Sikong Ting was floating on the water, his eyes fixed on Qin Huaiqiu who was squatting on the shore.
Sunlight filtered through the willow branches, shining on his wet face. Strands of his hair clung to his temples, and water droplets rolled down his smooth forehead. There were even drops of water hanging on his eyelashes.
This was the first time he had observed Concubine De at such a close distance. He had to admit that Qin Huaiqiu was extremely good-looking, with a beauty different from that of Central Plains women. The lines of his face faintly revealed a kind of coldness, like a sharp sword inserted into a flower bush. He stared at his face blankly for a while. When he came to his senses, he found that Qin Huaiqiu was also staring at him.
Qin Huaiqiu was squatting by the lake, hugging his legs. He seemed not to expect Sikong Ting to swim over. He was slightly startled for a moment, and then his eyes showed a sense of alienation and coldness that Sikong Ting couldn't understand.
"You..." Didn't you die? Sikong Ting was about to speak, but the words that came out were: "Can you swim?"
"As you can see, Your Majesty." Qin Huaiqiu stared at him, then stood up without saying a word and turned to leave.
"Where are you going!" Sikong Ting swam to the shore with all his strength and roared, "Stop!"
Qin Huaiqiu ignored him and walked forward on his own.
"Stop for me!" Sikong Ting roared again.
Qin Huaiqiu paused. He stopped walking but didn't turn around. "Does Your Majesty have anything else to say?"
Sikong Ting gritted his teeth and stared at Qin Huaiqiu's back. He said word by word, "You lied to me."
"Heh." Qin Huaiqiu unexpectedly let out a laugh and said, "I didn't mean to lie to you."
He turned around and looked directly into Sikong Ting's eyes.
It was that stubborn look again. His gaze made Sikong Ting feel very strange. The Qin Huailian in front of him seemed to be a different person, completely different from the Qin Huailian he had known before.
"Wouldn't it be nice to just assume I drowned, Your Majesty?" Qin Huaiqiu smiled self - deprecatingly. "Look at how in a mess you are. What can you prove by finding me? Didn't you want me to die?"
Sikong Ting paused.
He remembered standing on the bridge just now, watching Qin Huaiqiu struggling in the water.
He should have rushed to rescue him immediately, but he hesitated. His legs seemed to be filled with lead and he couldn't move at all. It wasn't until his mother cried and hit him that he came to his senses.
"I didn't..." Sikong Ting wanted to explain, but found that he had no reason to explain. In an instant, he seemed to be back just now, seeing Qin Huailian struggling in the water while looking at him.
She had been waiting for him to save her.
But he hesitated.
She understood, so she sank into the water.
Sikong Ting felt as if a piece of his heart had been dug out. His chest felt stuffy. He wanted to say something, but opened his mouth and said nothing.
"That's that then." Qin Huaiqiu seemed to have shaken off some kind of shackle. "Concubine De is already dead. So please let me go, Your Majesty. I'll secretly leave the palace tomorrow. Then we'll have nothing to do with each other."
"Don't..."
Qin Huaiqiu didn't hear clearly and continued talking on his own. "I'll first wish Your Majesty a prosperous national fortune. From now on, we'll go our separate ways. You take the broad road, and I'll cross the single - log bridge."
"Don't you dare!" Sikong Ting almost gritted his silver teeth to pieces. He took a big step forward, pushed Qin Huaiqiu against a tree, pinned his hands above his head with one hand, and pinched his chin with the other, forcing him to look at him. His voice trembled in a way that Qin Huaiqiu didn't notice. "Did I allow you to die? Did I allow you to leave the palace? Once you entered the palace, you became mine. You'll never be able to escape in your lifetime!"
Qin Huaiqiu didn't expect Sikong Ting to go crazy. He wasn't much younger than Sikong Ting, but still couldn't break free from his restraint. After struggling for a while, Qin Huaiqiu finally couldn't help scolding, "Don't you find me disgusting? Then let me go. Out of sight, out of mind!"
Sikong Ting stared at him, his eyes blood - red. He suddenly leaned close to Qin Huaiqiu's ear. The warm breath from his mouth was in stark contrast to the coldness of his words. "Qin Huailian, you really have good tricks. Since you failed to seduce me, you've resorted to the trick of feigning indifference? Hmm?"
"? " Seduce? Who the hell tried to seduce you?! Qin Huaiqiu couldn't help but want to curse out loud.
Unexpectedly, Sikong Ting continued. His tone became gentle, but Qin Huaiqiu felt a chill. "Don't you really want to be Concubine De? You've only been in the position for three days. How could that be enough?"
"I think it's enough." Qin Huaiqiu gritted his teeth. This position was too disadvantageous for him. What did this damned emperor eat to grow up so strong!
"I don't think it's enough." Sikong Ting rubbed his thumb on Qin Huaiqiu's chin and said, "Look, I can even touch you. Concubine De, isn't this what you wanted?"
Seeing that he couldn't break free, Qin Huaiqiu sneered, "Doesn't Your Majesty think it's strange to touch someone you find disgusting? Or did you fall for my trick of feigning indifference?"
Sikong Ting's body trembled slightly. He straightened up and looked down at him. His eyes were like those of a cheetah looking at its prey, making Qin Huaiqiu's hair stand on end.
Qin Huaiqiu was neither overawed nor humble and stared straight back at him.
Sikong Ting looked at him for a while and suddenly laughed.
"You're still playing tricks on me."
Qin Huaiqiu said, "So if I don't play tricks, will you let me go?"
Sikong Ting frowned, and his eyes became fierce. "No way."
Qin Huaiqiu was extremely angry. He took a deep breath, lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Let me go."
Sikong Ting glanced at him and surprisingly released his restraint. The moment he let go of Qin Huaiqiu, he took several unnatural steps back.
Qin Huaiqiu looked at his action and sneered.
Not liking but wanting to torture each other?
What a strange fetish this emperor had!
"Go back to the Kunning Palace." Sikong Ting said in a deep voice.
Qin Huaiqiu glanced at him and didn't bother to pay attention to him anymore.
He bowed slightly and said, "Your humble servant takes her leave."
Qin Huaiqiu walked away without looking back. Sikong Ting was soaking wet. He stood beside the tree. As soon as he saw the tree, he remembered the scene just now when he had pinned Qin Huailian against it.
Why?
Why was it Qin Huailian that the imperial astrologer had calculated?
Sikong Ting punched the tree. The dry bark rustled and fell.
Qin Huailian, who on earth are you?
Why did she feel so strange just now? If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Sikong Ting was sure that Qin Huailian would never have looked at him like that.
He looked at his hand. The warmth from Qin Huailian seemed to still remain on his thumb.
This was the first time he had touched a woman.
He wanted to wipe away the warmth from that woman, but he was also a bit reluctant.
He stared at his thumb. His eyes changed from confused to determined, and then faintly showed a coldness.
Qin Huailian, I'll see what other tricks you have.