The room fell silent, with only Xia Chen’s laughter echoing, accompanied by the beautiful woman in his arms. This scene strongly resembled a villain bullying an innocent girl.
Xiao Lian gnashed her teeth, her face flushed with anger, but she was helpless. The truth was exactly as Xia Chen had said: if a battle broke out here, it would certainly attract experts from the capital.
At that time, none of them would be able to escape.
“Young Master, since you already know our identities, why don’t you release me first, and we can sit down and talk properly?”
At this moment, Qing Ya had regained her composure. She proactively looked at Xia Chen with her bright, direct eyes. She felt that this unvalued legitimate son of the Zhendong Marquis Manor held a secret, and was definitely not as ordinary as the Imperial City Bureau’s data suggested.
“Can’t we talk in bed?”
Xia Chen’s fingers gently brushed Qing Ya’s alluring smooth back, causing goosebumps to instantly rise all over her body. Her skin turned crimson, feeling as if she had been electrocuted, a tingling sensation, and a strange feeling surged into her heart.
Xia Chen was warning her, making her clearly understand that she had become a prisoner, yet still wanted to control the situation and gain the initiative in the conversation.
“Young Master, since you have already heard our conversation, I will tell you the truth. That military defense map was not stolen by us, but rather the Great Feng Surveillance Institute framed us, using us as a scapegoat.”
“Why should I believe you? I don’t know who stole the military defense map, but it’s a foregone conclusion that you are from the Imperial City Bureau. And I imagine your rank within the Imperial City Bureau is not low. For me to capture you and eradicate your stronghold is already a great achievement.”
Xia Chen smiled. No matter who stole the military defense map, as long as he could hand over the person, it would be a great achievement. Since that was the case, why bother with a roundabout approach?
Qing Ya and Xiao Lian both fell silent, unable to refute. For Xia Chen, whether he captured people from the Imperial City Bureau or the Surveillance Institute, it would be a great achievement.
“There’s also another option. The Great Feng Surveillance Institute can embed people within your Imperial City Bureau, so I imagine you should have similar arrangements. How about you give me information on the distribution of Surveillance Institute members in the capital, and provide evidence that the military defense map was indeed not stolen by your side? How about I release you then?”
Suddenly, Xia Chen’s voice sounded again. In the room, Qing Ya and Xiao Lian, who had just fallen into despair due to Xia Chen’s words, instantly had their eyes light up, their emotions fluctuating wildly like a roller coaster.
Qing Ya deeply gazed at the young man who was so close to her, whose breathing she could clearly feel.
This young man was not only extraordinary in appearance, but his ambition to advance far surpassed others.
Light flowed in Xia Chen’s eyes. While capturing the Imperial City Bureau this time was indeed a great achievement, it was not enough. If the military defense map was truly not stolen by the Imperial City Bureau, as the Lantern Bearers continued their search, they would eventually learn this information, and then Xia Chen’s credit for capturing the Imperial City Bureau’s secret agents would be greatly diminished.
But what if he could be the first to discover this problem, and not necessarily wipe out the Great Feng Surveillance Institute’s network of secret agents in the capital, but at least cause them heavy losses?
“If I can achieve these things, I should be able to attract Emperor Wen’s attention, right!”
Xia Chen pondered. He was certainly not content with merely destroying a stronghold of the Imperial City Bureau. He wanted to use this battle to rapidly rise through the ranks.
If it truly succeeded, although it would trample the Lantern Bearers’ dignity and make him stand out, attracting attention from all sides, the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks.
There were only five years left, and he was currently just a small seventh-rank Captain. Therefore, he had to rise quickly.
“Why should I trust you? If I give you the Surveillance Institute’s intelligence, and you turn around and capture us, wouldn’t I lose too completely!”
“I cannot prove it to you. The only thing you can trust is my character. You can choose not to gamble!”
Xia Chen once again tightly pinched Qing Ya’s smooth chin, making her autumn-water-like eyes gaze into his own. His nonchalant words were filled with dominance.
In a trance, a mysterious ripple seemed to emanate from Xia Chen’s eyes, influencing Qing Ya’s judgment.
Qing Ya also seemed to see the enormous, Heavenly Dao-like eyes she had encountered when she previously invaded Xia Chen’s Sea of Consciousness.
For a brief moment, her thoughts seemed to pause.
The room was silent for a long time. Finally, a voice slowly emerged from Qing Ya’s seductive red lips.
“Alright, I will give you the Surveillance Institute’s secret agent information!”
… …
… …
The morning sun first rose!
Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating it like a golden sea.
On the bed!
Qing Ya slowly opened her eyes. She felt a wave of mental and physical exhaustion.
Her waist ached, her legs were numb, especially her knees, which were bruised as if she had been kneeling for a long time.
Her consciousness returned to her brain, and she recalled what had happened last night.
She suddenly looked beside her and found that there was indeed a man sleeping next to her. One hand was still resting on her waist. As if sensing her movement, that warm large hand tightened its grip in dissatisfaction, pulling her delicate body directly into his embrace.
Qing Ya felt the man’s warm and broad chest, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
She looked down at herself and felt a sense of relief. Her clothes were still on, although a bit disheveled, they were the same ones from last night.
“Good morning!”
Xia Chen’s eyes were still closed, seemingly still sound asleep, but his voice drifted out.
“Can you let me go now!”
Qing Ya forced herself to calm down. Although she used a special identity to gather information, she had never allowed any man to touch her body. From beginning to end, she had remained pure.
Last night, although this man had not forced any relationship with her, they had spent a night alone, a man and a woman, and they were lying on the same bed. More importantly, there was physical contact.
Thinking of this, Qing Ya pursed her lips and looked at Xia Chen with complex eyes. Although the final step had not occurred, her purity was clearly ruined by this Great Wu Imperial Son-in-Law.
“Not yet. This courtyard is full of your people. What if I let you go, and you all gang up and tear me to pieces? What then!”
Xia Chen still hadn’t opened his eyes, yet he seemed to see everything. He was very cautious; even at the last step, he didn’t relax his guard.
It was already late at night last night, and there was a curfew outside, so he naturally stayed overnight.
“Is the information I requested ready?”
“Xiao Lian!”
Qing Ya felt the warm large hand on her waist beneath the quilt, her gaze complex, her cheeks flushed. She took a deep breath, calmed herself down again, and then called out to the door.
The door immediately opened, and Xiao Lian, her eyes bloodshot and filled with Killing Intent, rushed in with a long saber in her hand.
“Young Miss, that scoundrel didn’t do anything to you last night, did he!”