised her head, her gaze burning as it met his. Her porcelain-white, smooth cheeks radiated clarity and innocence, her cherry lips lightly pursed, and the hair on her shoulders fell softly onto the table, utterly enchanting.
Whatever he wanted, Su Tiyue could agree to it. But could Xiao Heye guess what she wanted?
One month. Su Tiyue silently repeated the timeframe in her heart, lifting her eyes to gaze at Xiao Heye’s exquisite, cold face.
What she wanted—she couldn’t say she was fully confident, but by standing on tiptoe, perhaps there was a sliver of a chance.
“Achoo!” A cold wind blew in from outside the window, and Su Tiyue couldn’t help but sneeze.
Xiao Heye glanced at her, bundled tightly in her cloak, frowned, and without a word turned to close the window.
By then, a light, drizzling rain had begun to fall outside, mixed with fine snowflakes.
It seemed it would be another night of wind and snow.
“Are you ill?” he asked.
“I caught a slight chill last night, it’s nothing serious.” Su Tiyue gathered her cloak around her and said nonchalantly.
Xiao Heye paused, his cold fingertips clenching beneath the thick sleeves. He recalled the hand that had reached into her undergarment to warm itself last night. Lowering his voice, he said self-reproachfully, “Could it be because of me…?”
At first, Su Tiyue didn’t catch the implication of his words. After a moment’s thought, she realized what he meant and quickly waved her hands in denial. “No… it’s not the Chief Seal Keeper’s fault. I caught a draft on the way back last night. It’s because my constitution is too weak, and I wasn’t careful enough.”
Despite Su Tiyue’s efforts to explain, Xiao Heye still felt somewhat guilty. “Have you taken any medicine?”
“I drank some this morning. I should be much better now. Don’t you believe me?” Su Tiyue stood up and leaned her head toward him across the long table.
He hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and gently brushing the back of it against her forehead, finding it still somewhat warm. “This servant will have someone prepare some medicine and ginger soup. Your Ladyship should drink it before returning.”
“No rush. I’m not going back tonight—I still have to warm your bed.” Su Tiyue smiled. Since she had a fever and her body was especially warm, it was perfect for warming his bed.
When Su Tiyue smiled, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth, and her bright, star-like eyes seemed capable of captivating one’s very soul.
“Your Ladyship need not humble yourself; let us consider the matter of warming the bed as settled.” His tone was stern, showing no sign of being moved.
Indeed, he remained as he always was—aloof from women, pure in heart and free from desire.
Su Tiyue sighed with a bitter smile. To seduce the Emperor, she thought, any living woman who stripped naked would likely suffice.
But how could one possibly approach a eunuch like Xiao Heye, who was so utterly impervious to temptation? With such a peerless beauty by his side, how could Xiao Heye remain unmoved?
A tender lamb delivered right to the mouth, yet this hungry wolf showed not the slightest interest… Was he truly a vegetarian?
Ignoring his refusal, Su Tiyue rose and walked toward the bed behind the screen, her expression calm and unperturbed. “I do not feel humbled. Chief Eunuch Xiao keeps his word and grants my every request. How could I be the kind of person who goes back on my word?”
Besides, what was it but warming his bed? In simpler terms, it was merely sleeping in a different place.
For someone as detached from worldly desires as Xiao Heye, even if Su Tiyue lay naked on his bed, he would likely remain indifferent.
Upon careful thought, for Su Tiyue, the safest place in the palace was here. Not only was Xiao Heye a eunuch with immense power, but he was also ascetic. In his eyes, aside from power, there was likely nothing else.
She bent down, removed her shoes, and calmly climbed onto Xiao Heye’s rosewood canopy bed carved with auspicious clouds. Lifting the dark gray brocade quilt, she slipped inside, leaving only half her head exposed. “I shall sleep first. Do as you please.”
Xiao Heye shook his head helplessly but did not reply. Instead, he walked to the bookshelf, sat in an armchair, and casually picked up a book to read attentively.
After about the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Li Xun entered the room carrying medicine. He had taken only two steps when, failing to see Su Tiyue, he noticed Xiao Heye sitting upright behind the long desk.
Xiao Heye waved at him, signaling him to leave quietly.
Li Xun quickly understood, bowed, and retreated from the room.
At that moment, the spacious room was serene and tranquil, with only the occasional sound of pages turning…
Everything around was quiet, yet he could not calm his mind, his attention drifting from time to time toward the bed across the room.
After a long while, Xiao Heye slowly rose and walked behind the screen.
Su Tiyue was already asleep, and sleeping soundly.
Under the dim, gentle glow of the candlelight, her exquisitely beautiful and elegant face was illuminated. Her skin was as fair and smooth as polished jade, her eyebrows delicately arched, her nose tall and refined, and her lips slightly pursed, as pink and tender as cherry blossoms, exuding a captivating allure.
Perhaps the sight was too enticing, for Xiao Heye found himself lost in contemplation.
He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning slightly to one side, and cautiously extended the back of his hand to feel Su Tiyue’s forehead…
When he withdrew his arm, his expression softened slightly. Then, he raised his hand to extinguish the candlelight in the room and silently climbed onto the bed, slipping under the quilt she had warmed.