"Sniff... Sister Huang, I'm so scared. No one can help me. You're the only one I have!"
"Sister Huang, you won't abandon me, will you? If you do, I'll really have no hope left!"
Su Qing's casual attitude vanished almost instantly, replaced by a pitiful, weak, and helpless demeanor.
The beautiful young man wore a dejected expression, his melancholy enough to stir anyone's sympathy.
Even the coldest flower on the highest peak felt her compassion overflowing at this moment.
Several strange thoughts surfaced in Jun Huang's mind.
Was her method too extreme and had she frightened him?
Had her words just now been too harsh, making him believe she was serious?
For a moment, she actually felt a trace of guilt.
But she quickly came back to her senses and took a deep breath.
"Don't play any tricks with me. If you weren't my sister's little brother, I wouldn't even bother with you."
"And don't make that face. I'm not falling for it!"
The Golden-Haired Princess warned him sternly in a deeply impatient tone.
Su Qing nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.
"From now on, you have to follow my instructions in everything you do. I can keep you safe and sound."
Seeing how obedient the young man looked, Jun Huang's tone softened slightly.
"No."
Su Qing shook his head without hesitation.
"Fine, you... You won't?! Brat, don't be so ungrateful!"
Jun Huang only realized what had happened afterward, her eyes filled with disbelief.
He had refused her?
What was that supposed to mean? Was he obedient on the surface but rebellious to the bone?!
Her long, straight legs instinctively stretched forward.
Her high heels struck the floor, producing an exceptionally crisp sound.
Clearly, compared with stepping on the floor, she preferred stepping on someone.
"Sister Huang, I already have a plan."
Su Qing explained.
He had no intention of being stepped on a few times. He did not have that sort of hobby.
For something like this, he should be the one taking the initiative.
"You?"
A hint of disdain filled Jun Huang's eyes as she asked rhetorically.
She simply did not believe what the young man had said.
After all, they had known each other for more than a day or two. How could she not know his background?
Whether in personality or talent, he could only be described as utterly ordinary.
And he was talking about having a plan? How ridiculous.
After seeing that expression, Su Qing sucked in a breath of cold air.
Tsk!!
That asking-to-be-disciplined look... I really want to pin her down on the bed and give her a good beating!
But thinking something was one thing; he could not say it aloud yet.
It would not be long before he had the chance.
"The Realm Protectorate is in a difficult position right now, but breaking out of it is actually very simple."
"Everyone has gotten the fundamental issue wrong. The key isn't the Tang State Residence, and it certainly isn't this overwhelming public outcry."
"There is only one person's thoughts we need to care about."
Su Qing explained patiently.
With imperial power concentrated in one person's hands, the heart of one person was the heart of millions.
As for the matter concerning the Tang State Residence, right and wrong were fundamentally unimportant.
What mattered most was whether the Yan Emperor was happy.
As long as they could make the emperor happy and satisfied, what did this current storm amount to?
"I naturally understand that, but even I can't figure out what Father Emperor is thinking."
Jun Huang understood his meaning immediately and spoke.
There was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes, clearly showing that she still did not believe him.
That was indeed how things worked, but putting the principle into practice was not so easy.
Father Emperor was becoming harder and harder to deal with. He did everything according to his own preferences.
If she herself could not do it, could he?
"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't."
Su Qing spoke seriously.
Jun Huang said nothing. She merely folded her arms across her chest, the doubt in her eyes still undiminished.
"I have confidence in myself, and I've already decided to give it a try."
"Since you don't believe me, why don't we make a bet?"
Su Qing wore a confident smile as he spoke.
"What do you want to bet?"
Jun Huang immediately became interested at those words.
"Naturally, whether I can succeed or not. As for the wager, it will be one request."
"No matter what the request is, it must be fulfilled. How about it?"
Su Qing spoke with great interest.
If he wanted to find an opening, this was naturally the best opportunity.
"That..."
Jun Huang hesitated.
It was not that she lacked confidence in herself; the wager was simply too large.
As a cautious person, she generally would not agree to such a bet.
"If you don't want to, then forget it. I can understand if Princess doesn't have confidence in herself."
Su Qing spoke very bluntly.
There was a hint of disdain in his eyes, clearly indicating that he did not intend to say anything more.
"What?! I don't have confidence in myself? I have even less confidence in you!"
"Kid, since you insist, I won't refuse."
How could Jun Huang withstand such provocation? She immediately agreed.
If it had been someone else, she would not have accepted such a bet.
But since he was her best friend's little brother, it would not hurt to teach him a lesson.
The corners of Su Qing's lips curved into a smile.
He was looking forward to the moment when she unwillingly fulfilled the terms of the bet.
Jun Huang left the room in a daze and departed from the Realm Protectorate.
After being blown by the cold wind outside, she regained a little of her composure.
As she thought about what had just happened, an idea surfaced in her mind.
She felt as though she had been tricked... He had looked completely confident.
Could it be that he really had a way?
If he really had a way, what would she do?
On one hand, she hoped he could resolve the matter.
On the other hand, because of the bet, she did not want him to succeed.
Conflicting emotions lingered in her heart, leaving the Princess unable to describe how she felt.
He was only a brat. Was she overthinking this?
But the change in him really did seem enormous.
Jun Huang began recalling how timid this little brother had been from childhood onward.
Back then, he had been extremely afraid of her and had never dared meet her gaze directly.
Whenever she looked at him a few times, he would hide behind her best friend.
But what about today?
When facing her, he had not shown even the slightest trace of fear.
Not only that, he had kept staring at her legs.
That scorching gaze had been completely undisguised.
Especially when they had discussed the later bet, that strange feeling had reached its peak.
Sitting in the carriage, the Golden-Haired Princess quietly pressed her straight, beautiful legs together.
It was the first time in her life that a man had looked at her so directly—and it had been that little brat she had watched grow up for years.
He really had some nerve. She would remember this grudge for now.
If he acted recklessly and botched everything, she would still have to step in and help.
If he truly could not get her to release the prisoner, she would definitely stomp him to death!
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