Is she sent away?
[Did she walk out on her own feet or get carried out on a stretcher?]
[Could this be her future fate?]
Tian Yao already felt terrified.
"Do you want to know where I sent her?" he whispered, his warm breath fanning against her earlobe, making it itch and tingle, but all she felt was a bone - chilling cold.
Tian Yao shook her head desperately, tears welling up in her eyes, on the verge of crying.
"No... This servant doesn't want to know. This servant doesn't want to know anything!"
[Don't tell me. Don't even let me hear anything!]
The more she knew, the faster she would die.
Looking at her pale, frightened face and tear - filled eyes, the cruelty and playfulness in He Ciyuan's eyes grew stronger.
He loved seeing her like this, like a small beast cornered, terrified but only able to shiver in his arms.
"Don't want to know?" He tightened his grip on her chin a bit. "But I insist on telling you."
He leaned down, his thin lips brushing against her ear, and said in a nearly cruel tone, word by word, "I rewarded her... to Mo Chen."
Tian Yao's eyes widened in shock.
Mo Chen? That mysterious and menacing secret guard...
Rewarding a delicate girl to such a man... One could easily imagine her fate.
"What? Do you think I'm cruel?" He Ciyuan relished the horrified expression on her face, and the curve of his lips grew colder. "She tried to sleep with me and even wanted to drug me. Tell me, how should I deal with her?"
Tian Yao's mind buzzed, and she instantly understood.
The drug! That strange fragrance was...
So it wasn't that he was fickle or blood - thirsty. It was because that girl had evil intentions!
She was a spy!
Tian Yao felt a sense of relief as if she had survived a disaster.
[Great, it's good news for honest people.]
"She... She deserved it!" Tian Yao composed herself and said righteously.
There was nothing she could do. Since the girl was gone, if she didn't say something nice, how could the master be happy?
"So, you'd better be obedient." He released her chin and instead traced her swollen lips with his fingertips. His voice was hoarse and dangerous. "Otherwise, I don't know who I'll reward you to."
Tian Yao's heart skipped a beat again. She quickly showed her loyalty. "This servant will surely be obedient and only follow the Eldest Young Master's orders!"
[You dog man, always scaring me! When I turn things around in the future, I'll reward you first!]
He Ciyuan watched the fleeting anger in her eyes and somehow felt in a better mood.
He lowered his head and blocked her chattering mouth again.
This kiss was no longer a punishment, but it still carried a strong sense of possessiveness, as if he wanted to brand her whole being with his mark.
When it ended, he let go of her, and his expression returned to its usual coldness.
"Mo Chen."
"Eldest Young Master." Mo Chen's figure appeared silently at the door.
"Send her back."
Tian Yao felt as if she had received amnesty. She scrambled off his lap and rushed out.
[Woo, serving the master is like being with a tiger. Who will save me...]
Mo Chen walked in front without saying a word. Tian Yao was on tenterhooks and had some doubts.
Mo Chen stopped, and Tian Yao bumped into him. Then she quickly apologized in fright.
"What are you afraid of?" He spoke. His voice was flat but didn't carry the oppressive feeling like He Ciyuan's. "That Fendai was a spy planted by others. It has nothing to do with you."
Mo Chen explained that the powder was a kind of soothing medicine that could easily confuse people's minds. Moreover, long - term inhalation of this fragrance was also poisonous, a form of slow - acting murder.
"Then... What about the Eldest Young Master's health..."
She had just the right amount of EQ, and as soon as the words came out, she felt something was wrong. She was meddling too much.
But Mo Chen didn't seem to mind. "It's okay. Just be obedient."
After all, he could tell that Tian Yao just wanted to survive and had no bad intentions.
So, actually, He Ciyuan wasn't a person who killed innocent people indiscriminately. He always demanded evidence for everything.
Back in the small cottage, Tian Yao made an excuse that she was sick and couldn't do anything. She just wanted to digest all that had happened recently.
However, there were already a lot of wild rumors outside. People said there was something fishy about Fendai's disappearance, and it must have been Tian Yao who had harmed her.
"She hasn't been seen for days. Could she still be alive?"
"Yeah, but the Eldest Young Master is no ordinary person. He's extremely cruel. Maybe he got bored and just threw her away."
"Tian Yao also seems to have disappeared. Could it be that she..."
Anyway, everyone was talking vividly. While talking about He Ciyuan's cruelty, they secretly felt lucky that they didn't get involved in such a disaster.
He Chengyu was teasing his newly - taken concubine in his arms. When he heard the news, he paused his movements and showed a look of regret on his face.
"Dead?" He curled his lips. "It's really a pity for that face and figure. I haven't even had a taste yet."
He was itching with desire. Then, under the pretext of caring about his elder brother, he came to the courtyard.
Before he even entered the door, he was stopped.
"Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is resting and doesn't see visitors." Mo Chen said calmly.
He Chengyu waved his fan carelessly and looked at him askance. "My elder brother is already disabled like this, but he still puts on airs. I just want to see if he's feeling unwell. Why are you still blocking me?"
Even though Mo Chen was humiliated like this, his expression didn't change. "Please go back, Third Young Master."
He Chengyu hit a hard nail and felt embarrassed. He could only leave dejectedly, but he was more certain in his heart that the little beauty Tian Yao must be in great danger.
He Ciyuan was in the study listening to Mo Chen's report. A sneer curled up on his lips.
He just wanted everyone to think so, which would save a lot of trouble.
It wasn't until a family banquet in the Marquis Mansion ten days later.
According to the convention, all the masters of each wing in the mansion would gather for a meal. The Marquise sat upright in the main seat. Beside her were the gentle and elegant heir He Huaibi and the impatient He Chengyu.
He Ciyuan's wheelchair was pushed in. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. Their gazes fell on him, and then they subconsciously scanned the area behind him.
It was empty.
Sure enough, that girl was really gone?
Just then, a figure appeared at the door again.
The woman was dressed in a simple light - yellow dress, which made her skin look like snow. Her black hair was casually pulled up into a bun, with only a simple pearl hairpin in it.
She walked lightly, her figure swaying. Who else could it be but Tian Yao, who was rumored to be "dead"?
The whispering in the hall suddenly stopped. Everyone felt as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
Tian Yao forced herself to remain calm under the gazes of surprise, jealousy, and inquiry from everyone in the hall. She walked straight to the back of He Ciyuan's wheelchair and stood still.
He Ciyuan seemed not to notice the reactions around him. He picked up a piece of crystal - clear braised pork and instead of putting it into his own mouth, he directly brought it to Tian Yao's lips.