Her words fell, and Chu Qianyi seemed a bit slow to react. He opened his mouth wide, and for a long time, he remained still, staring blankly at her as she leisurely sipped her tea, her expression relaxed as if enjoying the tea’s comfort.
“You mean, you want to leave with me.”
“If we leave here together, will we not have to care about all of this?”
Mu Qingyao put down her tea bowl and asked Chu Qianyi seriously.
Her demeanor was earnest, showing not the slightest hint of joking.
A flicker of joy bloomed in Chu Qianyi’s heart, but his eyes remained suspicious. Why did she suddenly want to leave with him? Hadn’t she been strongly resistant before?
“Don’t toy with me, I’ll take you seriously.” Chu, who was usually self-important, hesitated.
Although his heart was joyous, he feared that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
He genuinely liked the woman before him. If she were truly by his side, what was wrong with leaving the mundane world behind? He had been wandering through life for so long and was very tired; he had long wished for a sanctuary to live a peaceful life.
“Am I not serious?” Mu Qingyao retorted, rolling her eyes at him. His eyes were still clouded with doubt, so she appeared even more sincere.
“Really,” Chu Qianyi grabbed her hand. Finally, he started to believe. He couldn’t think of any reason for her to lie to him, so perhaps she truly wanted to escape all of this.
In this chessboard full of schemes, who would want to be a pawn used by others? Especially now that she had lost her internal energy and was like an ordinary person.
“However, don’t forget what you said. Even if I go with you, we are just friends. We are like friends, not anything else,” Mu Qingyao withdrew her hand and spoke casually. Her indifference made Chu Qianyi believe her even more. His eyes were full of charm, exuding an indescribable allure.
“Good, I’ll take you away from all of this. The Emperor, he’s just using you.”
Mu Qingyao’s eyes dimmed, and she reflected internally. Was it really like that? Then another thought surfaced: “Are you not using me? Are you truly that pure?”
“But are you not using me? I don’t really believe it. To show me your sincerity, I want the Chu family’s heirloom.”
Mu Qingyao spoke calmly. She had heard that the Chu family possessed a very precious heirloom, but outsiders knew nothing about it, not even Mu Qingyao herself. However, she used this claim to test Chu Qianyi.
Upon hearing her words, Chu Qianyi had no doubts. In fact, this sentence made him deeply believe that she intended to leave with him.
He was exceptionally handsome, and any woman would fall for him. Although Yao’er was different, she was, after all, a woman.
Moreover, he was the son of the Right Prime Minister, and his family background was not beneath hers. The Chu family and the Mu family had been rivals in the past, but perhaps their union would change that.
“Alright, I’ll take you back to the Chu mansion to get it.”
As he spoke, he reached for her hand again. Mu Qingyao’s expression turned cold as she coolly pulled her hand away. “I don’t want your mother to chase me out of the Chu mansion. Why don’t you have your subordinates retrieve it?”
She knew that outside the private room, his subordinate Yue Diao was waiting. That ice-cold figure was comparable to Prince Nan’an, Mu Rong Liu Zun.
“Okay,” Chu Qianyi smiled, though he was suspicious. Since she had no internal energy, she couldn't do anything to him, even if she tried any tricks. He wanted to see what she was up to. He was very interested in her every move.
“Yue Diao, immediately return to the Chu mansion, go to Madam, and get the Chu family’s heirloom. Say that Young Master wants to give it to someone.”
He said it all naturally, as if it were the most ordinary thing. Mu Qingyao looked at his unrestrained and lazy appearance, his peach blossom eyes scattering sparks, and his lips curving into a smile that stirred the heart.
“Yes, Young Master,” Yue Diao responded with surprise but said nothing more. His usual expressionless face meant that even if he had doubts, he kept them to himself. Hearing his young master’s command, he responded and walked downstairs.
The Chu family’s heirloom had always been kept by Madam. Madam had urged the young master many times to bring back a daughter-in-law.
Even if the heirloom had a destination, the young master was unwilling. How could it have a destination just by entering a private room? However, he saw several people guarding outside the private room, who looked like people from the palace. What kind of room was it?
Yue Diao reached the entrance of the Ming Feng Tower and stopped. He turned and looked up at the second floor. Would his young master be alright? He thought it was impossible. Who was his young master? He turned and left.
Mu Qingyao glimpsed Yue Diao’s departing figure from the second-floor window and let out a cold snort. A chilling look entered her eyes, and she slowly sipped her tea, speaking unhurriedly.
“Chu Qianyi, I really don’t believe you can let go. Even if I leave with you, will you truly let go of everything?”
“Then, how can Yao’er believe me?”
Chu Qianyi’s voice was as tender as flowing water, his dark eyes as deep as ink, showing a trace of sincerity, with the remaining seven parts being unfathomable darkness. He leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Mu Qingyao, and grabbed her hand again.
Mu Qingyao let out a cold laugh, her expression changing drastically. Her move was as swift as lightning. In an instant, she struck, pressing the acupoint on Chu Qianyi.
Young Master Chu was stunned and dumbfounded. What was going on? Hadn’t he drugged her? Why had her internal energy recovered as if nothing had happened? It was hateful and infuriating. This woman changed her mind so quickly! He suddenly realized that she didn’t intend to leave with him at all but had used a honey trap.
He, who always mingled with women, had misjudged the situation. Chu Qianyi smiled bitterly.
“You, what do you want to do? Let me go quickly.”
“Let you go? I never easily forgive those who offend me. Moreover, you drugged me, rendering my internal energy completely gone. I just want to tell you, Chu Qianyi, don’t have wicked thoughts. Don’t treat everyone as a fool.”
Mu Qingyao sneered and walked out. Chu Qianyi’s eyes suddenly became unfathomable behind her, and he shouted.
“Hey, Empress, I was joking. What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Mu Qingyao snorted, ignoring the man behind her with a face full of pain. She walked out and ordered Mo You, who was guarding outside, “Take off all of Young Master Chu’s clothes, leave not a single piece. Take them all out.”
“What?”
Several voices rang out, the loudest being that of Young Master Chu. The most venomous heart in the world, how could she do this to him? He was easily subdued by her because he had her in his heart, so he was careless. How could this woman treat him like this?
“Yes, Mistress,” Mo You obeyed and walked towards the private room. Soon, the sound of the demonic Young Master Chu’s pained groans, as if constipated, could be heard from the private room, accompanied by Mo You’s disdainful mockery: “You can scream louder. Perhaps many people will come up.”