Just after the hour of Hai.
When Li Xun saw Su Tiyue, a smile instantly spread across his face as he respectfully led her up to the second floor of the Yelan Pavilion.
Their footsteps on the wooden staircase made uneven thumping sounds.
Upon reaching the second floor, Su Tiyue saw Xiao Heye wearing a black cloak, his long legs stretched out lazily as he sat by the window, brewing tea by the stove. It seemed he had watched their approach all along—otherwise, why would Li Xun have brought her upstairs without a word?
The second floor was elegant, quiet, and desolate… still lined with many bookshelves, but more spacious than the first floor.
Su Tiyue took a few steps forward, and by the flickering candlelight, she could see that beneath his wide, thick black cloak, he wore only a thin inner garment.
Xiao Heye was tall and well-built, his black cloak draped loosely over his shoulders, faintly revealing a firm, muscular chest beneath.
Her visit tonight was indeed somewhat abrupt. Su Tiyue parted her lips and said softly, “If Chief Eunuch Xiao is inconvenienced, this consort can return tomorrow…”
“Your Ladyship has come here late at night, surely for an urgent matter. Besides… you are the master, and this servant is merely a slave. How could there be any inconvenience?”
Xiao Heye adjusted his cloak and pulled out a stool by the stove for her to sit.
True. Su Tiyue thought for a moment.
She was indeed quite anxious.
“Chief Eunuch Xiao, this consort has come to you tonight for the sake of my father.” She sat upright opposite Xiao Heye, her slender, pale fingers emerging from her cloak as she gently warmed them by the fire.
“This consort wishes to plead for leniency on my father’s behalf, but I wonder…”
“Has Your Ladyship perhaps taken the wrong path?”
Xiao Heye interrupted her before she could finish, lifting his eyelids to cut her off. “If you wish to plead for your father’s sake, Your Ladyship should go to the Hall of Eternal Life and seek the Emperor.”
The Hall of Eternal Life was in the north, while here was the South Garden.
“I went this morning…” Her voice was soft and lacking confidence. “I did not see the Emperor.”
Xiao Heye was well aware of this—the eunuch who had stopped Su Tiyue at the Hall of Eternal Life was one of his men.
In other words, nearly nine out of ten palace attendants were his eyes and ears, all under his command.
“Your Ladyship, you’ve pleaded with the wrong person. This matter was decreed by the Emperor, and this servant is powerless to intervene.”
Xiao Heye lowered his head, unhurriedly twisting the white jade thumb ring on his left hand, his voice steady and his expression cold.
Clearly, he had no intention of helping.
Su Tiyue’s gaze remained gentle as she frowned, paused, then stood up and bent over to pick up the teapot on the stove, carefully pouring a cup of hot tea.
She handed the teacup to Xiao Heye with both hands, her face as radiant as peach blossoms, her bright, star-like eyes fixed intently on him. “Chief Eunuch Xiao, I have heard that my father is currently in the Imperial Guards Office, and whether he is released or not lies entirely in the hands of the Chief Seal Keeper.”
Her father was in his grasp—how could she have pleaded with the wrong person?
Xiao Heye paused, surprised that her information was rather swift. “It seems Your Ladyship is not fully aware of the details of this matter. No matter…”
Xiao Heye curled the corner of his mouth into a faint, insincere smile as he took the teacup and took a small sip. “This servant kindly reminds Your Ladyship.”
“Five days ago, your father, Minister Su, along with over a dozen other high-ranking officials, jointly submitted a memorial urging the Emperor to execute the treacherous, eliminate the wicked, and purge the eunuch faction.”
“Hah…”
He couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Does Your Ladyship know who the treacherous officials and villains are in your father’s words?”
Su Tiyue swallowed hard, her face filled with astonishment. Beneath the thick, warm cloak, her heart gradually lost its warmth.
She had already guessed the general idea in her mind.
Xiao Heye set down the teacup, bent his fingers, and lightly tapped on the yellowish tabletop—once, then again, unhurriedly. But when he looked at Su Tiyue, his pitch-black, dark pupils were filled with amusement.
