The woman's voice was charming, laced with a hint of casual laughter, soft and languid as she spoke.
Liu Rongruo's expression remained unchanged. He pinched her waist, signaling her to leave.
"The Prime Minister's childhood sweetheart has arrived, and now he's turning his back on me?"
The woman not only didn't leave but deliberately leaned on Liu Rongruo's shoulder, exhaling fragrant breath into his ear. However, upon closer inspection, a subtle smile flickered in her eyes, hinting at cunning.
Liu Rongruo lowered his gaze, his cool eyes holding a trace of indifference.
Sensing his warning, the woman's red lips curved slightly, and she let out a soft scoff.
*This hypocritical beast.*
Dismissively, she tightened the robe around herself and slowly slid off him.
Wei Qingge, watching the woman whose every move was captivating, was momentarily stunned.
She was beautiful, as aggressively beautiful as A Luan.
Wrapped in Liu ge's robe, her figure was curvaceous, with a full bust and a slender waist. Tall and graceful, she emerged from behind the desk barefoot, exuding a faint, alluring scent.
Her captivating eyes turned towards Wei Qingge, holding a playful challenge that was both genuine and feigned, like ripples on a lotus pond, enchanting and captivating.
"Qingge, what business do you have with me?"
Liu Rongruo smiled faintly, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened, maintaining his usual cool detachment.
Wei Qingge's body stiffened. Recovering her senses, her heart felt a bitter pang, a desire to weep.
"I—I want to—"
She couldn't bring herself to say more, unsure how to begin.
Seeing this, Liu Rongruo signaled to the woman standing by the desk, "You may go now."
"No."
The woman refused outright.
She had been in Da Liang for quite some time, but had found no opportunity to get close to this man.
Finally, after orchestrating a hero-saves-the-beauty scene in the wilderness and seducing him, she had entered the Prime Minister's residence.
However, the Toad King's Gu within her would act up, causing another personality to emerge during the day, a naive fool who remembered nothing.
Only at night could the real her recover and act, thus delaying things.
Now that they had reached this point, she couldn't let this young girl ruin everything.
Only by getting the Gu into his body could she control him.
Upon her refusal, Liu Rongruo's cool, dark eyes fixed on her, revealing no discernible emotion.
Chi You ignored him, turning her head and flashing a foxy smile, "What is it, little sister? Tell me."
Wei Qingge watched their exchange of glances and heard the woman's teasing words, her heart aching.
She tugged at the corner of her lips. "It's nothing, Liu ge. I'll be going now."
With that, she turned and walked out.
Liu Rongruo noticed her distress and called out softly, "Qingge, what happened?"
Wei Qingge's steps faltered, and she stopped.
If it were in the past, Liu ge's concern would have made her overjoyed.
But now, seeing their intimacy, her heart felt as though it were being cut by a knife, making it impossible for her to stay.
"I'm fine."
After saying that, she turned and fled.
Liu Rongruo watched her receding back, his cool, ethereal eyes showing no change in emotion.
"Guards."
"Prime Minister."
A guard immediately entered.
Liu Rongruo said calmly, "Send someone to follow her and ensure she returns home safely."
"Yes."
After the guard left, the room fell silent.
Liu Rongruo's cool gaze fell upon her.
Chi You raised an eyebrow and gracefully walked over.
But as she rounded the desk, the man's cold hand suddenly seized her neck.
Pain, so intense she couldn't breathe.
Her martial arts were gone, and she was powerless to resist. His immense strength caused her pain, and she instantly collapsed onto the floor.
Her clothes scattered, exposing fair skin against the ground, a disarray.
Liu Rongruo, seated on his chair, leaned forward slightly, his hand on her neck tightening and moving up to grasp her jaw, forcing her to look at him.
Chi You stared into his gentle eyes, a chill of dread running through her.
Ignoring the pain, she suppressed her thoughts and deliberately curved her lips, her eyes holding a hint of provocation.
"Prime Minister, you truly are one to abandon others once your needs are met. What, are you going to kill me?"
He remained silent, his body bent as he sat on the chair, looking down at her from above. His cool face was terrifyingly impassive.
And she, kneeling at his feet, was forced to look up, to submit.
The scene was simply indescribable.
"You have overstepped."
His voice was chilling, devoid of any killing intent, sounding incredibly pleasant instead.
Chi You reached out to his leg, leaning against him softly, tilting her head up to smile at him.
*And then?*
Liu Rongruo said nothing. His cool fingertips caressed her jaw, the pressure incredibly light, yet inexplicably conveying a sense of oppression.
Chi You, still kneeling on the floor, leaned forward, resting her head on his lap, her voice a bewitching murmur.
"This humble woman is indebted to the Prime Minister for saving my life. I have no family, no one to rely on, and can only depend on the Prime Minister. Naturally, I do not wish to see other women around."
As she spoke, she subtly raised her eyes to look at him, blinking innocently.
"For the Prime Minister's life-saving grace, this humble woman is willing to offer herself in return."
She had just entered the study to look for Da Liang's border defense map and was nearly killed by him. She had managed to deceive him with difficulty, then deliberately entangled herself with him, piquing his interest, intending to use the opportunity to implant the Gu and control him.
Who would have thought a young girl would appear and ruin her plans?
Liu Rongruo withdrew his gaze, gently pushing her away, and said faintly, "Since you have nowhere to go, stay in the residence and behave yourself. Do not go to places you shouldn't."
Chi You smiled, tightened her robe, and stood up. "And I'm not allowed to provoke those I shouldn't?"
"What? Trying to seduce me?!"
"Can't I?"
She smiled and gave him a flirtatious glance.
Liu Rongruo chuckled softly, his index finger tapping lightly on the table.
His cool face looked as gentle as jade, as if the cruelty of moments ago were but an illusion.
"Your name is A Wu?!"
Chi You's eyes crinkled as she looked at him. "The Prime Minister may call me Wu Wu."
Liu Rongruo picked up a teacup, looking at her. "From Liang Province? Are your family all dead?"
"Yes. I came to the capital to seek out relatives, only to find them all dead. I am indebted to the Prime Minister for saving my life and taking me in for so long. I am deeply grateful."
Listening to her words, the corners of Liu Rongruo's mouth curled into a smile with a hidden meaning.
"I have nowhere to go now, and the Prime Minister is willing to take me in. But I have nothing to repay you with except this body. If the Prime Minister desires, take whatever you wish."
Her words were soft and delicate, but her actions were incredibly bold, like a seductive fox spirit.
Liu Rongruo glanced at her sideways a few times, then said faintly, "You may go down now."
Upon hearing this, Chi You's heart chilled. Was it all going to be in vain again?
Was this man so resilient? She had clearly managed to arouse him, yet he had reverted to his usual demeanor in an instant.
She couldn't help but grit her teeth. She had been in the Prime Minister's residence for nearly half a month, but due to her condition, she dared not appear during the day, resulting in no progress at all.
The man before her, who appeared harmless on the surface, was, in reality, a hypocritical beast—cold-blooded and cruel, far too difficult to fool.
Her desire to obtain the border defense map and quickly leave Da Liang was proving to be extremely difficult.