Mentioning Xiao Fengyun, killing intent surged in the man's eyes.

His low voice was like a devil's whisper in her ear.

Cool fingertips slowly landed on her shoulder, sending a violent shiver through Qing Wu.

Qing Wu wanted to break free, but the hand held her even tighter, like a thousand-pound shackle binding her.

"Let go!"

Qing Wu shouted angrily, her clear, cold voice as shrill as a ghost's wail.

However, it didn't deter the man.

He went around to the front, embracing her from the front, gently and forcibly kissing her eyes and brows.

Little by little, he kissed the tears from her face.

Finally, when she stopped struggling, he slowly let go, then picked her up in his arms and slowly walked towards the inner chamber.

As he walked, he explained, "Awu, actually I jumped into the ice lake back then, too. When I pulled you up, Master said your meridians were damaged, and you could never practice martial arts again. I was so afraid you would hate me. So, for a long time after that, I didn't dare to see you."

"Later, I heard you talking to Xiao Fengyun. You thought he had saved you, and you cared about him even more than before. You sent him sachets, made him clothes, and tugged at his sleeve, calling him 'Shixiong' (senior apprentice brother). I heard it, saw it, and felt miserable every day. Every day I thought about how... to possess you..."

"I... I was too childish back then..."

So, childishness was his excuse for bullying her even more?

Why wasn't he so childish towards A Yue?

Yu Qingwu mocked inwardly, but didn't argue further on the surface.

In the past, she always wondered if she had done something wrong to provoke her beloved Seventh Shidi to treat her so harshly. Therefore, Yu Qingwu always felt a little guilty when she used Xie Jin Yan.

But now, as the brother-sister feelings of her youth dissipated, everything felt justified.

While Yu Qingwu was lost in thought, Xie Jin Yan had already carried her into the inner chamber.

He gently placed her on the couch, then took her hand, his eyes full of affection, and solemnly promised again, "Shijie (senior apprentice sister), I will cherish you from now on, give you endless riches and glory. When I ascend the throne, I will make you a Huang Guifei (Imperial Noble Consort)."

Huang Guifei (Imperial Noble Consort)? Still just one of his concubines?

That's right, for a lowly merchant's daughter like her to be made a Huang Guifei (Imperial Noble Consort) was already like her ancestors' graves emitting green smoke (an idiom meaning extremely lucky).

For him to give her such an honor was the ultimate expression of his love for her, and she should be grateful.

What did it matter that her inner strength was completely destroyed? What did it matter that she had been bullied for five years for no reason?

A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes, and when she looked up again, Yu Qingwu had replaced it with eyes full of covetousness, tenderness, and tears, asking him sadly, "Is what you say true? If you ascend the throne, will you really make me a Huang Guifei (Imperial Noble Consort)?"

Her peach blossom eyes were filled with mist, and a hint of blush at the corners of her eyes was alluring and charming, revealing a bit of pitiable weakness, so pitiful and tender that she seemed ready to be eaten at any moment.

However, the coldness that flashed in her eyes was easily caught by Xie Jin Yan.

But he pretended not to see it, and his thin lips parted slightly, his fingers caressing the woman's red lips, looking at her very gently, and said softly, "Of course it's true. I can't make the decision about the position of Empress, so I dare not promise Shijie (senior apprentice sister) lightly. But as for the position of Guifei (Noble Consort), as long as Shijie (senior apprentice sister) bears a few more children for me in the future, I can easily confer it."

Bear children?

She felt disgusted just by him touching her now, let alone having children.

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu didn't speak.

Xie Jin Yan chuckled lightly, then pulled her into his arms again, coaxing her, "As long as Shijie (senior apprentice sister) sits in the position of Huang Guifei (Imperial Noble Consort), countless people will come to curry favor with you in the future. As for the Rong Guogong (Duke Rong) Manor and the Ning Wang (Prince Ning) Manor, wouldn't it be as easy as crushing ants to deal with them then?"

He raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of temptation.

Yu Qingwu had to admit that Xie Jin Yan knew how to tempt people, and she was moved.

If she wanted revenge, there was no faster shortcut than becoming his concubine.

But...

She raised her head, her peach-red eyes filled with disbelief, and looked at Xie Jin Yan娇滴滴(jiao di di - charmingly) with a bit of tearful, sobbing, "Your Highness, aren't you going to marry Shen Rou as the Crown Princess? If I deal with the Rong Guogong (Duke Rong) Manor, will you agree? If I, a woman in the harem, interfere in the affairs of the court, will Your Highness agree?"

"Even a wise ruler like Emperor Wu of Han killed his mother and kept his son, fearing the emergence of another Empress Lu. Isn't Your Highness afraid that I will become ambitious and become the second Empress Lu?"

Empress Lu?

This woman dared to think.

Xie Jin Yan's mouth twitched slightly. After pondering for a moment, he looked at her very seriously and said, word by word, "Shijie (senior apprentice sister), you don't have that brain. I still understand you very well."

"You..." Yu Qingwu's face darkened, and she was speechless.

However, what he said made sense.

Although Empress Lu was vicious, she was an absolutely outstanding politician.

But it was too hurtful to say such outrageous words directly.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu bit her lip and glared at him angrily, "I haven't forgiven you yet, don't be all smiles and jokes with me here."

Xie Jin Yan smiled and nodded slightly, replying meaningfully, "I know that some things Shijie (senior apprentice sister) can't forgive in a day or two. I will wait for Shijie (senior apprentice sister), and come to smile and joke with you again when Shijie (senior apprentice sister) has figured it out."

"Just like when we were little, hugging your waist, sticking to your arms, smiling and joking with you all the time..." As he spoke, he leaned close to her ear again, kissing her earlobe intentionally or unintentionally.

Yu Qingwu trembled, her hands digging into his shoulders, seemingly rejecting, yet also accepting.

The weakness of resisting and welcoming made the man even more malicious.

He suddenly picked her up again, sat her on his lap, and asked with a low laugh, "Shijie (senior apprentice sister), do you want to ride a horse?"

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu's face turned red instantly.

She glared at him angrily and pushed him away fiercely, her eyes filled with shame and anger.

"You... you're indecent."

"I just asked if you wanted to ride a horse, how is that indecent?" Xie Jin Yan looked innocent, pointing outside and saying, "The weather is like this, no rain and no sun, it's the best time to ride a horse."

After saying that, he pulled the woman out.

Before Yu Qingwu could react, he dragged her directly to the stables.

Yu Qingwu didn't expect that the horse riding that Xie Jin Yan was talking about this time was really horse riding.

Although she was weak, she still liked it very much.

Especially in the royal racecourse.

After half a day, she was covered in sweat and felt much better.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Xie Jin Yan helped her into the four-wheeled carriage that showed the imperial family's status.

It was dusk when they returned to the Crown Prince's residence from the racecourse.

At that time, the sky was slightly dark, and Yu Qingwu had just gotten out of the carriage.

Mama Xun came up to greet her, frowned when she saw her and Xie Jin Yan, and quickly shouted, "Your Highness, Crown Prince, miss, the people from the Rong Guogong (Duke Rong) Manor are here. You, go and take a look. They... they said..."

"Said what?" Xie Jin Yan frowned, looked at Mama Xun's anxious face, and said gently, "Mama Xun, don't worry, tell me what happened first, what's wrong?"

"Oh dear, Your Highness, the... the Rong Guogong (Duke Rong) Manor heard that you asked His Majesty to issue an edict to make Miss Yu a Liangdi (minor consort), and now... they are making a fuss about returning the dowry."