A faint scent of ambergris lingered around the icy finger bones. When her chin was clasped, the fragrance insinuated into Qu Yue's nostrils.
Unlike Mu Yao's simple and resentful pinch just now, Xie Qichi tilted her chin up with a teasing attitude.
Qu Yue tilted her neck back to the maximum extent and swallowed with difficulty. "The Son of Heaven to the common people..."
"Heh." Her answer only earned a sneer from Xie Qichi.
He stroked Qu Yue's chin like he was teasing a kitten. Her smooth skin was like the finest mutton - fat jade, making him reluctant to let go.
She had fair and delicate skin that easily showed marks. Thus, Xie Qichi quickly noticed the pinch mark on her chin and the five palm - prints on her cheek.
His expression immediately darkened. A terrifying hatred clouded his dark phoenix eyes, and his sword - shaped eyebrows knitted together. "Who did this?"
Like a sticky and stuffy breeze blowing in, Qu Yue shrank her shoulders.
She remembered Song Luo's warning well and didn't dare to tell a single truth.
But since she was not good at lying, she could only shut up and act mute.
Xie Qichi had intended to use more force, but when he met her clear peach - blossom eyes, he controlled himself and gently stroked her skin with his thumb instead. "Qu Yue, answer me."
Qu Yue was startled by his slightly raised voice. "It... It was me!"
She had no idea why he had summoned her. In this unknown situation, she didn't want to show her vulnerability to Xie Qichi.
Moreover, Mu Yuan was his favorite general. Three years ago, when she forced the marriage, he had even ordered that if Mu Yuan didn't want to marry, the ridiculous childhood betrothal could be annulled.
On the day of her wedding with Mu Yuan, Xie Qichi didn't even bother to send someone to offer a blessing, clearly showing his disgust for her.
Xie Qichi's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Slapping your own face? Quite a special hobby."
The falling tone was inexplicably like the well - water in winter, cold and painfully bone - piercing.
Qu Yue shivered.
She was like a cat grabbed by the scruff of its neck, trembling helplessly after being threatened.
Xie Qichi squatted down to look her in the eye. The depths of his dark eyes were like an inky mess that couldn't be stirred. "Qu Yue, you can't lie to me."
As he squatted down, Qu Yue's face returned to its normal position.
Seeing that she remained silent, Xie Qichi shifted his gaze to her bandaged hand. "What about this? Did you do it to yourself too?"
Qu Yue didn't understand what he was up to.
She was afraid that the more she said, the more mistakes she would make and end up being charged with deceiving the emperor.
She bit her lip and spoke in an extremely flattering tone. "Your... Your Majesty, please stop asking... Did you summon me for something?"
Her already soft voice now carried an unconscious coquettishness that gently tickled Xie Qichi's heart.
He let out a soft laugh, leaned closer to Qu Yue's face, and whispered menacingly, "Are you really afraid that I'll find out the truth?"
The scent of ambergris on the man mixed with the smell of green tea wafted over. Although it smelled nice, it filled Qu Yue with an all - pervasive fear.
Her long eyelashes fluttered nervously. She didn't dare to look him in the face. Her plump lips were slightly pursed, showing a faint whiteness.
She didn't want to answer, but due to his noble status, she didn't dare to resist and could only accept it reluctantly.
Xie Qichi stared at her like this. "So obedient."
This woman had betrayed him before, and on the night in the mourning hall, she had...
But she looked so pitiful. How could anyone be harsh on her?
Qu Yue was just meant to be pampered in his palm.
At the same time, there was a soft knock on the door outside the screen. Immediately afterwards, Mu Qing's obsequious voice rang out. "Your Majesty, do you need any help?"
Xie Qichi withdrew his hand and calmly uttered two words. "No need."
Mu Qing replied obsequiously and then raised his voice. "Qu Yue, explain yourself properly to His Majesty!"
Explain?
Qu Yue's beautiful eyes trembled inexplicably.
Her shallow breath and the doubt in her voice were both soft. "What do I need to explain?"
Xie Qichi walked around behind Qu Yue. "Think about it."
It took Qu Yue's slow - witted brain a long time to come up with an answer.
Her trembling reply was tinged with panicked fragility. "Your Majesty, during the grand in - coffin ceremony just now, I didn't faint on purpose..."
Qu Yue knew well that she was bad at lying and would easily be exposed. So she knelt back on the ground, wishing she could lie flat on it. "I fainted because I... I miss my husband so much."
Xie Qichi stood behind her, grinning menacingly as he held back his last bit of reason and pronounced each word slowly. "Missed him so much, your husband."
"Yes, yes!" Poor Qu Yue couldn't see Xie Qichi's expression at this moment and thought he was repeating her words in approval.
Her shaky voice became a bit more confident. "I'm utterly loyal to my husband. There was absolutely no rebellious intention when I fainted just now! Please, Your Majesty, discern the truth!"
As she spoke, she didn't forget to raise her right hand as if taking an oath.
Her three slender fingers were like porcelain jade. No matter how ugly the gauze was, on her, it seemed like a precious item.
Her waist, slightly slumped from kneeling, was clearly supple.
Xie Qichi let out a soft laugh. "Utterly loyal."
His laugh immediately made Qu Yue, who had been quite determined, lose her wits.
Right.
The suspect from that night in the mourning hall hadn't been found yet. If it was Xie Qichi... Wouldn't what she was saying now be ridiculous?
Qu Yue silently withdrew her hand that had been raised for the oath.
Cold sweat had formed in her palm due to nervousness. The sticky and gloomy feeling from when she was kneeling in the main hall returned.
The next second, a hand reached around from behind and suddenly lifted her chin. "Tell me, how were you utterly loyal to him?"
Xie Qichi had somehow walked around behind her. Now, like a snake, he coiled around Qu Yue. His face was close to her ear as he spoke softly.
Qu Yue didn't notice at first. Suddenly hearing this, she let out a startled scream!
Immediately afterwards, Mu Qing's scolding came from outside. "Qu Yue, stop making such a racket for no reason!"
She quickly shut her mouth. Her petite body trembled from the lingering fear, and her chest heaved violently.
Qu Yue exhaled through her nose and mouth at the same time. Her trembling voice was on the verge of tears. "Your Majesty, you... You scared me."
"Answer the question."
His voice suddenly became stern. Qu Yue was even more panicked and several syllables in her sentence ran together. "I've been utterly loyal to my husband. I have no other thoughts!"
As soon as Xie Qichi got close to her, the refreshing fragrance of honeysuckle filled his nostrils.
He couldn't help but want to keep this fragrance by his side.
But this woman in front of him kept saying that she was utterly loyal to Mu Yuan!
She said she had no other thoughts for Mu Yuan!
Then what about her actions that night?
Xie Qichi was so angry that he laughed. He couldn't help but squeeze Qu Yue's hand a bit harder. As expected, he got a soft whimper from her.
The obviously suppressed volume showed that she was afraid of being heard by Mu Qing again.
He actually wanted to go even further, grab her waist, pin her against the wall, and watch her cry and beg him, saying that she was utterly loyal to him.
But when he glanced at Qu Yue's tear - filled eyes and her panicked face, he finally gave up.
Xie Qichi relaxed his grip and let go of Qu Yue. "Fine."
His tongue licked across his teeth, and his words were as cold as ice. "Then let me keep an eye on your loyalty."