Suzhen wasn’t one of those young ladies waiting in their boudoirs to be married. Even those daughters of wealthy families had harbored romantic feelings. She and Zhaoting had never been intimate beyond holding hands and embracing. Though she had been shy and expectant in the past, subconsciously she thought such things should wait until the wedding chamber.

Zhaoting, being someone who seemed untouched by worldly desires, should feel like snow touching skin—cool, pure, and sweet.

Not like this damned emperor—he first bit her, then strangely knocked against her teeth several times. Later, as if stimulated by something, he half-drew her lips into his mouth and pressed down hard. The pain lessened, but the feeling was very strange. Then he pushed his tongue into her mouth too. She desperately tried to dodge and flee, but he hooked her tongue, repeatedly sucking, pressing, and pushing against it, as if wanting to devour her whole.

Wuu wuu… her mouth was filled with his saliva and his taste. He must have drunk osmanthus tea this morning—there was a faint tea fragrance in his mouth. Fragrant or not, it was still dirty—didn’t he have a cleanliness obsession? How could he not find her dirty?

She was extremely ashamed and angry. This feeling of being violated made her want to stab ten holes in him with a hairpin like Mochou had!

Unfortunately, she didn’t dare bite him again. Earlier was just a moment of heated impulse—if she truly angered him, she would really be finished.

At this moment, he had sucked both the tip and root of her tongue numb.

So this was what kissing felt like—not like snow, but like fire, burning until her whole body trembled. Suddenly, she felt another wave of panic. Her back had been pressed against the cold, hard wall, but somehow it had become soft and warm. He had reached out to separate her body from the wall, letting her back rest cushioned in his palm.

She looked up at a loss, just catching sight of the dark heat and slight intoxication in Lian Yu’s eyes.

Yet his gaze was sharp, immediately capturing her searching look. Suddenly his palm shifted, supporting her hips, actually wanting to press her body toward his broad robes.

He was crazy!

Suzhen could no longer bear it and bit his lip. Lian Yu frowned but seemed to suddenly come to his senses, the slight cloudiness in his eyes clearing as he slowly released her.

Suzhen looked at him breathlessly. Despite her usual eloquence, her cheeks were now red as fire and she had no idea what to say.

If this was punishment, he had wronged himself too much—wouldn’t it be much better to beat her to vent his anger?

If he actually… liked her, well, that was completely unreliable no matter what.

How could he like her?

Did he know she was a woman?

She was suddenly shocked, then thought: No, it didn’t seem like it. Otherwise, he would never have let her take the palace examination—he would have killed her instead.

Besides, even if she were a woman, he couldn’t possibly like her.

She couldn’t figure out his thoughts. This man was the most complex and strange person she had ever met. Though his appearance was handsome, his face always gave her a blurry, unclear feeling. This feeling came from his personality.

Sometimes steady and indifferent, sometimes smiling and cunning, sometimes… she didn’t know.

This man was a jackal—too changeable.

Could he be the one who preferred men, having grown tired of rich foods and now wanting a change of taste?

She was startled and shuddered all over.

Being the Son of Heaven was no idle position. Looking at Lian Yu, he was completely unlike her panic, just touching his chin that she had bitten and saying methodically, “Will you speak or not? If not, I’ll get revenge on you again.”

Such composure—he was acting as if nothing had happened at all. Suzhen was impressed. Under such powerful psychological pressure, she immediately yielded, quickly and accurately saying what he had wanted her to say earlier, promising she would never again abuse her body and torment her heart.

Lian Yu was satisfied and made an “mm” sound, then after a pause said, “Li Huaisu, do you know why you dare to be so presumptuous in front of me?”

“This humble subject has not.”

Suzhen was frantically about to explode. Damn it, this pervert was having another episode.

I’ll endure, I’ll endure it.

“You have.”

“This humble subject has not and wouldn’t dare.”

“You have.”

Simple and direct, even omitting the word “you,” his tone colder by a degree.

Suzhen immediately said, “Yes, I have.”

“Mm, because you think I’m quite fond of you.”

“No.”

“Yes!”

“Yes, I do.”

“Remember what you said today. If you play with your little life again, I have plenty of ways to deal with you.”

“Yes, this humble subject understands.”

“Also, I didn’t instruct those coroners to tamper with anything. Don’t curse me in your heart—I don’t like it. If they weren’t all threatened or bribed, then there must be a problem with the corpses.”

Suzhen was surprised he suddenly brought up her heart’s knot and trembled slightly.

Sweeping away the suspicion in her eyes, Lian Yu sneered coldly, “Do I seem like someone who goes back on his word? If I really wanted to do that, I didn’t need to agree to you at all.”

Suzhen thought: You are, but still answered properly, “Your Majesty is brilliant. That would be perfect for lowering this humble subject’s guard, making it convenient for Your Majesty to handle affairs.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“…”

“If you don’t believe me, let’s have another round of that ‘exchange’ just now.”

Suzhen was in chaos, suppressing her angry little heart and forcing out a smile, “This humble subject believes.”

“Good, then get lost and go home to put up high bed boards and think carefully.”

“Understood, this humble subject will get lost now.”

“Mm, go. I’ll come find you tonight.”

“What?”

Watching Suzhen’s body shake as she rolled and crawled away, Lian Yu glanced at his own palm.

It was bruised red—he had cushioned this little devil against the wall and gotten pressed by her.

After returning, he probably wouldn’t be sad about this case anymore. What would trouble him was how he himself would treat him.

And what about himself? He mockingly tugged at his lips and walked out of the alley. At the entrance, Qinglong and Baihu waited carefully.

He said leisurely, “What did you see just now?”

The two exchanged glances and answered in unison, “This subordinate saw nothing.”

He said, “Of course, I did nothing.”

Qinglong and Baihu: “…”

He thought briefly, “Besides you two, who else saw just now?”

The two exchanged glances. Baihu’s face reddened as he lowered his head. Qinglong replied, “Master, does Xuanwu count as a person? If not, then no one.”

“Mm, where is he?”

“He had this subordinate tell master that he’s asking for leave to find a quiet place for psychological reconstruction, and will be ready to serve master at any time when he returns.”

Lian Yu: “…”