Liu Rongruo remained silent, his gaze fixed on the tear-streaked person before him, his heart as unyielding as stone.
However, as if remembering something, he abruptly released his grip.
Qin Yunshang instantly collapsed to the ground, coughing with a heartbreaking intensity, her face fluctuating between pale and green.
The terror of death had ignited boundless fear within her, engulfing her entire being.
Her eyes, filled with tears, met the man before her, her heart feeling as though it were being carved by a knife.
Her martial brother had truly harbored murderous intent just now; he had genuinely intended to kill her.
She should not have tested his limits. The agony in her heart twisted through her limbs, causing her to tremble and cough, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Liu Rongruo stood up and looked down at her.
"If you dare to do this again, you will meet the King of Hell."
Qin Yunshang was provoked by his indifference. As she watched his retreating back, the pain spread to her fingertips, making her feel faint.
Her face was deathly pale. She shouted hoarsely,
"Does Senior Brother truly disregard our past affections so much?"
The Qin family patriarch, seeing her audacious behavior, immediately ordered someone to cover her mouth.
He was not foolish. He knew his good granddaughter must have done something foolish to enrage the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister was known for his ruthless methods; those who offended him rarely met a good end.
If he truly disregarded the dignity of both families, he would have choked her to death just then. He would not have allowed her to question him like this.
Seeing the man turn to look, he immediately ordered Qin Yunshang to be dragged away.
Liu Rongruo looked at the Qin family patriarch kneeling on the ground and said calmly,
"Have you agreed to what I discussed with Lord Qin previously?"
A flash of shrewdness flickered in the Qin patriarch's clouded eyes. "From now on, she will be the third young lady of the Qin family, Qin You."
Liu Rongruo said nothing more, turned, and strode away.
Meanwhile, upon returning to his residence, Chi You was locked away.
Liu Rongruo's temperament was unpredictable, and it was clear he had no intention of letting her go, intending to torment her.
They imprisoned her in a secret chamber.
The surroundings were dim and dark, terrifyingly deep.
In a daze, Chi You recalled the days she was confined in the Holy Tower after reaching adulthood.
She crouched down, hugging herself, shaking her head desperately to push away memories of the past.
She did not know how long she had been there. In her stupor, she leaned against the wall and fell asleep.
In her dreams, various jumbled scenes swirled around her mind like fluttering butterfly wings, refusing to dissipate.
She thought of her deceased mother, the treacherous days she spent in bloody combat to overthrow the Gu King, the time she was implanted with the Toad King Gu and repeatedly entangled with him, leading to the ruin of the Southern Territory.
She gripped herself tightly, cold sweat breaking out all over her body.
When Liu Rongruo opened the secret chamber, he saw her curled up in a corner, dense cold sweat beading on her forehead.
The air was thick with the pungent scent of blood.
Chi You's eyes immediately snapped open. The first thing she saw was a pair of white boots with black soles. Crimson bloodstains swayed and fluttered on the hem of his robe, exuding an alluring beauty.
She looked up at the man towering above her, her throat hoarse and unable to speak.
She didn't know how long she had been locked away here. She hadn't had any water, and her throat was terribly dry.
"Water—"
Liu Rongruo looked at the slender, white hand gripping his robe. After a long moment, he called out to someone outside,
"Bring water."
Bai Ze reverently brought water.
Liu Rongruo took it, crouched down, pried open her mouth, and fed her.
Chi You was fed too quickly and choked uncomfortably. However, her throat was so hoarse that she desperately grasped his hand and drank.
After drinking, her throat felt less fiery, and she finally regained her senses.
Liu Rongruo crouched down, pinched her neck, and forced her to look at him.
Chi You felt pain and saw the ring in his right hand, finding it somewhat familiar.
But she couldn't recall it immediately. She only felt her neck was sticky, and the pungent smell of blood made her want to vomit. She lowered her gaze and squinted in the moonlight, seeing that her touched, fair neck was covered in scarlet blood.
This beast, had he gone on a killing spree? So much blood on him.
"You gave it to him?"
His hand was very beautiful. He dangled the inconspicuous ring in his right hand, and in the dim secret chamber, it seemed to emit a hazy glow.
A flash of white light streaked through Chi You's mind. She remembered. It was a silver bell she had casually bought in the marketplace with Xuan Qing when they were young. He had kept it.
"Why do you have it?"
A murderous intent flickered in Liu Rongruo's eyes. He let out a cold laugh and forcefully crushed the ring in his hand into sand, which scattered across the floor.
Chi You's back chilled as she witnessed this.
"Truly, a loving couple, a pair of childhood sweethearts."
He tightened his grip on her neck, his veins bulging, and his voice took on a strange, terrifying quality.
Chi You winced in pain and tried to pry his hand away.
"Do you intend to abandon me and fly away with him?"
His eyes were deep, and his gaze pierced her heart like sharp arrows, piercing her flesh.
Chi You did not understand what this beast meant, only feeling immense humiliation and pain.
What was wrong with her wanting to return to the Southern Territory?
"Prime Minister, stop talking nonsense. That was merely a silver bell I bought carelessly out of childish playfulness."
Upon hearing this, Liu Rongruo's expression softened slightly, and the hand on her neck loosened its grip.
Chi You felt she could breathe and couldn't help but collapse onto the ground.
This beast's heart was truly cruel. He could treat her so harshly even when she was carrying his child.
"Why?"
He stood up, looking down at her.
Chi You knew he was asking why she had tried to escape again.
He was cunning and would not believe her fabricated story. She needed to choose her words carefully.
She took deep breaths, clutched his robe, and raised her beautiful eyes to look directly at him.
"My mother's death anniversary is approaching. I want to go back and see her."
Liu Rongruo lowered his eyelids and looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"Do you think I would believe you?"
"—"
Chi You sneered. "If Prime Minister doesn't believe me, why bother asking?"
"Let me guess, you want to escape me, leave Da Liang, and return to the Southern Territory to get married?"
A hint of mockery tinged his brows, making him look incredibly cold in the dim secret chamber.
"A used woman cannot even speak of marriage. Prime Minister worries too much."
Liu Rongruo chuckled. "Then your little childhood sweetheart must truly be devoted to you, daring to come to the capital to fetch you."
Chi You frowned and couldn't help but say, "If Prime Minister is so angry, could it be jealousy?"
He let out a cold snort and suddenly lifted her, holding her tightly.
"Last time it was Xia Yun, and this time it's Xuan Qing. Your skills in charming men are getting better and better."
Chi You ignored his nonsensical words and closed her eyes, remaining silent.
Liu Rongruo's face darkened, and the hand around her waist tightened fiercely.
In pain, she opened her eyes and looked at his face, then suddenly said,
"Then why can't I capture Prime Minister's heart?"
The moment the words left her lips, he suddenly pushed her against the wall behind them, leaning down to kiss her fiercely.
Chi You's heart trembled, and she tried to push him away.
But he ignored her, pinning her hands above her head and kissing her with a ferocity that seemed inhuman.
The scorching, hot breath enveloped the surroundings, their breaths intertwining.
Chi You cried out in pain from his bite and opened her eyes, looking at him weakly.
"Someone as ruthless as you, do you have any weaknesses?"