He actually bit her! It wasn't a kiss, but a ruthless grinding of his teeth against her flesh!
He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and deep, with a hint of dangerous amusement. "The jade pendant I gave you, it didn't work?"
"I... I didn't misuse it..." she explained.
His lips and tongue moved to her delicate earlobe. First, he gently licked it, and then, suddenly bit down hard!
"Ah!" Tian Yao cried out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. This bite hurt even more than the one on her neck just now!
"You silly girl," his voice was tinged with mockery as his hot breath fanned over her bitten and swollen earlobe.
Just as she was in a daze, a maid walked in carrying something. The fragrance of flowers instantly filled the room.
He Ci Yuan let go of her, straightened her up, and let her still sit on his lap.
He pointed at the basin of rose juice and gave an order. "Soak your hands in it."
The fragrant and warm liquid immediately enveloped her hands. The soreness was instantly soothed, and the warmth spread from her fingertips all the way to her heart.
It was indeed comfortable, but Tian Yao's heart ached.
[What a prodigal! How many roses does it take to squeeze out such a basin of juice! Wouldn't it be nice to drink it!]
He Ci Yuan seemed not to notice her pained expression. One hand held her wrist, preventing her from pulling it back, while the other lazily played with a lock of her hair.
He leaned close to her ear again. His warm lips almost touched her ear, and his voice was so low that it had a bewitching charm.
"From now on, add this to the water when you take a bath."
Tian Yao's face instantly flushed red, and her heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that?
Before she could figure it out, the man's next words made all the blood in her body rush to her head.
"It'll be convenient for me to take a bite."
Late at night, the candle in the study flickered, casting a glow on He Huai Bi's handsome profile.
The book in his hand hadn't been turned for a long time. His mind was filled with Tian Yao's image.
However, she wasn't by his side.
The more he thought, the more distracted he became. So he simply put down the book and got up to pace in the courtyard, trying to dispel the restlessness deep in his heart.
Unconsciously, he walked near the courtyard where Bi Xi lived.
Before he got closer, he heard a suppressed angry voice from inside the window.
"That little slut is really lucky. She managed to avoid it twice..."
It was Qing Qing's voice, full of unwillingness.
Immediately afterwards, came Bi Xi's venomous words. "The more favored one is, the sooner one will die. In this den of vipers, do you still expect to get out unscathed?"
He Huai Bi suddenly stopped in his tracks.
So... the scene in the garden was really her deliberate act. All the gentleness and magnanimity she showed in front of him were all fake!
He had actually suspected it before, but he never thought he would hear this dark side with his own ears.
Everyone in this world has a dark and a bright side.
Since it involved Tian Yao, he always had to pay more attention.
He didn't want to listen anymore and turned around to leave. But he didn't notice and stepped on a dry twig, which made a soft "crack" sound.
"Who's there?" The voice inside the room suddenly stopped.
Bi Xi was startled and quickly pushed open the door and chased out. She immediately saw He Huai Bi's tall and angry back in the moonlight.
"My lord..." Her face turned deathly pale. She lifted her skirt and hurriedly chased after him, grabbing his sleeve from behind.
He Huai Bi shook off her hand. His voice was as cold as ice. "Let go."
"My lord, please listen to my explanation!" Tears instantly welled up in Bi Xi's eyes. She looked at him pitifully. "I... I did it all because I care about you so much! When I saw you being nice to that girl, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife! I'm afraid, I'm afraid you'll abandon me..."
She cried so pitifully and recalled the time when they first met. "Don't you remember? You said you liked me the most. You said my heart was calm, but whenever I think that you might be taken away by someone else, I can't calm down..."
He Huai Bi looked at her tear - streaked face, and the anger in his heart was somewhat extinguished by her words.
He admitted that he softened for a moment. After all, Bi Xi had been with him for a long time and had always been gentle and considerate.
Maybe the jealousy among women was really because of deep love.
But that thorn had finally been planted.
"I don't want there to be a next time." He finally just coldly left this sentence and walked away with a flick of his sleeve, not looking back.
That night, He Huai Bi didn't enter Bi Xi's room.
Bi Xi sat in the room alone all night. The fear in her heart wrapped around her tightly like a vine. She knew that He Huai Bi had developed a grudge against her.
On this day, they were going to pay respects and send things to the old lady. He Huai Bi still took Bi Xi with him.
When they arrived at the old lady's place, He Huai Bi bowed and then sat there silently, looking sullen.
The old lady was so shrewd that she immediately noticed something was wrong with him. She took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Huai Bi, what's wrong with you today? Who upset you?"
Her gaze swept over Bi Xi, who was standing at the side with her hands down, with a hint of scrutiny and dissatisfaction.
Bi Xi's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head even more.
He Huai Bi sighed. There was a hint of barely noticeable complaint in his tone. "Grandson just thinks it's a pity that grandmother gave such a clever girl to elder brother."
The "clever girl" he mentioned naturally referred to Tian Yao.
Hearing this, the old lady just smiled indifferently. "Why do you all like her so much? You know what situation your elder brother is in. Whether he can survive this year is still a question."
She thought He Huai Bi had taken a fancy to Tian Yao and was unhappy that she had been sent away.
"If you're tired of Bi Xi's service, I have plenty of young and beautiful maids here." The old lady winked at the maid beside her. "Go, call Chun Lan, Xia He and the others over. Let the young master choose one he likes."
As soon as these words were said, He Huai Bi's face looked a bit embarrassed, while Bi Xi behind him instantly lost all the color in her face.
This was like slapping her hard in the face in front of everyone!
Soon, several well - dressed and charming maids were brought in. They all shyly saluted He Huai Bi, their eyes fluttering with coquettishness.
"Take a look. How about these? I've carefully trained them. I'm sure they're more understanding and interesting than the one in your room." The old lady pointed at the maids as if she were introducing some goods.
Bi Xi stood there, feeling all the blood in her body rush to her head and then freeze into ice in an instant.
She could feel the gloating and mocking looks from the servants around.
The hand hanging by her side tightened into a fist. Her long nails dug into her palm, causing a sharp pain.
Her originally gentle face was now distorted and ugly because of extreme humiliation and jealousy.