Chiyou wanted to laugh, she scoffed, "To think that I would be worth such elaborate efforts from the Prime Minister, having someone disguised as me to enter the palace. If this matter were to spread, would not my Southern Borders face utter annihilation?"
"Whether the Southern Borders faces annihilation or not, I do not know, but if you dare to ruin things, I will kill you first." wap.kanshuwu.net
Despicable, utterly despicable!
A surge of uncontrollable rage flickered in Chiyou's eyes, blood trickled from between her fingers. She tightened her lips and said no more.
Liu Rongruo raised an eyebrow and sat on the chair, looking at the person.
"Is everything clear?"
"Everything concerning the Saintess, this servant has already learned."
He was the master’s most skilled subordinate in disguises, capable of mimicking voice and demeanor almost perfectly.
Chiyou looked at this person as if staring into a mirror, a wave of nausea washing over her.
"Good, you may go."
After the person retreated, Chiyou twisted her waist, intending to leave.
Liu Rongruo watched her. "Come here."
She ignored him, her face cold, and walked straight towards the door.
The door outside was slammed shut by Bai Ze, and the light in the room dimmed.
"----"
Just as Chiyou was about to speak, a delicate and charming soft voice drifted in from outside.
"Prime Minister."
Hearing this voice, Chiyou was reminded of her days in the Prime Minister's mansion, and she understood.
Heh, it was one of the concubines from this beast's harem.
She glanced sideways at his cold, impassive face, seeing his utter lack of reaction, and felt a sarcastic urge to laugh.
This beast, with so many women, likely wouldn't even know who was at the door.
"Since the Prime Minister is busy, I shall take my leave."
"Stop."
Liu Rongruo looked at her coldly.
"I told you to come here."
His voice deepened.
Chiyou remained still.
The air grew stagnant, and the concubine's soft, alluring voice sounded again from outside.
Liu Rongruo called out towards the door, "Let her in."
The door opened, and a fragrant breeze swept in.
Chiyou looked up and saw a beautiful concubine gracefully entering with tea and pastries. Her appearance was exceedingly enchanting, her movements delicate and graceful.
The concubine also saw her and couldn't help but pause.
They had heard the Prime Minister had brought back a woman, and they all wanted to see where she came from and what her beauty was like. Looking at her now, they couldn't help but feel a sense of inferiority, their gazes towards her tinged with a hint of hostility.
Chiyou couldn't be bothered.
"Prime Minister, this concubine heard you had a long journey, so I specially made these pastries for you to try?"
Liu Rongruo glanced at the tea and pastries on the table, then looked up at the beautiful concubine. He truly had no recollection of her.
The Old Madam worried about heirs, so his household had a stable full of women. There were spies sent by former officials, imperial gifts from the Empress Dowager, and many more that the Old Madam herself had forced upon him.
He glanced around, then looked back towards Chiyou, scrutinizing her for a moment.
Her defiant, oblivious demeanor was still more pleasing to his eyes.
The beautiful concubine looked at him shyly, her heart pounding.
Previously, they had tried to approach the Prime Minister, but they were always blocked by the guards outside. Without permission, they couldn't even get in.
Today, she had come just to try her luck and see, not expecting to actually get in.
The Prime Minister had no children, and the Old Madam had urged them to try harder, to conceive his heir quickly, hoping to gain status through their child.
But she hadn't seen the Prime Minister for a long time, let alone conceived a child. Now, she had finally met him.
"Prime Minister."
Liu Rongruo looked at the person leaning towards him, a flicker of imperceptible annoyance in his eyes.
The scent on her was truly suffocating.
But he said nothing, instead wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace.
The beautiful concubine's heart fluttered, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at him shyly.
Chiyou stood by, watching their interaction, feeling disgusted.
She turned to leave, but Bai Ze outside was firmly blocking the door, refusing to let her pass.
She was so angry she wanted to kick him.
But she restrained herself, turned back to the two at the desk, and spoke coldly.
"Does the Prime Minister intend to perform a live erotic show in front of me?"
Liu Rongruo looked at the person in his arms with a languid gaze, saying nothing.
"You may be licentious, but I'm afraid of losing my eyes."
"Losing your eyes? Then stay here and watch. I'd like to see if you lose your eyes."
Chiyou, "----"
Insane.
She kicked the door fiercely. Unable to open it with one kick, she kicked again.
Liu Rongruo glanced at her actions, raising an eyebrow.
Chiyou's foot throbbed in pain. She used her internal energy to kick the door open with a bang and strode out.
Bai Ze stared in shock as the sturdy door was kicked open, momentarily stunned and forgetting to block her.
Inside, Liu Rongruo's expression turned cold. He glanced at the person still blushing in his arms and said,
"You are heavy."
The beautiful concubine froze, her shy expression turning pale as she hastily withdrew from him.
"My… my concubine will go and sculpt…"
Before she could finish, Liu Rongruo picked up the document on the table, interrupting her with an impassive face.
"You may withdraw."
Ah--
The beautiful concubine was unwilling. After finally seeing him, to have him leave like this, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?
She reached out to pull Liu Rongruo's robe, calling out sweetly,
"Prime Minister."
Liu Rongruo glanced at her, his expression placid, but it scared the concubine into releasing her hand immediately.
"Then this concubine will withdraw. These are pastries this concubine made herself. Prime Minister, please try them."
"Mm, you may go."
After the woman left, Liu Rongruo called out, "Enter."
Bai Ze walked in. "Master."
"Dispose of it."
"Yes."
Chiyou was housed in the rooms behind the main courtyard, very close to that beast's study.
She circled around an archway and returned.
Upon entering her room, she glanced at the tidied surroundings and sat down on the soft couch.
Leaning back against the jade pillow, she tilted her head to look at the scenery outside the moonlit window, her expression hidden and unreadable.
"The Heart-Eating Gu slowly erodes the body until death by exhaustion."
The High Priest's voice echoed in her ears.
Chiyou touched her empty wrist, her eyes darkening slightly.
He craved her body. Why shouldn't she play along, letting him lower his guard, and plant the Heart-Eating Gu.
Kill him, avenge the tens of thousands of soldiers of her Southern Borders. After his death, without his obstruction, she could negotiate with Da Liang and return to the Southern Borders smoothly.
The thought had barely passed when a heart-wrenching pain erupted within her. She clutched her chest, forcing herself to suppress it, and closed her eyes.
Why feel pain? There was a deep hatred between them, a blood feud. He deserved to die.
"Miss."
A knocking sound came from outside.
Chiyou suppressed her inner emotions and looked up.
"Dinner is here."
A wet nurse, accompanied by maids, entered, placing a table full of dishes.
Chiyou glanced at them briefly and quietly walked over to eat.
After finishing her meal, she washed up, closed the doors and windows, dismissed the night watch, and went to rest.
The sound of the night watch drum gradually faded. The night deepened, a sliver moon hung in the sky. The entire main courtyard was so quiet that only the chirping of cicadas and insects could be heard.
Chiyou lay on the bed, staring blankly at the bed curtain above.
She wondered if Brother Ayun had been taken away by Xuan Qing. If it was truly people from the Southern Borders who took him, it must have been Xuan Qing.
Had he already arrived in Da Liang?
The battle at the Sacred Tower had caused heavy casualties in the Southern Borders, and it would take years for them to recover.
When she left, she had instructed Xuan Qing to assist her younger brother, purify the army, and rebuild their strength.
But she knew his temperament. Would he disregard orders and come to Da Liang?