Is this man out of his mind?
This is the palace, with all its intricate rules and protocols!
Moreover, we just met last night. What could he possibly want now, summoning me so urgently!
But she couldn’t afford to defy him. Clenching her teeth and steeling herself, she followed Chang Ting out with unsteady steps, hoping desperately that no one would spot her along the way.
Otherwise, who knew what kind of rumors might start circulating.
Chang Ting led her out of Cining Palace, through a small bamboo grove, and arrived at a secluded side hall.
The place appeared tranquil and quiet, seemingly rarely visited on ordinary days.
Su Yao glanced around cautiously, only daring to push the door open after confirming no one was in sight.
Inside, Lu Huaijin stood as aloof and composed as ever, his tall figure poised with hands clasped behind his back by the window.
The moment she stepped into the room, the door behind her creaked shut.
“My lord, why have you summoned me?” Anxiety coiled around Su Yao’s heart like vines.
Lu Huaijin tilted his head slightly and crooked a finger at her.
Su Yao inwardly groaned, her feet feeling as if they were weighed down with lead.
Step by step.
She moved toward him reluctantly.
As she drew near, Lu Huaijin suddenly reached out and pressed her down into the Grand Tutor’s Chair.
“Were you just helping me choose a wife?”
His voice was low, betraying no emotion.
“Your wife should naturally be chosen by yourself.”
Su Yao kept her head lowered, not daring to meet his eyes.
She knew all too well that the gentler this man appeared on the surface, the more untamed and unrestrained he was beneath. Besides, it was the Empress Dowager who intended to arrange the marriage—what did it have to do with her?
She had no desire to wade into these muddy waters.
Lu Huaijin let out a derisive chuckle. “Yet you seemed quite attentive earlier in the Empress Dowager’s presence. Whose daughter did you mention?”
Su Yao shook her head hastily. “How could I, a mere servant, dare defy the Empress Dowager’s command? Besides…”
Her voice grew even softer.
“Besides what?”
“I never mentioned the daughter of the Vice Minister of Personnel… Besides, you’re going to marry someone anyway. Even if it’s not this noble daughter, it’ll be another lady of high birth.”
It was rare for her to speak so much to him at once—her tone tinged with dissatisfaction and complaint, rising slightly with a hint of resentment.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them, her heart pounding nervously. She had no idea whether he would believe her.
After all, she had deceived him more than a few times in the past. How much trust could he possibly have in her?
Lu Huaijin’s expression remained impassive, giving no indication of whether he believed her or not.
He gazed at her quietly, inexplicably savoring this hint of pettiness in Su Yao’s demeanor. At the very least, she had never shown jealousy over him before.
“Instead of wasting your energy interrogating me here, my lord, you’d be better off taking a closer look at that Vice Minister’s daughter in the Empress Dowager’s presence. I caught a glimpse earlier—her appearance and figure are truly first-rate.”
Footsteps approached from a distance, and Chang Ting’s respectful voice sounded at the door.
“My lord, as you instructed, the evidence of the Vice Minister of Revenue’s embezzlement has been delivered to the Censorate.”
Su Yao’s breath hitched, her heart instantly leaping into her throat, though she forced herself to maintain a calm expression.
Lu Huaijin narrowed his eyes slightly and reached out, his slender fingers gently lifting her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“If you ever take a fancy to anyone on my behalf again, let me know in advance.”
She dared not say another word. Lu Huaijin was utterly mad.
When she set her mind to something, not even the heavens could stop her.
He leaned in, the scent of snow pine drawing closer. Su Yao instinctively tried to pull away, but he held her tightly, trapping her in place.
His kiss descended.
Su Yao was forced to endure him, swallowing all the words she hadn’t yet spoken.
A long while later, Lu Huaijin slowly released her.
Her lips were already flushed red, and she gasped for breath in ragged bursts. “No more…”
“I thought you weren’t satisfied enough yesterday.”
Hearing this, Su Yao was instantly rendered speechless.
This man truly dared to say anything—a petty, vindictive scoundrel through and through, with none of the restraint and propriety befitting a gentleman.
Her face flushed crimson, Su Yao managed a single word: “It hurts.”
Last night, Lu Huaijin had indeed missed her terribly and lost all sense of restraint.
“It seems I’m the only one who wasn’t satisfied enough.”
He seized Su Yao’s wrist firmly, his gaze gradually darkening, tinged with a thick layer of desire.
…
Chang Ting’s voice sounded again only after noon had passed. “Master, The Emperor requests your presence.”
Lu Huaijin acted as if he hadn’t heard, still unhurriedly taking a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and meticulously wiping Su Yao’s slender, pale fingers.
Su Yao frowned deeply, not daring to look at her own hand.
Lu Huaijin’s mood improved considerably. “Tired?”
“I must return. The Empress Dowager will summon me to serve tea soon.” She instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
But Lu Huaijin gently grasped her fingertips, slowly caressing them. “Do your hands still have strength?”
Su Yao’s eyes widened instantly, and she glared at him fiercely, her heart filled with resentment.
Here she was, trapped in the depths of the palace with no control over her own fate, and instead of helping her escape, he tormented her like this. When it came time for Dian Cha later, her hands would probably tremble uncontrollably.
“Go back and rest. The Empress Dowager won’t summon you today.”
Lu Huaijin’s voice was cool and detached.
“Really?”
Lu Huaijin leisurely released her hand. “When have I ever lied to you?”
If it were true, that would be a good thing.
Originally, she had sought refuge in the palace to avoid this very man before her, but his power was immense—even within the heavily guarded imperial palace, he could find her anytime, anywhere.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager’s unpredictable temperament made Su Yao’s heart tremble with fear every time she faced her.
Now that the Empress Dowager intended to arrange a marriage for Lu Huaijin, it was actually a good thing for Su Yao.
Imperial decrees could not be defied—Lu Huaijin would surely be unable to refuse this arranged marriage.
Once Lu Huaijin married early, she could finally escape his control completely.
She had to seize this moment and find a way to make Lu Huaijin send her out of the palace.
“Chang Ting, escort her back.”
“Master…” Su Yao bit her lower lip, hesitating for a moment before calling out to him again. “I don’t want to stay in the palace anymore…”
Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow slightly. “Now you want my protection?”
Su Yao felt his words were deeply humiliating, piercing her heart.
“Please, Master, for the sake of the long-standing friendship between our families, help me.”
Even if Lu Huaijin didn’t love her, he had known her father for over a decade, and their relationship was far from shallow—otherwise, the two families wouldn’t have been so closely connected in the past.
“Su Yao, do you have me in your heart now?” His gaze was profound, impossible to decipher.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Su Yao nodded firmly.
“Hah!”
Lu Huaijin let out a light laugh, filled with disdain.
“A liar’s words are indeed untrustworthy.”
Su Yao could no longer contain the anger in her heart, nearly shouting, “Lu Huaijin, what exactly do you want me to do?”
“You chose this path yourself back then.”