Chiyou did not dare to sneak out for too long. After chatting with Xia Yun for a while, she got up and returned to Qu You Palace.
Her elder brother had said he would come back tonight to have dinner with her, so she had to hurry back.
Upon arriving at the rear hall of the palace, she saw Qiuzhu waiting under the tree.
"Qiuzhu, has elder brother returned?"
When Qiuzhu saw her return, she immediately stepped forward, took her hand, and shushed her, saying, "The Prime Minister is waiting for you in the front hall study. This servant said you went to the washing room, so don't let it slip."
Chiyou's eyes lit up, and she hurried to the front hall, holding up her skirt.
"I know."
Upon reaching the study, she pushed the door open and peeked inside.
Inside the hall, the light was insufficient, and the surroundings were somewhat dim.
She glanced at the empty desk and suspiciously walked to the back.
"Elder brother."
The surroundings were empty, with no response.
The branches outside the window trembled slightly, and a cold wind whistled in, ruffling the books on the desk. For a moment, only the sound of pages turning filled the room.
She bit her finger and called out again, "Elder brother."
"Elder brother, are you here?"
Hearing her voice, Liu Rongruo emerged from the washing room at the back.
He had just showered and was only wearing a robe, revealing his strong, lean skin. His physique was almost perfect, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a firm, powerful build.
Damp water droplets trickled down his chest. As he looked up, his eyes held a seductive, bewitching charm.
Chiyou turned her head and, seeing his devastatingly handsome appearance, froze on the spot, a blush creeping onto her small face.
"Elder brother."
Liu Rongruo tidied his robe and asked in a low voice.
"Where did you go?"
Hearing his clear voice, Chiyou came back to her senses. Just as she was about to speak, she remembered Qiuzhu's instructions. Her muddled brain immediately took a detour.
She whispered, "My stomach hurt, so I went to the washing room."
She didn't want to lie, but her elder brother disliked her visiting her cousin Yun, and he even forbade her from calling him that. It was quite scary.
"Is that so?"
He sat down at the desk, looked up at her, his expression serene, which made Chiyou's heart flutter.
She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and unconsciously scuffed the carpet with her feet.
Liu Rongruo watched her small movements and beckoned her.
"Come here."
Chiyou hesitated. Thinking that she would be leaving tomorrow and would never see him again, her eyes welled up with tears, and she slowly walked towards him.
She was reluctant to leave her elder brother, but her elder brother was going to get married, and she couldn't cling to him.
"Elder brother."
She stopped in front of him.
Liu Rongruo leaned back against the chair and said, "Sit on my lap."
"Ah—"
Chiyou blinked in surprise and remained standing still.
He reached out and pulled her.
She immediately tumbled onto his lap, burying her head in his embrace.
He exuded a crisp, frosty scent. Her eyes were wide open, and she felt a bit stiff. Her small hands unconsciously clutched his robe, and she looked up.
"Elder brother."
"Do you want him to live?"
"Hmm?"
Chiyou blinked her eyes in confusion.
Liu Rongruo repeated, "If you go to see him again, I will kill him."
His voice was cold and detached, making Chiyou's heart palpitate.
Her lips trembled, and she couldn't speak.
How did elder brother know?!
"Did you hear me?"
His icy hand cupped her chin, forcing her to raise her eyes.
Chiyou looked at his expression, feeling a slight fear, and the hand clutching his collar trembled.
She thought of the recent rumors in the palace, and a flicker of disappointment flashed in her eyes. She pursed her lips and asked.
"Aren't you getting married, elder brother? Why can't I go see my friend?"
Hearing her words, Liu Rongruo narrowed his eyes, stroked her chin, and the force was so strong that her skin was rubbed red.
"Hiss, it hurts."
She quickly reached out to grab his hand and looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes in astonishment.
Liu Rongruo lowered his head, bit her lip, and said coldly.
"In Daliang, you can only depend on me."
Chiyou felt pain from his bite and instinctively recoiled.
Hearing his words, her heart felt a pang of bitterness.
She didn't want to be in Daliang anymore. She wanted to return to Southern Xinjiang and never see him again.
"Elder—elder brother—"
She wanted to cry out, but he held her waist tighter and kissed her.
With one arm around her waist, he placed his other hand on her leg. Using his knee, he parted her legs, forcing her to straddle his lap.
In an instant, she went limp and boneless, collapsing into his arms.
He cupped her head, kissed her lips, nibbled on her earlobe, and moved lower, his touch growing fiercer.
Chiyou let out a soft hum, waves of ecstasy spreading from her spine to her heart. Her mind was hazy, and she remembered his fiancée, her heart aching. She quickly pushed him away.
"No—no, it's not right—"
Liu Rongruo's eyes darkened. He tore open her clothes with one hand and bit her body.
His lips and teeth nibbled on her neck, collarbone, and chest, grinding and tearing.
Chiyou's breathing grew ragged, and she couldn't help but gasp for air, filling the room with sounds of intimacy and arousal.
"Don't you like me? Why is it not right? Where is it not right?"
His eyes were veiled, staring at her fixedly, his voice hoarse and deep.
Chiyou panted, her mind a little muddled. As soon as she opened her mouth to speak, he kissed her again.
She twisted her waist, trying to push him away, but he pressed down on her waist and forcefully pushed her down. She vaguely realized something, her body stiffened, and she dared not move.
"Elder brother, you have a fiancée. You can't do this to me."
She instinctively felt that this was wrong.
Liu Rongruo buried his face in her neck, his voice husky, "Why can't I?"
"It's—it's just not right."
She couldn't articulate why, and her eyes reddened with fear.
Liu Rongruo heard her choked voice, paused his movements on her, and his expression gradually calmed.
He reached out, supported her head, and asked in a low voice.
"What are you afraid of?"
Chiyou trembled violently. Hearing his voice, she looked up at him with moist eyes.
He was also looking at her, his expression indifferent, his eyes devoid of any emotional change, filled with the desolation of frost.
As she looked at him, she couldn't help but think of leaving tomorrow, her heart aching. She was reluctant to leave her elder brother, but she had to go. She couldn't cling to him anymore.
Thinking of this, she aggrievedly rested her head on his shoulder, falling silent.
Liu Rongruo raised his chin slightly, allowing her to rub against him, and remained silent.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Chiyou recovered her senses and, smelling his scent, hugged him tightly.
"Elder brother, when will Daliang have snow?"
Liu Rongruo lowered his eyes, looked at her for a moment, and then spoke.
"You will see snow every year from now on."
Chiyou was stunned. In her memory, she had rarely seen snow. All she remembered were the ever-burning Ji Ling flowers, red and alluring, scattered and tragically beautiful.
She wouldn't see snow in the future.
Sadness washed over her.
Chiyou closed her eyes in dejection and hugged him tightly.
Since she was leaving anyway, she might as well be willful for a moment.
Liu Rongruo stroked her long black hair behind her, quietly looking down at her, his expression one of desolation, impossible to fathom.
After a moment, he glanced at the sky outside, scooped her up in his arms, and returned to the inner room.