She was completely stunned, her almond eyes wide open and glistening with water, looking like a frightened kitten.
He Ciyuan finally let go of her. Looking at her red lips and flushed cheeks, a hint of a smile actually appeared in the depths of his eyes. He patted her cheek and said, "Go and prepare some food."
His tone was as if he had just tasted a delicious pastry.
Tian Yao blushed and almost fled in a hurry. She ran all the way into the small kitchen, her heart still pounding wildly.
What was she? A concubine-in-waiting? A human milk cake?
Was her natural exotic fragrance only good for this?
Tian Yao leaned against the door panel, touching her hot cheeks, on the verge of tears.
In the study, He Ciyuan tapped his fingertips on the armrest, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Mo Chen appeared silently and bowed, saying, "My lord, this woman's background is unknown. She has won the favor of the old madam for a long time and has taken the initiative to get close to us. We must be on guard."
He Ciyuan said calmly, "She's terribly afraid of death."
"Those who are afraid of death are more likely to be instigated to rebel." Mo Chen's tone was completely flat. "This subordinate thinks that we should deal with her as soon as possible to avoid future troubles."
"No need." He Ciyuan's gaze fell on the fleeing pink figure outside the window. "A spy wouldn't be so stupid. Keep her. She'll still be useful."
Mo Chen didn't say any more and simply replied, "Yes."
In the next few days, Tian Yao lived even more cautiously.
She noticed that Mo Chen looked at her as if she were already a dead person.
It was so scary. She felt that if she took one more step closer, he would draw his sword and cut her into mincemeat.
Well, it probably wouldn't be that big. She shivered.
One afternoon, He Ciyuan went out on business, but Mo Chen suddenly called her to stop.
"Miss Tian Yao, the young master's study is in a mess. Please go and tidy it up."
Tian Yao's heart skipped a beat.
He Ciyuan's study had always been off - limits to others. Even cleaning was done by special people at specific times. Why would she suddenly be asked to tidy it up?
There must be some ulterior motive behind such an offer!
But on the surface, Tian Yao showed a docile smile. "Yes, Brother Mo Chen."
She lifted her skirt and walked into the study. She saw that the windows were bright and the furniture was clean. There was no sign of disorder at all.
Tian Yao sneered inwardly. As a modern office worker in her past life, she couldn't play these life - threatening palace intrigues.
But there was nothing she could do. After being transported to this world as a servant, she could only do her job obediently.
She picked up the duster and cleaned carefully, but she deliberately avoided the desk. She didn't even get within an inch of it.
This was the boss's desk. In TV dramas, bosses always kept important things here. What could be left openly and taken away easily be good?
She was extremely nervous as she wiped the floor until it shone.
After finishing all this, she walked to the door and curtsied to Mo Chen who was standing guard there.
"Brother Mo Chen, the study is already tidied up. It's just..." She paused for a moment, showing a look of appropriate embarrassment on her face. "I didn't dare to move the young master's desk without permission. Please go and check it yourself to avoid delaying important matters."
Mo Chen's sharp eyes swept across her face, as if trying to find any flaws.
But Tian Yao just lowered her head, looking terrified.
After a while, Mo Chen said coldly, "Got it. You can go."
Tian Yao felt as if she had been pardoned and quickly slipped away.
That night, when He Ciyuan came back, Mo Chen reported the whole thing to him in detail.
"Oh?" He Ciyuan raised his eyebrows and played with the jade finger - ring on his hand. "She's even smarter than I thought."
"Maybe it's a ruse of feigning retreat. In this subordinate's opinion, this woman is very scheming. If she ruins our great cause, all our previous efforts may be in vain." Mo Chen still insisted.
"Then test her again." A playful smile curled up on He Ciyuan's lips.
A few days later, the Marquis of Ningshi's mansion held a banquet, and He Ciyuan also attended.
Late at night, Mo Chen helped a "dead - drunk" He Ciyuan back and directly threw him into Tian Yao's room.
"The young master is drunk. You'll serve him tonight." Mo Chen ordered expressionlessly, then turned around and left, "considerately" closing the door behind him.
Tian Yao looked at the man on the bed with flushed cheeks and the smell of alcohol on his breath. Her scalp went numb.
Again?!
To test loyalty, how could they just throw a man into a woman's room?
To test loyalty, they could just give her a cup of poison and let her choose. If she made the right choice, she would be loyal. If she dared to drink it, she would also be sincere!
She stepped forward and carefully pushed He Ciyuan. "Young master? Young master?"
The man didn't respond at all. He just frowned uncomfortably in his sleep.
Tian Yao sighed and resignedly fetched some hot water to wipe his face and hands.
His skin was very hot. His eyelashes cast a thick shadow under his eyes. In his sleep, he lost all his gloom and actually looked a bit vulnerably handsome.
Tian Yao was in a daze for a moment.
But she quickly came to her senses. She helped He Ciyuan lie down properly and covered him with a thin quilt.
Then, she moved a small stool and sat beside the bed, propping her chin up and keeping watch.
She wasn't stupid enough to climb onto his bed.
"How annoying. Since you've taken the bed, I have to sleep on the floor. A servant's life is so hard."
What a cruel twist of fate!
In the middle of the night, the man on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.
Tian Yao was already asleep. She had to sleep lying on the table. A few strands of her hair hung by her cheek, trembling slightly with her breathing. Her red lips were slightly pouted, as if she were having a sweet dream.
That familiar milky fragrance became even clearer in the quiet night.
He Ciyuan's headache started to ache faintly again, but smelling this scent, his irritable killing intent was somehow soothed a lot.
He reached out his hand, as if he wanted to touch her cheek, but his fingertips stopped just an inch away from her.
He withdrew his hand and closed his eyes again.
The next day when Tian Yao woke up, her neck was stiff.
He Ciyuan was no longer in the room. It was as if everything last night had just been an illusion.
She thought it was all over, but she didn't know that these people still had a follow - up plan.
One day, the heir of the Marquis of Ningshi came to visit and brought a fine Duan inkstone for He Ciyuan.
Tian Yao was just about to enter the study with a newly brewed cup of tea when she bumped into Mo Chen, who was holding a brocade box, at the door.
"Be careful!" Mo Chen shouted in a low voice.
Tian Yao was startled and subconsciously dodged to the side. She didn't hold the teacup steady, and the scalding hot tea splashed out, directly onto the brocade box in Mo Chen's hand!
"Clang -" A crisp sound.
The brocade box fell to the ground, and the inkstone inside shattered into several pieces.
And from the broken inkstone, a wax - sealed scroll actually rolled out!
The air instantly froze.
Tian Yao's blood turned cold.
She had seen it. She had seen something she shouldn't have!
Tian Yao's mind went blank with a buzzing sound.
She could almost feel the cold blade of Mo Chen's sword against her neck.
She was doomed.
She must never admit that she had seen the scroll! Never!
He Ciyuan's voice seemed to come from the Nine Nether Hells, cold and without a trace of warmth. "This young master is asking you a question. Have you gone mute?"