The air in the room was so still that one could hear a pin drop.
Gu Yanbei leisurely lowered his head and smoothed the folds of his Minghuang Longteng Mangpao.
Su Tuan’er endured the pain in her wrist as she rose and stood not far from his side. The man’s towering figure cast a large shadow over her, and that innate coldness and aloofness kept washing over her.
Li Manman cast a cold, sidelong glance at Su Tuan’er, clenching the handkerchief in her hand. “General Su was a man of integrity—how did he raise such a disgraceful thing like you, ruining the family’s name!”
Su Tuan’er knew this woman was not to be trifled with. She lowered her eyes. “Huangguifei, about tonight’s matter…”
“You may leave.”
Gu Yanbei cut off Su Tuan’er’s words, speaking slowly.
Su Tuan’er was stunned for a moment.
As if granted a pardon, she grabbed her skirt and bolted for the door.
Just as she reached the threshold, a voice came from behind: “Get back here.”
Su Tuan’er halted mid-step, turning to meet the man’s cold, majestic gaze. “Did I say you could leave?”
She blinked in confusion.
Suddenly sensing something amiss at her side, she slowly looked over to see Li Manman glaring daggers at her.
So Gu Yanbei had been telling Li Manman to leave.
“Huangguifei, can you not hear my words?”
Gu Yanbei’s cold, deep voice carried no warmth.
“Your subject concubine takes her leave…”
Li Manman twisted the handkerchief in her hands and turned to leave, casting a sidelong glance at Su Tuan’er as she went—a look that seemed to say: Just you wait!
The room was left with only Su Tuan’er and Gu Yanbei, and the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
“Who sent you? If you speak a single false word, I will cut out your tongue.”
Gu Yanbei sat at the table, his slender, well-defined fingers tapping lightly on the surface.
“No matter what I say, Your Majesty will not believe me. If Your Majesty wishes to know the truth, you can send someone to investigate. I, too, would very much like to know what really happened tonight.”
Su Tuan’er pinched the hem of her clothes, her face full of innocence.
A layer of mist veiled her eyes, making her look pitiful and endearing.
Gu Yanbei raised his eyes and gave her a deep look. “If I find out anything, your entire Su family will be executed! It’s not too late to confess.”
“And if I am truly innocent? What will Your Majesty do then? I am just a young woman—if word of this gets out, I will have no face left to show anyone.”
Su Tuan’er’s face scrunched up.
Gu Yanbei lowered his head and poured himself a cup of tea. “I will clear your name.”
“How does Your Majesty plan to do that? Is pardoning me and the Su family enough?”
Either way, everything was up to him—because he was the emperor, holding the power of life and death over people, their fates decided by a single word of his.
Gu Yanbei was just bringing the teacup to his lips when he suddenly paused, lifting his eyes slightly.
In his deep pupils, the reflection of that delicate, fragile gaze was resolute and stubborn.
No one had ever faced him with such confidence, showing no sign of panic…
“Are you questioning me?” He narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze dark and unfathomable.
Su Tuan’er pouted. “Now Your Majesty knows what it feels like to be distrusted, doesn’t he?”
The tea Gu Yanbei had taken into his mouth caught in his throat. He slowly set down the cup, raised his well-defined fingers, and began massaging his brow.
“Does Your Majesty suffer from headaches?”
Su Tuan’er ventured tentatively.
Gu Yanbei’s hand paused mid-motion, his deep gaze fixed on Su Tuan’er, full of scrutiny.
Seeing that he remained silent, she continued, “Do you also often lose your appetite, feel tightness in the chest and palpitations, and suffer from insomnia and excessive dreaming?”
Despite his tall and sturdy build, the pulse I inadvertently touched just now revealed that this man has quite a few ailments.