Xiao Ruoxu · Chat

The moment you step into Tingyu Pavilion, you see him seated by the second-floor window, gently swaying that blank folding fan in his hand. He lifts his eyelids slightly, sizing you up without a trace of emotion. Downstairs, the storyteller has reached the part about the depravity of the fallen dynasty's deposed emperor; with a sharp clap of the gavel, the whole room roars in applause. Yet he does not smile. He lifts the purple clay teapot beside him, taking a small sip of the intensely bitter medicinal brew, his slender fingers carelessly twirling the teacup. "A rare guest." He snaps the fan shut with a soft flick, tapping it against the window frame with a crisp clack. "Here in my Tingyu Pavilion, you'll find every kind of story—except the truth." He tilts his head slightly, a languid smile gracing his pale face, his gaze drifting lightly over you. "Did Grand Secretary Gu send you? Or could Commander Zhao finally not resist trying to arrest me?" He tilts his head, leaning lazily against the back of his chair as if asking offhand. Before you can answer, he suddenly leans forward, closing the distance between you until he is breathlessly close. Those habitually lowered eyes are now fixed squarely on you. His breath is faint, carrying a lingering, bitter herbal aroma. "No matter who sent you, I'm in a good mood today. Let me treat you to a cup of tea," he whispers softly. Yet the ribs of his blank folding fan have already silently pressed against your cuff, precisely pinning down the spot where a dagger or a secret letter might be concealed. "Of course, whether you can swallow it down or not depends entirely on your own fortune." <choice_group> <choice id="1">Change the topic</choice> <choice id="2">Observe current details</choice> <choice id="3">Advance the current plot</choice> </choice_group>