“There must be some misunderstanding, Chief Eunuch Xiao…” She was somewhat flustered, but more than that, she felt despair and fear.
If that were the case, wouldn’t her father’s situation be even more difficult?
“Hmm, this servant thinks the same as Your Ladyship. That’s why I had your father brought back from the Ministry of Justice for a thorough inquiry. If there truly are traitors in our Northern Liang who bring calamity to the country and its people, I would certainly be the first to share His Majesty’s worries.”
Xiao Heye asked her, “Your Ladyship, don’t you agree?”
Su Tiyue did not answer him, only softly saying, “It has been three days. Has Chief Eunuch Xiao found out anything? I wonder when the Imperial Guards will release him?”
“Your Ladyship, with the Eastern Depot handling the case, are you still not at ease?”
He raised an eyebrow, deliberately emphasizing the words “Eastern Depot.”
Her crimson, moist lips parted slightly. For a moment, Su Tiyue wished she could rush forward and tear apart that handsome yet cold facade.
He actually asked her if she was at ease?
Throughout the entire city of Yong’an, who didn’t know that the people of the Eastern Depot were the most arrogant and domineering? Who didn’t know that in the dungeons of the Imperial Guards, there were a full seventy-two types of torture used for “interrogation”?
Anyone who entered the Northern Imperial Guards, whether guilty or innocent, would be stripped of a layer of skin upon leaving.
Su Tiyue nodded, feeling a faint sense of disappointment in her heart. Originally, she had come to plead for her father, but she hadn’t expected the matter to be far more complicated than she had imagined.
But her father had always been cautious and careful in his actions. How could he now come into direct conflict with this person?
Moreover, Xiao Heye held a high position among officials, was deeply scheming, and employed ruthless methods… With her father falling into his hands, the situation was likely dire.
Over the past year, Su Tiyue had hidden herself in the Brocade Palace, rarely venturing out. She did not understand Xiao Heye, nor could she discern his intentions…
It seemed this trip had not only been in vain but had also landed her right in his line of fire.
Seeing his resolute attitude, it was clear he was determined not to help her.
Su Tiyue gritted her teeth, forcing back the tears in her eyes, and finally spoke up: “I came today for another matter.”
“What matter?” Xiao Heye took a sip of tea calmly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Su Tiyue said, “I am willing to be a pawn in the Chief Seal Keeper’s hands—whether to compete for favor or serve in the bedchamber… I will follow your orders.”
Xiao Heye nodded, unsurprised. “That is excellent.”
“Then, about my father’s matter, could you…?”
Before Su Tiyue could finish her sentence, he abruptly interrupted her: “Your Ladyship, these are two separate matters. You have only agreed to one condition for this servant, yet you expect me to solve two problems for you. I doubt there is anything so cheap in this world.”
“Moreover, Your Ladyship has kept this servant waiting so long for a reply. My patience is not good… Your Ladyship should not make me wait next time.”
“Very well, I will remember that,” Su Tiyue replied obediently.
Hearing this response, Xiao Heye’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, finally revealing a long-absent smile. “It seems this servant’s tea will not be able to ease Your Ladyship’s worries…”
He stood up and said, “It’s getting late. Please return, Your Ladyship.” As soon as the words fell, Xiao Heye went downstairs without looking back, leaving only the sound of “thump, thump, thump” footsteps.
In the end… he still refused to help her.
But Su Tiyue remained unwilling to give up and followed him downstairs.
Xiao Heye removed his cloak and had just lain down when, unexpectedly, Su Tiyue also casually untied her own cloak, tossed it carelessly onto the floor, and climbed onto his bed.
Seeing this, he quickly sat up straight: “Your Ladyship, you… what are you doing?”
“If the Chief Seal Keeper won’t release him, then I won’t leave,” Su Tiyue said pitifully, not forgetting to tug the blanket covering him toward her side. “Anyway, I’ll just sleep here tonight.”