Tian Yao's blood seemed to freeze at that very moment.
"How much of what I just said did you hear?"
He Ciyuan's voice was not loud, but it was like an ice pick stabbing straight into her heart.
How much did she hear?
Of course, she heard it all!
Words like "prince", "returning to the palace", and "dragon throne" were each enough to get her killed a hundred times over!
[I've already said not to take me on such high - risk activities. I wonder if I can still keep my life now...]
Tian Yao's mind went blank. The instinct for survival made her brain work frantically.
Playing dumb definitely wouldn't work. The person in front of her hated fools the most.
But begging for mercy would be even more meaningless.
Tian Yao gritted her teeth and took a gamble!
Without thinking twice, she directly threw herself at him with a thud. The warm and fragrant body nestled against his legs. Her main goal was to lower his guard as much as possible.
The strong smell of milk instantly invaded He Ciyuan's senses. He subconsciously extended his arm to encircle the soft body in his arms to prevent her from falling.
The person in his arms was warm and soft, like a freshly baked milk cake, exuding an alluring sweet fragrance.
[I gambled right! First, use the beauty trap to muddle through!]
Tian Yao was overjoyed. Taking advantage of his momentary daze, she immediately started her act.
She buried her face in his chest, her body trembling. Her voice was soft and waxy with a crying tone, "I heard a bit, but I don't understand. Your appearance just now was so scary. I was a bit flustered and got scared..."
As she spoke, she foolishly stretched out her small hand to smooth the frown on his forehead. Her posture was both innocent and seductive.
"I'm loyal to you. The heavens, the earth, the sun, and the moon can testify. If I ever have any disloyal or unrighteous thoughts, may I be struck by lightning right away!"
This was her trump card, her only weapon.
However, as soon as her small hand was raised, it was precisely grabbed by a big hand.
He Ciyuan didn't use much strength, but she couldn't move at all.
Tian Yao's heart sank.
[Oops, he didn't fall for it?]
She heard a very soft sneer from above, filled with cold mockery.
He Ciyuan lowered his head. His warm breath sprayed on her earlobe. His voice was as low as a devil's whisper.
"It doesn't make any difference to me whether you heard it or not. Your heart is beating so fast. Are you feeling guilty or planning to expose me?"
Calling Tian Yao over, he was actually certain that she would hear these words.
He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. Then he opened his mouth and bit gently on her delicate fingertip.
"Hiss—" Tian Yao gasped in pain. A tingling current ran through her whole body from her fingertip.
[He's a pervert! He bites me again!]
"If you lie, choose one between your tongue and your finger. I'll pull it out with my own hands." His voice was still calm, but the content of his words was extremely bloody.
Tian Yao was so scared that her soul almost left her body. How could she continue acting?
She could feel that the arm around her waist tightened even more, like an iron clamp firmly locking her in his territory.
She wasn't throwing herself into his arms affectionately; she was walking straight into a trap!
"Sir... I..." Tian Yao's voice was trembling uncontrollably. Real tears came down, "I didn't mean to listen. You arranged me at this door, and I couldn't leave. So, of course, I heard something."
"Oh? So you heard it all."
He Ciyuan finally let go of her finger and instead pinched her small chin, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes.
"If you hear a secret, you have to pay the price. How do you think I should punish you? Should I cut out your tongue or beat you?"
He's such a jerk! He brought me to this place, made me hear things I shouldn't have heard, and now he's threatening to kill me. He's really terrifying!
If I really had to spend my whole life with such a man, the days would surely be miserable. It would be so scary!
I must save enough money and run away as soon as possible. I'll never come back!
She took a deep breath. With tears in her eyes, she forced out a smile that was uglier than crying. Summoning all her courage, she leaned forward on her own initiative. Her soft lips gently brushed across his cheek.
"My life belongs to you, sir. You can do whatever you want with me."
"But I really don't want to die. Can you change to another punishment? I'm begging you!!"
The man still had some interest in her appearance. He wouldn't kill her.
But if there were some strange punishments, it would be troublesome.
After hearing her soft and pleading words, He Ciyuan's body visibly stiffened.
He looked at the little face in front of him, with the tear - stains still not dry but the eyes full of charm. His eyes instantly darkened, like a deep sea churning with ink.
"Okay, I got it. I'll give you another punishment."
Tian Yao felt as if she had received amnesty. Without any hesitation, she got off his lap.
He Ciyuan wasn't angry. He turned his wheelchair by himself with his back to her.
"Back to the mansion."
...
In the carriage on the way back, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it seemed to be dripping water.
Tian Yao shrank into a corner, keeping a great distance from He Ciyuan. She even breathed softly.
Her mind was in a complete mess.
[When will I have money? There are so many rich people in this world. Why couldn't I be reborn into a rich person's body!]
[Living this kind of life full of fear every day is worse than getting my neck cut today!]
[Does he like me or what? He brought me to this place. He must have guessed that I would hear this information. He clearly regarded me as a threat but still did it on purpose!]
These thoughts made her shiver, but at the same time, a strange excitement welled up inside her.
In a harem - intrigue novel, it might not be possible to live in peace. But if it was a palace - intrigue novel, it would be really over.
In palace - intrigue novels, people usually used beauty and intrigue.
He Ciyuan wasn't the kind of person who was greedy for beauty. Maybe he kept her for future plans.
Forget it. She wasn't a stubborn person. If she could really find a rich man, it would be a good thing. But who could compare to He Ciyuan?
So, she should try to please He Ciyuan first or find a chance to tie him down.
Being afraid was absolutely useless because the knife was already on her neck. She had no choice but to move forward.
After thinking this through, Tian Yao calmed down instead.
She looked at He Ciyuan, who was sitting across from her with his eyes closed to rest. Her gaze was more determined than ever.
[Isn't it just clinging to a powerful person? I'm good at this! From today on, you're my only KPI!]
The carriage stopped at the courtyard gate.
Mo Chen opened the carriage door. Tian Yao immediately jumped out first, planning to help He Ciyuan get out of the carriage.
However, the other person didn't move at all and relied entirely on Mo Chen's help.
[Big shot, what are you up to again?]
She prepared a medicinal bath for him. Mo Chen asked her to help serve.
"Sir, the medicinal bath is ready." Mo Chen said in a deep voice.